Free Seeing Red by Sidney Halston Page B

her
move to Georgetown and about Oliver’s internship. There were a lot
of moments of comfortable silence. They knew each other well enough
not to have to fill the void of the silence with inane
conversation. This time, they didn’t stop. They drove straight to
San Antonio, arrived at Oliver’s apartment Friday night, and went
straight to sleep in their respective rooms. The next morning, they
had a late breakfast together. She did some laundry and packed her
bags for the trip the following morning. Saturday evening, instead
of going out for dinner, Oliver ordered Italian food.
    “So, what a week, huh?” Oliver stated.
    “It sure was. I’m sorry that you have to go through
all this with Xander, but I hope you make an effort to live your
life and go on your internship. At least he’s in rehab.”
    “I suppose.”
    His hand was on the table, and she placed her hand
on his. “I’m going to miss you, Oly. It’s going to be different
this time, I think.” It was more of a question than a
statement.
    “Yep. We’ll write at least once a week? And we won’t
go seven years without seeing each other?”
    “It’s a deal.” she squeezed the top of his hand, and
he smiled affectionately. There was a melancholic feel in the
apartment.
    “I’ll miss you, Jillian. Really miss you.”
    “Me too, Oly. Me too.” They picked up the kitchen
and went to bed—separately. The next morning before she left, she
looked around the room—Alexander’s room—and felt a pang of
sadness.
    She grabbed a piece of paper and a pen.
    Xander,
    I’m sorry we couldn’t spend time together. You’ve
always been my best friend. Even with the distance of seven years,
I’ve never felt you were far away. The memories we had on the
island are memories that I will treasure forever. They’re the
memories that make me the happiest. I think about you all the time.
I think about you when I hear or see something funny, and I think
of what your reaction would be. You push me to be the best because
I always think that if I’m not the best, at whatever I ‘m doing,
you’ll somehow know and then you’ll beat me—and you know that I
can’t let you beat me! You’re competing with me even when you don’t
know you are. Please take care of yourself and of Oly. He loves you
so much, as do I. I couldn’t bear it if I lost you. Make me proud,
Xander. Do something great with your life.
    I love you, Xander,
    -Red
    She placed the note deep inside his sock drawer and
hoped that one day soon he’d find it.
    She noticed that the apartment was quiet and that
Oliver was still asleep, so she grabbed another piece of paper.
    Oly,
    I didn’t want to wake you, and I had to go catch my
plane. Please take care of yourself. Alexander will be fine.
Remember, I saw it! You are my rock—you’ve always been my rock and
my constant. Now it is your turn to live your life and go on your
adventures. You don’t need to worry about us. Enjoy your
internship. Work hard and land your dream job. Please keep in
touch. Once a week—remember. I hope we don’t go another seven years
without seeing each other. Even with all the craziness, I enjoyed
spending time with you.
    I enjoyed that almost-kiss too.
    I love you, Oliver.
    -Jillian
    She placed the note on the refrigerator door with a
magnet as she walked out the door.
     
     
     

Chapter 6
    Confidence is
the feeling you sometimes have, before you fully understand the
situation.
    -Helen
    4 YEARS LATER
    Jillian
    Oliver and Jill kept their promise, and once a week
they’d write or call, but they never saw each other. Through
Oliver, she knew that Alexander had been clean for the last four
years and he had gone off to undergrad and received his degree the
same year that Jillian graduated from Georgetown University. Jill
and Alexander had not spoken a word during the last four years.
Alexander and Oliver’s relationship, for the first time in many
years, was good—not great, but good. They spoke frequently.
Alexander had