Derrick Harrington leaned back on his bed, tossing a mini-soccer ball at the wall. Had he read the letter yet? No. Did he want to stay friends with Massie? Yes. But a small part of him wanted to know what was wrong.

It was as if he was divided into four parts—Massie's best friend, the captain of the BOCD soccer team, Alicia's boyfriend…

And himself. Derrick Harrington. The boy who could do anything. The boy who had everything. But he was losing the one thing he'd always wanted. Someone he could tell anything to. Massie was like his diary, except she was, well, human.

Derrick sighed and pulled his blonde locks. He reached for his backpack and pulled out the letter. Do I really want to do this? Derrick sighed and slowly opened the letter, as if it was going to bite him. His brown eyes read over word after word, his heart beating faster and faster.

Slow down, this night's a perfect shade of dark blue, dark blue. Have you ever been alone in alone in a crowded room? Well, I'm here with you. I said the world could be burning 'til there's nothing but dark blue…

Derrick set down the letter and reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. Who could possibly be calling? Oh, Alicia. Of course.

"Hey," he greeted his girlfriend. He pounded his fist on his knee. "What's up?"

"Where are you?!" Alicia shouted into the phone. Derrick pulled his cell phone away from his ear. "You were supposed to meet me at Slice of Heaven over an hour ago!"

Derrick punched his leg. Crap. "Uh…I'm getting you a present," he lied as he slipped on his Vans. "I'll see you there, okay?"

"Fine." Alicia hung up. Derrick sighed as he tugged on his jacket and headed for the door. Hesitating, he turned around and grabbed the letter, shoving it into his pocket. Maybe he'd read it later…

Derrick stopped at CVS and bought her cherry lip balm. He shoved the purchased lip balm in his pocket and rode as fast as he could to Slice of Heaven.

As he walked in, he saw Alicia at a table, waiting. As soon as Alicia saw him, she perked up and ran (walked, really) toward him.

"He's with me," Alicia fake-cooed toward the hostess' direction.

As they sat down, Alicia faced him and fluttered her long eyelashes. "So, what's up?"

"Nothing, really," Derrick replied. He stared at the floor. "There's a meat-lovers pizza here, right?" He yawned.

Alicia rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. We don't need that much fat. We're getting Thai." She leaned toward him. "So….where's my present?" She smiled sweetly.

Derrick rolled the lip balm toward her. "It's cherry," he mumbled.

Alicia narrowed her eyes. "You got me lip balm?" She clutched the stick and tossed it at a nearby table. "No, thank you. I use lip gloss only." She glared at Derrick.

"You could at least say thank you," Derrick mumbled under his breath.

"Excuse me?"

"Never mind," Derrick pretended to read the menu.

"That's what I thought," Alicia slathered on MAC lipgloss. "Now, lets not fight again. Kay, baby?" Alicia cooed.

Bipolar bitch. "Sure, babe." He stuffed his hand in his pocket and squeezed the letter. "I'll be back," he muttered."

"Where are you going?" Alicia's eye twitched.

"Bathroom." Derrick sprinted to the bathroom and checked if anyone was there. It was empty. He sighed with relief and sat under one of the sinks, pulling out the slightly crumpled letter.

'When I saw Alicia I wanted to tear out her hair and stab her brown eyes. Sorry for the gory display. But...'

Derrick laughed. He could always count on Massie to do or say something completely disgusting. It was one of the things he loved about her.

Love? What?

Derrick shook his head. He didn't love Massie. They were best friends. And either way, it's not like she'd love him back or something.

Then, he noticed it. The 'but'. What now? Did she hate him or something?

'I think I love you.'

Derrick's insides dropped. He didn't know what do. Or even think. He simply stood there, as if he was frozen.

He slid the letter into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He had to text Massie.

DERRICK: CAN WE TALK? I DIDNT READ THE LETTER YET.

He sighed as he waited for a response. The bathroom smelled like piss and moldy underwear. It was gross, but it was perfect. Massie would've loved it. She was weird like that, appreciating the worst things.

MASSIE: RETARD.

Derrick closed his eyes, hoping she'd agree. And that "RETARD" wouldn't be her only response.

MASSIE: IM AT THE TREEHOUSE.

Derrick grinned as he walked out of the bathroom, past the kitchen, and past the table. Alicia glared as Derrick passed. "Where do you think you're going?" she demanded.

Derrick smirked. "I'm meeting my girlfriend."

Alicia's jaw dropped. "What. Are. You. Talking. About?" She clawed her purse. "I'm your girlfriend!"

Derrick shrugged. "Guess not," he muttered as he sprinted out of the restaurant to Massie's house.

Derrick was finally there. The Block's lawn and house was very familiar to Derrick. The tree house that they'd built in second grade—with the help of their dads—was as well.

As he climbed up, his palms were getting sweaty. Making it harder for him to climb. He looked up and saw Massie's head pop out of a window. Just seeing her made Derrick go faster, and he did. He pushed open the floor door and climbed in.

"Hey," Massie muttered. Derrick was silent. "Hello?" Massie repeated, waving her hand in front of Derrick's face. Derrick just grinned as he walked up to her and did the one thing he'd always wanted to do. He just hadn't known at the time that he'd wanted to do it to Massie.

Derrick cupped Massie's face with his hands and leaned in, taking in everything about her. The way her amber eyes were twinkling with confusion and excitement. The way her brunette locks curled softly around her face. The way she smelled—like honey and cinnamon. He closed his eyes.

"I've always liked you," he murmured before planting his lips on hers. She'd technically been his first kiss in third grade when she'd been dared to kiss him. Oddly enough, that had happened in this very tree house. Only now it was different.

He was kissing her. And she was kissing him back.

And that's all that mattered.