The Distance

A Reunion of an Old Friend

The next day, Tara woke up from a divine smell. She got out of bed and saw Roxy cooking breakfast in the kitchen. "Morning, T.", Roxy replied with a smile. "Morning, Rox.", Tara replied. "I made you all breakfast.", Roxy replied.

Roxy finished cooking the last plate of breakfast, before serving it onto the table. On the dining table, was a plate of two slices of toast, two fried eggs and 3 strips of bacon with a glass of orange juice. "Wow, Rox! This looks amazing.", Tara replied.

"Thanks. Harls, breakfast is ready!", Roxy called out. Harlow came out and join the girls for breakfast. "Alright, girls. Dig in!", Roxy smiled and the three girls enjoyed their breakfast before getting ready for their first day of uni.

"Come on, girls. You're ready?", Roxy asked. "Yeah, we're ready.", Harlow replied. "So, how are we going to get to the university?", Tara asked. "Don't worry, I have a car.", Roxy replied, jingling her car keys and they all left the apartment and drove to Sydney University.

After a 30 minute drive, the girls arrived to Sydney University. The girls get their timetable schedules and get their books ready for their first class. "We better get to class now.", Roxy replied. "But we'll see you at lunch.", Harlow replied.

"Ok, see you guys later.", Tara replied. The three girls waved goodbye and went their separate ways to their class. As Tara was walking to the first lesson, she bumps into some guy, who was running from behind, making her drop her books.

"Hey!", she yelled. "My god, I am so sorry.", he cried. "Well watch out next time!", Tara yelled. "Sorry, here let me help you.", he replied, kneeling down and gathering her books. Tara kneel to collect them and looked at the guy with confusion.

Then she spotted a key chained around his neck. "Noah?", she asked. He looks at her when she said his name. "I'm sorry, do I know you?", he asked. He looked at her and recognised her locket. He takes off his key necklace from his neck. "May I?", he asked. Tara didn't say a word but nodded.

Noah inserts the key into her locket and it opens. He slowly takes the locket in his hands and opens it, revealing an old photo of him inside. He looked up at her instantly. "Tara...", he sighed. "Yes, Noah. It's me.", Tara sighed. Noah cried with joy as he hugs her tight.

Tara was surprised by his embrace and hugs him back with tears of joy. "I can't believe it's you!", Noah cried. "It is me!", Tara cried, as the two long-lost best friends reunited all those years. After their long warming embrace, Noah takes a good look at her. "I miss you so much, T.", Noah sighed.

"I miss you too.", Tara sighed and they hug once more. "So what are you doing back in Australia? I thought you and your family have a fresh start in the US. You and your family moved back here?", Noah replied. "Sadly no. They're still living in America, I'm only back for university.", Tara replied.

"Oh, I see.", Noah replied. "So, how are you? It's been a 10 years since we last seen or spoken to each other.", Tara replied. "I'm doing pretty good, actually. Studied hard at school, made a couple of friends.", Noah smiled. "Dating anyone?", Tara asked.

"Nah! Don't have a girlfriend in high school, because I don't like to date in high school.", Noah replied. "Right.", Tara smiled. "What about you? You got a boyfriend back home?", Noah asked. "No. Single throughout high school too.", Tara replied. "Really? Why's that?", Noah asked.

"Well, just like you. I don't like to date in high school and I prefer to focus on my education, rather than be in a relationship.", Tara replied. "Good point.", Noah smiled. Then the campus bell rang. "I gotta get to class now.", Tara replied. "Yeah, me too. I'll see you later, maybe at lunch?", Noah asked.

"Yeah, sure. I'll let my housemates know about you.", Tara smiled. "Cool, see ya.", Noah waved. "See you later!", Tara replied as she walks to class. After the first 3 lessons, it was lunch time. Tara met up with Noah outside the campus' courtyard. "Hey!", he replied.

"Hi!", Tara smiled. "Let's go have lunch!", Noah smiled. "Yeah!", she replied and they walked to the courtyard to find Roxy and Harlow. Roxy and Harlow were sitting on a bench, looking for Tara in the crowd, until Roxy spotted her with Noah. "T!", Roxy called out.

"There's my housemates.", Tara replied, as she grab Noah's arm and drag him to her friends. "Hey T!", Roxy smiled. "Hey girls.", Tara replied. "Who is this?", Roxy asked. "Roxy, Harlow, this is Noah, my best friend from childhood.", Tara replied. "Hello, ladies.", Noah greeted.

"Noah, these are my housemates, Roxy and Harlow.", Tara replied. Both Harlow and Roxy waved hello to him. "Hey, is it ok, if he joins us for lunch?", Tara asked. "Yeah, sure.", Harlow replied. "Oh yes, please do!", Roxy smiled. Noah sat next to Tara and they started having lunch and start a conversation together.

After spending another 3 more classes in the afternoon, Roxy and Harlow went back to the apartment, while Tara went to the library to study. Noah was there too, until he saw Tara, sitting there alone. "Hey.", he replied. Tara looked up and saw him. "Oh, hey.", Tara smiled.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you suppose to be at home with your housemates?", Noah asked. "Well, I'm studying, and I want to study somewhere quiet.", Tara replied. "Me too. My housemate listens to heavy metal, and I can't study while his music is booming.", Noah replied.

"I see.", Tara replied. "Mind if I join you?", Noah asked. "Sure.", Tara smiled. Noah puts his books down on the table, sat next to her and start studying. Tara smiled at him and so did he, before resuming their studies. After studying for 2 hours, Noah and Tara left the campus, about to head home.

"I hope you enjoyed your first day at uni.", Noah replied. "I did, thanks for asking.", Tara smiled, then her phone vibrates, it was a text message from Roxy, who texted her to buy some groceries for dinner. "Who's that?", Noah asked.

"It's Rox. She just texted me to buy some groceries for dinner tonight. She even send me a shopping list.", Tara replied. "Ok.", Noah smiled. "But there's one problem." Tara sighed. "What?", Noah asked.

"I don't have a car to drive to the supermarket or back home, bc we all took Roxy's car here and she and Harls drove back home with it.", Tara replied. "I can drive you to the market and take you back home.", Noah replied. Tara looked at him.

"You'll do that?", she asked. "Yeah, of course. Anything for an old friend.", Noah smiled. Tara laugh at his words. "Thanks, Noah.", Tara smiled. "Come on, let's go. My car's at the campus' parking lot.", Noah replied as he and Tara walk to the parking lot and they drove to the local supermarket and bought some groceries together.

Later, Noah takes Tara home and dropped her off in front of her apartment building. "Thanks for the ride.", Tara replied. "No problem. If you need a ride, I'm here.", Noah smiled. "Thanks. I'll see you tomorrow?", Tara asked.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow.", Noah replied. Tara gets out of his car and grab the bags of groceries from the back. As Tara walks to the front entrance of the apartment, Noah opens the window of the passenger seat and calls out. "Hey, Tara!", he cried. Tara turns around. "Yeah?", she asked.

"It's good to see you again.", Noah sighed. "Yeah, it's good to see you again too.", Tara smiled. Noah smiled back at her before he drove off. Tara watches before heading back to her apartment. That evening, the three girls helped prepare dinner and enjoying it at the table.

"We should make a schedule for housework and chores.", Harlow replied. "A schedule?", Tara asked. "I mean, each of us have to take turns at doing one or two chores around the apartment, to keep it clean and tidy, and prevent it from coming a pigsty.", Harlow replied.

"Yeah, you're right, we should create a schedule, one person will cook and clean the kitchen, the other will clean the bathroom and the living room, the other will buy groceries and cleaning supplies that we need for the apartment. But we tidy our own bedrooms and do our own laundry.", Roxy replied.

"We'll take turns once a month.", Tara replied. "Yep, sounds like a plan.", Roxy smiled. "Ok, I can buy groceries and cleaning supplies for this month.", Tara replied. "I can clean the bathroom and the living room for this month.", Harlow replied. "Ok, then I'll stick with cooking and cleaning the kitchen for this month.", Roxy replied.

The girls plan and create their housework schedule and place their copy in their rooms. That night, the three girls sat in the living room, watching Mean Girls on Netflix before heading to bed.