The summer we turned thirteen (Re-releasing 2025)

The summer we met: Always

Harlee

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"So how'd it go? Should I make a ship name?"

Polly asked, bombarding me with questions before I'd even had a chance to reenter our cabin fully.

I shoved her away gently with a laugh saying,

"We're not dating; calm down, hopeless romantic."

"Oh." Polly's shoulders slumped.

"But we ARE friends now," I told her and Hally victoriously.

We all cheered in unison; then they continued with their barrage of questions for me. I tried to cover my ever-growing smile with my hand.

I couldn't believe how perfectly the morning had gone. My efforts to help James and become his friend had been a total success.

After I gave him back his stuffed bunny and told him the story of how I'd enlisted Andrea to help me get it back, James asked me to go on a walk with him. Feeling both surprised and elated, I enthusiastically agreed. During the walk, James apologized fervently for that day he yelled at me. He explained to me the reason behind his outburst.

His explanation was that deep down, his fear of Jasper was something he felt quite ashamed of. So seeing me, a female stand up to him only piled onto his insecurities. I'd accepted his apology understandingly, because how could I hold a grudge after something like that?

Even though his having a problem with a girl sticking up for him in the first place was kind of sexist, I didn't press it.

I went on to explain to them how James had offered to give me something in return for my valiant efforts to protect him. I had quickly shut him down, making it clear the only thing I wanted in exchange was his friendship.

I did this by simply asking about his friends. The ones that Jasper called "make-believe" and "imaginary," but James and I had faith existed.

James seemed a bit reluctant to share at first.

But then the impossible happened.

He finally opened up to me.

He allowed me into his inner world, which I could tell was something he scarcely or never did. I felt it was his way of showing that he trusted me now.

James trusted me.

How that made me feel special.

I told Hally and Polly how James came further, and further out of his shell, the more he talked to me. I also confessed to them that there was never any footage on the camera since I'd confessed and discussed that with James as well. Polly and Hally's facial expressions to finding that out were priceless. I giggled, wishing I'd gotten that on camera.

"So, what happened after that?" Hally asked, eyes widening as she spoke.

"We laughed like old friends about it, but James didn't seem to want to talk about Jasper anymore afterwards, so I changed the subject," I explained.

"To what?" she said.

I gave a small shrug. "Just asked him how old he is."

When they continued staring at me waiting for an answer, I went on,

"He's one day younger than me. He turns ten June 29th, and my birthday is on the 28th."

That was a fact I'd been surprised myself to discover.

Our birthdays were right next to each other.

What a fated friendship indeed.

I told Polly and Hally how by the conversation's end, I knew I had finally gotten to see the true James. I told them how I knew he'd always be reserved because it was part of his personality. But that didn't stop me from feeling elated at the fact he was now willing to share who he was with me.