CHAPTER 1
Chapter 1
"You're chicken!" Isaac Hanson yelled at his best friend Leigh Heart.
"I am not!" Leigh screamed as she kept running from her best friend.
"You can't run forever and when you stop, I'm gonna be right here to take you in my pool," Isaac laughed from behind her.
"I don't think so. You won't even let me change into a suit!" Leigh yelped as a hand reached out and grabbed her left arm. "AH! Go away! Go away!"
she screamed trying to wriggle out of Isaac's grasp.
"You're not getting out of this easy," Isaac said, reaching his left hand under Leigh's legs while his right stayed on her waist. He scooped her up
into his arms with her kicking and squealing. "Let it go, Leigh. You're not getting free."
"Then I'll just take you with me, you big meanie," Leigh said, grasping his shirt with her hands.
"I just don't think so," Isaac snickered while chuckling evilly.
"You're such a big loser," Leigh said as Isaac neared the pool. "Put me down!" she screamed. Isaac just looked at her and smiled. "I'm warning you, Ike. Put me down and you'll live to see 15," Leigh said.
"No way!" Isaac said, positioning himself in the deep end of the pool. "Any last wishes?" he added.
"Ya, I wish you'd let me go!" Leigh said.
"Nope. Wrong answer," Isaac said and without any hesitation, raised her slightly and threw her forward. All that was heard throughout the
neighborhood was Leigh's screams and a loud splash.
"You're dead!" Leigh yelled as she swam to the shallow end of the pool, reaching the stairs. Stepping up on the first step, Leigh climbed up the second and then reached the first step.
Dragging water behind her, Leigh chased Isaac around the pool until he stopped on the diving board. Devishly, Leigh took a step to him and he backed down the plank. Not a good move. Leigh took another step to him.
Shoes and all, Isaac went flying into the pool backwards, hands flying in every direction with him screaming like a little girl. He surfaced, splashing
water on her.
"Ouch Ike. That water really hurts," Leigh said sarcastically.
"At least you didn't have any shoes on!" Isaac screamed. His face was turning bright red.
"Payback isn't what you expected is it, Ikey-pooh?" Leigh laughed, following him to the shallow end.
"Don't call me that. And Leigh, I'm really angry at you. I think you better go home," Isaac said.
"You're just kidding, right?" Leigh asked. Isaac shook his head. "Why are you mad at me? What did I do to you?"
Without saying a word, Isaac climbed out of the pool and walked away from her and into the house, shutting the screen door behind him. What did I
do? Leigh thought as she shook her head, shrugging her shoulders. Turning, she went to leave the Hansons' home. Just then, Taylor came out of the
house.
"Hey Leigh," he said happily.
"Hey, little buddy. How's my TayTay today?" Leigh asked.
"I'm going over to Tom's house later. Why was Ike so mad?" Taylor asked.
Leigh shrugged her shoulders. "I have no clue, Tay. But tell Ike I'll call him later, okay?"
The thirteen year-old smiled. "Okay," he said.
"Thanks," Leigh said and walked out of the fence door. Taylor locked it behind her she heard as the click sounded.
Leigh sat down on the curb in front of Isaac's house, thinking silently to herself. This is stupid. Why am I so hurt that Ike is mad at me? It wasn't me who started the whole water war! It was him and I was only getting him back. I'll try to call him later. I'll patch things up then and everything will be fine.
The front door to the Hanson home opened and Leigh turned to see Isaac standing there with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked a little hurt
himself.
"What do you want?" Leigh asked bitterly.
"Why are you still here?" Isaac asked, mocking her tone. "I thought I told you to leave."
"You did. Is it such a crime to sit down?"
"No," Isaac said.
Leigh's eyes began to water. "Ike, can we please talk?"
Isaac looked inside the house and then back at her. "I guess," he said, moving away from the door shutting it behind him. He walked out onto
the grass. Leigh noticed he had changed. He was now dressed in plaid boxer shorts with a muscle tank top. He was barefoot. He took a seat beside her and said, "What?"
"Why are you being so stupid about a water war?" Leigh asked.
Isaac looked at her. "You think this is about a water war? Is that what you think 'cause if so, you're wrong!"
"Then what is it about?" Leigh asked.
Isaac looked away. "Nothing."
"Isaac, you're my best friend. You tell me everything," Leigh pointed out.
"Ya, well, I can't tell you this," Isaac replied.
"Okay, whatever," Leigh sighed slapping her hands against her knees. "Listen, call me when you want to talk. I have to go home and change out of these wet clothes," she said, standing up. She began to walk away but turned around and looked over her shoulder, "Oh and Ike," he looked up. "Stop acting so immature and grow up," Leigh finished and left for her house on the other side of the street.
It had been a day and a half since Leigh and Isaac last talked. Lately, things seemed like they were changing. Like Isaac was changing into a totally different person. Now, Leigh was sitting out on the front porch's swing, rocking back and forth. The sun was starting to descend behind the trees. The clouds were now turning a pretty pink and purple and red color, a nice way to end a nice day.
A figure was crossing the street from the Hanson home and Leigh figured it was Isaac. Sure enough, it was. He had his now shoulder-length naturally
curly blond hair tied tightly behind his ears. He sported a deep green short sleeved shirt and a pair of tan cargo pants with black Doc Martins. His hands were shoved deep within his pockets and Leigh noticed he looked a little concerned.
"Hey," he said as he carefully approached her.
"Hey," Leigh mocked.
Nodding toward the swing, Isaac pointed. "We have to talk. Can I sit down?"
Leigh shrugged. "Sure."
Isaac glanced down at the swing first and then took a seat next to his best friend. Silence past between them for a long while as both of them gazed out at the sunset. Slowly, Isaac looked over at Leigh and smiled. She was beautiful. Even though they were both 15, Isaac still thought she was the most prettiest girl he'd ever seen in his whole life. She always wore her long, free-flowing naturally curly auburn hair down. Her sparkling crystal blue eyes twinkled whenever she talked. He lips were heart-shaped and always pink and moist. Her face was the shape of an orange, round and free from freckles.
"Listen, about today.." Isaac started.
"Its okay, really," Leigh said.
"Are you sure? I mean I was really out of line," Isaac replied, looking her over.
"Ya, I'm sure. Can we just cuddle and watch the sunset together? It's been so long since we've done that," Leigh said.
"I'd like that," Isaac said as he reached his left arm around Leigh's shoulder, pulling her to him. She snuggled to him, placing her head under his chin, cuddling them both under the warm blanket Leigh had brought out from her house. Together, they watched the last of the sun disappear behind the tall Tulsa trees, the birds and crickets chirping soundly around them.
Chapter 2
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