When Jackie left, Hollyn helped her parents with cleaning up the kitchen before she helped taking the dogs outside. As she sat on the back porch, watching Ace, Lottie, and Goldie run around, she didn't hear footsteps approaching her.

"Hey." Cole greets her, smiling a bit. He sat down beside her on the porch swing by her side. He chuckles when Lottie ran over to him after she spotted him, jumping into his lap and licking his face. "Well, hello to you too, Lotts." He let the dog curl up on his lap, smiling wider as he pet her. 

"Hi." Hollyn smiles, looking over at him. "What are you doing over here? Not that I mind." She added.

"Wanted to see if we were going to the treehouse tonight. Like we usually do after dinner." Cole answered, scratching behind Lottie's ears. Lottie leaned into his touch, her tail continuing to wag happily.

"Oh, right." Hollyn nods, remembering their nightly routine. They would often go to the treehouse to hang out and talk after dinner. "We can do that. Let me just put the dogs up and tell my parents." She stood, calling out to Ace and Goldie, who both stopped playing and perked up before they ran over to her. Lottie jumped off Cole's lap, running after her siblings and barking. Hollyn grinned at them and opened the back door, letting them in.

"Okay, I'll be right back." She told Cole with a small smile, going back inside the house. She guided the dogs to the laundry room where their crates and other supplies were at. She made sure to give them fresh water and food, and gave them each a treat. Once she was sure they were okay, she then went to find her parents to tell them she was going to the tree house.

She found them in the living room, cuddled up on the couch and watching a movie together. Kiwi was curled up in a ball, sleeping on Carolyn's lap. She smiles softly as she watches her parents, seeing the love they had for each other. It was always so clear and evident in everything they did. She had always wanted a relationship like theirs.

"Mom, Dad." She says softly, standing in front of them. They looked up at her and smiles, pausing the movie. "Cole and I are going to the treehouse, okay? I'll be back later." She told them.

"Okay, honey. Just be careful." Carolyn says, looking at her. "And don't be too late. It's a school night."

"I know. I won't. I love you." Hollyn smiles and kissed her cheek before leaning down and kissing her dad's cheek. "I love you too, dad."

"We love you too, Holly Berry. Have fun and be safe." Her dad replied with a warm smile.

Hollyn nodsand heads back to the porch where Cole was waiting. When he heard her walk back out, he stands and smiles at her. "Ready?"

"Yeah." Hollyn smiles back at him, nodding her head. "Let's go."

They head to the Bellwood stables to get two horses out and ride them to the tree house. Hollyn got her horse Apollo and Cole rode on another horse the Bellwoods have. Her name was Athena and she was a beautiful dappled gray Arabian. They rode side-by-side, the cool night air blowing through their hair as they headed towards the woods. The full moon illuminated their path, the sound of the crickets chirping filling the air.

When they reached the tree house, Cole helped Hollyn off her horse before they tied the horses' reins around a nearby tree, giving them enough room to roam freely. Hollyn was nervous when climbing up the ladder, she hated having a fear of heights. But with Cole's help, she made it up safely. She climbed up the ladder first and Cole followed close behind her, making sure she was safe. When she got to the top, she pulled herself into the treehouse, collapsing on the floor in relief.

"I hate having a fear of heights." Hollyn groaned, burying her face in her arms.

Cole chuckles lightly, sending her a sympathetic smile. "I know, but you made it up here. That's all that matters." He murmured, heading over to sit down on one of the bean bags chairs.

Hollyn sent him a small smile, nodding her head. She sat up and took a deep breath, looking around the treehouse. It was just like she remembered it, full of memories. This was their place, the place where they could always escape to. It was like a safe haven for them. The treehouse had a few lights strung up around it, illuminating the space with a warm glow. There was a small bed, a shelf full of books and games, and a window that overlooked the forest. There was a hammock off to the side and a trunk underneath it full of different things.

Hollyn got up and went to sit on the other bean bag chair near Cole, looking at him. "So how was your day with Jackie?" Cole asks, earning a surprised look from her. "I saw her walking over to your place, figured she wanted to hang out with you. Plus she was gone for the whole day."

"Yeah, it was fun." Hollyn admits, smiling a bit. "She's a cool person. She's fun to hang out with too."

"New York is fun to hang out with?" Cole chuckles, raising his eyebrows. "I'm surprised."

"You just don't think she's fun to hang out with because you think she's a bit of a nerd." Hollyn says, nudging him lightly. "She's not that bad to hang out with."

"I guess not." Cole shrugs. "But have you seen how many notes she takes?"

"Hey, I take a lot of notes too." Hollyn muttered with a small pout, crossing her arms.

Cole chuckles, smiling with amusement at her reaction. "Yeah, and you use different colored pens. Like, what's up with that?" Cole teased, playfully nudging her.

"I have a system, okay?" Hollyn laughs, rolling her eyes and shoving him lightly. "And I like making my notes pretty. Sue me."

"Alright, alright. No need to get all defensive." Cole looks at her with amusement, shaking his head. "You know I'm only joking."

"I know." Hollyn sighs, leaning back against her bean bag chair. She glances over at him, a small smile on her lips. "So how was your day?"

"Kinda boring honestly. Better now that I'm hanging out with you." Cole admitted, smiling a bit.

"Awe, you're so sweet." Hollyn grins, her heart skipping a beat at his words. "I missed hanging out with you."

"I missed hanging out with you, too." Cole tells her, sending her a soft smile. "It was weird not having you around for a year when you went to France."

"I know. And I'm sorry. I hated being away from everyone. But it was an amazing experience and something I couldn't say no to. I'm just glad I'm back." Hollyn replied, her voice soft and sincere.

"It's okay. We understand. You had to go. Plus, it was an opportunity you couldn't miss." Cole murmurs, smiling at her. "And we're glad you're back, too."

So, everything going good with your classes?" Hollyn questioned, trying to make conversation.

"I wouldn't call it going good." Cole mumbles, looking out the window to avoid her gaze. "The other day Miss Jacobs told me I had to make an appointment to see her." He sighed, leaning his head back against the couch.

"Cole..." Hollyn frowns, a concerned look on her face. She knew his grades had been slipping lately, but she didn't think it was bad enough where the guidance counselor told him he needed to make an appointment with her. She sits up straighter, turning to face him, her knee brushing against his. "Coley, you know my offer always stands of helping you out with homework. Or with studying for tests and stuff."

"I know." Cole replies, keeping his gaze fixed on the window. "It's not just that, though. I mean, I appreciate it and I know you'd probably do really well, but I just don't want to ask you to do that." He explains. "Besides, you have your own classes to focus on. You shouldn't have to worry about my grades."

"I do worry, though. You're my best friend, I'll always worry about you. Whether it's school or other things." Hollyn reassures him, taking his hand. "I just wish you'd let me help you. I want to. Because I care about you and I want you to succeed. I want us to both graduate together." She added.

"I want that too, Holly." Cole said, glancing at her. He takes her hand in his and squeezes it. Her heart skips a beat and she tries to ignore her face heating up. "But I just...I can't ask you to do this. I should be able to handle my own classes and not have to rely on someone else for help. It's not right. I don't want to feel like I'm burdening you with that."

"You're never a burden to me." Hollyn shakes her head, her eyes softening. "Never. I mean it, Coley. I want to help you. It's not wrong to ask for help when you need it. I know you hate feeling like you can't do something and that you don't really like asking for help. But there's no shame in it. If you want to, I'll always help you. You don't have to, but I want you to know that the option is always there."

Cole was quiet for a moment. He sighed, shaking his head a little. "I just don't want to hold you back." He told her.

"Hold me back?" Hollyn echoed, raising her eyebrows.

"I just don't want to slow you down, that's all. You're a lot smarter than I am and I just...I'm afraid that you're going to be held back or have trouble with your classes because you're spending so much time helping me." Cole confesses, his gaze falling.

"Cole." Hollyn squeezes his hand, making him look at her. "Listen, I know you're scared. But you're not going to hold me back or slow me down. You could never do that. Even if I spent a lot of time helping you, it wouldn't matter to me. What matters to me is that you're happy and you're succeeding. That's what I want. I don't want to be successful and you not be." She assures him, giving him a small smile. "Don't you remember what we said to each other when we were little? We promised that we'd graduate high school together, go to the same college. We're both going to succeed. I know we will."

"Yeah, but-" Cole started, but Hollyn cut him off.

"No buts." She interjects. "We're going to get through this. Okay?"

Cole met her gaze and stared into her eyes. He could see the determination and sincerity in her brown eyes. He smiles softly, his lips curling up slightly. "Okay." He nodded. He didn't know what he would do without Hollyn. She was always there for him, no matter what. She always made him feel better and always tried to make sure he was doing okay. And he did the same thing for her. They cared about each other a lot. They'd always had each other's backs, through everything.

"Good." Hollyn smiled, pulling him into a hug. Cole's arms wrapped around her, hugging her tightly. His face pressed into her neck, inhaling her sweet, flowery scent. She was always wearing a floral perfume which Cole found comforting. It was her signature smell and he always recognized her by that scent. Soon they pulled away and smiled at each other.

The atmosphere in the treehouse became more relaxed as they continued to chat. The conversation flowed effortlessly, covering various topics from school to favorite memories. As they reminisced about their adventures, Hollyn couldn't help but feel grateful for the genuine connection she shared with Cole.

The night passed by, and before they knew it, the moon was high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the treetops. Cole and Hollyn enjoyed the tranquility of the moment, surrounded by the rustling leaves and the occasional hooting of an owl. Eventually, they decided it was time to head back. Climbing down the ladder proved to be easier for Hollyn this time, with Cole's encouraging words and assistance. They untied the horses and mounted them, riding back towards the Bellwood estate.

The journey back was filled with comfortable silence, interrupted only by the soft sounds of hooves on the forest path. The bond between Hollyn and Cole spoke volumes without the need for words. They reached the stables, unsaddled the horses, and returned them to their stalls. After brushing the horses and making sure they had fresh food and water, Cole and Hollyn exited the stable.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Holls." Cole smiles, walking over to her and pulling her in for a hug. He was a few inches taller than her, so her head fit perfectly under his chin. "Thanks for tonight."

Hollyn returns the hug, a blush dusting her cheeks. She loved his hugs. They were warm and comforting, making her feel safe and secure. "You're welcome, Coley. I'll see you tomorrow." She murmured, pulling away from the hug and smiling up at him.

"Goodnight." Cole whispered, looking down at her. Before she knew it, he pressed a kiss to her forehead, making her heart race and her breath hitch. Hollyn should be used to this, he always kissed her forehead. But now that she had been gone for a year, every time he does this, it always caught her off guard. She was thankful for the darkness as it covered the blush spreading across her cheeks.

"Goodnight." She smiled, her heart fluttering as he walked away. She watched him walk back home, the moon shining down on him and casting him in a silver glow.

Hollyn's mind was racing as she entered the house, the butterflies in her stomach refusing to settle. She couldn't stop thinking about Cole and the way he made her feel. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. She looked up and saw her dad standing there, a knowing smile on his face.

"You like him."

"Dad!" She complained, her face turning more red.

"What?" Her dad chuckles. "It's obvious, kiddo."

Hollyn rolls her eyes, trying to hide her embarrassment. "It's not that obvious. We're just best friends."

Her dad raises an eyebrow, his smile widening. "Sure, sweetheart. Just best friends. I've seen the way he looks at you, and the way you look at him. It's more than just friendship."

Hollyn sighs, realizing that her dad had probably seen through her attempts to downplay her feelings. "Okay, maybe there's something more. But we've been friends forever. I don't want to ruin that."

Her dad places a hand on her shoulder, offering a reassuring smile. "Sometimes, taking that step can lead to something beautiful. Just follow your heart, Hollyn."

With that, he left her to her thoughts. Hollyn couldn't deny the truth in her dad's words. As she climbed into bed that night, she couldn't shake the warmth in her chest and the lingering feeling of Cole's kiss on her forehead. The treehouse had been a witness to their laughter, shared secrets, and the unspoken connection between them. Hollyn closed her eyes, wondering where this journey with Cole would lead and hoping that the stars above were aligning in their favor.

A/N hollyn & cole are adorable, i love their them. & i wanted to add more scenes with hollyn & jackie becoming friends, i loved how it turned out. hope you guys liked this chapter <3