Reconnect: The Story of an old flame

Part 20: Surprises and Sunshine

2002

"A what now?" I asked as I read the flier again. 

"A cook out and pool party." Amy repeated with an eye brow raised. 

"With them?" Brenda asked, taking a chicken strip and dipping it in her ketchup. She and Meg sat opposite each other on a bench in front of the cafeteria which faced the parking lot. Amy and I were crouched on the floor, our legs spread out in front of us as she worked on some cheese fries and played with my water bottle. 

"Yeah." I said, leaning on my hands. 

"I'm not going." Amy said. 

"Me either." I mumbled. 

"That's hardly sporting of the section leader." Meg said with a chuckle, making me frown. 

"Funny." I muttered. 

"God, It's so weird. Seeing you out there with them in the afternoons, chanting before dismissal about your band pride." She said, teasing me. 

"Shut up. Everyone has to say that cheer." I said distastefully. 

"Especially section leaders." Brenda said, joining in. 

"Leave her alone guys, she's actually a pretty good section leader." Amy said, trying to be kind. 

"Can we stop calling me that? You guys are going to ruin my reputation." I said. 

"What reputation?" Meg asked in surprise. 

"If people hear you saying that they're going to start thinking of me as... responsible." I said, making them laugh. 

"You certainly are." Meg said, looking at me seriously. "You're changing."

"Maturing." Brenda added, somehow managing to get ketchup in her hair. 

"Whatever." I said, folding the paper and stuffing it into my bag. "I'm not going."

"Where?"

We turned to the voice coming up from behind us. It was Kelly. 

"Hey!" I said with a smile, waiving to her as she approached. 

"Hi!" She said, smiling at everyone. Although they all knew each other, Kelly was realistically only my friend, even if we didn't spend much time together since we started high school. 

"Hey Kelly, how are you?" Brenda asked sweetly. 

"Good-  and you?" Kelly asked, looking at Meg who smiled briefly. To this day I  don't understand why those two never quite got along. 

"Good, starving." Brenda replied, taking a bite from another chicken strip. 

"Me too." Kelly said, looking back down at me. I was sitting in the sun, while Amy hid in the shade, my head tossed back as I enjoyed the warmth. 

"You lost weight." She said, looking me over. 

"Nope." I mumbled. 

"Seems like." Kelly replied.

"It's cause her boobs grew over the summer." Meg said making us all chuckle. 

"Stop." I said, shaking my head. This was kinda true- I'd gone threw a growth spurt and came back 3 inches taller and two bra sizes up. It was embarrassing. 

"Maybe." Kelly said, still looking me over. 

"It's the clothes- they fit me baggy." I said simply, an explanation everyone seemed to accept but Amy just quietly stared in my direction.