Three years ago:
My feet splash against the concrete, showering water all over my legs as my converse connect with the puddles from last night's thunderstorm.
Panicked I'm going to miss the date, I get in my 1965 light blue Mustang convertible and shove the key in the ignition. My phone vibrates in my hand.
Spencer: five minutes
I put my car in reverse and back up swiftly. Putting the car in drive, I jerk the wheel to the right and go speeding down the street. I take two right turns and a left, and then I park my car in front of my apartment. I get out and sprint up the path. I shove my key in the lock and turn it.
enteringthe apartment, I power up my desktop and hurriedly type in the password, Spencalie101, meaning, Natalie and Spencer, Spencer being my boyfriend of five years.
As my computer loads, I strip naked and go digging through the laundry basket for some dry clothing.
Once it's loaded, Skype opens up on its own because I have it set to, and seconds later, the familiar skype ringtone begins to ring.
I look down at my naked body, and then grab the nearest blanket, cover myself, and then press answer.
The familiar faces I miss so much a appear.
Seth, Justice, and Gavin are grinning. Livia is half awake, and Spencer and just texting.
It's six in the evening, which means it's our annual skype time.
We all graduated from college about a year ago, but we had to get on our feet. Spencer got an offer to go to Princeton in New Jersey a few weeks into his first semester at UC. After much encouragement that I wouldn't be upset on my part, he accepted and flew across the country. I haven't seen him since.
Finally, Spencer looks up.
"What are you wearing?" he asks me.
"A blanket." I say, standing up.
"Why?" he smiles.
"Because I'm naked."
He laughs softly. I stand up and go back to the laundry basket. I get a pair of panties and a t-shirt and sweats, and then I go behind the computer and change so they can't see me.
When I sit down in my seat, Spencer is gone and Gavin is laying down.
"Where's Spencer?" I ask.
"He seemed upset and walked away from the camera." Justice says.
"I swear these things get duller every time we do them."
Spencer comes back. "That's because none of us want to do them! We should be able to talk in person. I miss you guys! I'm going crazy, and Natalie, I'm honestly wondering what the point of u staying together is if we haven't seen each other in five fucking years! I'm losing it! I can't keep doing this."
Olivia sits up, and so does Gavin. Everyone who was previously tired is now wide awake.
Max, my golden retriever puppy jumps into my laps. I look away from the camera.
"Alright, okay, you guys aren't breaking up." Seth says. "I've been in touch with Uncle Albert, alright? Let's just plan a vacation-"
"I don't want a vacation." Spencer says.
"I agree." Gavin says. "If we're going to see each other, it's going to be permanent. If not, don't bother."
"Well..." I start slowly. "I can afford it. I've been putting aside money for years."
"Me too." Olivia says.
"I can too." Justice says.
"Same." Seth adds.
"Me too." Gavin says.
"I can as well." Spencer agrees.
I'm silent for a long time.
"I've been looking into moving back home, to South Carolina...Charleston is beautiful. That's where I grew up."
Everyone is quiet for a long time, googling it.
"I already have my eye on a place I'd like to buy for my business," I continue slowly. "And an apartment as well."
"Alright." Spencer says. "I'm down."
Everyone nods.
"Alright." Justice agrees.
"Let's do it." Gavin says.
"Okay. We can send my parents out to places we want. My Mom already went to mine with Uncle Albert and they're in love with the place."
"Alright, Let's do this. Three months from today, alright?" Justice asks.
Everyone agrees, and we end the Skype call.
I can't wait.
