I’m experimenting a bit with a dual timeline. And while there will be POV sections from the MMC, most of it is first person POV from Jade, the FMC. The dual timeline isn’t every other chapter, at least not for the whole story. It is going to feature more heavily in the first third or so. But this chapter is what would be considered “present day.”
You can read Chapter 1 HERE.
“Finally, you’re all here!” I jumped up and down on the front steps of the modest ranch-style home that sat along the side of the creek that ran across the border of the tiny mountain town I grew up in. The front of the house had a huge porch that extended a good ten feet, and a small yard with xeriscaping ran further out until it ended at a classic white-painted picket fence. There was a single gravel drive that led up to the side of the house, but most visitors parked along the fence line at the edge of the quiet neighborhood road.
Clapping my hands like an excited toddler, I bounced from one bare foot to another. Amy, Sienna, and Drake climbed out of their cars, and I could see Drake’s lips tip up into a half-smile at my enthusiastic greeting. Tay, Jake, Lilly, and the rest of our friend group would all be trickling in throughout the rest of the week. The plan was to have a big party at some point this summer as a reunion sort of thing, but the moment I got back and started this house-sitting gig, Amy was already half out the door and bringing along whoever was in town to hang out. She was still our unofficial official director of group activities.
“I’ve missed ya’ll!” This was our first time seeing each other since we all got home for the summer after our first year of college. We had all moved quickly away from the cluster of small towns we had grown up in. The first chance we got, every one of our friend group scattered to the wind to taste freedom and break free from the bonds to a community that seemed desperate to hold everyone in. So few of our classmates had moved away, we all felt like novelties coming back. I had thought that by moving away, I would lose any ties we had made as friends in high school, but Amy wouldn’t let me. She held firm to weekly phone calls and text messages, sending all the best memes during finals week to keep me from rage-throwing my laptop at the wall.
Amy and Sienna reached the top of the steps first, and we all fell into a giggling group hug. These two had been my best friends growing up, and still were, to be honest. Amy had moved to this tiny mountain town in middle school from the East Coast after her mom got a job offer in the bigger city down the hill, and we quickly bonded over our love of books. Sienna and I had been glued at the hip since kindergarten thanks to a random seating arrangement during circle time where we spent more time whispering to each other than paying attention to our teacher. We were quickly moved to different groups, but the fast friendship stuck. Drake we had all met in high school through another of our friends that he had been dating at the time, and he slid right into the group, making himself at home and fitting in seamlessly with our motley assortment of band geeks and overachievers, some of us being both.
“OK, where do you want the snacks,” Amy asked, twirling a Target bag from the tips of her lavender-painted fingernails.
“Anywhere in the kitchen is fine. Scott and Devin said to make myself at home, so that goes to you guys too. As long as we, and I quote, ‘Don’t burn anything down or do anything illegal.’” I make exaggerated air quotes with my fingers as I turn to open the front door.
“Yeah, because we’re sooooooo going to do that,” scoffs Sienna as she shakes her head, long blonde ponytail tossing side-to-side.
“I’m pretty sure the reason I have this house-sitting gig for the month is because everyone around here knows all of us and knows that the wildest thing that will likely happen is us staying up too late playing Settlers of Catan and watching movies.” Amy reaches to smack my arm as she follows Sienna inside.
“That, and maybe bake midnight cookies,” she laughs. I just roll my eyes. After they move inside, Drake finally inches closer. He had been standing against the railing during our entire exchange, and I could feel his dark eyes on me the whole time. It made me shiver slightly, even in the oppressive afternoon heat. Drake’s eyes could say everything without him having to utter a word. I had learned this over many a late-night FaceTime call over the last year.
“Hey, D.” My voice goes whisper-soft. I clutch at the open screen door edge, desperate not to let go and let him see my hands shake.
“Good to see you, J.” He steps forward, Converse sneakers scratching along the weathered wooden planks of the porch. As he walks in, his hand briefly brushes against my shoulder and squeezes, his citrus and spice scent invading my nose as I inhale deeply.
This is going to be a long night. Amy and Sienna don’t know about our year-long text and phone call relationship. I’m not even sure relationship is the right term for what has been slowly brewing between us over the last few months. And the last time we talked, about a week before we all came flocking back home, neither of us had been brave enough to say anything about what it was that was going on between us. So this whole night was going to be all sorts of awkward.
“So, what movie is on deck first?” I ask as I finally enter the house.
scijessreads 
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