The Treehouse Society

Chapter Two: Elk City

Two weeks later

   It was a windy Saturday morning. I sat in my treehouse, playing yet another new character on Skyrim. I couldn't help it; I was somewhat addicted. All my characters were completely different. One was an elf, and was a theif and a murderer. Another was a feline person, and was part of this league of defenders of the holds. The elf girl was my favorite, probably because she did things that I was too scared to do. Break laws.

  Breaking school rules would crush me. I collected a new quest and went to find my next victim. 

  A knock came at the door and I jumped. People never came to see me out here, because this was my place of sanctuary. I paused the game and stood up. When I looked through the peep hole, I saw Ellas brown hair whipping across her face. The wind had picked up even more. A storm would probably show up by tomorrow.

  I unlocked the door and let her in. My mom probably told her where I was hiding.

  "Hey, hermit." She joked, pushing inside and looking around in curiousity. I closed the door, confused.

  "Hi. Can I help you?" I asked following her as she studied the paintings I'd done and had hung up around the walls. She shrugged then turned to me. I noticed she was dressed nice, with her curly hair straightened and some eye makeup on. I also noticed she had perfect eyebrows, unlike Claire. 

  Yep, she never got around to fixing hers. Maybe her friends didn't care enough to tell her she looked like she was wearing caterpillars across her face. Or they were too scared.

  Me? I probably would have been subtle and said, "Hey! Let's go to the spa!" then let the women in there do all the work. Let them break it to her. I'd also subltly tell her to dye her hair back brown. That blonde was not her color. That's right, her hair was platnum blond, and her eyebrows were still thick and dark. Not a good combination. Somehow she managed to remain queen b, though.

  "I wanna do something. I've been here for two weeks and I've never seen this town aside from the streach from the school to here."

  I looked up at her and gave a dry laugh. "I've lived here for five. And I never really got out either, for the record. I don't know where anything is."

  She scoffed. "Please. You know who you're talking to? I'm Ella Marie Ryker and I don't get lost. Ever. I, for one, can find my way out of a paper bag." She bit her lip to keep herself from laughing at her blond joke.

  I smirked. "I'm not directionally impaired thank you. But whatever. Whatdya have in mind?" I asked, saving my game and going to my mirror. I brushed out my hair, leaving it down for once, and smudged some black liner across the waterline. I even put on a little bit of clear lip gloss. I was feeling good today. 

   "Wellll.. I just got my allowence today, and that makes 300$ I've been saving up for the past couple months. I really don't have anything to save it for, so mom suggested a shopping spree. You know any good boutiques around here?" She asked, swinging her purse around her arm. 

  Blush grew on my cheeks. I was absolutely broke right now. I didn't mention that though.

  "There are a few in town." I grimmaced. "One is owned by Claire Duvalls family. I make it a mission to avoid that place at all costs."

  She laughed. "We don't have to go there. I'll avoid it with you."

  I grinned. She was a really good friend. "Let me ask mom. I assume we're taking my car?"

  She gave me a look that just screamed, 'Duh?' I turned out the light and ushered her outside, locking the door behind us. In 8th grade, I started religiously sleeping in the treehouse when it was nice, so dad decided it should have a lock, despite the fact that we had an almost 6 foot privacy fence going around the whole yard. Now I like that it's there. I don't have to worry about my game systems and stuff being stolen.