birds of a feather

reunions

The semester had been long. Managing UCONN's social media accounts while balancing school had really taken its course on me. I was so glad to be home for the Summer.

Being back home in Middlesbrough, a small town has warranted plenty of familiar faces and conversations of catching up. As I walked around Target I'm met with a familiar face. One I've known almost my whole life. It was Kate Martin. I had grown up with Kate and we were inseparable. It started in first grade when some kids were picking on me because I couldn't reach something off the top shelf. The boys had made fun of me and the girls joined in laughing. Not Kate, she grabbed whatever it was that I can't remember and made sure those kids left me alone. We were close up until high school. She made the basketball team and I was in cheer. We still talked just not as frequently. It's high school. Of course she'd rather hang out with her team. It wasn't anything personal. Yet somehow when we did talk then, it felt a little off.

"Bella?" She came up to me.

"Hey Kate. I'm surprised you're here!" I smiled it was a surprise, really. She's never back home for the Summer.

"Yeah I figured I come back home this Summer." she nodded.

"You're here all Summer?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Don't get too excited." She joked.

I chuckled, "I was just gonna say we're doing our back to Summer kickback at the beach house this weekend. You should totally come. Invite your family!"

"You guys still do that? and are you sure? I mean I wouldn't want to intrude."

"We do it every year! you know how my mom is! The more the merrier. Plus she'd be so happy to see you. From what I hear our parents still do movie nights and puzzles." I explained. I only knew this because I still follow Kate's mom on instagram and my mom likes to send pictures of who won game nights in the family group chat.

"Oh yes and they have Sunday game nights. My mom likes to send pictures of who won." Kate laughed. For a second it felt like we were the little girls before high school started just talking and laughing.

"I gotta go but remember Summer party is this weekend! At the beach house! I'm sure your mom already knows but come!" I walked away trying to make sure I got everything I needed.

I came home greeting my mom, my sister Celia, and my brother, Ashton.

"I bumped into Kate today." I said as I put the groceries away.

"Oh how lovely! Did you tell her about the party? I know Jill and Matt are coming. I'm not sure they were able to tell the kids yet."

"I did. I told her to bring her family, siblings included." I had finished putting things away and my phone rang. I looked down at my phone, smiling.

"Oh her girlfriend is calling." my brother poked.

"Shut up Ashton." I shook my head and headed to my room, answering the facetime call.

"Hey!" I smiled at my phone.

Paige was grinning, "What are you doing?"

"I just got back from Target." I set my phone down on my vanity and put my hair in a low bun.

"I am at the airport. I got bored and I missed your cute face." Paige was now smirking. I playfully smiled and shook my head. Paige and I weren't dating per se but we did flirt around. I'd call it a situationship if I had to put a word on it. She's coming down to the beach house along with some of the other girls from the team but that wouldn't be until later.