8

                                    

                                          



I get out of my car to see the familiar scene around me. There's no longer just two houses on a lonely field. After building herself a house and one for her best friend, Momma decided to partner up with the city to build a subdivision. The whole street was filled with houses similar to my childhood home.
I smile as the memories I do have come back to me. Julie and I would hang out with the other kids in the neighborhood. Doing basic kid things. Running up and down the street, joking around with the parents, going to the neighborhood park, swimming in the community pool, meeting up at get togethers the parents threw. Even though I had only been gone a few months, I missed this place more than I thought I would. 
I walked up to the door, but before I could knock the door swung open and arms wrapped around me. 
"Bailey!!" My younger sister yelled as I held onto her. "I missed you so much."
I smiled as I pulled her to me tighter. "I missed you too Anna. So so much."
"Don't just hog her all to yourself Anna. We all want to say our hellos too." A voice came from inside.
I looked up to see Momma leaning against the open door frame with a smile on her face. Anna let go of me after giving me a kiss on the cheek and a quick apology. Momma opened her arms for me and I Immediately went to her. Enjoying her warmth and familiar lemon scent as she held me. 
"I missed you Pumpkin." She whispered before giving me a kiss on the forehead and letting go to grab my bags for me. 
We walked inside and I was greeted by my mom. She was giving me a stern look. She lectured me about not calling enough before giving into her actual feelings and hugging me tightly. Next came my brothers. Jaxon gave me a quick hug and ruffled my hair. He was never one to be overly affectionate. After what he went through at a young age I wouldn't blame him. Then the baby of the family. Donovan gave me a big hug. The little booger had grown a bit since I last saw him, but he was still the same little boy that he was when I left. 
My moms let me go get settled in. They told me that they had set up a dinner with Auntie Anne and Jen and that they would be here in a couple of hours. I went to my room to unpack the little things that I did bring. Before taking a quick nap. 
---
I woke up suddenly when I felt a huge weight on top of me. I grudgingly opened my eyes to see brown ones staring back down at me and a huge smile plastered on the culprit's face. 
"Good morning sleeping beauty." 
I looked at the clock on my end table then back to her. "You guys weren't supposed to be here for another two hours, what are you doing here? And better yet, why are you sitting on me?"
"What? Is a best friend not allowed to come early and visit the person she hasn't seen in months?" 
"Fair point. I would've done the same had I known you were back already." I flicked her forehead, earning a frown. "Speaking of, why didn't you tell me you'd be here this soon. Last I heard you weren't coming until tomorrow." 
She shrugged after rubbing her forehead. "I got an earlier flight and wanted to surprise you." She started to get off of me. "I can see now my efforts aren't appreciated."
I grabbed her before she could fully get off and pulled her against my body. "Shut up dummy. I missed you so much." 
"I missed you too B." Julie said as she hugged me back. 
We both got up and went downstairs. We found Jaxon and Anna on the couch fighting over a game they were playing. Donovan was there with them reading a book. We made our way into the kitchen to find both of our parents. Auntie Anne and Jen were at the counter talking to my moms. Momma was leaning back against the counter while she held mom from behind. A sight I grew up seeing and wishing I could have one day. 
A set of green and blue eyes met mine and they smiled at me. Seeing that the two they were talking to were no longer looking at them, Auntie Anne and Jen turned to find Julie and I at the entrance of the kitchen. 
"There she is." Auntie Anne said as she got up and started walking to me. Her wife followed behind her. 
I met Auntie Anne halfway and hugged her as tight as she hugged me. Soon Auntie Jen followed and joined in the hug. "We missed you kid." She said before letting go of the two of us. Soon after Auntie Anne and I ended our hug.
"You're just in time." Mom said before unwrapping herself from Momma. Earning a small pout from the taller woman. "You can help me with dinner."
"Ooh what are we having?" Piped Julie. 
"Yours and Bailey's favorite." Momma replied. 
Julie and I looked at each other and smiled. "Spaghetti!" We both said at the same time. 
Julie and I helped mom get things ready. We cut up the ingredients needed for the salad while mom went to work on the sauce. Soon the bread came, and then the noodles. With all of us working we ended up finishing in a short 25 minutes. Julie and I got the tables set for our families and then all of us had dinner together. A lot of the talk was about our lives in the time that we hadn't seen each other. 
Momma filled us in on some projects that she was working on. There wasn't anything major yet, but they were helping with an up and coming restaurant that needed some love. Mom filled us in on the cafe. Her and Uncle Damien were still keeping the place one of the hottest spots in town. Mom had also managed to make a decent amount of money from her paintings. 
Auntie Jen and Anne were taking advantage of not having a kid anymore. They had been traveling all over the place. Seeing places they had always wanted to go but never got the chance to. Anna and Jaxon had taken after Momma and our Aunties. They decided to set up a band and start playing at the same pub that Momma had. Donovan gave Julie and I insight on some of the new fantasy novels that he had gotten into. I loved seeing his face light up as he talked about it. 
Julie told us how college was going for her. She was doing well in her classes, she had made a couple new friends, and even had the start of a romance going on for her. I filled everyone in on how it was going with me. I told them all about the classes, how I was enjoying learning so much about art, about Morgan and Amy. Momma found it fun when I described the two of them together as Auntie Jen and Lexi.
After dinner was over Julie and I made our way to the backyard to have a little heart to heart with each other. Ever since the talk I had with Amy and Morgan in the park, I had been feeling a little strange. I decided that when I saw Julie next I would ask her some things about the past to see if she remembered something that I didn't.
"Hey Jules." 
She took her eyes away from the stars and looked at me. "What's up?"
"We've been friends for forever right? So you would tell me anything I wanted to know, right?" I asked her. 
"Yeah of course. What's bugging you and that pretty head of yours?" She said as she tapped my forehead. 
I chucked a bit before sighing and looking at the sky. "I recently told my friends at school about the accident." She looked over at me with a concerned look. "Don't worry they took it well." 
She nodded before motioning me to go on. 
"Ever since, I've been feeling weird. You know me better than anyone. You know it's been like this since. I just get the feeling that there's something there that's just not coming back to me. I just don't know what it is. I feel like I know everything. It's been the two of us since day one. From diapers till now. Right? There's not anything I'm missing is there?" 
I heard a sharp intake of breath. I looked at her but before I could register the face she was making it changed. A small smile played on her lips. "If there was, then you'd remember it when the time was right. Don't worry, it'll come back."
Well that was a cryptic answer. I didn't question it though. Deciding that was enough for me. 
"I guess you're right."
"Don't worry B. It'll come back, and I'll be here for you when it does." She said as she turned to look at me. 
I looked right back at her and smiled. "Thanks Jules."
"So how've you been dealing with Megan?"
I groaned. "Ugh. Don't get me started on that."