Chapter 1 (Sidney's Pov)

• 10 YEARS OLD
• The winter was really special in London. Especially on the outskirts where I lived with my mother and grandmother. I know what you are thinking. What happened to my father. Well long story short, he was my mother’s high school sweetheart, and he died in a car crash before mom even knew she was pregnant with me. She told me many times that I was the present she would always cherish because my father left something as special as me behind. So, if you are wondering, no I did not feel as if I was short on anything. I had mom and grandma and then there was also Gabriel and his wife Macy. They were great even though I always felt like Gabriel was something hiding from me and mom, but she always brushed it off, saying I was just too small to yet understand how things work in the lives of adults.
• In a way I was waiting impatiently to be older and understand her words but on the other hand I was happy where I was right now. Meaning I was a loved girl, by many sides, and had a best friend who was also my go to whenever I felt lonely or needed someone to confide in. Sometimes it felt like he would even help me get rid of someone’s body if I looked at him nicely enough. My puppy eyes always worked on that sucker, that is for sure.
• Well, speak of the devil and he shall appear they say, or in my case I should say think of the devil and he will appear, because as soon as I thought about my best friend whose name was Michael, and I could see him approaching me as I sat on the porch in the back of our small house, looking at the falling snow and enjoying every moment of it.
• Michael was the same age I was, and my mom made jokes with his parents Lety and Nicolas many times that we were bound to end up together, so we had better just accept it as our future. And now I know you might think I am just a child at age ten, but even my young heart could agree with me that the idea of forever with Michael did not sound bad.
• Michael though was a few inches taller than me and even now, where I was this skinny thing, he was already showing signs of a bit broader shoulders, recently he even cut his shoulder lengths hair into a short cut at sides with a few inches longer on top and always stilled it with gel differently. He said it he was trying different styles so he could decide which one made him look the most grown up. He was a weird one, but in a way, he was always my weird one if you get what I mean. Oh, and I almost forgot about his best asset. That would be his eyes. They were as blue as those oceans you see in movies; you know those that are so clear you can see the bottom. And I could get lost in his eyes while we were talking. It felt as if he hypnotized me with them sometimes.
• Me and him, we were always together, and our mothers told us it was that way since we were toddlers. You know how you read those stories when a girl and a boy are friends at home but at school, he turns his back on her? Well, Michael was not like that. He always carried my bag and held my hand because he knew how overwhelmed I get sometimes with crowds, especially once they realize I do not have a father. I was called a bastard, a fatherless freak and so many other names, but Michael punished every single person who dared utter those words. So eventually everyone decided to just glare at me or ignore me all together. And with Michael by my side, I felt pretty invincible.
• “Hey Sid. What are you doing outside in this cold?” I gave Michael a huge grin, which could not be contained even if I tried my best, “Well, technically I am looking for you so we can go inside for hot cocoa together, but you know how much I love to watch snow.” It was his turn to grin at me, “I know but I am sure it feels better to watch the snow from the warm house.” Even though he was moaning about the cold, he still sat down next to me, and I think automatically reached for my hand.
• We were just sitting there watching snow fall for a few minutes in complete silence before the question that kept nagging me a few days now already popped out of my mouth before I could hold it in, “Do you ever think about the future? I mean, what will happen to our friendship if we go to different colleges? And what if you find a girlfriend and she does not like me? What if I find a boyfriend and he will not like you or maybe you will not like him…” I was rambling but I had to get these things off my chest and suddenly he cowered my mouth with his hand to stop me. He looked deep into my eyes and made sure I took a deep breath before he removed his hand and started speaking, “First, I will never get a girlfriend. All the girls are silly and weird, and they smell funny. You do not count. You are different and you are my best friend, but other girls…. No, just no. And you are not allowed to have a boyfriend and I think our moms would agree with me. And even if you do find one let’s say when you are thirty or even older, I need to approve of him first before he gets even a chance to get close to you. And for the college, I do not think we would end up in different places. We like same things and always do everything together so I guess we will be together for that adventure as well.” As he finished his little speech, I threw my arms around him and hugged him as much as a tiny body of a ten-year-old girl could.
• He really was the best friend I could ask for, “Promise me one thing than Michael. If we do not find our happy ever after, you know the ones all fairy tales speak about, we will get married and make our own happy ever after.” I looked at him and I could see a bit of hesitation on his face until he lifted his hand and extended his pinky finger to me, “I promise Sid. It will always be you and me against the world.” And we sealed our deal the best way ten-year-old kids knew, with pinky swear.