Jacob

Just a forewarning. I haven't even started writing yet and I'm already crying. I miss my little brother.

Friendship. Like. Face masks and ice cream. Companionship. Like mud fights while changing pipe. Loyalty. Like backing each other up.

Yet so much more than words could ever describe. Yes, Jacob was my best friend.

Red Bull and Cardi B. That's how Jake and I did it. All the drives to the lake and my grandpas house. Loud music, and Red Bull or Peace Tea. We'd roll the windows down and sing loud, or yell over the music to talk to each other.

The day I graduated, Jacob went up to the lake and jumped off the dock, fully clothed. Then we walked into R&R, soaking wet, and got fries and a shake. He also took me to prom, and we went to the place and got fries and a shake. We had traditions, I guess.

I don't think it really hit either of us that I was leaving till one day we were driving back from the lake, about to go change pipe, and Jake asked if I wanted to sing camp songs while we worked.

I was like "heck yeah. Lets finish like we started"

And the car got really quiet. You could almost hear the "oof" that came with that statement.

We do everything together. We run (well he runs, I complain. But I always end up really glad I went for the run with him), we work, we play, we facemask and have mud fights. We took piano lessons together and camped in the yard and we go for late night walks and lay in the middle of the road, stargazing together. When we fight, its brutal, but we always end up on the same team, and we hardly ever fought. He knows my secrets and I know his. He made an embarrassing speech about me at my graduation, and said "amen" when Matt (our youth pastor) said it was my last Sunday at ECC as a youth group member.

We spent as much time together this summer as we could. We were at the store getting our Peace Tea, and the lady who works there said that Jake and I sure do spend a lot of time together, and before I could say anything, he told her that we are best friends and that I was leaving soon and he wanted to spend as much time with me as he could before I left.

Jake hated it when I cried. Any time I cried, for any reason, but we cried together the day I left for college.

Jacob has grown into an amazing young man. I know he will probably not like this entire post because I am being mushy and emotional, but Jake can deal. I am really proud of him. Just as much time we spent together laughing, we also spent together being each other's support group. It was not just rainbows and peace tea. He worked hard every day so I didn't have to. He made sacrifices in his own life so I could get a job in town and focus on myself. He gave a lot up for me. Not just time either. He gave up opportunities, although there were times when we both got the opportunity and we rocked the world.

He grew up fast, but he grew up strong and I can not express my gratitude or love for that kid. I miss him like crazy. He posted on Facebook that walmart wasn't as fun without me, but nothing is as fun without him. I can't wait to come home and see you. We are going to have an amazing time.