Best Friends Forever... Part 5

It was nice being able to open up and have someone to talk to again since Parker left. He'd been the boy next door growing up, so he felt more like the older brother I never had who was nice enough to include me on things occasionally. After he graduated and left, I'd felt a lingering sadness if only because the neighborhood felt a little more empty.

Nikki and I would spend hours on those nights talking about everything. She introduced me to so many new bands I'd never heard of, making me playlists that catered to whatever mood I was in. Sometimes I'd practice drawing her portrait. I never thought they were great, but she'd always insist they were amazing.

She'd talk about the boys at school sometimes. I don't guess I ever understood the appeal. I found most boys in our school to be generally gross and vulgar. I'd smile and nod along, but I think that was one of the few subjects I didn't really like to talk about with her.

So of course, it was boys that eventually came between us.