Within The Shadows.✅ (WLW)

8 | Breakfast

I was busy doing my hair when I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in!" Look in my mirror it's Nate, still in his sleepwear.

"Morning," he kisses me on the cheek. "You're up and dressed early, I thought we were heading out this afternoon?" He asked me with a frown.

"Yeah, no we are. I'm just going to grab breakfast with an old friend." I say smiling at him.

"Oh okay, you want me to drop you off?"

"Uh no it's fine, I'll just take my mom's car, I already asked her. You can just chill and relax, I'll let you know when I'm on my way back." I stand up and give him a peck on the lips, smiling.

"Okay." He stares down at me smiling.

"K, I'll see you later." Getting out of his hold and grabbing my purse.

"Hay," I look back at him " I love you" I smile.

" I love you too." And I blow a kiss.

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Ava told me to meet her at the old cafe that we used to go to when we were still in high school, The Wendy House.

Walking in, I am instantly greeted with the smell of freshly ground coffee. When I look around, I can tell nothing has changed. The tables and chairs are still the same, sure there are different waiters now.

"Is that Melanie Newman?" I hear an elderly voice from behind me. Turning around I come face to face with Cheryl, the owner.

"Hi Cheryl, its so nice to see you again," I say smiling at her. Ava and I would come here after school every day since we were allowed to go places by ourselves.

"Look how you have grown dear. And why are you showing your face only now? Hmmm..." The Wendy House used to be a home away from home if I needed a place to think or someone to talk to. Cheryl was always there.

"I'm sorry I haven't been here in a while." I give her an apologetic smile.

"What can I get you? A peanut butter Milkshake? Or have you gotten too old for those too?" She smiles at me.

"A peanut butter milkshake would be fine, and a strawberry one as well please." I hope Ava still likes the strawberry milkshake. On Fridays it was always a tradition, we would hang out at The Wendy house all afternoon after school just relaxing and drinking milkshakes. I would always, always order the peanut butter one and Ava the strawberry one.

"Go pick a table, I'll bring it to you." She just smiles, but not just any smile. A smile that says, ' I know what is going on.' but I chose to ignore it.

I was busy playing Candy Crush when a figure sat down in front of me. Looking up, I see Ava.

"Hey." I smile greeting her, but it doesn't look like she wants to be here.

Before she could say anything, Cheryl put down the milkshakes in front of us. "Well, if it isn't my two favorite girls back again. Just like old times, excited you are all grown up now." She looks saddened by that. And walks away.

Ava just stares at her milkshake. Oh, shit doesn't she like strawberry anymore?

"I'm sorry, I hope you don't mind. I ordered for us, and I didn't know what you liked, or if you still liked the strawberry one." I rambled.

"You remember?" She looks up at me. "Uh yeah, I... it's not hard to forget." I say shyly.

"I can see your taste hasn't changed either. Queen peanut butter. God, I don't know how you drink that, it's disgusting." She says pulling her face in disgust.

I just laugh. I missed this. After I finally stopped laughing, I could see her smiling at me. Not a smirk, an actual genuine smile.

"What?" I ask her "Nothing." She says but I can tell there is something. After that, we fall into an awkward silence.

"Listen about last night-"

"It's fine Mel." She interrupts me.

"No, it's not, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that I didn't mean it. It is just so much all at once happening and I'm struggling to cope." I say while playing with my straw.

"Lennie, are you sure about this? I mean it's marriage." My heart almost stops hearing her call me by my nickname that only she used to call me.

"Honestly, I don't know. I mean everyone is so happy for me, Anna was over the moon about the news." To be honest, I don't even know if I want to marry Nate.

"I want to show you something." She put the money on the table and dragged me outside. Electric blots shoot through me at where our hands are connected.

"But we haven't even had breakfast, I'm hungry."

"We'll stop at McDonald's on the way to get you your food." She says rolling her eyes.