There's an abandoned treehouse not far from my home where I have been spending more and more time these past couple weeks. Doing homework, listening to music, daydreaming, sitting alone. Anything really.
I decided to take Elliott to my hideaway. It's getting lonily and I don't want to just daydream about him any longer. I'm sick of that.
We have been friends for three years. And in those short three years we've become closer than I have become with almost anyone else. He makes me feel cared for when I'm with him. Safe. I could tell him anything I'm thinking... well, almost anything. You see, the thing is, he doesn't know something about me. He's going to know soon enough though.
* * *
"Where are you taking me?" He asks me and giggles.
"It's a secret," I stop walking and turn to him. "And you can't tell anyone. Okay?"
He nods.
I start running down the dirt path, further and further into the lush, green pines.
"Hey!" Elliott calls out, chasing after me.
When he catches up to me, we walk side by side for a couple more minutes, both breathless from our sprint. We turn the corner and I see the ladder, planks of wood fitted to a tree with rusty nails.
"This is it." I say and look up into the canopy. Elliott wears a puzzled look.
"A treehouse?" He asks.
"Sure is." I start scaling the ladder and lift myself up into the wooden structure, 12 feet or so above the ground. "Come on up!"
Elliott makes his way to me, sitting with his legs dangling off the edge once he's at the top.
"Not bad Jordann." He looks back at me standing against the wall, my arms crossed in front of my chest. I sigh, not quite believing what I'm about to do.
"I need to tell you something El."
"Yeah?"
"I've been hiding something from you."
"Are you okay? Should I be worried."
"No, no. I'm okay. I just... I.." He stands up and paces closer to me.
"You can tell me anything Jordann. I'm here for-"
"I like you!"
"Y..you do?" Surprisingly enough, pink shows through his cheeks.
"Yeah, I have for a couple of months now and-"
Every part of me melts.
His lips pressed against mine with a force that proves he's been waiting for this moment for too long now. His soft hands travel to my neck and hair, pulling ever so slightly. We break away and he looks deep into my eyes.
"You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do that." He pulls me close into his warm, strong arms. Just the two of us, standing in the middle of someone's childhood treehouse, smiling like the two happiest guys on the planet.
"Elliott?" I say into his shirt.
"Yes Jordann?" He replies.
"Will you be my boyfriend?" He looks at me, smiling from ear to ear, really blushing now. He nods and pulls me back in for a kiss.
"Like you have to ask."
I could get used to this.
