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pt.19

The train jolted to a stop and I was startled awake. Tyler was still resting his head on me, sound asleep and I hadn't realized that I had fallen asleep as well. As gently as I could, I jostled his shoulder, trying to wake him up.

"Tyler, you have to get up."

He grumbled almost silently, "I'm up, I'm up." He lifted his head off of my shoulder to reveal a very stylish half bed head, earning a grin from me.

"Before I forget, what is the story we're telling your parents?" I asked, careful not to push him too far.

"About what, about us? We'll just tell them how we met and-"

"No, Ty," I cut him off. "About what happened."

"Oh," immediately, his face darkened. "I'm pretty sure Josh told them I got mugged or something so we'll stick to that. I don't want them to worry about me more than they already do."

I nodded in understanding before a ticket collector came around to tell us that we had arrived at the Ohio State Train Station. When we exited the train, we stood in a terminal to wait for Josh and Mark. Their faces lit up when they saw us almost immediately and walked over.

Mark took an exaggerated deep breath through his nose, "Man it's good to be back home."

Josh beamed at him, "Dude, you can say that again."

"Man it's good to be back-" Mark's repeated statement was interrupted by a cascade of laughter coming from the boys and myself.

"So," Josh continued,"who's picking us up?"

Tyler looked around and rubbed his hands together, "Zack was supposed to be here."

I recognized the name as Tyler's little brother, the one that raps sometimes and I think just got married...or was that Jay? No Jay was still in high school, right? My gut filled with embarrassment at the lack of knowledge I had on Tyler's family.

Just as we were getting impatient, Zack sauntered up to us carrying a happy birthday balloon that had the "Happy Birthday" scratched out with sharpie and instead said, "Sorry you got mugged." I chuckled internally as I watched Tyler read the balloon and laugh. With Zack was a beautiful brown haired girl that had a freckled face much like my own. I couldn't remember what Tyler told me her name was though so I mentally started calling her Freckles.

"Hey bro, long time no see. You feeling any better?" Tyler's brother embraced him in a gentle hug, seemingly unaware of what was hurt but trying to be careful nonetheless.

"Yeah, yeah dude for sure. Just missed you guys." I stood patiently waiting for Tyler to introduce me.  Zack greeted Mark and Josh and then, his gaze fell on me. Finally able to see his face, I decided that he and Tyler didn't look much alike, although he was equally attractive. The biggest similarity was the deepness of his eyes, though Zack's didn't hold the same fear and questioning as Tyler's.

"You must be Aurora," he stuck his hand out to me.

"Yeah," I smiled. "It's nice to meet you," a feeling came over me that I'd be saying that a lot in the next few days.

"This is my wife, Tatum." Freckles smiled at me and waved. Tatum, I'd have to remember that.

"Okay guys well we better get going, " Tyler announced, seemingly uncomfortable that Zack introduced himself before Tyler had a chance to.

The six of us walked to the parking lot and I wondered how we were we all going to fit in one car until I heard Josh joke, "Wow, Tatum made you get the minivan already? You guys don't even have kids yet," beside me Tyler barked in laughter as Zack punched Josh lightly on the elbow.