Memory After Memory

Chapter 9

I woke up to a missed call from my mom so naturally I called her back. It rang for a bit before she picked up.

"Hey sweetie!"

"Hey mom. What's up?"

"I know it's early, but I figured I'd invite you, Julian and Viney to dinner tonight."

I smiled. My mom was always so nice despite how I acted. That's what I loved about her. And my sister... 

"Sound's great. What time should we be there?"

"I'd say around 4:30, 5?"

"Alright. We'll see you when we get there. Love you."

"Love you too." She hung up.

I remember our conversations over the phone being that short. Most of our talking was always in person. Our calls were never really long. I went out to the living room and saw Julian sleeping somewhat peacefully on the couch. It was kind of a sweet sight. I couldn't help but smile. 

He layed with his head on my lap as I went back and forth between playing with his hair and rubbing his back. We were watching  a horror movie, though I don't remember what it was. I just remember I loved horror movies, especially in the living room where the bigger TV was. After the movie was over, I looked down to a sleeping Julian in my lap. I couldn't help but marvel the relaxed features and just get lost in thought of him for a moment. I looked at my ring and smiled. 'One day, Amy, one day.' I kissed the ring and started to drift to sleep.

I heard a door shut and looked to see Viney walking away from her door. She looked like she just got laid for the first time in a few years. It almost made me laugh, but I kept it to myself for the sake of my own inside jokes. I sat on the other couch and a moment later, Viny came in with coffee and sat in her recliner. It was a silent morning for a while.

"My mom invited us to dinner." I spoke quietly as to not disturb too much of the peace. 

Viney nodded, but kept quiet. This was making me feel uncomfortable on every level. Julian woke up eventually and I told him about dinner. He happily agreed to go. His eagerness made me smile once again. 

I went to my room and just kind of sat on my bed, thinking. I thought about everything since I woke up. When Viney first met me again, she seemed as bubbly as I remember her to be. On the way here, something had changed in her and she grew quiet around me. Then I got reintroduced to Julian. I had to admit to myself, there was a huge feeling of familiarity in me when I saw him again. Not the friendly type of familiar but...you get the idea. Me wanting to understand what I was feeling, I then learned we dated and I was even gonna be engaged until something happened. Since then, there's been a ridiculous amount of hostility and aggression between Julian and Viney. I wanted to know exactly what was going on between them and what this all means. Viney's hostility to me every time she sees Julian and I is especially ridiculous. I know what jealousy is and that, right there, was all of the jealousy in the world in just words and glares. Since I came back, I haven't really understood those 2 and their heated and burning feud. Is there something neither of them want to tell me? Is what Julian said true? I've never seen him act the way he did at the lake so it has to be true, right? But I've known them both since I was very little. Why would she do that to me? What did I do?

Without even realizing it, I drifted off to sleep.

                                                                                               ~***~

I woke up again to Julian sitting at the end of my bed, smiling at me.

"Good morning, sunshine."