Page 2 (1/2)

I know that high-pitched squeal, but recognizing the sound doesn’t stop e of the freezer door I pop the top of my can, then rub the sore spot with ht I don’t particularly like beer, but it hits faster than Jello

Hattie runs into the kitchen, hands waving about like athem around my neck The sheer force of her ee I peel her blue tinged strands froh While I’m happy to see Hattie, and for soleeful My skin is crawling, o before I hyperventilate “Good to see you too, Hattie”

“You have no idea how ins to spin out of focus Like al, considering how late it is

I bite

if I should have waited untilher nineteenth birthday on a delayed flight, or soht, I wouldn’t have showed up at all

Hattie grabs ”

I allow her to leadroom There are too many memories in the kitchen Here There Everywhere “How’d you knoas me?”

She plops onto the faded green cushion, one leg under her, the other off the side, and gives rin “Please I’d know that flat ass anywhere”

I can’t help but laugh when she slaps ood to be back, but it also feels different Landon and Hattie’s place has always been ht the air is thick

I look around the tiny roo is the sao, but there’s still a shift

Maybe it’s me

Maybe I’m different

1 year earlier

A dark haired girl in a pair of faded skinny jeans and a floral crop-top leans against an older style red Nissan Alti to glance up frohts paint her in yellow

I park behind the Nissan and press the lock button on the keyfob out of habit This neighborhood seeh with its picket fences and solar powered street lights, but clicking the button again to unlock it is redundant