Flowers & Benches

Year One (College) and Aster

Caitlyn met Lianna at a coffee shop on Main Street. She found her best friend sitting on a bench holding an aster and three coffees. "Gee took you long enough to find the place," Lianna mutters sarcastically, Caitlyn just laughs and accepts the coffee and flower. 

"Sorry Lee. Aiden and I were at breakfast and ran overtime." Lianna snorts at her best friend's lame excuse. "Where's Liz?" Caitlyn asks referring to their roommate and new friend. 

"She's on her way. The teacher stopped her about something." Lianna replies, Caitlyn grins.

"First day and she's already in trouble." Caitlyn giggles, Lianna shakes her head and laughs.

"So how's your boy-toy?" Lianna asks, making Caitlyn scowls.

"He's not my 'boy-toy' Lee. He's my boyfriend, and I'd appreciate it if you would actually try to like him. You're making him uncomfortable, with how rude you're always being to him." Caitlyn reprimands, Lianna wrinkles her nose.

"I make him uncomfortable??" Lianna asks disbelievingly, Caitlyn groans. "He so annoying, Cait!! I can't stand the guy. When you leave us in a room together he just stares at me.  It's annoying! Then he talks... Cait!!!!! He's soooooo boring!! He just talks about the history of music and he never shuts up!!!" Lianna complains, Caitlyn can't help but agree in her head, not that's she'd ever tell Lianna that.

"Lee, just because you hate history, doesn't mean everyone does," Caitlyn tells her best friend, who just shrugs. 

"How's Joey?" Lianna asks changing the subject.

"He's okay. I spoke to him last night. He's excited about seventh grade, I still don't get why he likes school so much!" Caitlyn half explains and half complains, Lianna laughs at her surrogate brother's antics, another young woman runs over.

"Sorry, I'm late!! Professor Chapman had to stop me about well... you Cait." Elisabeth announces, taking her coffee from Lianna and sitting in a chair, Caitlyn looks at her startled. 

"About me?" Caitlyn asks confused, Elisabeth nods and takes a sip of her coffee. "What about me?"

"Well not exactly about you per say, more about some guy you knew. She said that her son taught your best friend in first grade and remembers you. Professor also said that a Mr. Chapman said to tell you and a Carter hello." Elisabeth explains, Caitlyn looks at her still startled, Lianna laughs at her best friend's face.

"Oh my gosh! I remember when Cart had Mr. Chapman! I had Ms. Brown, myself. Who did you have?" Lianna asks Caitlyn still laughing, Caitlyn shakes her head a little like she's trying to dispel unpleasing thoughts. 

"Uh... Miss Young." Caitlyn replies quickly, "Thanks, Liz. Uh... Lee... tell Carter please." Caitlyn shivers a bit, Elisabeth stares at her.

"Why don't you tell him? Isn't he your best friend? Come to think of it, neither of you has ever mentioned a Carter." Elisabeth says perceptually, Caitlyn and Lianna freeze some.

"Yea..." Lianna whispers, "She doesn't talk to him anymore." 

"Why not?" Elisabeth asks innocently, Lianna glances at her best friend for permission, Caitlyn nods.

"Because they were best friends since kindergarten. Then I became best friends with Cait and the three of us were best friends. Then I moved the summer before seventh grade, Cait and Cart were alone again. When they were in eighth grade he kissed her. They had some weird unofficial relationship. When they started ninth grade, he asked her to be his girlfriend and said he loved her. She said it back and they were the perfect couple. She was a cheerleader and he was on the football team. They were absolutely in love. But then her parents got divorced at the end of ninth grade. She and her dad moved to LA and the it couple broke up. They haven't talked since. Something about not wanting to hear about the other moving on." Lianna explains, rolling her eyes at the last bit. "Which makes no sense." She points out to Caitlyn, who shrugs.