“Mind if I sit here?”
I rolled my eyes, over exaggerating the motion as I shifted from my spot in the middle of the couch off to one side. She laughed as she flopped down next to me and opened her book. I looked up from my writing and looked out the window of the Rec hall; it was still raining. I became transfixed watching the water run down the windows until she nudged my shoulder. I looked over at her, mildly annoyed at the interruption.
“Don’t you have a paper due tomorrow?” She smirked.
“Yes, but its done. Besides, I like watching the rain. I wish there was a place outside I could sit without getting drenched. I love the sound too.”
“Mhmm, me too.” She smiled at me briefly before opening her book on her lap. I watched her read for a while. We’d been best friends for about a year and it still amazed me that we had gotten as close as we were.
“How goes the police academy research?” She huffed, then closed her book.
“Next month they are taking recruits. I’m nervous. What if I can’t handle it? Or don’t make it?”
I elbowed her softly in the ribcage. She was always doubting herself.
“You’ll do just fine.”
“You always say that.”
“Because its true.”
She stared at me, her gray eyes boring into mine as if searching for some sort of secret or doubt. I raised my eyebrows at her and she laughed.
“Thanks Nik.”
I grumbled at the nickname I hated when used by anyone but her. Then, on impulse, I jumped up off the couch and grabbed her wrist, tugging her up with me.
“What are you…doing?” She muttered as I pulled hard and got her to a standing position.
“Come on, lets have some fun for once. We always study.”
I turned towards the door, dragging her behind me with a death grip on her wrist. She dug her heels into the carpet and stopped me.
“What…..are….we doing?”
“Tori, come on.” I whined and pouted at her, sticking my bottom lip out. She scowled at me, then relented.
“Oh geez fine.”
I beamed a smile at her and drug her out the door. Once we were outside I let go of her wrist and walked out into the pouring rain and turned my face up towards the sky. I was immediately soaked; my hair stuck to the sides of my face and my clothes clung to me. I laughed as I twirled in a circle then turned to look at her.
“Come on!”
“You’ve lost your mind. You’re soaking wet, come back up here.”
“No, come on Tori, its fun!” I emphasized the word by jumping in a rather large puddle and sending a spray of water up around me. I looked back at her,
“Come catch me.”
I teased and went skipping across the lawn of the rec hall, splashing in puddles on the way. She watched me for a second, took a deep breath and walked out into the downpour. I heard her gasp, then laugh as the rain quickly soaked her clothes and hair. She ran to catch up to me and I spun around and kicked water at her.
“You’re nuts, you know that right?” She giggled as she tried to grab my wrist. I twirled away from her, teasing her.
“Yup, but you love me anyhow!”
She caught my wrist mid twirl and pulled me to a stop facing her. Her eyes were more serious than I expected and the look on her face took my breath away. For a moment, nothing existed but the two of us and the pouring rain.
“Yea, I do.” She said softly before dropping my wrist and sprinting across the lawn.
“Your turn to catch me!” She called back, making me wonder what, if anything, had just happened.

“Mind if I sit here?”
“Seriously? Are you ever going to stop asking that?” I muttered as I slid over in the overstuffed chair in her living room that was really only for one person. She wiggled into the space next to me and bumped my shoulder with hers.
“Probably not, at this point its just kind of funny.”
I arched my eyebrows at her and she reached over and pushed my bangs out of my eyes; something she only did when she was concerned that I was upset.
“What’s going on?” She asked softly.
I sighed heavily. I really shouldn’t be doing this here. She had just graduated the police academy and this was her celebration party. I had put on a happy face, but after a while I just needed to be away. I had left the backyard quietly but she noticed; she always noticed.
“Its nothing, go back to your party.”
“Its not the same without you. I wouldn’t have made it this far without you.”
I flinched at the words and she furrowed her eyebrows together.
“Come on Nik, talk to me.”
“I just…I’m scared. Its real now, ya know?”
“What is?”
“You…being a police officer. I mean, I knew its what you wanted. I know what you want after this is the FBI, but…it was never real before. Now it is. You’re really going to be out there, getting shot at. People are going to try to kill you Tori…”
“I know that. I can’t promise you I’m not going to get hurt. All I can say is that I’ll go out there and do my best to make it back every day.”
I bit my lip and stared at my hands folded in my lap. I was happy for her, I honestly was. But she was my best friend, and had been for 3 years. The thought of losing her… the thought of wondering about losing her every day…was daunting. She watched me quietly then reached out and put her finger under my chin and turned my face towards hers.
“Hey…I know its going to take getting used to, but this is what I really want. And I want you to be okay with it.”
I nodded sofly.
“I am…its just…new is all. I’ll get used to it. Just…”
“I know, and I’ll do my best. That’s all I can promise you.”
“Alright. Lets get back to your party then.”
She smiled at me and stood up from the chair then took my hand and pulled me back out into her backyard.
That ends part 2. Anyone still interested? Lol