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Arms full of alc, I manage to open the door but lose one black balloon. Even that doesn’t get me down today.What the hell is it about balloons that bring me so much joy?I think as I slide into my new home, batting away balloons with a smile on my face so big it actually hurts.
Sophomore year is going to be epic!
* * *
Grace isthe first to arrive, and Leah pulls in right behind her. Is it odd their parents aren’t with them? No, it’s perfectly normal, which is something my parents are not. My Dad, Jimin, is fairly quiet, but Mom,Nabi,is like a mix between a tiger mom, a helicopter parent, and the “cool mom” fromMean Girls. All so confusing at times, but it works.
“Yay! You’re here!” I yell as I rush out onto the porch and stall for a moment to take them in. It feels like it’s been years and not just a few months.
Grace’s dark auburn hair is pulled up in a messy bun, and Leah’s blonde hair is in pigtail braids. Both are in shorts and a tank top.
“I’ve missed you bitches so much!”
“Love the new ride!” Leah squeals as she slides out of her car. “But the balloons?”
“She didn’t want you to pass by the place.” Grace stretches.
Leah giggles. “I’ve been here dozens of times.”
“Not sober,” Grace jokes.
“Not a lie.” I laugh as I make my way to them.
“Hey,” Leah huffs, “you’re one to talk.”
“Last semester was—”
“A shit show?” Grace pulls us both into a hug.
“Yeah, a little bit.”
A horn sounds off from down the street, and we break our embrace and glance that way.
I cup my hands over my eyes, shielding them from the blinding sun, and see a white Jeep. “Is Leo helping Ellie move in?”
“Maybe?” Grace asks as we all stand there and watch as Ellie pulls in, driving Leo’s Jeep.
“Should we be expecting the cops?” Grace jokes as Ellie kills the engine and slides out.
“He’s such an asshole,” she grumbles. “Says my car isn’t safe and made me take his.”
“Oh my God, you should totally break up with him,” Grace deadpans.
Rolling her eyes, Ellie opens her arms. “Bring it in, bitches.”
* * *
After unloading their vehicles,we all hit the kitchen where we do in fact sit around the island to eat as we catch up.
Leah sits back, rubs her hand over her tummy, and groans before doing a recap. “So, Riley scooped ice cream all summer and did flips, Ellie and Leo probably got married and didn’t tell anyone, and Grace and Tyler are probably planning a massive wedding that will put the Royals to shame.”
Ellie throws a wadded-up napkin at her. “I’m getting my PhD first. I want that diploma to read ‘Eleanor Rhodes’ since that’s the last name that brought me to this point.”
“And Tyler and I are”—Grace holds out her hand and tips it from side to side—“rough summer.”
“Wait. What?” Ellie gasps.
“Nope.” Grace nods to Leah. “Your turn, you spent the summer …?”
