Page 46 of Closer than Ever

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Their campsite was on a hill, overlooking mountains turned purple by the setting sun. It was a still and pleasant evening to sit outdoors. Anna fiddled with the portable speaker and changed the track from her phone as Hayley sat in front of the firepit roasting some marshmallows. Anna set the volume low on her alternative indie music playlist they’d been listening to on repeat.

Hayley hummed along to the melodious music. “I really like this one.”

“Me too. Daughter are amazing.” Anna braced herself while sitting down. The muscles in her legs had that achy soreness from all the new activities and hiking they’d been doing on the trip. Even as a runner, she was still finding it tough with all the miles they’d been putting in. It was worth it though. Touring around and walking among the beautiful mountains with all the time in the world was special. Anna didn’t want to complain too much about a bit of leg soreness.

“It’s brilliant we still have the same taste in music, Anna, I love it so much!”

It was true. They had been vibing so much to each other’s playlists. It was one of the best feelings ever. “Yep, we do. I love it too.”

“Would you like some more tea now?” Hayley said, eyes twinkling in the firelight.

Anna smiled at her friend and got that bit cosier in her chair. Getting to spend this much time together was such a treat. “Yes please.”

Hayley sprung up and set about making their precious tea for the evening. She turned the knob on their small portable cooking stove anticlockwise and held it down until blue gas lit up the ring with a swoosh. The small metal pot made a loud clanking noise as Hayley put it down on the gas.

They’d been getting into a routine with making tea and coffee on the trip. It had prompted Anna to think about how they used to make endless cups of tea in the shared kitchen and chat for hours and hours. They knew all each other’s secrets back then, unlike now, except for one huge secret Anna had never told Hayley, and never would.

“Do you remember,” Hayley said, now facing Anna as she waited for the water to heat up. “When I first moved into the apartment we shared?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“You were very sweet to me. You made me feel so welcome. You kept offering me cups of tea every five minutes.”

Anna laughed. “Did I? That’s good. As any Brit would.”

“You did. You kept asking me if I was okay. If I needed anything. Although you did tease me a bit when I said I’d never used an electric kettle before.”

“In fairness, I was genuinely disturbed by that.”

“That’s when I knew we would be friends.”

“By me teasing you?”

“I guess.”

“You’re funny.”

“You were good to me, Anna. That’s all I’m saying. I was alone in a new country and you made me feel so at home. I think it’s the reason I had such an amazing year.”

“I’m really happy to hear that. But you were going to have an amazing year here with or without me. You were so larger than life.” Anna crossed her sore legs and winced. “Still are.”

“Still bad at accepting compliments, I see?” Hayley smiled at her and made the tea.

Anna watched, happily. It was already just like old times.

Hayley handed Anna a cup and sat down again. “Can you believe how many times we went out in those first few months? I sometimes look back and all I remember is a blur of bars and clubs and house parties. It was an awesome time.”

“It was.”

“Remember that time we crashed that office Christmas party in that restaurant and took over their karaoke?” Hayley said.

“I do. We were so out of line. And bad.”

“They kept asking for us to sing more songs though. Couldn’t have been that terrible.”

“I think that was the men. I remember the women heckling us,” Anna said.

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