Starting Over

Chapter 40: Summer Plans

I took the longest nap of my life when I got back to UNC. I didn't even unpack. Loren and Nicole were in classes so I went straight to my bed.

It wasn't until I heard their loud voices that I woke up.

I told them everything that happened. I mean they are my best friends. I never thought I'd say that.

Then Veronica called me. She told me that she hates Kentucky. We talked on the phone for hours until I convinced her to come Chapel Hill next year. She's smart. She could get it.

I didn't think the semester would end so soon. Last day of classes is April 27th.

Back in Kentucky last day of classes was May 3rd.

Next year we've decided we're just going to get an apartment close to UNC.

Since we've been planning on getting one close. Loren's dad has been looking for us. He found one eleven minutes away from Chapel Hill. We all chipped in and put a deposit down. We can move in the first week of May.

Which is good for me because I'm planning on staying here for Summer.

"So what's everyone's summer plans?" Gabe asks as we are all gathered in the living room.

"Well I'm going to Wilmington for half of the summer to see my dad. Even though he'll probably ignore me because a lot of people move in the summer. Then I'll go spend it with my mom and the step fam." Loren explains.

"My sister is engaged. So my summer is going to be spent planning a wedding." Nicole tells us with dread in her voice.

Gabe looks over at Nicole. "We get to go to the beach before you have to worry about it."

"I wish it was that easy, but the whole summer it's gonna be let's kiss Kylie's ass. Oh Kylie you're so beautiful." She complains.

"Your families are really that close?" I question

"Yeah. Our mom's they are like the best of best friends." Nicole tells me.

"But they only met because of us. They had lived down the street from each other for the longest time but we brought them together." Gabe says looking over at Nicole.

"He's so in love." Loren whispers in my ear.

He has that look of love in his eye every time he thinks of the past. Not just the past. His and Nicole's childhood.

"We didn't bring them together." Nicole clarifies. "Italy." She says with the biggest smile on her face. I don't think we're in the room anymore. It's just them two. "Gabriel it's was Italy. Italy brought us together and we brought them together. So we can thank sweet Italy."

"Nicolette your right. It was Italy. I love Italy." There they go using their nicknames for each other. The nicknames only they are allowed to call each other. It's an unspoken thing. We all know not to call one of them the nickname they gave each other.

"How'd you guys come up with those nicknames again?" Loren asks sipping on a glass of red wine.

"Do not spill that on the couch."'I tell her. It's white and that is red. I will kill her if she spills it.

"We were sitting on a dock." Gabe starts. "Probably age seven."

"I was crying because I lost at the swim meet. Even at age seven I was competitive. I lost to a girl named Kylie. She had my sister's name and that made me so mad. That I lost to my sister in a way because I alway lose to Kylie. I was like throwing this crying fit. Looking back now it's kinda embarrassing. But I said I wish I could just be someone else. So Gabe said you can be Nicolette. He said my Nicolette is shorter than me, strong, kind, and doesn't have to be perfect at everything. She's also a great swimmer in the future."

"Once Nicole was done with her tantrum she looked over at me and said if I get to be someone different so do you. You get to be my Gabriel. My Gabriel and I'm your Nicolette. This is our thing. My Gabriel is taller than me, funny, terrible at math and smart. And in the future the best basketball player the world has ever seen. Then I went up to the toy vending machine and got us rings and we ring finger promised." Gabe tells us. As they both hold up their ring fingers. Showing off matching rings.

I've never noticed Gabe's. Nicole wears a lot of rings. Each finger on both hands have rings. One rings has always stood out. The only plastic ring on her right hand. It's a transparent purple clear ring. Gabe has the same one on his right hand except his is blue.

Soulmates.

These two are soulmates in my opinion.

"That's makes you two practically married." Loren blurts out.

"We're just friends." Gabe says and I can see how much it pains him to say it.

"Plus it was the wrong hand." Nicole adds.

"Actually when we were kids we didn't know the difference so we put the rings on our ring finger on our left hand and did the ring finger promise." Gabe corrects her.

"Gabriel! You're not helping." She says and me and Loren have the biggest smile on our face.

"You're married!" Loren tells Nicole.

"I feel like you guys have kissed before." I say looking between the two of them.

"Nope. Never." Nicole says. Gabe looks like he wants to disagree but doesn't. That's suspicious.

"Not once?" I pry.

"Nope." She answers.

"Gabe?" I question.

"Never. We're just friends."

Before I can ask more questions Chase walks in. He brought pizza for everyone. Hayden isn't with him. I watch disappoint wash over Loren's face before it quickly is covered.

"Can we talk?" Chase asks as I'm getting a bottle of water.

"Yes." I say but once I realize he wants to talk a private a direct him to my room.

He looks nervous. "Did Jake say something to you?" I ask. "I thought me and Jake were on good terms but now I'm doubting that. I shouldn't have left you with him."

"He didn't say anything. Relax." Chase says calming me bringing me into a hug. I think the hug is more for him than me.

"I can't relax when you're acting weird."

"I just went and  I talked to Coach Carson and I think I want to apply for the draft next year. Please don't be mad or upset."

I'm confused.

"Why would I be mad or upset. I'm happy for you. Plus we have all of junior year to spend together."

"I know I just wanted spend the summer with you and now I have to spend it touring facilities. Getting ready for the draft. I have to spend it with my dad. I don't want to spend my summer touring facilities with my dad. I want to spend it with you."

"I'll be here. All summer. You can call me at any hour and tell me about any facilities and how much of a jerk the Coach is because trust me they all are."

"So those are our summer plans?" He questions. "I tour facilities you stay?"

"Yep."

"I hate that."

"Me too."

_______
4/18/22
1:36pm

You got a glimpse at Nicole and Gabe's relationship.

Also I'm releasing the first chapter of Gabe and Nicole's book right now because I want to. There book will have slow updates until this one is finished.

It's called Craving Perfection