when you met me

reunion

Reunion

Two friends as close as Dud and Mara could not be pulled apart so easily, there was a bond they’d carry for their whole lives, if they only knew what to do with it.

“Oi bookworm!” Jack snorted as he and Jim burst abruptly into Dud’s room. Dud sighed and put his book down. “Do you ever stop?” Jim asked, picking up Dud’s book and stating that he had read it and continued on about his book preference on non-fiction. Dud wished he could tell his new friends that he wanted to stop, relax completely, but he couldn’t.

Because when he stopped, his mind caught up to him and he started thinking about Mara, how she was, what she was doing. Usually after training, he would use his free time to call her or think about her or even visit her, so he read to keep his mind off of her.

“We’re gonna get out of here, you have to come!” Jack finally cut into Jim’s drone that had somehow drifted into computer programming from books. “Where to?” Dud asked, tuning back into the conversation. “Into town!” Jack exclaimed, slapping Dud on the back, as if such a motion would jolt the boy up and back into the Asher he’d come to befriend.

“Town?” Dud merely asked, still catching up with the conversation.

“London town, man!” Jim shouted excitedly, and Dud swallowed roughly. “Come on mate, MacMillan is sick and no one else can be bothered to drill us five times a day, so we’re basically scot free!” Jim smiled so giddily at the thought that he didn’t have to continue training that day that Dud couldn’t say no, no matter how much he wanted to.

No matter how much he wanted to know if the protagonists friend was going to be abducted by aliens or not.

Mara rubbed her sore ear, where last night, Beth had convinced her she knew how to pierce ears, or at least was training to be a professional. She now had a stud at the top arch of each ears. As much as the first one hurt, Mara knew she had to get both done, OTHERWISE IT’LL LOOK RIDICULOUS, she had said.

Dax had grimaced and Cole had shrugged as if saying that either way he wouldn’t care. Now Mara walked down the street, trying to clear her head for ideas for lyrics. See, Vague Education then was a cover band, but Mara was convinced, as they were so popular at the pubs, they would hit the big time soon. Which meant original lyrics.

And since the boys weren’t bothered either way, it fell on Mara, which she didn’t mind. She sucked in the polluted air and twirled a pen around between her middle and forefinger. Ready for inspiration. And she could think of the perfect place.

Dud, having caved, had told Jack and Jim that he’d meet them later at a restaurant near Westfields. He couldn’t remember what it was called, but would text Jim to ask after. He walked towards the bridge, wondering if Mara would be there.

He’d texted her and it never delivered. He wondered if she’d blocked him and gulped as he walked the pavement at the side of the bridge. That’s when he saw a mass of brown curls, staring down at the water. He ran to their spot. “Mara.” He said, not being able to stop the smile on his face.

Mara’s head snapped towards him, and suddenly, a flood of emotions washed over her. She hadn’t realized, she’d blocked out how much she’d missed her best friend, how lonely she was. “Dud.” She replied, and just as Dud’s face fell with the thought that she hated him, she wrapped him in a hug from the other side of the railing.

Dud squeezed back and smiled.

They were sat on their spot on the bridge for hours, no matter how chilly it was. The glowing orange sun screamed autumn, but the chill said that winter was pushing its way through. It was like old times, though they hadn’t sat on the bridge next to each other in over six months. The only difference was the glances they stole from each other, Dud examining Mara’s new hair, how grown up it looked, and her piercing, and Mara noting how much fitter Dud had gotten.

“Well, we can just forget our relationship,” Mara suddenly suggested, thinking about her mediocre date with George, how strange it felt, “I mean, we only dated for five months. We’ve been friends forever.”

“True,” Dud said, finding his voice, “But I have loved you ever since I can remember. That’s not going to change. I hope… I hope we can try again, later on, because- I mean it was a big deal for me to give you up.” He admitted, and looked away. The same old Dud.

Mara blushed, and agreed, that yes, they should, when they were ready.

After five calls from Jim, Dud told Mara sadly that he had to go, but that he’d come to visit, if she wanted, next week. “Okay.” Mara smiled, and they both climbed over the railing, a sad, sinking feeling on both of their stomachs as they parted.

Parting words. “Everything changes, but we stay the same,” Dud announced, “Together.” Mara silently agreed by slipping her arms under his and feeling how much muscle he had gained, and Dud feeling that she was bonnier. She wasn’t eating well.

JUST DON’T CHANGE. He thought.

PLEASE STAY CLOSE. She thought.