Chapter 1

It was just a day like any other, really. My left hand was placed in my mothers while my right swung freely at my side. We were headed to the coffee shop, not that I was allowed to drink coffee at my young age. But my mother went there to meet up with friends or complain to one of her employees. My mother was a producer for Broadway musicals. She looked much younger than she really was, passing for mid-twenties maybe. She looked like she herself should be an actress.

We could have taken a cab, or even my mom's car, but she said it was better to walk. It was a nice day out, after all and the coffee shop wasn't far from my house. I didn't care that we were walking though. The sun felt nice.

Every sunday was pretty much the same. We went to the coffee shop so she could meet her friends and she usually brought me along because I couldn't be left alone. But it didn't bother me that I had to listen to her and her friends talk because I always had Dougie there.

Inside the coffee shop I took my usual seat one table away from my mother and waited. One of the employees there, Robert I remember his name being, came over and handed me an ice cream sundae like he did every Sunday.

"Thank you Robert," I smiled up at him showing off my two dimples and my missing front tooth. He smile back, "You're very welcome Jasey."

Robert was a handsome man, one of the best looking I have ever seen. He couldn't have been older than seventeen, but he was very polite.

"Anything for your friend?" he asked me. Robert knew Dougie came along every Sunday. Sometimes he stop and chat with us if it wasn't too busy.

"I don't think so," I shook my head. Lately Dougie hasn't wanted any ice cream when we came here. He hasn't been hungry. I keep asking him what's wrong, but he won't say.

"I'll get him a hot chocolate, just in case," Robert winked at me, which meant he wouldn't make us pay for it. Robert was my second best friend. Second to Dougie.

And just like that, the boy I spent almost all of my time with walked through the doors smiling at me. I waved. Robert looked towards the door and smiled as well

"Morning," Dougie gave a big grin, and sat down at the table with me.

"I'd love to stay and talk to you guys," Robert said regretfully, "But I have to get back to work. It's very busy today."

"Oh, it's okay," I told him, "Thanks for the ice cream,"

"Any time, Jasey," he smiled, then headed back to work. I turned to Dougie, joking, "You're late."

"Sorry, I live a bit farther from here than you do," he reminded me, taking a sip from his hot chocolate, "Tell Robert I say thanks for this, if you could?"

"Sure," I told him, and when Robert walked by again I tugged on his sleeve, "Dougie says thanks for the hot chocolate,"

"Tell Dougie it's my pleasure," Robert smiled his handsome smile and continued working. But I didn't have to tell Dougie. He heard.

"So what's your mum yellin' about this time?" Dougie asked me. It took me a moment to answer. Even in his current state I still believed he was the best looking boy I have ever met. Better looking than Robert, even at the age of just nine and a half. Despite his messy bleach blonde hair, and his green t-shirt with a hole at the bottom and too-big jeans, I still believed Dougie was beautiful. He wasn't as smart as I was, and I'm not bragging, it's just the fact that he doesn't go to school. I'll read to him in my room sometimes, when he stays over late because he can't read himself but he loves books.

"Oh, she has some big show coming up on Tuesday and she's really anxious." I explained as we both watched my mother yelling on her cell phone with her friend James sitting right across from her. I rolled my eyes and took a bite from my ice cream.

Finally my mother hung up her phone, stood up, and made her way over to Dougie and I. And just like that, Dougie was gone again.

"Jasey Rae, you're a mess," my mother told me, wiping the hot fudge off my cheek. I may have been smart, but I was still only eight, going on nine years old. I will admit I was a very messy eater. I rolled my eyes again. "Come on, we're in a hurry I have to go down to the theatre for dress rehearsal which means I need to get you home."

"I can't come?" I asked her. She shook her head, "I'm sorry. But James will stay home with you."

James. It wasn't like he even cared much about me. He would stay home with me but he wouldn't really care what I did. Usually I just locked myself in my room while he ate our food and watched TV. It's not like I blamed him, our house was huge. I'd have done the same.

"Don't worry, I'll come over," Dougie whispered. He was suddenly right behind me. I smiled and nodded, then turned back to my mother, but Dougie's mouth was still at my ear, "And you're not a mess Jasey-Rae. Not ever,"

"Thanks," I smiled. My mom looked at me a little funny, but we just kept walking. My mom didn't understand my friendship with Dougie, but I didn't care. I loved him more than anyone in the world. Dougie, my best friend.

My imaginary friend.