Growing up, before my disease, we always dreamed of going to college together and living in a tiny apartment that was all our own.
I shake my head. “I need time to figure everything out. I know the first year is basic classes, but … it doesn’t feel right to go yet,” I explain.nbsp;
She nods. “I understand. Still, it’ll be weird without you.”
“Oh, please.” I roll my eyes. “You’ll be home every weekend because you miss me so much.”
She laughs and points her fork at me. “Only in your dreams.”
I toss my napkin at her and we both can’t help laughing.
I think we both needed today. It’s been too long since we’ve hung out with only the two of us.
We finish our meal, order our cheesecake to go, and head back to her house.
“Why don’t you stay the night?” she suggests as she pulls her car into the driveway. “You can borrow some of my pajamas.”
“Let me double check with my mom, but I don’t see why not.”
After a quick call to my mom where I get the okay—I may be eighteen but I have respect for my parents and I’m not going to stay gone all day and night and not ask for permission—Meredith and I unload the bags into her room.
I take a quick shower and change into a pair of her pajamas. When I step back into her room, all the bags of clothes have exploded all over her bed and floor.
She immediately begins going over, yet again, what pairs with what.
“Why don’t you come over and dress me every day?” I joke, rubbing my damp hair with a towel.
“That’s a good idea,” she replies, dead serious.nbsp;
“I was kidding.”
“And I wasn’t,” she retorts, her tongue sticking out slightly between her lips as she thinks.
“Forget the clothes,” I beg. “Let’s put a movie on and relax. My feet are killing me.”
“Fine,” she agrees reluctantly and starts putting the clothes back in the bags.
After she showers and changes we put a movie on and pile into her bed, lying on our stomachs clutching pillows.
Meredith lays her head on her arms and tilts her head over to the side to see me. “I love that you’re my best friend. We fight, we make up, and we move on. It’s not the end of the world.”
“I love that you’re my best friend too.”
I reach out my arms and hug her.
Sometimes it’s the people you choose to love that are the best kind to have around.nbsp;
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I rush around my room, nearly falling over as I wiggle into a pair of jean shorts.
“Come on, girls, we have to go! We’re going to be late!” my mom yells up the stairs, her tone showing her irritation.nbsp;
“Coming,” Harlow hollers back, and I hear her footsteps thunder down the hallway to the stairs.
I quickly button my shorts and grab a black and white striped cropped T-shirt—courtesy of Meredith.nbsp;
Normally, I’m always ready to go and never running late, but I started a new book, got sucked in, and completely forgot to pay attention to the time. Before I knew it, my mom was yelling at us to hurry up.nbsp;