A finger sliding down the side of his face made him stir in his sleep. She hated waking him up, but she really wanted to wish him good luck on his first day in his new job. She couldn't help the giggle that left her lips when her nail that grazed along his nose caused it to twitch cutely. She knew it was mean, but she did again anyway, only to gasp in surprise and shriek when her finger ended up between his teeth and his own fingers were tickling her sides.
"Ezra, stop!" Her giggles intensified as he rolled them both over, caging her in his arms. She would've kept wiggling around if it wasn't for his lips that came down to kiss hers. She kissed him back softly, her arms wrapping around his neck as she enjoyed their morning ritual.
Her eyes opened when he pulled away, and she smiled up at him. It's been three years since the day they married, and almost ten years since they first met, and she was still in love with him as she was that first day when they made out in the pub's bathroom. "As much as I love waking up to you tickling my face," he kissed her nose and she giggled, "why does it have to be so early in the morning?"
Aria smiled sheepishly, shooting a glance at the clock on the wall behind him that read 6:35. "I know baby, I'm sorry. I just really wanted to wish you good luck today, and I'm meeting the girls in an hour for breakfast. I didn't want to leave without kissing you goodbye…" She leaned up to capture his lips once more, before pulling away.
"In an hour? You mean, 7:30? AM?" She chuckled at his surprised voice and shook her head. It really was unusual, they never met so early, especially on a Saturday, but Spencer had to go to work earlier than usual today, so they had to meet earlier than usual if they wanted to squeeze in their weekly shopping spree after breakfast.
He smiled lovingly at her, his hand pushing a strand of hair out of her face. She was so beautiful… He couldn't get over the fact she was actually glowing, and his fingers quickly moved down to her flat abdomen, caressing the place where their current secret lay. Being with her was a 24/7 adventure. He shook his head, "How did I get so lucky to marry such an amazing woman?"
She looked at him thoughtfully, "You know, I really don't know…"
His response was to tickle her some more.
Aria was nervously tapping her fingers on the table. She was sitting in their usual table at the café, waiting anxiously for the girls to arrive. She was a little early, yes, but the girls were now almost ten minutes late. Hanna, she could believe, but Emily and especially Spencer, were never late. She blew out a piece of hair that fell over her eye, cursing their timing. Today was too important a day for them to be late…
Soon enough, Emily walked through the door, her usual cheerful face on. Aria couldn't resist getting up to hug her, forgetting all about her earlier irritation at her friends' tardiness. She did just get back from her and Maya's late honeymoon a few days ago, and she really missed her.
Not a minute into Emily's story about the small island in Hawaii where they spent their honeymoon, the girls were joined by a beaming Spencer. Aria noticed her friend's expression, and couldn't help but wonder if she's not the only one with an announcement today.
A couple of more minutes of laughter and catching up, an unusually somber Hanna entered the café. Aria followed her third best friend with her eyes, and seemed to be the only one who noticed her odd behavior as she sank into the chair to Aria's left. Instead of greeting her enthusiastically like her other two friends did, Aria reached under the table to touch her blonde friend's knee discretely. Shooting Hanna a questioning look, she was a little startled by the tired eyes that didn't really match the reassuring smile that served as an answer. She shook it off, and the girls continued on in their conversation about their everyday lives.
After graduating from high school, all four girls went to college in Los Angeles, California, and brought along their respective beaus: Hanna studied fashion and interior design, and now owned her own boutique in Rodeo Drive – her favorite movie was "Pretty Woman", after all… – while Caleb went on to study technology and was now working in a prestigious hi-tech company; needless to say, neither had to worry about their income. They were living together in a spacious loft that Hanna styled, of course.
Aria studied literature and took a creative writing course, although her artistic upbringing drove her into also studying architecture, and eventually she decided she wanted to do it for a living. She was still writing every once in a while, but mainly for her own creative outlet. Ezra was teaching in a local high school ever since their move to California seven years ago, but for the past few months he has been feeling like he accomplished everything he could as a teacher. He wanted a change; while he loved teaching, and enjoyed working with the kids, he wanted to be more involved in the creative process of writing, and so today he was starting his new job as a junior editor in a publishing company. Aria and Ezra married when she graduated college three years ago. They never told her parents the real circumstances of how they first met, Aria simply surprised them in a dinner celebrating mike's 18th birthday, when she showed up with Ezra and introduced him as her boyfriend. She was 20 then, and living in California, so she figured the worst that could happen was her parents being mad for a while. She was right, but they were actually mad because she didn't call to tell them "the moment it happened" – which, according to her, happened a couple of months into her third year of college.
Spencer was studying to be a doctor, and was currently an intern, with intentions of becoming an OB/GYN. She was living with Toby, who surprisingly, chose medicine as a career as well. He was studying to be an oncologist. Both being very competitive people, they pushed each other to excel, and despite their hectic schedules, actually managed to see each other quite often, seeing as they both worked at the same hospital. The money wasn't all too great, but having been born into wealthy families, allowed them to not care about the income and focus on improving themselves and succeeding in their jobs.
Emily went on to get a swimming scholarship and study social studies, quickly deciding she wanted to be a social worker. She was living with her first and last love, Maya, who became a realtor agent. The two got married several months ago, but only recently went on their long-awaited honeymoon, because Emily couldn't take time off right after the wedding.
Some time between their third cup of coffee and the check, Aria, Emily and Spencer all exclaimed, "I have an announcement to make!"
Hanna looked up in surprise, setting down her coffee and trying not to choke on the hot liquid, only to find the three girls laughing at their amazingly well-synchronized timing. Hanna offered a small smile, the only one who was awfully quiet during the whole exchange of "you go first", "no, you go first". "Well, what is it?" She asked over the three excited voices, a little too impatiently, but the other girls never noticed.
It was finally decided that Spencer would go first, then Emily, then Aria – Spencer's idea: they would speak in a clock-wise order.
"Well," Spencer looked down for a minute and pulled something out of her jeans pocket, and doing something with it under the table. When she finally pulled out her hands, a simple, sparkly engagement ring with a single diamond, rested on her left ring finger. The girls al gasped, catching on, but Spencer waited a full two days to tell them, so she just had to say it – plus, she liked how it sounded: "Toby asked me to marry him!" The 25 years old girl was beaming and wiggling her fingers in front of her now shrieking friends.
Obviously, it was followed by the entire proposal story, and Spencer's smile lit up the room as she recalled Toby taking her up to the roof of the hospital, where they would both like unwind after long and tiring shifts. It was a horrible day for her, there was a serious car accident, and two patients died on her, one of which was just a 4 year old kid. But when she got to the roof, the entire concrete was covered with candles spelling out "Will you marry me, Spencer?" She was shocked, and amazed, and she wanted to jump into his arms and scream "YES!" but when she turned to him, all that came out was a scold for covering the entire helipad with candles – what if a medical helicopter needed to land there?
The three girls laughed, it was just like her to say something like this when she was being proposed to. Good thing Toby loved her regardless – or, also for – her nerdy, way too logical and over-analyzed thinking. "We haven't set a date yet, or really decided anything but one thing," and with that Spencer's eyes moved to land on Hanna, "I want you to plan our wedding. I know you always wanted to, and you have such great taste – you're the only one I would trust with this, Hanna." Her hand touched Hanna's, and the blonde's eyes widened and filled with tears.
"What? Really?" At Spencer's nod, Hanna shook her head. "Wow, Spence, you have no idea how much it means to me that you asked me…" Resting her own hand on top of hers, Hanna seemed to be too emotional to talk, so she pulled her brunette friend in for a hug. "Of course I'll do it."
Aria and Emily looked at each other excitedly, feeling a little emotional as well. As much as she tried to disguise it, Hanna was always a little more insecure than the rest of them. She didn't really like to study, and didn't accomplish half the things her friends did. Even though she was an incredible designer and actually did well in school because finally she found something she was passionate about, she always felt a little less successful. But her amazing three best friends always supported her and encouraged her, and not once did they make her feel any less worthy. She loved them.
She just wondered how much longer she would have to carry that act of enthusiasm. Of course she was happy for her friend, and she would be excited for the remaining two girls as well, once they've told their stories. But.. she just hated the fact that her news would dampen the great mood they were all in. The anxiousness was killing her, and she willed this part of the morning to pass so she'd be done with it and be able to just tell them what was on her heart.
Once the girls settled down and the excitement wore off, it was Emily's turn. "Maya and I have been talking about buying a house, and for the last few months we have been looking at houses, but you already know that. The thing is, we didn't like any of them, because we have a very specific taste. So a few weeks ago Maya actually stumbled across a property which was perfect for us.. because it's just a land, a very inexpensive land, which we bought and are going to build our dream house on!" The girls replied with loud yells of excitement yet again, and Emily laughed before continuing, "And Aria, I hope you already know you're getting the job." The laughter intensified and the two girls were hugging as soon as the words "OF COURSE!" left Aria's mouth.
Aria was still so riled up from the first couple of news that she just couldn't contain it any longer, and shared her piece of news, "Girls.. I'm sorry to tell you this, but you're going to be busier than you thought you'd be, because Ezra and I are having a baby, and as his/her aunties, you have to help me prepare for the birth in the six months that's left before he/she get here…" When she was finished with her short speech, the three girls were already out of their chairs and hugging her. She laughed and tried to contain her tears.
For the first time, ever since she found out with Ezra a month ago, she let herself feel completely happy and relaxed. They've kept it for themselves for so long because Aria was too freaked out something bad would happen, that she wanted to keep it a secret until her second trimester started. Now, feeling a little more confident and a little less scared, it really dawned on her.
"You girls are the first to know, after Ezra, of course. We didn't even tell our parents yet!" The girls were back in their seats now, "I wanted to wait it out, I thought it'd be best to tell people once we're past the first trimester… So, do you girls want to meet your future nephew/niece?" Aria smiled brightly and pulled out scans from their recent sonogram, proudly showing off her little bundle of joy she and Ezra were calling their Peanut.
"Wow, Aria… I can't believe a little creature is living inside you," Hanna said with an amazed smile. "It almost sounds gross," Emily laughed and Spencer swatted her arm just as Hanna was giving the scan back to a still smiling Aria. For that minute, Aria actually saw the normal Hanna again, not the distressed one that entered the café an hour ago.
"Hey Han, now you can launch a baby collection!" Emily's voice sounded, and the girls all joined in on the fabulous idea.
Hanna shook her head, "Only if you want it to come out by the time Spoby's baby gets here," she was way too busy. The girls laughed at the couple's name Hanna came up with, and Hanna actually felt okay for a few moments. But then she remembered she had her own news to share. Her voice became quieter as she continued, "I've got to plan their wedding, and do chemo, and I'm getting ready to open my store in NYC…" She quickly reached for her coffee and swallowed the last few gulps before she would have to answer the ray of questions she felt would follow her unexpected news.
It took a moment before her friends realized what she said, and everyone stopped what they were doing. She could feel all eyes on her, and silence fell on the group of friends. She knew it was inevitable, so she set down her cup with a sigh and lifted her teary eyes to meet the ones of her best friends. No one said a word, and she could speak only when she felt Emily's hand clutch hers from across the table. "A few weeks ago, I had my annual mammography. The doctor looked a little too serious than usual, and.. she told me she saw a lump, and she wanted to do a biopsy…" A tear was sliding down her cheek, and she could hear the three other girls sniffling around her. By now, they all had a comforting hold on her in one way or another. She gained enough courage to look up from where her eyes rested on her plate. "I have breast cancer." She whispered, broken. "And I don't know how to tell Caleb." Now she was openly sobbing onto Spencer's shoulder.
Aria, Emily and Spencer all looked to each other in an attempt to find the answers Hanna so desperately needed. Their own tears continued flowing as Hanna's heart-breaking cries cut through them. All the happiness and excitement from earlier were long gone – in their place there now were agony and pain. And they felt something they haven't felt in a long time: despair.