"Chloe! Get over here!!!" Michael was shouting at me. He was always shouting at me. "Chloe, come here!" "Chloe, where are my shoes?" "Chloe, come play with me!"He made me walk all the way over to that dratted tree that gave me this ugly scar last month. "What is it? Ruby and I were making scones with the new cook. He's so handsome." I shouldn't have shared that but it came out."What do you mean, 'He's so handsome?' What kind of man becomes a cook?""Not everyone can be a duke, Your Grace." I spoke in my sassy, naughty tone Mummy hated. She said only American girls spoke like that. We English girls had more manners than that - whatever that meant."I want you to stand right there." Now Michael was behaving like a nine-year-old duke, commanding me. I was nine, too, and he knew I didn't like it when he told me what to do.I stood there because I wanted to hurry up and get back to Ruby and the cook. I stood there because Michael could throw a fit when he didn't get his way. But most importantly, I stood there because Michael was my best friend. We promised each other that we'd always be best friends."Do get along," I commanded. "The scones will be made without me."Michael stared at me for an eternity and when his head came close to mine, I started moving. The closer he got, the further I stepped back."Stay still!" He was being The Duke, again."Whatever for?" He kept coming closer and my stomach had a funny feeling like something big was going to happen."Chloe, with this kiss, I promise to love you forever."That dratted Michael stole a first kiss from me. I was about to have words with him when he ran away."Whoever said I wanted you to love me forever?" I yelled.I hated it when Michael smiled. It always made me smile with him.Love, kiss, whatever! I needed to get back to the scones and to the handsome new cook. I'd deal with Michael later.Coming out on Winter 2014 Spring 2015