Worth Everything.

Welcome Home.

NINI
The small group hang at Jared's soon turned into the whole class house party and I can assure you after getting that text, Em and Kaia made sure to get some alcohol through me. Nothing says friendship more than 6 shots of tequila each as well as various other alcoholic beverages my friends gave me throughout the night. Not the wisest choice to make when you have a 2 hour flight the next day, but fuck it, I needed one more good night with these people before I head back to Salt Lake, and especially to distract me from, well, ya know.
It was a pretty good night all in all. We ate and drank, danced and sang, and laughed and cried, and just remembered and reminisced on everything we did together over the last couple years and before we knew it, I was hugging my friends at the airport and saying goodbye.

I've flown the same flight too many times to count, and it's a fairly easy trip. Of course this time I'm flying with a killer hangover and my parents are doing nothing but laughing at my expense. Assholes. Usually I'll watch a movie, or read a book, but I can't look down without feeling like I'm going to vomit. It also doesn't help that the person next to me took their shoes off, so I can smell their fucking feet, like isn't it a universal rule to not take your shoes off on a flight! Chill out, Nini, I think to myself as I catch myself getting frustrated. Ugh, hangovers suck. Alcohol is shit, people. Don't drink, like ever. The only logical thing to do right now is sleep. That or smack the girl next to me with one of her shoes. Somehow, sleep wins.

Mama D wakes me up after the flight has ended, and the plane is almost empty. Thankful for the nap I got in, I'm already feeling much more refreshed than I did two hours ago. We head down the steps and make our way inside to grab our luggage. As we wait, I turn my phone off airplane mode and my notifications start blowing up. I'm home, I think happily as I read all of my friends texts making plans to hang out. Before I get the chance to reply, I hear someone scream "NINIIIII!", and turn to see Kourtney running towards me and scoop me into her arms,
"Welcome home Neeners," Kourtney tells me, as I hug my best friend for the first time in three months.
"Glad to be home, Kourt" I say back to her slightly tearily, still enveloped in each other's arms. Don't get me wrong, I love my friends from YAC. Em is one of my favorite people ever, but nobody compares to my forever friend, Kourtney. She is my rock, my family, my sister and I'm so grateful for her. The only other person who ever topped Kourtney was.. no. Stop thinking about him.
"Okay girl, I know you're nursing a hangover right now, but I've already made plans with the entire crew and we're having a a party at Ash's tonight." Kourtney says, disrupting my thoughts,
"A party last night, and a party tonight. Who do you think I am?" I grin at her. I know I said I hate alcohol, but sue me. I'm a teenager. Let me have some fun. I'll definitely regret it later tho.
"Not before she unpacks all her bags though, right Nins?" Mama C says as she walks toward us with my luggage in hand. I'm so lucky to have my parents, they trust me enough to know I'll make good decisions and be safe on nights like this. Blessed with the best.
"Of course Mom, I know the deal by now." I respond, as we walk arm and arm towards Kourts car.
She offered to pick us up as opposed to taking an Uber home, like seriously, what a blessing!
By the time we get to the car, I'm on my third litre of water, and feeling pretty darn good. Tonight should be a good night catching up with everyone.
The drive home was full of my moms filling Kourtney in about the graduation ceremony, and my valedictorian speech, and how proud they are of me. I chime in every now and then, but for the most part I just look out the window, basking in the beauty of my home and feeling so grateful to be back. It's been almost 11 months since I've been here; with all the studying and university applications as well as performing most recently as Zoe Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen, life's been a tad too busy to come back to Salt Lake. Of course there is the other reason, the biggest reason, the I don't want to talk about it reason. "Drink some more water baby, you look a little pale." Mama D instructs me. Hmm.