JENNIE

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—Nine years ago

The sky is dark, the moon hidden behind thick clouds blocking out every star from view. I'm lying on my back in the unfinished treehouse in my backyard. The one my father started years ago but never completed in his rush to leave. It has a floor and three walls, with the fourth completely open to the wooded area behind my house, and there is no ceiling. It's sits about fifteen feet in the air, and instead of a ladder, there are wood planks nailed into the tree for steps.

It's not the sturdiest thing in the world, but over the years it has become my sanctuary. The place I go when I want to be alone. It's also where Lisa likes to hide out when her dad's been drinking. Most of the time when I come up here, I do in hopes of finding her here.

She's been my closest friend since she moved into the house at the end of my street nearly four years ago. And while I love her like she's family, those feelings have started to take on a new meaning recently.

"Jen." I prop up on my elbows when I hear Lisa's voice.

I knew she'd come here tonight. As of late, she's up here more times than she's not. And as happy as that makes me because I get to spend time with her, I also hate what it means. That her dad is on another tirade.

Preston Manoban is not a good man. I learned that pretty early on. And I hate that Lisa has to live with him. It's no wonder why her mom left or why her brother, Bobby, took off the first chance he got. I just wish they hadn't left Lisa all alone with that monster.

And while my home life isn't great—my mother treats me and the twins more like nuisances than her children—at least I don't have to be afraid to go home.

"Hey." I smile at her when her messy brown mop comes into view.

Lisa is changing. When I first met her she was a scrawny thing, but she's filled out since then and grown several inches. Her voice is changing too. I swear it gets deeper every time I hear her talk.

"Hey." She hoists herself up into the treehouse before crawling onto the blanket I have sprawled out on the floor.

She lays back, tucking her hands underneath her head as she stares up at the sky. The small camping lamp I took from the garage offers just enough light that I can see the bruise forming right below her left eye. I cringe at the sight.

"Everything okay?" I ask, lying back down, my face turned in her direction.

"Yeah." She blows out a heavy breath. "Dad was in a real mood tonight."

I want to ask her why she doesn't report him. Why she continues to let him get away with this. But after the tenth time of suggesting it, and Lisa never wavering in her response, I've kept such thoughts to myself. She doesn't want anyone to know and I have to respect her choice to keep this quiet.

People suspect, I'm sure. There's no way they can't. There are only so many times a kid can show up at school with a black eye or busted lip before someone realizes that there's more going on than a teenage girl getting into neighborhood squabbles. And yet, no one says a word.

It's like an unspoken rule in this town. Everyone minds their own business and believes what they're told to believe. Other than Bobby, I'm the only one that knows what takes place in the Manoban's home. I tried telling my mom once, but she told me to stay out of it and refused to discuss it further. If I had any hope that she was going to help, she squashed it instantly.

So it's just me and Lisa. Me and Lisa against the world. I wish I could do more. I wish I could protect her. But really, what can I do other than be here for her the only way I know how?

"You wanna talk about it?" I finally offer, my hand settling on top of hers. She flinches at the contact and my heart sinks in my chest.

"Not really." She turns her face toward mine, her blue eyes impossibly dark. "I just want to lay here with you if that's okay." She forces a small smile.

"Of course." I nod, holding her gaze for as long as she'll let me.

Lisa is very good looking. And while I've always thought she was cute, now she's something much more than that. My heart beats faster every time she's around. My palms sweat and my stomach does this weird fluttering thing that makes me feel like I'm about to take flight.

I don't have to wonder what it all means. I know what it means. Lisa is not like the other girl. She's special.

Eventually, she turns her eyes back up to the sky, but I keep mine locked on the side of her face. Taking in the defined cut of her jaw and the profile of her nose, which has a small lump on the bridge from where her dad broke it last year.

"Lisa." My voice breaks the long silence that has settled between us.

"Yeah?" Her head falls back in my direction.

"Tell me it won't always be like this."

Even though she's the one hurting, it's me who needs the reassurance.

"It won't always be like this," she promises, wrapping her hand around mine.

My stomach twists with excitement. It shouldn't feel this good, doing something as simple as holding hands, but god it does. It feels right in a world where nothing else does.

"One day we're going to get out of this town. You and me," she continues. "We're going to leave all this behind."

"I can't wait for that day."

"Neither can I." She rolls onto her side and I do the same, our fingers still tangled together.

"I don't know what I would do without you, Jennie." Her voice is soft, barely above a whisper.

"I don't know what I would do without you." And I mean it with everything that I am. My eyes slide to the bruise on her face before going back to hers. "Are you sure there isn't anything I can do?"

She reaches out with her free hand, pushing my wild auburn hair away from my face. Her fingers linger on my cheek just long enough for me to realize it's intentional.

"Actually, there is one thing." She inches in closer.

I swallow past the thick knot that settles in my throat.

"Anything," I whisper.

"Kiss me."

I can hardly believe my ears. Did she just… Did she just ask me to kiss her?

"Lisa, I…" I have to stop myself from rambling the way I always do when I get nervous.

I want to tell her that I don't know how. That I've dreamt of kissing her a million times, but I've never actually kissed someone before.

A low chuckle escapes her lips.

"Relax." Her hand slides down the side of my face before her thumb darts out across my bottom lip.

"I don't know how," I admit.

"I'll show you."

Before I have time to react, her lips press against mine. Warmth spreads through my entire body and I squeeze my eyes shut, relishing in the feeling. It's hands down the best moment of my life and I never want it to end. Only it does, and way too quickly.

Lisa pulls back, her gaze locked on mine.

"I've wanted to do that for a very long time." She smiles in a way that reaches her eyes.

"Me too," I shyly admit, my cheeks heating pink.

I'm not used to this. This uncertainty, this nervousness that suddenly happens whenever I see Lisa. Things used to be so easy. So simple. But lately, nothing feels simple anymore.

"Have I ever told you how cute you are when you blush?" She tips my chin up, forcing me to meet her gaze. And then she does something I don't expect. She kisses me again.

Her lips are so soft and warm against mine.

"Stay with me tonight," she murmurs, pulling back.

"Okay," I agree, knowing my mom will probably not notice that I'm not in bed. It's not like she makes it a habit of checking on me. If she did, she'd have noticed how many nights I spend out here rather than in my room when it's warm enough.

I guess that's one good thing about living in the south. It's almost always warm enough.

"Okay." She tugs me toward her, my head settling on her bicep as she drapes her other arm around my middle.

I don't know how long we lay like that. How long I listen to the sound of her breathing before sleep takes me under. All I know is that if tonight ends up being some wild and crazy dream, I pray that I never wake up.

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