Page 4 of It Happened Back Then
I smile. “I promise. Mom will have my head if I don’t come back.”
She laughs. “She absolutely will. And I’ll be second in line.”
“It’s not too late to come with me.”
She shakes her head and steps away, looking over my shoulder and at my house. The loss of her touch feels so sharp. “No. You need to go, Bennett. You deserve to see what’s out there. Just don’t get too fancy and become a chef in the big city. The little people need to eat too.”
I laugh and roll my eyes. “Who knows? I may flunk out and end up working in a fast-food restaurant.”
“You’re going to do great.”
The alarm on my phone goes off and I reach for it, turning it off before sliding it back in my pocket. “If I don't leave now, I’ll hit a lot of traffic.”
She nods. “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you more.”
She’s doing her best to put on a brave face, but her eyes are sad. I’ve always been able to read her but something about today feels different. It feels like the end to something that never even had the chance to grow.
She takes two steps back, pauses, then throws herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. I catch her, squeezing tight and choking back tears. But as fast as I do, she’s pulling away again, turning her back on me and walking away.
All I can do is let her.
BENNETT - TEXT
Me: Hey you. Just checking in. I just left the campus bakery and bought a peach muffin. #IYKYK
Blossom: I really don’t know. Also, hi. I was just thinking about you.
Me: Do I wanna know why?
Blossom: I heard a song on the radio at the shop, the one we used to listen to at Bean Lake. It had me both laughing and crying into the new stock of lingerie we just got.
Me: You could always wear some of that lingerie and take a pic for me.
Blossom: Friends don’t send friends naked pics.
Me: I said with the lingerie on! But yeah, I miss you too. Everyday.
Blossom: You’re going to make me do something dumb like book a train ticket at midnight.
Me: Do it! I’ll clear my weekend. Hell, I’ll pick you up at the station with a damn poster that says clear the way my bestie is here.
Blossom: Okay now I want to cry and laugh again. I wish I could, but I can probably swing next month. Maybe the weekend after the store’s fall event?
Me: I’m holding you to that. I swear I’ll make it the best weekend of your life. Just need to see your face and hear your voice in person.
Blossom: It’s a date. You bring the poster. I’ll bring the muffins.
Me: You don’t know what you’re saying. Miss you Peach. Always.
Blossom: Always, Bennett
CHAPTER 2 - BLOSSOM, AGE 19
“Happy twenty-one! You’re finally legal!”
I hug my older sister Meadow and cheer along with her friends. We’re at the Swoops Nest Bar tonight, our usual place to hang out. It’s one of the few pubs with good food and great music that welcomes everyone eighteen and up.
