“I know what you mean, but my Mom’s making me go… It’d be a lot more fun if you came.” Ashley spoke, brown eyes large and pleading as she met gazes with the girl beside her.

Spencer sighed, chewing her lip slightly in thought before responding, “Okay, I’ll go.”

Ashley cheered, her infamous grin spreading over her face, “Alright, well I’ll see you tomorrow then.” 

“Yep, tomorrow. Bye Ash!” The girl waved excitedly before hearing her name being called from indoors. She rushed inside, greeting her parents briefly before moving to the window to watch Ashley climb into her mother’s car. The small girl spotted her through the glass and waved once more, smiling as the slick black vehicle pulled away from the curb.

The next day Spencer was arriving at the party with her brother in tow, eyes eagerly searching the small crowd of children for the distinctive head of brown curls that belonged to her closest friend. When she spotted her target she hurried over, leaving Glen to greet Aiden in their over-masculine way. If Spencer were older she’d suspect they were compensating for something, but she wasn’t so she didn’t.

“Hey Spence!” Ashley greeted, turning around in time to see the girl approaching. The parents were all mingling in one corner near the table piled high with gifts as the children explored the expansive backyard in one large herd.

Spencer opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by the slightly taller, dark haired boy who seemed to appear out of nowhere, “Hi Ashley, Hi Spencer.”

“Hello.” The girls replied in unison, both already mildly annoyed with his presence.

“Where’s Kyla?” The boy inquired, looking around as if she’d pop up just because he’d mentioned her name.

“Over there at the candy table…” They all looked over to see the dark haired girl operating on a fierce sugar high, laughing and stumbling around. It figured.

“Oh… So do you guys want to play truth or dare with us? “ Aiden inquired, focusing more on Ashley than Spencer, his hands betraying his otherwise confident demeanor as they fiddled with the edge of his shirt. His legs, hidden inside loose camouflage plants, shifted nervously.

Ashley and Spencer exchanged looks, their brains seeming to operate on the same level as they exchanged thoughts with their eyes. A small, almost invisible nod of Spencer’s head finished the conversation, and the brunette turned her attention back to the boy standing awkwardly in front of them. “Sure.”