Fragmented Reflection [bxb]

temporarily

Age: 15

"I have something to tell you," Kace announced at lunch, his dirty blonde hair falling into his eyes. 

It was just the two of us. The others were on a school trip for their science class. Including Kelly, thank goodness. I wasn't in the mood to play the game of pretend.

"What's up?"

Kace pushed his hair out of his face and rubbed his jaw. It was a recent nervous tick he'd developed.

"Seriously man, what is it?"

He had me twiddling my fingers with nerves, wondering what on earth he was going to say.

Finally, he sighed and looked right into my eyes as he said: "I'm moving away. Temporarily."

My eyes doubled in size and I felt my stomach drop. "What? When? Why? For how long?"

"Next week and because my dad got a job halfway across the country," he explained. Then he went quiet, not answering my last question.

"How long?" I repeated, dreading the answer.

"It can take anywhere between six months to two years." His voice sounded small and sad, causing the apprehension in my stomach to blend into the panic that was growing. 

"Two years?"

Kace grimaced, putting his face into his palms, elbows resting on our lunch table.

"If it helps, I don't want to go but it's not like I have a choice." 

I mimicked Kace's actions and allowed my hands to cover my distress.

"But you're my best friend, you can't leave."

"I'm sorry." 

My throat tightened. "We'll still talk, right?"

"Right."

Using my time wisely, I spent the rest of our lunchtime committing every one of his facial features to memory.

***

-A/N-

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