Jack and Davey ran hand and hand across the small city playground once the recess aid opened the door, running towards the jungle gym. Jack dropped Davey's hand when they got to the slide, and started to climb up to the top of the jungle gym from the bottom of the slide, and Davey, out of breath, followed him.

"Hey!" A recess aid yelled at them as they were halfway up the slide. "No climbing the slides! You're in first grade! You should know better!"

Davey turned around and slid down the slide, and he could hear Jack following him.

When they were both back on the ground, Davey said, "I told you that why would get yelled at!"

"Come on! Let's go to the swings!" Jack said, ignoring Davey's comment and grabbing his hand again, leading them towards the swing.

Davey was surprised to see the swings empty when they got there. The swings were never empty.

Jack pulled Davey to the swings farthest from the school building, letting his hand go as they sat down, then grabbing it again once they were situated.

"Davey?" Jack asked, looking at the ground. He was tapping his fingers on Davey's hand.

"Yes?" Davey asked.

"Can we get married?" Jack asked, looking up at Davey. He could feel a smile spreading across his face.

"Of corse!" Davey exclaimed, jumping up off the swing to hug Jack, never letting go of his hand. When he pulled away and sat back down, Jack was smiling ear to ear, which made Davey feel happier than he already was.

XXX

When Davey got home that night, he announced to his parents and older sister Sarah that he was going to marry Jack when they were older.

"That's not fair!" Sarah exclaimed. "I want someone to marry!"

"You're only in second grade, dear." Their mom consoled. "You have plenty of time."

"I'm gonna get my friend Katherine to marry me!" She exclaimed, marching down the hall to her room. "That'll show you, Davey!"

Once Sarah was gone, Davey looked to his Dad.

"When can I marry Jack?" He asked, eager to start planning their dream wedding.

"Wait until after you graduate." His Dad said, crouching down in front of Davey. "Graduate, and then you can get married."

"Ok!" Davey said. He ran to his room, pulled a piece of paper out of his desk to draw what their wedding would look like. He was eager to show Jack the next day.

XXX

"Oh, come on, mom!" Davey moaned as his mom shoved a sign that read First Day of 5th Grade! in his hands.

"Just stand with Jack so I can take the picture!" His mom exclaimed. Davey rolled his eyes, then slung his arm lazily over Jack's shoulder next to him as their moms snapped pictures with their phones.

"Are you guys done yet?" Jack whined, brushing his hand up against Davey's, going to grab it so they could walk to the bus stop.

"No." His mom replied sternly. "Just a few more pictures."

Jack and Davey both rolled their eyes as their moms took more pictures.

Finally, Davey's mom said, "Ok, boys. You can go."

"Thank you." Jack rolled his eyes again, grabbing Davey's hand and leading them off the bus stop.

"Day! Day!" Les called after him as they walked down the hall towards the stairs that led to the street, running towards them on stubby two year old legs.

Davey dropped Jack's hand and turned to Les, scooping him up in his arms.

"Day!" Les exclaimed again.

"I've gotta go." Davey lamented to his baby brother. "But I'll see you after school, ok?"

"Day!" Les just exclaimed again. Davey kissed his baby brother on his forehead, then placed him back down on the floor, much to Les's dismay. He turned back to stand next to Jack, grabbed his hand, and they walked together to the bus stop.

"Good luck at school!" Davey's mom exclaimed after them.

"We love you!" Jack's mom added. Davey and Jack ignored them and just kept walking, not even looking back.

The boys walked down the stairs, out of their apartment building, and down the block to the bus stop in a comfortable silence. They had been best friends since kindergarten, and they had gotten used to it. They could just sit together in silence, and it would be ok. They just enjoyed each other's presence.

When they got to the bus stop, Davey felt himself getting really excited. He he used his free hand to adjust his backpack on his shoulders, then turned to Jack.

"Are you excited for school?" He asked him.

"Eh." Jack said. "I don't really like school."

"Since when?" Davey asked. "You used to love school!"

"My Dad was a teacher." He explained. "Ever since he left over the summer, it's been hard to find the joy in school."

"Oh." Davey said. "I'm sorry. I forgot." He squeezed the shorter boy's hand in comfort.

"It's ok." Jack said.

Jack's dad had left him and his mom on their own one night in July. He left a note on their kitchen table that told him he had to go, and he was sorry, and they never saw him again. Jack always got really down whenever someone brought it up.

The bus that read Manhattan School District pulled up in front of them, and they climbed onto the bus, along with the other boys and girls that had congregated around the bus stop.

Davey led Jack to a seat in the middle of the bus, never letting go of his hand, and they sat down next to each other. Jack just looked at the floor.

"Jack?" Davey started.

"Yeah?" Jack responded, clearly still a little upset.

"You know we're still getting married, right?" Davey reassured, squeezing his his best friends hand.

"Yeah?" Jack asked again, different tone to his voice this time.

"Yeah." Davey confirmed, and Jack layed his head on his best friend's shoulder. Davey felt so lucky to have such an amazing best friend.