The Original Four

Chapter 8

After the carnival, Daniel and Kate parted their separate ways and raced back to their houses. They had exciting dinner plans to look forward to. Before Olivia joined them at the fair, Nick had called, informing her that he was driving down to San Francisco to meet everyone. Nick hadn't seen Kate since graduation and was dying to reconnect with one of his best friends from long, long ago. In the end, a dinner was arranged for seven o'clock at Bertolucci's, and the four best friends from grammar school were reuniting after eight years of no contact.

Olivia, being his girlfriend, was far more than excited. She knocked on Kate's door an hour later and begged for her help to get ready. The girls were dressed in tight, fitted dresses with a high pair of black heels. Olivia's was red, far more daring than the angel-white on Kate's. Both girls looked gorgeous, stunning even. Their hair was curled into loose ringlets, made to perfection.

.

"Wow. That's crazy!" the three exclaim all at once.

"I think it's awesome that Nick is coming out to see Kate," the girl says. "It's so sweet."

The boys give her a look. "Isn't Kate happy?"

"Let find out," I say as I send them a smile.

.

"Aren't you excited?" Olivia asks Kate as she applies the final touches to her makeup.

"Yeah," she replies a little too quickly. "It's just . . . I haven't seen Nick since-"

"Eighth grade," she interrupts. "I get it. You're nervous, but there's really no reason to be. Nick is still the same, stupid guy you knew from grammar school."

Kate smiles at her. "So nothing really has changed then."

The two of them crack up laughing and get their bags together. They slowly walk down the stairs. "Finally," they hear Daniel whine from the bottom of the staircase. "How long does it take for two grown women to- Woah."

"What?" Kate asks, feeling more than embarrassed.

"Y- you look . . . " Daniel pauses. He doesn't say another word as he continues to stare at her, his eyes widening.

Olivia rolls her eyes at him. She walks up to Daniel and closes his once open mouth. "I think he meant to say that you look beautiful."

"More than that," Daniel chimes. "But no word can describe how perfect you are."

Kate blushes, and Olivia scrunches her face. "God, I really hate couples sometimes. Can we go now? My boyfriend is probably already there!"

.

They arrive at Bertolucci's, and Kate is far more than nervous. She and Nick were just as close as she was with Olivia and Daniel, only their friendship had a lot more meaning to it. She's dating his best friend, and he's dating hers. Nick and Olivia could deny it all they want, but Daniel and Kate knew they liked each other back in grammar school- it was rather obvious.

Daniel holds the door open, leading the girls into the dim lit restaurant. He brings them toward the bar and then walks away to let the host know they have arrived.

"Is Nick here?" Kate asks Olivia.

She shakes her head no as a smile creeps onto her face. "You can sit here at the bar while we wait. I'll be right back; I need to use the bathroom." Very confused, Kate does at told. The bar stool is uncomfortable, and the only thing that can make her feel better, is a drink.

Someone sits next to her, and Kate turns around to see an attractive young man. "Wow," he says with a charming smile. "A lovely dinner and a beautiful girl to go with it."

Kate turns a deep shade of red as she's not used to getting many compliments from people other than Daniel. "Oh . . . Thank you."

"May I buy you a drink?" he asks her.

"I'm sorry, but my boyfriend is over there and-"

The man starts laughing and pulls her in for a hug. "Oh, how I've missed you and your sense of humor!" he rejoices. "Kate Mitchell, it has been way too long!"

She gently pushes the man off of her, a smile making it's way onto her face. "Nick Howard?" Nick nods his head, and Kate crushes him into yet another hug. "I've missed you so much!"

"I've missed you too! It's great to see you again."

The Original Four is back together.