Hello, Brennen Taylor.

Sara

The plane ride was pure torture. The anticipation was killing her. Katie needed to be home. It's been so long, she needs this. When she finally landed in LAX, she decided to give her best friend a call. If she even kept the same number. I hope she remembers me.
"Hello?"
"Sara?"
"Yes. Who is this?"
"It's Katie. Do you still remember me?" Katie laughed playfully, but inside it hurt more than ever.
"Katie! Oh my god, hi! How've you been? I miss the hell out of you!" Thank god. She remembers.
"I've been good. I missed you too." Katie explained sighing with relief.
"Missed? What, you don't miss me any more?"
"No. I, uh. I'm actually here now. I just landed in LAX."
"No shit. That's amazing! I'm coming to pick you up now, unless you have a ride?"
"You have your drivers license?" How much did I miss?
"I'll catch you up on everything later. Meet me in parking lot C2 in 15 minutes. I'm so excited to see you!"
The call ended, leaving Katie standing with the phone held to her ear. She has a drivers license. She dropped everything just to come pick me up. She remembers. Katie's eyes welled up with tears, but she blinked them away trying her best to look good to meet her best friend for the first time in 5 years. She skipped excitedly to the baggage claim, and then to parking lot C2.

"This is crazy. Why didn't you call me sooner?"
"To be honest, I didn't think you'd remember me."
"How could I forget? You've been my best friend since Kindergarten! I'd never forget you. Anyway, where are you staying?" Sara always had a way of ruining a perfectly good moment.
"With my dad's sister in Sacramento."
"Sacramento? No! Tell her you're staying with me. That's way too far. I won't allow it. You're staying with me in Los Angeles." Man, Sara could be stubborn sometimes, but that's what I love about her. When she wants something, she has her mind set on getting it.
Katie pulled out her phone and texted her aunt Erin. She put up a fight about not being able to see her, but Katie made plans to visit which made her feel a little better. Katie was finally gaining some independence.
"So..you drive now?" Katie broke the silence.
"Yeah. I got my license back in January. I have my own place too. With a little help from my parents."
"Really? Wow, that's crazy."
"Yeah. It's nothing spectacular, but it's pretty big for two people. 3 bedroom, 2 baths, a big ass kitchen that I just know you'll love, a good sized living room, and a patio that overlooks nothing. Literally nothing. You can get a nice view of some grass and the house next door and that's pretty much it. Oh, and at night the patio is pretty much the only place you'll be able to see the stars."
"That sounds amazing. When I get a job, I'll help you pay rent and utilities, don't worry." Katie assured Sara.
"Oh no. It's okay. My parents helped me buy the house. It's mine. And my parents too I guess, but I'm the only one who lives there. And you now too I guess-"
"Okay, Sara. I get it. I hope you don't mind, but my dad should be sending out some of my boxes sometime a week or two from now."
"It's cool. We're here! Welcome to mi casa." Katie stared in awe. Nothing spectacular? This is crazy big. I guess I'm just not used to having this much money. Katie pulled her backpack and a suitcase out of the trunk and lugged it to the door only to find that Sara had been several steps ahead and was inside with Katie's other suitcase and her duffle bag. Am I really that weak? Katie asked herself self-consciously.
"Leave your bags here in the living room. We're going out."
"Now?" Katie asked. She had been wearing Jean shorts and an oversized Johnny Cupcakes sweater for her whole flight and the night before she left for Cali. She was in no condition to be going anywhere.
"Just come. I need to pick up something from James before he goes off to Stanford." Sara said nonchalantly, picking up her keys and hustling outside. Stanford? James got into Stanford?