Just Friends

CHAPTER- 5

ALEC

In the 8 years that Alec had been away from his home town, Millbrooke had changed very little.

It still had the cosy small town feel to it.

As he looked out of the window of the rented car he had taken from the airport in Chicago to drive the 8 miles to Millbrooke, he saw the Main Street.

It looked the same just with a few more additions in the long line of shops and food joints.

There were a few boutiques and some of the food chains had opened their branches there.

The feeling of coming back home was surprisingly nostalgic.

They passed the kindergarten school where he had met Jade for the first time.

Jade Tucker, his best friend!

Coming back home meant that he would meet her once again after almost 8 years.

Mom had said that she had stayed in Millbrooke itself.

Alec wondered how her life was now.

The crazy, funny girl he remembered had gone on to be one of the most popular authors in the country, and Alec could not be more proud.

He couldn't wait to meet her.

Just then they passed Jo's ice cream parlour.

Though there were some small changes in the town that Alec noticed Jo's was still exactly the same.

With it's colourful boards and chairs it still looked like the cheerful place he remembered.

He slowed down and entered the parking lot of Jo's.

"Where are we going? Have we reached?"

Emma's British accent from the passenger seat reminded him that he was not alone in the car.

"You have to try Jo's ice cream! It's the best in the world. I thought we'll just make a quick stop and then go home." He said before quickly getting into one of the empty spaces.

Emma snorted, "Best ice cream in the world? No ways! The best ice cream I had was in London. This is just a small town how good can it be?"

Alec did not even attempt to argue with her.

Emmaline Burns had very strong ideas and opinions and it was extremely hard to change them.

"Come."

He opened the door and stepped out.
He took a huge breath, breathing in the clear air without any pollution after years.

He stretched waiting for Emma to adjust her make up and step out of the car.

He looked around the parking lot.
Suddenly he spotted something that made him stand up straight and look carefully.

There on the other side of the parking lot four people were coming out of the ice cream parlour.

There were two kids who looked so similar that they had to be twins.

Holding the girl in one hand and a huge stuffed horse in the other was a man.

He was dressed casually and even from this far Alec could see that he looked good.

On the other side of him was the other kid, a boy with a stuffed alligator in his hand.

The man and the kids were laughing and enjoying the short walk to the car.
Just a few steps behind them was a girl.

She was tall with long legs and a thin waist.