Memory

7 - New Years

December 31st, 2020. Finally, the year of torment and suffering draws to a close. The year may have started poorly, but Memory and her friends ended it off with a bang.

Ian decided that he wanted to throw a party with their group of friends to celebrate the closing of 2020. Since Covid restrictions stated that there cannot be more than 10 people in a house at a time, Ian and his family could not invite anyone else. Thankfully, there were 8 people in the group.

It felt like things were starting to go back to normal. Election year started back up, sadly. The nation went crazy again, which happened every election. She guessed that they were getting a new president. Some of the restrictions started lifting. Memory heard Mom and Daddy talking about that one night at dinner. A vaccine was being made by multiple different companies to stop the virus. Mom wanted Memory to get it, but Daddy worried about what it would do to her body. The CDC released a statement saying that social distancing was 3 feet instead of 6 feet for children.

Devin and her mom picked Memory up for Ian's New Years Party. Once she stepped outside her door, she took in a deep breath of the cold, dry winter air. She was looking forward to this party.

Memory and Devin were the first to arrive. When they knocked on the door, it was Ian's mom who answered.

"Devin! It is so good to see you again! And you must be Memory, it is so good to meet you. Please, come inside." She gestured for her and Devin to step inside with a hand. 

"Is there anything we can help you with, Mrs. Johnson?" Devin politely asked Ian's mom.

"No, nothing dear, thank you though. Ian is in the kitchen, right around the corner here."

Memory and Devin did as they were instructed and went to find Ian. His house was extremely nice, with black, grey, and white decor and the sunlight through the windows made the floor look shiny. Everything was picked up and put in its place, despite having 3 young kids in the house. Ian's two siblings were nowhere to be found, which meant that they were someplace else.

Ian saw them before they could even murmur a word. "Hey, suckers! It's so good to see you guys again." He hugged Memory first, briefly, while he hugged Devin longer.

"Alright, you two. What is going on? For the last month or so, you guys have been acting weird around everyone. You see each other more than I see my parents and his parents know you. What's up?" Memory questioned her two friends.

"We will tell you only if you promise not to tell anyone," Devin started, taking a breath before continuing. "Ian and I are dating."

Memory tried to look shocked but could not hold the face. Instead, she started laughing. "I'm sorry, I could not hold that look. I already know you two were dating. I just did not want to say anything because I figured you would tell me when you were ready."

Ian and Devin sighed in relief. They must have been worried that Memory would take it badly. As jealous as she may have been, she was happy for them. The thought of her and Derrick fluttered through her mind.

As if he was summoned, Derrick walked around the corner to join the three of them in the kitchen. Memory's heart soared when she saw him. He looked good, too, all dressed up and classy. When their eyes met, she wanted to melt, faint, or both.

"Memory, can I talk to you for a minute?" Derrick asked, a slight hint of nervousness in his voice. Memory nodded her head and followed him out onto the back porch. She noticed that he was fidgeting, and his palms were a bit sweaty. What does he have planned?

Ian had a beautiful backyard. It was spacious, with an above-ground pool in one corner, and on the opposite side was a garden bed lining the fence. The ice on the grass glistened in the light of the setting sun. Memory started shivering from the cold December air. Derrick noticed this and wrapped his jacket around her shoulders.

"What is it you wanted to talk to me about?" Memory asked after an awkward pause fell between them.

Memory met Derrick's green eyes and for a long moment they stared into each others eyes. His eyes betrayed something that she could not read, but a warmth filled her heart as she looked longingly into his eyes. She tried to ignore her doubts as he began speaking.

"Listen, Memory," Derrick looked out into the yard, tearing his eyes away from Memory's. "There is something I want to tell you. I had this whole thing planned out from the moment Ian started talking about this party. We have been doing this dance for a while now, and I think it's time to end it. You have stuck by me through everything I put us through, and I am so glad that we stayed friends after we broke up. All of us have grown up so much since we were in middle school, especially you and me. The innocent flirting, I want it to stop because I want to try again with you. Will you be my girlfriend again?"