Under the Magnolia Trees ON HOLD

I

" Hi Bethany," I smiled as her strong tanned arms wrapped my pale frame and lifted me off the ground.

"Hey sugar we've got to get some meat on your bones and some sun on your skin, you're practically a twig," her laughter sounded like music as she put me down. " It's been a while sweetheart, look how much you've grown." I laughed a nodded my head towards Noah,

"And hes like a giraffe over there." Bethany released me from my hug and focused her attention on Noah pinching his cheeks and hugging him tightly. I turned towards the mass of children next to me, a mix of new and old faces, Bethany's kids and the old neighbors.

"Hey girl," Sophia smiled as she half hugged me, a face only familiar to me in pictures in her arms, "This is Cooper, he's a little rascal," the adorable face buried into her, " And now he's acting shy," she turned to talk to the little boy, "hey Coop, if you say hi to our old friend Natalie we can make cookies later."

"Hi Nat, I'm Coop," his little blond curls framing the adorable smile. He jumped from Sophia's arms to mine and smiled up at me, " You just got me cookies, we're gonna be best friends smiled and adjusted so he could sit comfortably as Spencer walked up.

Ruffling Cooper's hair, "LIttle rascal you bet, not even ten minutes in and you've already stolen my best friend's name. Now go bother the puppies, I've got important business to discuss with Nat here," I laughed as Cooper jumped out of my arms and ran towards the barn.

"Hey Spence," I giggled as he lifted me up in his arms," You got tall," he spun me around,

"And you stayed short,"

"Annoying as ever"

"Aw you missed me," he placed me on his shoulders.

"Did not"

"Did too Natalie, you did too."

"Maybe just a little bit," we continued to spin around in circles both laughing hysterically when I saw Noah and Bethany whispering. "Spence you might want to ..." Noah and Bethany pushed Spencer and we tumbled over onto the grass, unable to stop laughing.

"I can see why you loved it here," Noah said as he pulled me up, " But one good prank isn't going to make me want to spend the whole summer here."

I pushed him slightly, " Go find Mason or something you guys can find Kathleen and go play with the pigs," Bethany, Spencer, and I all started laughing uncontrollably as Noah stormed off. "I'm sorry about him Bethany. He's just mad that we're here instead of Hawaii, he doesn't really remember a lot of the time here. I swung my arm around her shoulder.

Spencer snuck up behind me and threw me over his shoulder, "Sorry mom gotta steal her, official best friend business," he took off running and soon the route became quite familiar.

"Omg the tree house, Spence, I haven't been in one since that night," I was now sitting comfortable on his shoulders, " and since you have decided you enjoy picking me up, your new task will be to carry me everywhere this summer." His deep chuckle reverberated up to where I was sitting.

"Okay princess," he then dropped me, "Ladies first." I crawled into to tree house and sneezed from the dust.

"Spence, my God, when was the last time you cleaned up here?" He pulled himself and dusted off a place before sitting, drawing his knees up to his chest.

"Um, well, when was the last time you were up here?" I leaned against his legs and frowned,

"Way too long Spence, it's been way too long." HE ran his fingers through my hair.

"Okay Princess," he began

"Stop calling me that," I punched his shoulder, " Continue".

"Nat we have not pulled a good prank in a while," I sat up straighter, a smile crossing my face, "I've got the water balloons and the paint." I grinned,

" Now I've got an idea to add to that one,"

"Now do you really Nat, do you really," I punched his shoulder, "Ow, okay I'm listening,"

"Lets hit them with just water filled balloons, so they think it's less harm,"

"I'm intrigued," he said.

"Then we hit the with the paint ones."

Laughing we ran into the cornfield, paint splattered and out of breath.

Spence collapsed on the ground from laughing too hard and that's when I struck, pulling the final paint filled balloon and smashing it over his head.

"NATALIE," he yelled as I ran off into the stalks, my hair blowing back in the wind. The stalks were stills short, but at 5'1" I blended right in.

"Hey Idiot," I yelled, "You are so tall I can see you. Thanks for the help," and then I was tackled.

"Got you," he smiled and began to tickle me. I started to fake cry and immediately he jumped up, making sure I was okay, " Omg did I hurt you, like did I accidentally elbow you or something, I'm so sorry, please tell me I didn't do something idiotic". He looked genuinely concerned but the in a flash I had jumped onto his back and was laughing.

"Haha you still fall for the fake tears Spency. Now take me home."

"Okay Natty,"

"You promised to stop calling me that,"

"But you called me Spency,"

"I'm telling Bethany that you called my Natty,"

"And I'll tell her that you fake cried on me and tricked me into thinking I hurt you,"

"And I'm telling you both you are idiots," Bethany interrupted as we walked into the kitchen, "Now go wash up it's almost time for dinner". "Mumbling to herself, " I swear those two together are 5 and not 16".

"I heard that," I yelled as Spencer dropped me off so we could wash our hands, and his paint splattered face.

"You got paint in my hair Natalie, paint," I giggled, "Do you have any idea how hard this is going to be to get out?"

"Nope!" I sang cheerily

"GUYS," Mason yelled and broke us from our argument, "Mom said dinner, she's been calling you for like five minutes".

"Woops," we both said, "Jinkx". I threw my arm around Mason's shoulder,

"So dude the last time I saw you, you were in your overalls phase. So glad that's done, But guess what I more thankful for," he groaned, "The pictures". Mason face palmed as Spencer broke out laughing.

We walked into the kitchen and there was Noah, sloughing in his chair next to a maybe eleven year old who I couldn't remember.

" Thats Ryan, he was like four when you left," Sophia whispered in my ear as she handed me a tray to carry out to the table. I walked out to the dining room and prepared myself for an insane meal.