Eli Bennett

New Kid, Old Friend When Mia Carter was six, she had one best friend: Eli Bennett, the boy who lived two houses down. They spent nearly every afternoon together—riding bikes, building forts, trading snacks, and promising they’d be best friends forever. Then, one summer, Eli moved away without much warning. Mia was too young to understand why, and over the years, the memories slowly faded into a handful of blurry moments: a red bike, a treehouse, a boy who always wore the same blue baseball cap. Years later, Mia is a junior in high school when a new student arrives in town. Eli. He doesn't recognize her at first. She's changed, and so has he. But during his first week at school, he notices something familiar about her—a little charm hanging from her backpack. It's one he gave to his childhood best friend before he moved away. When he asks where she got it, Mia realizes exactly who he's talking about. The two slowly piece together their childhood memories, discovering that the person they've been trying to remember all these years has been standing right in front of them. But reconnecting isn't as simple as picking up where they left off. They're teenagers now, with completely different lives, friendships, and personalities. And while Mia remembers Eli as the goofy little boy who used to follow her everywhere, Eli starts realizing that the girl in front of him isn't just an old friend anymore. The biggest question becomes whether they're meant to recreate the friendship they lost—or discover something completely new.