Jean looked up at the clear blue sky dappled through the large row of trees. Her amber eyes taking in the sparkling sunlight that went through it. a gently breeze ruffling her golden blond hair, her ten year old body lay out flat on the soft grass as she inhaled slowly taking in the warm yet slightly cool breeze of spring. her slender hands gripped at the fresh grass around her which she promptly tossed into the air of confetti letting them fall all around her tickling her skin. The sound of huffing and puffing was heard as she sat up grass in her hair as she smiled and stood up wiping the grass from her tiny frame. "what took you so long to get the drinks. She asked the round girl in front of her, her reddish brown hair clinging to her forehead, her pale skin flushed from ht effort of her walk up The extremely steep hill. in her hand were two cans of soft drinks wet with condensation. the short she wore were of jean material that hung down to her knees. the little t shirt with a music note on it in black made for a rather sweet image.

Herbody however looked much more developed with the beginnings of breasts already showing and a rather long pair of legs. Her wide hazel green eyes showed ehr true age, innocent, quiet. Jean envied her for that looking father own legs, "why...did you chose such a steep hill?" Laura asked in huffing breaths "it's like a freaking mountain!" her handed one of the soft drink to her friend before flopping down beside her. Jean tugged one of her braids "because i wanna climb this tree." she said matte of factly patting the oak trees big roots. Laura rolled her eyes that meant she was going have to sit down watching her friend go higher anf higher and hopefully not break her arm like the last time she climbed a tree. "i dont think your mom or dad would be to happy if yu got hurt again." she could still recall the lecture her friend had gotten after she was out of the emergency room. Her mother had bee livid screaming about how she should hav known better then to try and jump off the roof like her brothers had which had resulted in he rmore or less slidng down the roof sending a few shingles sliding down instead as she had thankfully landed on a mass of blown up pool toys which cushioned ehr fall, but unfortunately had not protected her right arm as she came down. Jean pouted opening her soda can and taking a long swig of the sugary carbonated substance.

"i havent done again...way too scary" Laura shook her loose mid length hair which was tamed back witha pink hairclip at the e back of her head. "so why do you want o climb a tree then?" she asked confused as she quietly sipped her own soda. Watching as the people in the large park either sat around picnicking or playing with their own kids. Her eyes locked on young mother who held onto her little toddler of maybe five years of age tkaing them to one of the swings. WHich delgihted the small child as she placed them in the children's swing eat. Stupid little kid was so lucky...

"thanks for letting me stay at your house while mommy and daddy are gone jean..." she curled up hugging her knees still watching the mother and child. "sorry i stay over so much..." Jean was quiet for a moment. She was happy to have her friend at home with her, it wouldn't be good for her to be in the big mansion all alone. He parents were always delighted to have her friend over. It wasn't laura's fault that her reprintsparents had to ork fr away all the time. From on top of the hill she could see her parents standing beside an old stone wall, the vines thick over it as they laughed and talked then ...yuck kissed. she scrunched her little nose at this and took a nd big gulp of soda while her friend simply sat..not staring at anything in particular, her eyes glazed her. She shook her blond haired head and shook Laura's tiny shoulder "Lara?" she asked no response. she tried again this time eliciting a response from the younger r girl who blinked as if waking up from a dream.

"hmm?" the eight year old said simply turning to face her friend her soda can nearly slipping form her hand. jean patted her head gently like an older sister "you were daydreaming again." she said gently. This made laura larblush with embarrassment "sorry... she muttered softly the golden bracelet in the shape of wings on her wrist shinning in the dappling sun the pure blue crystal int he center glowing brightly, Jean just shrugged "its ok then her eyes looked up a the tree a grin forming on her face. "i still don't think this is a good idea!" Lara shouted from the ground her friend however crawled u the tree like a squirrel. "oh don't be such a worrywart! the amber eyed girl shouted form on the the higher branches. Lara shivered she was up so high and seemed determined togo up higher. she watched in awe then thought may be she could try it too. she just she made it up on ofthe lowest branches Mrs. and Mr barnes came up the . rustling

Jean continued, the fresh foliage, twigs and leaves tangling into her braid, she had to get up higher, she jsut felt a need a need to the see the clear blue sky. as she sat on the branch

"JEAN BARNES! shouted a familiar female voice. from below. "YOU GET DOWN THIS MINUTE BFORE YOU FALL AND BREAK YOUR NECK!" Lara winced at the noise. But who could blame mrs Barnes Jean was halfway up the tree, it was tall enough to cause alarm. this also caused her three brothers who had been playing on he park gym set to look up and race up the slowly made her way back down the tree she was nearly all the way down when her foot slipped causing her to fall with an ungraciously thud on her behind. At first everyone held her breath as the wind was knocked out of out of the tiny girl, much to everyones relief she wasn't really hurt just had been a little of a sore embarrassinglanding. and embarrassing The three brothers chuckled softly as she landed. Laura rolled her eyes frowning at them, the oldest Bryan looked her her hands up in defense as he shrugged at her.

"it is funny freckles. he told her she hated when he called her that that to her just stayed quiet as they watched their sister get an earful form their mother. "how many times have we told you not to climb up trees so high?"she asked her daughter rubbing the bridge of her nose as she sighed din exasperation after giving her daughter the lecture about listening to what her parents said to her and how she could have gotten hurt or worse from climbing up to far into trees. As the lecture finished jean went quiet her face sad and pouty, her friend knew that look

"I'm sorry mommy.." all three boys shuddered in disgust she was using that sad baby tone again every time she got int trouble she used it. Maggie looked down at her daughter, her shoulders slumped in defeat she couldn't stay mad at those sad eyes.

"alright...let's get the hair of yours cleaned up...i only say that because i love you." she placedherd her hands on her daughters thin shoulders kneeling down to er eye level. "alright?" jean nodded as her mother firm frown shifted into a loving smiles as she plucked a tiny twig from her daughters golden hair.

later that night after a dinner of pizza and playing splatoon, the girls being orange while the boys had been blue, the boys were wrestling in their room much to the annoyance of the two girls on the other side of the wall. "your hair is so pretty Laura she said as she pulled a comb through the shinning red brown locks of hair that shone with strands of gold through it, it was so soft she could brush it forever. Laura sat calmly as they other girl began to braid her hair up, not saying to much just staring blankly at her bracelet. "jean...do you think your mom would adopt me?" Jean stopped mid brush blinking twice. "why would you say something like that?" she said in a shockedspruced tone. Laura bit her lip, "well...maybe my mom would let her...your mom is so nice to me and...i like being here with you-" a loud crash was heard in the other room and the angry shout of "boys!" from down stairs. Jean sighed brothers were so embarrassing...dad was going to kill them for breaking that lamp too. "you sure you'd like living here?" jean asked as she braided he r friends silken hair it was a little crooked but it looked almost like how her mom did hers...almost.

"you'd have to deal with those three idiots ALL the time" As she finished her sentence she heard her fathers heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. she saw the heart shaped pillow that hung from her door rattle as he opened as slammed the door the son of a raised voice and swears were heard...then the sound of a broom and glass being swept up. Laura hugged her knees

"better then being alone all the time..." she muttered she liked jean but she didn't know how lucky she was to have parents that loved her even those stupid brothers of hers. better then a big house quiet and no one in except when he cleaning ladies came to clean most of the house, then she would spend her time watching tv or playing her games, or what she loved most draw, she drew all kinds things hangin them on every inch of her wallsmother. her father praised her saying she had a wonderful talent, he mother said she needed more sensible skills. jean frowned she hated seeing her best friend so sad. then she looked at the bag her friend had brought and noticed her sketchbook.

she grinned reaching for it yanking it from the bag before Laura could protest. she opened the sketchbook and blinked she was looking at a mother swan on a pond she recognized from the local park it was in colored drawing chalk the scene was blurry but it was clear enough to show a mother swan her wings fluffed up against her body and five little grey goslings around her. on the shore line where rows of willow trees Laura had even added blobs of color under the swan and her babies representing reflections in the water...but she had forgotten the water in the picture and the blue of the sky even though there were clouds. "this is great!" jean exclaimed holding the picture up high over her head. Her chubby younger friend blushed as she snatched the sketchbook away, "not finished yet..."she muttered flipping the picture over to show another picture,it looked to be buildings made of just blue colors light blues dark blues like they were made of the sky with a big white light over head. figures in stiff shapes were walking around it was hard to tell just what they were exactly. Laura shoved the sketchbook back to her friend presenting her finished picture. "its so pretty..." her golden haired friend said in a breathy tone. Laura gave her a small smile,

"i...saw it when i was asleep.." she fiddled with her golden winged bracelet, but her shoulder were lifted din pride at her masterpiece. "i wish i could see what you dream to make such pretty places up..." jean looked about her room on the shelves wee rows of awards for completed field day competitions, and other children's races. on the floor beside her fluffy bed. were a pair of racing shoes nothing made her happier then running, her heart racing the wind whipping past her hair, the adrenaline rush as if she could fly. "all I'm good at is running..." well Laura couldnt disagree withthe fact that her friend was an amazing runner, sometimes she swore that she could lift herself off the ground. Laura blinked "your lucky i wish i was as fast as you...and everyone likes you.."couldnt

"but you're so smart..." her friend said blinking "and you make such great pictures.." "it doesnt matter when your the last picked and the teacher has to put you on a team..." there was silence between them...school was always a subject neither ofof them liked to talk about. especially for Laura, the teasing was bad enough but now some of he girls in class had taken to pulling on her hair and putting things in it. it was better not to talk about it. she watched as Laura looked around at the pictures on her friends wall, her family smiling and her standing out among them with he brightest smile, iceskating, family trips...everyone of them had them smiling. she saw the ones with herwhentheystarted in them, Jean with her arms wrapped around her hugging her close when they started kindergarten...having her help out blowing the candles on her birthday cakes...back then she had celebrated with her parents...but lately they had been so busy...her most recent birthday had passed no one had been home, her father had made up for being gone by taking her somewhere nice to eat. he had even gotten her anew video game and special art supplies, which to her had been even better then the game. her mother had been nowhere to be seen until three days after...she had heard them fighting from her room. she had never been so grateful for jeans company and her cheap watercolor set as well much to her confusion a present from Bryan.

A pretty Blue seaglass necklace made from piece s he had found at the beach. Laura had loved she wondered why he would give her a gift like that...even now a few weeks ater she was still confused when she thought of Bryan, with his sandy blonder hair and bright brown eyes she felt her cheeks heat up when she thought of him. That wa weird why was she thinking like that about bryan of all people. As jean looked through he rest of the pictures. she watched Laura, her face suddenly turning red as she hugge dher knees ot hide her face. She blinked confused by her friend sudden blushing. she quietly placed the sketchbook down and looked at her pillow, a large grin spreading across her face . she slowly reached for a pillow, lifting it above her head she shouted "surprise pillow attack!"she shouted, bringing it down alongside Laura making her yelp,jump and fall over. "jean!" she shouted in bewildered tone. what-" she was stopped mid sentence as another pillow was tossed to her bumping her gently in he face. The golden haired girl stood over her on her bed her pillow slung over one shoulder, her amber eyes glittering with mischief. by the time they went to bed feather were strewn everywhere and the final thought on both their minds...they hoped would they be friends forever.