All that glitters, ain't gold.

Chapter 4

"Jake listen, I'm really sorry about what happened." I finally found him after searching for most of the day. I couldn't get much sleep last night because I kept thinking about how rude I had been to my best friend. "And don't you dare say 'I'm fine, it's no big deal because it is."

He was hiding at our private hang out spot, a little lake in the woods behind his house. He was sitting on the edge, picking with the grass. "It is fine and it's not a big deal, as long as you found my present and liked it." He looks up and smiles at me. I know he was trying to look unbothered but his smile didn't reach his eyes. "And by the looks of it," he said touching the pendant hanging from my neck, "you do."

I smiled and leaned on his shoulder, "I love it." I pressed it against my chest. "It's so beautiful. Thank you, Jake."

"Now I know that every time you look at it, you'll think of me." I hear the laugh in his voice. "Hey you two love birds." We both turn around to see Ashley walking towards us. "Hey, cut it out. You're nuts." I say laughing at her.

"I have some good and bad news to tell you guys." Her facial expression seemed more sad than happy, though. I rest a hand on her shoulder as she sits down next to me.

"What's up, Ash?" Jake chimes in. "You guys know how I'm suppose to go to U Arts in August to begin school, right?" Jake and I shake our heads, slightly confused. "Well, I got a call this morning from them and they want me to start next week."

"Wait, what?"

"I have all the credits I need to graduate already and they offered to let me start a semester earlier. You know, to let me complete couple of early crash courses to prepare me for the fall semester."

"Wow, Ashely. That's great.." I trail off. I am extremely happy to hear her great, but sad that's she'll be leaving so early. She is in the top 10% of our class so it's no surprise that she has all of her credits. Call me selfish but I'm upset she'll be leaving this early. "That sounds like a great opportunity, Ash." Jake said smiling at her.

"I'm so jealous that you guys get to stay here together and enjoy the summer." She laughs, slightly. "It won't be the same without you." Jake said, trying to comfort her. He was the type of friend that always knew what to say to make someone feel better. He only focuses on the positive in life, so admirable.

"Hey, is that a new necklace?" She leans in, closely examining the pendant. "It's so cute, your parents must have paid a fortune for it." I awkwardly cough before I tell her Jake got it for me. "As a going away present. I love it." I say, blushing a little bit.

"Oh, that's so nice. He got me a cute little pair of pink cat ears." She smiles a little bit. "That's so clever Jakey!" I laugh at the thought. Ashely's obsession with cat ears was severe, she literally wore them whenever she could. She was wearing her black, bedazzled pair today.

"Well, eh I'm going to get going. I'm going shopping to get some new clothes for next week." Ashely gets up and brushes her pants off. "Do you want us to go with you? You know how much Meg loves to shop." Jake comments. I know he was trying to make her feel better. "Oh no, it's okay. I'm um, going with my mom." She smiles awkwardly before saying goodbye and leaving.

"Was that a little strange or was it just me?" I say, leaning back onto Jake's shoulder and turning to face the water again. "Maybe she's just a little sad about leaving so early." He answers. "We could always go over her house tonight and have a movie night, to cheer her up."

"I think that's a good idea." I say, thinking it would be a good way to cheer her up. Being that it was around 4 in the afternoon already, I decide to go home and freshen up before Jake picks me back up. Together we ran to the supermarket to buy some of her favorite snacks and ice cream.

When we knock on her door, she answers wearing her periwinkle blue onesie and the pink cat ears that Jake must have bought her. "Hey, what are you guys doing here?" She looked tired and worn out.

"We came to cheer you up!" I exclaim running into her house and into the living room. Jake comes around the corner with his arm around Ashely's shoulder. "What?" she asks, truly bewildered. "You looked like a sad kitty earlier, so we decided to buy all of your favorites and watch some Harry Potter." he says, plopping on the couch beside her.

"Guys, you don't have to do-"

"Shush!" I demand. "We do have to." I add before the movie starts and all three of snuggle into the couch to watch her favorite movie series.