Chapter 1:
Tuck's POV
Well today's the day and I don't know how I feel about it. It's like a mix of excitement and nervousness. We haven't seen each other since Munch and Alex moved four years ago. I mean it's not like we didn't stay in contact. For awhile we would video chat and text with the occasional phone call, but life gets busy. So slowly over the next two years texts became moderate to rare to nothing at all. Emma and I stayed friends for awhile too, but she slowly became popular. Emma slowly drifted away from us to trade in her status to become better known then she already was. I really hope that we are all the same dorky ninth graders I was friends with four years ago, but I guess I'll know that soon enough. I check my watch. It reads 10:38 am. Still five hours to go. I double check my to do list. Basement clean, check. Tabled and chairs set up, check. Food made, check. Jelly beans out for Munch, check. Soda stacked, check. Welcome home banner, check. I'll just go upstairs. I sigh. I trudge up the stairs and into my bedroom where I collapse on my bed and blindly dig for an Adidas shoe box that's under my bed. I sit up and uncover the dust box. Inside is a collection of memoirs of the four of us; mostly photographs, but there are some small pieces of junk. I flip through the pictures. The first five are me, Munch, and Alex hanging out different places, doing random crap when we were younger. But those aren't what I was looking for; the pictures that are in the very back are the ones that mean the most to me. The fist is us with the barfed phones. Then there is one with Echo, Alex, Munch, and I. There are also individual pictures of the four of us with Echo. I laugh and the next one. Emma is leaning over, kissing Alex's cheek. The look of shock on Alex's face is priceless. I if they are still together. My favorite picture is the last one. All of us with Echo the day before they moved. That day was the best and worst day of my life. I still remember each second of that adventure, and being honest I miss Echo. I miss the thrill of biking around at midnight for a possibly pointless quest. I would love to experience that magically feeling one more time before I go to Colorado Mesa University on a baseball scholarship. I plan of on majoring in engineering. From there who knows what, but at least I have some what if a plan. I wonder what everyone else is doing. "Tucker come downstairs. I made bacon", my mom screams from the kitchen. Does she know it's almost 11? "Tucker!"
"Coming mom", I call back. Poor lady's been a train wreck since the divorce. My dad left her last year for a lottery ticket and a hooker. Who knows what my dad was thinking. I'm doubtful whatever you had in mind probably failed, but their marriage was falling apart. Still my mom has her moments. Some days she missed him more than others. Downstairs the bacon is burn, but I eat it if not for enjoyment then to show appreciation. It's the thought that counts right. Well not if I chip my tooth first. My watch reads 11:21 am when I look at it again. I plop down on the couch and grab my lucky controller. I start playing my racing game. I don't really think time really flies when you're having fun, but it does fly when you occupy yourself with something you enjoy. When I hear the knock on the spruce wood door; two short knocks, one long knock, and one doorbell ring. I almost jump out of my jeans. I run my hands and brush the Cheeto dust from my dark jeans before answering the door.
Emma's POV
I don't even know why I agreed to go to this reunion. I think to myself as I get into my electric blue jeep, and fasten my seatbelt. I haven't talked to any of them in three years. Sure I miss them. I miss all of them, especially Alex. I thought what we had been more than just a summer fling. I mean how stupid of me for falling for him in two days, and of course it had to happen the day before he moved away. Alex and I stayed in contact for awhile. I think we were doing great together we would talk all day every day. I blame myself for ruining the relationship I had with him. I mean I was the one who ended it. After six months I caved into the long distance relationship clichés. I thought that he may start cheating and that other bullshit that's not even remotely true. I should have tried to make it work, and regret not doing so. Maybe I can patch things up with him and we can start over. I bite my lip in anticipation. I am only two miles from Tuck's house. I can still turn back if I wanted to.
Munch's POV
I am so looking forward to this day! I miss my best buds so much. I have a calendar that counted down the days from the 14th when Tuck sent the invitations. I'm driving all the way from Fresno, California. It's a five hour drive, but it's going to be worth it. To my left is a sign that reads Welcome to Las Vegas. Only ten more minutes before I'm back home. The scenery is so familiar. Like it hasn't changed since I moved. Well minus the alien robots and shattered pavement. I love this part of Las Vegas; so peaceful compare to the busier part of Las Vegas and pretty much all of California. California always seems to be moving. It's nice to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. I pull on to Pleasant Drive then to Cinder Street, and finally to Tuck's street 57th street. I pick out his house immediately. It has the same olive green paint with white trim. The purple clematises are still planted around the porch. I remember their name because that are Tuck's mom's favorite flower and I also would usually help her plant them every spring. Yes I was a dork and I still am, and if she asked me to I would help her plant flowers I would totally say yes. I pull into their pavement drive way and literally jump out of my silver Honda. I skip up the stair and perform the secret knock; two short knocks, one long knock and one rung doorbell. I'm not even sure how I still remember that.
Alex's POV
"Are we there yet Alex?" asked Lauren again.
"Yes, Lauren", I sigh, "We are defiantly in Las Vegas because it only takes two hours to get to Vegas from Custer, Idaho".
"We have been diving for longer than that", remarked Lauren.
"You are correct we have been drive for a total of ten hours", I explain, "We left your house five this morning and now it's 3 o'clock pm".
"Wow you really need a nap", she jokes as she leans over to kiss my cheek.
"Yeah I do", I agree with a laugh, "I am so jealous that you got to sleep for the first five hours of this car ride".
"Well that's what you get for wanting to leave at 5 o'clock am!" Lauren teases.
"That's because if..."
"Yes, yes I know", interrupts Lauren. "So what are your friends like?"
"Well I there's Tuck. He's the cool guy in our group I guess. We played baseball and football together. Tuck was the guy who was good at giving advice and keeping his cool in situations".
"He sounds chill", she remarked.
"Yeah then there is Munch. Munch is this chubby little kid that was just hilarious. He was always the so careful wearing his helmet, but if I remember correctly he was always covered in band-aids".
"Aww he sounds sweet", Lauren coos.
"Then there was Emma and uhh she's nice", I quickly say.
"And…"
"And my ex-girlfriend", I mumble.
"Really, and you have stayed friends", Lauren questions.
"Actually I don't know she broke up with me six months after I moved over the phone so I don't really know where we lie. That is what will make today very, very interesting".
"This will be weird. Meeting your ex-girlfriend with your new girlfriend, huh?"
"Yeah this is going to be so awkward", I tell her.
"So are we there yet?"
"If I say yes will you stop asking?"
