*Flashback*

It was my ninth birthday and my parents were fighting again. I needed to desperately talk to Gabe,my brother that's 3 years older than me, but he took off to Joe's house,his best friend and our neighbor,when my parents started fighting.I ran to the club house in my backyard that Joe and Gabe had built a couple years before.The clubhouse was built over the wooden fence that seperated our backyard from Joe's back yard and it could be entered either through Joe's backyard or our's.I climbed up the ladder and into the club house. I seen a boy who I've never seen before ,he looked about my age and had brown hair and brown eyes as well as I did, he was sitting up against the wall that was in Joe's backyard.I went to the corner and got the little chalk board and chalk out and drew little things like hearts,stars,my name,and whatnot.The boy continued to stare in my direction.

" Wanna play tic-tac-toe?" I asked.

" Sure." He walked over to me.

" I'm Kylie." I handed him a peice of blue chalk.

He took the chalk." I'm Nick.

I drew a few little gameboards." So what brings you up here?"

" Oh..I needed to get away from things..my brother Joe said this would be a nice place for that." He fidgeted(sp?) with the peice of chalk

" Joe's your brother?" I finished up the last gameboard.

" Yeah. I take it Gabe is your brother?" He laughed.

" Yeah," I blushed.",you can go first."

He drew a X." Oh and before I forget..Happy Birthday."

" How did you--?" I started to say.

"Gabe." He smiled.

I smiled.The hours passed and we'd played tic-tac-toe and hangman for atleast 2 hours.

" Well I'd better go." He got up and brushed himself off.

" Yeah...well..I might go see Tiffany." I stood up.Tiffany had been my best friend since I was 4.

" Tiffany?" He asked.

"She lives over there." I looked out the window of the clubhouse and pointed at Tiffany's house.

" I see..well Joe and Kevin are probably lost without me." He laughed.

"Kevin?" I asked.

"My oldest brother." He said.

" The two oldest are lost with out the youngest?" I laughed.
"No.There's Frankie..but he's only 1." He smiled.

"Oh.I see." I looked at my feet.I felt stupid.

" I'll see ya later." He turned to leave.

"Bye Nick." I went to the doorway on my side.

" Oh,Kylie?" He said.

" Yeah?" I asked.

" Wanna be best friends?" He asked.
" Yeah.I'd like that." I smiled.

For the next few years we hung out together and everything.It was like we were together any time we could.Then he started broadway and everything.Everyday we'd spend almost all of our time in the club house with Joe and Gabe.We were in the clubhouse when Gabe finally told me the news.

-Katie

2 comments and I'll post the next chapter.

Chapter 1 cont...

" Ky." Gabe started.

I looked up from my gameboy.

" Mom's is taking us to California to live." Gabe said.

" What about dad?" I asked.

" He's staying here in Wyckoff,New Jersey." Gabe sighed.

Tears filled my eyes." No!I want to stay here!"

" It's gonna be alright." Nick hugged me.I couldn't contain it anylonger,I let the tears go.

A week later...

It was moving day.Tiffany had just left she'd said her goodbyes and we promised we'd keep in touch,she gave me her mom's email and number and I'll do the same once I get settled in California.I seen Kevin,Joe,and Nick walking up the sidewalk.

"This is going to be hard." I told Gabe

Gabe nodded.Joe and Kevin were first, then Nick.My eyes were already filled with tears and he hadn't said anything yet.He didn't say anything at first, he just hugged me.Tears fell from my eyes,he pulled away.

" I'll miss you." I tried to smile.

" I'll miss you too,but there's one thing that won't ever change." Nick smiled.

" What's that?" I asked.

" We'll be best friends no matter what." Nick said.

" Promise?" I asked.

" Promise." He smiled.He gave me this little friendship bracelet that Tiffany helped him make.Just like what I did with Tiffany he gave me his email and number and I'd do the same when I got settled in California.After I arrived in California we'd talk everyday,then over the years the less we talked.Now I get the occasional 2 minute Happy Birthday call.As for me and Tiffany,I'd go back to New Jersey and spend some of my summer break with her or she'd come to California to spend some of her summer break.

iTsTiFf!: So..how r things w/ u & Dalton?

Dalton was my boyfriend of 6 months.

SomeCallMeKy!: fine. do u remember those boys who lived on the left of me?

iTsTiFf!:Nick,Joe,Kevin,and Frankie?

SomeCallMeKy!: Ya.

iTsTiFf!:of course.y do u ask?

SomeCallMeKy!: I seen them on Disney and I just wondered.

iTsTiFf!: Ya..they're pretty big now...

SomeCallMeKy!: I no..jeeze im not tht outta the loop.

iTsTiFf!: u srsly need 2 come back to NJ for a bit.

SomeCallMeKy!: Of course! summer break starts in a couple of weeks and maybe i can get my mom to let me.

iTsTiFf!: Sweet.I'll ttyl...mom needs computer.

SomeCallMeKy!: Bye.

I signed off.

-Katie