Next to Me by Emily Walker

sleep.” He tried to settle his nerves and closed his eyes.
    “I still want you, Zane. You’re the only person I want to be with right now.” The right now stung a bit, but he ignored it.
    “Listen, Whitney, if you still want me in the morning, and you really are serious, then we’ll talk about it. I just think you are letting the alcohol talk, deal?”

“Deal, Zane, but it’s the truth. I want you.” He wanted her to be serious, but he knew Whitney, and he knew her better than anyone in the world. She didn’t mean it. Even if he wanted her too, he wouldn’t fall for it until he heard it from sober lips.
    When the sun was shining in his eyes he opened them to see Whitney purposely holding the blinds open to wake him up. The night before came rushing back to him, and even though he knew he shouldn’t, he held his breath.
    “I couldn’t wait to tell you a second longer.” His heart skipped a beat and he felt it as he sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
    “What is it, Whit?” He focused his brown eyes on her green ones and waited. She looked beautiful in the sunlight by the window. She had changed into one of her many pink matching shorts and tank top combos and was bouncing with excitement.
    “He texted me back finally! Walter, this morning, he had to go to his uncle’s house and help him with his car. He didn’t have any service, and he feels awful that he stood me up. Isn’t that awesome!”
    Zane’s heart sank along with his patience. He shoved the covers off and stood up to go get his shoes from the living room.
    “Just fantastic, Whit, glad you are excited.” She was beaming.
    “I need a line.” She rushed off to her room to poison her body more and he let himself out, calling Cole to come pick him up from his nightmare. He knew he would catch hell for it, but Cole was a good friend. He would come and get him. Going home and sleeping it off would be good, maybe he would call Lila for a Saturday night date.

 
     
     
     
     
     

    “You guys ready to see it?” Dustin was excited, and Zane was surprised since it was his birthday. His dad always got really excited on birthdays and wanted to do something special. Zane was turning twelve. He was almost a preteen now. He’d figured at this point he would have grown some chest hair or shot up a few feet, but he hadn’t even hit puberty yet. His dad told him that wouldn’t happen until he was at least fourteen, but for some reason he was ready.
    “What is it, Mr. Grier?” Whitney was just as excited to see what he’d gotten for them as he was. Zane always shared his gifts with her and she lived vicariously through him even though his dad always got her something great for her birthday too.
    “Come on, kids, it’s out back.”
    They went outside to see a large handmade tree house. It was pretty high in the tree with two levels and a ladder that went up the side. There was a bucket that hung down so he could pull things up to him and a large tarp over it so it was enclosed. It looked like it had two separate compartments, and he was completely blown away.
    “Oh wow, Dad, it’s amazing! I can’t believe you built this today.”
    “I had a little help from some buddies, but we made sure it was sturdy and that the two of you could play anytime you wanted.”
    Zane ran up to it and started climbing the ladder. Whitney didn’t follow, so he turned around and yelled at her. “Come on, Whitney, get your butt up here and see how cool it is.”
    He could see all the way across the neighborhood. She came over slowly and climbed the ladder with the least amount of enthusiasm possible. When she got to the top she kind of just sat and looked out over the grass quietly.
    “What’s your deal?”
    “This is the lamest present I’ve ever seen. I can’t believe you’re excited over a stupid tree house.” She crossed her arms and sat still, looking over the grass.
    “This is an awesome present. My dad went to a lot of trouble to put it together