Elaine Wilder is back in her old stomping grounds of Kingston, California following a year of post-graduation travel. It was supposed to be her opportunity to find her footing in life and learn the family business. Instead, she stumbles into long-hi...
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"If you forgot to order the sashimi I don't think I can let you live here anymore." I joked, crossing my arms against my chest as my new roommate and longtime best friend begins to unload the hefty order she called into the local Japanese joint.
"I'm not an amateur, Elaine. We have been placing the same order at Naoko's since high school and I wouldn't dare disturb the homeostasis of our dinner order." Joni chuckles, passing me my sashimi and we both waste no time digging into our meals.
I'm shoveling ramen noodles into my mouth, struggling with my chopsticks, when I glance over at Joni. She is looking around the living room as we are sat crisscrossed on the hardwood floors of my old family home, food was strewn wildly across the newly put-together coffee table.
"You know, I can't believe your Grandad did such a good job at restoring this place. It's lovely, I'm glad he kept its charm. I don't think I've been here since what? Middle school?" She looked back at me inquisitively, trying to recall the last time we were in this little bungalow.
It had definitely been a long time since we stepped foot in here. It was used as storage for the longest time and before that, it was built as a guest house back in the 60s. My family never got around to updating it as they did with the main house. He kept the original cabinets and floorings throughout the house, just reviving them so they had their original luster. The walls were painted soft shades of white, while the black and white checkered backsplash contrasted beautifully against the green and white kitchen cabinets. There isn't much to the kitchen, or the house really, but it was perfectly charming and homey. I adored it.
"I am actually pretty certain that it was freshman year of high school and you made me steal my Grandad's keys so we could sneak in here and smoke weed." I covered my mouth, trying to not choke on my food while we both broke out into giggles. I washed it down with my cold glass of water while Joni audibly disagreed.
Joni swallowed her food as she vigorously shook her head in disagreement and narrowed her eyes at me. "Uh-uh, I didn't make you do anything. If you recall, it was Drew's idea to take the keys after we tried to break in through the window and failed miserably," She takes a brief pause to sip her ginger ale through a metal straw. "-whom by the way, have you broken up with him yet?" She questions, narrowing her eyes at me.
I groan, making a disgruntled noise.
Drew is my current "boyfriend," for lack of a better term. The three of us were pretty close in high school and I knew he'd had kind of a thing for me growing up, I just didn't feel the same way. He was one of my best friends, our grandparents were even best friends. It wasn't until we were in college that I gave him a chance, something I dwell on more than I should. I don't love him, or I'm not in love with him I guess.
He was there for a particularly hard time in my life and I'll always appreciate that, but lately, I've been especially detesting our on-again-off-again situation.
