the year everything changed

we're really doing this

          I woke up the next morning on the sofa with Mckenzie. Her arms and legs were flailed over me, and her hair was somewhat woven over her face. She's lucky she's pretty. 

          We'd decided to have a slumber party on the couch after the weekend we'd had and it was definitely well-needed. We stayed up talking about boys and our parents and all of the things we'd missed in each other's lives.
Right as I began to get off of the sofa, Mckenzie shifted some and then groaned once or twice. Great. I woke her up.
"Good morning, sleeping beauty," I told her as she sat upright.
"Good morning, Dais." She reached for the TV remote and scrolled until she found something she liked. I didn't recognize it, but I didn't say anything. I just watched.
I watched for a couple of minutes before the tension got to be too much. "So..." I said.
"So what?" Mckenzie asked.
"It's just us now. Are we gonna do like, a boy-less summer? Just us. No guys."
"Oh, well, that's a lot to ask Dais. I don't know if I can promise that." I knew it was a lot to ask, but it sounded like a good idea to me. So I gave the girl a look, one with serious, stern eyes. A look that she'd have no power to reject. "Fine. I'll do it. But if you so much as turn an eye toward Liam, I will be finding somebody for myself. Deal?"
          "Deal." I ended. Mckenzie made a pondering face, opened her mouth like she had something to say, and then shut it back again. Finally, her thoughts came to words.
          "I do have one guy in mind." She said sort of slowly like she was trying not to make me mad.
          "Mckenzie. You have got to be kidding. Did you hear anything we just decided on?" I looked at the girl dumbfounded.
          "No, no. It's not like that." The girl took out her phone and started dialing.
          "Okay, Mckenzie, what the hell are you doing?"
          "Just trust me on this." There was something in her voice right then, something familiar. She sounded just like her mom, in that Annett tone that was so sure, so persuasive. She could get you to do anything. So I did, I trusted her. Not a couple of seconds later, her phone started to ring, like she was waiting for someone to pick up. Then, she spun around to show me who.

It was Wes.

          My mouth fell agape. I let out an awkward laugh, not because anything was funny, but more so that I was confused, and maybe even a little scared.
          "Wait what? How do-" I started to speak but finished my thoughts in my head. How did she have Wes's phone number?
          "Wes gave me his phone number the day before I moved away. He said he'd never forget me, and that he wished I'd never forget him." She said. "I want to ask him to spend a week here."
          "Are you sure your mom will be fine with it? It's kinda all of a sudden."
          "I don't think my mom would even dream of not letting Wes visit. You know he's her favorite out of all of us anyway." This was true.
          "I object, actually. I'm definitely the favorite." This, and I knew it deep down, was not true.
"Hello?" A scratchy voice came from the phone.
          "Wes?" Mckenzie asked.
          "Mckenzie? Did you mean to call me?" The boy asked back
          "Yeah, actually, um- do you think you maybe wanna come spend a week up here?" She asked, and as she did so, she crossed her fingers on her left hand.
          "Spend a week up in Michigan? Did you ask Nana Pat? or my Dad?" He was concerned. I could hear it in his voice.
          "No, we didn't, but I promise it'll be fine. I'll talk to them." I cut in. I didn't think they'd have a problem with it, and even if they did, I'd convince them.
          "Well, how will I get there?"
          "Hm, how old are you now? Eight? Is eight old enough to ride in a plane on your own?" Mckenzie asked him with a smirk.
          "I'm thirteen. And yes, that is old enough." As he spoke, Mckenzie looked up at me and mouthed 'Thirteen?!' with wide, shocked eyes.
          "Okay, I'll get my mom to book you a ticket and we can send it to you. Please start packing, I know you're a procrastinator."
          "Alright, love you, bye." He said quickly before he hung up. He didn't sound like it, but I knew he was excited. He might be thirteen, but he will forever be my baby brother.
"Is he really thirteen!?" Mckenzie asked me.
"Yes, Mckenzie, he really is thirteen. And I cannot believe you just did that. In a good way, I mean, but like- wow. Maybe we should go ask your mom."
"She's off of work today, so she should be here soon. I think she just went out to run some errands." So, for an hour or so, we waited. Waited to hear tires pull into the driveway and for the door to open with a creak. When she finally arrived home, Mckenzie and I did our best to hide our giggles in like little girls.
"What are you girls up to? I know these giggles didn't just come out of nowhere." Annette said with an accusing smile.
"Well..." I started. "Actually, I'll just let Mckenzie say it. It was her idea anyway."
"I was thinking, since me and Dais are doing a summer without boys, the perfect person to have here would be..." I moved my hands in a drumming motion as Mckenzie spoke next to me. "Wes!"
"Oh my God. Yes! That sounds perfect- Does he have a ticket? I have to go book a ticket!" And just then, Annette seemed like a little girl too. She was giddy. Giddy to see her boy. Annette made it through the living room and halfway out of the door before she turned around. "Wait- A summer without boys?"
"I'm sorry, Mom, but I don't really want to talk about boys with you right now. I love you, but no." Mckenzie said quickly with her eyes shut in disgust. I didn't blame her either, I agreed.

"I guess we're really doing this," I said, turning my head toward Mckenzie.
"I guess so."