2023

Chapter 1 - Emily's POV

I brushed my blonde hair away from my face as I looked hard at myself in the mirror. My best friends, Mili and Mika from high school were coming to visit, and I didn't want to look like a total idiot. I was so excited, because I hadn't seen them since Christmas break this year. Now we were all college graduates, so we made a promise to spend the summer after we graduated just to catch up. 

They met up in Wisconsin, back where we used to live to fly out together and meet me in L.A. I was getting my apartment ready for them. I had the guest bed made up for Mili, since she would NOT sleep on a couch. Then I already had a futon in the bedroom for Mikaela. 

I knew it wouldn't be awkward, because we'd been friends for so long and we'd gone long times without seeing each other before. Before I headed out I checked to make sure my outfit was decent for the public eye. Jean shorts and my old senior track shirt with black flip flops. Good enough for me. 

After locking my apartment, I walked down the hallway and out the door to where my car was parked just outside. I got in and drove the twenty minutes to the airport. Once I got there, I followed Mikaela's directions from her text to where they were coming from. I waited for only about two minutes before I saw Mili walk through the hall with her suitcase and Mikaela following her. 

"Mili! Mika!" I screamed and ran towards them. 

"Emi!" They both yelled as we enveloped each other in a hug. People were staring, but we ignored them as we broke away and began to walk towards the parking lot where my car was. 

"Oh my gosh, I'm so excited. You live here? It's so hot. Oh my GOD!" Mili squealed as we weaved between people and luggage to the exit. 

"It's so cool to be here. England felt just like Wisconsin. It's so weird to be back in a place where it's hot and dry." Mikaela noted. She had gone to school in England for the past two years. 

"Are you guys hungry?" I asked them once we reached my car. We dumped their stuff in my trunk and then Mili slid into the back, Mika grabbed shotgun, and I took place behind the steering wheel. 

"Um, are we hungry? I'm not sure..." Mikaela trailed off. 

"Yeah, because they gave us food, but it wasn't a whole meal, know what I'm saying?" Mili gestured from the backseat.

"I know. Well I've got some takeout menus at my place. Wanna just order in and y'all can eat when you want?" I offered. The girls seemed to agree, so we spent the twenty minute drive back just talking and catching up. It felt normal, relaxed, and easy as always. 

Once we burst through my apartment door, I could tell they were exhausted. We were well behind Mikaela's time, so I waved her off to go take a nap. She thanked me, and we hugged before she immediately crashed. 

Mili was fine, she handled jet lag pretty well, so we both ordered something from Dragon City then sat on the couch and turned on Netflix. 

"So what's your major again? I'm sorry." Mili asked. 

"No don't be sorry. I switched it so many times my own parents have trouble remembering." I said, and she giggled a little. "But yeah, I'm doing communications. Just something basic, so I could get into social media or whatever. I mean, I do live in Los Angeles." I pointed out. 

"That's true. I totally get what you mean. If that's what you want to do, this is the place to do it." She smiled and shoved some pork in her mouth. 

"Guys. I smelled food." Mikaela said from the doorway.

"You just went to sleep five minutes ago!" Mili laughed. 

"Do you want some food?" I asked her and she nodded sleepily. I got up off the couch and she went to go cuddle with Mili as I ordered some more pork and vegetables. "Alright, princess, your food should be here in about ten minutes." I said to a sleepy Mikaela. 

"Mmm, okay. Thanks." She smiled as she leaned on Mili's arm. 

"She's out." Mili whispered to me and I smiled. 

"We can just put her food in the fridge until she's awake, then warm it up for her. Shouldn't be too hard." I explained quietly as I put her food in the fridge in a spot where she'd easily see it. Then I crawled back and sat on the other side of Mikaela, while simultaneously throwing a blanket over all of us. 

"Are you warm enough?" I asked Mili and she nodded, so we turned our heads back to the screen. But we didn't go two minutes in until Mili turned back to me. 

"Okay, you live in Cali, specifically L.A., so how do you not know any guys?" She asked me in a little disbelief. I don't blame her. I do live in a fairly cute boy populated area. 

"Well, I do know cute boys. But we're friends. I didn't really want a boyfriend during school, just because I wanted to focus and being in L.A. anyway was kind of distracting. I just love it all so much. But it also kind of motivated me, you know? Anyway back to boys. I guess I don't know any dateable ones." I explained, kind of rambling. 

"Wow, okay, I get you. But you're missing out girl. Think of the hottie drought back where we used to live right? I mean, doesn't that make you want to take advantage of this?" She asked. I could tell she wasn't trying to pressure me. We always have super personal conversations like this. 

"Yeah, I do." I sighed, thinking of our small town. 

"Well it's my turn to pull a Mikaela. Love you Emi. Goodnight. Thank you as well." Mili giggled and I hugged her goodnight as she retreated back to her bed. I turned the lamp beside the couch on  in case Mika woke up. Then I shifted her so she was laying out on the couch and I adjusted the blanket over her. 

"Goodnight." I whispered, because I didn't want to wake her. Then I went back to my bed and drifted off, thinking how blessed I was to have my friends and how awesome this month will be. 

And that was the first day that started everything.