Dating Disasters : A Study in Distance

Chapter One: Unlikliest of Friends

True friends come from the unlikeliest of places, a lesson young Arika Justice would soon learn, but not yet for our story begins a bit before the friendship is forged, we begin merely hours earlier .

Arika Justice sat stoicly on the kitchen stool as her mother braided her waist long hair. The knotty red mess of curls was harder to tame than the fiery girl who wore them. Even at the tender age of four and a quarter , a quarter no one could forget, Ari was a fire cracker, at least she usually was.

"Why can't we go home momma. I don't like London it's cold."

Alison Justice smiled at her small daughter, "London is home now poppet. It always has been you were born here."

"I wanna be born somewhere else somewhere warmer, closer to gramma and granpa." Her large amber eyes tilted up to study her mother.

Alison chuckled. "Its too late to change where you're born sweetling." She tapped her daughter's freckled nose. "I know you miss gramma and granpa but here you're closer to your cousins Dane and Dani have missed you."

She pulled a face, "Dani's twelve and Dane doesn't like me."

Alison gathered up the small tike into a hug, "They love you. I love you and all you're new classmates will love you."

"Promise." Wide amber eyes asked.

"Promise."

And so the little four and a quarter year old girl jumped into her mother's shiny new Prius and made her way to school. The unfamiliar neighbourhood blurred by making Ari homesick for warm Cali.

She may have been born here but Cali was home. It was where her grandparents were, where she lived for four whole years and yet here she was in cold cold London on her way to her first school where she would know no one.

Ari didn't like admitting it even at four but she was scared. The trip was short and soon her momma had all the forms filled and was leading her to a class.

At the door she stopped leaned down, and kissed Ari's nose. "Be good poppet."

Ever the independent one Ari had insisted on going in alone, though that was before she realised just how terrifying this would be. She watched helpless as her mom left waving all the while.

Just before she  dissapeared Ari gestured her back nervously. "Can you walk me in please. Just this once."

She smiled and nodded knocking carefully, "Come in." A chirpy voice called.

Ari entered behind her mom her red braid banging against her shoulders. The room was bright with decorations and filled with many children, all of which stared curiously at her.

"Hi Mrs Justice and is that little Arika." Ari nodded smiling. "Well we've been expecting you. She's okay from here Mrs Justice I promise."

Her mom squeezed her hand and left smiling. Ari was alone.

"Little miss Arika I've heard you're from sunny Cali is that true?"

At the mention of home her gold  eyes lit and she grinned answering all the teachers questions and describing her home. When she had finished she realised she had captured the entire classes attention.

"Who would like to sit with Arika and show her how we work here." Ari swallowed nervously as no hands went up.

Her tiny brow scrunched as the kids analysed her like a bug on display, the silence drew out awkwardly until.

"Can I Miss Clea please!" A petite blonde girl shouted basically rising from her seat. "Please."

"Of course Asher first why don't you take her to the supply room so she can stock up on some paints, we're painting today. Do you like painting Arika?"

"I love to."

"Great. Run along."

Shyly the two girl raced out. Ari realised that she was much taller than the blonde girl with grey eyes and wondered why she had suddenly volunteered her help.

Suddenly the girl stopped, "My names Asher. You and I are going to be best friends."

"But you don't know me."

Asher shrugged, "You're very pretty and Lea is jealous of your hair so she told everyone not to take you. I dont like Lea she pushes me in recess you don't seem like you would push anyone. I like you."

Ari found herself smiling the honest blonde girl made her smile. "As long as I'm here no ones pushing you anymore."

"And as long as I'm here you'll never be alone."

Thus the friendship began a simple bond struck by little girls too young to understand but this was a friendship that would outlast all.

Ari and Asher were inseparable in their first year they sat together, ate together and played together. Soon no one saw the little red head with a smaller blonde. Ari felt at home and London wasn't so bad.

Within a month both sets of parents were tired of the constant ramblings of their four year olds and so everyone agreed to meet for a play date.

One rainy October day they met at Ashers house. Mr and Mrs Thorn fell in love with Ari and Alison adored the bubbly Asher. The adults had soon retired downstairs for coffee whilst the girls played upstairs.

"Do you have brother's Rikky?" Asher asked throwing a marble.

"Nope I'm an only child what about you?"

"I have three older brothers, Avery, Aiden and Andrew."

Ari was shocked she couldn't imagine three older brothers. "Are they all here?"

Asher sighed, "No Andrew just started uni and Aiden is at a high school club but Avery is here, do you want to meet him. He's seven and three quarters."

"Is he mean?" Ari wondered aloud as they raced to another room.

"Only sometimes. AVY COME OUT HERE."

"What Asher," someone demanded sticking their head out.

Avery looked nothing like Asher he didn't have her blonde hair or small build. He was taller than Ari by a head and sported inky hair but familiar grey eyes.

"This is my best friend Rikky."

He snorted, "Rikkys a boys name is she a boy."

Ari's blood boiled,  "No!"

He smirked wickedly at her. It was the first time but not the last, no Ari would grow up with that smirk... and she did.