His Childhood Friend

•Chapter 1•

Years later. February 21st.

February 21st

"Alan. Alan, wake up. Alan. ALAN. Alan, wake uuuuuuuup. Ah!" Therese shouted in a hushed manner as she was pushed off the bed abruptly. Alan groaned then buried his head deeper into his pillow. "Mr. Rickman, don't you dare push me off a bed! Wake up!" She exclaimed and thought it was completely useless to even stand up from the floor.

"Shush! You'll wake up my siblings in the other rooms. Besides that, why did my mother let you in the house?!" He asked, though his voice sound muffled through the pillow. "Your mum let me in. She usually does. But besides that, I have a surprise!"

"Yes, well, your surprise has to happen in around... 2 more hours. I'm sure enough you noticed it's Saturday! And the average person would like more sleep please!"

"Oh, come on!" Alan opened one eye to see Therese wearing one of her familiar dresses and knew something was special. It was a simple but beautiful royal blue that reached below her knees. Blue butterfly patterns traveled from the hem to the waist. He even noticed her hair was tied neatly today. She was definitely serious. Maybe. "Okay, what is it?" He asked, squinting his eyes as he slowly pushed himself up. "You have to come with me outside."

Alan groaned stubbornly again. "But... Bu-"

"Please?" Therese actually looked sincere with her surprises this time. It wouldn't sound like an onion-toothpaste cake if she was pleading like this. He would know whether she was acting or not, especially with a "please". He stared at her smile then returned it. "Fine. I'll grab my jacket though."

He jumped off the twin bed, snatched his navy green jacket swiftly from the floor, and joined Therese. The noise their feet made trembled the house into an earthquake as they ran to the front yard. Therese opened the front door after greeting Mrs. Rickman and David "good morning!"

"Now tell me, woman, what's the surprise?!" Alan said as he grabbed her shoulders while looking straight into her soul. "Shush! You'll wake the entire street up!" They heard David yell from the inside of the house. "Therese" Alan whisper-shouted yet again. Therese let out a giggle making the tall boy let go of her. "Is this a joke?" She began to laugh.

"No! It isn't! Alan, wait! I'm sorry!" She called, jumping on his back when he was marching back towards the house. "Oof!"

"Be careful there!"

"Sorry, Mum!"
"Sorry, Aunt Margaret!"

Alan held Therese by his back and sensed she smiled in his ear. "You, um, got the... part at the play? The one happening in a year? The one you auditioned for and couldn't even sleep because of? You got the part. Uncle Jamie told me first after a few weeks from your audition. He said you were great."

Silence fell between them. "Are... Are you angry...?" She stammered.

"YES!" Alan put Therese down then jumped happily.

"I mean no! I'm not angry! I'm... HAPPY! Yes!" He kept on jumping up and down. "There ye go, you lucky little Koala. And happy birthday!"

Alan froze.

"On the bright side," he tipped with his fingers, "it's my birthday. But on the dark side? Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT call me a koala." He said, making Therese laugh. "I will! You look li-" He cut her off. "I do not look like a koala!"

"Oh yeah, go on! Smile for me!"

• • •

"And he ate the entire thing just like that!" Alan continued, as he threw his hands in the air carelessly. They both walked around the sidewalk, reaching the playground, and returning from where they came. It was just like that. From the Rickman's house to the playground, play a little on the swing again, then go back, then head back to the playground, repeat, it was just like that as if they never noticed.