I Miss You
“How have you been? Are you hydrated? How's the baby?”
Ann laughed quietly to herself before answering. “Leslie, we’ve only been driving for an hour.”
She heard Chris chuckle beside her and put the phone closer to her ear, now weirdly eager to make sure Leslie didn’t hear how funny they had both found that statement.
It hadn’t properly sunk in that they had left Pawnee, or Leslie, yet, because she was still just as present over the phone as she was in person.
That was when Ann felt her first pang of sadness- the first sign that, no, she had left Pawnee, and she couldn’t just pop around and see Leslie whenever she wanted. Her best friend was now miles and miles away, and while they would see each other as much as they could, speaking over the phone would now be the norm.
”Ann? Can you hear me?”
Ann felt Chris’ eyes on her, then, and she gave him a weak smile. He nodded, for once looking sombre, and she knew that she wasn’t feeling alone in her sadness. Even the ever-positive Chris Traeger could feel it.
“Sorry,” Ann said quickly. “I can hear you. And yes, I’m hydrated. Are you?”
“Yes, Ben’s making sure I drink. He thinks I’m going to spiral or something.”
Ann gulped. “And… and are you?”
Leslie was quiet for a moment. Ann held her breath waiting for her answer.
“No,” Leslie replied. “But I’m starting to really miss you. When are you visiting?”
Ann couldn’t hold back her laugh, then, even though she was sad. “Leslie, we just left!”
“But I miss you!”
“I miss you too, and so does Chris. He’s even sitting through your goodbye playlist.”
Leslie laughed, then.
“Ben heard you say that and he is smiling at me. He told me to say to Chris."
We just went for waffles.”
"Hi Leslie Knope! Hi Ben Wyatt!" Chris cut in.
"Hi Chris, we went for waffles!"
Ann grinned. “Oh, I wonder where?”
“JJ’s, Ann! Of course!” Leslie replied instantly, clearly missing her sarcasm. “Please don’t forget Pawnee now that you’re out of the city boarder.”
“I was joking,” Ann assured her. “I could never forget Pawnee, or you. And we’ll be back soon.”
“I know,” Leslie replied. “I just… please don’t forget me, Ann.”
Ann’s breath hitched. “Leslie… Leslie, I could never.”
She heard Leslie breathe rather heavily down the phone, and then she heard some sniffling.
"Leslie?" Silence. She felt a bit worried, then. "Leslie, are you okay?"
“Sorry, Ben was giving me a hug. I know you won’t, Ann. I do know. I just… you’re my best friend.”
“And you’re mine,” Ann told her. “Really, Leslie. You are.”
There was a brief silence, and then she could hear Leslie’s enthusiasm pouring through.
“I’m already planning my first visit to you! There’s going to be an itinerary, and lots of activities for us to do. And everything will be great!”
Ann heard Chris laugh beside her, and she had to laugh as well. “It sounds great. I love you, Les.”
“I love you too, my magnificent stallion. Will you call me in an hour?”
“Of course.”