She offered me her hand once she had reached me and I turned to see Mr Guilford’s curiosity and fascination about us. He must have been watching us since the lesson had ended. As I took her hand willingly, I suddenly felt a rush that I had never experienced before, something that almost made my mind spin into a fairy-tale of its own. I rose from my seat and together we walked out of the room in silence. As the door behind us closed however, Elise pulled me close to her and whispered in my ear.

  “You’re like me…” she said, her voice soft and sweet like honey straight from a hive.

  She let go of my hand and we began walking out to the playground. I didn’t question her about what she had meant until years after she had said it, but at the time I didn’t need to know what she had meant, only that we were now friends.

  For the remainder of the lessons that we both had for the day, we were together. We didn’t speak often or in great quantity but we both kept passing parts of our stories back and forth between each other, constantly putting them into our pockets as soon as we were done reading them.

  I didn’t mean to at the time, but I guess I sort of had ignored Jenny for that entire day, well we spoke once or twice in two lessons but not how we normally would. Another surprising factor was that she made me forget everything I had ever feared. She made me feel like I was normal and just like her, free of any troubles as long as we had each other.

  Mr Guilford, nor any of the other teachers, seemed to question the messages that were almost constantly being pulled back and forth between us. They only cared about us doing the work. So, for every note we passed, we would rush ahead of the class on the worksheet so we could continue. I had sent her several messages about living with my family and some of the things I, or my character, liked. This continued until the end of the school day.

  Almost as soon as the final lesson had ended, Elise was out of the door, bag packed prior to its conclusion as was tradition for everyone in almost any school. I walked out of the classroom after her but got caught in the cue of a hundred or so students trying to leave the school as quickly as humanly possible. I managed to get out the door in time to see her walk out of the school gate and take off quickly up the road towards her home.

  “She’s a little weird,” Jenny said, catching up to me and noticing Elise’s rapid escape.

  I looked at her and then back towards where the girl once was.

  “What did you two write about?” she asked in a slight bitter tone, clearly still mad about us not talking much all day.

  “Just about what we like and things like that,” I replied dreamily as we left the school behind and began walking up the road as Elise had just done.

  “Well, it’s weird and I don’t like it.”

  The walk home was slightly dull and annoying for me as Jenny kept complaining about Elise being silent and only talking to me, or ‘note-ing’ as she put it, all day. Several times I had tried to change the topic but as we neared my home, the conversation turned back to the notes.

  “Why have you still got them?” she asked bitterly.

  “Because she’s my friend.”

  “You’ve known her for a day!”

  We reached my front door and as the front door opened, I apologised to Jenny and said that tomorrow I would spend all day with her. She agreed and quickly walked away, two doors away to be precise. With the door closed I quickly ran up to my room, ignoring the questions from my mum about the first day back. She didn’t pursue me to my luck and once I was safely inside my room with a closed door, I took out all of the notes that Elise had written me and placed them in order on my bed.

  Once upon a time there lived a girl named Elise.

  She wasn’t, nor felt, like any other girl around town. She lives with her mother and father in a strange place she doesn’t know.

  The first day of school was the thing she was dreading most, but despite the fear she had, she felt like she had made a friend just like her. This friend, she decided in a few moments, would be the one that she would keep close for as long as she could.

  I continued to lay each note under the last, continuing the story that I know I had read before but never in one go.

  Elise doesn’t like many things but those things she does like, she is passionate about entirely. The first of these things is writing stories, secondly movies and other media things that help her escape the world around her.

  She does like the new friend however. And as their time continues, she confirms her previous thoughts about wanting to stay together for as long as time permits.

  That was the final part of the first day of messaging. There didn’t seem to be a lot there in front of me I admit, but with the way that we had written, it felt like we had written entire novels to each other. As I read, reread, and then read again the words she had written in front of me, I had begun to admire the girl and the way she liked to live her life.

  The rest of the evening there wasn’t that much that had happened if I’m honest. There was some dinner that I ate but wasn’t anything special and then I lost myself in some television show that I had just begun to marathon at that time. It was all quiet and normal for the most part and even though I had my shows on, I kept thinking about the girl that lives just up the road from me. And that is when the letter arrived.

  Chapter Three

  I know letters can mean a lot of things. Some people use letters as a way to remain in contact with some old friends or family, although most just use social media more recently. Some use letters as a way of instructions to someone, although looking back it was only my mother that used to do that when it came to starting dinner while she was out. One final reason people use letters – although there probably are most certainly more ways that I can’t currently think off at this moment in time – is that they are a way to express the emotional state of the writer. The letter that I received on that evening though was a letter of instruction, written in the same story telling way that Elise and I had use to communicate throughout the entire day.

  I was about two episodes into my normal four-episode marathon after dinner when I heard something happen downstairs. I had no idea what was happening at the time so I just ignored the little knock as something was pressed through the letterbox downstairs. Turning up my television I focused on the complex plot that was unravelling with every minute until I heard someone clomping up the wooden stairs. The thumping got louder and heavier as the person moved upwards, not caring about the distraction such a noise was causing me, until the footsteps halted outside my door.

  Without knocking my mother pushed open the door and walked in, holding out a letter to me in her hand. Curious at the letter I paused the show and took it, saying thank you in the process. My mother didn’t say anything surprisingly, just sighed and walked out of my room as if this was already normal for me to be receiving a letter at such a time. As per usual she didn’t close my door on her way out so for the millionth time I got off of my bed and closed it, hating the thought that anyone could peak in my room without my knowledge.

  Once I was back on my bed in a comfy position, I forgot about my show for the meantime and turned the letter over in my hands. It was in a plain white envelope with only my name written on the centre. I looked at the writing and then down at the stack of notes from earlier, which I had since placed in a pile at the end of my bed, and noticed that they were similar, extremely similar.

  I felt my heart almost skip a beat as I realised who this letter must have been from. Quickly, yet as carefully as I could, I opened up the envelope, being sure to not damage the precious letter inside. I don’t know why I did this but as I picked out the folded piece of paper inside, using a delicate thumb and fore finger so as not to damage it, I took a sniff. It was obviously odourless at the time but my mind allowed my wish to come true, it smelt of something nice, a smell that I could relate to her. Unfolding it slowly, not sure on what to expect written, I gazed down at the same delicate handwriting as from the previous notes.

  As the school bell rang at the end of the first day of a new school, and with a new friend, she panicked, wondering if he was only being nice to her because he got told to. She quickly ran out of the school gates and off home, leaving behind her new friend with a fear of it not being real.

  However, once back at home, Elise instantly regretted running away from the boy, Olly his name is, and began to question her own fear and coward self. So, she sat and tried to think of a way to see him again, and soon. She thought of the numerous times she has escaped from the prison she lives in and quickly plotted a plan.

  Quickly she wrote a letter to the boy, asking him if he would sneak out just before midnight and meet her on top of the slide in the park. She had ended the note with a little X, symbolising a small kiss, and then sealed it before quickly running to post the letter in the evening.

  X

  I wasn’t sure on what to think when reading this letter, I admit. There did seem to be a heartfelt truth to the letter and at times it made me smile, knowing that she had been thinking of me. I read the letter again and then pressed play on my television.

  The time wasn’t late, about eight in the evening I think, and I wasn’t sure on what to do. I knew that on one hand I needed to go, I mean she was the mysterious girl that I really liked, and on the other I knew that it could have turned out extremely bad. I wrestled with these thoughts for another episode and then, at ten, I decided that I needed to go.

  Setting an alarm for half eleven at night, I decided that I needed to at least get some sleep, otherwise I might just pass out during lessons the next day from exhaustion. I had no idea how long this secret meeting would take place, or what we would be doing, so I packed my school bag with two jumpers – I never used a coat as I always felt to trapped inside them – the letter, a condom I had gotten though a sex education lesson – I wasn’t hopeful of using it but I didn’t know any better – and a packet of crisps I hadn’t eaten during the days lunch break. Turning off the light I hoped for the best and went to sleep.

  The plan worked and the alarm woke me up on time. Luckily back then I had quick reflexes so I managed to silence my alarm before anyone else realised what was happening. Just in case I stayed completely still and silent, no sound or movement occurred though. As quietly as I could, I picked up my bag and tied up my shoe laces before tiptoeing my way down stairs. Everyone had seemingly gone to bed which caused me to have massive paranoia about unlocking the door. They keys jangled a lot from what I could hear as I was trying to escape but it wasn’t enough to awaken anyone else. Slowly but surely, I had opened the door and stepped out, closing the door and taking the keys with me so that I would have a way back inside later.

  Outside was freezing after being in my warm bed for the last few hours so I instantly had to put on one of my jumpers. Standing shivering outside my door I looked around, wondering on what kind of girl does this on the first day of meeting someone. I took my phone out of my pocket and checked the time. Still twenty minutes to go. I sighed, walked out of my driveway and turned left.

  The park near me was neither big nor exciting. In it was two swings, one roundabout, a climbing frame which had a rope bridge, a fireman’s pole and a medium height metal slide. It wasn’t that far from my house but I decided to dawdle a little, knowing that she most likely wouldn’t be early anyway. There was a small whistle of wind that was blowing around me and the feeling of it stroking my face relaxed my nerves a little. I was thankful that it hadn’t, nor was, raining at that time as that would have made the meeting, or whatever it should be called, even worse if she decided to not come.

  Within a few moments I had reached the park’s entrance gate. It was locked and I wasn’t sure on how I should proceed. I knew that I could easily climb over the fence as it was just above waist height but it was the irrational fear that I could get either fined or arrested for such a heinous crime. It is amusing now to look back at it but I got a huge rush of adrenaline as I climbed over the locked gate and began my first time of trespassing.

  I hadn’t bothered to check the time after I broke into the park and instead just climbed up the small platform just before the slide and I was still small enough to be able to lie down and stare up at the clear sky of that night. Time seemed non-existent and all traces of tiredness evaporated from my mind and body. There still was a small chill in my bones but I didn’t mind, I was too relaxed to even worry about the meeting that was soon to happen. I finally felt at peace.

  After what felt like an hour, I checked my phone for the time and it had just struck midnight. Suddenly there was a noise on the slide below and I almost jumped out of my skin. A little cry of fright actually escaped my mouth and a reply of small laughter responded invitingly. I rolled over to my side to look where the laughter was coming from and as my eyes rolled down from the beautiful sky above, my eyes fall upon the darkened, yet still illuminous, face of Elise.

  “Stop laughing!” I said, trying to portray my annoyance at her loud entrance into my peace.

  She stopped laughing but didn’t respond. I watched in silence as she climbed up the rest of the slide before sitting next to me. She still seemed like the sweet girl I met earlier but something felt different, I felt more exposed out in the open, away from the world. Not sure on what to do in the silence I opened my bag and brought out the letter she had written me, as if I was using it as a form of recognition.

  “I’m guessing you wrote this?” I asked, knowing the answer but wanting the silence to end.

  She looked at it and nodded slightly before lying down to look up at the stars as I had done. Curiously, I did the same and for a moment we just stayed still, wishing upon the stars above us.

  “I’ve always loved the stars,” she said in such a quiet voice I struggled to hear her for a moment. “They always seem like they could hold billions of endless possibilities… and then we’re stuck down here dreaming.”

  She seemed slightly upset for some unknown reason so I placed my arm around her, half expecting her to push me away in response, and decided that I would tell her a story. To my amazement she didn’t push me away and just snuggled up to me a little bit.

  “You know I once heard of a planet up there with some life…” I began to say, trying to pick a star.

  “Oh yeah?”

  She seemed to suddenly pick her emotions up at the mention of a story.

  “Yeah, out there.”

  I pointed out into space.

  “There was once a planet where the only people that inhabited it was two young beings.”

  She turned her head to look at me.

  “I guess their names were Olly and Elise?” she asked, slightly sarcastic.

  I gave her a look of disgust in return.

  “No!”

  She smiled at me.

  “Their names were…” I paused, trying to think of names.

  “Oliver and Ethan. Yeah, that’s it! Oliver and Ethan.”

  I was so proud of myself until I looked at her amused expression.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Oliver and Ethan?” she asked, not revealing anything.

  “Yeah… what about them?” I replied, still totally baffled by her reaction.

  “Do you seriously not realised what you have done?” she asked while I remained silent.

  “Oliver… Olly… Ethan… Elise…” she said slowly, trying to drag out what she meant.

  Suddenly it hit me and I turned so red that I was glad there wasn’t much light to show it. So, I decided to flick her arm and tell her to be quiet and let me continue my story.

  “So, Oliver and Ethan…”

  She sniggered so I flicked her again and looked back up at the stars, she did too.

  “Oliver and Ethan were always alone on this planet. They were born for that exact reason, as a first experiment with humans that don’t require oxygen to breathe, and they were shipped of as toddlers. They lived in peace and they grew up with a recycling contraption that turned their shit into food for them. For years nothing happened and at the end of their life span they decided to finally do one last thing together… they drew a giant dick on the ground so that the earth would forever see a giant dick as a memorial to where they lived. The end…” I finished my tale with a massive grin and looked to my side where Elise was still focused on the world I had just created.

  Then she suddenly let out a laugh as she obviously pictured a giant dick on a planet. I smiled as I watched her trace such an item in the air before turning to look at me. She smiled slightly and I returned it in the same manor.

  “My turn…” she said playfully.

  “Oooh think you’re better than me, do you?” I said laughing.

  “Mate, what you talking about!” she said in a bad attempt at a gangster voice. “I’ve been doing this for years longer than you.”

  Back to her normal voice.

  “And besides its how I express my feelings now without anyone knowing…”

  She fell silent.

  “Hey…” I whispered soothingly, stroking her arm with my hand. “It’s okay, I know how you feel…”

  “I…”

  She sounded like she had just been exposed.

  “I never told anyone that before…”

  She was exposed.

  I didn’t know what to say straight away so I sat up and then stood up. Reaching down, I grabbed her hands and pulled her to her feet. I positioned her so I was standing behind her and used my arm to grab hers and make her point at the stars.

  “You see those stars?” I whispered.

  “Yeah?” she responded in the same hushed whisper.