25 to Life-On Hold

The Treehouse

-----Michael-----

I told Zach that I needed a moment alone with him, so I told Minnie we were going back into the house for a sec.

"Grab my phone off the counter over there, and those speakers in the media cabinet. Oh, and grab those juices over there."

"What are the speakers for?"

"A surprise for Minnie, a song we used to sing a few years ago. Before we really started to separate, we used to have veg out days and just watch movies and tv all day and order in pizza. We grew up to the old Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network. So, as a tradition, we started watching cartoons and kid shows when we got together every other Saturday. She used to loooooovvvveeeee Scooby Doo. He was her favorite character. Anyway, so when the shows started switching up, we still watched those stations, then one day, a new show came on, How To Rock on Nickelodeon. She loved that show. There was this one song that she loved. She would rewind it over and over. I was laughing so hard, and she was having so much fun, I joined it. It was something about the lyrics and her smile when she sang, it just warmed me up inside. Anyway, Wes came over and saw us and recorded us. He put it up on YouTube and Facebook, titled 'Grown-Ass people making a fool of themselves singing kid songs.' We weren't even mad. We just teased him. 'Come on bro, you could've come up with a better title than that. I though you were supposed to be a prank genius. You're slipping' little bro.' she said while giving him a nuggy."

I laughed to myself. That was the moment I knew for sure what I felt for her was real love instead of just a silly crush. She was always like that, so positive and forgiving. Even as popular as she was, some people still tried bullying her, but they were rarely successful. She would tease them about their teasing, or just laugh right with them. "I've heard it all before," or "that was a good one, what else you got?" Her always being taller than almost everyone, she quickly got used to the teasing, and brushed it off. She even started up her own mentoring group to combat bullying in the metropolitan area, Fabulously Flawed. 

She has always been caring and kind. I love her more for it. She never let the haters get to her. Minnie truly is amazing...

I heard clapping, which brought me out of my thoughts. 

"Huh?"

"I said, you ready to go back out there and surprise them?"

"Yeah, let me just grab a few more things...I'll be just a sec. Hold on"

I grabbed peanut butter, marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers, skewers, and a lighter.

"Come on, let's go!"

We walked out and I could see her light colored sweater next to a turquoise one on the outside of the treehouse in the "porch area." Instantly, I felt my cheeks heat up and start to cramp from the gigantic smile that was bombarding my face, seemingly splitting it in half.

I walked over to the fire pit a few feet away from the trees at the back of the estate. As I was setting up the fire pit, Zach was hooking up my phone to the purple wireless bluetooth speaker that could only be Michelle's, seeing as purple was her favorite color. How that 7-year old boy knew more about my phone than I did, is still baffling to me. 

"All set uncle Mike. What song is it?"

"Last One Standing"

As I scroll to the song and press play, I turn to look at her sitting up in the tree. Slowly a gorgeous, breathtaking smile creeps on her face. By the second sentence, I hear her singing along, which in turn makes me smile. 

After I set my phone down and I check on the fire, I turn around surprised that Michelle has made her way over and now occupies the lawn chair right next to mine.