A New Path

Chapter 1: My friend Andre

"Andre, where are you?" I yelled looking for my best friend. My name is Jasmine. Andre and I are 10 years old now and knew each other since we were babies. Since I was able to talk, I thought Andre was cute. We didn't know better when we were younger so we went out.

"Gotcha," Andre said as he tackled me to the ground and we started laughing and rolling on the floor.

"That's not funny, Andre," I said as we both sat up and I punched him in the arm.

"You know you are really tough for a girl," he said rubbing his arm.

"I know and that's because I have to keep myself safe and I mostly hang out with you so it rubs off."

"I see." There was a moment of silence.

"Can I ask you something?" Andre asked me.

"Sure anything"

"Will we always be best friends?"

"Of course"

"Will we always talk to each other?"

"Yes."

"Even if one of us moves away?"

"Yes we can write each other letters and talk on the phone."

"Ok good," he said as he put his head down. I looked at him and could tell he was sad.

"Andre, are you ok?" I asked him as I touched his shoulder.

"Not really."

"What happened?"

"You know how my dad is in the military now?"

"Yea"

"Well now that he's in the military he has to keep moving around."

"Are you saying that you're..."

"Yes I'm moving."

"But why can't you stay here?"

"My dad wants the while family to always be together."

"When are you moving?"

"When school is over and we graduate and we go to middle school."

"But that's in 2 months."

"I know, but like you said we will be friends no matter what. We can write and talk to each other."

"Yea," I said with my head down.

"It's ok we just have to enjoy our time together while it lasts."

"But I don't want you to go."

"I know, I don't want to go either," he said sitting closer to me. He put his arm around me and hugged me. A few minutes later, we were still hugging.

"Andre, honey it's time for you to go home." I sat up and Andre looked at my mom.

"Ok." Then my mom walked away. Andre looked at me.

"Will you be ok?"

"Yea." He lifted up my head and looked at me.

"I love you Jasmine," he said and I looked at him in shock. I smiled at him and said,

"I love you too Andre."

"I've seen many adults do this when they said they love a person."

"What is that?"

"They kiss. The guy holds the back of the girl's neck. Next, the guy and the girl tilt their head slightly to opposite sides," he said as we both did what he said, "then they move closer until..." Without another word, Andre and I kissed. The kiss lasted for a good 5 seconds. When we pulled away, we just looked at each other. Both of us smiled at each other and then Andre got up. He looked back at me and said,