A/N: Hey, here's the next chapter. This story is inspired by a song, entitled "Wishbone" by Debbie Neigher. I've incorporated some of the lyrics in this chapter, and will continue to do so from now on. All copyright belongs to Debbie Neigher and CBS, I do not own anything.

December 10th, 1988

"she taught me how to do my makeup and my hair while her parents screamed and fought downstairs"

"Ouch Riley, don't pull so hard!" JJ laughed, wincing as her friend roughly brushed her hair back,

"Sorry JJ! You know I'm a harsh brusher." Riley said apologetically.

"Yeah, and you'd think I'd be used to it, but I'm not!" JJ giggled, letting her head move back and forth as Riley worked the brush through her long blonde hair.

"Well we agreed that since you taught me how to do a French braid, I'd teach you how to do a bun. Now do you want to learn or not?" Riley looked her friend in the eyes, somewhat jokingly.

"Yes ma'am!" JJ responded and laughed.

Riley quickly talked JJ through the steps of putting her hair into a neat ballet bun, and when she was done, JJ stood up and went to the center of Riley's bedroom and began to do fouette turns. Riley laughed as JJ changed her face from one silly expression to the next with each turn, nearly collapsing on Riley's bed when she couldn't manage any more. Riley leaped onto her bed, nearly crushing JJ, and they looked at each other and fell into a fit of laughter.

They were interrupted when they heard yelling from downstairs. Riley sighed, got up, and shut her bedroom door.

"Your parents are fighting again?" JJ asked worriedly.

"Yeah…sorry. I should really ask them to stop when I have you over." Riley looked at the ground, obviously upset.

"Hey, it's okay, they'll work something out." JJ stood and walked over to her friend, hugging her gently.

"Wanna do makeup?" Riley asked, sniffling and laughing a little.

"Sure! I'll help you with eyeshadow if you do my eyeliner for me."

They smiled at each other and made their way back to Riley's vanity. At ten years old each, they weren't allowed to wear makeup anywhere except dance class and recitals, but they liked to experiment at home and mix all the different colors to see what they looked like each time they finished a "look".

JJ lightly took a brush across each of Riley's eyelids, a light chocolate brown complementing her blue eyes beautifully.

"Oh Ri, you have to see what this looks like before you put on mascara, this color is gorgeous.

Riley looked down and into the mirror at herself,

"Oh wow! It is!" She closed one eye while keeping one open, half-closed her eyes, and did all kinds of odd movements with her eyelids, causing JJ to laugh at her.

Riley let JJ finish, then they traded spots. Riley reached for her black liquid eyeliner pen, had JJ close her eyes, and drew a neat line as close to JJ's lash line as possible on each side. She then swiped on a nude eyeshadow across her friends lids, and applied black mascara.

"Voila!" Riley stepped away from JJ so JJ could look at herself,

"Oh my gosh Riley! This look amazing! Thank you!" JJ smiled and examined her eyes, loving everything she saw.

"So remember what I told you, pull your eyelid out so the skin is tight, and rest your wrist on your cheekbone so your line stays straight, got it?" Riley asked JJ.

JJ simply nodded, unable to take her eyes off herself.

'I look ready for a ballet show' she thought.

The girls then proceeded back to Riley's bed, dove into a pile of magazines, and laughed as they flipped through pages of endless celebrity gossip without a care in the world.

Four days later, JJ sat down next to riley on the soccer field, placing her legs in front of her and started to stretch.

"Hiya Ri, what's up? I missed you at school today, why didn't you go?"

Riley looked up with tears in her eyes.

"Riley, what's wrong?" JJ's voice became very serious and she placed her arm around Riley.

"I didn't go because I refused to get out of bed today. Dad left last night." She looked at JJ, hardly able to make eye contact with her.

"Riley…I'm so sorry." JJ's eyes filled with tears; Riley's parents were very close to her and her family, and it broke her heart to know that the Neals were splitting apart.

"Do you want me to ask coach if you can sit out today? Maybe you and I can just head down the street and get something to eat, maybe a smoothie? We can talk, if you want, or we can just hang out?" JJ asked, rubbing circles between Riley's bony shoulder blades as she did.

"Sure, that would be nice." Riley gave JJ a thankful smile, wiped her tears, and the pair stood up.

"Coach Lexi?" JJ asked, approaching their tall, thin soccer coach.

"Yes?" Lexi turned around, shocked to see Riley-one of her toughest players-in tears.

"Riley, what's wrong sweetie?" She asked, looking at each of the girls.

"Um, coach, I'm not feeling so well, something happened yesterday and I didn't even go to school today, is it okay if I just watch practice?" Riley's tears started to cease and she leaned slightly into JJ.

"Of course, here have a drink. JJ, you too." She passed each of the girls a water bottle.

"Is it okay if we take a quick walk around the block to talk? We just need a minute." JJ put down her water bottle as she asked her coach.

"Sure, just be safe and don't take too long."

JJ went over to her soccer bag, pulled out a five dollar bill, and started up the street with Riley.

Shortly, they arrived at an ice cream parlor, and stepped in, the cool atmosphere sending chills through their bodies. They made quick work, each ordering a chocolate milkshake to-go, paying, and leaving as soon as they came.

They got back to the soccer field and sat next to each other on the sidelines, remaining silent as they sipped their drinks. The cold air was strangely comforting to JJ, and she rested her head on Riley's shoulder, starting to feel very tired.

"If you want, you can spend a few nights at my house this week." JJ said softly, resting her chin on Riley's elbow.

"I'd like that, thank you." Riley gave JJ a light side-hug, and turned her attention back to the soccer field. She let her mind wander and focused on the sweet, cool liquid that she always cherished, glad that she was in JJ's company.