Nico and I are sitting on the edge of his bed; our knees facing each other. I'm trying to keep cool for Nico's sake, but seeing him go through a hard time hurts me.

He needs me, though.

That's why I listen. I listen when he tells me how hard it's been lately living under the same roof as his parents. I listen when he tells me how his dad is barely present. I listen when he tells me how, when his dad is present, the bickering between his parents is unbearable to listen to.

That's why I hug him. I hug him when his tone starts to break. I hug him when he tells me that watching his mom mask her misery is harder than anything else he's ever had to witness. I hug him when I realize that, despite the fact that Gillian's been a shitty mother, he still loves her and cares about her unconditionally.

I lean my head on Nico's shoulder, not thinking twice about the gesture. And when he gently places his head over mine, I know that comforting him in this moment is exactly what he needs. Just like Nico can read my every thought, I can read his. I know when he's hurting. And I know when he needs someone, even when he thinks he doesn't.

"Thanks for being there for me," he whispers.

"Always," I whisper back.

Nico and I spend a few more minutes where we are. Just sitting. Not talking. And it's perfect. Then, he asks me if I'm staying for dinner. When I tell him that I should probably head home, he changes his question to a plea, and I know that I can't say no. I don't want to say no.

We head downstairs and Nico apologies to Hayley for being cold before. Another thing about Nico - when he's wrong, he knows it, and he makes up for it. This is nothing that Hayley isn't used to, so she brushes it off. Plus, I don't think that she blames Nico. In fact, I think she sympathizes with him. She knows what goes on in this house better than anyone else does.

We're about to sit at the table when Hayley informs Nico that his mom is on the landline for him.

"She said that she tried calling your cell a few times, but you didn't pick up," Hayley tells him.

Nico searches his pockets. "I must've left it in my room."

"Take the call," I tell him. "I'll grab your phone from upstairs."

"Thanks, BC," he smiles at me and says.

I make my way back to Nico's room and turn the lights on. I don't see the phone on his bed, so I check his closet.

Not there either.

I walk over to his nightstand and open the drawer. There it is. It's sitting on top of a piece of paper. But not just any piece of paper.

No way. It can't be.

I gave him that piece of paper.

It's still in perfect condition.

Nico had gone away to sleep-away camp for the first time when he was 12 and asked me to write to him when he was there. So I did. I wrote my very first letter.

Bella, Age 10 / Nico, Age 12

Dear Nico,

You asked me to write to you. So here it is - my very first letter to anyone. Obviously my first of something involves you.

I went to town with Grandma Ruby and mom today. We ate at this pizza place and then went shopping. Grandma Ruby tried buying mom a pair of shoes, but mom wouldn't let her. The shoes were really pretty. They were suede and had a bow at the tips. Why doesn't mom ever let Grandma Ruby buy her anything? Is it because we're poor and she doesn't want Grandma Ruby feeling bad for us?

After shopping, we went for ice cream. I got cookies and cream on a sugar cone with chocolate sprinkles. When I got home, Remi came over. I wish you were home so that we could all go swimming in your pool.

How is camp? Are the people there nice? Mom asked me if I want to go to sleep-away next year, but I said no. I don't think I'd like being away from home for so long.

Do you miss it...home, that is?

I can tell you what I miss. I miss hanging out with you.

Counting down the days till you come home.

Love always,
BC

Ps. Brooks is the most annoying person on this planet.

I smile at the note, amazed that Nico still has it after all these years. That was the only letter that I ever wrote to him while he was away because I knew that I didn't have to write more than that. That one letter was enough.

"I can't believe you found it," Nico enters the room and says. I'm so distracted by the letter that I forgot why I came in here in the first place.

Nico's cell phone. Right.

I turn around and hold up the letter. "You still have it?" I ask him, not meaning it as a question, even though it comes across that way. I'm just in shock, and that's why I ask.

"Of course," he says, walking over to me. "I still read it sometimes."

I faintly smile as a wave of emotions flood through me. Happiness, disbelief, nostalgia. Then, I playfully swat his arm. "You never wrote me back!"

He smirks. "That's because if I did, I knew you'd write back to me."

"Yeah, dummy, that's how it works."

"I know," he says, his tone more somber this time. "But all it would take is another letter from you to leave camp before it actually ended and come back home. And I knew I couldn't do that."

The mood is becoming heavy, and I don't think that I can handle heavy right now, so I decide to shift it. "So, you decided it was better to leave me with Brooks all summer and make me suffer?"

But he doesn't answer my question. Instead, he responds not at all how I was expecting him to. "Why do you always do that? Every time I try and open my heart to you just a little bit, you shut it down, like you want no part of it?" He takes the letter from my grip, folds it up, and places it back in the drawer of his nightstand as I stand beside him uncomfortably. "I don't get you, BC," he shakes his head and states.

"Nico...," I say, trying to salvage some part of this conversation.

"Dinner's ready," is all he says before leaving his room and heading downstairs.

Dinner is pretty quiet. It's just me and Nico sitting at the long table, munching on homemade Italian food. Every time I think of speaking up, I don't. What's there to say? The purpose of me being here right now is to keep Nico company, and for that, words aren't necessary.

Nico pushes out his chair, and my eyes follow him. He doesn't say what he's up to, so I pry.

"Where you going?"

"I don't know," he shrugs his shoulders and says. "Thinking of taking the canoe out." He pauses, looking at me. "What do you say? Care to go for a ride?"

I chew on my lower lip, thinking about what the right thing to do here is. I know that Nico still needs me, and even if he didn't, there's no where else I'd rather be.

"Okay," I say, swallowing down the guilt that I feel. "How about you take me home?"

Like old times, I want to say. But don't. I think Nico and I have rehashed the past enough for one night.

"Okay," he nods, his eyes still on me. "Meet me on the dock in 5 minutes."

***

Bella, Age 13 / Nico, Age 15

"C'mon, BC, hurry up!" Nico shouts as I sprint down the boardwalk that starts at Grandma Ruby's backyard and ends at the pond across from Nico's house.

"I'm going as fast as I can," I tell him, almost out of breath.

Nico came up with the idea to take the canoe out this sunny afternoon. His parents have been in Spain for two weeks, and mom and Grandma Ruby are at the movies, so we were both at home, bored, doing nothing.

Once my feet hit the edge of the dock, Nico walks up to the tip of the canoe, lending out his hand for me to take.

"Careful," he guides me in and says.

My feet hit the bottom of the canoe and I gaze at Nico. He looks very handsome today, wearing a windbreaker and shorts. His brown hair is short, but not short enough to keep the wind from moving it.

"You can let go of my hand now, Nico," I tease, and he simpers at me, finally releasing his grip. I take a seat inside as Nico grabs the paddles and starts to steer the canoe away from Grandma Ruby's house. "So, where to captain?"

"Well, I didn't have a destination in mind," he admits. "I just wanted to see you."

I can't help but beam, and he smiles back at me. It was in that moment that I knew with 100-percent certainty that I'd go anywhere with Nico. Destination, no destination...it didn't matter. As long as it meant being near him, I was happy.

And that's what we did for 3 hours. We sailed around the pond with no destination. Just talking. In each other's company.

And you know what? It was one of the best days of my life.