Match

11: Catching Up

Dakota:

Heya Cole! :) long time no talk. I'm visiting with my gf for a lil while and was wondering if we could swing by? Lily says she'd love to see you again. hope its not during a busy time. LMK!

Dakota.

That name brings about a filing cabinet full of memories for Cole. Good memories, that is. He's known them since middle school, way before they came out as non-binary. Cole feels jittery - jittery with excitement that he'll see his good friend, but also curious as to how they've changed in the past several months. With eager thumbs he types a response.

Cole:

good to hear from you! you can come by 2nite if you want. cant wait to see how you've been doing. been 2 long pal

A warm smile creases on his face. His eyes travel up to the room interior and feels his mood drop at the sight. Hayden's unmade bed. Stacks of paper in the corner. Crumbs of food on the floor. He needs to tidy up the place; proper etiquette he has to thank his job for attaining. And just overall, he doesn't mind cleaning up because it helps him calm his nerves. While he fixes Hayden's bed, his phone makes another 'ding'. He checks the screen.

Dakota:

Awesome :D Yeah its been far too long. We'll be over in 20mins.

Now he really has to pick up the pace.

———————————

Ding dong!

Cole peeks around the curtains then heads to the front door. He feels his heartbeat race with mixed excitement and anxiety. Regardless, he's quick to answer the door.

"Hey you!" Dakota immediately hugs him.

"Whoa, heya," he's startled from the sudden hug, but returns it. Behind Dakota, a smiling Lily waves, to which he returns in a tinier format.

He looks back to Dakota. Black wavy hair, up in a short ponytail. They're wearing a flannel shirt with a white tank top underneath and blue shorts. Their wrists are wrapped in jingling charm bracelets. Yup, still the same ol' Dako'. Lily's wearing a purple summer dress that matches her purple hair, and moon earrings that reflect in the sunlight. She also has a bracelet on, and is carrying a white purse.

Dakota lets go, their smile faltering to a frown. "We missed you ya know."

Cole can't help but smile in a reassuring manner. "Missed you too." He backs up and gestures inside, to which they follow in.

"Your roommate out partying?"

"Probably," he laughs and shuts the door. "He went on a month-long trip to Japan."

"Japan?!" Their eyes widen. "Lucky..."

"Love, isn't that on our bucket list?" Lily says, taking off her shoes with Dakota.

"Yeah, during cherry blossom season," they say, "you're free to come along too, Cole. Maybe when we all graduate."

Cole shakes his head. "By the time we graduate we'll be broke."

"True... hell, aren't we already? Well, we can dream."

Lily wanders around the space with her hands folded behind her back. Her observing eyes travel to each object displayed in decoration.

Cole clears his throat. "How, how have you both been?"

"Great! Right Lil?" They turn to her.

Lily stops. "Why don't you tell him about the contest?"