The Treehouse - Chapter 2

The three of them walked out to Chris's mom's car to put Chris and Brianne's stuff in. They did this so they wouldn't have to squeeze by a million people trying to get out at the end. As Brie walked to the other side of the black Lamborghini (haha, Chris wishes!), Jesse mumbled under his breath to Chris.

"Dude, you're so lucky!"

"Why?"

"You've got the best girl in the world!"

"What do you mean 'I have?' She's not my girlfriend," Chris reminded him.

"Oh please," Jesse rolled his eyes for effect. "We all know you like her more than you're willing to admit."

"No, I don't!" Chris protested.

"Uh huh. When pigs fly is when I'll believe you." Chris looked at Brianne, who was hauling her stuff into the trunk. He saw her a little bit differently, now that Jesse had said something. She wasn't just the hyper, fun-loving best friend he has seen before. She was suddenly a hyper, fun-loving, and beautiful girl he knew. He noticed every gorgeous feature of her face under the bright parking-lot light. Hidden under all that makeup were a pair of familiar crystal blue eyes, a cute nose, and a perfect pair of tiny dimples when she smiled. Chris smiled to himself as Brianne looked up at him, eyes twinkling in the moonlight.

"What's so funny?" she inquired, laughing. Jesse turned to face Chris with a questioning look.

"Oh, nothing." He continued smiling as they went back into the auditorium. The dance school's director got super mad when the students left before the whole show was over. She told them it was disrespectful, and if they got caught… well, let's just say no one has wanted to find out. The stage was bare at the moment, so Chris, Jesse, and Brianne took three seats in front of Greg, Matt, and Frankie, who had gone back to sit down. Brie nestled her small figure into her maroon cushioned chair and zoned out, watching the pre-school class who was now performing. Chris was wondering if he should try something to subtly let Brianne in on his newfound perspective of their relationship.

He hesitantly settled on putting his arm around Brie's shoulders. She came out of her trance to glance at him and smile weakly. 'Ah! Does this mean something?' she wondered to herself. 'Maybe I'll lean on him to see if it does…' To Chris's surprise, Brianne laid her head on his shoulder. 'Not bad for a first try!' he congratulated himself. Brianne and Chris had never been physically close for the most part, so Brie was a bit taken aback by Chris's sudden want for it. Jesse elbowed Chris in the ribs.

"I don't like her!" he mocked Chris.

"Shut up!" Chris threatened. Now this would be a very short and pointless story, but Jesse was the one who liked Brie. He had tried to use reverse psychology on Chris, but maybe he had missed the 'reverse' part. Jesse hadn't told anyone he liked her, but he had tried hinting it to Chris at the car. He'd have to try again soon, for fear of anything else happening between the two.

Brianne's eyelids were beginning to close and she finally fell asleep on Chris. He noticed, since her body wasn't tense, but he figured he'd let it go. He was enjoying his new feelings for her anyway. Victoria looked at Chris from across the auditorium, and her hand went right to Gabby's shoulder to get her attention.

"Look at the little twerp!" she whispered loudly.

"What about him?"

"Not that one, I meant Brianne. Just look at her. I'm more beautiful, I'm more popular, and I can get any guy I want. Which is exactly what I'm going to do, whether she's in my way or not. She's going down…"

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"Hi, it's Brie. Is Chris there?"

"Sure, hold on," Mrs. Trousdale replied. Brianne called Chris a few days later on a warm spring Saturday, with an idea involving the two of them. She was beginning to get impatient waiting for Chris to pick up the phone, tapping her foot because she knew he had just gotten out of the shower.

"Hey!" Chris answered on speakerphone, drying his hair with a towel.

"Guess what time it is!" she asked eagerly.

"Uh," Chris turned his head to look at the clock. "12?"

"No! Time to redecorate the treehouse!" When Brianne and Chris were about six years old, Brianne's dad had built her a treehouse for her birthday, which was in the summer. Of course, she immediately dubbed it a place for hanging out with her friends, but it had always meant a little more to just her and Chris than any other friends she had.

Every spring they would spend a day in the woods of Brianne's backyard to redecorate the house with the stuff they had taken down in the fall. Back then, leaves and branches adorned the interior. As they got older, they painted it white and navy blue outside and replaced the twigs with actual furniture. It was now time to put everything back in from when they had taken it down.

"Aren't we getting a little old for that?" Chris asked.

"How dare you even suggest that!" Brie acted shocked. "We both know we can't break the pact!"

"Yeah, yeah, at least until we're out of high school, I know…" Chris remembered. When the two of them had decided on that, they didn't think they'd outgrow the haven when they were that old. Chris wasn't actually as disappointed as he sounded though. He loved the little house, and he was the only friend Brianne would let in without her, since they were so tight. He'd been alone there more times than he could count, but most of the time it was with Brie. He actually looked forward to the days Brianne would decide to call for the occasion.

"Ok, see you in fifteen?"

"Sure, bye." Chris put the phone down as his mom came in.