Chapter 1
Under the stars, hearing the waves crash onto the shore is one of my favorite things to do. I feel the wind making goosebumps on my arms. I remember four years ago I was doing this but sitting next to one of my best friends, Johnny Blake. He moved to Florida because his dad got a job. I haven’t heard of him since. I really hope the stars align so that we will meet again.
Johnny Blake was a nerd with the big, black frame glasses. He was very pale and got sunburnt easily. I wanna go back in time where I could talk about everything to him. Blake’s messy, dark brown hair because he would always be late to everything. He was vertically challenged. His crystal blue eyes that you really couldn’t see hiding behind his glasses. His voice that was high pitch because he hadn’t hit puberty yet. I hear someone breaking me out of my thoughts.
“Dakota is that you?” I hear this manly, but familiar voice.
I turn around and see this guy. He looks really familiar. I stammer, “yes, this is she.”
“Long time, no see,” he says while chuckling.
I just nod my head trying to find out who this guy is.
He has brown hair with blue eyes. He’s no stranger to a gym. His tan is like golden brown. I find myself staring at his abs. He looks about 6 feet. I realize who he is.
“Woah, Blake you’ve changed,” I say.
“So, have you, Kota,” Blake says and then gives me his pearly white smile.
“Are you back for senior year?” I ask.
“Y-yeah,” he stutters.
I run up to him and hug him. He tenses and relaxes seconds later. Something about him has changed besides his looks. We stay there for another five minutes until I push away.
“We have a lot of catching up to do,” I whisper.
“Yeah, we do. But for old time sakes why don’t we just sit under the stars,” he says.
I just look up at him and smile while nodding my head. He sits down and grabs my hand to pull me down. I feel this weird tingly sensation when he touches my hand. I turn my head to see him looking at me.
“Are you staring at me?” I ask.
“No, just trying to figure out who my best friend is now,” Blake says.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“We’ve changed.”
“Well, duh it’s been four years.”
“I know. But Sammy told me you don’t even go by Kota now.”
“It didn’t feel right when I didn’t have you saying it.”
“Yeah, I felt the same way.”
“What do you go by, now?”
“Johnny, JB, or Johnny Blake depends on who is talking to me.”
“Do you still have Buddy?”
“No, he passed away a few years ago.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. It wasn’t your fault.”
“I still feel bad.”
“How is Lucas?”
“You didn’t hear?”
“Hear what?”
“He is getting drafted to the San Francisco 49ers.”
“That’s great for him! It’s always been his dream.”
“Yeah.”
I feel his hand reach for mine and I lean my head into his chest. Just like old times.
