"Byakuya, Byakuya, look!"

My best friend, Byakuya Togami, came over and sat next to me.

It was a lovely night in Japan, the stars in the night sky were shining as bright as ever.

Byakuya and I were in the park, we both had snuck out of our houses while our families were sleeping. We usually did this every night just to meet up at the park and talk about life.

"Yeah, June?" Byakuya asked.

"Look at the stars. Aren't they beautiful tonight?" I said.

"Yeah, they sure are, Junie." Byakuya said.

Byakuya always called me Junie, it was his nickname for me.

Just like how my older brother, Jesse, always called me "Junebug", that was HIS nickname for me.

I looked up at the night sky and pondered for a bit. "Do you think our families will be mad at us for sneaking out again?"

Byakuya gave me a look before he laughed. "I wouldn't worry. We're only in the fourth grade, June, they'll take pity on us," Then Byakuya added, "Hopefully..."

I laughed at this.

"Yeah... Hopefully..." I said. Byakuya smiled at me.

"Sometimes when Jesse catches me sneaking out to meet you, he gets irritated. I think he's still overprotective of me and Erin. He tries to control everything we do. Luckily, Dad won't let him." I said. Byakuya looked at me.

"Jesse doesn't like me? I thought he liked me..." Byakuya said.

"It's not that Jesse doesn't like you... It's just he doesn't like me sneaking out to meet you all the time. He says he's afraid that you'll hurt me someday. I told him you would NEVER do that. But he's still suspicious," I said. Then I looked at Byakuya. "You wouldn't hurt me, would you?"

"I wouldn't dream of it, Junie," Byakuya said. "Besides, friends don't hurt each other."

I nodded. "You're right." I said.

Byakuya smirked. "Aren't I always?"

I snorted and punched him in the arm playfully. "Sure you are." I said.

Suddenly, Byakuya tapped my shoulder. "Hey, June, why won't Erin ever hang out with us?" He said.

"Oh, Erin? Whenever I try and invite her to sneak out with me, she always says I'll get caught and get us both in trouble. Plus, the next day she almost always has a game and is paranoid about not getting enough sleep and conserving her energy." I said. Byakuya nodded.

"Wow, who knew hockey could be so energy-consuming?" He said. I shrugged.

"I sure didn't." I said.

We sat in peaceful silence until Byakuya spoke up. "Hey, didn't you tell me you had that big tryout for the Regional Gymnastics team tomarrow?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Then, shouldn't you be in bed, sleeping?"

I shrugged. "Nah, I'm fine. I don't usually get tired," I said. "Besides, I look forward to our meetings."

"So do I," Byakuya said. "but I don't want to be the cause of you failing your tryout and not making the Regional Competitive team. That's always been your dream."

This was true. For as long as I can remember, making the Regional Competitive Gymnastics team for Japan has been my life ambition and dream. I've been obsessed with gymnastics since I was in kindergarten.

And now, only in the fourth grade, I had a chance to make that dream a reality.

If I made the team, I (along with the other girls who made the team) would travel all around the world, competing in gymnastics competitions and representing Japan while doing it.

"Don't be so paranoid, Byakuya. Also, weren't YOU the one who said that I would make the team no matter what?" I said.

"Well, yeah, but I still don't want to take any chances." Byakuya said. I rolled my eyes.

"I'll be FINE, trust me." I said. Byakuya sighed and nodded.

"I know, you always are." He said.

A few seconds of silence passed.

"Hm, Byakuya?" I said.

"Yeah?"

"You're a good friend."

Byakuya smiled. "I know. So are you." He said.

More silence.

"We'll be friends forever, right?" I asked. Byakuya smiled.

"Of course. Nothing can change the friendship we have." He said. I smiled back.

At that time, I believed it. I believed that our friendship was strong enough to overcome anything life threw at us.

But, I didn't know how wrong I was.