Down the road of memories

Hey, soul sister

Elle POV

Michelle and I were in Honolulu for a conference and it was great to go with one of my colleagues for once. I came here a year ago to interview for my residency before finally deciding to come back to LA. And a year later, I'm really happy with my choice. If I hadn't made this decision, Noah and I probably wouldn't have gotten back together so quickly and easily. It's true that we would have seen each other again at Lee's wedding anyway but... would he have given up on the idea of us getting back together in the meantime? Or would he have gone to Honolulu with me? All these questions are hypothetical but I couldn't help but ask myself, 2 months before our wedding.

On the evening of the last day of our conference, I was surprised not to have received confirmation of my return flight the next day. Normally, the airline sends me a confirmation with a procedure to check in in advance. And for a girl who spends a lot of time on planes, I like to do these procedures in advance rather than at the airport.

I was lost in thought, searching through my emails for the airline email as I met Michelle at the hotel restaurant.
- Did you have confirmation of your return flight?" I asked her.
- No," she told me in a nonchalant tone. "because you and I aren't going back to LA right away.

It was then that I noticed that we were not seated at a table for 2 people but for 6 people.
- We are going to spend the weekend in Honolulu to celebrate your bachelorette party." Michelle told me with a big smile.

I then saw Chloe, Rachel, June and Linda heading towards our table. I was so happy to see all these women. Each of them had a particular effect on my life and I was really happy to spend this evening and these few days with them.

After the meal, while we all finish our glass of wine. Chloe stood up and demanded our attention.
- Since it's a bachelorette party! I couldn't resist throwing a few classic bachelorette party games.
- Please, Chloe, don't make me do embarrassing things in front of June and Linda." I asked her, putting my hands in front of my eyes.
- Don't worry, Elle," June told me. "I participated in their organization.

Reassured that June had probably slowed down Chloe's ardor, I continued to listen to her.
- I asked Noah about your relationship. And since he is stingy with details, you will continue the narration by revealing juicy details to us." Chloe said to me as I could only roll my eyes.

Michelle and Rachel started laughing in my face, I know they both love gossip.
- So," Chloe began. "How many breakups have you had?" she asked me.
- Officially, two! " I said.

When Lee kept Noah and I apart, we weren't officially together, nor were we when I left for Europe.
- It's consistent, Noah told me two too." Chloe said to me with a smile.

Phew relief! I said to myself.
- Speaking of breakups," Chloe continued, "one of them lasted 6 years. So, I would like to know the moment when you started to make peace with this last breakup...

I didn't really know what to say. I could have talked about Noah's Thanksgiving phone call or my trip to Vancouver with Mark...
- What did he say to you Chloe?" I asked her, curious to know when Noah began, in his journey, to make peace with our breakup.
- He told me: Ground zero...

Flashback New York, 30 months before the meeting in front of the Kissing booth

I woke up the day after arriving in New York, with arms around me and the smell of lemongrass...

I arrived in tears last night and I don't think I stopped crying all evening. Noah hugged me when I left the plane crying and asked him for forgiveness for pushing him away while trying to please everyone during that famous summer. He let me cry and finally ran his thumbs over my cheeks to wipe away my tears when I finally calmed down.
- I forgive you Elle! I think it's really a good thing that you see today that doing all these things to please everyone was not your role." he said to me, placing a kiss on my head.
- But... the worst is that I don't know how to act differently and I have difficulty forgiving myself for the negative effect it had on others." I said, shyly raising my eyes to him.