Kristy walked into Janine's room just as Mary Anne finished dressing. "Where were you?" Mary Anne asked curiously.
Kristy held up their purses with a grin "I forgot mine in Stacey's mustang and looks like you did too.
"Oh my God, Oh my God" Mary Anne was frantic as she dug out her cell phone. "I completely forgot everything. Last night was so chaotic." she pulled it out and turned it on. "Thirteen messages." Mary Anne stabbed at the screen while Kristy was busy with her own cell. "Oh, thank you Cokie." She looked up at Kristy. "She covered for me with my dad. He knew I was staying at the Mason's last night but I was supposed to call him this morning. Cokie told him I was out getting breakfast and forgot my phone." She looked back to her phone. "Ummm. I'll text him." She looked back at Kristy when she was done.
"Nope." Said Kristy, reading Mary Anne's 'face code'. "My folks think I was at Cokie's last night too. As long as I check in every 12 hours or so they're happy." She shrugged "One of the benefits of having 3 older brothers. They paved the way." Kristy's stomach took that opportune time to growl. Both girls laugh. "That getting breakfast part sounds like a good idea though. Lets go roust the troops."
Mary Anne grinned. She hadn't realized how much she missed Kristy till now. She got things done in her own blazing way. She hoped that Kristy was right. That they would, all of them would be okay. That they were friends again. She knew that if that was going to happen they would need to spend time together. And breakfast sounded like a good way to start. "Where are we going?" She asked.
"Waffles!" grinned Kristy.
"Waffles!" repeated Mary Anne. "I'm in!"
Kristy lead the way into the hall and walked the short distance to Claudia's room. She entered the room and suddenly back peddled, almost running Mary Anne down. She turned to her with a sheepish grin on her face.
Mary Anne looked puzzled.
Kristy just shook her head and reached out and knocked loudly on the door jam.
Mary Anne heard the sound of protesting bed springs and the rustle of blankets. She felt her face getting a little warm.
A chorused "Come in." came from the bedroom and Kristy crossed the threshold.
Claudia couldn't stop herself. She leapt from her bed, race across the room to a surprised Kristy, and wrapped her in a furious bear hug. "You stayed!" she exclaimed.
Kristy held onto the little Japanese girl for a few moments and then gently pried herself loose. Kristy put her hand on Claudia's shoulder and held her eyes and smiled. "I promised"
Claudia sniffed and nodded her head "You promised" Claudia's eyes went to Mary Anne's face where she stood behind Kristy. "When did Mary Anne get here?"
Kristy burst out into laughter while Mary Anne's face reflected anguish. "Just now." Kristy laughed "Just now."
Mary Anne moved out from behind Kristy and faced Claudia, her eyes were glassy. "Don't you remember Claudia? Don't you remember anything?" Mary Anne look down. "I don't hate you" she whispered.
Stacey had climbed out of bed, walk up behind Claudia and wrapped her arms around her. " She was here last night too Claudia. She help take care of you too."
Claudia's brows knitted together. She wanted to remember. She felt the top of her head again. Claudia gently broke away from Stacey and slowly walk over to Mary Anne. When she was toe to toe with the little brunette she leaned forward until there foreheads were touching. "'I'm sorry for being a horrible person. I was a bad friend'" she said softly. Then she stood on tip toes and kissed the top of Mary Anne's head.
Mary Anne's tears were falling now as she hugged Claudia. "Yes. Yes, I was a bad friend. A complete bitch. I'm so sorry Claudia."
Claudia was still confused but the four of them where standing in her room and they were all happy and civil with each other. It would be enough for now. She let go of Mary Anne and fell back into Stacey's arms. "Gee. A lonely girl goes on a one night bender and wakes up with two best friends and" she looked up happily at Stacey "a beautiful girlfriend." She was happy. Joyfully happy.
Kristy's stomach let out another growl. "Hurry up and get ready you two, we're going to breakfast."
"Where're we going?" Ask Stacey.
Kristy and Mary Anne exchanged looks "WAFFLES!" They chorused with a laugh.
"Oh my lord, 'face code'." Claudia grabbed Stacey's hand and pulled her to the bathroom. "Come on I need a shower."
Stacey raised and eyebrow "I'm going too? I'm not saying no."
Claudia stopped pulling Stacey's hand and pointed looked at her chest. "Yes. I have plans for those, remember?" She looked into her eyes. "Soapy plans".
"Claudia!" Stacey laughed.
"Don't worry. You can clean up while I take a quick shower" She resumed pulling Stacey to the bathroom. "Don't worry guys." She smiled back "This won't take long."
Kristy watched as the two girls hurried out the door. She raised her voice. "Your obviously not doing it right then."
Mary Anne chucked Kristy on the shoulder. "Kristy!"
Kristy just grinned.
The two brunettes amused themselves by looking around Claudia's room and talking about old times. Mary Anne even pulled out an old BSC scheduling note book that she had noticed while cleaning up the night before. Time passed quickly. Claudia and Stacey got back from the bathroom sooner that they expected. They looked clean and happy.
Claudia looked around her room as if seeing it for the first time. "Hey! Who cleaned my room?" The other girls laughed "No, really. I had a system of dirty/clean clothes going on." Claudia went over to her closet and started rummaging. She finally settled for black jeans, a form fitting black high collar shirt, and black boots. When she turned around Stacey gasped. With here waist length thick black hair falling loose around her even Kristy could see why Stacey stared wide eyed. In the past few years she had grown from cute to beautiful. But something had happened to her last night. For the last year they had all seen her slump through the halls of Stony Brook High. A lost, forgettable girl. But standing before them now She radiate her beauty like the sun. She stood tall and graceful, with head held high. Her eyes shown almost black with a brilliance they had never seen before. Just when Stacey didn't think she could be any more stunning, Claudia smiled. The girls were staring at her. "What?"
"My beautiful girl" Stacy breathed.
Claudia smiled wider. Nope, not going to tired of that.
Kristy blinked "I think I'm gay" she said in a serious voice.
"Kristy!" Mary Anne punched her in the arm again.
Kristy grinned. "I am starved! Can we go?"
"Wait!" Exclaimed Claudia. She rooted through her clothes again. It took awhile but she finally came up with a white beret.
"My beret!" Stacey exclaimed. She crossed the room to Claudia's side.
Claudia looked up at Stacey and then looked at the hat. "You forgot it at the auditorium. Last Christmas. I thought, maybe, you might want it back one day."
Stacey took the hat and then took Claudia in her arms. She couldn't speak. After a few moments she was finally able to squeak out a "Thanks".
Mary Anne gave a big sniff. All the girls looked at her. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. When she saw them staring at her she shrugged "Well? What did you expect."
Claudia and Stacey giggled. Kristy rolled eyes but then bit back the joke she was going to make. Instead she put her hand on Mary Anne's shoulder and said "I think they're going to be okay Em." Mary Anne could only nod.
Kristy grinned and looked from one girl to the next "Okay everyone, Waffles?"
"WAFFLES!" came the chorus.