I sigh for the umpteenth time today as I look out and across my backyard from the top of my treehouse. Colorful leaves dance in a soft breezes that blows past them and I shudder slightly as the temperature slowly drops.

"Geez, how much longer are you going to pout, Kaley?" My best friend asked. I look over at Claud who's currently inspecting her make-up in a small, compact mirror.

"Until you change your mind and decide to hang out with me. I'm clearly the better option here." Claud looks over at me and raises one of her perfect eyebrows.

God, she's pretty. No wonder she's so popular at school.

"Right now, that argument isn't very accurate."

"Come on Claud! How many times are you going to cancel your plans with me your best friend just so you can hang out with some guy?" I asked as I toss my hands up in the air, annoyance evident in my voice. "I never thought you'd become one of those girls who prioritizes their boyfriend over their best friend." Claud sighs and snaps shut the compact mirror.

"First of all," She starts as she turns towards me. I lower my arms and cross them over my chest. "I don't cancel all of my plans with you just to hang out with a guy. This is literally the first time I've done this." My cheeks heat up slightly because she's telling the truth. I did exaggerate a little. "Second of all, Noah and I are not dating." I snort and roll my eyes at that.

"Could have fooled me. The only thing that keeps you guys from being a couple is that you've yet to actually kiss the boy." As soon as the words are out of my mouth it's as if someone splashes red paint all over my best friends face. My jaw drops in shock and, for a moment, I go blank. "When the hell did this happen?!" I screech as I place my hands on Claud's shoulders and gently shake her. She bows her head in embarrassment, her voice small as she says,

"Last night while we were hanging out. It just sort of happened." I let go of her and cross my arms once more as I look away bitterly.

"Not dating my ass."

"We seriously aren't dating. We're just...playing a game." She said with a sigh and I raise a curious eyebrow at that as I wait for her to elaborate. "Do you remember the day after that party you dragged me to where I ended up kissing that chick." The corners of my mouth tip up slightly.

"Of course. That was freaking hilarious." Claud glares at me.

"For you maybe. Anyway, Noah found me after that. His ego was seriously bruised and he came back for, and I quote, 'his kiss'." I snort and she continues. "So, he kind of dragged me on a date and, well, it was actually pretty fun and at the end he kind of dared me to do something which led to the little game we're playing now." She smiles no doubt from remembering that day.

"What'd he dare you?"

"Not telling. It's our little secret." Her phone vibrates then and draws her attention away from me. I pout some more. "Anyway, I need to head out if I'm going to be there on time." She climbs down from the treehouse before I can protest. Once she's on the ground she turns and looks back up at me. "If you're really that depressed about being left alone why don't you just call Kyle over?" My nose scrunches at the name and Claud just laughs at me.

"There's no way that's ever happening. Not in this life time."

"Isn't it about time you guys got over your little argument. It's been going on for years now. He doesn't even know what it's about anymore." I look away from Claud and pull my knees up to my chest.

"That's because he's incompetent."

"Or, maybe you're just too stubborn." I stick my tongue out at Claud. "Listen, Kaley, I know that you're upset over the whole Chris thing and I get that you hate being left alone, but he's moved on and I can't spend all my time with you."

"No, you've got Noah now." Claud frowns at that and crosses her arms over her chest. I can tell that she's getting annoyed.

"It's time for you to grow up a little. It's not like you ever even liked Chris to begin with. You were just with him to make Kyle jealous which was completely stupid, by the way, since you guys were still fighting."

"You don't know anything!" I hissed getting annoyed at her little psychiatrist play. Claud's eyes grow kind.

"I know that I'm your best friend and I just want you to be happy and, right now, you're clearly the opposite of that." With that she turns and walks off clearly content with having her say. I just watch after her until she disappears around my house. A moment later I hear her car startup.

I groan and flop back onto the wooden floor. My eyes stare holes into the ceiling and I chew on my bottom lip in annoyance.

"She really doesn't know anything."

***

The next day I avoid Claud and Kyle altogether at school. I really don't want anything to do with them right now. I can tell Claud is hurt by this and Kyle, well Kyle is just used to it so he doesn't really do or say anything anymore.

At least, that's what I thought. My way of thinking is quickly brought to a halt when I hear someone call up to me from below my treehouse. I scramble to the edge of the floor and peer down. My jaw drops open when my own brown eyes meet a pair of dark chocolate ones.

"Kyle, what're you doing here?!" There's more shock in my voice than anything else. His lips turn up in a smile and I can tell that he's satisfied in thoroughly surprising me. I watch as he crosses his arms over his chest, his shirt stretching around his muscle.

"Claud said that you needed to talk to me." I furrow my brows at that in confusion before a spark of anger ignites within me. I crawl away from the edge.

"Well, Claud is wrong. You can go now." Everything is silent for a long while and then I hear the crunching of leaves. For a moment I think that he's leaving and then I hear the telltale signs of the ladder being used.

I peek back back over the edge of the treehouse only to yelp in surprise when I come face to face with Kyle. There's inches of space between us and I suck in a shocked breath as our eyes lock. For a moment neither of us moves, both caught in a staring contest.

It's the sound of a bird chirping and the breeze rustling the leaves that pulls me back to reality. I pull away from Kyle and crawl back a few steps.

"What do you think you're doing? This is my treehouse." Kyle blinks for a moment, still regaining his senses before raising an eyebrow at me and climbing up the rest of the way.

"If I recall correctly this is our treehouse. Our dad's built it together when we were younger. I never said anything all these years, but I'm claiming joint custody." I cross my arms over my chest.

"I've been the one taking care of it these last few years. You don't deserve joint custody." Kyle just snorts and lets his legs dangle over the side. He doesn't say anything for a while after that and I eye my childhood friend suspiciously.

Despite seeing him at school most days he looks different up close. His fiery head of hair has gotten slightly longer, stopping at the middle of his ears now. The dark chocolate colored eyes I'd gotten so used to looking into when I was a child are older and seem to have a more laid back look to them than when we were rambunctious children.

The corner of his mouth tips upwards and I can feel my cheeks begin to heat up. I've been caught staring.

"See something you like Kale?" My nose scrunches at the old nickname he used to call me. I hated it back when we were kids and I still hate it.

"You know I don't like that nickname. It makes me sound like a leafy green someone puts in their salad. Plus, I hate the stuff." I shudder at the simple thought of eating it. Kyle looks back at me and gives a mischievous smile as he says,

"Well, I actually love the stuff." Even though I know he's not talking about me I can feel my face turn eight different shades of red. Kyle only laughs at this before looking back out of the treehouse. His laughter dies down and the atmosphere around us takes on a solemn note that has me wishing I could run away. I've always hated serious talks and I'm smart enough to know that, that's where this is leading.

"Don't, Kyle." I said, breaking the silence before he can. His shoulders slump in defeat and a pain pierces through my chest at the sight of it. I notice his hands curl into tight fists and I find that my own mimic his.

"What happened to us, Kaley?" He asked anyway and I sigh as I look away from him and towards a wall of the treehouse. Carved into it are Kyle's and my names. Claud's is also there, though hers came much later than ours.

Images of Kyle and I as children running around in my backyard flash through my mind. Our laughter echos within my ears and I find myself smiling without really meaning to.

We had so much fun.

Then, the images are replaced by the past few years. I've barely uttered more than twenty words to Kyle since we had our argument.

An argument he doesn't even remember was about in the first place.

"If I told you then these past years of silence would be for nothing." He sighs and I can hear the annoyance loud and clear. He turns and there's anger shining brightly in his eyes.

"I'm not a freaking mind reader, alright! I'm sorry that I don't just magically know what it is that I did to piss you off so much. This has literally been going on for years, Kaley. Years. Do you know how ridiculous that is?" I jump up at that statement, surprising Kyle.

"It's not ridiculous! It's all your fault. None of this would be happening if it weren't for you!" I yelled, getting myself all worked up. Kyle just sighs once more clearly exasperated.

"What do you want from me?" His voice is quiet now and there's a defeated note to it and I feel the piercing pain within me once more. "Seriously, what do you want from me? I'll do it if it means I can get you back in my life again." My heart squeezes at the genuine look in his eyes and it takes everything I have not to jump back when his hand finds mine.

We're both quiet, looking at our connected hands. For a long time the only noise is that of the wind and I eventually find myself taking a seat beside Kyle again, defeated just like him. I'm exhausted because of this fight that I've been dragging on.

It may have been Kyle's fault it started, but it's my fault that it's still going on. 

I admit to myself. My eyes look out at my backyard and I can envision the two of us playing as kids once more. Those were the fun days. The easy going days. They were the days I thought would always continue on.

"Hey, do you remember-"

"How could I forget." I said, cutting Kyle off and looking up into his eyes.

"I didn't even finish my question." I smile and look back out at the yard.

"You don't have to. I remember it all." I snort and look back down at our hands before getting all pouty again. "Yet you can't even remember a simple promise. Such an asshole." I muttered the last part, but I'm sure he heard it.

"Geez, you really hold a grudge." My head whips around at that and I look him square in the eyes as I poke him painfully hard in the chest.

"I wouldn't have to hold a grudge if your memory weren't equivalent to that of a newborn!" He flinches at my jab.

"My memory wouldn't be a problem if you didn't get so freaking angry over the smallest of things!" He yelled back and I can feel my face heating up once more, only this time it's because of anger. 

"It's not a small thing!" I take my hand from his and get up from my perch, marching away from him and to the other side of the treehouse. I don't get far before Kyle stops me.

"Then what is it?!"

"You told me to date someone else!" I yelled and Kyle's face goes completely blank at that. I just continue, too heated to stop and think. "Three years ago Chris confessed and said that he liked me. I told you and Claud. You said I should go out with him. You gave me your blessing to start dating some guy I didn't have a thing for because you were the only thing that filled my mind. I'm pissed off because you basically dumped me before I could even confess to you. I'm pissed because you couldn't be bothered to even remember our promise from when we were kids and yet I believed it so whole heartedly! Are you satisfied now, Kyle?" A hiccup of a sob escapes me and I furiously wipe at my eyes.

"Wait, are you serious?" I glare up at him, my eyes puffy and red.

"Are you seriously asking me that right now?" I make to pull my arm away from his hold but he doesn't let go. "Release my arm, Kyle. We're done here now that I've thoroughly made a fool of myself. God, I must look like death." Kyle snorts at that and I raise an eyebrow at him.

"You're such a drama queen." He said, smiling as he wipes away some of my tears. "Also, I disagree about the whole death statement." He wipes some more and chokes back a laugh. "It's more like a raccoon." My eyebrows furrow at that and then my eyes widen.

"You did not smear my mascara!" I screech as I pull my compact mirror from my back pocket. When I look into it I suck in a breath because I really do look like a raccoon. A raccoon that's been crying like an idiot. "Why the hell-" I'm cut off as I'm pulled against Kyle's chest. My heart stutters in my own.

"I'm sorry." He said and my heart misses another beat only this one is in despair. I curl my hands into his shirt and grit my teeth together to stop more tears from falling.

"Yeah, I know. You're not into me that way. It's kind of one of the reasons I've been avoiding you. I'm not really expecting anything to change after this." I said, putting on my bravest front. Rejection isn't easy, especially the second time around. Kyle only laughs again and I look up at him.

"No, not about that. I'm sorry for being such an idiot three years ago. I'm sorry for not coming to you sooner. I'm sorry for not noticing before." I look down, unable to meet his eyes now. he shuffles me to the side a few steps and pulls my right hand from his shirt before placing it on the wall. I look over and find both our hands resting on the wood beside the carving of our names. "I'm sorry for not remembering our promise when we were younger."

"Yeah." I said as a soft smile curls my lips at the memory of us carving our names into the wood. We made a promise that, just like our names in the tree, we'd always be together, right beside each other through thick and thin.

Out of the corner of my eye I catch Kyle pulling a pocket knife out and I remove my hand from the wall. He pulls away from me and I take a step back, giving him room. For a while I can't see anything because he's blocking my view. My curiosity grows as the seconds tick by.

Finally, when he moves away I lift my hands to my mouth and a few more tears escape. Beside our names are the words take two.

Kyle just smiles down at me with a cheeky grin and I playfully slap him on the arm.

"Geez, you're so cheesy. No wonder I stayed so far away from you all these years." Kyle snakes his arms around my waist and pulls me closer to him. I look up into his eyes and smile widely. He returns it whole heartedly as he lowers his face closer to mine.

"Hey, do you remember-" I chuckle as the space between us lessens and his lips brush against mine.

"How could I forget?"

Oh man!!!! Story 9, day 9 complete!! Bookoholic's we are HALF WAY THERE!! Cue the awesome music. So, what did you guys think about this one? I really, really enjoyed writing it. It was also fun getting to see an old character again. Don't forget to hit that little star button and definitely share if you believe someone you know would enjoy this short story collection! Also, drop a comment below about which part was your favorite or what you enjoyed most about this story. I love hearing from you guys! Until tomorrow.