Jeremy pulled up the car in front of The London Trocadero, a place that had always felt like a magical playground to me. It wasn't my first visit here; I had spent countless hours playing arcade games and watching movies in this bustling entertainment hub. Today, though, was special because Hannah had suggested we meet here and spend the entire day together. Jeremy, ever the protective older brother, had offered to hang out with us and keep an eye on things, a gesture our parents had gladly accepted.
As we stepped out of the car, the energy of the weekend crowd hit me immediately. The Trocadero was alive with the sounds of laughter, the clinking of arcade machines, and the chatter of families enjoying their day. Jeremy and I made our way to Starbucks, our designated meeting spot, but I could already tell I was running late. The vibrant atmosphere was electric, filled with people rushing around, eager for their weekend adventures.
I pushed open the door to Starbucks and scanned the room, my eyes sweeping over the sea of faces. Then, I spotted them—Hannah, Ernie, and Justin, huddled together and engrossed in animated conversation. It was as if the universe had conspired to bring their attention to me, for they all turned in unison and their faces lit up with recognition. A wave of warmth and nostalgia washed over me as I smiled broadly, unable to contain my excitement.
Without hesitation, I hurried over to them, my heart racing with joy. "Guys!" I exclaimed, and before anyone could respond, I enveloped them all in a tight group hug. Our laughter and shouts of happiness filled the space, drawing curious glances from the surrounding patrons who seemed both amused and slightly annoyed by our exuberance.
Jeremy, observing the chaos with a bemused smile, intervened with his usual practicality. "You guys better sit down; I'll take care of getting everything." He gently ushered us towards a table while he went off to fetch our drinks and snacks.
As we settled into our seats, the conversations flowed effortlessly. "I missed you all so much!" I said, my voice tinged with genuine emotion as I looked around at my friends. The familiar faces and the shared history made this reunion feel incredibly special.
"Don't get all sappy on me," Ernie said with a smirk, though his eyes betrayed his own happiness. "I missed you too," he added, his grin widening as we all laughed together.
Our conversation quickly shifted to our respective vacations. Ernie was practically vibrating with excitement as he talked about his time in Romania. "You wouldn't believe how amazing the dragons are," he said, his eyes shining with the thrill of his experiences. "I've never seen anything like it."
Hannah, never one to be overshadowed, jumped in with her own stories. "France was incredible," she said, her voice carrying a note of sophistication. "I ate soufflé every day. It was like living in a dream."
As the day unfolded, we lost ourselves in a whirlwind of laughter, stories, and the shared joy of being together again. The Trocadero buzzed around us, but in that corner of Starbucks, it felt like time had paused, allowing us to savor every moment of our reunion.
Justin and I exchanged amused glances as we were asked about our vacation activities. We chimed in simultaneously, "Video games, TV, books, and pizza," causing an eruption of laughter. Hannah and Ernie looked at us with raised eyebrows, clearly intrigued.
"What?" Hannah asked, puzzled.
"I haven't moved off my couch since the day I arrived back from Hogwarts," I said, taking a sip of my coffee, my voice laden with a mix of boredom and contentment.
"And I haven't put the controller down since I arrived back," Justin added, his tone matching mine.
"Well, at least I can understand Justin's obsession with gaming," Hannah said, still looking bemused. "But I thought you were planning to go to Scotland?"
