The forgotten key

Chapter one

The best friend, huh. My best friend Nolan just told me he loved me. I didn't know how to answer, so I just stood there, looked him deep in the eyes, and began to laugh. But I think he didn't really find it funny. Sorry, but I couldn't get it

"Uh, yes, why would I lie to you about that, Juliette? I'm sorry, but that took so much courage. You could at least say what you think about it," he said.

"Nolan, I'm sorry, but I see you like a brother. Even my dad saw you as a son. Come on, say you're kidding. I love this friendship so much. Don't destroy it like that. Please."

Now I sit in my bed thinking about how that just came out of nowhere. I always thought our friendship was different from others. I mean, he's not ugly; he's actually quite handsome, but I don't like him in that way. Why is he acting like this?

School finally ended for the summer holidays, and now I don't really know how to spend them. I don't have that many friends. We've been planning what to do since winter, and I was so hyped... Damn.

I'm not the popular girl or the pretty girl or even the smart girl. I was always just a girl, nothing special. I don't mean it in a cringey way, I'm for real. I was always a little jealous of those girls. I always imagined myself in the books where the girls were always like that. I'm normal, and now I'm fine with that, ...most of the time. My hobbies are reading, listening to music, and doing dumb stuff with Nolan and Penn. I'm not saying I'm ugly or not funny, but I'm not *that* girl. You know what I mean. I don't mind most of the time, but sometimes it hits me like a big truck...

At least I have my friend Penelope. She's the prettiest girl I know. I just love how she is. And luckily, she's my neighbor. She moved here with her family last year, and we became really close friends, always telling each other almost everything.

Me: I need to talk to you asap
Penny: Everything okay??
Me: yes but something happened... can I come over?
Penny: of course, come over, girl