“Did she like the necklace?” he asks.
“She did.” I look at where my dad is going, because this isn’t the way to the highway. “Dad?”
“I want to show you something.” He drives into a housing estate and stops in front of a house. It’s not a big house, it's a small semi detached house, nothing fancy. “That’s where Olivia used to live, but her mom got cancer, her dad couldn’t afford the medical bills, nor the treatment so he sold the house to help.That’s why they live where they do.” I don’t say anything to my dad and look up at the house.
“Why have you brought me here?” I ask my dad.
“I know your relationship with Olivia is strong, and you would never say anything to her about where she lives, but the situation with her mom means they had to leave it.” Dad pats my hand, and I turn to face him. “Every dollar they make is important to them, so that item you carry with you everywhere, it’s because you’re important to her. Remember that son.” I take out the keyring from my pocket and look down at it. Even the few dollars she spent on this could have gone to her mom’s medical bill, but she thought of me. “You have a heart of gold, you protect your brothers, Lileah will never get hurt because of you, you help the family when we need it. So, I know you two have the best friendship I’ve ever seen.”
She’s working and going to school, so she can help her dad with her mom, and I’ve never heard her moan about her life, nor have I seen her get upset about it
My best friend is a lot stronger than she makes herself out to be.
16 years old
Olivia has been reading her book for ages now, I’m just happy she’s stopped talking about Harry, but now she reads romance books. And I have to listen to how romantic the boys are in them, but then I also saw one of her books which looks a little dirty, and I’m not sure if I like her reading things like that. She'll want a boyfriend soon, and I’m not losing my friend to some asshole.
“So, I was thinking we could go out to eat lunch tomorrow. Dad said he'll be in this area for a while, what do you think?”Olivia puts her book into her bag and leans in closer to me and looks at the game I'm playing on my phone.
“If I’m paying.” I’m not letting her spend her hard earned money. “And before you say anything, it’s the only way we’ll go for lunch.”
“Fine—” She stops talking when I hear my mom shouting from the bottom of the treehouse.
“Hayden, can you both come down please,” Mom shouts, and I look at Olivia.
“You’re in trouble,” I joke with her.
“If anyone is in trouble it’s you.” She grabs her bag and starts going down the ladder, while I use the rope.
“Olivia, sweetheart, your dad called and he had to take your mom to the hospital. It’s nothing to worry about I promise, your mom was feeling lightheaded, and your dad just wanted to make sure she’s okay.” Mom rubs her arm, and I put my arm around her waist hoping me being close to her will let her know she’s not alone. “He asked if you could stay here for the night, and I said yes, of course..” Olivia leans into my side and wipes the tears away. “She'll be fine, once we get in the house you can call him. And we have movie night tonight.” Mom smiles at her, then looks at me, and nods her head to my phone.
“Here, you can use my phone to call your dad.” She takes the phone from me and the three of us walk into the house.
“Thank you.”
“I wish you would stop saying thank you to me. New rule, best friends don’t say sorry or thank you. Deal?” I ask her, she says it all the time to me, and I don’t like it.
“I'll try.” She walks away putting the phone to her ear, and I help mom and dad in the kitchen to get the popcorn and things ready for movie night.
“She’s become very pretty hasn’t she, Hayden.” Mom looks over at Olivia on the phone, and I shrug my shoulders.
“I guess so. I don’t look at her that way.” I don’t look up at my parents, but they both laugh.
“Liar,” my dad says and I look up at them both staring at me.
“She’s my best friend, and—” I stop and look over at her. “I don’t want to ruin our friendship; she needs a friend at the moment. I won’t risk losing her.” I’ll be honest, I've thought about asking her to be my girlfriend a few times now. She makes me smile every time I’m around her, and when she’s not, I hate it. But I'm scared I’ll lose her as a friend.
“The right time will happen for you both. I don’t care what anyone says, she’s the right one for you.” Mom looks behind me and smiles. “Did you get in touch with your dad?”
“I did, the doctor is doing some tests, they said there’s nothing to worry about but would like to keep her for the night to be safe.” Olivia hands me my phone back, and leans in closer to me, and I wrap my arm around her. It’s natural to me.
“I hear we have a newbie to movie night,” Mason shouts, and I look over at my brothers and Lileah walking into the kitchen to grab their own trays. One Christmas mom and dad got us all personalized cinema trays which have space for popcorn and drinks.
“You can share with me,” I tell Olivia, and I grab my tray. “You’re going to love the cinema room.”
“What?” I laugh at her reply.
“I keep telling you to come in the house, but you won’t.” She always tells me she likes being in the treehouse, and is happy there, so I never push it.
