The flashlight beam cast an eerie glow on the map spread out beneath their bedsheet fortress. Mel and Joe lay on their stomachs, foreheads nearly touching as they traced the streets of Brighton with their fingers.
"So... if she lives near the pier," Mel whispered, a nervous excitement tinging her voice, "that means we have to make trips even more often!"
"And when we find her," Joe added, his own voice hushed, "we gotta make a plan. Can't just show up and say you're moving away, right?"
Mel chewed on her lip; brows furrowed in concentration. "I guess my mum and dad... they need to be friends with her. First."
"But how?" Joe asked, then his eyes lit up. "Wait! They could meet at the beach! Like, pretend it was an accident, and they both start talking about how much they love the sea or something."
Mel giggled. "That's actually kind of brilliant, Joe!"
A comfortable silence settled between them as they imagined the scenario, a hopeful grin plastered on both of their faces.
"Then..." Mel started, breaking the silence, "maybe she could move in next door! We could even knock down the wall between the houses... then I could live with her and mum and dad. Then if you come and live next door to her then it'll be like we all live together already!"
Joe's smile widened at the thought. "And after school, we'd all have dinner together. And on weekends, we'd go to the park, just all of us. It'd be perfect..."
Their voices trailed off; the weight of the unspoken hanging heavy in the air. Joe reached out, squeezing Mel's hand. "You won't really go away, will you?"
Mel squeezed back. "I'll try my hardest, Joe. I promise." A flicker of uncertainty crossed her face, but she quickly replaced it with a determined smile.