"Finster! Check you out, you're finally graduating!"

Upon arrival, Angelica could not contain her excitement about seeing the older version of her favorite red haired boy she used to enjoy bullying celebrate his graduation and bee lined her way to the backyard to congratulate him. Now that she was attending college in California, it was not often that she was in town to see the old gang, and she could not remember the last time she had laid eyes on Chuckie, it had been so long. Secretly, she had always had a soft spot for the younger boy, her fondness for him growing as they both got older and out of that "the opposite sex gross, little kid" stage. Onlookers would translate Angelica's affection into a crush for Chuckie, but it did not run that deep – he was just that cute little ginger she used to pick on and it gave her a soft spot for him.

Chuckie was a great friend to her. The moments that they spent together, as they grew fewer and more far between as they aged, were always special. He was a genuine guy. When they were in middle school and all of their parents shipped them to camp for the summer, some nights Angelica and Chuckie would sneak out of their cabins just to talk. Always crushing on someone, that period of time Angelica had focused her adoration on Blake Newpon, only to find out that he preferred girls like Brittany Sanders who was already going to third base with boys. She was crushed, but she could always count on Chuckie to help her feel better. She had stopped mistreating him, especially in high school when he was still having a hard time coming out of his shell. Angelica, of course, was at the top of the social hierarchy throughout high school and everybody knew that she was Team Chuckie, never understanding their relationship, but being aware of it. The only time they spent together was quality time, so people would never understand. They did not need to.

Angelica threw her arms around Chuckie enthusiastically and gave him a great hug before planting her lips in the middle of his cheek. She was always this way and Chuckie loved it. She was one of the only girls for a long time to give him any kind of attention, and when she quit bullying him, the positive attention made him feel over the top, especially because everyone else used to target him in school. Her presence in his life made a huge difference, as his did in hers. He did used to have a crush on her, for a long time he did, but they never spent enough time to ever develop anything more, and that was fine.

"I'm glad you were able to make it," Chuckie replied, hugging her just as lovingly. "Thanks for coming."

They released each other and Angelica beamed her beautiful pearls, giving him a smile. "Of course I couldn't miss it. I had to see you one more time before you became big man on campus. My parents sent their love, and put a big check in this card for you."

"You know Charlotte and Uncle Drew have to ball out," Dil said, shaking his head. "Congratulations, man."

"Yeah, congrats Chuckie. I can't believe you're going to college," Tommy said. "When you leaving?"

"In about two more weeks."

Overlooking the backyard was a window to Kimi's bedroom, where the found a sheer, halter, polka dot blouse to wear back outside. She thought it was cuter than the original top she had on, and this time she promised herself the only other work she'd be doing at the rest of this open house was being social and not bringing out any more food. She was going to march outside and enlighten her father on her decision when she heard Angelica's voice over the other's guests enter her room. Peaking outside, she saw Angelica embracing her brother while her ex and his brother looked on.

Kimi sighed, forcing herself to ignore the heaviness in her heart as she laid eyes on her first love once more. She had not heard much about him all summer. Out of sight, out of mind…after all summer of not thinking about him and doing her own thing, as soon as he stepped forth in her line of vision, unbeknownst to even himself, here he was.

She knew he would be. Not only was he Chuckie's best friend, still, but also Didi and Stu had already said that the boys would be showing up after they did. She had been mentally trying to prepare herself for the moment they would be together, wondering how it should go. Should she speak to him? Ignore him and pretend he wasn't there?

She continued to peer outside her window. She could not hear the conversation the four were having, but she still watched on. Tommy…As much time as she spent trying to get over him, seeing him again was reminding her of everything. Time was working to heal her wounded heart; she no longer felt hatred when anything about him came up. She just felt…curious. About him. About everything.

She forced herself to pull her eyes from him, settling on where the Devilles were sitting and talking to Chuckie's aunt and uncle, while Lil sat at the table faking interest in whatever they were chatting about. Kimi could tell; she could always tell when Lil was genuinely interested in something…best friends just know those things.

She tore herself away from the window, not even caring to notice Phil chatting it up with a couple of the kids from school that decided to drop by. She enjoyed the time she spent with Phil, but she couldn't bring herself to see him as more than just a good friend. He wasn't a girl, like her Lillian, and he wasn't her boyfriend, like Tommy had been – no amount of time they spent together could replace those two in her life.

Why? Why did they have to do this to me, betray me? After all that I've done for the two of them and all we've been through, how could they hurt me so?

It was scary, all of those questions resurfacing in her mind after months of staying doormat. It was painful and hurtful; she wanted so much to be passed that point in her life. She really wished she could pack herself in one of her big brother's suitcases and leave with him, just so that she wouldn't have to face anyone again and deal with these feelings.

She wanted to forgive them and move on, but how could she? Lil was never really her friend…Friends just don't get pregnant by their best friends' boyfriends. And Tommy, what could she possibly do with him? They could never just be friends when they used to love each other. It was a hopeless situation.

What she really wanted to do was erase it from ever happening.

Instead of running off with Dil and Angelica to get plates of food, Tommy stayed with Chuckie and made a little bit more small talk, circulating the party and greeting all the guests. Tommy spotted a bunch of girls from school he had occasionally fooled with, though most of the girls were really just mutual friends of the boys. Tommy was waiting for the right time to ask what was really on his mind.

"Is Kimi okay?"

Chuckie paused. He had tried his hardest to avoid passing judgment on the whole Tommy/Lil/Kimi fiasco, though if he was a huge, built jock or something (and if they weren't friends) he would have punched Tommy's lights out a long time ago.

"She's been doing okay."

"I haven't seen her around here."

He felt…wrong for hurting Kimi and asking her brother about her, when he had every right to hate him too, but it was something he needed to do.

Chuckie didn't really know what to say.

"You know, Chuck? If I could go back in time, trust me, I would."

His friend nodded. He heard the sincerity in his friend's voice…he knew Tommy, he had got caught up. He wasn't himself when all that was going on, but he finally had his wake up call. He just didn't know what else Tommy could do about it now, what was done was done.

"She's around here somewhere. I don't know what to tell you though, Tommy. She's just been doing her. Her and Phil, I hate to tell you, they've been hanging out a lot."

He felt it, the tinge of jealousy, but he ignored it.

"What about Lil? Has she been good?"

Chuckie shrugged, and in unison, both guys rested their eyes on the brunette who was obviously not enjoying her time at the party. As Phil played social butterfly, she was sitting alone staring at everything, but the people at the party. She was avoiding it, the eye contact, the emotions. She looked so beautiful to feel so sad, the hair Tommy was so used to running his fingers through in soft curls while her soft, peach skin was blanketed by a light, floral, purple and white sundress…a breathing oxymoron.

"She's been as ghost and you've been. Kimi never says anything about her, so I don't know."

Tommy shook his head. "Everybody would be having a lot more fun if I wasn't the one to ruin everything."

"Tommy, you know, don't even worry about it anymore. Everybody can just start the year brand new with no pain, none of that."

Tommy, he didn't say anything at first. He looked up to where Kimi's bedroom window was hoping to catch a glimpse of her, but instead his eyes met her drawn blinds. He watched Lil, who was saying something to her father before going back to being visibly uncomfortable. His brother was at the table with his parents, smashing his face with food while Angelica was deeply engaged in conversation with Chuckie's grandparents at their table. Phil was nowhere in sight.

"I'm about to go inside for a minute."

As soon as he stepped inside the house, Tommy was definitely expecting to find Kimi and Phil together, cuddled up in a corner somewhere laughing and conversing, just having a good time amongst themselves. He pictured them, Phil's arm wrapped around Kimi's waist, pulling her close and whispering in her ear. The image was enough to send him into a frenzy and he fought hard to stifle his feelings.

Instead, Phil was coming from the bathroom when Tommy ran across him.

"Hey Man, how's it going?" Phil was enthused to see his homeboy, despite all of the consequences of Tommy's actions.

"Hey, wassup?" Tommy was trying to get over his shock of Phil not being with Kimi, his shock turning into relief and allowing him to return to his controlled nature.

"Nothing, I'm just ready to get this year going and over with so I can get out of here like Chuck is. Where you been all summer?"

The two chatted it up for a minute before Phil made his way back to the party.

Tommy shook his head. He really wanted Kimi to be the first person he talked to, who he apologized to – it was only right. Chuckie said she was around, but what if she left when she saw him arrive? Did she even know he was there?

He did not feel like rejoining the party. There was too much on his mind for him to go back out there and be social; he'd probably be sitting at the table with his parents feeling the same way Lil had to be feeling. Besides, he didn't want her to feel awkward with him being there. Maybe his presence was the reason she was so uncomfortable.

He made his way to the front door.

"I'm just going to sit on the porch and clear my head for a minute," he muttered aloud to himself.

He pushed the door open and it was met with some resistance.

"Ow! Hey!"

He accidentally hit the person already sitting on the porch with the door.

And he recognized that voice anywhere.

AN: Hey you guys, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks for continuing to read. I love hearing from all of you, so feel free to review with any ideas or suggestions to have as I end this story. Have a blessed and great day.