Am I Dreaming?

Grace

Today is the day. I get to see Grace! It's 8:30am and my phone rings.
"Hey Lauren! Come over to my place. We've just got here and I could use some help unpacking. And I also really want to see you, like , now!" Speak of the devil, it's Grace. She says everything in one breath, making it hard to understand. But I did.
"What's the address and I'll be right over." I say, too excited to express.
Within 10 minutes of walking, I was at Grace's new house. It was huge. Both bedrooms had ensuite bathrooms and walk in closets. Those are going to be fun.
After 3 and a half hours, Grace is completely unpacked except for one box labelled fragile. I gingerly peel back the packing tape and tears spike behind my eyes. I hear Grace's bare feet pat against the hardwood as she makes her way over. One by one I lift the objects from the box.
A picture album is first. It's filled with pictures of Grace and I at my birthday parties. I flip though it. Horseback riding, high school musical, night owl sleepover, rock climbing, and, the most recent, paint balling.
Next, I pull out a clay heart on a stand the I made for Grace on Valentine's Day in 2014. It's cracked in one spot, but otherwise okay.
I pull out a couple loose pictures from the cottages , friendship bracelets, a pair of pyjama pants with its matching pillowcase that I made, tattered monster high dolls that we would play with for hours... and then I stop. In the bottom of the box is a framed photo. I pick it up. It's our grade 1 class picture.
"Take it out of the frame." Chokes Grace. I look at her and she's crying. "Go on. Open it and flip the picture over."
So I do. On the back of the picture Grace had written something, obviously being young at the time. It read;
This year has been asom! My favourit part was when Lauren came up to me at the sandbox and said "do you want to be frends?" I like this because I only hav her as a frend and I lov her. We are going to be BFFs!
Grace and I are both crying now. I carefully put the photo back in the frame and place it on her dresser. I hug her tight.
"BFFs." I whisper.
"Best friends forever." She replies.

•••

The next day, at school, I introduce Grace to all of my friends... it doesn't take very long...
Jasmine, Melody, and Grace caught on very well. With Oliver, it's awkward.
"So," starts Grace. "You're the lucky guy who is dating my BFF?"
     Oliver nods.
"I hope you're treating her like a queen."
Here we go. I'm pretty sure Oliver sees me roll my eyes because a worried expression presents itself on his face.
     "She loves animals, horses specifically, drinks tea, not coffee. She doesn't like it when you hold her hand and your hands are sweaty. If you walk slowly in front of her or gradually walk sideways into her, she will want to kill you. Take her to the movies and put your arm around her because that's what she's always wanted. Buy her chocolates, not flowers on Valentine's Day, because flowers die. Food comes first with her, and I will always be her first love."
By the end of this lecture, Oliver is silent. I didn't even know Grace could talk that fast, I can't imagine how intimidated Oliver is now, this being their first encounter. I link my arm with Oliver's and shoot Grace a look silently saying; quit it, you're gonna scare him away. I can tell she understands because she calms her rigid posture and starts up a more friendly conversation with Oliver and I.
The bell for school goes and we all make our way to our classes. Lunch comes fairly quickly, but leaves even quicker, and it's the end of the day before we know it. I walk Grace home and, just as I'm stepping off of her doorstep, she calls out to me.
"Lauren! I want you to meet my cousin, Annabel!"
Just as she says this, a tall brunette waves through the window. I head back inside and look her head to foot. She's taller than me, but shorter than Oliver. Thin, but healthy looking. Her brown hair stops at her mid back and her blossomed lips smile at me while her brown eyes sparkle. I smile back, get to know her a bit, discovering she's the same age as me, and then I excuse myself and head home.
Oliver texts me.
-Hey. I'm heading to Starbucks. Meet me there?
-See you soon, then! ;)
When I arrive at Starbucks, I see Oliver waving me over. He's already bought me my go-to drink. I knew I picked the right boy...
We sit down at a booth and talk about school, home, and then about Grace.
"She cares about you." He says. "I don't think I'll be able to remember half the things she told me to do for you..." he lets out a chuckle and I laugh.
"You're not my best friend, though. You're my boyfriend, and you've already proved that you love me. Grace is very protective. She wants the best for me, and she knows that that's you."
We both smile, and, when we've finished our drinks, we walk home. On the way, we continue our conversations and share some laughs. Too soon, we're in my yard.
Oliver loops his hand around my lower back and pulls me into him. He gingerly presses his lips to mine. I love it when he does this. It's like every kiss is our first kiss all over again...
My hands move up to his hair, as if they have a mind of their own, and his strong arms hold me against him. I link my arms around his shoulder blades and he runs his fingers through my hair. I never want this to end.
But it does. Oliver goes home, and I'm left thinking about him. God, I love that boy.

This chapter was a bit calmer. Lauren and Grace caught up and reflected on some milestones. We met Annabel. Oliver and Lauren are still happy together...
Remember, every healthy relationship has problems. What do Lauren and Oliver have in store?
P.S. The spelling errors in the text on the back of the class photo are intentional. I was mimicking being in the first grade.