Cast Away (Wrecked #1)
Chapter 1
Thirteen year old
1
January 19
Dear Ava,
I can’t believe I’ve missed missing your birthday again this year. I’m so sorry about the change of plan. I was looking forward to spending the entire weekend with you. I swear, since we moved down south, we barely ever make it to Michigan anymore. There’s always something coming up. Not that I miss the chilly winters, though. I prefer the warmth of the weather here. Before winter break, I went to school wearing only a hoodie and sneakers. I could’ve never done that in Elk River in December. Can you imagine it? I’m sure you’re covered in ten layers right now because you’re always cold.
How was your winter break? Did you like spending your vacation in Aspen? I wish we could have come with you. But Dad’s business has just started picking up, and I understand it was better and more logical for my parents to stay here. Not for me, though. I really wanted a white Christmas. Hopefully, next year we’ll be able to go together. My friend Riri and I decorated a palm tree with blue lights because I thought it would look good. I’m sure you would have approved.
You probably have received your gift by now. Well, I’m sure Mom sent you something pretty to wear, but I wanted you to have something I made. I used purple, white, and navy-blue threads because I know they’re your favorite colors. I made a matching one for myself too, so it means we’re connected even though we live far apart.
Riri helped me with the wrapping. We talk about you all the time. Sometimes it feels like you’re here with us. I can’t wait for you to visit and you two to meet. I’m sure you will get along just fine.
Mom and I recently redecorated my room, and now I have a bigger bed. Do you remember the old one in the cottage our parents rented that summer? So cramped it was when both of us tried to fit in it. I just had a flashback of the time you fell off the bed in the middle of the night, and we decided to lie in our sleeping bags on the floor instead. No, I still say I didn't push you. And no matter what you believe, I don’t kick in my sleep. But now when you come over, there is enough space, and we can share my bed.
Do you have plans for next summer? Maybe I could come to visit you for a week or two. It would be fun to spend some time together like we used to. I’ll talk to my parents. See if they agree. I’ll be fifteen so it makes more sense if I’m the one who makes the bus ride on my own. I wouldn’t want you to travel alone.
I miss you.
Happy thirteenth birthday, Ava!
Love,
Cici
P.S. Call me after you read this letter.
P.P.S. Riri says hello.
March 6
Ava!!!!
You won’t believe it. I auditioned for the cheerleading squad for next year, and I got in. Riri helped me practice until I knew the choreography by heart. This was so stressful. I thought my heart would jump out of my chest. But I did it. I made the team.
How are you doing? Did your parents agree to let you spend your spring break with Iris at her cottage? I heard Mom talking to your mama about it the other day.
Last Friday, during lunch break, I was reading your letter, and some friends at school were asking why we write letters to each other instead of emails. And when I said it was more exciting to receive a real envelope through the mail than a chime on a computer, they looked at me like I was crazy. I wish you had been here that day because you would have thought it was funny. Their faces… OMG. I almost told them we use pigeons to deliver the mail (you know, like in that movie), and I’m pretty sure they would have believed me. Anyway, thanks for the pumpkin cookie recipe you sent in your last letter. I can’t wait to try it with Mom.
Dad promised we’d talk about my coming to visit you next summer. He’s not really enthusiastic about this cross-country journey at my age. But he’s being a good sport and said we’d discuss it. Cross your fingers. Hope he says yes. Cross your toes too, Ava. Just in case.
Or maybe…just maybe…the three of us will come to Michigan, and it will all be like it used to be. Sleepovers and camping nights in your backyard. And painting our nails and doing our faces. Dressing up. Having scary movie marathons.
Oops. Look at the time. I gotta go. I’m not done with my math homework. And I really need to finish that novel for English lit tomorrow. I hate tests.
See you soon (hopefully).
Love,
Cici
P.S. There’s a new boy in my English class, and his name is Camden. He has blue eyes, and he invited me to the movies on Friday night. I said yes. I’ll keep you updated.
P.P.S. Oh, I forgot. My friend Riri and I finished in second place at the school science fair last week. Life is awesome these days.
April 3
Dear Ava
Okay, there’s so much I need to tell you. Remember when I told you Camden, the new boy in class, invited me to the movies? Well, the following week, we played miniature golf together, and he kissed me. And now I have a boyfriend. I’m sure you would approve. He’s nice and sweet and always wants to hold my hand and carry my backpack. I’m super happy, and I wish you were here to hang out with us. And meet him.
Well, I want you to meet all my friends. You should move down here. You will like it since it’s summer almost all year-round.
I received the silly pictures you sent me and the one of us when we were little kids. I can’t believe we were that small.
I was thinking that when we’re both in college, or some time after, we should be roommates. Imagine how much fun it will be to spend all this time together and have our own place… I know it’s a few years from now, but it’s never too early to start planning. And maybe we can also go to see the Eiffel Tower together after graduation. Have a girls’ trip. Let’s talk about it when I visit you this summer and make a list of all our dreams.
I miss you.
Can you believe I have a boyfriend? I don’t. LOL.
Mom is here and says hi. She’s making your favorite dish for dinner.
Tell Iris I said Happy Birthday.
Love,
Cici
P.S. I wish you were here.
P.P.S. Dad said he’d call your father next weekend to figure something out for our summer vacation. Fingers crossed.