Sober.

2 // These Times Are Changing

"Remember when we used to think we had it all. I held on tight to it all. I held on tight to the constant reminder of what we used to be, what we used to have."

- Reminders (Written by Shea Avery on April 3rd, 2013)

Then what catches me off guard is the voice. The voice is one that is familiar, but one I haven't heard in countless years. The slight scratch and southern accent that only comes from the heart of South Carolina, my home, his home. 

"Shea?" He repeats again from behind me. I take a slight breath in before facing what or who I dreaded of facing for years. 

"Hunter." I give a light smile and look the tall dark haired boy up and down, he hasn't aged a day, but the stress of life is present on his face.

"Wow." We both mumble under our breath at the same time and we both let out a light chuckle after but the serious tone is quickly brought back.

"You're alive." He states and looks my raggedy body up and down a few times. "Um... maybe not doing so well then?"

"You caught me at my worst moment."

"I figured, you the great Shea Avery being homeless? I couldn't see that in any universe. But seeing Shea Avery in New York? That is one I would have never guessed." He looked puzzled and still presently shocked that I stood in front of him. I'm equally as in shock that Clem never told him I was okay.

"Clem never told you where I went?" I pushed wanting to know what Clem, the only person back home who knew where I ran off to, gave away to our friends.

"He knew!?" Hunter's hands flew to his head in complete and utter shock to the news that Clem knew this whole time. Anger quickly entered his face but then differently when he realized I was in front of him and alive.

"Hunter, he knew the whole time. He tried to talk me out of leaving." I breathe finally telling someone what had happened that night before I moved to New York.

"Damn, that boy should have tried damn harder. Shea the town was a wreck when we found you gone. No one knew why." 

"That's a story for another day. Another day when i'm ready to tell it." I leave dissipated to his vivid curiosity.

"Okay Shea Avery, i'm just happy you're in front of me and alive." He hugs me tightly and I end up dropping the pizza.

"Where are you going with all that pizza?" He questions as he leans down to pick up the box and hand it back to me. 

"I'm going over to Rae's for a girl's night." I smile then I see his face drop a bit, he knew she was here, they all did. "What?" I question trying to read an answer from his expression.

"Nothing... I just haven't seen her in person since the graduation party." He tries to remember that night, but we both knew he didn't from the high intake of alcohol most of us drank.

"Well want to come with me?" I smile hoping he would say yes, but also hoping he would say no for Rae's sake.

"I would normal be in... but I have to get somewhere." He checks his phone quickly. "Right now. Shea it was amazing seeing you again, we've gotta do dinner tomorrow night?" He asks with a large amount of hope, who could blame the boy, I did completely dip out of his life once with zero warning.

"Sounds great, i'll be there." I smile and he gives me a quick hug and starts darting down the side walk but quickly comes to a ominously to yell "I'LL GET YOUR NUMBER FROM CLEM ! SEE YOU LATER SHEA!!!!" before turning back around and halt in a split second.

I smile to myself and continue in the opposite direction to Rae's loft a few blocks down. 

When I arrive I hear the faint noise of the TV playing an episode of blue's clues in the background with Anna laughing quietly in the background. I follow the noise into the family room that connected to the kitchen. Rae had Anna James wrapped up in her arms explaining and making jokes about the show they watched. I watched them for a few moments before clearing my throat. Both quickly shot their eyes over to me in fear but relaxed when they realized who I was. Anna quickly smiled and waved to me, the poor girl was half asleep, if not already asleep in her mind. Rae then gave me a light smile before picking Anna up and walking over to me being careful not to wake her.

"Do you mind putting her to bed? I'll take the pizza." Rae whispers and I set the box on the counter and take Anna from her arms. Anna little body instantly wraps around me for dear life and I smile down at the young girl thinking of what could have been. 

"I love you Anna James." I coo as I step into the overly pink and purple room and set her drop in her bed. She instantly latches onto her stuffed dog she disappearing named Carolina, in honor of where her family is from, and I tuck her into her bed.

"Aunt Shea?" She whispers in her half asleep state.

"Yes honey?" I smile and sit on the edge of the bed waiting for her request of most likely a glass of water.

"Why are my eyes blue buy mommy's are brown?" She questions. I smile down at her and give her a accurately answer. "Because you are a miracle, and miracles get pretty blue eyes." I smile and kiss her forehead.

Before she can reply she falls asleep and I exit the room and over to the pizza, already with multiple pieces missing.

"Thanks for saving some for me." I laugh and pick up a large slice of pizza. I make my way over to the couch and jump down next to Rae who is trying to find a movie but I snatch the remote from her before she can do anything else.

"Hey! What was that for?!" Rae yelled and tried to snatch the remote back but I move away and begin to talk. " I saw Hunter." I speak and the room, even only occupied by the two of us, falls silent.

"You what..?" She turns her whole body towards mine.

"I saw Hunter. Just now. I mean on the way here." I answer and I let the information sink in for her.

"But I thought he still lived in Carolina?" 

"He does... I think... Clem hasn't told me anything differently." I explain and wonder actually why he was here and meeting someone.

"Well, did you guys talk?" 

"Yes. Clem told no one where I went. He said he was going to meet someone and that we would meet to get dinner tomorrow night." I recall tonights past event.

"Wow... that's just... wow. I can't believe Clem actually told no one.. But i'm more surprised Hunter didn't stop by." 

"Are you surprised you guys didn't end on the greatest terms."

"Yeah I guess you are right." She shrugs and takes the remote from me. I take that as a cue to stop talking about Hunter... Because I knew it would only trigger hundreds of memories for Rae... One being the graduation party.