My Special Friend "I've always known that whenever I felt lonely,angry,or afraid,I could always turn to my friends for advice or a shoulder to cry on. My parents and I moved from Fortuna to Corneria City so I could begin my training as a pilot at the academy when I was twelve.Going through the academy,in a strange place and strange kids I didn't even know,was very hard.I felt so alone,and that's when I met Reba,and Fox and Fara,Amber,and Kim and Katt.Also,I met Edward,a wolf who turned out to be my truest friend during hard times. I hadn't seen him since academy when we graduated,and now he's back,coming like a shadow does when it turns nightfall. I've missed him so much,I'm glad he's here.Bill,however,doesn't share my feelings." -Jenna Darrenger,Cornerian Airforce-BullDog Squadron Commander- "I never really planned on seeing him again Billy,"I tried to cool my boyfriend down,"Besides,he's just a friend." "Uh-huh,I'm sure he is,"Bill just growled,he didn't believe me. Bill is a great boyfriend,and I love him very much,ever since we met when we joined StarFox.It's just sometimes he gets a little protective,or defensive.I don't blame him really,but I want him to trust me. "You're being rediculous,"I hugged him from behind,"Besides,who am I going out with?Ed or you?" He turned and looked at me.I find his gaze very penetrating at times.I think it's because his eyes are such a dark blue and so soft and puppy like.I'm not trying to be mushy,but it's true. He smiled,"Me of course." "Then don't worry,okay?" He sighed rolled his eyes,but nodded,"Okay,I won't." "You're a bad liar,"I stuffed my paws into his jacket pockets,since winter hung around us like a shroud,"I know you're gonna worry,but trust me." "Of course I trust you,"He wrapped me in a hug. We stood together for a few minutes,before he gave me a kiss and went off to join his squadron to practice aerial manuevers for the day. I watched him go.A crisp wing buffeted against me,and I shivered.I turned and headed back to Great Fox.Since I had joined Fox McCloud with his team,I usually spent my days off there reading or doing reports for the General and his staff.I was planning to move on ship soon as well.But today,I had a friend who was waiting to see me." "I hesitated before I walked into the den room.It wasn't because I was scared,I just wasn't sure what Edward was gonna be like.He'd be different,wouldn't he? He got up from his seat on the couch when he saw me.He looked the same,a little older,but the same.Coal grey with black tipped fur,a white face and the underside of his tail the same color.His arms up to his elbows and his ears were a dark brown,as were his eyes.He had his brown leather jacket on,his white t-shirt with a blue star on it,loose fitting jeans,and street shoes.He gave his silly sly smile,"Hi Jen,it's been a long time." "Hey,Puff,"I wrapped him in a big hug.I couldn't help myself,I'd just missed him so much,"How have you been?" "Oh,around,"He sat down with me on the couch,"You look great." I felt my cheeks redden,"Thanks." "Still working for the airforce,huh?" "You should know that you goof,"The heavyness in the room lifted.I could breath easier. "Who's the one that's goofy?" "A certain fuzzy wolf sitting next to me." "Fuzzy,like a peach?" "Puff!"I couldn't help but laugh.Still had the same sense of silly humor. "You're still calling me Puffy?"He was the one that laughed now.I don't remember who gave him the name Puffy,but it stuck,and me and his friends always called him that. "How can I not?"I pointed to his bushy tail,"Have you ever thought about getting that trimmed?" "What!?!"He grabbed his tail and hugged it,glaring at me,"Are you knutz!?!" "I'm just joking,"I punched his arm playfully. "Hey,you meany!"He shoved me back,"You gonna still call me Puffy,then I'm gonna still call you princess Jenna." The mentioning of that silly nickname made me laugh.It was during practice that a certain know-it-all kept harassing me about how to do a flip that my nerves snapped.I chewed him out,Ed and everyone else said I sounded so imperious and talked along the lines of"Off with his head!",that everyone called me princess whenever I got flustered with something or someone.I didn't exactly appreciate it though. "Thanks for the reminder of old nicknames Ed,"I sighed and looked at him.I missed his good humor.The happy-go lucky optimist.Never put himelf or anyone down. "You just turned nineteen didn't you?"He leaned back and stretched. "Yeah,and your what,twenty?" "Almost,a few months to go,"He grabbed my paw and pulled me up,a mischevious grin on his face"I've got this wacky cool idea." "Your ideas always seemed to get us in trouble,like that one time in the chemistry class,"I giggled. Ed was messing with some of the chemicals for a project.Instead of adding certain chemicals to make the formula at certain times,he decided to put all the chemicals in the beaker at the same time.The result was a foul smell and smoke that filled the entire classroom,and stank so bad that our class and the two classes alongside the lab had to leave their rooms and go down the hall.The fire alarms went off because of the smoke and in the end,everyone ended up outside.It wasn't until the firetrucks showed up and cleared any sign there was a fire could we go back to class.Ed didn't really get in trouble,and did the project right the second time. "Thanks for reminding me,"He rolled his eyes. "I smiled,"but what is it?" "You're still into rollar coasters and stuff like that aren't you?" "Yeah,so?" "Let's go to the amusement park then?" "What?Aren't we too old for that?" He glared at me,"Now Jenny,you're not getting old on me are you?" "Who's the one that's old?"I shoved him and ran down the hall. "Hey!Wait for me!"He chased after me,"So is it a deal or what?" I stopped in the hall and picked up my and Bill's rollar blades.I tossed Bill's pair to him,"It's a deal.Just let me change into civilian clothing." "I threw on a green tanktop and some shorts.Minute later we were out the door.Together,we roller-bladed down numerous streets until we got to the amusement park. When we got here we rode so many different rides even I was dizzy.We played some of the dart games and Edward won me a teddy bear. "He's fuzzy like me,"He smiled. Later,we went to the park.I sat down on a bench,he plopped down beside me. I ran my fingers though my tangled hair,and hugged the teddy bear,"I haven't had so much fun in such a long time." "Cause you're with me,"Ed grew quiet and looked up at the sky,which had grown dark and was filling with stars,"I've missed you alot." "I've missed you too. It got quiet again,before I shivered,"It's cold." Ed cast a glance at me and pulled off his jacket.He handed it to me. "Thanks,"I pulled it on.It was a few sizes too big,but warm.I looked back over at him,"What are you thinking?" "Just about stuff." "Like what kinda stuff?" He rubbed his arm ruefully,"I saw you with Bill Grey today?" I couldn't answer at first.What did he mean by that statement? "He's your boyfriend,isn't he?" "Yeah,"I whispered,"Why?Does that bother you?" "He didn't answer at first.Then his head snapped up,"Is he nice to you?Does he treat you right?" "Of course he does.I love him very much." "Does he love you?" "Well.......yes he loves me....Ed why are you asking me this?" He clasped my paws and looked up at me.His brown eyes looked glassy and tired,"I just worry about you.I haven't seen you in such a long time.I don't want you to ever get hurt or be hurt by anyone." I began to remember things.Edward was pushed around alot at academy,and wasn't really strong in relationships with his folks at times.The bullies were mostly from his quiet personality,well,his two personalitys.His second personality is called Purry,and I have met her many times.She's a little more hyper than him,but fun.The bad part about her was and is,he had and has trouble controlling her at times. He was always happy and OK on the outside,but that wasn't always true on the inside.We became close friends because of that.I stood up for him once,and got to know him.He wasn't bad like everyone had been telling me,he was fun and cool to be around. We were always there to tell each other secrets and were just there for each other.We came through for each other alot,when my parents were both killed in an accident,when he was harrassed by the jocks at academy and sometimes got beat up really bad and put down.He was my shoulder to cry on,and I his. He was also very protective of me and his friends.No one has ever seen Edward get very mad,but I have.A jock got in my face one day and grabbed me by my arm.He wrenched me around once and Ed stepped in.It took me,Fox,and Reba to get him off the guy,but not before Ed had broken the poor guy's nose. "Why didn't call me?Or right to me?Anything?" Edward looked away,"I wanted to.But I bounce around alot,and I didn't want to bother you." "You never bothered me,"I squeezed his paws tightly to make him look back at me,"I thought something had happened to you." I got a smile from him,"I'm too lucky to have bad luck Jen.You know that." I smiled back,We did go through some rough,didn't we?" "You bet.Me with school and Purry." "Me with my parents dying and felt that I wasn't good enough sometimes." "But hey,when you've got friends,you can get through anything.Right?"Ed gave that quirky smile again. "Right?"I laughed,before tipping my gaze back skyward,"So,what are you gonna do now?" "Keep traveling.I like adventure,and seeing new things and meeting new fur." "Oh,I was hoping you were gonna stay here." "Not now,He wrapped me in a hug,"And maybe never.Jen,I'm not gonna be able to stay in one place,I'm too wild for that." "I know,it's just hard sometimes,"I felt a sudden lump in my throat.He had come for just a little while,and was leaving again. "What's hard?" "Seeing all my friends leaving.Loosing them in battles,"Several of my friends had gone to different bases strewn all over Lylat.A few days ago,two of my close friends,Lyco and Linca had been killed in a assault on the base.That left, Reba,Kim,Fara,Bill,and StarFox.Besides them,I didn't really know anyone but my squadroon,and that was only on working basis. I started to cry,I can't remember why I did.I buried my face in his shoulder,"I want you to stay.Please,stay here with me." "Oh Jenny,I can't.You've got a different path than I do.We'd see each other as much as we do now,maybe less.I don't want that.And I don't want to mess up your relationship with Bill Grey.He's already feeling threatened with me here for only awhile as it is." I didn't answer. "But hey,I promise to call more,and I'll write every week.Okay?" "You promise?"I whispered. "I promise,cross my heart and hope to die,"He sighed,"And please,don't cry.You know I don't want you cry." I felt my hot tears damped the folds of his jacket.But I didn't care,I knew he didn't. He reached for a chain around his neck.And pulled off his dogtags from the academy.Besides the tags,was a small ring. "Here,I got this while traveling for you,from Zoness,"He took off the chain and slipped it on my finger. I looked at it.The ring was a thin silver band,with two dolphins twined in a circle. "I knew you liked the sea,I thought you'd like it." I hugged him again,"I love it." We sat together for a long time,before he helped me up,"Come'on.I'll take you home." With his arm around me we walked back to Great Fox in silence." "Bill was waiting when we got back.His eyes narrowed as he saw Ed with his arm around me.Ed pretended not to notice. "When will I see you again?"I turned and looked up at him. Ed scratched his head,"I don't know for sure,I haven't checked my calender." I looked away. "I'm only fooling,"He grabbed my paws,"I'll be here at the beginning of next summer.Okay,I promise I will." "Okay,"I wiped a tear from my cheek. Bill handed him his backpack,a sign to tell him to get going. Edward took it,and turned to me.My special friend,so dear to me and I cared about so very much. He leaned forward and gave me a kiss on the cheek,whispered into my ear"Good- bye Princess." He slipped away from me,and stopped and looked at Bill.His poofy tail bristled and he growled threateningly,"You take care of her,Bill Grey.Or you're gonna wish you never heard of me." Bill growled right back,"Don't worry,I love Jen very much,she'll be fine." "Good,"Ed pulled his backpack up onto his shoulders.He turned and winked at me,"Bye,Jenna.I'll write soon." "You'd better,"I smiled. He shrugged and gave a small smile,"I promise,cross my heart-" "And hope to die,"I finished for him. He nodded,before turning and disappearing into the dark. Bill came up beside me.I turned and he wrapped me in an embrace.I looked at the tiny ring on my finger. "Don't cry,Jen,"He held me tighter,"You've still got me." "No,I have you and only you,and I love you and only you." "And Edward?" "He's my special friend,no more,and no less." Bill walked with me to Great Fox,where we met Fox and the others.Afterward,we cuddled together on the couch and watched some TV.Not once did he question me about the little ring.He trusted me,and I was grateful and felt closer to him now that he did. "And,it was only a few days later,that I got my first letter from Edward.We talk often,and I still have my special friend. I look forward to a very fun summer."