P.O.V. - ADDISON
The next morning, as the sun rose high in the sky, I slowly awoke and stretched my arms wide. After catching a glimpse of the window, I decided to get ready for today's adventure. I planned to wear a white dress with a blue stripe at the hem and a small blue cravat.

I styled my hair into two small, low twintails for the hat I intended to wear. Then, I grabbed the nearest pair of blue-striped shoes and put them on while rushing downstairs.

When I arrived in the dining room, the Garcias had already started eating. "What a lovely dress you're wearing, Addison!" Mrs. Garcia exclaimed.

"Thank you very much, Mrs. Garcia; it's my mother's favorite summer dress," I replied.

I took a seat next to Mark and began eating my breakfast.

"Mark wants to take you to the treehouse—the one you two discovered when you were just four?" his father said.

"Yeah, I can't wait to see it again! It's been so long; I hope the tree can still hold the house," I replied.

"Well, you two better finish your food or it might get cold!" Mrs. Garcia joked as we all shared a hearty laugh.

"She's right, you know. Cold pancakes aren't nearly as fun," Mark said with a grin, taking another big bite.

I nodded, trying to hurry through my meal without seeming too eager. "I just can't wait to see the treehouse again."

"Don't worry, it's not going anywhere," Mark's dad chuckled. "But it's nice to see you excited."

After breakfast, I was already waiting outside the house. Considering that I am too excited to see the treehouse, I couldn't stand still. Mark finally joined me, a playful glint in his eyes.

Just then, Mark stepped outside, dressed in a white shirt, hoodie, and sneakers. "Why are you wearing a hoodie in the summer?" I asked. "Isn't it hot today?"

"Well, you were in such a hurry to see the treehouse; this is what I could wear," he explained.

"Oh," I said. "Well, we've got time to spare, so let's take the shortcut!" I grabbed Mark's hand and rushed down the path, leaving him shocked and trailing behind.

After sprinting through the fields, I gradually slowed down as we approached the gate. The familiar sight of the old treehouse came into view, nestled among the branches of the sturdy oak tree.

Well, the old treehouse is still standing after all these years. The only notable change is the rope ladder, which is now hanging in pieces.

"What happened while I was gone?" I wondered aloud.

"It's showing its age," Mark explained. "I was planning to renovate it, but those plans haven't started yet."

"I poked the ladder, and it suddenly crumbled into pieces. "Yup, it's old." So, I had to figure out how to get inside. I quickly spotted some old stairs nearby.

However, feeling a bit adventurous, I decided to climb the tree instead. I looked for a strong rope, latched onto it, and swiftly climbed to the top. Mark then looked up in surprise. "How did you—" He trailed off, glancing up at me.

I just grinned and replied, "Taught myself to climb when I was six. You can use the stairs." Mark stared at the stairs with a nervous expression.

"Oh, come on, it's not broken!" I shouted, heading back inside the treehouse. Mark, determined to be adventurous too, tried to follow my lead. However, he struggled to even reach the branch I had used.

"I guess I'll stick with the ladder," he said with a sigh, and he walked over to the stairs, carefully making his way up while avoiding any wobbly planks.

🌻

The treehouse has an open balcony that offers a great view of the land below. Old photographs from our childhood and a used calendar adorned the walls.

"Hey, even the telescope and the coloring books are still here!" I said, amazed at how much had stayed the same despite the passage of time.

Mark grinned. "Remember when we used to pretend the telescope was a spaceship? We'd spend hours imagining we were exploring distant planets."

I let out a laugh. "Yeah, and we always ended up having an epic space battle! It is funny how those little games felt so important back then."

Mark picked up a dusty coloring book. "Look at this—our 'masterpieces.' I'm surprised we didn't end up in a local art gallery."

I smiled wide. "Our artworks were definitely unique. I think my 'sunset' was more of a modern art experiment."

Mark snorted. "And my 'dragon' looked like it had just flown through a blender!" Then, we both laughed, reminiscing about our childhood as we explored the old treehouse.

We then sat down on the chairs by the balcony. "Wow, I can't believe how quiet Summerfield has become. Is there something going on?" I asked, glancing at Mark.

"Well, there's a festival coming up in a few days. We talked about it last night, remember?" said Mark.

"Silly you, I remembered that part!" I said, striking a pose. "I just don't have any concrete plans for it."

Some trees obscured our view of the distant town. "Since we're up here, what's your plan?" he asked, looking at me with curiosity. I spotted an unopened box in the corner. I took it off the shelf, and there's a playful idea that crossed my mind. 

"Want to solve this 500-piece puzzle with me?" I asked with a smirk.

Mark groaned, "Girl, this is why I hate puzzles." He looked at the box as if it were a formidable opponent. "But I guess I'm up for the challenge. Besides, it'll be more fun with you."

As we spread out the pieces on the floor, I noticed Mark's initial reluctance turning into focus. We chatted and laughed as we worked, as the wind blew nicely outside.

After we left the treehouse, we wandered into the open fields where no animals were grazing. The sun cast a warm glow over the rolling hills, and the sky was a clear, endless blue.

Again, I felt the wind as it blew through my hair, spreading my arms wide and spinning around, laughing as I eventually tumbled onto the grass.

Mark followed me, smiling as he breathed in the fresh air. "This place never changes, does it?" he said, gazing at the serene landscape.

I nodded, my eyes closed, as I lay on the ground. "It's perfect."

After a moment, we decided to race to the hill and see who could roll down first. We kicked off our shoes, placed them neatly on the sides, and stood at the top of the hill. "Ready?" Mark asked, holding out his hand.

"Ready!" I said, taking his hand. We counted to three and let go, rolling down the hill in fits of laughter. I laughed in glee as I reached the bottom, with Mark close behind me. We lay on the grass, catching our breath and grinning at each other.

"That was amazing!" I exclaimed, my face flushed with joy.

Mark chuckled, brushing grass from his hair. "I haven't done that in years. I forgot how much fun it is."

We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the fields, chasing each other, and reminiscing about old times. The sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. We made our way back, feeling content and happy. It was the best day ever, and our bond felt stronger than ever.

When we arrived home, Mr. and Mrs. Garcia noticed the big smiles on our faces. "What happened today?" Mrs. Garcia asked.

"We went to the treehouse," Mark explained. "Addison climbed up to the entrance herself!"

"And then we went to the fields and had fun rolling down the hill!" I added, still buzzing with excitement. The parents smiled, though I sensed a hint of uncertainty behind their expressions.

But they kept it to themselves. For now, we all needed to rest for another day ahead. After dinner, we got ready for bed, and I smiled as I thought about the treehouse again.

"Hmm, maybe it is time to give the tree a new look," I wondered. I closed the curtains and went to bed.

🌻

P.O.V. - MARK
As I lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, I couldn't stop thinking about Addison.

The way she climbed up to the treehouse entrance today, the pure joy on her face as she spun around in the field, and her laughter echoing in my ears as we rolled down the hill together—it was all I could think about.

I closed my eyes and pictured her lying on the grass, her hair spread out like an angel, and her eyes shining with excitement. My heart skipped a beat. How had I never noticed just how beautiful she is?

"Mark, get a grip," I muttered to myself, shaking my head. "She's your best friend. You've known her forever."

But the more I tried to push the thoughts away, the stronger they became. I remembered how warm her hand felt against mine. I imagined what it would be like to hold her close and express my feelings.

Could I be falling for her?

I sat up, the realization hitting me like a ton of bricks. "Oh God, I am," I whispered. "I'm falling for Addison."

A rush of emotions flooded through me—excitement, fear, confusion. How could I face her now? What if she didn't feel the same way? What if this ruined everything?

I got out of bed and paced the room, trying to make sense of it all. Every memory, every shared laugh, and every secret whispered in the dark suddenly took on a new meaning.

She wasn't just my best friend anymore. She was the girl I couldn't stop thinking about—the girl who made my heart race.

"Mark," I told myself firmly, "you need to tell her. She deserves to know. But not yet. Not until you're sure."

I sighed and lay back down, staring at the ceiling once more. Tomorrow, I'll see her again. Tomorrow, I'll figure out what to do. But for now, I'll let myself dream.

I want to dream about Addison and the possibility that she might feel the same way.