She felt eased after a videocall with Max the next morning. He was his usual cheerful self in spite of being in a hospital with his left leg tight up and hung over the bed. He hated the fact that he was taken off the team for an upcoming tournament but was grateful that his injury didn’t cause permanent damage.
He said he had bought her some gifts that he wanted to give her himself. He promised to come home as soon as he can so they can catch up in person and hang out at their favorite places like old times.
They have always been close, maybe because of their closeness in age. But they were also raised by two great parents who worked hard to build a solid family foundation where everybody loved each other in a positive and supportive way. And maybe because Max, as a big brother, always felt protective of his adorable little sister ever since she was born.
They could talk for hours over the phone since Max had left for college. They updated each other with their latest development in life, that was why she was surprised he didn’t say anything about his injury. But it was all forgotten after a few minutes into their call. Max was okay, and that was what’s important.
They ended the call not long after Mia arrived. They’re still together. They seemed to make it work. Unlike Theo who could hardly held a relationship longer than a few months, except for Peyton, which ended tragically at last year’s prom.
They decided to have breakfast at one of their usual places near school. Theo hadn’t been anywhere since he arrived and he had been craving the pancake menu at the Pad 8 Diner.
Having Theo around had brought back a lot of memories. Almost a year apart living their separate lives but it seems some things never really change. Theo had always made her feel like that little girl having a huge crush over her big brother’s best friend, and without Lee, she was exactly that girl again.
Though she tried hard to look the other way, her eyes always find their way back to him. He was different but the same. His gorgeous face. His green eyes. The way he smiled, they way he talked, his voice, his laughter, the way he carry himself. All the things she used to be obsessed about was all there, different, better, stronger. How could a person had so much affect on another? She was flabbergasted but she tried her best to hide it.
His mouth was moving, she watched his lips spewing words. She could barely keep up with what he was saying because her mind was somewhere in the past where she thought all her feelings for him was stored. But it was all coming back to her, she had to snap out of it, she shouldn’t let herself drifted away and be vulnerable like that again. Why not? She asked herself. She smiled when she realized how inevitable those feelings were, and after all, this is Theo.
“What?” he was chewing his pancake. “Why are you smiling?”
“Nothing,” she laughed lightly. “I just … ” she paused, “I miss this … having breakfast and casually talking with you … I just wish Max was here too … it’s not the same without him.”
He sat back on the corner bench where he sat across from her, “I can’t say the same, I see him almost everyday,” he chuckled. “I do enjoy this though,” he swung his fork at Hazel and back at him. “I miss having a conversation with you too … this feels like … home.” They smiled.
He continued eating. “Did you have anything planned for the summer?”
She thought about it. With Theo staring at her, she suddenly lost all the plans she made before Lee’s departure. “Well … there’s a possible volunteer program I’d like to join in Goldstone … Josh Reynolds offered me to join his charity for a summer program to add to my portfolio … I told him I wanted to go to UOG and I need to have a solid portfolio on top of my grades if I ever want to be considered to be a student there.”
His face lit up, “That’s great Micky … I mean … UOG is a great Uni, and I can put in good words for you to my professors and maybe get you an interview with a department head … have you decided a major?”
She smiled shyly, “Psychology … social politics … somewhere in between?” She put her hands on her face, even at that stage she was still torn. “I wish I’m good at something and I can just know what major I need to take … I’m still not sure.”
“That’s okay … most people don’t really know what they want to do anyway, they just chose something that feels right for them at the time … I mean … soccer is not exactly something I can do forever, I’ll have to retire in my 30’s and I have to figure out what I’d be doing after that … I’m still figuring that out too.”
She nodded lightly with a faint smile. Deep down she knew the only reason why she chose UOG was to be in close proximity with him again though she developed other reasons to cover that narration.
“So … when are you leaving for Goldstone for the program?” he continued.
“I’m not sure … I’m still waiting for some news from Marlon, he said they’re still tied up with family therapy this week, he’ll let me know as soon as he can.”
Theo pressed his lips together. He was hesitant to ask her something, but then, “I actually have to go to the lake the day after tomorrow … if you don’t have any plans, do you wanna come?”
‘The Lake’ is where they spent their last summer together before Theo and Max left for college. Theo’s family always go there every summer and she almost always come along with her family. With her parents and Max not around, it would be the first time for her to go there without them.
“I’d love to,” she surprised herself with how quick she responded.
A smile bloomed across his face, “Great … I’ll be staying there for 4 or 5 days … but if you want to go back early I can drive you back, no worries.”
“Oh … that’s fine … I can stay with you, we’ll just let my parents know … and maybe ask Jan to come along?”
“Sure … the more the merrier,” he said.