The day after holidays with family was the best.

The night before, I'd return home and throw myself into the bed and just sleep the whole night and the whole morning.

And then, the whole day was about doing absolutely nothing. No one around me, no sound but the silence. Some days being alone makes me appreciate life more.

That day, though, I wasn't really alone, but I was joined by two people who I appreciated having around anyway.

First, not joining me physically, was Evelyn in the early afternoon. We had a hour-long call on the phone. We talked about our holidays. She too had spent it with family, but, unlike me, she appreciated being around them and she was really the one carrying the conversation with grandparents and uncles and aunts. Then we talked about the usual wrestling, what we'd expect from the new year, and we made plans and promises for it. And I felt happy and she felt happy.

"I wish we'll meet some day," she said to me, "like, for real. So we could hang out as proper friends, go shopping maybe, and act dumb together."

"I would love that," I said and I was excited.

"I really love you, Avsam," she said, "you're very important to me."

Of course, I felt like dancing, but I tried to keep cool and said "I love you too, Avsam. You are my best friend as well."

One thing I like to do is vote my years. Ever since I was ten I'd been voting how my year had been. Like 2010 was a pretty good year, but nothing really special happened so I gave it a 7.

Until a few months back, I honestly thought 2011 was going to get a negative vote (like 2008, the year I started middle school, got 5), but the last few months really made it possibly the best year of my life yet.

My first kiss, my first real best friend, and saying 'I love you' with a girl (and having it said back), was enough to make me forget about all I had to go through with Andrew and Josh.

2011 was going to get a 9. I was pretty sure of that.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

A little bit later, closer to the evening, Tyler decided to come to my house.

If it were someone else, I would have been pissed, but since it was Tyler, I was glad that he was there.

We both sat on my bed and watched Dragon Ball Z on the TV, an anime we both loved so much, and we lost track of the time as we started talking about personal stuff.

"Her name is Evelyn," I whispered, "she's from Cleveland and she's awesome."

He raised his eyebrows. "Woah, Cleveland!"

I shushed him. "Yeah. Please don't tell mom."

"Don't worry," he chuckled, "what happens in Cleveland stays in Cleveland."

"I trust you."

"So you like her?" he asked.

"I do," I answered.

"But, do you like her as a friend or...?"

"I don't really know yet," I said, "I mean, I love how things are right now... it's still more than I've ever had in my life... a girl best friend. But sometimes I do think about her that way... you know."

"Yeah," he chuckled, "I know. So do you think you'll move to something more in the future?"

"Hell, I don't know," I said, "I would definitely love that to happen. But I'd never find it in me to tell her how I supposedly feel about her. I mean, what if she doesn't feel the same way about me? What would happen then? Would I lose her as a friend? I couldn't afford that..."

"I feel you," he said, "but you know how it is. Sometimes we have to jump in order to fly. And I know jumping's not easy. Nothing ever is. But believe me, it's better to live with regret than resentment."

"No pressure whatsoever right there, uh?" I joked.

He smiled. "Well, now that you have a girl to impress, you can come to the gym and get in the shape of your life!"

I laughed. "Thankfully, the girl to impress is four hundred and more miles away."

"But you'll have to meet eventually," he pointed out.

"How?" I asked, "my parents would never let me."

"Why not? It's not that far," he said.

"I've barely been to New York," I said, "and how would I explain wanting to go to Cleveland of all places?"

"Well," he sighed, "you'll have to tell them about her. If you want, I can help you with that."

"Oh, don't worry," I said, "I have to figure this out myself."

We kept talking in my bedroom like two girlfriends for hours, until it was time for him to leave.

I walked him outside. It was a bit chilly, especially considering that I was a wearing a t-shirt.

"So, yeah," he said as he approached his car, "I'll stay here for a month. I'll go back to the city after my birthday. For anything, you know where to find me."

"Sure thing," I said smiling, "see you soon!"

He drove away and I waltzed back towards the door, but a sound of footsteps stopped me.

I turned around to see a silhouette walking on the other side of the road.

I wasn't wearing my glasses so I squinted my eyes as much as I could to allow some good sight to bless me.

"...Belle?" I loudly talked when I recognized the person.

She turned and then crossed the road to come near me.

It really was her. She was almost unrecognizable, wearing all black sweater and pants. The only characteristic that made me realize it was her was her amazing long blonde hair.

She looked at me with her big blue eyes. I hugged her and she returned it.

"Where have you been?" I asked her immediately, "I haven't heard from you since forever."

"I've had some family trouble," she said, and I realized that I used to talk to her a great deal about my problems and my life in general, that I never actually stopped to think of asking her what was going on in her life.

"Wanna talk about it?" I asked.

"No, don't worry," she said, smiling, "nothing big. Sorry I've been m.i.a."

"Yeah, no, you don't have to apologize... but what are you doing here? I never... told you where I lived, did I?" I asked confused.

"Nope," she said, "in fact I am just as surprised as you to see you here. I was just walking back home."

"Oh, I see... small world."

"Indeed..."

"So you sure everything's alright?" I double-checked.

"Yeeeah!" she exclaimed, "what about you? What's up with the Evelyn-Amber triangle?"

I smirked. "Amber's out of the game. Now it's all about Evelyn."

"You're together?" she asked.

"Not y-- no," I said, "no, we're just friends. Best friends. 'Love you' friends."

"That's odd," she said.

"What's odd?" I asked.

"Well, just be careful. As always," she said.

"Why?" I asked.

"We know how fragile you are, so make sure you really know this girl before you go any further," she said.

"God, it's all about pressure today, isn't it?" I smiled.

"Life is all about pressure," she said smiling, "I should head back home now, it's getting pretty late."

"Okay," I said, "see you soon?"

"Yes, you will," she said.

"Do you want me to walk with you?" I asked.

"No, don't worry," she said, "I don't live too far."

I wanted to ask her where exactly she lived, it was ridiculous that after all this time I still didn't know, but she was already walking away.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Later on, as I climbed back into my bed, I realized that the holiday aftermath, the relaxation day was more socially challenging than usual, so to top it all off I took a little look at Facebook.

Everything was fine until I saw a post by Evelyn.

She'd posted a picture. It was a collage of some of her photos and some of Frank's and, written in glittery font, it read 'Best Friends Forever'.

I stared at it for a few minutes. It really bothered me. It took away all the happiness I had built up that day, and replaced it with an almost unexplainable rage.

I tried to divert my thoughts onto good things, but I couldn't stand that.

I felt legitimately betrayed.

She was even online. I thought about contacting her, but then I asked myself why she hadn't contacted me instead.

In the midst of my fury, I did something very straightforward and drastic.

Facebook settings – Account settings – Manage account – Deactivate account.