Snowflakes and Second chances

AWKWARD DINNER

I'm faster than whoever is behind me, an advantage I'm happy to have as I take a corner and hide behind a thrash can and just as I hear the person's footsteps come around, I jump out from my hiding spot and whack them in the head with my shoe as hard as I can.

“Ouch! Are you f*****g nuts?!” The female voice screams and I freeze at the familiarity as Zoey turns to me with a scowl taking in my awkward fighting stance.

“Zoey? What the hell is wrong with you? Why were you running after me?” I hiss at her as she rubs her temple where my shoe had done a surprising job of leaving a print.

I hadn't really thought of the pros and cons and if I'd have any leverage against my chaser before I had jumped out of my hiding spot, my shoe had been the first thing that came to mind and I had made a go for it.

“I should be asking you why you're hanging around windows by 2am in the f*****g morning! I thought a robber was trying to go into your dad's house.” She whines, and we have a brief stare down at her statement before bursting into laughter.

“And you decided to creep out of your house and chase them down yourself? What the f**k Zoey? You're lucky I was caught unprepared, or your nose wouldn't be pretty anymore.” I manage to wheeze between laughter, and she gives me a stink eye coming to lean on the wall beside me.

“f**k you, no one touches my face. My mum's completely passed out after taking herself to some dance yoga s**t all day, and you know dad's a heavy sleeper, why am I just knowing that you're back in town woman? My house is literally across the street from yours.” She glares at me and I give her an apologetic look as I smile sheepishly.

“I'm sorry! I did intend to drop by tomorrow morning though. No wonder dad's always at peace and sleeps soundly, he's got ninja neighbors like you.” I joke, and she rolls her eyes at me, punching me in the arm.

“Don't think I'm no longer mad at you for going MIA on me, I just love you too much to not say I'm glad that you're back, and we're going to have the best time ever! But like for real though, why were you sneaking out?” She gives me a pointed look no different from her usual ones back at high school and I laugh.

“And I love you even more! but okay, nag me all you want.....I was going to get some doughnuts. Wanted to take a short stroll too because I couldn't sleep.” I reply, and she has a knowing expression on her face.

“Well I can't go back home by myself, didn't realize how creepy and silent everywhere seems when I was bent on catching the supposed thief, might as well just follow you now.” She whines as we continue on our way to the doughnut shop around that ran a 24/7 shift.

We tease each other back and forth until we get to the shop, and it continues like that until we're back home before we say our goodbyes and head to bed.

Zoey and I grew up in the same neighborhood with our houses right across each other, we attended the same middle school, high school and were inseparable as we'd known each right from our pigtail days.

Seeing her again made my day and I wake up with a stronger determination to melt the icy wall Julian had put up to keep me out. My brother was a loving, funny, cheesy guy, the true definition of the life of a party, and I wasn't going to stop until he shared that side with me once more.

Dad joins me in the kitchen sometime later in the morning and is surprised to see I've made breakfast already, I fill up his plate and join him on the table making small talk until it's time for him to leave for the diner, but I opt to stay behind and work on my surprise pie.

I had gotten Mandy's number from dad before he left, and she was helping me out on the plan, sharing with me whatever new preferences Julian had and what time I'd be able to come over for dinner and their home address as well.

First off, I hurry out to go grab some extra things I'd need from the supermarket, and then I get to work once I'm back, turning on some music to keep the mood bubbly as I move around the kitchen, finding myself shimmying softly to the beat as I baked.

Baking was something that brought me so much peace and satisfaction, one of the few memories I could recall of my mother was of us making gingerbread houses, cookies, and cupcakes together, the kitchen filled with laughter and smiling faces as we played with the flour and had mini egg fights.

Dad and Julian would play as the opposing team, and we would run around trying to defeat each other while making a mess of the kitchen as the cookies baked in the oven and once they were ready, we'd stuff our faces with so many of them during movie nights.

I manage to push away the bittersweet memories long enough to successfully complete my pie, and then I head to my room to freshen up and change.

Settling on a simple mini floral dress, I pull my hair back in a simple wave twist and then head out with the pie and fruit basket I had prepared for Mandy.

Zoey was going to pick her mum from dance yoga class, so I hitch a ride with her as their house was along the way.

Waving her off as she drives away after grumbling about how she wished she could join us, but her mum had been waiting long enough already and making me promise to save her some pie, I head up to the door and ring the bell.

My palms are sweaty, and I'm nervous not wanting to piss my brother off any more than I already have and hoping for the best.

The door is pulled open the next second and I find myself trying really hard for my smile to not drop as I take in Sebastian's grinning face, what was he doing here?