The Guitar Keychain

"I didn't think I'd see her, James" it was a bright day outside today and I was enjoying my day till I saw my "dear ol' childhood friend". She had moved back in town and this was crazy, literally crazy. She left 4 years ago, saying that her Dad got shifted and had to go to another city to work. Her mom died when she was 7 so basically, she only had me and Uncle Will. Or that's what I thought. Then today, when I was done with my usual morning jog, walking back home, I just glanced towards her house and I saw a girl. At first, I thought "oh well someone finally decided to come and stay there" and then I saw that familiar key chain, a small guitar key chain. The one I gave to Bell on her 11th birthday. And I still remembered how she cried when she got it that day. I thought it was just my own imagination then, once I realized, I ran back home, few blocks away, and slam the door shut. Mom and Dad were still sleeping upstairs and James, who was making breakfast, poked his head out at the sound of the door's slam. "Good morn-" and before he could complete his sentence I shouted- "MORNING BUDDY" and rushed upstairs. I was sweating so bad, I got in the shower and started overthinking. "Why is she here?" "How was she during all those time?" and stupid things I asked myself. But the most important thing that came to my mind was, why did I run home when I saw her, and why am I so surprised?" I rinsed all the shampoo from my hair and put on whatever clothes I could find, then went down to have breakfast. Usually, only James and me had breakfast, Mom and Dad were just like some teenagers, always so lovey-dovey, but that's just normal in this house. "So tel me about it" James asked as I sat at the counter, watching him fry eggs. "Huh?"- I asked him, confused. "What's making you so flustered early in the morning kid?", he grinned. "I saw her, she's back" I sighed. "Who in this whole wide world are you talking about?", and I muttered her name out. "Ugh, so that's it?". I looked up. What did he mean, and that's exactly what I asked him. "She called this morning, while you were out jogging and she asked for you. So basically, I told her that you weren't there and that I'd tell you to call her back but she refused and instead said "I'm back James, I'm home" so I asked her to come by this afternoon since its a Saturday." "Ohh great" I frowned. "Bella Woods is back, she's back. My so-called 'best best friend is back, and I gotta be the last one to know." "Last to know what?" Mom asked as she made her way downstairs, hand in hand with Dad. "Morning Ma, he's just being mad that he wasn't told about the arrival of Bell" James laughed. Mom just shrugged and went into the kitchen. Picking up a toast, Dad pat my back and said- "You love her don'tcha kid?", "Whaa..." I blushed so hard Dad and James started laughing their asses off at me. "See son, its normal for a guy to develop feelings for a friend but that aside, you hadn't contacted her at all while she was gone just coz u were mad at her. Don't you think she was hurt too?" she was serious this time and I knew it. "I know Mom. I'll talk to her and explain everything", if only I don't mess up this too, I muttered. I went back to my room and picked up the guitar, thinking about the first time I saw it. Her mom was still alive back then, and she would usually play the guitar and sing for us. Bell had a guitar of her own and so before Grace died, she gave me her guitar and told me to treasure it. The first few months after she died, I hadn't even touched it, but I started missing the sound of the melody it made. I called Bell over that day and told her to bring her guitar along. She did and we played together the few keys that her Mom taught us. Gradually, I started learning how to play and we would sing together whenever she came over. I just strummed through C,G,Am and F. It stilled sounded beautiful and I always thought, it sounded beautiful because it belonged to an angel who had a very beautiful voice. Bell too, had a very beautiful voice and as we grew older, every time she sang, I was scared that one day she'd become famous and forget me. And when I told her about it, she smiled and said that she would never forget her best friend. I too smiled and never thought about it again. But she left, even if she wasn't famous yet, she left me that day which made me so upset and angry. That's why I hadn't contacted her for 4 years. I sighed as I thought about it. Just then, someone knocked on my door, and I knew better then anyone else who it was.