I decided to split the memories into two parts, so enjoy! Please review!

Chapter 14

I ran around a house with a young boy chasing me. I laughed as he let me win my little race and looked up at him.

"Mom, did you see how fast Sara was!" The little boy explained as he pulled me over to the adults sitting in front of the wooden house.

"She's a speedy one," a grown man with a beard explained as he picked me up and set me on his lap. My father. His twinkling eyes reminded me of stars in the night, full of life and mystery. "She's two now and already the spitting image of her mother." I laughed as I threw my arms around him.

My father was going to build us a house in the woods, which was about two miles from town. We had just met our new neighbors, the Overlands. After my mother died, my father took it upon himself to raise me the best he could, which meant moving to a new town to find work.

He smiled at me as he set me down on the ground and continued talking to the Overlands. I felt a poke in the arm from the three year old boy. His brown hair was long and messy, but his brown eyes showed a directness, along with a sense of mischief.

"You're it!" He exclaimed running away from me toward the back of his house.

"What's your name?" I asked sprinting after him.

"Jackson!"

A five year old me sat alone at a grave. I tried to keep tears back as I said a final good bye to my father. He had died from a sickness no one could cure. It was tragic, I felt alone in the world.

But as I struggled to keep the tears in, I felt Jack walk up from behind me. I stood up and looked at him with red eyes and wild hair. If he did observe how broken I was, he ignored it. He just hugged me tightly and slowly walked me over to where his parents were waiting with a new born baby.

I was eight and running through the woods with Jack at my side. The Overlands' had basically adopted me after my father died, and since then Jack and I were inseparable. I would help Jack pull pranks on people in town, while he taught me the best parts of life. I didn't realise he was teaching me anything, and he didn't either.

We laughed as we skidded down a hill, avoiding the trees as we slid down.

"Come on!" Jack yelled at me as he waited for me to catch up to him.

"You know I have short legs!" I responded reaching him at the bottom of the incline. I quickly made sure my pants were tied tightly around my ankles before we continued running through the trees. I had a hatred for dresses and skirts. Mainly because they would get in the way while I was out playing. When Jack's mom heard this, instead of scolding me on what a lady should wear and how they should act, she sewed me my own pants. Many of the townsfolk will talk to her about how they've chosen to take care of me, saying they should teach me how to be a housewife quickly so I can marry early. But she always disagreed with them.

Now everyone was accustomed to Jack and I strolling around. Me in my masculine clothes and him with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. We hadn't gotten in trouble for any of our pranks yet, but we had one rule we were supposed to follow...

"Jack," I asked as we continued running through the crunching leaves, "Shouldn't we turn around? You know we aren't supposed to stray far from the path."

"Sara," Jack said faking astonishment as he stopped and turned around to face me, "Since when do you ever doubt me?"

"Umm...kinda a lot."

"I'm a whole year older than you," He began smirking, "Which means that I'm smarter." He folded his arms across his chest while looking down at me.

"It does not!" I gasped. I also folded my arms and scowled at him. "I just don't want to get into trouble."

"Ugh! Come on!" He yelled pulling me away from my spot. I let him pull me by the arm as we continued forward again. Suddenly, Jack lost his footing and tumbled backwards. His grip on my arm tightened, causing me to tumble down with him. We fell down a small drop off, thankfully we only fell about ten feet.

I landed on top of Jack, and he groaned. "Owwwww," He let his head rest back on the ground, "Get off of me." I rolled to the side and slowly stood up.

"Are you okay?" I asked watching him stand up.

"Yes."

"You're stupid!" I yelled in the way that all eight year olds do when they want to get a point across.

"How was I supposed to know we were going to fall?" He retorted, seemingly bewildered by my outburst.

"By using your eyes and seeing that there was a..." I trailed off as my gaze looked beyond where Jack was standing. He turned around following my gaze, and we both smiled. We gave each other a quick glance and ran toward the body of water.

"Woah," Jack muttered as we reached the side of the water, "I didn't know this was here!"

"It's a pond!" I exclaimed excitedly gazing into the clear water.

"No it's not. It's a lake."

"Pond." I said glaring up at him.

"Lake," He once again stated with a smirk on his face, "It's too big to be a pond."

"Well it's too small to be a lake." I responded folding my arms.

"Fine. It's a...Plake." He said spreading his arms out toward the...plake.

I frowned at him and was about to tell him he was stupid when Jack's face let up.

"This good be ours!"

"What?"

"This could be our place!" He exclaimed excitedly, "A place only we know about...where we could visit together and play games."

I smiled up at Jack as he finished.

"We can come back tomorrow!" He said before turning around and walking away.

"Why can't we play now?" I asked sadly.

"Because we need to go before mom and dad kill us." I saw the setting sun and knew he was right. So I quickly jogged over to walk next to him. We both smiled at our new found secret before heading back home.

I was nine and staring up at the clear, blue sky. I was laying on my back near the lake waiting for Jack. I let my toes wiggle in the grass as I sighed. He was taking forever.

I jumped up on my feet at the sound of a twig snapping. I spun around looking for the cause of the noise.

"Jack?" I called out. I saw a flash of movement in the corner of my eye and quickly turned in surprise. Some large bush had rustled nearly twenty feet away from me.

"Jack?" I called out again as I timidly walked over to the shrub. When I got to it, I took a deep breath and began to lean down to search. My heart was racing, and the sudden thought of wolves or mountain lions made the hair on my neck stand up.

"BOO!"

I screamed as something jumped out of the bush. I tripped and fell backwards, thankfully missing the water a few feet to my right. I gasped and tried to calm my racing heart. I looked up with wide eyes when I heard laughter. And sure enough...

"JACKSON!" He didn't seem to hear me though as he clutched his stomach with tears streaming from his eyes.

"You...you were..." He kept trying to talk between his large bursts of laughter. I stood up and brushed off my pants before walking over to him. I smacked him on the shoulder and began walking away. My hit stopped his laughing and I could almost feel his eyes staring at my back in amazement. I was old enough now to not let him get away with everthing, and he wasn't used to it.

"Hey! Wait!" I heard Jack's footsteps behind me as he pulled me around to face him. I kept a straight face as he nervously looked at me. "I'm sorry." He muttered looking down at his feet. I smiled and punched his shoulder.

"Race you to town!" I yelled and ran off before he could comprehend my sudden change of attitude.

"No fair!" He yelled as he sprinted after me. We got back on the dirt trail and ran to town. Jack's mom wanted us to stop by town today and get a package from one of her friends. We personally thought it was weird that she couldn't do it herself, but we also knew she was busy taking care of Jack's little sister, Pippa.

I continued to run with a slight lead on Jack, but it wasn't enough. We used to be the same speed, but eventually his long stride helped him easily catch up to me. He was growing much taller than me, something I despise.

We had almost made it to town when I stopped quickly, accidently tripping Jack. We tumbled a few feet, and landed flat on our faces. We laughed as we began to stand up.

"Oh great! What's going to be the trick for today?" We looked over and saw Mrs. Anderson walking towards us.

"No tricks today ma'am." I laughed as we met her in the road.

"When you two are around there is always a trick." She stated as we followed her to the center of town, where her house was. It was a small town, basically only one street which included a small church, a few houses and a butcher shop. Mrs. Anderson, besides being a young newly wed, was a seamstress and would make nice dresses and coats for the people of the town for a fair price. Her neighbor, Mrs. Laughlin, was a baker and had her own little shop as well.

"That's such a mean word. I prefer pranks." Jack said as we reached the door of her house. I turned around, and to my surprise, saw a new building. It was large, and looked to be almost complete.

"Jack!" I said pointing to the new building.

"Is someone else moving in?"

"In a way " Mrs. Anderson began as she followed our gaze, "A family is opening up a general store for the town. They will live above their business."

"What's a general store?" I asked focusing my attention to Mrs. Anderson.

"It's a store that basically anything you could ever need. Cooking supplies, clothes, and other materials."

"That's cool!" I said smiling.

"They also have a young boy, about Jack's age I believe." I looked up at Jack and saw him looking at me, with the same expression of 'We need to see this for ourselves.' "Well come on in one of you. I'm sure your mother would like my gift."

"Oh, yes please!" Jack responded. We had almost forgot about the delivery we were supposed to get. Mrs. Anderson walked inside and Jack followed. He was in the doorway when he turned around.

"Wait here. I'll be back." He stated his brown eyes twinkling. He then turned around and shut the door behind him. I frowned, how dare he boss me around! I looked across the street, and then back to Mrs. Anderson's door, before making up my mind and turning around to walk towards the new store.

I reached the porch steps and gazed in through the window. I stood on my tiptoes trying to see everything I could, but all the wooden shelves were empty, and even though the sun was out, the room still seemed dark.

"Can I help you?" I jumped at the voice that arose behind me. I turned around and stumbled back against the window in surprise. The voice came from a boy. He was pale, with black hair and light eyes. I had never seen eyes that light before, but they were cold. As if they were void of all emotion.

"S-sorry." I stuttered nervously. I stood up straighter and gazed behind him to see if Jack was out yet, which he wasn't.

"What were you doing?" He asked staring at me with his arms crossed.

"I heard about the new store and..." I trailed off seeing Jack exit the house across the street looking around for me.

"And what?" The boy asked raising his voice. He stepped closer to me, leaving barely any room between us. I couldn't form words and shrunk back a little.

"I-I'm sorry." I blurted out trying to walk past him. The boy grabbed my arms and pulled me back in front of him. My eyes widened as his cold eyes looked down at me. Why was I so intimidated by a child? A child like me?

"You know," He muttered letting go of me, "You're kinda cute." I felt my face flush in embarrasment. The only one who had ever called me that was Jack, and when he did I usually would hit him for it. "What's your name?" He asked with a smirk. I didn't have time to respond before he got shoved away from me. Jack looked at me before turning his gaze back to the boy.

"What do you think you're doing?" Jack asked him as the boy scowled back.

"We were just having a nice little chat."

"Didn't seem very nice to me."

"Jack." I muttered not expecting his anger. Suddenly, the boy smiled.

"Sorry. Let's start over," He said looking at each of us in turn, "My name is Benjamin Christopher. But you can call me Ben." Jack and exchanged small glances before I spoke up.

"Ugh...hi. Ben." Ben smiled at me as Jack quickly spoke.

"Well Ben it's been nice meeting you but we have to go." Jack suddenly grabbed my hand and went to turn around.

"No you don't," Ben stated causing Jack and I to turn around, "You're just scared of me."

"Am not." Jack growled his messy hair falling into his eyes.

"How old are you? Eight?" Ben taunted.

"Hey!" I exclaimed in Jack's defense.

"I'm ten," Jack began crossing his arms to match the boy across from his, "Sorry if you can't count that high." Ben scowled angrily, but then smiled broadly.

"I still would like to know your name." He said looking at me. I looked up at Jack before taking a few steps forward to respond.

"I'm Sara, and this is Jack."

"Nice to meet you," He said to me with a smile before turning to Jack, "Please leave."

"With pleasure." Jack said before taking my hand again and quickly walking away. With his free hand he grabbed the package he must have left on the porch when he came over.

I turned around one last time and saw Ben watching us on the porch of the shop. I got a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach as he stared after us. But I quickly turned back around and walked with Jack out of town.

"Jack, you were rude." I said as we got back on the trail to get home.

"You're the one that didn't listen!" Jack yelled at me which caught me off guard.

"I'm sor-"

"He could of hurt you! And the way he looked at you..." Jack muttered trailing off.

"What?" I asked as we stopped on the path.

He stared at me for a second before responding, "Nevermind." Then he smiled as we ran back home.

I was ten and sitting at the table at home. Jack, now eleven, was standing behind his parents. They had called me in when I was outside playing with Pippa. I knew I was in trouble.

"I'm sorry." I said nervously fidgeting with my hands under the table.

"For what?" Jack's father said. I looked in surprise to see their confused faces, and Jack's happy smile.

"I thought that-"

"No honey," Mrs. Overland said sweetly while they sat at the table across from me, "You're not in trouble." I sighed in relief, but then gazed at them, confused.

"Then what's going on?" The adults looked at each other before continuing.

"Sara," Mr. Overland began, "You've been with us for five years now. Great years, I might add." I smiled slightly and glanced at Jack, who was still smiling with a twinkle in his eye.

"We love you like you are our child." That comment caught me off guard. I looked up at Jack's mother, and her gentle smile greeted me in return.

"What we are trying to say," Mr. Overlands began again holding his wife's hand, "Would you like to become an official member of our family? And take our last name as yours?" I felt tears build up, threatening to spill. I ran over and gave both of them a giant hug as they stood up.

"Thank you," I muttered through happy tears, "Mr. and Mrs. Overland."

"Call us Mom and Dad." With that I parted from them. Jack ran over and gave me the biggest embrace of my life.

He didn't need to say anything. I smiled, wiped the tears from my face and felt my chest grow warm. The warmth spread as I looked at my new family, with love.

I was eleven and hiding behind the general store with Jack. He smiled at me and pointed down the road.

"Go on."

"No." I stated crossing my arms over my chest.

"Come on Sara!" Jack said throwing his arms up, "I just need you to distract Mr. Smith so I can get past him and let the pigs out!" It was Jack's brilliant new prank. Mr. Smith, the butcher, wasn't a fan of kids. Or really people in general. So most people would leave the man alone with his sharp knifes and animals. But not Jack.

"Why do I have to talk to him?" I questioned looking nervously down the road where he could be seen in front of the shop, cutting meat.

"Because he likes you." Jack said pushing me out from behind the store.

"No he doesn't!" I said turning around to run back. Jack grabbed my shoulders and turned me around, once again pushing me towards the direction of what I believed to be suicide.

"Are you scared?" He asked laughing at my attempt to run away.

"Yes." I said honestly. Jack's eyes widened in surprise. I wasn't one to get scared often, and when I did I sure as hell wasn't going to admit it.

I waited for him to give some sarcastic remark, or make fun of my nerves. But it was my turn to look surprised when he sighed and said, "Fine."

"What?" I asked after a few seconds of shock. Jack never gave up easily, and he never took my feelings in account before. Ever.

"I don't want you to be scared." He said hugging me tightly in the street. I hugged him back slowly, as he muttered in my ear, "He is scary." I laughed as we pulled apart and I noticed his hair. It looked the same as always; brown, tangled, and messy. But I noticed how it fell down onto his forehead, and how it seemed to...fit him somehow.

I noticed how his eyes sparkled in the sun, and I felt a need to stare at them. To gaze until I found something, what is was, I wasn't sure of.

"Well if it isn't Jacky." We turned around as we heard Ben call out from the porch of the store.

"What do you want?" I elbowed Jack as his irritated question popped out before it could be stopped. Ben just strolled over casually, which I know irritated Jack even more. Ever since the day the met they were constantly trying to best each other. Always competing, and always arguing.

"Miss Sara," Ben smirked as he took my right hand in his own, "What a pleasure it is to see you." He bent down to kiss my hand, which made me quickly pull my hand away. I wasn't sure why, but I had an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Jack laughed as Ben scowled at my reaction. "Well Benny, are you here to get laughed at today? Or maybe you would like some embarrasment?" I sighed, I knew this was going to happen.

"You think you're so smart." Ben bowed up to Jack, which made Jack smile even broader.

"Oh I know I am." They were know only an inch apart. Jack had a good inch on Ben, but it seemed backing down wasn't going to be an option today.

"I'm thirteen now."

"Woah. Good for you." Jack said sarcastically rolling his eyes. I nervously let my bare feet play with the dirt under my toes, maybe this time it will finally go past words alone. That was something I didn't want to see.

"One year older, one year smarter than you," I gasped as Ben pushed Jack backwards, "Jacky boy." Jack had not fallen, but was thrown back a few steps. I could see his fists clench as he began to walk towards him.

"Stop!" I said stepping in between them. I had my arms out wide, glaring at Jack. This was something we had talked about often, Jack needing to walk away from Ben and his taunting. Something he didn't find very easy.

Jack's face softened as he looked at me. Finally he closed his eyes with a sigh, "Being older doesn't make you smarter." Jack spat as he slowly unclenched his fists.

"Funny," I started with my arms still out, "You used to pull that on me all the time." I smirked at Jack, relieving some of the tension. When I suddenly felt myself pulled away from Jack and into Ben.

"Hey!" I yelled as he tightened his grip on my wrist. I tried to pull away, but he refused to let go.

"What? You need your knight to save you?" He asked looming over me. Suddenly, before I could've done anything, I saw a blur of movement and Jack had thrown himself onto Ben. I fell to the ground as the two boys wrestled a few feet away from me. Unsure of what to do, I remained sitting until two large hands pulled the boys apart.

"What do you think you're doing?" Mr. Smith growled. He held each boy by their shirt, and glared at each of them in turn. He must have heard the commotion and ran over.

"I-I'm sorry." I said standing up, wiping the dirt off my pants. Mr. Smith let the boys go and Jack quickly came over to my side.

"You both need to go home right now before I tell your parents." Mr. Smith threatened before walking away. I felt Jack tense up as he watched Ben smirk at him. Ben had blood slowly trickling down his nose, but he didn't move to wipe it away.

"Get used to being jealous Jacky." Ben sneered before entering the general store. I pulled on Jack's arm as he started after him.

"Let's just go home." I forcefully pushed him down the road. I saw him look at me, and then his eyes widened as he saw my hands. He quickly turned towards me and held my wrist lightly in his large hands. We stopped as he looked at me with concern.

"It's bruised." He muttered looking at the dark marks that had begun forming on my skin.

"It's fine," I said as he watched me with conern, "I'm more worried about you." I lightly placed my other hand on his bruising cheek. He lightly grasped my hand resting on his face. He took a deep breath and looked at me so seriously, my breath immediately caught in my throat.

"If he hurts you again, I promise I'll kill him." And with that promise he began walking home once again. He kept ahold of my hand as we continued on. I wasn't sure what had exactly happened back there, or why he was so worried about me, but I did know his hand felt warm against mine. And for some reason, I didn't doubt the promise he had just made. I knew he would always be there for me, and that's the day I promised myself that I would do the same for him.