I've Known Your Name

The Meet Up

It's been 10 years now and once again it's my turn to pull on the Big Pink Ballerina Bunny Princess costume. It was a perfect autumn afternoon as one by one all six of us made our way to Heather's grave. Everyone was there and had the food spread out on the picnic blanket, Heather's mom had given us a few years in to our promise, when I showed up.

"Your destiny is inevitable no matter how late you show up, Sunnie." Cole laughed as he shoved a slice of pizza into his mouth.

"I'm sorry," I half smiled as I sat down in between Laurel and Cassie, "The drive was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be."

"Don't worry about it sweetie." Cassie soothed in her best mom voice. "I hired my babysitter all night," she winked.

"She's right," Lincoln agreed. "We shouldn't expect anything different from the girl that showed up late to the opening of her own art show."

"Geez guys, I love you too." I laughed sarcastically.

After we all caught up Jarrod pulled out his guitar and started to play a few of Heather's favorite songs. "Ten years and I can still feel the bruise she left me when I said Patrick Stump had less than par vocals," he laughed as he plucked the chords of Sugar, We're Going Down.

"Yep, there was no messing around when it came to her music," Cole agreed. "Do you remember when Cassie asked her who Kurt Cobain was?"

Laurel chuckled, "She made her wear that t-shirt that said 'I'm as terrible as Courtney Love' to school before she would even talk to her again!"

"Okay, okay! That's enough!" A red faced Cassie grumbled as she tried to calm the group down. Lincoln was purple he was laughing so hard. "I think this is the real reason why we're all here," she said as she pulled out an old grungy brown suitcase that was covered in stickers, ticket stubs and pictures that were we considered the proof that we were keeping our promise.

As Cassie pulled the Big Pink Ballerina Bunny Princess costume out of its case we all cringed. The costume had definitely seen better days. Imagining where the stains came from could make your stomach churn. The year we were all finally legally able to drink was as mysterious as the brown spot on the leg of the costume. No matter how many times we had gotten professionally cleaned, some spots just wouldn't go away. "Here you go, Sunnie." She smiled as she handed me the costume.

"Do you see the cute outfit I am covering up for you Heather?" I jokingly grumble as I tug the costume up over my shoulders and zip it.

"Strike a pose Sunnie!" Lincoln laughs as he snaps a photo that will later be stuck onto the suitcase.

As we clean up the mess we made a tingle ran up my spine as if Heather was assuring me that something great was in the near future. "You better be right." I whisper. "I'm moving back." I blurt out to everyone else.

"Oh my gosh, really?" Cassie squels.

"Wait, you mean to tell me your brother is cool with this?" Jarrod asks before getting excited.

"Adam is definitely not okay with it." I admit, "but it's not up to him. All of you are my family also and I'm tired of being so far away."

"This is going to be so great!" Laurel yells jumping up and down as we do a round of excited hugs.

"Let's get this night started!" I whoop as we make our way out of the tiny cemetery.