Finally, we were off to the famous and much-anticipated "girls trip" to the Porcupine Mountains, in Michigan, location randomly chosen by Cecily. She wasn't a mountain girl, but she still wanted to "try something new", much to the other girls' despair. Cecily and I were probably the only ones excited to go to the mountains and breathe some fresh air, since the others expected a trip that involved guys, girls, cocktails and a beach instead of sheep, cows, bears, and infinite forests to run into. My roommate had made a detailed itinerary of the week we would have stayed there, that included hikes, wine tasting, and bars, but she still needed to convince the others to have fun.
«Are you sure you wanna do this?» Aidy frowned. «Of all places in the USA, you have chosen the worst one.»
We had just landed, and the girls were still quite sleepy and upset at Cecily for having chosen that destination.
«What's on the schedule?» Heidi asked Cecily, trying to be uplifting.
«A good restaurant, the activities will start tomorrow» she smiled, proudly.
«Can't wait» Melissa rolled her eyes, ironically, then smiled.
We were gonna sleep in two cabins next to each other, so Cecily, Vanessa, Leslie and I, since we were roommates, walked in the same one.
«Dinner is at six, don't be late!» Cecily exclaimed, before the other girls went in the opposite direction.
The cabin, which was more like a small cottage, had two small rooms with two small beds to sleep in, a cozy kitchen and one small couch.
«This is... small» Leslie said, looking around her.
She, being the tallest, looked like a giant next to the microscopic vases and tools placed randomly around the house.
«Yeah, but it doesn't matter because we are gonna spend most of the time outside» Vanessa said, trying to sound positive.
«Yeah it do matter, because I can barely fit in the shower!» Leslie replied, from the bathroom.
We chuckled at the sight of Leslie trying to squeeze in the tiny space, then unpacked some of our stuff and quickly changed into something decent, since we were going out to eat in a not-so-fancy but still quite good restaurant Cecily had picked out beforehand.
«Six!» my roommate shouted. «Let's go.»
Heidi and Kate were already outside, chatting, and Aidy and Melissa came out soon after.
«Where is this place?»
«A few minutes from here. It's a small restaurant up a hill.»
«How come everything here is small and made of wood?» Leslie sighed.
«I'm sorry, but this is just the way things are» Cecily shrugged her shoulders, getting in the minivan we had rented for the week.
I sat next to Heidi and Melissa, with whom I chatted a little, but noticed something weird going on between Kate and Cecily: they were having a secret conversation, kinda like a year before, while we were going to the party at New Year's.
«We're here!» Aidy exclaimed, looking at GPS.
We got out of the van and walked a few stairs, before entering a cozy restaurant, where we were kindly greeted by a waiter.
«He's handsome!» Leslie smiled at no one.
«Get his number.»
«Nah... he's too young.»
We sat down, and I had no choice but to sit between Melissa and Kate, who was looking at the menu on my right.
«What are you gonna eat?» she asked me, looking up at me.
«I guess I'll order a steak. What about you?»
«Same.»
I started staring at her, while she was scrolling through her phone, and I still missed her. I thought I was over her, but somehow I could have never been completely. She was Kate, the woman I had loved so deeply, and no matter how much I tried, I still did.
«Excuse me, I've got to take this» she said, getting up and answering a call.
A few minutes after, my phone started buzzing, too. I was planning on not answering, but seeing my brother's name on the screen made me think that the kids were asking for me.
«Sorry, it's André and Amara, I literally can't ignore this.»
«It's fine. Say hello to them for me!» Cecily smiled.
I went out, in the cold, and quickly answered my phone, as my fingers went numb.
«Hey, bubbas! How are you?» I exclaimed at the kids.
«We're good! Dad says you're moving to a new apartment» said André.
«I am! When I am done you'll come here to see it, right?»
«We wouldn't miss it for the world.»
They talked about school, friendships, mom and dad, until I noticed the waiter serving the food inside.
«Guys, I gotta go. I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?»
«Okay, bye!»
I was just about to step inside, when I heard some whispering and mumbling, and after I turned the corner I spotted Kate talking on the phone. I made sure she couldn't see me, and thankfully being in the dark helped me in that, so I eavesdropped.
«Mia, I know what we had was wonderful, but it's over» she said. «I can't tell you why! I promise you, these two months we have been together have been... unforgettable, but I can't stay with you if I don't feel the same for you as you do about me. I'm sorry.»
She ended the call, after mumbling some more things, and I quickly made my way back to our table before she could notice me.
«What did they say?» Vanessa asked me.
«Wish I knew...» I sighed, thinking about the conversation I had just heard.
«You didn't talk to Amara and André?»
«Wha- Oh, yes, I did. They are doing great.»
Soon, Kate came back too, and even though she was trying not to, she seemed really shaken up.
«You okay?» Melissa looked at her.
«Yes. What were we talking about?»
«Heidi's love life.»
«We were not!» she exclaimed. «If we're gonna do this, I wanna hear everyone's love lives.»
«I'll pass» I said, drinking a little bit of wine.
«Me, too» the blonde sitting next to me agreed.
«Okay then, let's play truth or drink» Vanessa smiled.
I rolled my eyes, but ultimately Vanessa's enthusiasm got the better of me.
«Ugh, fine. I'll start. Cec, when did you and Jack first had sex?»
«Why me! Fine, two weeks into dating. Les, did you have any crazy adventure this summer?»
Leslie stayed quiet, and instead drank a little bit of wine.
The game went on all night, and I found out some very dirty secrets about my friends, some of which I definitely did not expect. Cecily opened up a lot and didn't touch the wine, which led me to believe that she was actually just being an extrovert.
«Ladies, I hate to say this, but it's getting late and we need to wake up early tomorrow morning because we are going to do a fun trekking» Cecily said.
Some of the girls sighed, but I was happy to do it. It had been ages since I had been able to walk without the noises of the streets, the cars and the New York City smog. I needed time to think and to process, and a good walk in the nature would have certainly helped.
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SHATTERED GLASS: love always finds a way
FanfictionSEQUEL OF "SHATTERED GLASS". After the troubled end of their relationship, Brooklyn and Kate have to learn how to work around each other and be friends towards one another. They embark on new journeys and start new relationships, but a feeling keeps...
