Chapter 1: Childhood memories
"AH!" I screamed running from Pogue. Who was laughing at me as he gave chase. It so wasn't fair! He had longer legs! Our parents watching us from the back porch where lunch had been served. I ran for the large tree in the backyard. Pogue caught my leg making me trip and fly into the dirt. I jumped up, my jeans and shirt successfully covered in dirt. Reaching the tree I jumped at it trying to climb up it before Pogue caught me. He was always threatening to kick my butt since he was bigger and more then able too. "Got ya!" Pogue shouted triumphantly catching my ankle. "Ah!" I screamed as he started yanking on it. "Guys!" Mom called out to us. We paused and looked at her over our shoulders. "Take it easy!" Pogue's mother told us. We looked at each other before evil grins crossed our faces. "Yes mom!" We both shouted only for Pogue to give one more hard yank. "AH!" I screamed again as I fell backward landing on him.
He groaned, I had fallen on his stomach. "That's what you get!" I laughed only for him to narrow his eyes at me as he went to grab me. I screamed again and dived around the back of the tree. He ran the opposite way. I tried to change my direction only to trip. Pogue caught me pinning me back into the tree. "Ha!" Pogue shouted triumphantly, his hands immediately going to my sides as he tickled me. "Topher! Stop it!" I cried laughing hysterically smacking at him trying to get him to stop. "Oh what will I get if I stop?" He questioned, I snickered and tackled him backwards. The both of us rolling away from the tree and back in our parents line of vision. I successfully pinned him into the grass. "Ha!" I screamed in triumph. "Get off!" He whined kicking his feet. I could hear our mother's laughing. They always found it entertaining that Pogue was a good foot taller than me but I was still able to pin him.
~Later that night~
Pogue and I already had our baths and were settled in bed. I.E. the coach bed in front of the TV. We were currently watching Lady and the Tramp. Empty juice boxes in front of us, an empty pizza box and an empty popcorn bag. Our usual snack foods. It was at the part where they were eating spaghetti and Tramp gave Lady the last meatball. Then they kissed. I glanced up at Pogue. "Hey Pogue?" I questioned, "hm?" He questioned sipping on his juice box. "Have you kissed anyone yet?" I questioned him. He looked down at me before answering. "No, why? Have you?" He questioned and I blushed shaking my head. There was an awkward pause. "Do you want to?" I questioned him. "What with you?" He questioned and I nodded my head. I looked up at him through my bangs. He was blushing bad too. "I don't know" he said unsure of himself. He even sounded a little nervous or scared.
"I dare you to" I said instantly trying to make him more comfortable. He raised an eyebrow. "Do you double dog dare me?" He questioned and I nodded. He smiled and leaned down puckering his lips. Our lips got within an inch of each other before nerves took over. I pulled back quickly pushing him and took off running. Pogue lay on the bed shocked for a second before he gave chase. Like he always did. I could always count on Pogue to chase after me if I ever ran.
~Four Years Later~
"What?" I questioned hurt by his sudden statement. We were standing in our creek bed that ran between our houses. We were next door neighbors. He looked at his feet as he shuffled them. His hands in his pockets. His long hair in his face. He had been growing it out. "We can't be friends anymore" he said again. "Why?" I demanded trying to hold the tears back. He looked up at me. "What did you think we were going to be friends forever? I've grown up Piper. Your too young for me" he said his voice breaking pitifully. I felt the tears run down my cheeks. He stepped forwards. "Piper don't cry" he said softly trying to wipe them away.
I had always counted on Pogue to be there for me. When I found out my mom was going to have another baby I had ran straight to him and he was there for me. Promising me he would always be there. But not now. I shoved his hands away from me. "I hate you!" I screamed at him before running through the creek and back towards my house. It hurt. I had the biggest crush on Pogue, and I thought he liked me too. He said he did. He said he was my boyfriend. But ever since he started hanging out with that Caleb he had changed. And I didn't like the new Pogue. He wasn't my Topher anymore and I doubted he would ever come back.