Let's Be Birds (OLD VERSION)

☀23☀

I wake up the next morning with the sun shining down on me through the big wide open window. Hannah is lying on the couch while I'm on the floor and she's still fast asleep.

Last night we got to Chloe and Mason's apartment and hung out until late. My mom facetimed me and screamed when she saw Chloe, telling her she'd send a care package when she could. Then we all pigged out and ate Chinese food before going to bed.

At first, Chloe seemed hesitant of Hannah but as the night went on, she warmed up to her quite a lot. They bonded over their mutual love of embarrassing me while I sat with an annoyed Mason who refused to talk to me like an adult. I really don't like him.

Today we're going to see the Statue of Liberty. I poke Hannah awake and she groans at me a bunch of times before waking up.

"What do you want? I'm trying to have a food coma here,"

I sit up and stretch. "That's what you get for eating all those chicken balls last night," I tell her. She hits me with her pillow and I laugh. "You excited?"

She yawns and nods. "I've always wanted to see Lady Liberty, this will be great,"

Clementine mews, waking up too. She slept on a blanket last night and for once didn't scratch me so I'm grateful.

I stand up, stretching again and then go to look out of the window. There's only apartment buildings and skyscrapers as far as I can see, connecting together like some sort of urban web. Even though I'm from a big city back in Florida, I begin to feel like some kind of country bumpkin, standing here and being small in New York.

"How are you doing by the way?" Hannah asks me. She comes to stand next to me.

"I'm good," I tell her and smile. "Today's gonna be fun,"

She sighs. "Yeah. What are we gonna do after Ellis Island though?"

"Chloe said she had a plan for the day so I'm not too bothered. What time is it?"

"Er..." Hannah pulls her phone from her pocket. "Six thirty!"

I gasp. "Really? That early?"

She shrugs and then goes back to lie down. "We always wake up early, Nate, I'm not even surprised. But I am hungry,"

We sit down and chat for about thirty minutes before Hannah goes to take a shower. She comes out looking refreshed and buzzed. It's still only the two of us awake though which I realise is normal for me now. Last night I was feeling weird about Hannah and Chloe being together despite the fact they were bonding. I don't like feeling like this, I hope it goes away.

It's almost nine when Chloe emerges from her room, still half asleep. Hannah and I are already showered and have eaten some oatmeal as per tradition and she peers at us as if we're foreign objects.

"Hey Chlo!" I wave at her then decide to give her a hug.

She rubs her eyes and squints at me. "Why are you up so early?"

"It's nearly nine," I defend lamely. "That's not early,"

"Who even are you?" She says, disgusted.

Hannah chuckles and stands up. "We're still going to The Statue of Liberty, right?" She asks. Chloe yawns and nods a few times.

"Yeah, Mase and I were planning to leave at like... two?"

I share a look with Hannah, telling me that we're thinking the same thing. She looks between us, her eyes finally out of the squint position and blinks a few times. "What?"