♫ || 𝐏𝐀𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 ➯ 𝓁ℴ𝓊𝒾𝓈 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓇𝒾𝒹𝑔ℯ

༺ ⁰⁰¹ ༻

🪷 𝐥𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐡 ꧂
16 years later...

Turns out kindergarden besties are still besties even after highschool. It's no commitment; we just happen to live around the same area and didn't move out.

It was another routined sleepover at Kate's apartment. It wasn't like I didn't have a house of my own, it felt better knowing I can sleep in the bath without worrying about my bills rising. I love the fact she owns her own home, her parents were kinda rich and trusted her to manage it on her own. Her older siblings didn't make the cut to be allowed to live on their own, I'm forever glad she passed. I'd say she's doing not a bad job at it.

We're scooched on her couch with a large blanket to share. Kate clicks on her projector remote on the pause button, the screen monster pausing at the right moment it appeared.

"Gonna piss, don't unpause it, Lily." Kate yawns, rubbing her eyelids.

I nod once and sunk in deeper under the mound of pillows and blankets. Grabbing my phone from the small table in front of me, I see my dad have left me a text.

Dad:
Lils, me and momma are
heading to Tesco for sum
shopping

need anything?

                                              Lillyy:
                                      can you get
                                   mom to buy me
                                   sum pads? she
                                   knows the ones
                                                i use

                                            thx dadd

Dad left a thumbs up on my messages and went offline.

Kate returns to the couch, bringing along Friskey. Have I mentioned she has a cat? We're crazy cat lovers; we picked Friskey from the shelter as a weird little graduation self-gift. This happened when I still hadn't had my own apartment, my mom has terrible allergies. So, despite my pleas, we agreed to let Friskey stay at Kate's new apartment with her.

Nevertheless, Friskey seems to like me more than Kate. I've never been prouder.

Katelyn practically tosses her onto my mound of blankets, making me yelp with surprise. Friskey's claws sink into the blankets, poking my forearms. A loud purring noise settles. I missed her.

"There you go, 'Mommy's Girl'." Kate grouches, hands pressed into her hips.

Friskey's initial response was to meow back. Smart girl. I ruffle her pale orange fur, earning a small lick to my fingers.

"Jealous bitch." I stuck my tongue out at Kate.

"Speaking of bitches, William and Anna have planned a reunion." Kate states, opening her phone and showing a text Anna had sent her.

"Oh, when?"

"Actually tomorrow, at the park near school." She rolls her eyes as I frown at her. "Sorry for not telling earlier."

"Will everyone be there?" I adjusted my posture so I would be laying on my chest.

"I guess, why? Expecting someone?" Kate smirks, eyeing me up and down.

I laugh, she really thought I was into any of them. Maybe. Fuck's sake.

"Oh please, might as well tell Joshua you once liked him." I teased, shoving Friskey under the blanket.

"Fuck off." She huffs, making her way behind the sofa and climbs to sit next to me.

I laugh as she scrolls through her gallery, I snoop with her. An old, grainy picture passes as I held her finger to pause.

"Isn't this Louis?" She turns to me, showing a picture of a young boy with short, sort of dark brown hair in a striped polo shirt.

I sucked my cheeks and nodded. I remember him as the first person to play with me at the play zone. Pretend play, I think. I also realized he was wearing a paper ring, it was a soft baby blue colour I could tell.

"Didn't he gave you one of those? So sweet." Kate giggles, zooming onto the paper ring. "You didn't throw it away, right?"

"Dunno, it's been years." I shrugged, trying to remember where I had last seen it. "I think it's under my vanity mirror. Dunno, maybe Mom threw it away."

Kate's shoulders drop slightly.

"What, since when did you care about the ring?" I snorted, cocking a brow.

"No, it's just really sweet for him to make it for you. And to think you threw it awa-"

"I didn't! Atleast I remember I didn't. I'll let ya know if I find it." I retort, making a Friskey pop its head from under the blanket. God, it must be sweltering under there.

"If you do, please wear it tomorrow!" Kate quite literally claps her hand together and begs.

I laugh, pushing her hands from my face.

"I will, maybe." I gave her a lopsided smile.

"I'll kill you if you don't. I'm in desperate need for drama." Kate groans, laying on the couch.

"You're dramatic enough"

"Don't talk to mirrors, Lily, it's stupid."

꧁✩☆✩꧂

"If you don't finish you're eyeliner in three seconds, I'm leaving you to die in the car."

Kate makes a cat-like hiss, swatting my face with her free hand. Her other was busy concentrating to not fucking shake whilst holding her eyeliner. It's been ten minutes.

"Gimme a sec."

"Joshua's not even gonna see that thin-ass line." I grouch, leaning against the car door.

She rolls her eye, nearly allowing the edge of the eyeliner pen touch her skin.

"Go check if they're here yet." Kate orders, her head tilted to do her eyeliner.

I stood on my tip toes and looked across the field of grass and wildflowers. A few tall figures were putting together a rather impressive picnic.

"I think the guys are here." I turn to Kate, arm propped on the top of the car.

Kate closes her eyeshadow palette with a click and places it inside her small pouch.

"Does my eyeliner look good?" She asks, knowing my goddamn answer.

I held my tongue, rolling my eyes. Grabbing and pulling her up by the arm, we made sure to lock the car and bring our food for the picnic. As a last resort, we managed to get some fresh fruit and we managed to make some of those cabonara ramen in a large Tupperware.

We walked through the park, eyes peeled for our past classmates.

Kate suddenly stops to peer at a guy waving at us.

"WINNY? That you?" She yells, I cringe at how loud it was.

The guy nods, me recognising his pudgy smile and curly, wispy hair. We practically ran towards the picnic spot. It was not as bad as I thought it'd be, there's even a tree to shade us.

I handed Winston our food as he arranges it neatly on the blanket. A few other guys approach us, and I realize Louis was one of them. Never had I thought I'd miss him.

I clench my hand and I remember I had the paper ring on. I had found it at the exact vanity table I had told Kate, collecting dust. It's a little crusty but still very beautiful.

I glance at Louis, and I realized I'm not the only one wearing a ring.

MWEHEHEHEH thank u for the sparse of readers out there! every read is a spark of motivation to keep updating 🫶