CHAPTER 1
Flashback
"Stop that!" the little 6-year-old girl yelled out. "I'm going to go tell the teacher!"
"Oh yeah? And what's she gonna do about it, you crybaby?" the seven-year-old playground bully countered.
"I'm not a crybaby!" the girl said, sniffing. She wiped her fist across her eyes. The tears were welling up fast in her big clear hazel eyes as the boy pulled on one of her brunette curls.
"What are you doing?" someone yelled. The bully turned around to see another six (almost seven) year old standing behind him. The curly haired boy walked up to the bully. "Leave her alone."
"And who's gonna make me?" the bully asked.
"I am." the curly haired boy said. He then punched the bully in the stomach. The two boys rolled to the ground with fists flying and legs kicking. The other kids on the playground crowded around shouting, "fight, fight!" The teacher came and broke them up, sending all three to the principal's office.
The bully stomped off. The curly haired boy turned to the little girl with the large eyes. "Are you ok?" he asked.
She just nodded. He smiled at her and held out his hand. She smiled back and took his hand. Together they walked to the principal's office hand in hand.
Flashback: Three years later
"Jhon, stop!" the girl cried out, as the nine-year-old pulled one of her pigtails for the fifth time that day.
The little boy behind her just laughed. "What's wrong, Peanut Butter?" he asked.
Kya turned in her seat and glared at him. He smiled sweetly.
"Kya? Jhon? Is there something you'd like to share with the class?" their teacher asked them.
"No Mrs. Dunston." the two answered in unison. They turned around in their seats and listened respectfully to the teacher for the next few minutes. Until Jhon pulled Kya's pigtail again, that is. The day continued like this. Along with the next week.
Four days later Jhon was at it again when Kya was walking home.
"Jhon, why do you have to be so mean?" Kya asked, then burst into tears. She ran the rest of the way home.
"Peanut Butter!" Jhon called after her. He lowered his head and walked dejectedly home.
(The next day)
It was a Saturday when Kya answered her door and saw Jhon standing there. He looked kind of nervous.
"Umm...Peanut Butter? I just wanted to say that I was sorry. I only pulled your hair because I liked you. I didn't know how else to say it." Jhon said, then looked down at his feet.
"You...you like me?" Kya asked incredulously.
"Umm...yeah," Jhon said, shuffling his feet.
Kya smiled. "Wanna come in and watch nickelodeon with me?" Jhon looked up and smiled. He grabbed Kya's hand and together they walked into her house.
Flashback: 2 weeks have gone by
"Hi Jhon," Mrs. Williams, Kya's mom said, as she let the little boy into the house.
"Hi Mrs. Williams," Jhon said, happily, walking back to Kya's room. Mrs. Morris just watched him, with a sad smile on her face.
Jhon walked back down the hall and heard crying coming from Kya's room. He pushed open the door, softly. "What's wrong, Peanut Butter?" he asked, when he saw her sitting on her bed with tears running down her cheeks.
When she saw Jhon, she started crying even harder. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her, pushing her curls out of her face. "Jhon...mom said...that we have to move," Kya said, in between sobs.
"Why?" Jhon asked, shocked.
"Because Mom and Daddy are getting a divorce." she said, sniffling. "We're moving really far away and I'll never see you again."
Jhon held her tight. "It's ok, Peanut Butter." he said. "Everything will work out alright." She looked up at him. Jhon smiled and pulled her pigtail. "Cheer up, crybaby." he teased.
She frowned, trying not to smile. "I'm not a crybaby."
Jhon leaned over and kissed her softly and quickly on the lips, and then hugged her close. Kya's mother watched sadly from the doorway. This was going to be tough.
