“Fun class, eh? I think I could get into the whole science thing.” Kelly bumped my shoulder with hers, wiggling her eyebrows as she popped the last of her chocolate in her mouth.

Shooting her a knowing look, I said, “Shane, huh?”

“Ugh! I’m in love!” She threw up her arms with her long, layered brown hair flowing with the wind. “Next week will be the best week of my life.”

My best friend, a through and through skater girl. She always wore edgy makeup, a graphic tee, and always carried a board with her wherever she went. She also loved to post 2013 era style photos to her social media. I loved her endlessly.

We became the best of friends at thirteen, and we fell into an effortless yin and yang of operations. She became my sister when she was there for me while my mother was at the end of her battle and eventually passed.

Then, when I turned eighteen, I found my mother left me a huge fucking inheritance in secret on top of her wishes to have me take over her company by the time I turned twenty-one. We were always well off, but my mother–bless her–hid the fact that we were some of the wealthiest people in the nation from me.

She left me a note.

I know that you know we had money. More than enough to be comfortable, but I never wanted you to be spoiled rotten. You have made me proud to be your mom, you have such a good head on your shoulders. I just hope I’ve prepared you enough for the life that lies ahead of you now.

All my love,

Mom

When my eighteenth hit, a lawyer handed me a few documents to sign and a check for multi-millions of dollars. I knew next to nothing when I was passed to my next of kin, Slyvia.

Slyvia, my aunt, hated my mother with a passion. She was always concerned with herself, her boyfriend of the hour, money, and not me. When I was legal, I was asked to leave–which wasn’t a shock since she refused to acknowledge me when she wasn’t trying to hit me.

Wishing she was better, I lamented the heavy neglect that turned into full abuse whenever she drank. And she drank–often. Her life was “too important” to get screwed up by her somewhat estranged sister’s kid. She often told me what she really thought of my mom. It wasn’t fun.

Kelly was my rock through it all, when she could be. I had a tight leash. Thank God we moved in with each other the day my check hit the bank. Without her, I may as well have died.

“So,” I started, looking at her with appreciation for her just being her. “Want to see what shopping we can do?”

She pointed behind me. “Looks like we might have some company for it.”