Friday, June 23rd, 2017:

I hate this Friday even more than I hated last Friday. All morning I sobbed in a pillow and refused to leave my room. I just couldn't. Vanessa and Rocky tried to get me into the treehouse, but I couldn't. I just couldn't. Being in your favorite place today would be too much. That's why Vanessa pinned up yesterday's note. Not me. 

"Come on," Vanessa urged me with a shoulder nudge. In horrible makeup and gray sweats, I roll over onto my side and drag my hands down my face. They're covered in splotches of black - a mixture of my eyeshadow and mascara. "It's an imperative day today. In exactly a week, we're holding a strike against the demolition of the treehouse. We need you in the treehouse today to finalize the plans." 

"Just go on without me," I drawled.  While my mouth moved, tears rolled down my cheeks. "I can't do this today." 

"It was a poem," Rocky reminded. While sympathetic, I could hear the 'Oh my gosh, get over it already' in his voice. "He wrote it over four years ago." 

"Time means nothing," I sobbed, my voice high-pitched and whining. "If it did, he wouldn't've died." 

"Okay," Rocky sympathized. "Take the day off. I'll see if my siblings are fine with you hanging out next week." 

"Oh, I'll come tonight," I assured him, my voice still breaking, "I just can't do the treehouse."

"Got it," Rocky put in. It seemed that this long urging to get me out of the house was coming to an end. "I'll see you tonight." 

Later that night, I headed out to your Aunt Melanie's diner called Melody + Harmony. I didn't get it, but your siblings (and Ratliff) seem to understand why it's called that, but I dare not ask why. In the large booth shaped like a U, was Riker, Rydel, Ryland, and Ratliff who had his arm wrapped around Rydel's shoulder. 

"Hey guys," Rocky said to them. "You remember Laura. As of right now -" In my head, I was begging, Please don't introduce me as your girlfriend - "she's gone on a date with me." At least it wasn't girlfriend.

From there, everything went downhill.  It all started when Rydel put in, "She's totally here because of Ross and Maia."

That followed into Ratliff's comment about me, "I mean, that's so true. What girl wouldn't want vengeance after seeing those two slow dancing when she dumped her date to go find her soul mate."

I glared at Ratliff and screeched. "I made you swear to burn that memory. And let's not forget that you also ditched me to go find Rydel, who rejected you." With that Ratliff and I were both on our feet. 

"Oh you, wanna dance, Marano," Ratliff said, and suddenly the walls began caving in once again, "let's dance. And I do not mean that literally." So, I stormed out of the diner without another word, tears streaming down my face once again. 

Outside of the diner, there was a bench, so I sat down and buried my face into my arms to allow the hot water works to let loose. To make matters even worse, it started to rain. Luckily there was an awning that worked like an umbrella over the bench. 

That's when I felt Rocky's hand on my shoulder. He said, "Laura, are you okay?" 

"No," I seethed, and moved to the far end of the bench, "I'm not. And you weren't the most helpful in there either."

He slid closer to me and tried to put an arm around my shoulder. Without any thought, I swatted it away. He then, muffled in the rain, spoke. "I know. I'm new at this."

"This is has nothing to do with romance," I exclaimed and rose to my feet. "This has to do to with the fact that as a friend, you should have my back when I'm hurt. I was grieving about him this morning, and what do they do? Bring him up and insult me simultaneously. And with Prom, that's a whole other level of hurt. I don't need to be reminded on how my heart was broken."  

"Laura," Rocky assured me, "I won't let your heart be broken."

I scoffed, my back to him. "That's a hefty promise to make." 

As I walked out into the rain, Rocky grabbed me by the arm. There barely any distance between us and my stringy locks clung to the sides of my face while his ponytail stuck to the back of his neck. Trying to be louder than the booming rain, he yelled, "This is my promise!" 

His gentle fingers, wet like the rest of the world, grabbed me by the face and pulled me onto my tippy-toes. His slippery lips met mine as the pitter-patter of the droplets blurred out any noise. Intertwined in a sustaining kiss, my arm locked around his shoulder blades. It felt beautiful. 

Everyone told me that a person's first kiss would feel as if you were watching a fireworks show, or if you saw a double rainbow. I don't know if they were right, but it sure felt as if I were the firework itself. I even closed my eyes to test it out. It seemed that the kiss ended so abruptly. 

"I ..." I tried to come up with words but after my first kiss, to be honest, I was speechless. It didn't last long though, I will admit. "Will see you on Monday." And that was that. 

- Laura S. Marano