Five Years Later

12 | Like old times

  🎞2027 🎞

I had an amazing time spending the weekend celebrating my birthday with my parents. I always have a hard time leaving my childhood's house every single time I have slept over there.

I parked my car next to the spot where Peyton's car should be in our driveway. I turned off my car, retrieving the keys out from the ignition. I picked up my set of the house's keys and my phone from the center console then I opened the driver's door and I got down from my car.

I closed the driver's door, I placed my phone in the back pocket of my jeans before I started walking to the passenger's side. I started smiling wide, already knowing what my dog Luna is going to do the moment I open the passenger's door.

I opened the passenger's door, without any ounce of hesitation Luna jumped from the passenger's seat into my arms. "Hey my sweet Luna, are you ready to see your sister?"

Like she knew exactly the words that I just said to her, Luna barked at me at the same time I closed the passenger's door. I started walking away from the driveway, I clicked the beeper locking my car. I opened the front door of my house using my house keys and I walked inside.

I closed the front door behind me using my right foot, I gave my dog a kiss on her little head before setting her carefully down on the wooden floor. Just like clockwork, Peyton's dog, Lana came running from upstairs towards us.

"Hi Lana!" I greeted my best friend's dog, smiling as I looked at her and my dog giving each other kisses.

I walked away from the front entrance, heading toward the kitchen to make myself some early lunch. The moment I set foot in the kitchen, I felt my phone vibrating in my back pocket.

I retrieved my phone from the back pocket of my jeans, I unlocked it to see who had texted me or called me. Sitting right on top of my notifications there was a text message from Peyton.

Bestie Pey💗: Hello Bree, are you home?

Me: Hey bestie Pey, Yes I am, I just got here, I am making myself some lunch. Is there any reason why you are asking me?

Bestie Pey💗: That's good, Tris and I are going to be home soon.

Me: I can't wait to see you and Tristan!

A smile appeared on my lips, I set down my phone from the kitchen's counter. I walked towards the refrigerator, opened it and started looking for ingredients to make lunch now for three people instead of one.

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"Bree, are you still in the kitchen?" I heard my best friend's voice echoing from the front door to the kitchen.

"Pey, yes I am!" I spoke loudly enough so she could hear the response to her question.

I heard the front door being closed followed by two different types of footsteps coming to the entryway heading towards the kitchen. I looked up to see Peyton entering the kitchen with her boyfriend walking right beside her.

"Hello, Bree, what are you making for lunch?" Tristan asked me, he set his stuff down on the kitchen's counter.

"Hey Tristan, I am making our all time favorite meal, baked mac and cheese." I replied to his question, I picked up the mac box from the counter and poured it on the pot.

"Bree, how did you know I was craving it?" Peyton said, joking, joining our conservation.

"Would you believe it if I told you it was a guess?" I said, following the same joke. My response earned a laugh from both Tristan and her.

"On a serious note, can I help you cook?" Peyton asked me, looking at me.

"I would love to receive any help from you and Tristan." I responded to her question, looking back at her.

"This is going to be fun, it is going to be like old times." Tristan told us, walking into the panty and he came out with a bottle of wine and set it down on the counter.

"Speaking of old times, Aubree, can I ask you something?" My best friend asked me, she only used my name instead and not my nickname when she was going to say or ask something serious.

I looked at her, focusing all of my attention on her and not on anything else. "Pey, you can ask me anything, so what's up?"

I saw her looking at her boyfriend before she returned to look back at me. "Aubree, how would you feel about creating a new text group chat with Calvin, Samuel and the three of us like we used to have when we were younger?"

I took a deep breath in before answering her question. "I am not against the idea of being in a group chat with them again, it's going to take me some time to get used to the idea. However, now both of them are back in our lives, we should have a new group chat with them, it would make reconciling easier."

"Aubree, you do have a good point, but before creating the group chat I want to make sure that you're uncomfortable with this. I don't want to put you through unnecessary emotional pain." Peyton shared her concerns, looking at me with worry on her facial features.

I still made eye contact with my best friend, I made my way towards her. "Peyton, I love that you worry about me and my feelings. Everything that happened with Calvin is all the past, I am okay, I have moved on, pass on that. I believe it's time to have Calvin and Samuel in our lives."

Peyton smiled a little bit, she moved her eyes away from me and started looking at her boyfriend over my shoulder. "I can't wait to have our friendship group of five back."

"I am excited as well. Aubree, just you know if any of them ended up emotionally hurting you again, I will kick their ass for you." Tristan said, lighting up the mood of our conversation.

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I love their friendship so much, Peyton and Tristan are the best.