A boy's dearest friend.

A young girl is walking up a small hillside following a trail. She takes a slight look around, narrowing her eyes at the bright sun above her, but smiling as she looks away and at the beautiful trees surrounding the little hill. The dark green leaves and the nice dark wood are hovering over. When she gets to the top, in the distance she can see two houses. One looks like a main house, while the other looks like a small little cabin. While she's looking, there are two boys chasing each other. They both have black hair, but one of them is taller and leaner, while the other is shorter but, in a way, bigger than the taller one. Her eyes light up, and she runs over to the small little fence that's surrounding the house.

As the girl is running she's pushed back ever so slightly by a sort of shockwave, when she turns her head to look at who its caused by she sees two figures in the fight distance of where the two houses are. 

An older man holding a metal like pole and a younger man who's holding onto the pole. They seem to be in a clash but the older man tugs the pole forward bringing the younger man closer and then lifting his leg up to stomp  onto the younger man knee. 

The younger man yelps and lets go leading them to continue their fight, the older man pushes forward holding the pole high and swinging it down on the younger one who pushes back just in time to avoid it. getting back his balance when he lands the younger man rushes in throwing a punch but missing only by a little inch, leaving him open from the position the older man is from the downward swing, he lets go of the pole and grabs the extended arm and pull him down, while doing that he lifts his leg up and knees him in the stomach. 

But the girl seems to have absolutely no interest in that and turns her head back to the boys witch her eyes miss the woman standing there watching over the boys. The woman is in a beautiful white dress with shiny, golden-like strings wrapped around the dress where the waist is. The woman hears the fast, soft footsteps approaching and turns her head over, her yellow eyes catching the sunlight as she smiles and walks over to the entrance of the fence surrounding both houses.

“Arabella, right?” the older woman said with a soft voice, looking over at the girl who stops running as she gets to the fence. The younger girl gives a small nod. Her eyes quickly drift onto the two boys who are still chasing each other. The taller one runs through the porch they have, then jumps onto the roof, running around there. His brother follows behind him, reaching his hand out, trying to catch him.

“Woah.” Arabella looks the woman up and down. “Are you Eusebio's mom? You're so pretty,” Arabella asks, while having that clear, excited look on her face as she steps closer to the fence. The mother nods and lets out a soft chuckle while her eyes drift, doing a quick scan around the area.

“Yeah, I am Lilly. I'm glad I finally get to meet you. But where are your parents? It's a long walk. I'm surprised you came this way from town.” Lilly tilts her head, looking back at Arabella as she talks.

“Oh, uhh, it's really nothing. Usually we meet up halfway or at the start, but they weren't there.” Lilly notices her eager and excited glances. She looks back at the two boys playing on the roof. She lets out a sigh at the antics, then opens the gate for Arabella.

“I'll allow it. Today's usually the day Carlos rests from training, but he does deserve to act his age.” Lilly looks back at Arabella and gives her a soft smile.

Almost as if on cue, as Arabella steps past the opened gate, the shorter boy's eyes lock onto her.

“Arabella!” the shorter boy says excitedly, making the taller boy's head move to her location, him almost tripping off the roof as he looks. They both jump down and run over to her.

“Hold on,” Lilly's voice comes out firm and completely different from when she was talking to Arabella. Hearing this, Arabella stiffens a bit, not expecting the mood change.

“You both know better. Like, seriously, I told you already about playing on the roof.”

“But—”

“No, Eusebio, I don't wanna hear it. You're both lucky. I'll scold you guys later. Go play with your friend. Come back at least at sundown or before.” The shorter kid, Eusebio, tried to talk but was cut off. Her tone did change a little bit, more softly than firm.

“I'm sorry,” the taller boy says, looking directly at their mom.

“Sorry…” Eusebio mutters out. And the mom sighs, putting her hands on her hips.

“It's fine.” She glances at Arabella, who shifted away, her hands behind her back, kicking at the ground while looking in the sky, then to the trees, and then glancing back at them. The mom pats both boys on the back and starts walking away. When Arabella notices her leaving, she finally turns over to them.

“I wanted to meet Isabel, if that's okay?” Arabella calls out to Lilly, making her pause and turn around back to her.

“Oh, she actually just took a nap. Sorry, but her birthday's coming up. I wouldn't mind if Carlos and Eusebio invited you.” The boys perk up a little and look at Arabella.

“Yeah, can you come? It would be so much more fun,” the taller kid, Carlos, says while taking a step forward. Eusebio nods with him, looking excited. Arabella rubs the back of her neck, giving them an awkward look.

“I'll think about it, guys. I, uhh, gotta ask my parents.” She nods, putting her hands down. Carlos slumps his shoulders and looks a little disappointed. Eusebio does a little “aww” and shakes his head.

“Well, that's fine then. You guys should go on ahead. You're losing sunli—” A loud crash sound interrupts the boys' mom from talking. They all turn their heads in sync to see an old man standing over a younger man, holding a metal-like pole to his forehead, jabbing at it softly but enough to annoy the younger man lying in the crater that was formed.

“Oh, that's our dad and grandpa. Ignore them,” Carlos says bluntly as he looks up at the sun, holding his hand up to shade his eyes. The mom sighs and starts walking to the house.

“Remember sunset,” she says as she walks away. Both the boys say an “okayy” at the same time.

Arabella smiles, finally being able to see the boys and play. Carlos has wavy dark brown hair, dual-colored grey and blue eyes that seem to be on both boys, just with Carlos, the blue is on top above the grey, while for Eusebio, it's the opposite. Carlos has a more composed look but definitely has that energetic side to him. Eusebio, who looks more energetic and definitely younger than Carlos.

“We really should go. Arabella, you said you'd pick this time. You thought of anything?” Carlos says as he walks past the gate, looking at them both. Arabella pauses for a second, then she nods and walks ahead of him.

“Yeah, just follow me.” Eusebio follows them. Arabella walks on the right of Eusebio while Carlos walks on the left of Eusebio.

“Where's it at? The river?” Arabella shakes her head.

“It's past the river. Just wait, it's a secret.” Both the boys look at each other and nod.

As daylight gets less and less, their day is full of fun for the younger group. The surroundings after the long walk into town are a bunch of houses with old, overgrown trees standing next to them, the sound of the crunchy gravel beneath their old shoes, the street animals that roam around the streets looking for scraps. Houses that are connected to shops like bakeries and general stores that sell snacks.

The whole adventure is full of games and laughter among the group. When they get past the walls of the small, poor town, their daylight is running out, and they know that. They all sit under a tree near the river and watch as it flows.

“Sorry I couldn't take you guys to the place,” Arabella says as she lays down on the grass, as rays of sunlight hit her face, which she blocks with her palm from getting in her eyes.

“It's fine. Tomorrow we can all go,” Eusebio says, trying to clearly cheer the mood. But Arabella's face is stoic.

“If I said there wasn't a place and I just wanted to take a long walk out with you guys, would you be mad?” Eusebio looks at her, confused, and shakes his head.

“No. If you said anywhere, we would've come either way.” Carlos says, sitting down right next to her. Eusebio stands up, stretching, and when he looks down, Arabella's arms are twitching, her stomach jerks up, and her lower lip quivers.

“Arabella?” Carlos reaches down gently, grabbing her wrist and pulling it away from her face. Arabella's trying to hold back tears. But when she sees the concerned and gentle feeling on her wrist, she can't hold it back anymore and starts bawling her eyes out.

“I don't wanna leave. I don't wanna go!” She sits up, pulling her hand free from the gentle grip on her wrist, and when she does, she brings it to her eyes, wiping the tears away.

“W-what do you mean?” Eusebio kneels in front of her as Carlos moves to kneel too. At the sight of them, she wraps her arms around both of their necks and holds them tightly in a big hug.

“I don't wanna move away! I don't wanna switch towns! I don't wanna lose you guys!” Her voice yells out painfully into both of their shoulders. Both of the boys look at each other. Then Carlos hugs her back, wrapping an arm around her, moving his hand on her back, trying to calm her.

“What do you mean?” Carlos says, looking very confused, not understanding why she's crying.

“We aren't going anywhere.” Eusebio copies Carlos but tries to keep his tone softer.

“I know! But it's not you, it's me! I wanna be able to walk with you both every day! I wanna go to your sister's party! I wanna fully meet your guys' family! So why can't I stay? I'm happy here! I'm happy here with you guys!” Her grip around them tightens, and they both seem to understand what she means now. Carlos' eyes get watery as his tears land on the back of her shirt.

“I…” Both Carlos and Eusebio have no idea what to say. Then an idea hits Carlos.

“We should keep you at our house.” Arabella nuzzles her head roughly into their shoulders, shaking her head.

“I have to follow my family… I don't want to… I don't wanna say goodbye…” Eusebio shakes his head.

“We will see each other again. We could take a trip or—”

“What are you talking about? We cannot let her leave.” Carlos looks at Eusebio, confused and slightly hurt.

“We could ask Mom or Dad. Dad wo—”

“Please stop…” Arabella stops shaking. She's still sniffling, but her grip on them eases up.

“I'm sorry. I don't…I don't wanna leave you guys. I have to, though.” Carlos shakes his head, but Arabella gives him a defeated look, which hurts him all the way down to his heart.

“Don't argue. I hate that. I deal with it a lot already. I'm moving with my mom to a new town. She told me something. I just don't wanna hear it from her. But I can't leave her.”

“I…” Carlos is barely able to speak.

“Understand, guys. You guys will always be my best friends, though.” She lets go of them, and they both let her. Eusebio looks up at her as she stands. But before he can say anything, she points at the river water.

“I don't wanna end today badly, so please don't argue. Let me have this.” She walks to the river, rolling her pant legs up, and steps in, leaning down. She grabs a flat stone and looks back at them with her eyes still teary.

“One more game, so I can secure my win streak.”

“You jerk… You know I suck at this game.” Carlos holds back tears as he watches Eusebio smirk weakly and roll up his pant legs and walk to the water. Carlos then follows, rolling his up too, and grabs a stone.

The game ends like it always did, Carlos in last and Arabella in first. They all promised each other that they would do it again sometime, but after that day, Carlos waited by their meeting spot, at the beginning of the trail to his house. Eusebio cried his tears and accepted it, but Carlos could never.

Their mom knew Eusebio, despite being younger, never came to cry to her. It was usually a couple days of a little crying after he checked the spot, but he's all better. But Carlos couldn't hold it.