Tea Friends - From a Different Side

This is the "other side" of my previous story, Tea Friends. I got so many requests to keep the story going!

"Icedtea, will you please clean your closet today?" her famous mother asked. "It's a mess! I never knew closets could get this messy until I saw yours."

     "Yes, Mum," Icedtea answered politely.

     "Thank you, dear." Her mom walked out of the room, leaving Icedtea and her closet alone. As she walked out, she spoke a few thoughts. "Hey, that's a good article idea! A guide to cleaning closets!" With that, her mother rushed off to her study.

     Icedtea rummaged through her messy closet. She hadn't cleaned it in years! "I'm almost done," she told herself an hour and a half later. The brown Kougra then picked up a picture that was buried under a pile of dust. She blew the dust off, and then wiped the rest off so she could see the picture clearer. It had the words 'BEST FRIENDS' on the frame. It was a photo of her, as a brown Kougra, holding paws with a red Kougra. They were skipping down Neopia Central, with huge smiles on their faces... Suddenly, a brief memory stirred in Icedtea's mind...

     Icedtea set the photo on the dresser. "I have to finish cleaning this - now," she told herself, and dove back into her almost-finished mess of a closet.

     Ten minutes later, Icedtea ran over to her desk, grabbing a pen and a piece of paper on her way. She remembered everything now! The photo was from her 'old' best friend, Teacup. They had been friends since they were little! They had called themselves the 'Tea Friends', because they both had the word 'tea' in their name.

     Teacup's mom had taken the picture of them - it was the day Teacup had turned ten. As a present, Icedtea had given her a gold bracelet with the letters 'TF' on it. Icedtea's mother had had it specially made for Icedtea to give to Teacup. 'TF' stood for 'Tea Friends' - which the two Kougras had vowed that's what they'd always be.

     But then tragedy had struck. Icedtea's mother had gotten into the Neopian Times. Once was fine, but her mother kept writing. Soon, she became very famous, and one day announced they were moving to Mystery Island.

     Teacup had written to Icedtea, but Icedtea was so upset that her mom had made her move that she took it out on Teacup by not replying. Soon, Teacup stopped writing to her, and she became a lost memory in the back of Icedtea's head.

     She began to write, even though her mother was yelling, "Icedtea! Come downstairs! It's dinner time!"

     Dear Teacup,

     I was cleaning out my closet this morning, and I found a picture of us together. I'm sure you don't remember me, but maybe my name sounds familiar. Icedtea. Does it? We used to be best friends... then I moved. Do you remember me, Teacup? I won't get my hopes up if you don't. And you don't have to write back. I don't deserve to be written back to when I never replied to your letters.

     I'm sorry about that - not replying. I just... well, I don't know. I was upset at my owner for making us move, and I, well, I took it out on you by not replying. I'm so sorry. It's been years now, and I'm sure you hate me know. Now that I think about it, it was a bad choice. It was wrong.

     Did you ever get that bracelet I gave you when you turned 10? I never saw you wear it, and you never said anything about it.

     Well, my mom is calling me for dinner. I better go. Have a great life, Teacup, and maybe we'll meet again some day.

     Sincerely,

      Icedtea

     "Coming, Mom!" Icedtea yelled back to her mother. She quickly folded the paper and stuck it in an envelope. "I'll mail you later," she said, half to the envelope and half to herself.

     After dinner, Icedtea decided she'd wait and mail her letter in the morning. That night, she didn't sleep too well. All she could think about was, Will Teacup remember me? Will she write back? Or is she still upset that I never wrote her back? Does she still remember that?

     Icedtea woke up bright and early. She was tired, and her mother thought she might be sick, so she made her stay in bed until the afternoon.

     "Mom, I feel better and I'm going to the Post Office!" Icedtea yelled a few hours later, running out the door with her letter. She ran as fast as she could all the way to the Mystery Island Post Office.

     "I'd like to send this letter, please," Icedtea told the person at the stand. "It has the address on it already."

     "No problem, miss," the person answered. "Can I get your name, please?"

     The Post Office was different than it was in Neopia Central. "Icedtea," she answered.

     "Thank you, Miss Icedtea. Your letter has been sent successfully."

     "Thank you!" Icedtea smiled and turned to leave.

     "Oh, wait, miss!" the person yelled after her. "You just got a letter. Here."

     As Icedtea walked over, her hopes shot up. Could it be Teacup? Naw, someone can't reply to a latter that fast! ...Could they?

     "Thank you." Icedtea snatched the letter and ran outside. She plopped down on the steps and ripped open the letter and started to read.

     Dear Icedtea,

     I'm not sure you still live at this address, but I'll hope for the best. Do you remember me? -Teacup? We used to be best friends. I haven't seen you in years! Are you still a brown Kougra? Because I'm still a red one. Except Mom is planning on getting me a pink paint brush. What do you think of that?

     It's okay if you don't remember me (I guess). I suppose I was just expecting you would. After all, we were friends for years! But do me one favor, and write me back if you get this. Even if you don't remember me. Okay, Iced? Please, please, please, write back! I'm really going to be looking forward to your letter...

     Love,

     Teacup

     The letter was short, but Icedtea didn't mind at all. She ran back into the Post Office.

     "Can I borrow a pen and some paper, please?" she asked.

     "Of course," the Post person answered.

     "Thank you." Icedtea immediately began to write.

     Dear Teacup,

     I got your letter. Did you get mine?

     Anyways, I miss you so much! Do you think you could send pictures of yourself to me? I'll send you some of me! I still live at the same address, and I guess you do, too! That's good news.

     How have you been? Has anything changed? Have you changed? Has your owner changed? Your house? Your neighborhood?

     Sorry about all the questions - I just have to know! We have to get together sometime, Teacup!

     Well, I have to go, because the Post Office lady wants her pen back (she's getting impatient), but I'll be looking forward to your next letter!

     Hope to see you soon!

     xoxo Icedtea

     (P.S. TFF!!!)

     "Thanks for letting me borrow your pen," Icedtea told the lady, handing her back her pen. "Do you have any envelopes? I have another letter."

     "Sure, no problem," said the lady, getting a little annoyed. "Here." She shoved an envelope at Icedtea.

     "Thank you," Icedtea said cheerfully, oblivious of the lady's annoyance. She carefully but quickly put the letter in the envelope and sealed it tight. On the front, she wrote 'TEACUP' and some hearts and stars around it.

     "Here you go," Icedtea said, handing the lady the envelope. "Can you send this to the same address, please?"

     The lady sighed. "Yes, of course. I need your name."

     "I, err... I already gave you my name."

     "Just give me your name!"

     "But I-"

     "Listen kid, it's my job to ask for your name. Now, tell me your name, miss."

     Icedtea sighed and looked at the ceiling. "Icedtea."

     "Thanks." The lady smirked. "Your letter has been sent. Now goodbye."

     "Goodbye!" Icedtea said, happily skipping off towards home.

     "Mum, you'll never believe what happened!" Icedtea said as she burst through the door of her home.

     "What is it, sweetie?" her mom asked, looking up from her issue of the Neopian Times. "Oh, and guess what! I got another article in! A Guide To Cleaning Your Closet! You're my little star, Ice! It's the story I spent all last night on-"

     Icedtea interrupted. She didn't have time to listen to her mom at a time like this! If she did, she would burst! "Mum, remember Teacup?"

     Her mother was about to lecture her for interrupting, but instead she thought a moment. "Yes, dear... I think so... That name sounds so familiar."

     "Well, listen to this! She wrote to me today. And I wrote back! Mum, she remembers me! My best friend from years ago actually remembers me! This is the greatest day of my life, Mum!" Then she paused, and her eyes opened a little wider.

     "Mum, can we go take a visit in Neopia Central?"

The End