I followed the boy onto the rope ladder that lead to the inside of the tree house. It was kind of unsteady and I felt like the ladder was going to give out. "Um, this ladder is a bit wobbly." I said cautiously. 

"Wobbly? That's vocabulary for a two year old!" he said, and I felt very insulted. "We're almost to the top. This "wobbly" ladder has held much more than just two people. It'll be fine."

I wondered what he meant by more than two people, but I don't question him. Instead, I ask, "Hey, you haven't told me your name yet." I stopped climbing and looked up at him. "How can I trust that your not a kidnapper or a murderer?"

He stops climbing also and looks down on me. "You know, you haven't told me your name either or anything about you. I could really say the exact same thing to you. How do I know your not going to tell everyone about my house? But I'm trusting you anyways even though I just met you." He looks back up and we both climb again.

"My name is Catherine by the way." I say bluntly.

"I'm Jake," says the boy. "I'll tell you more once we get inside." He opens a door right above him and he climbs right through it. I follow his lead and once I get inside, I look around in amazement. It's so much bigger and prettier than I imagined.

The room that we were in looked like a living room. There were cushions against the wall that looked a bit like a couch, on the ground there was a beautiful rug that looked handmade. Right in front of the "couch", was a homemade table with lots of paper and paints. But, the best thing about this room was the many paintings hung all around it. They made me absolutely awestruck.

My voice is caught in my throat as I look a at the prettiest paintings I've ever seen. I finally found my voice and choked out, "Did you make all these?" I gestured to all the artwork.

I turn to look at him and I find him staring at me with those big blue eyes. "Yeah, I have a lot of free time," he says, laughing a bit sheepishly. I stare at him with awe, he is a magnificent artist.

He notices me staring at him and he says a bit awkward;y, "Would you, uh, like to, uh, have a seat on the couch?"

I look down at the cushions and laugh. "I, uh, would, uh love, uh, to!" I said, mimicking him with a smirk. I walk over to the "couch" and take a seat. "Is this like your secret hideout or something?" I ask Jake.

He comes over and takes a seat next to me. "Not exactly. I, uh, kinda live here." My face must be full of shock because right after he adds, "My parents abandoned me at a young age and I kinda just learned how to take care of myself."

I look at him with sympathy and say, "I'm sorry..." but he cuts me off and says harshly, "I don't want your pity!"

My face is perplexed and he quickly adds, "Sorry, I just don't want people to pity me. I've already been sad long enough and I just want you to know it's now just a part of me. I don't feel much when I talk about it anymore because it took place awhile ago, sorry if I was a bit harsh."

"How long ago did they leave you?" I ask hesitantly. 

He stands up and looks at me with a playful smile. "I've already told you a lot about myself today and I just met you. All I know is your name," he says, avoiding the question. 

"Oh, I almost forgot about myself. I'm just not very significant so there's not much to talk about," I say with a shrug.

He turns to stare me in the eyes. "I don't believe that for a second," he says apathetically. "Just tell me something about yourself, anything."

"I'm a wallflower," I blurt out, not really thinking before I said it. 

He ponders my answer for a little bit before standing up slowly with a smirk on his face. "So, you have labeled yourself with a stereotype, interesting." I nod slowly as I watch him go to the small latch door on the ground. "You should probably start heading back. See you around?" he asks, and I couldn't help but see the hopeful gleam in his eyes.

I grin at him and stand up as well, going towards him and opening the trapdoor. "I'll be back before you know it." I hastily jump through the hole and climb down the ladder, all while smiling brightly to myself. 

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Journal Entry 4

Wow, today was one of the best days I've had in awhile. I met the most amazing boy whose name is Jake. He got left by his parents and he lives in the hugest and most beautiful tree house. I also love his artwork, the paintings are hung all around the walls in the tree house. I might visit him tomorrow, or is that too soon? I don't know what to do! All I know is that I want to know more about him and to see him again.