*************************NINE YEARS LATER*****************************
It was well past midnight and mom still hadn't come home. Not like this was strange or anything for she was always out. Ever since Dad left things here at home have become pretty chaotic. Mom's never home and if she is she's either sleeping or nagging me. Truly I've practically raised myself; she hasn't played her role as my mother. To be honest I wasn't loved, I had no real family, had no parents to look up to, and had not one inch of love inside my heart. The only one who truly cared about me was Josh. I don't believe in love but Josh promised me that since I was his best friend he loved me. He does care about me, he listens, he helps me out through everything, and he puts me first ahead of everything. I just don't know what to call of that. The house was completely silent except for my own thought which were louder than usual. I never really thought to much to myself. Whenever something was glued to my mind I would tell Josh word for word what I felt instead of thinking and talking to myself like I'm doing right now. Josh and I have been best friends for eleven years already there's a reason I trust him.
He makes me feel like me. He brings my happy side of me when im depressed and gloomy. Just being with him lightens my mood. Being with him made everything else, all my troubles, all my problems, and every negative thing in my mind melt away. He had that power, just being in his presence made everything evaporate. Our relationship is something I just cant describe in words. But were nothing more than friends because like I have said I don't believe in love and there's no point liking someone when you know love just will never be present. Yet, Josh isn't bad looking either. He was more than a head taller than me, thin and strong, had dark brown hair which hung just above his ears, chocolate brown eyes, had a piercing on the corner of his lip, and dressed simply how I love a guy to dress. Faintly I heard a tapping sound but didn't pay any mind to it until it became frequent and louder. I jumped out of bed and ran to open the curtain. A few peoples were being bounced off of the glass, making a TIK TIK noise. Josh and his ideas! I opened up and stepped out onto the balcony zipping up my sweater tight for the wind was blowing crazily, a cold breeze filed the night time sky.
"What are you doing!" I laughed as he sat on the floor after trying at his attempt to try and climb up here using the bars on the lower window but failed and fell.
"Trying to get you to open your window but obviously your death!" he joked getting on his feet.
"Ever heard of a front door?" I smirked. This boy had a thing for windows and must have something against doors!
"But that takes the fun out of it!" he wined. I started laughing but succeeded in lowering the emergency ladder down so he could climb up.
"Gosh your so weird" I smiled poking him in the ribs as he hoped on the balcony.
"Ya, but you like it" he smirked.
"Sure I do," I said exaggerated "anyways why are you here?" I asked.
"I missed you….and I was bored" he laughed walking into my room. I followed him in and closed the windows shut.
"Where's your mom?" he asked plopping onto my bed
"Probably out with some guy or something" I sighed. She has a new guy like every day! I couldn't bring myself forward to call the woman my mother.
"Oh….let's do something I'm bored" he complained.
"What do you want to do?" I asked taking a seat next to him.
"Movie?" he suggested. I nodded and put on the only thing I had that we hadn't seen like a million times. Paranormal Activity.
"Aw come on! I want something super scary that you'll jump and screech like a little girl!" he moaned.
"Its all I have! And look whose talking you were shrieking like a girl last week while watching Bride of Chucky!" I defended.
"Alright then" he sighed.
"I bet your just scared" I snickered.
"Nu Uh!" he defended.
"Uh Hu!" I shot back. He didn't answer so I focused my attention to the movie. I hated to admit he was right. This movie was whack I don't know why people would complain over it. I think its so- I felt myself being pushed back onto the bed and he started tickling me which was m biggest weakness.
"Josh,…..stop!" I laughed hysterically having trouble catching breaths.
"Not until you take it back!" he said continuing to tickle me this time even more. I couldn't stop laughing and my stomach hurt so bad.
"Ok….ok…ok I take… It back!" I panted in between breaths.
"I knew it" he smirked. I stuck out my tongue at him holding my stomach and managed to sit back up. I was able to catch back my breath to normal in a few seconds.
"Do your parents know you're here?" I asked after a while.
He shook his head. "I snuck out" he winked.
I laughed loudly and hit him with a pillow.
"Oh pillow fight, alright" he smiled mischievously and picked up a pillow and swung me with it. There was blurry white before I fell back of the bed but couldn't stop laughing.
"No fair! Your bigger!" I yelled trying to get up but failed because my stomach ached.
"Help me" I wined
"Say please"
"PLEASSSSSSSSSSSSE" I replied. "Also say, Josh you're the bestest, strongest, smartest, most talented person ever" he added smugly.
"Josh!" I begged.
"Oh fine!" he save up helping me up.
"You always were such a klutz" he teased. Then from outside I heard the sound of a car. I ran to the window and sure enough it was Mom. I couldn't let her see josh this late here, she'll kill me.
"Hide!" I hissed. He nodded and crawled under my bed. I turned off the TV and jumped into bed. I heard the sound of stumbling footsteps making their way up the stairs. Mom opened my door quietly and shut it before locking herself up in her own room.
"Coat clear" I whispered into the dark. I didn't hear anything so I bent over to look under my bed. But al I saw was my hair hanging upside down.
"Josh?" I called quietly. No answer. "Josh where are-" I trailed of and let out a terrified screech when something tapped my shoulder but just in time he covered my mouth with his hand and he burs out laughing but not too loud.
"Don't. Do. That!" I hissed hitting him in the chest after every word.
"Aw come on your cute when your scared" he laughed.
"Not funny! And so not true!" I replied angrily.
"Uh Hu, your super cute" he teased. I shook my head stubbornly. I may be a lot of things but cute or pretty is definitely not one of them.
"Look at me" he said. I hesitated before looking into his eyes.
"You're the cutest, prettiest, most gorgeous girl I've ever laid eyes on. And no one can say other wise. So don't deny it" he said his voice dead serious. Not in eleven years had Josh looked so serious. And then he did it. He kissed me. I was shocked at first but smiled into it.
"Be my girl friend" he asked softly.
I nodded and crawled under the sheets. Even if love doesn't exist, I wouldn't mind just liking him. I was drowsy and having trouble staying awake.
"Oh and Hayles one more thing" he said quietly.
"Hmm?" I asked sleepily.
He pressed his lips to my head "I love you" he whispered before I heard my window close shut and I drifter of into a deep sleep.
I was awoken by a loud noise from downstairs. I would of imagined mom being gone by now. I hopped up and went into the shower. …. When I finished dressing the memories of last night flooded my mind. I didn't seem real I mean was Josh really mine? My thoughts were interrupted by a vibrate that escaped my phone. A message from Josh.
Josh: Morning Cutie ;D Meet me at my house at four. AND I : YOU! I smiled in thought. He was mine. All mine.
Hayley: Morning! Alrighty See ya there! I couldn't bring myself to say the last part. I just wasn't convinced yet. Hungrily I walked down stairs to find some food. Luckily mom had just left. Typically a girl my age would be at school by now. The thing is I'm home schooled. Which really affected me socially wise. It was hard being the only teenage girl in the neighborhood who was known to have one friend. But I owed Josh so much for putting up with that. I finished up my cereal and ran up to finish my studies. … My watch flashed 3:45. I better start making my way over to Josh's. From outside I heard a car pull up. Surprisingly it was my mom. I picked up my bad and ran down stairs praying she wouldn't see me. My prayers went unanswered as I swung open the door and there she stood. Her brown hair was a disarray, her blouse was buttoned on all wrong, her eyes were red, the make up smeared, it was a shame to call this woman mother.
"Where you going?" She slurred her breath was bitter and foul, Obviously she had been drinking.
"Out." I replied shortly trying to push past her but she wouldn't move.
"Alone? I don't remember you asking." she yelled angrily, but it looked more like she was having some sort of seizure.
"Its not like out of all people you'd care!" I snapped.
"You're not going out." she hissed walking or should I say staggering forward causing me to walk back.
"Oh yes I am" I laughed bitterly trying to get passed her. I succeeded and tried running down the porch steps.
"Oh no you don't!" she screeched pulling my hair, causing me to stumble into her.
"Let. Me. Go!" I struggled to let loose. She retreated her hand and stared at me seriously. It looked like she was deciding whether or not to hug me but instead she did the exact opposite. She swung her arm far back and let it snap, slapping hard across the face. At first o didn't do anything. I just let the moment sink in and let the pain spread but my eyes watered. I couldn't stop myself from crying but I didn't want to let her see me cry. I pushed her out of the way and ran, Ran in tears, ran in hatred, and ran in sorrow. *************** When I reached Josh's house he was already waiting on the porch.
"Hey! I didn't think you received my…." I cut him off my wrapping my arms around hi, and sobbed.
"Hayley what's wrong?" he asked his voice full of concern. He was the best no matter what. He always took out time to listen to me. Always about my stupid life, my stupid mom, the stupid me.
"I hate my mom!" I cried choking over my own words. I couldn't believe someone could have so much resentment over the woman who was supposed to be your best friend. His grip tightened and he stroked my hair.
"It'll be alright I promise" he whispered. I never believed that. I hated when they assured me it's be ok. It never really was. But when he spoke them they seemed so true.
"You ok?" he asked, I nodded pulling away to wipe away the tears.
"Ok that's what I want to hear. Come I want to show you something," he smiled and grabbed my hand leading me in the direction of the town forest. The walk gave me plenty time to think and let my mind roam. I was sick of my life. It wasn't any good except for one exception, but that was they way it ,must be.
"Hayley?"
"Yeah?
"What happened to your face?" he asked looking over at me. I sighed and told him the story.
*********** "We're here!" Josh announced. We had wandered deep into the forest, this place seemed so familiar. It was an enclosed are surrounded by trees. The grass was tall and bright green. In the dead center stood a tall tree which held an abandon tree house.
"Remember?" he asked. Now I understood this was the place we first met. This was all too much. The way he did things always overwhelmed me. He was the only good thing in my life. He was like the trunk of the tree and I was the leaves. He supported me. I needed him like the leaves needed the trunk. "Promise me something." I told him. He nodded.
"Promise me…you won't hurt me, you won't leave me, and you won't stop caring."
"Hayley I swear to you, that I will never hurt , leave, or stop caring. I couldn't do that, I love you." he promised. I smiled in and out. Maybe just maybe love was real.
