Loved Since Forever

Rachel - 2 Years Ago

Driving through Boston is always an adventure. She should have prepared for aggressive driving, which is a trait she has seemed to have lost while living in Canada. Rachel gets to come back every once in a while to see old friends who are getting married, having babies, or now funerals. Instead of going to the DoubleTree, she decides to go straight to the Wegmans to pick up essentials. 2 bottles of red wine, a wine opener, bananas, sushi, and we can't forget Jax. A delicacy that you can only find in New England. The special orange cheese puffs go perfectly with even the finest bottles of wine. She made her way over to a check-out line that was empty and set her goods on the conveyor belt.

"Hey, how's it goin'?", the woman behind the register asked.

Rachel blankly stared at the worker. She forgot about the false niceties that American's tend to portray. Rachel knows that the woman doesn't actually care how Rachel is doing, she just asks because she has to, or it fills the void of silence. That was actually something that Rachel missed about Korea. You don't actually have to talk to anyone, and people hard at work, don't actually talk to you unless you talk first. It was nice for her introverted self.

"Good thanks," Rachel said in reply with the same level of enthusiasm as the woman gave her.

"Can I see your ID?" she asked, scanning the wine. Rachel fumbled for her Canadian driver's license knowing that she might also ask for the passport. She looked at Rachel's face and back down at her ID and put in her birthday.

She trusts me I guess, Rachel thought.

She handed the ID back just as Rachel's phone rang. It was Kelsey. She starts making her way up the escalator to the second-level garage.

"Hey, Kels", Rachel said into the phone.

"Did you make it to Bedford yet?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm actually in Burlington at Wegmans getting some necessities. Did you make it?"

"I'm with Cookie and Mike right now on the way to grab a drink, did you want to come? We can come and get you at the hotel."

"Actually I'll take an Uber. I need to freshen up a little bit. Where are you guys going?"

"We are going to Playoffs. Do you remember that sports bar near the lake in Billerica? The one with the pool tables?"

"Ok, yeah. I'll meet you guys there in an hour."

"Perf," she said quickly as she hung up the phone. With that, Rachel now has plans this evening. Exhaustive, but well-meaning plans.

Bedford was exactly the same. She still passes the packie and Fitch Tavern. There are still local election signs lining the streets, big beautiful colonial-style buildings. Rachel drove past the high school, sparking wonderful memories of graduation, and not-so-wonderful memories of puppy love and broken hearts. In the high school, her old stomping ground, there were flowers lining the doors. She assumes they come from students and other members of the community sending their well wishes for the Carbonne family. The DoubleTree hotel is where Rachel always stays when she is in town. She doesn't want to burden the few friends she has left in Middlesex County, since they have families of their own now. She is a member of Hilton Rewards anyways, so they have her information and Stephanie knows how simple it is to book, they have free breakfast and it's not stressful to park, all qualities that are needed when traveling. Easy, peasy.

Rachel texted Stephanie to let her know that she had arrived and asked Stephanie if there was anything pressing that Rachel needed to deal with quickly. With a quick, No. Have fun, Rachel was free this evening to spend with old friends. She went up to her room on the top floor and put down her bags. The travel clothes she chose for this trip were not so bad. Her jeans were at least still perfectly wearable, so she decided that she will keep those on, but she might have to change her top.

DANG! Never mind, I'm going to shower, she thought with a little sniff to her armpit.

A quick 24 minutes later, her little longer than shoulder length light brown hair was dried and styled, Make-up was on, the outfit was on, she was ready to go. Rachel looked at the Uber app on her phone and requested a car to come to get her at the hotel. It would take 20 minutes to get to the bar, and the Uber was around the corner, so she would be right in the window that she told Kelsey earlier. It is such a rewarding feeling knowing that she is right on schedule.

Playoffs is a great little dive bar that sits right on a lake in Billerica. The draft beers are only 4 dollars, practically a steal, and they have billiards for a dollar a game. With the right people, it is a recipe for a good night. Rachel walks up the little ramp and makes her way towards the bar's back corner where the pool tables are situated. She spotted Cookie first. That wasn't a surprising feat. His little afro was looking especially round today, and you can tell he tacked on a little bit of muscle to add to his 6'4 frame. The Cookie is looking really good. She noticed that Cookie also saw her because he started to come over for a huge hug. Has he always been this tall?

"RACHEL! Over here!" he screamed. The other patrons in the bar definitely looked over as Cookie was smothering my face with his whole body. He smelled like alcohol already.

"Hey Cook", she said as she accepted the bear hug. "It sucks that we are seeing each other like this."

Over Cookie's shoulder, Kelsey was walking over.

"I'm so sorry, we each had a shot already," she said with a smile and an added hug. "Who would have thought that someone of his size could be a low-key lightweight?"

Rachel looked around the bar for Mike and didn't see him.

I thought Kels said he would be here.

"Mike! Look who's here!" Cookie said to Mike coming up behind Rachel now.

It's been a long time since she has seen Mike in person, but she keeps up with him on social media. She knows that he goes to the gym a lot and has been continuing with jiu-jitsu. That's all he really seems to do, besides for work. His muscles aren't really showing in the outfit that he is wearing, but he sends her enough thirsty shirtless pics that Rachel knows what he has under his black button-down. It looks like he just came from work or something.

He does look good in his black button-down and fitted jeans, but it will not sway me, she thinks.

Mike's hair is a little longer, definitely styled in a way that makes him look like David Beckham. A stranger would probably think that he is in the mafia if this is how he dressed all the time.

"Hey, Rachel, thanks for coming," he said to Rachel a little solemnly. He leaned in for a hug, which she reciprocated.

"Anytime, Mike, how are you holding up?"

"As well as I can be I guess," he responded. "Ready to drink the evening away. We are one shot down. Sorry, you missed it."

"Haha! It's a good thing I'm here then," she told him, "I am ready to drink a little too."

He smiled at Rachel like he was longing for her to say that and that they were about to forget all their problems and their past. Rachel has decided that she will not be losing her inhibitions tonight. This is an important weekend for her. She thought back to what her mom said on the phone before she left Canada. She told Rachel to not make any dumb decisions and that is exactly what Rachel intends to do.