Chapter tweleve

Isit on my porch steps, waiting for my best friends to come home from summer camp. The past four weeks were lonely without Doni and Ash to hang out with. Jo's too old to play with me anymore. He's too busy with his friends, doing things I am not old enough to do.

"Shorty!"

Ash's head was hanging out from his mom's car window like a dog, waving excitedly at me.

"Hi!" I wave back with a big smile on my face.

When Jacquie parked the car, the back doors flew open, and Doni and Ash ran toward me.

I couldn't help but laugh hysterically when they almost knocked me over.

"Boys! Be careful!" Jacquie yelled.

"We missed you, Curly Sue." Ash hugged me tight.

"My turn!" Doni pushed Ash to the side and pulled me into his arms. "I missed you more," he whispered for only me to hear.

"Okay, boys. Get inside and take a shower. You can play with Sadie later." She looked over at me and winked.

"It's Shorty, Mom," Doni said, rolling his eyes.

"See you later, Curly Sue!" Ash jumps off the step and runs toward his house.

"Stay and wait for me, okay?" Doni gave me one more hug and followed Ash.

Mom called me into the house to eat supper. After I finished my food, I ran outside, sat on my porch, and waited for Doni. Soon the sky would be dark. Maybe we'll be able to see the stars shine tonight.

The sound of a screen door opening breaks my connection with the sky. Doni comes running down his steps wearing blue shorts and a Super Mario T-shirt, and his hair was sticking up in all different directions.

I giggle when he runs his hands through his hair, making it worse.

"So, what did you do while I was gone?" Doni asked, sitting on the step below me so he was facing me.

"Not much."

"You didn't do anything? You stayed in the house all day?" His eyebrows scrunched together.

I nodded and looked away from his sad blue eyes.

"I'm sorry I was gone, Shorty. I missed you." He takes something out of his pocket.

"Here." He put something in my hand.

"What is it?" I stared at the gift in my hand and wanted to cry.

"I made it for you. Do you like it?"

I nodded, trying not to cry. There are different colored rocks glued to a round star shape plastic base.

"It's a sun catcher thingy. Lacey, the camp counselor, said it would bring positive energy, like a rainbow," Doni explained in a happy tone.

"Doni, I love it."

"And I love you. Did you know that?"

"You love me?" I looked up to see a sweet smile on his face.

"Yep." He nodded. "When I was at camp, I missed you and thought about you every day. I looked up at the stars at night and asked them to tell you I missed you. Did they tell you?"

"No, they didn't tell me. You know they can't talk, right?" I giggled.

Doni laughed. "I know. The teachers at the camp said it meant love. So, I love you."

"That means that I love you too." I hugged the suncatcher close to my chest.

"Always," he promised, making an X across his chest.

"Like when we get old and gross? You'll love me then?"

"Yeah, Shorty. Even when we're old and gross."