Every day of school, Jack spent a lot of time with his new found friend. They played together in Jack's secret hideout, although the first few weeks Vicky had been watched so they had to play normally on the playground. Vicky showed him a game he had never had the chance to play before. She called it 'pretend.' It involved anything and everything. They could be daring pirates, sailing the seven seas, on a voyage of discovery to find the lost treasure, perhaps courageous explorers, trekking through the rainforests and bumping into all kinds of tropical animals, or maybe infamous superheroes, saving the world from evil and torment. Jack loved this game, he was very glad Vicky had come along. He didn't realise what he had been missing all this time in the playground. No wonder all the children looked like they were having the time of their lives every time it was recess.

A few weeks had past, and Vicky was finally let go off having a watcher due to good behaviour. She and Jack high fived with happiness before they ran out towards the secret hideout, before anyone could see them.
Jack breathed out. He crawled into the bush and plonked himself down. He was finally back. Vicky soon followed him, placing herself next to Jack. It was rather cramped. Their shoulders were touching so much that Vicky had elbowed him in the ribs accidently. He yelped and rubbed his side. This place was only fit for one. He didn't mind though, he was used to having his best friend around now.

"This is so cool." Vicky whispered, fidgetting excitedly.

"We have to make sure that we don't get caught." Jack warned, knowing how much Vicky can blurt things out. Vicky accidently told their tutor about them having a secret hideout before, but Jack quickly said that it was imaginary.

"I wonder if anyone will notice that we're not on the playground."

Jack glanced at her, thinking the same too. They had played on there for weeks now. What if the teacher that caught Vicky here before suddenly clocked on?

"Let's just enjoy our time here." Jack told her, shaking his head as if the thoughts would fly out his head and into the wind. Vicky nodded in agreement.

"So... what shall we play?"

Jack began to think. He looked around the hideout. The blocks were back in the toybox in the classroom. There was no need for them anymore since they started playing 'Pretend.'
"It's a bit snug in here." Vicky admitted, lifting her legs up from the crossed-legged position and hugged them, placing her head on her knees facing Jack.

"You're right."

"Maybe we shouldn't play in here anymore."

Jack's heart sank. He had always played here, ever since his first day when him and all the children started playing on the bigger kids playground. This was the place he came for comfort, to be alone. He was here when he was happy, sad and a little in between. He then wished Vicky hadn't of turned up after all, otherwise he'd still have the choice to stay. No, no. I take it back, Jack thought, shaking his head again. She's been a great friend. We'll always be best friends, no matter what... Even though he knew in his heart he had to say goodbye, he couldn't fathom the thought of leaving it behind.

"It'll be okay." Vicky said, seeing his worried expression and petting him on the arm. "When I'm ill or something, you can come back here. I wouldn't mind. It's your place afterall."

Jack shook his head, "I don't think I will."

"Ever?"

"Never ever. Besides... your games are better than a bunch of old building blocks." Jack said, smiling at her.

"Maybe we can put them together?"

"There aren't enough building blocks." Jack replied sadly. They both crawled back out from the bush. Jack looked over to the playground. "We should sneak back before someone sees us."

As they started to walk, Jack peered over to his hideout. He smiled to himself. I'll find a much better hideout someday, maybe build my own!

It was home time. All the children packed up their things and stampeded off to meet their parents. Some children only lived up the road from the school and were big enough to walk all by themselves. Jack was almost 9, but he had always walked home on his own, even when he was in elementary school. His parents were good parents, but he told them that he took the school bus. He remembered when he first rode the school-bus to school, all the other kids laughed and poked fun at him for wearing a sleeveless sweater. From then on, he chose to walk to school and back every day.

Jack and Vicky headed outside together. Vicky took his head and starting skipping along until a group of third graders burst into fits of giggles.

"Got yourself a girlfriend, Jackie?" One of them called.

"Kissy kissy!" Another one chirped. They began making silly kissing sounds behind them.

Jack stopped to a halt, blushing madly. He slowly ungripped Vicky's hand and pretending to tie his shoelace.

"You shut your mouth!" Vicky called back, which made a few of them make weird faces at her, sticking their tongues out and waggling them at her.

Vicky rolled her eyes and turned back to Jack. "Immature."

"I-I don't know what they're talking about." He replied as they continued to walk. Vicky spotted Edgar, her butler. Jack looked up and saw a tall man in a black suit and tie, white shirt and very shiny shoes as if he'd just bought them. He was quite old and wrinkly, had short, grey hair which was styled into a side parting. He wore a big smile on his face.

"Hello, Miss Vicky, hello there, Jack." Edgar nodded, looking down at them. Vicky beamed at him.

"Hi." Jack squeaked.

"Will you be requiring a lift, Mr. Jack?" Edgar asked. Jack had always scooted off on his own when it was hometime, telling them both that his Mum was meeting him round the corner. Vicky knew this was because he didn't like confrontation. Jack looked at Vicky. She mimed, go ahead!

"I-If that's alright with you Mr. Edgar." Jack mumbled, feeling embarrassed. Edgar chuckled at the nickname and curtasy Jack had shown.

"Of course it is, young fellow!" He chimed, ruffling Jacks illuminous red hair. "It shall be an honor taking one of Miss. Vicky's friend's home. Or perhaps you'd like to stay for tea?"

Jack nodded slowly. It wasn't like his parents were going to wonder where he was, they were at work, as usual around this time.

They walked out of the school gates together. Vicky chatting away to Edgar about their day and what games they played. Jack looked over to them. Edgar seemed very intrigued with Vicky's story. Jack didn't have that kind of relationship with his Mum or Dad. Whenever he tried to talk to them about his day at school, they either just nod and pretend to listen whilst watching the TV or reading the newspaper, or just say 'not now, son, I'm busy.' So Jack just gave up with every kind of communication nessassary and just stayed in his room. The only person he could really talk to about anything, was Vicky.

Jack came to a stop in front of a huge long veicle. He had never seen anything like this before, surely this can't be what we're travelling in. He watched as Edgar opened the door for Vicky and climbed in the drivers compartment. Jack stood there, mouth open and completely speechless. Vicky hopped in and waved at Jack to join her.

"Come on, this is the best part about home time! Other than actually going home!"

Jack blinked a few times, jumped in and onto the seat opposite her. He stared around him, wide eyed. The seats were black leather, the ceiling and walls were cream and there were mini TVs beside them along with consoles of every choice build in at the bottom. There were buttons up the top were you could adjust the seats to the position you wanted, speak to Edgar through it, open the side windows and the top window and turn on the heater or air condition. There was probably more, but Jack was out of view. If their car was like this, he couldn't wait to see what the house was like.

"Wow." Jack breathed.

"It get's a bit too much for me too sometimes." Vicky said, grinning. Jack looked at her, raising his eyebrows. "Just kidding, it's awesome!"

"My life is so boring." Jack blurted out unexpectedly.

"You could live with me!" Vicky told him, waving her arms in the air.

"My parents probably wouldn't even notice I'm gone." Jack sighed, sinking into the comfy leather seat.

"I don't see why. You're brilliant Jack, you're the smartest kid in the class."

"People don't care about that though..."

"I care." Vicky said softly.

"I'm glad. You're the only person I need." Jack told her.

"Aww, you children are breaking my heart!" Edgar's voice said through the speaker. Jack and Vicky giggled into their laps.

A:N - I've only just realized that they're about 8-9 years old (2nd grade and all) So ignore the fact that I made Vicky talk like an idiot in the last chapter. I'll try and edit that asap. My bad! Also the chapters WILL gradually be a lot longer, so bare with me :)