Kaile shot up in his bed, looking at his bedroom door which was wide open. The light was still left on, but he couldn't hear a sign of anyone who was awake. He scurried out of his bed, and tiptoed outside. He breathed in the crisp, morning air, and laid in the grass.
Kaile ran around the tree with his arms stretched out wide, and laughing as he'd done before. Suddenly, crack! He raced behind a tree, and poked his head out from the side. The being paced back and forth a few yards away from him. She had tentacles similar to him, but she wasn't an Octarian.
She was an inkling.
She held her arm out to the side as she marched along the path. Kaile sneaked forward, wanting to get a closer look. Before he looked where he was going, he stepped on a branch.
"Who's there!?" She pulled out a weapon and pointed it in his direction.
Kaile hid behind the tree once more, and held his mouth shut.
"Come out! I know you're there somewhere!" Her eyes shifted from side to side, then pinpointing the tree in front of her. "I said come out! I know you're there!"
He peeked his head out from behind the tree, "U-um h-hello-"
"Are you here to hurt me!? Or attack me!?"
"N-no! Why would I do that?"
"Probably because you're hiding behind a tree! That's very suspicious ya' know!"
"Oh, okay. I'm sorry," Kaile stepped out, showing his whole body. "Is this better?"
"Well... yes, I believe it is. So you aren't here to hurt me, attack me, or turn me into The Octarian Army?"
"Uh... no, I'm just here because I couldn't sleep."
The inkling girl steadied her weapon, and looked at Kaile. She placed the weapon on the floor, and backed away. "I...I wasn't prepared for this...it's awkward."
"Yeah, it is a little awkward."
"What now?"
"How about we introduce ourselves? I'm Kaile Hopeful! I'm five years old- almost six and I love to play the piano! What about you?"
"My parents say I'm not allowed to talk to the Octarians..."
"Awww come on! Please? I told you my name!"
"Oh... sure...my name is Brianna, but I don't really like it...."
"Wow! You don't like your name either? I hate my name! It just sounds too sophis- sophistic-"
"Sophisticated?"
"Yeah that word! So Brianna, do you wanna play?"
"don't know. My parents would get mad, and I have to train..."
"Aww, but I don't have anyone to play with!"
"Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt-"
"Yay!" Kaile started to take a few steps forward, but suddenly stopped.
"What? I thought you wanted to play?"
"Can I come over there? I just wanted to ask first."
"Yeah! Sure!"
"Oh okay."
Brianna tilted her head, "You seem really shy. Why is that?"
"I don't know, I've just never seen an Inkling before, especially a really pretty one." He giggled.
"You think I'm pretty?"
"Well, yeah! I think you're really pretty! Is that okay?"
"Yeah! So, what do you wanna play Kaile?"
"Hmmm, how about tag! Can we play that? I'm really good at it!"
"Well, I'm the master! So yes!"
"Okay!"
Kaile and Brianna played all throughout the morning, racing back and forth and laughing until their stomachs hurt.
Brianna's face broke into a wide smile. "Ha...ha...that was fun!"
"Mhm!" Kaile timidly said.
"That has been the most fun I have ever had! My parents always make me do training. It's kinda annoying you know?"
"Yeah, my mama can be that way too. She forces me to be sop- that word you said earlier! That's why I always wear this." Kaile pointed to the large collared shirt he was wearing.
"Why is it so big?"
"It uses to be my Papa's but he went away somewhere. I'm sure he will be back soon though!"
"Oh so that's why it's so big. Also another question, why is the tie not tied correctly?"
"I never learned how to tie one. Mama never taught me and Papa isn't here, and my sis' doesn't know either."
"Oh so that's why," Brianna scrunched up her face in concentration. She then had an idea. "I can teach you how to tie it!"
Kaile's face lit up, "Really?! You can do that?"
"Yeah! You just do this!" Brianna tied the tie correctly, making sure to pause and show him each step.
"Wow! Thank you! Your the bestest friend I have ever had!"
"Friend?"
"Oh, we're not friends... I thought we were. I'm sorry-"
"Oh no, it's not that! I've just never had a friend before..."
"What? Really? How?!"
"My parents never let me. They say friends aren't important, they also say that there a waste of time and that I could be using that time to train. I've always wanted one of my own."
"Can I be your first friend?"
"I don't know..."
"Please? You would be the first friend that's like the same age as me..... wait how old are you?"
"I'm five-"
"Wow! You're the same age as me! We would be perfect friends! So pretty please can we be friends?!"
"Yeah! I guess we can!"
"Yay!" Kaile danced around the tree.
"What are you doing?"
Kaile blushed, "Oh, I'm so I just got excited.. haha..."
"Pfft! You're funny! And I like funny! I'm glad you're my first friend!"
"Me too! I mean- I'm glad that I am your first friend too! Oh and now that we're friends! When is your birthday? I wanna be able to give you a gift then!"
"Why would you give someone a gift on their birthday? It's only the day that you were born."
Kaile gasped, "Have you never had a birthday?"
"No? Well, at least not in a while. I don't normally 'celebrate' it. Well, my parents make me a cake and maybe give me one gift but it's not all that."
"Well, that is going to change! So when is your birthday, Brianna?"
"Oh, it's December 31."
"Cool! Mine is on September 24!"
"Wait- you're older than me!?"
"I guess so!"
"Then why are you so short?"
"I don't know."
"Wow! I know I'm going to be tall!"
"Well, I'll catch up to you one day!"
Brianna smirked, "Ha! I don't think you will!"
"Well I will! So ha!"
They both kept making each other laugh until it became early morning.
"So... what days do you come here?" Kaile asked.
"I come once a week! On this day!"
"Okay!" Kaile's eyes went wide and he stood still. "Oh no! I got to go or my sister will get worried. It was really nice meeting you, Brianna!"
"Nice meeting you too Kaile! Bye friend..."
"Bye!" Kai skipped off into the distance with his blanket still in his arms.
Brianna smiled to herself, "I have a friend."