It had been a decade since Ava and Lucas had spoken to each other. They were once the best of friends, inseparable and always by each other's side. But as they grew older, their friendship began to crumble. Arguments turned into bitter fights and before they knew it, they had stopped talking altogether. It was a painful and sudden end to what was once a beautiful friendship.

As fate would have it, they both found themselves back in their hometown after living in different cities for many years. Ava had returned to take care of her sick mother while Lucas had recently moved back to start his own business. As luck would have it, they ended up living just a few blocks away from each other.

Ava hadn't seen or spoken to Lucas since their fallout. Whenever she thought about him, it was always with a twinge of regret and sadness. He used to be her closest confidant, the one who understood her better than anyone else. But now, they were just strangers who shared a past.

One day, as Ava was walking to the grocery store, she bumped into Lucas on the street. She froze in shock, not knowing what to do or say. It had been so long since they had seen each other, and in that moment, all the memories came flooding back. Ava felt a mix of emotions, her heart racing and palms sweating.

'Hey Ava,' Lucas said, breaking the silence.

'Hi Lucas,' she replied softly, unsure of how to act in this situation.

There was an awkward pause before Lucas spoke again.

'Can we talk? I know it's been a long time, but I'd really like to catch up,' he said, his voice full of sincerity.

Ava hesitated for a moment before nodding her head. She couldn't bring herself to say no, despite all the hurt and pain from their past.

They decided to meet later that evening at a nearby café, the same one they used to go to as teenagers. As Ava sat there waiting for Lucas, she couldn't help but feel nervous. She didn't know what to expect, but deep down, she was hoping for some sort of closure.

When Lucas finally arrived, they exchanged casual small talk at first. But as the conversation continued, they began to open up about everything that had happened between them. They talked about old memories, the good times they shared, and the reasons why their friendship fell apart. It was an emotional and honest conversation that allowed them to clear the air and understand each other's perspectives.

As they talked, Ava couldn't help but notice how much Lucas had changed. He was no longer the lanky teenage boy she once knew. He had grown into a handsome and successful man, but his kind and gentle nature remained the same. Seeing him after all this time made her realize how much she had missed him.

Their reunion stretched into the late hours of the night, and neither of them wanted it to end. They talked about their lives and what they had been up to over the past ten years. As they laughed and reminisced, Ava felt like she was falling in love with Lucas all over again.

The next few weeks were filled with frequent encounters as Ava and Lucas slowly rekindled their friendship. They went out for dinners, took walks in the park, and even watched their favourite movies together. It was as if they had never stopped being friends in the first place. But deep down, Ava knew that their relationship was evolving into something more.

One day, as they were walking home from the park, Lucas stopped and turned to face Ava.

'Do you remember the treehouse we used to have in your backyard?' he asked, a sly smile on his face.

Ava couldn't help but laugh at the memory of their childhood hideout. 'Of course I remember! It's still there, you know,' she replied.

Lucas took her hand and led her to her backyard, where they climbed up the ladder to the old treehouse. As they sat there in the quiet of the night, looking up at the stars, Lucas took a deep breath and turned to face Ava.

'Ava, I don't want to waste any more time. I know we've lost a lot over the past ten years, but I can't imagine my life without you. I've always loved you, and I know I always will. Will you give us another chance?' he said, his voice full of love and sincerity.

Tears welled up in Ava's eyes as she realized that she felt the same way. She had been in love with Lucas all along, but was too scared to admit it. Without hesitation, she leaned in and kissed him, sealing their love with a promise to never let go again.

From that day on, Ava and Lucas were inseparable once again, but this time as more than just friends. They had learned from their past mistakes and promised to never let anything come between them again. As they held hands and walked into the future, they knew that their love was meant to last a lifetime. And they were grateful for the second chance that fate had given them.