I cut pieces of the cake for eight and two by two handed people their cakes. How weird that the last two pieces were for me and Ross and that the only seat for me was beside Ross.

I sat down trying not to make it more awkward than it already was.

"So introductions?" Rydel asked, obviously talking about Sofia. "Rydel,Rocky,Riker,Ross,Ryland and Ellington this is my best friend Sofia." I told them. I saw Ross cringe beside me, must feel guilty, well he should.

"Hi Sofia." they all greeted in unison. "Hi." she squeaked and I could see that she was looking at Ross' hair. Help her or stay quiet, nah I should help her.

"Um Ross, I know this must be an invasion of privacy but could Sofia touch your hair?" I asked sheepishly. He look at me bewildered but nodded, "Sure, you always touched my hair when we were younger."

Sofia gasped and inched over to Ross until finally her hand reached in his locks. She shivered, "It's so soft." she said in amazement. Everyone laughed. She finally took her hands out of his hair and sat back down, next to Riker.

"So Jess what brings you to California?" Ryland asked me.

"College." I responded. They all nodded in anticipation, "What college?" Riker questioned me. "UCLA." I replied.

I'm before college girls, pretty ones." Riker commented, winking at me.

"Well then, um how was tour?" I asked. "Oh it was so great, going different countries, seeing fans." Rydel fantasized.

I smiled. "Yeah and how we played so many pranks on Rydel." Ross laughed. I cracked up. "I wish I was there." I said. Ross and I always played pranks on everyone.

Ross sobered and looked at me in pity. I faked a cough. "So um, anything new in life?" I questioned. "I mean I probably already know because of Sofia stalking you guys." I chuckled.

"What! Stalk! No I don't!" Sofia exclaimed.

Everyone laughed. "Don't worry Sofia, everyone here is friends with everyone." I smiled. "Really?" Ross said in excitement, "We're friends Jessie?"

"Uh, um, let's talk outside." I told Ross. Everyone's eyes popped wide open, mouths dropped.

Ross and I went to the backyard. "Aren't we friends?" he asked, his voice cracking.  He looked so vulnerable. Uh don't forgive so easily.

Screw it. "We're friends." I said softly. He beamed. "Not best friends though." I said quickly. He saddened. "If you want to be my best friend, it's not gonna be as simple as the first time we met." I told him. "I'll do anything for us to be best friends again." he replied.

"Even more than that." I heard him whisper.

I gasped. "Huh?" Ross asked. I shook my head quickly, "Nothing! Nothing! I didn't hear anything!" "O....kay" he responded.

"We have to rebuild our friendship, sorta like for the thirteen years we knew each other. Just no treehouse." I chuckled.

"Yeah, I miss that treehouse." he said sadly.

"Yeah." I muttered, tracing my name with my foot. "Can I call you Jessie?" he questioned. I nodded, "Yes."

"Yay!"

I laughed, let's get back inside. We sat back down and everyone was staring at us. "We're friends again. But I've gotta work hard if I want us to be best friends." Ross told them.

I chuckled and kissed his cheek. Wait what's wrong with me, why did I kiss his cheek? Ross blushed and it was Riker's turn to glare at Ross.

Must be some brother thing they've got going on there.

"I hope you won't replace me if y'all become best friends again." Sofia said. "When we become best friends again." Ross corrected. "I'll love you both equally." I told her.

"So when do you start college?" Rydel asked me. "Well we're suppose to go in tomorrow, we decided we wanted to come two days before so we could relax a bit." I responded.

"Cool." Elington said.

"Hey anyone up for some paintball fighting?" Rocky smirked mischievously. "Me!" Ross and I screeched. Hitting people with paint is gonna be fun.

We high fived. "Just like when we were younger." Ross smiled. I softened, "Yeah."

"I know this great place where we could play." Rocky told us. "We'll go in groups of four, everyone next to someone. So me, Riker, Sofia and Ell on one team and Ross, Jess, Rocky and Ryland on the next team." Rydel laid they format for us.

We al nodded in agreement. "Great! Let's go!" Ryland said. "Wait, me and Sofia gotta get ready, we both just got up from when you guys came over." I stated.

"I'll be five minutes, Sofia might be half an hour." I told them. They all laughed.

Sofia and I ran upstairs to our bedrooms. Like I said in five minutes I was ready and in the next five minutes Sofia was downstairs as well, struggling to put on her converse."

"I love your converse." Ross complimented her. She blushed, "Thanks, Converse is my favourite brand." "It's mine too." he told her.

Oh yay, they have things in common, great for them. "Well let's get going. When we're done I'd love to go see Aunt Stormie and Uncle Mark again." I beamed.