"But Mom!" Rowan Scout whined to her mother who was driving. "I don't even know these people! And I'm too old for playmates!"
Rowan's mother shook her head. "Just because you're entering the seventh grade doesn't mean you're too old for playmates." Seeing as she couldn't deter her daughter's frustration, Mrs. Scout sighed. "Call it 'hanging out' if it makes you feel better."
"No actually, it doesn't." Rowan grumbled, staring out the windshield. "Using the words 'hanging out' doesn't make it any better."
"Rowan, please," Mrs. Scout sighed again. "I don't know them either. But Mr. Gandalf does. He thinks we'll get along with them and I trust him. And you should too. He's known you since you were a baby."
Rowan gave an exasperated sigh. She's heard this story before. Gandalf Grey was an old family friend who lived a little ways in the country and sold fireworks. He was a nice old man who had bushy grey eyebrows, short grey hair, and a fondness for over exaggerated stories. Rowan liked him honestly; he was kind and funny.
"But it'll be awkward!" Rowan complained, throwing out her last line of defense.
"It'll only be awkward if you make it that way." Mrs. Scout said plaintively. "Besides, it'll be good for Ash and Cedar. had said that the family has two boys, one your age and one that's only a year older than the twins. It'll be fun."
"Whatever…" Rowan huffed slumping back in her seat and glaring out the window again.
They pulled up into the driveway of a large house. It was a decent, two-story house with a grey coat of paint, white and the door was a white rectangle with a circular window.
Rowan's little sister, Ash, leaned forward to talk to her mother. "Who are we meeting again?"
"A family called Durninson." Mrs. Scout explained. "Come on, don't want to keep them waiting do we?"
Ash and Cedar unbuckled quickly and got out, giggling and racing to the door while Rowan took a little longer. She seriously felt too old for this. Ash and Cedar, who were three years younger than her, could have all the fun they want, but she wouldn't.
"Welcome, welcome!" Mr. Gandalf greeted. "Come on in! They're waiting in the dining room. Smile Rowan! This'll be fun! They are egger to meet you." He said upon seeing the oldest of the three siblings walking in. She couldn't help it; Mr. Gandalf was such a kind man, Rowan smiled.
Mrs. Scout led her kids into the room. There sitting at the table were three people, a woman and two boys. The woman was very pretty with dark hair bright blue eyes, and a kind smile. One of the boys, the youngest looked just like her but with mischievous bright brown eyes. While the oldest boy was blonde and had his mother's blue eyes.
"Dis! Meet my good friend, Mia Scout." Mr. Gandalf introduced. "Mia, this is Dis Durinson."
Dis stood and smiled at Mia, hand outstretched. "Good afternoon Mrs. Scout. It's good to finally meet you. Gandalf has often rambled on about you and your girls."
Mia laughed and shook the other woman's hand. "Oh really? He has done the same about your family. It's great to finally meet you." She looked at the boys and smiled. "Are these your boys?"
Dis nodded, she gestured for them to come over to her. They did so and stood in front of her, the darker one actually bouncing with excitement. "This is Fili, the oldest," she said, placing a hand on the blonde's shoulder. "And this is Kili," she said, her other hand on the other's shoulder.
"Great to meet you boys," Mrs. Scout said with a smile. "Ash and Cedar are the youngest of my kids, they're twins, and Rowan is the oldest." She said, gesturing to each child in turn. "They're excited to meet you all."
The little brunette one waved a little at Ash making her smile and wave back.
Later while the grown-ups were talking, and Ash, Kili, and Cedar were playing, Rowan and Fili were sitting grumpily on chairs, watching their siblings play, brooding silently. After a while, Rowan sighed.
"I'm too old for this…" she grouched, shifting in her seat. She thought she had said this quietly; apparently not.
"Tch, right?" Fili spoke, looking at her. "Did you mom make you come too?"
Rowan nodded. "Yeah, she tried to make it better by saying it was 'hanging out'. Like that's gonna make a difference. It's still a play date…"
"I know!" Fili agreed. "It's really stupid…" he sighed. "But I guess I kinda understand why Mum was so willing to do this. Ever since we moved here, Mum's been trying to get me to make friends. Kili's doing fine, as you can tell." He gestured to the three tumbling on the floor.
Rowan looked at their siblings. They seemed to be having the time of their lives. She turned back at Fili. "You just moved here? What school are you going to?" Rowan asked, subconsciously starting to feel a little more comfortable around this boy.
He smiled a little. "New York Cross County Middle."
"Really?!" Rowan exclaimed. "That's where I'm going. I'm going to be in seventh grade."
The boy relaxed more and his smile broadened. "Same here. Whose home room are you in?"
"Mr. Kepple."
"Wow! I am too." He looked down and blushed a little then looked back up at Rowan. "Maybe this won't be such a bad year."
Rowan giggled a little, but before she could say anything in return, their siblings interrupted.
"Stop it Cedar!" Ash whined. "Cut it out. Rowan!"
The little boy had successfully pinned his twin sister and was refusing to let her up. Rolling her eyes Rowan picked up her younger sibling and carried him back to her seat. "You're with me now squirt."
Cedar, who had looked pouty, frowned. "Okay."
As the two played, Fili sat there, admiring how easily Rowan distracted her brother whose frown soon shifted into giggling. She apparently knew how to deal with rambunctious children.
"Hey!" Kili giggled as Ash playfully poked him. He tackled her, causing her to burst with laughter and the two wrestled for a while. Fili and Rowan laughed at how cute it truly was.
By the end of the day, Ash, Cedar, and Kili had worn themselves out. Cedar had fallen asleep on Rowan's lap, but Ash and Kili were still being ridiculous. Fili and Rowan were having a fantastic time as well, and were reluctant to leave. If they saw the knowing smirk on their mother's faces they ignored it. All the way home, Rowan was staring outside the window and thinking about the new boy she'd met.
5 Years later
Ever since that day, the five children had been the best of friends. Fili and Kili would come over after school because Dis had to work and they would play video games, build fantasies, and everything teenagers normally did. They would 'hang out' for hours until the boys' Uncle Thorin would come to take them home. While he had not been at the first introduction, Uncle Thorin was quickly becoming one of their favorite grownups. Often he would bring them treats or toys and would tell them the grandest of stories as they sat in rapt silence, clinging to every word. Life was a new adventure every day and each one was better than the last.
Now, Rowan and Fili were sitting in their school gymnasium, colored robes over their clothes and caps upon their heads. Rowan could barely sit still as the school superintendent gave the final speech. She had been waiting so long for this day.
"Congratulations New York Cross County class of 2007."
Everyone clapped and cheered as the newly graduated seniors stood and proudly threw their caps in the air. Rowan and Fili beamed and embraced each other. Before Rowan could utter words of congratulations, Fili pulled her close and kissed her. Slowly she could feel herself turning red with embarrassment and surprise. But again, before she could say anything, their families approached them and Fili let her go. Kili, Ash, Cedar, Dis, Mia, Mr. Gandalf, and Thorin were all so proud of them, spouting words of praise and congratulations and Rowan didn't miss the wink Thorin gave Fili.
They were both off to college. Both were excited. Fili was going to train to join the military with Thorin, and Rowan was off to get a degree in Business. Soon, Kili would be joining Fili and Thorin, while Ash and Cedar would be graduating as well. Rowan imagined that it would all be fun, full of enjoyable times and memories.
Little did she know that graduating from college later on would change her, her families and her friend's lives for forever.