Chapter 3: Familiar Strangers
705 Words
Was I ready for this?
I’m not sure.
I hadn’t seen Kevin in years. Was he taller? Fitter? Was his hair longer? We never FaceTimed much. He wasn’t much of a caller, he’d rather text.
“Okay Nolan, calm down”, I whispered to myself, staring at my dressed up reflection in the mirror. I slipped into a pair of bell bottom jeans and a fitted brown long sleeved shirt. I really didn’t want to do much with my hair so I let it down, only defining the curls a little bit to frame my face.
“He’s just a boy”, I sighed. My phone buzzed from where it lay on my bed, immediately grabbing my attention.
I hurried over to my bed.
It was a text from Kevin. He was outside.
Shit.
I quickly slipped on my uggs, grabbed my jacket and my phone and hurried downstairs. Hopefully I didn’t run into my mom.
Not that I’d care if I did.
I was halfway towards the door when she rounded the hallway from where I suppose was a study. Her house was quite big.
“Nolan?”, her voice tore through the quiet house.
I stopped in my tracks, closing my eyes and mentally preparing for the direction of this conversation.
Turning with a blank expression on my face, I locked gazes with her.
“You’re going out?”
“Yeah. To see Kevin”, I stated, sounding like that was the most obvious answer ever when she in fact knew nothing about Kevin.
“And who exactly is Kevin?”, she questioned, now stepping closer to me, her arms folded.
I shrugged, “my boyfriend”
“And do I know this boyfriend of yours?”
I rolled my eyes and let out a sigh.
“Look mom, I don’t have time for this”, I responded, already fed up by the direction of the conversation, turning to leave.
I didn’t need her interrogating me.
“That’s no way to speak to me young lady”
I could hear the obvious offense coming off her voice. “I don’t need you interrogating me. I’m an adult not a kid anymore”, I answered, already at the door.
Before she could finish her statement, I twisted the door knob, opening the door and stepping out, shutting the door behind me, the sound of her voice abruptly fading.
The cool air hit my face as I steadied my breathing.
“Hey stranger”
I almost choked on air.
Standing on the porch, his dusty brown hair reflecting off the porch lights in a light blue hoodie and black jeans.
Kevin.
Without thinking, I ran up to him, engulfing him in a hug. He was warm and his form felt strong. His cologne smelled of some really strong musk but I couldn’t help but also pick up the scent of alcohol alongside a floral scent.
“Kevin”, I giggled, my grip on him getting tighter as he wrapped his arms around me. “I missed you”, I beamed pulling away from him briefly.
He grabbed my shoulders with both his hands, shaking me slightly.
“Look at you”, he said in a sing song tune, his accent thick. “You’ve grown and your hair’s a lot”, he chuckled.
I shrugged, noting how he didn’t comment on me missing him. I shrugged it off. It was probably an oversight.
“Yeah, dad says it’s a mane”, I smiled.
“Rightfully so”, he said, baring his pearly whites at me.
He had changed a lot. He was much taller and his hair that used to be shorter was now everywhere. His eyes still held the same sparkle they did, only he was much older.
The most notable change was his aura.
He stood confident. The type of confident that was intimidating.
Our conversation on the porch didn’t last long and we headed out. Kevin showed me popular spots around the town before we eventually got to the ice cream shop.
We talked about Ridgewood, camp and a couple other things.
It felt like a night I’d never forget.
- Writer
