June 1973....

I continue to run through the garden with the object filled with cold liquid in my hand. I stop to tie my shoe behind a tree looking out for my opponent. I bend down to tie my shoe and hear a faint laughter followed by a very large amount of water poured on my head. I scream and fall onto the ground.
"Michael!" I scream before getting back up and chasing him

He laughs in victory, running up to climb an apple tree in the middle of the garden.
"Can't get me now" he says with a smirk
"But I do know how go to the movies by myself" I say slowly walking away
"You wouldn't leave me up here now would ya" he replies with a slight chuckle
"Oh but I would" I remark standing by the door. He climbs out of the tree and runs over to me.
"Okay, we can go now!" He says walking in front of me
"Wait!" As he turns around I throw a water balloon directly in his face
"Now we can go" I say going into the guest room and changing into my clothes that I had brought for the day. I go back downstairs and wait for Michael,until I hear yelling from upstairs.

"You can't do that Joseph, I won't let you take away his only friend" Katherine says
"She's ruining his career, his future,his life. And it is final, we will be moving in the fall" he says back, I then see Michael come from downstairs crying. He pulls my arm and runs out the front door. He leads me to the garden where we were before and goes all the way out to the pond without saying a word.
"Michael?" I say , he lifts his head and I wipe away the tear that was streaming down his face.
"Tell me what's wrong" I say already knowing what happened
"We will be moving away in a couple of months, Joseph is making us go to California to make more money, make us more known" he says looking away
"Well, we can still write to each other and plan to visit" I say
"But you don't understand how boring it will be without you, your my only friend Nicole" he says softly with tears formed in his eyes
"We have another month,everything is gonna be alright. I promise, we just need to send each other letters and I can get a job during the summer so I can come and visit you, I will always be here for you alright" I say in assurance

"Alright " he says with a small grin pushing me to the ground with a hug. We sit there and stare at the clouds for about an half hour. It was time for me to go home. I stand by the door of the Jacksons house waiting to say goodbye to everyone. Once that happens I walk down the road to my house,anxious for the punishment that awaits me at home this time.

I slowly walk into the door to she my father waiting for me with his leather strap. He doesn't say anything until I close the door.
"Where have you been all day?" He bitterly asks

"I was at Michaels house, we had a sleepover,remember, his mother said I could sleep in the guest room, and we had a water balloon fight " I say trying to fit every detail into one sentence
"You didn't tell me you would have a water balloon fight , you could have slipped and fallen onto your wrist and broke it. And there goes the waste of my talent,no more art means no more money!" He screams striking me with the strap over and over again. I cry softly waiting for him to finish and then go up to my room. I lay on my bed and try to think of a plan to get myself out. But I cant, anywhere I go he will find me.

October 1973

The day has come where I have to say goodbye to Michael, if I can physically speak the words. We sit here in his room not really talking or making eye contact because we both know if we do it will only end up in tears.
"Nicole?" Michael says with a shaken voice

"Yes?"
"Promise you won't forget to write me"
"I will write you everyday, that's a promise"
"I don't want to go" he says with a tear streaming down his face

"I know, and to be honest I don't want you to go either, but nothing can keep us apart right?"

He looks at me for a moment
"Right" he replies before I help him carry his bags downstairs.

We stand alone in the doorway as everyone else is running around upstairs to make sure they have everything
"Are you wearing your bracelet?" I ask
"Of course, are you?" He asks
"Yes, now I want you to go to California and let everyone know your name alright?"
"I can try" he says pulling me into a tight hug, I feel him shake onto my shoulder letting me know that he was crying, I soon let tears slip . Now we both stand in the doorway holding each other and crying. He pulls away after a good three minutes and wipes his face, he steps closer to me and wipes my tears with his sleeve.
"I knew I wasn't going to be the only one, its okay to cry" he whispers
"I'm sorry" I say almost inaudible
" Its fine, and Nicole?"
"Yes?"
"I- uh, well I kinda-how do I ?"he stutterers
" What is it?" I ask confused

"Michael, we gotta go come on" Joseph yells from the yard.

He gives a frustrated look and sighs
"I will be sure to write you as soon as I get of the plane, I will see you soon" he says hugging me once more kissing my cheek and then leaving.