A small girl sat on the grass, braiding together a flower crown as her older sister taught her.
Her beautiful black hair was braided into two cornrows that reached the end of her back, two pink bows at the end that matched her pink dress.
Her deep brown skin looked radiant as it shined underneath the afternoon sun.
A smile graced her face, as she completed the flower crown, excited to show her sister when she got home.
She looked up as a shadow fell upon her.
A frown soon replaced her smile as she saw a small boy, seeming to be around the age of 5, the same age as her.
The boy had skin that resembled paper, eyes that were the same color as the light blue sky above the, and hair that resembled hay.
A scowl was on his face as he peered down at the small girl with a menacing glare.
"Your skin is the color of poop, people who look like you are ugly," The boy spat out, making the small girl shrink back in shock.
No one has ever said such cruel things to her, especially about her skin tone. The small girl always took pride in her skin as it resembled that of her mother, who the small girl found to be the most beautiful person in the world.
Now, this boy called her ugly, with such a strong conviction that she couldn't help but look down at her skin and think it did look a bit like poop.
But, she quickly got rid of that thought, she knew she was beautiful, as her mother told her every day. She wasn't going to let this boy make her think otherwise.
Before the small girl can utter a reply, a fist flew to the boy's face.
The boy fell down to the floor wailing in pain.
The small girl was shocked to find another boy who wore a grin on his face as he watched the boy cry on the floor.
"Her skin is beautiful, you're just mad you're skin looks like eggshells." The new boy said defending the small girl.
This boy's hair was pitch black like that of the night sky, eyes that reflected the clouds on a rainy day, and skin that was lighter than a peach.
The first boy quickly ran away, screaming for the teacher.
"Snitch," The boy before her mutter.
"Are you okay?" He asked turning his sterling grey eyes onto the small girl before her.
The boy found the girl to be extremely beautiful and had wished to talk to her, but he always chickened out. Until today when he overheard what Brian had said to her and knew he had to step in for her.
"I'm okay," The small girl said, her brown eyes that reminded the boy of chocolate looked at him with awe.
"Thank you, but you shouldn't have done that you could get in trouble." She whispered shyly, her face heating up when she remembered what the boy had done.
"Meh, he deserved it. You shouldn't listen to him because you're beautiful" The boy said a small blush appearing on his face.
He called me beautiful again
The small girl thought making her smile.
"I'm Jesse! Would you like to make flower crowns with me?"The small girl asked hoping that he would say yes.
"Hi Jesse, I'm Myles and I would love to!"Â The boy replied happily, excited to spend time with the girl who admired from afar.
For the rest of recess, the two made flower crowns together, laughing, smiling, and talking a mile minute.
Both of them knowing that this was the start of something great.
___
Before they knew it, it was time to go home.
When they talked earlier the two discovered they both rode the bus and decided to sit next to each other.
Glad that they didn't have to say goodbye to one another just yet.
The whole time they laughed together, enjoying each other's company.
Peering out the window the small girl saw that her bus stop was coming up, a frown appearing on her face as she would have to say goodbye to Myles.
To both her surprise and delight Myles had the same stop as her.
The small girl couldn't help but wonder how she had never seen Myles before, but he explained to her that his mother usually picks him up, but she couldn't that day.
Getting off the bus with Myles behind her, the small girl saw her older sister waiting for her. However, she didn't see anyone else there waiting for Myles.
The boy frowned, seeing that his dad wasn't there to pick him up from the bus as he promised. However, the boy wasn't shocked as this isn't the first time his father failed to keep a promise.
Noticing that no one was going to come for Myles, the small girl asked her sister if Myles could walk home with them, to which her sister agreed.
The small boy immediately jumped at the chance to spend more time with Jesse, even if it was just for a few more minutes.
The older girl asked them how their day went. Stifling a laugh when she heard that the small boy, whose name she discovered was Myles, had punched a boy in defensive of her sister. Though she couldn't help but be disheartened at the cruel words that were spoken to her sister.
The older girl of course told them that violence isn't the answer and reminded her sister that she was indeed beautiful and not everyone would be able to appreciate her beauty.
Arriving at the front of their house, the small girl knew it was finally time to say goodbye to her new friend.
Or so she thought.
"We're neighbors!" The boy screamed in delight as he recognized his house.
Overwhelmed with joy the small girl pulled the boy into a hug.
Startled the small boy froze, before hugging her back with just as much enthusiasm.
The older girl smiled looking down at the two, knowing that despite how new the bond the two had, it was something special.
From that moment on Jesse and Myles became best friends.
Spending every moment with each other.
As they grew older the two desired a place to call their own. Considering every time they would hang out together Jesse's sister and friends would be there or Myles's dad would be working at home.
After months of pleading Jesse's father agreed to build a treehouse for the two of them, in her backyard
By the following year, Jesse and Myles had their own treehouse.
It was in that treehouse where they laughed like there was no tomorrow,
Where they shared their dreams together,
Jesse dreamed of becoming a ballerina and attending Julliard, her dream since she started ballet classes at the small age of 3. And Myles dreamed of becoming a professional boxer, which explained why he knew how to throw a punch at the boy who picked on Jesse.
It was there tears were shed,
Secrets were spilled,
and a kiss was shared.
___
Sadly disaster struck the pair when Myles told Jesse that he would be moving the summer before their freshmen year started.
The two were heartbroken as they have never been apart since that fateful day at recess.
The day that Myles was leaving he promised that he would phone Jesse every day and that though they will no longer live next to each other, they still are going to the same school.
"You'll always be a part of my life, Jesse, I promise you nothing will change between us, you're my best friend and nothing will change that. I love you."
Those were the last words Myles said to Jesse before leaving her behind.
Myles kept his promise,
In the beginning.
Phone calls every day became phone calls every other day, to phone calls every other week, to phone calls once a month until they just stopped.
Jesse was heartbroken, but she channeled her energy into dance, striving to join the dance team her freshmen year. Unbeknownst to her, havoc has wrecked Myles's home.
Myles had just discovered that his father had an affair and the reason for the move was so that there would be room for the child he had with his mistress.
Myles always had a strained relationship with his father, however, he grew to hate his father after discovering the pain he has put his mother in.
In an effort to release his pent-up anger, Myles began training at a local boxing gym and by the end of the summer, he was on his way to becoming a pro.
Once school started it had been a month since the pair talked.
It was when Jesse was on her way to her English class that she caught Myles's eye from across the hall.
The two froze having no idea what to say to the other as it's been a long time since they last saw one another.
The ring of the warning bell broke them out of their staring contest.
With a smile in his direction, Jesse made her way to English, leaving behind a regretful Myles.
For the next couple of weeks, the two would glance at one another sending a smile in the other's direction, but neither was brave enough to strike a conversation with the other.
However, those small interactions became fewer and fewer as they formed new friends and Jesse joined the dance team, much to her delight, and Myles the lacrosse team, both of them became accustomed to life without the other.
Or so they thought, deep down they missed each other but as time went on they thought it was too late to return to the other.
Like that, the pair went from Best Friends to Strangers.
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Until next time!