FRI-E.N.D.S (Ongoing)

Let me tell you something about Liam Harper and Sophie Bennett. They didn’t just become friends. They were practically manufactured by the universe to annoy each other into eternity. Liam was the kind of kid who’d sit on the grass for hours trying to figure out why ants carried crumbs three times their size. Sophie? She’d be the one stomping on the ant hill “to see what happens.” Opposites attract, sure—but these two? They collided. Constantly. Take the time they decided to dig a “treasure tunnel” under Liam’s backyard fence. Liam had a whole plan drawn up— Map? Check. Measurements? Check. A shovel borrowed from Dad’s shed? Also, check. —while Sophie started hacking at the dirt with a broken stick she found two minutes in. “You’re gonna break your hand doing that,” Liam warned, adjusting his glasses like a little professor. “Better than spending all day drawing stupid maps,” Sophie shot back, sticking out her tongue. Spoiler alert: They didn’t find treasure. What they did find was a very annoyed Mr. Harper stepping into their half-dug hole and spraining his ankle. “Sophie,” Liam whispered later, as they sat on the porch swing watching his dad hobble around on crutches. “What?” she asked, completely unbothered. “You’re lucky he likes you.” “He barely likes me,” Sophie said, grinning. “It’s my charm.” Liam rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. It was true—Sophie had a way of making people forget to stay mad at her. And then there was the Miller house. Every neighborhood has one: old, abandoned, creepy as hell. For Liam, it was the kind of place you walk around. For Sophie, it was a neon sign screaming, “DARE ME.” It happened on a cloudy afternoon, the kind where the air feels heavy and everything’s too quiet. Sophie stood at the edge of the woods, hands on her hips, staring at the rotting house like she’d just found her next victim. “Bet you won’t go inside,” she said, her voice dripping with challenge. “I’m not stupid,” Liam replied, folding his arms. “No, just scared.” Her grin widened as she leaned closer. “What if there’s treasure? Or ghosts?” Liam didn’t move. He hated being called scared, but he also liked being alive, and that house looked like it ate kids for breakfast. “Fine,” Sophie huffed, tossing her braid over her shoulder. “I’ll do it.” And of course, she did. Sophie disappeared inside with zero hesitation, leaving Liam standing on the overgrown lawn, heart pounding. He considered leaving her there—just for a second—but then he heard her voice echo from inside: “LIAM! GET UP HERE! YOU WON’T BELIEVE THIS!” What choice did he have? The Miller house was every horror movie cliché rolled into one. Broken windows, creaky floors, a smell like old socks and regret. Sophie stood in the middle of it all, holding up a pile of yellowed papers. “Look at this!” she whispered, like they’d just stumbled onto pirate gold. “They’re letters. Someone just… left them here.” Liam stepped closer, the floor groaning under his weight. The letters were written in looping cursive, the kind you’d see in old movies. He didn’t like the way they felt in his hand—heavy, like they had secrets. “We should put them back,” he muttered, already turning for the door. “Ugh, you’re no fun,” Sophie said, dropping the letters with a dramatic sigh. She gave the room one last look before following him out, her footsteps echoing in the silence. And that was it. Adventure over. At least, that’s what Liam thought. But as they walked home, Sophie turned to him with her signature smirk. “You’re such a chicken.” “Maybe,” he muttered, but he couldn’t help smiling. And just like that, they were back to normal. Mud pies, tree forts, and daring each other into trouble. Childhood was simple, wasn’t it? They didn’t know yet that things would get messy. That letters and ghosts were the least of their worries. But for now, it was just Liam and Sophie. Two kids, one friendship, and a whole lot of mischief waiting to happen.