Arranged to My Best Friend

Prologue.

I was six years old when we first met.

~~~

It was the second week of kindergarten. We were in art class, and I had been coloring a picture of My Little Pony when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked up to see a boy my age. He had a box of crayons in one of his hands and a coloring book in the other. His brown hair was messy and his eyes were a rich hazel color. He was dressed in khaki shorts and a navy blue sweatshirt.

"Hi," he said with a smile. His teeth were slightly crooked, but I thought it made him look sweeter.

I smiled back. "Hi."

"Um, do you mind if I color with you? I don't feel like being alone."

I felt something in my heart swell. No one's ever asked to sit with me. Not even in Sunday School. "Yeah!"

He sat down in the chair beside me, flipping to a random picture in his book. He opened his box of crayons and my eyes widened at the selection.

"Oh wow!" I exclaimed. "Is that the seventy-two pack?"

The boy nodded, a pink color rising on his cheeks. "Yeah..."

"I saw that in the store and I really wanted it, but Mommy said it was too much money. I'm glad you got it though," I said.

He shrugged. "Thanks. Not that I need all these colors, but my mom likes to make sure I have the best."

"She sounds nice," I commented, taking a blue crayon and coloring the pony's hair.

"She is," he agreed, "but she's been really busy taking of my sister so she hasn't been around lately."

I stopped in mid-coloring, frowning at the sad expression on his face. I placed a hand on his arm, like the way my mommy does when I'm upset, and smile at him. "I'm sure she doesn't mean it."

"Yeah. That's what my dad says."

I pulled on the sleeve of his shirt, making him turn towards me. "It'll get better, you'll see. And until it does, I'll keep you company. I know it's not the same-"

"No, that'd be great!" the boy cried.

I beamed. "Awesome sauce!"

He crinkled his nose. "Awesome sauce?"

"Mm-hmm," I nodded. "If we're gonna be friends then you must get used to my cuteness."

He laughed. We started coloring once again and he scooted the box between us. "You can use them if you want."

"Cool!" I scanned it and picked up my favorite of the pack: macaroni 'n' cheese. I nudged him with my elbow. "My name's Brie. Yours?"

"Ryder."

"I'm glad to have you as my friend, Ryder."

"Back at ya, Brie."

~~~

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how our friendship began.

So I've been working on this since November, and I'm finally taking a leap of faith and posting it. I hope you guys enjoyed.

Updating schedule: Mondays.

- Gabby