The Summer My Best Friend Died (CHAPTER 3 UP!!!)

The Summer My Best Friend Died

The day my best friend died, was like any other. I was spending the night over at my best friend, Sarah Carson’s, with my two other best friends, Dani Foster and Kristine DeLouis. Sarah was the absolute richest out of all of us, so we always stayed at her house. The Carson family had a guesthouse that was about half the size of the main house, but it was completely perfect for four girls to hang out. It had everything that the teenage girl dreams about. A giant flat-screen, a popcorn maker, a hot tub, and about everything else you could think of. We called the guest house, our headquarters. Yes, you could say it was exclusive, and you had to either be friends with us, or a hot guy to get inside, because that’s exactly how we liked it.

Out of all the guys who came into our headquarters, Tripp McMables came almost every day. Every single one of us had known him since we started school at Hutchpath Prep, in kindergarten. Tripp was a dreamy boy with blonde hair that was always in his deep and amazing eyes. He had a sense of humor and wasn’t a totally jock that didn’t have time for his friends either. And out of all of us girls, I was the closest to Tripp. He was my best friend, but I could never tell that the Dani, Kristine and Sarah. They’d flip, because we all supposed to be best friends, with no Tripp in the picture.

Secretly, for years I had a crush on Tripp, and the only person who knew, was, well, Tripp himself. After about half of the seventh grade school year, I really really liked him, so it took all of my willpower not to tell him. Or anyone for that matter. But the week we came back from winter break, I cracked and told him over text message. He was cool with it, but didn’t really say much, so I was crushed.

But over the years, let’s just say I’ve changed a lot from the happy, shy girl with the frizzy blonde hair and pink glasses that I used to be until last summer.

The summer before my best friend died.




Ch. 1
“But Holden… why can’t me and Kristine come with you guys to the mall?” Dani, my good friend, whined, starting to pull on my hand. Sarah had called me, asking me to go to the Infinity, a.k.a. the mall, with her. Just us two. Unfortunately, Dani found out and told Kristine, so they were livid and acting like we had just killed their whole world off.

I rolled my eyes. “Dani, I don’t know why Sarah wants me to go with her. Okay? I promise if something big happens that I’ll tell you…” I lied. I knew exactly why Sarah wanted me to go. She said that she needed to tell me something and that she needed my help getting what she wanted. And there was no way that I was telling Dani a thing. Dani couldn’t keep her mouth closed. Not even when it involved hurting a friend. But let’s not talk about past experiences involving that.

Dani gave me a happy look and smiled, “You better…” before walking over to her biking and going back to her house.

I breathed a sigh of relief and heard a car horn. “Mom, I’m going to the mall!” I screamed. My mom didn’t care what I did. All she cared about was letting me look good, because of what happened the last day of sixth grade. About six kids came up to me, and started to talk crap about how ugly I looked. And then they did some other things that I do not want to repeat. So I ran home crying, and told my mom. So from then on she bought me absolutely everything I wanted.

I ran over to the black BMW that had pulled up in my driveway, and got inside. Sarah was sitting up in the passenger seat. “So what is it?” I smiled at her.

Sarah turned around and whispered through her teeth, ”I’ll tell you when we get there!” but I could tell she was just afraid to tell me. This better be good.


We pulled up to the Infinity and got out of the car. “Bye Ralph!” Sarah yelled to her driver before he took off.

I turned to her. “Okay what is it?”

“Guess…” was all she said.

I thought in my head for a moment. Well, if she brought me to the mall to tell me something and help her “get what she wants” then she probably wanted some guy that I knew pretty well. But the weird thing was I only knew like two guys. Brandon Caster from across the street, who was pretty cool, and then… Tripp. My stomach tightened.

“You like Tripp?” I managed.

Sarah looked at me funny. “How did you know?”

“I… I’m not sure…” I coughed. My stomach was rolling around, and I felt sick. How come I had been so stupid!? In our group if your friend liked a guy, and so did you, the first one to tell got to date him. But I hadn’t told anybody.

Sarah giggled. “See, that’s why I need you. He totally trusts you more then me or the other girls. So get to him and find out who he likes!”

“Well, I-I can’t…”

“What do you mean you can’t?” She squeaked. I knew that I couldn’t because Sarah had everything. She had amazing blonde hair that had a perfect amount of curl in it, and the most amazing green eyes, almost with a few freckles across her nose and long dark eye lashes. Her high cheekbones and pointed chin just added to her natural beauty. If I told Tripp he would be falling all over himself to ask her out.

“I just can’t…” I mumbled under my breath, trying not to make eye contact. I knew that if I did, I would start sobbing.

“Holden!” Sarah barked. She was getting angry with me now. “Come on… I was going to buy you a bunch of stuff from Tiffany! Why do you think I chose to tell you at the mall?”

I just shrugged. It felt painful.

Sarah shook her head and grabbed my arm. “Maybe after I buy you some stuff, you will change your mind…”

I rolled my eyes, still not looked straight at her, and tossed my dark hair behind my shoulder. We walked into Tiffany’s and Sarah picked up a beautiful pair of earrings. “Totally you…” She smiled, holding them up to my ear. I was still at a loss for words. I didn’t need her to buy me anything, but having Sarah buy you stuff made you a level higher in our group. Even though I was the second highest anyways.

We ended up leaving Tiffany’s, with a huge bag. Of course I had to hold it, while Sarah just trotted around in her True Religion Jeans and flowy purple cami, blowing a kiss at every semi-attractive boy she saw. I wonder what it would be like to be like Sarah. Gorgeous, and confident, getting everything thing she wanted.

Along with everything I wanted, for herself.




Ch. 2

“I bet you can’t handle it…” Sarah teased. We were at a sleepover in the guest house, playing Truth or Dare. She had just asked me to go run around the street in my bikini I had just bought, singing All the Single Ladies by Beyonce. Like that was gonna happen. Especially because Tripp lived down a few houses across the street, and I knew for a fact the he was outside and would crack up and tease me for months.

I rolled my eyes at Sarah. “Come on Holden…”Dani and Kristine sing-songed. They almost always went along with whatever Sarah said, thinking it would make them more popular. But that wouldn’t happen.

I took a deep breath and whispered, “Fine…” and grabbed my bikini from my suitcase, hurrying to the bathroom to change.

When I came back out I Sarah, Dani, and Kristine weren’t sitting in a circle on their sleeping bag like they had been when I went into the bathroom. “Uhh, guys?” I managed. My mouth felt dry and scratchy like somebody had just shoved a bunch of sand paper in my mouth. But then I noticed that the door to the guest house was open, so I grabbed a satin pink robe, that Sarah got for Christmas last year, and put it on, jogging out the door.

I saw a glimpse of Kristine’s charcoal hair and ran over to them. The three girls were standing in a line, not moving at all. “Uhh Sarah? What the heck’s going on..?” I asked, realizing what they were looking at. There were two police cars, and three fire trucks in front of Tripp’s house. “What the..?” I thought aloud. My heart sped up and I had a hard time swallowing. I was afraid if Tripp was okay.
I saw Tripp running over from across the street. He was smiling, so I knew nobody had died. “What’s going on?” Dani shrieked.

Tripp stood right in front of us and said, “Well, a guy was trying to break in. But he cracked a window and my mom heard him and screamed. And then my Dad called the police.”
Sarah was making flirty faces at Tripp. “Well…” she slowly said, “I’m glad you’re okay.”

Tripp grinned. “Really? I didn’t think you cared.”

Sarah was eating it all up. “Yeah…” She extended her arm out and put her hand on Tripp’s shoulder. Tripp just looked at her smooth manicured hand. “Super glad…”

“Well,” I cut in. “Did they get the guy?”

“No that’s why they’re still here.” Tripp answered, shrugging off Sarah’s hand and turning towards me. Sarah gave me a look that I could always recognize. She was mad with me. But then her smirk turned into a smile that looked evil, like the Grinch.

Sarah grabbed me by my shoulders and pushed me towards the house’s front door. “Talk to him now…” she commanded, referring to our day at the mall.

“I don’t-“ I was cut off my Sarah putting her hand up.

“No. You’ll do it now, or you’ll be leaving our group. Get it?” I hated it when Sarah had to threaten.

“Fine…” I slumped, heading over to Tripp.

Sarah turned towards Dani and Kristine and snapped. The girls followed, leaving me alone with Tripp.
“Tripp… I have a real question I need to ask you. I mean, it’s kind of urgent I guess you could say.” I shyly said.

He grinned largely. “I actually have to talk to you too.”My stomach did a flop. Tripp must have figured that Sarah was into him and wanted me to ask her out for him. Typical boy.

“Okay, well… I needed to ask you if-“ I started but stopped. Tripp was looked straight at me with his deep brown eyes. He head was turned a little and he was getting closer to me by the second. I could feel his breath on my lips and cheeks, and I had a feeling that he could feel mine. “I needed to ask you if…” I rambled. Tripp’s mouth was about three inches from me. My stomach moved again and I looked away.

Tripp seemed confused at my actions. “I thought… that’s what you wanted…” I could tell he was embarrassed, but still wanted a kiss or something. Quickly I glanced at the window of the guest house. Sarah wasn’t watching me, so she didn’t have to know.

I turned back to Tripp and stared into his deep eyes again. We were an inch and a half apart because he had moved closer to me when I had turned away. Out of natural reaction, I forcefully pressed my lips against Tripp’s. He seemed to go along with it and I felt his arms wrap around my back. I put my arms around his neck and kissed him again. And again. And again.

But then I realized we had been kissing for over two minutes. I pulled away and looked over at the window to see a red curtain move, and a flash of amazing, wavy, blonde hair.

“I have to go.” I mumbled, pushing past Tripp and walking towards my own house.

I then got a text message.


Sarah: You… and Tripp… are so dead to me…



Ch. 3

I slammed down on the little chair swing on my front porch, sniffling. It was getting late, and the front door was locked. My mom wasn’t even home. She had gone on a trip to New York for the weekend with her best friend, Missy. Something about a ten year friendship trip or whatever. It was basically an excuse to go spend a few hundred bucks on clothes and overpriced food. So it just was unlucky that I had been staying at Sarah’s for the weekend, because she had kicked me out. Dani, Kristine, and Sarah were probably talking about how I’m such a brat.

But I couldn’t cry. I had sobbed my whole way home. So I was all cried out and my eyes felt really dry. So I figured that I could sleep out on the patio, with a simple robe to keep me warm. I kicked the robe onto the floor and screamed. My eyes stung, my stomach flipped, and my heart was pounding so hard I could barely breath without coughing.

I took out my cell phone and reread my last text message.


Sarah: You… and Tripp… are so dead to me…


Those words stung like a wasp stinging your forehead. It was painful, but you had to deal with it anyways.

My phone vibrated for a second time that horrid night.


Unknown Number: Hey… r u ok?


My heart sped up again. Maybe it was that creepy guy who broke into Tripp’s house? Maybe it was Kristine? Maybe it was… Tripp?

I decided to just ask.


Holden: Who is this?

Unknown Number: Tripp McMables.


I added him to my contacts and replied.


Holden: O ok. Yeah I’m okay I guess…

Tripp: Then why r u laying out on your porch?

Holden: Wait how did u know?


I looked up and saw Tripp standing at the steps to my porch. “Hey…” I calmly said.
Immeadiately I stood up and ran over to him, and simply hugged him. I tried not to cry all over again, but my eyes still burned, so I couldn’t. “I feel like crap…” I mumbled, still not letting go of him. He had put his arms around me too.

Finally I let go and went back over to the porch swing. “Wait. Won’t your parents want you to come home? It’s like ten!”

“No. I told them I was staying the night at Brandon’s.” he shrugged. Brandon to houses down from Sarah.

I smiled a huge grin. And Tripp sat down next to me, grabbing my hand. Leaning back, the wicker on the back of the seat felt cold and hard on my exposed back. “Oh crap! I’m still in my bathing suit!”

“Here.” Tripp smiled, handing me his old, worn jacket.

“Thanks…” I smiled and slipped it on, closing my eyes.


And apparently I fell asleep.

Nice start! But you said Alison in the third-to-last paragraph. (:

Omigawd, it's cuz I had just watched PLL. LOL!

I'mma put a new chapter soon! xD

I like it so far! I can't wait to see what happens.
Poor Holden i like that name though.

I liked it a lot so far, I can't wait to read more. I loved the intro. (:

Thanks so much!!! xD

Chapter two is up!!!

I like this a lot! Very interesting!

This looks A LOT like Pretty Little Liars, but I still love it xD

Haha, I agree with Em. It does feel like Pretty Little Liars, but I don't know. Write more, please.

I love thew new chapter!

Can't wait for more!

Love it! But it seemed like Alison was SArah and you guys were her followers. And Tripp is Ian. XD But you told me what's going to happen, so I can't say anything *zips lips* WRITE MORE!

<3--[Emily]--<< wrote:This looks A LOT like Pretty Little Liars, but I still love it xD

But it's a dude that died... and I have hardly read the first two books, so I don't know much about PLL yet...

•○•[Lemon-Licious]•○• wrote:Love it! But it seemed like Alison was SArah and you guys were her followers. And Tripp is Ian. XD But you told me what's going to happen, so I can't say anything *zips lips* WRITE MORE!

Who's Ian???

Chapter three up!

Aw! How cute!

LOL. Thanks Cass...

Um, Ian in the very first book. Melissa's boyfriend, and I'm not saying more 'cause I'm on the fourth, and I don't wanna give spoilers.

Oh yeah. Ian. Haha...

Im'ma make chapter 4 now... x3

really good! i love tripp! cant wait to read more!

Mandy-Love wrote:

<3--[Emily]--<< wrote:This looks A LOT like Pretty Little Liars, but I still love it xD

But it's a dude that died... and I have hardly read the first two books, so I don't know much about PLL yet...

A guy dies in Pret-- Whoops :O Anyways, it was just with the Alison clone & the barn and stuff. Don't worry, I'm sure it's nothing like the books, it was just what I got from reading the first chapter.

<3--[Emily]--<< wrote:

Mandy-Love wrote:

<3--[Emily]--<< wrote:This looks A LOT like Pretty Little Liars, but I still love it xD

But it's a dude that died... and I have hardly read the first two books, so I don't know much about PLL yet...

A guy dies in Pret-- Whoops :O Anyways, it was just with the Alison clone & the barn and stuff. Don't worry, I'm sure it's nothing like the books, it was just what I got from reading the first chapter.

I know that a whats his face dies. I'm reading the fourth one now... And it's a LOT different. Ask Cassie. I kind of gave her the plot because I was thinking of it while I pmed her, so I just told her.