Despite growing up together, Catherine Simmons and Mattis Reed were never close.
Cat was inseparable from Mattis' younger sister, Chloé, while he was busy running around on the football field.
But when Cat's new dream drags her across the country du...
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The days in LA fly by. Once the dinner at my parents was over, I set up camp at the Reeds, and it finally felt like coming home.
Mattis isn't here. Supposedly he'd joined Chloé and Janice for Thanksgiving dinner and then bolted, doing God knows what. I'm unsure if his absence is for my benefit or Chloé's.
I think it makes Janice sad that she didn't get one day with all of us, but I can't help but be quietly relieved. Lying by omission is a lot easier than pretending I'm not longing for him right in front of his sister.
Besides, I barely even have to omit anything. Chloé doesn't ask any questions about Mattis and my friendship.
By Saturday afternoon, I've accepted that we won't see anything of the oldest Reed kid until we head to the airport tomorrow morning. Chloé and I have spent our days the way we always do. Sunbathing, shopping, and practically frolicking around. It's been heaven.
Tonight, we're going out, though.
Well, not out out.
I'm still a few months from twenty-one, and Chloé is six months younger than me. None of our friends are legal either, so rather than take a chance, we'll spend the night at Naomi's beach house.
I offer to drive since I don't feel like drinking.
When we get there around 6 o'clock, the other girls have already arrived and are lounging out back. Sitting outside in nothing but t-shirts and shorts on a November evening would be impossible in New York. I have missed the California weather.
I'm greeted with big hugs from Olivia, Naomi, and Elena, and I finally get to meet Meghan, Chloé's new roommate. She seems nice.
We settle down, Chloé mixing a drink for herself while I stick to soda. As everyone chats amongst themselves, I find myself shrinking back a bit. These girls used to be my primary group of friends, but I've barely spoken to any of them except Chloé since leaving for Columbia.
By the sounds of it, though, they don't spend as much time together as we used to. College friendships move fast, and one will have passed you by in the blink of an eye. Still, they speak with an inside shorthand that I can't follow, like a conversational code I'm no longer privy to. It makes me feel out of place.
Suddenly, I miss Ava and Emmy so much that it physically hurts. Ava would have said something inappropriate, and Emmy would have joked about seeing a ginger in its natural habitat.
"So, Cat, how is Columbia?" Olivia asks me. She leans forward, and big gold hoops glint in the light, almost obscured by her wild, dark curls. She had guys and girls chasing her throughout high school, but she had no interest in being caught.
I smile politely, oddly uncomfortable with the small talk. People who grew up together should be well past this step. "It's great, although somewhat more chilly."
