Childhood best friend

The basement

Natalie urges them to continue explaining but Joe put his hands up to his face. It's when she seen a tear fall onto his red and black checkered shoes that she knew Joe was sensitive about the topic. She stopped urging and said "I gotta go home...ill see if I can come back tomorrow maybe you can tell me later" She starts to turn but feels a soft, gentle hand wrap warmly around hers. She stops and looks at Jason who was holding her hand like she was going to leave forever. He looks into her eyes and asks her to stay a little longer. Natalie refused but inside she wanted to. Jason let's go and puts his head down. A tear fell to his feet as he sniffles hugging Joe. Natalie felt terrible letting her now best friend cry. She couldn't just walk away leaving him AND Joe upset?! She decided to stay a little longer. When she told Jason she's staying his face lit up and his ocean eyes were brighter than Natalie's white shoes she wears on special occasions. Jason grabbed her hand and ran around with her in excitement. Natalie stops and says "So what happened?!" Jason's smile slowly turns to a frown as he let go of her hand and came closer. He looked behind her at Joe making sure he wasn't near than back into Natalie eyes. He whispered "We found a window, it's the window above the drain. I left a note behind the pipe, don't go look for it. It's dangerous down there" "Why?!" Natalie interrupts "and how did you get out!? Did you get out?!" Jason sighs and says "We did make it out and I don't want you to go down ther because the police never found the man" At first Natalie was confused she didn't understand what the basement, or even the HOUSE had to do with them not finding the man. Then it all made sense,he was hiding in the basement or somewhere in the house. Natalie wanted to get it off her mind and she could tell Jason did too so she walked over to Joe and asked if they wanted to come in for pie. Joe tears up again and Natalie was confused why until she remembered the man. It must have been sensitive for Joe around the house. Natalie hugs him hoping to help him feel better. At first Joe was shocked and confused but hugged back. They hugged for a while until Jason jokingly asked "hey where's my hug!" Natalie laughs and gives him a  hug as well. Jason's hug felt...different. Natalie felt safer but more nervous when hugging Jason. She released when Joe said "So is that pie offer expired?" They all laugh and Natalie says "Nope haha wanna get some?" Joe wipes his eye and nod while saying "yeah why else would I ask" they laugh more then start walking over. Jason had no problem walking up the porch steps but Joe was hesitant. He slowly approached the house then when he finally got up the stairs Natalie opened the door. She let Joe in but when Jason was approaching the door he stopped and held the door for Natalie to walk in. Her mom and dad had already left so her grandparents said they were going to have her spend the night. Natalie's face lit up as she looked at Jason. He was confused as he looked at her. Natalie whispered but said it excitedly "Sleepover!" Jason smiled and laughed as he rubbed the back of his neck. Natalie could hear the nervousness in his laugh but ignored it and say them down. She brought the pie over to the table and they all sat around the table telling stories while eating pie. Jason whispers over to Natalie "Can we talk" he looks over to Joe then back at you "In private" She was shocked so she quickly put down her fork and swallowed the bite of pie in her mouth. "Oh umm yeah yeah hold on" she said to Jason. They stand up and Jason says "Well be right back Joe" Joe nods but Natalie can tell he was shy and nervous about being in the house without Jason. Jason walks Natalie outside and looks her in the eyes. He grabs her hands and Natalie gets nervous. He soft, gentle hands cradling hers caused her to get sweaty palms. Jason starts "I know we just met-well reunited" He looks away for a second then immediately back into Natalie's eyes. "And I've liked you for a really long time, ever since the teacher sat me next to you in third grade I felt this way around you." Jason continues. Natalie gets even more nervous but works up the courage to interrupt Jason and say "I think I like you too. When you were walking to me I felt this way, this...SPECIAL way that I've...never felt before-"Jason interrupts "Will you be my girlfriend"