The Ice Cream Shop

(12 years ago)

Aria's P.O.V

"Hi my name is Arianna, you can call me Aria." I smile at the girl in front of as I raised out my hand to her. 

"I'm Lola," The girl replied and crossed her arms.

I didn't know what to say, my parents always taught me to shake someones hand when I first met them. But, I was 7 and I sure didn't know what to do if the other person didn't raise out theirs. 

"Um," I looked down at my bright pink shoes. "Why didn't you shake my hand?" I asked the girl.

She giggled, "You're silly, Aria. Only big adult people shake hands."

Then I crossed my arms, "I'm big! I am 7 years old and I'll be 8 on May 22!"

Lola smiled at me, "I mean like grandma and grandpa old. We're like teenagers! Teenagers don't shake hands."

"What do we do then?"

She shrugged, 'I guess we just talk." I laughed and then smiled at her, "Will you come to the swing set with me?" I asked. She jumped up, "I'll race you there!" We laughed and started running toward the swings.

And that is how our little friendship turned from us being little 7 years olds, to big 19 year olds.

~

(Present time)

Aria's P.O.V

I smiled as I drove by the familiar streets and stores. It was exciting come back home for summer break. Its been one year too long from being in town. After graduation, Lola and I tried to keep in touch but college got too busy and we just stopped talking one day. I sighed, was it going to be awkward between the two of us? I reassured myself, we've been best friends for 12 years we'll be fine. I grinned as I drove onto my street. I drove by familiar houses and finally stopped at my house. I stopped driving, and parked my car into the driveway. I could see my old swing set in the back yard and my 'play house' that I use to play in all the time. I laughed and went to the back of my car and opened the trunk. 

"Arianna! Sweetie!" I smiled and turned around and saw my mother running down the steps over to me. 

"Mom!" I flung my arms around her neck. "I missed you so much," I muffled into her neck as I hugged her.

"Oh Aria," I heard my dad. "Daddy!' I said and hugged him.

My mom squealed, "Oh honey, we've missed you so much! Hows college? Do you have any new friends? Any boy friends?" 

"Give her some space, hun. She just got home, stop flusstering her." My dad said as he got my suit cases out of the trunk, "What do you have in here? You're old mans getting old." he joked as he started walking into the house. I raced after him, "Enough stuff to last me until September." 

"You know, your mother and I are fine if you live in our basement until you're 30." he said putting my suitcases down at the bottom of the stairs. I kissed the top of his head, "Thanks, but I'll have to pass." I grabbed my stuff and started walking up stairs to my old room. 

"Dinner will  be ready at 6:30!" I heard my mom say, right before I closed the door. "Okay!" I yelled back and flopped down on my bed. I looked around the room. It really had't change since I left last summer. The only thing different were my sheets. I took out my phone and looked for Lola's contacts.

I pressed on her name and pressed my phone against my ear. It rang a couple times then,

"Hello? Aria?"