Caterpillars and Awkward Glances
947 Words
You know how your family always comes up with these sayings that, according to them, everyone says? Then you move out, never hear them again, and when you come back home, you secretly roll your eyes, wishing you had a dollar for every time they said it.
I’d be rich.
Stella had wandered off to talk to a group of people our age, leaving me alone with the Sam Elliott lookalike—except, when I turned my head, I realized he had left too. Well, never mind.
I walked around, looking for my gran, but she was nowhere to be seen. The only place I hadn’t checked was the kitchen, which meant she was cooking. And when Grandma was cooking for a crowd, everyone knew to steer clear.
A hand landed on my shoulder, making me jolt slightly. As I turned my head, I heard a low chuckle.
“Bailey!!”
A huge smile spread across my face as I spun around and hugged him tightly.
“Maya, oh my god—stop—” He tried to push me off like an older brother annoyed by his younger sibling.
“You can deal with it! I haven’t seen you in so long!”
I looked up, noticing the slight flush on his cheeks as I finally let go, smirking.
“How are things? How’s your dad? How are you?”
“Things are decent, Dad’s seen better days, and I’m doing well for myself. It’s awesome having you back! How are you doing? How’s boarding school? How long are you staying?”
His voice was chipper at first, but the last question fell a little flat. He didn’t really want the answer.
As long as I’ve known Bailey, he’s always followed us girls around like a lost puppy. He was good-looking and all, so I was never sure of his intentions. Maybe he was just our friend because we lived closer than the other kids our age at the time. Then again, he always stuck close to me—even when Stella was around. She’d hang out with other girls and invite Bailey along, but he’d always stay behind with me.
He looked different now compared to our younger years. His muddy blond hair had lightened, but his green eyes still had that familiar shine.
“College is okay. Classes are fairly easy right now. I’ve been alright, but I’ve definitely been homesick—missing my friends. There are nice people there, but no one I really connect with like I do with you guys.”
Bailey gave me a small side smile, tilting his head slightly to the left—my right.
“And how long are you staying?”
I pursed my lips, trying not to grin, and mirrored his movement, tilting my head the same way.
“I’m off for about four months. Unless I decide to take a year off… maybe more… but doubtful, considering I get to go for free.”
He straightened slightly, realizing I had copied him. I smirked and did the same.
“So… we have until August then? I mean… you have until August?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I know it’s not that long, but I’ll try to visit more than I have these last two years. I only need to complete one more full year to graduate as a junior.”
He nodded, seeming pleased. “Well, good to know we have a decent chunk of time. You ran into Stella already, right?”
“Yeah, I went to her house first. Thought some guy was following me, but he turned off in a different direction. So, all is good.”
Bailey furrowed his brows. “If someone approaches you in a way you don’t like, let me kno—”
“Bailey, it’s cool. I can take care of myself.”
I grinned, giving his arm a playful shove. “I can still kick your ass like I used to…”
His hardened expression lightened slightly, though I knew it would bother him for a while.
“When is the food re—”
“MAYA!”
My eyes widened as Bailey’s voice rang out way louder than expected. He quickly covered his mouth, snorting.
“Oh my god—your face—” He laughed, and I whipped around just in time to see my grandmother standing there, hands and arms covered in sauce.
“Grandma, no! Please—oh my god, no—!”
Too late.
I couldn’t escape her hug.
“Gran, you’re covered in wing saaaauuucccce!”
“Hush, I haven’t seen you in years!”
She took a step back and grabbed my face, and I cringed at the thought of sauce getting in my hair. Her hands squished my cheeks together, making it impossible to talk properly.
“Gren, yo cin shtoop noo…”
She chuckled evilly before finally letting go.
“God, you got it everywhere!”
I wiped my face with my hands, making a disgusted noise as I rushed into the kitchen to clean up.
“Dear, you look so vibrant! Your hair is far redder than I remember! And you look healthier! Less sleep-deprived!”
“That’s because the last time we FaceTimed was before finals… at two in the morning.”
I turned back after scrubbing off what I could—pretty sure there was still sauce in my hair.
Gran placed her hands on her aproned hips. “Well, still! There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly.”
I rolled my eyes.
Told you. If only I had a dollar.
- Writer
