Jacob Shae sat cross-legged in the shade, his blue eyes fixed on the path leading to the tree. His heart raced as he anticipated the arrival of Sally Shane, his best friend. He tugged at the hem of his green shirt nervously, bracing himself for the conversation to come.
Sally Shane appeared in the distance, her long orange hair catching the sunlight as it swayed with each step. Her blue dress fluttered in the wind, and her expression was a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Hey, Sally," Jacob began, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "We need to talk about Max."
"What about him?" Sally asked, her green eyes narrowing slightly as she leaned against the tree trunk.
"He bullies me, Sally," Jacob said, his voice tinged with frustration. "I don't get why you keep going back to him when he treats both of us like that."
Sally sighed, crossing her arms. "I know he can be mean, but he's different when it's just the two of us. Besides, it's not like I stay with him forever."
Jacob looked down, tracing patterns in the dirt with his finger. "But that's the problem, Sally. You stay with him for a few days, then move on. It's like you're always searching for something better."
Sally hesitated, her defenses wavering. "I... I just want someone who makes me feel special," she admitted softly.
"I wish I were older, maybe then you'd see me differently," Jacob confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.
"That's not fair, Jacob!" Sally exclaimed, her eyes flashing. "I am beautiful, and I can choose who I want to be with!"
"Then maybe we shouldn't be friends anymore," Jacob replied, his voice steady but his heart aching. "If you can't see how your choices affect us, what's the point?"
Sally turned away, her steps slow and deliberate. The weight of their argument hung heavy in the air, leaving Jacob alone beneath the oak tree, staring up at the stars peeking through the branches.
Jacob felt a pang of regret but knew he had spoken the truth. He wondered if they could ever return to how things were before.
The next day, Jacob walked the familiar path to the tree, hopeful yet anxious. To his surprise, Sally was already there, a hesitant smile on her lips.
"Can we start over?" she asked, her voice gentle.
"I'd like that," Jacob replied, his heart lifting. Together, they sat beneath the oak tree, ready to rebuild their friendship, one honest conversation at a time.
