Chapter 5
The final note hung in the air.
The deafening silence came.
A thunderous applause sounded.
It was like a dream.
The lights above were blinding.
All I saw was an endless sea of non-descript faces.
But I could make out one face.
That one stood next to me.
She was going to go away some day.
But today, she came up beside me and grasped my hand.
I squeezed back.
My hands hurt from playing, but the pain assured me.
She was there with me.
We bowed.
The clapping grew in sound.
One section was screaming.
The lights dimmed.
The curtain closed.
I let go.
Chairs are the absolute best. Mankind's greatest invention has got to be the chair. My legs applauded me when I presented them with this magnificent creation.
This chair, in particular, managed to elevate itself above its other contemporaries, all thanks to a plush backing and two arm support beams.
My bed just lost its job.
I'm sorry bed, I know you've been with me for 14 years, but…
The cool leather soothed my back in ways a bed could never satisfy.
If only I could sink into the chair and become one with it in body and soul.
But before I could become demi-furniture, a set of footsteps walked right outside the door to the backstage room and threw open the door.
I should probably sit up, buuut… I had a big day. It doesn't matter if anyone sees me like this. Rest comes first.
I did spare my right eye to look at who came in. I saw a girl clad in a long purple recital dress and she slumped awkwardly as she stumbled towards me.
She took the seat next to me with a big sigh of relief. Next, she kicked off her shoes, and sunk back into the soft, cool leather. Judging by her face, she arrived to the same truth I did.
The bed economy was probably in for a sharp downturn.
We sat in silence, though I glanced at her every now and then. Mari reminded me of a cat with how she curled in her seat. Too bad Mewo wasn't here.
Though, I wasn't sure how she looked like she was more exhausted than me! Like, she sat on a chair the entire time!
Eh. I couldn't get mad. The chair was just too comfortable. My body agreed with my brain as I slumped further into the chair. The chair kept taking more control of my body, but before it could reach full chair assimilation, I discovered a hurdle.
My tie was in the way. The knot pressed against my windpipe as I slid my head down into the chair. Why did I even have to wear one in the first place? All it's doing is suffocating me. I might as well take it off.
I latched onto my tie and started to wriggle it to give me some breathing room. How was I supposed to but before I could loosen my tie to a comfortable position…
"We're going to take pictures later, Sunny, don't take off your tie."
What? Why not!? She's basically doing the same thing I am!
"You're not wearing your shoes." Mari had her knees to her chest, and her feet flat on the chair. I could understand, the floor was hard and uncaring. I understood that, which is why I didn't raise a fuss that she took off her shoes!
"I can slip them back on easy. But, you don't know how to tie your tie, I had to tie it for you. Also, I don't want to move from this spot."
Mari started to reach for her water bottle, but it was out of her reach. It was in mine though. Mari moved her head between me and the water bottle. I got her message.
I responded to it by slouching further into the chair. Our eyes met. The rules were set. The first one to get up, loses.
It'd be hard for Mari to win. The chair holds incredible magnetic force. Mere human will cannot overpower the comfiness of cushion. My body will remain firmly attached to this chair at all costs.
Though, I would appreciate it more if I didn't feel like I was being choked! I should've worn a clip-on…
Just as I was figuring out how to avoid ties for the rest of my life, outside the break room, I heard chatter from some very familiar voices. The door sounded with two heavy knocks.
Mari looked my way with a raised brow. I will not get that Mari.
Another small knock, which was then followed by a BANG BANG BANG. It sounded like a steel drum.
Mari sighed and slipped on her shoes and walked to the door. Yay. She got up first. I win.
All our friends walked in. Well, Kel ran in.
Kel was just taking in the sights, looking at the backstage like he wouldn't see it again. It's a bunch of mirrors, lights, and chairs, Kel.
Basil came next with his signature camera around his neck. He waved at me.
My position only allowed me to nod back to Basil. Nothing would move me.
Then there was Aubrey…
Slouching like this hurts my back, so I straightened myself.
…and Hero. He was hiding something behind his back.
Something's wrong though. I didn't know what, but it was strange. It's that feeling where you know something's wrong, like looking at a painting that changed somehow, but you don't know what.
Either way, everyone looked super fancy.
Me and Mari had to look our best for our performance, so we spent a lot of time on our appearances.
Mari had her hair up in some kind of regal bun, with a long purple dress and shoes she looked very uncomfortable in.
I had my hair combed back. I had a dress shirt on with a sweater vest, dark dress pants and leather shoes, with a tie that was doing its best to kill me.
Everyone else looked great too.
Aubrey had a pink dress, and she did something to her hair that made it all wavy and stuff. She still wore her signature bow, and she gushed over how amazing Mari looked.
Sure, Aubrey said some stuff about the two of us. She said nothing about how I looked. She looked my way a few times, but she turned away whenever I looked her way.
Did I look bad? I thought I looked good today…
My heart felt like someone had kicked it. I'll talk to Basil instead.
Basil wore a dress shirt with a green sweater vest and his camera around his neck. He didn't have a flower hairpin on today. He looked pretty uncomfortable. I guess the camera was really weighing down on his neck.
Wait. Now that I'm looking closer at him, that sweater vest is the same one I'm wearing, but green. Down to the brand even.
On a second glance, he's pretty much wearing the same clothes I'm wearing, but there's a camera around his neck instead of a tie! The heck Basil?
"H-hey Sunny, we're matching huh?" Basil noticed that I noticed and tried to laugh it off as a coincidence, but with the ways his eyes were swimming…
Let's not think about it. So Basil was a bust. I'll look at what Hero and Kel are doing instead.
The both of them were both in suits, and the most surprising part about the two of them was their hair! Hero actually fixed his bed hair and hid something behind his back. Kel had his hair combed back!
I finally figured out what felt so off since they entered the room!
Kel hasn't said a thing since he entered!
Is he dying?
No, is the world going to end?!
I panicked until Hero explained why Kel was like this.
"Kel lost his voice from cheering for you two." Oh thank goodness, so there isn't an incoming apocalypse.
"I soooound like a lizza-rd persoon." It sounded like poured sand down Kel's throat. And it looked like he couldn't be happier.
"Kel! You need to rest your voice!" scolded Hero. He didn't look very imposing, with his hands still behind his back. "Oh Sunny, can you come here?"
Nooooo, I don't want to leave the chair, but leaving Hero like that would definitely be too cold. I guess all good things must come to an end someday.
I stood in front of Hero.
"Anyways," Hero cleared his throat. "Mari, Sunny." He nodded at both of us as he pulled out what he hid all this time.
He walked up to us, and in one cool-as-heck flourish, twirled something and gave them to us. A bright mix of all sorts of flowers appeared in front of me! Hero brought out a bouquet!
"Congratulations you two!" said Hero with his signature smile. I grabbed a bouquet from his hand and Mari did the same.
They wrapped it in a white sheet with a blue ribbon for us. Both bouquets looked identical, from the flower arrangement to the flowers used. Although there was a singular difference between the two. A silver-trimmed card signed by everyone sat on top of my bouquet, which read, "Congratulations Sunny!". Mari had a gold-trimmed card on top of her flowers.
I took a whiff of the bouquet. They smelled kind of funny. I don't know how people find the smell of flowers pleasant. The smell keeps reminding me of my old plastic dinosaur toys.
Let's just seal that thought away into the depths of my mind. Basil would probably break into tears if he ever heard me say that.
Anyways, the flowers were pretty great. Basil talked about flowers a lot, and I've listened to him speak about them endlessly. It got to the point where I could name most of the flowers off the top of my head. There were blue roses, white tulips, bright yellow sunflowers, pink gladiolus, purple lilies, but one last orange flower I couldn't name.
"Both of you were great!" congratulated Basil.
"Basil made the bouquet himself!" said Aubrey.
"The flowers represent everyone here! It took a lot of planning to make sure everything bloomed at the same time. It's my best work yet!" Basil moved closer and started to point out how each flower corresponded to everyone. He was also fiddling with the flowers to get them in a more 'presentable' state. Hero had messed up a little from twirling them.
Suddenly, Basil backed away. What was he doing? Mari looked at him as well.
*snap*
He took a photo of the two of us, flowers in hand.
"I wanted to take a picture to celebrate." explained Basil. He had a dopey grin on his face.
"Oh, can I hold the flowers?" asked Aubrey.
It was an open question to the both of us. The plastic crinkled as I fiddled with my bouquet. Okay, you can do this. Just let Aubrey see your flowers! Simple!
"Here you go Aubrey, all it costs is your smile!" Mari made her offer first.
"Thank you!" And Aubrey paid Mari.
Aubrey's eyes sparkled as they gazed upon the flowers. She leaned so far into the bouquet that the flowers began to brush upon her nose and took a big whiff. It looked like she really liked it.
I was robbed.
I sniffed my flowers again. They still smelled like my old dinosaur toys but, maybe there was something good about that?
"Whiiiiich one am I? asked Kel, as he leaned right over my shoulder. He coughed into his sleeve as he pointed to the flowers.
"You're the cactus." Said Bail, over my left.
"Whereeee?" Kel slipped off my shoulder and poked his face into my bouquet. Let me rephrase, he did not 'bring his nose near the flowers' to get the smell. No, he buried his head completely in the bouquet. The plants are going to prick him. But maybe I should just let it happen. He just stuck his head in something that he was just told 'has a cactus'. Maybe he'll learn from his. Maybe.
I looked to Basil.
"Oh, you're thinking of the plant parts of the cactus." Basil chuckled. "No, I used its flower for the bouquet instead. It's the orange one." Good job Basil, you just saved Kel's life with your planning.
"Nea-" I don't know if Kel stuffed a flower in his mouth or he just pushed his voice too far, but he started coughing uncontrollably straight into my bouquet.
Reflexively, I pulled the bouquet away from him as fast as I could.
Kel's head moved back at the same moment, and I think the thorns on the flowers or something, latched onto his hair. In one swift motion, the flowers flew out and rained onto the room.
Kel fell onto his butt. He was eerily silent as he laid on the ground.
Was Kel okay? Is he choking? Did he get a flower stuck in his throat? I watched his stomach; it moved in and out at a steady rate.
Phew, he's breathing. Eventually, Kel got up, his head full of flowers, and starting shaking his head left and right. Now, petals were also raining onto the break room.
Oh shoot! The flowers! Did I just ruin the bouquet?!
Some of the flowers were bent, and while they weren't damaged, it was a far cry from how serene the bouquet first looked.
It looked like a mess. Hopefully, Basil wasn't crying about it. I should apologize for ruining his present, but he wasn't paying attention to me… instead, he was looking to Kel and… trying not to laugh?
What's so funny? I turned around to where Kel stood.
A flower stood alone, firmly imbedded into Kel's hair, to the point where no amount shaking could ever get it out. It was the orange cactus flower that Basil said represented him.
Kel checked himself in the mirror. His face was blank until it transformed into a grin.
"Well? Am I… beautiful?" Kel spun around and struck out a pose. His best one yet. His hands were behind his neck and he was down on one knee while making a kissy face. Beautiful.
I bursted out laughing, and so did everyone else. Well, except for Hero.
"Oh, oh! Basil, take a picture of Kel!" said Aubrey.
"O-oh sure, let me just get my camera ready." Basil readied his camera and began to take photos.
*snap* *snap*
Kel really enjoyed getting his picture taken. In fact, Kel took a different pose between each shot. He was a fashion model that lived for the camera.
"You aren't pushing your voice, are you, Kel?" asked Hero. Oh, he's right! He stopped sounding like a lizard person when he posed! If I were to compare his voice from before, Kel voice quality improved from super rough sandpaper to tree bark.
"I think the flowers healed me!" Doubtful. Flowers can't do that. Can they?
Basil gave me a shrug.
"Me next!" Aubrey took one of the pink gladioli that fell on the floor and stuck it straight into her hair. "Take a picture of me Basil!"
"Me too!" Mari followed along and plucked out a lily out of her bouquet and fastened it into her hair
Hero tried to do the same with a blue rose, but he couldn't get it to stick.
"Erm, Mari, could you…" Hero held out a rose while on his knee. He was taller than Mari, so that's pretty considerate of him but, does… does Hero even know how he looks right now? It was like he was from one of those bad dating shows mom likes to watch. I think Aubrey liked them too, so I glanced over.
Aubrey's eyes sparkled like searchlights. Yup.
Mari put in the rose for Hero while taking care not to mess up his hair. Honestly, with the way she did that, they looked like an old married couple.
Basil agreed and wasn't going to miss the opportunity as his finger shot towards the shutter.
*snap*
That moment of the two being cute was now immortalized. It became something they'd never get to forget. It became proof that the two of them shared a special relationship.
Could I get a picture like that with Aubrey?
Did I even want one? I wasn't the biggest fan of getting photographed. They always say you look best in photographs when you smile, but I'm not good at that. I've seen myself smiling at myself in the mirror. It always looks weird and off-putting so I avoid cameras.
Today is special though. A picture or two can't hurt, and I don't have to smile. I'll just keep my lips glued to a neutral line.
I picked out one tulip that hung in my bouquet and prepared to fold it. When I fold the stem here and hold it down, do a loop, and voila! The stem transformed into a knot that hung onto my hair.
Basil taught me how to tie this knot. It could tie anything to anything. He had a whole book about knots, and I think he picked up every single one. I should borrow it sometime, if only to make sure I could be free if I ever had to wear a tie again.
Basil grabbed a sunflower and tied it on with only a single hand. I couldn't even see his fingers move. He wasn't even looking!
His attention was solely on trying to get find 'perfect' scenes. Basil kept his eyes on everyone, looking for the perfect shot. It was like watching a director shoot a movie.
"C'mon Basil! You can't only take pictures. Let someone else take some of you!" called Aubrey. Yup, yup. You can't be the only one avoiding a picture, Basil.
Basil enjoyed getting photographed as much as I did. He's all cheery behind the camera, but when you surprise him with his camera, he gets all flustered. How do you think I feel Basil?!
"Who would take the pictures then?" He tried to weasel out of it. Wow, looks like I have no choice but to generously take over picture duty. Too bad it means I won't be getting my picture taken.
Just as I was about to make my very kind offer known to everyone, a thought stopped me.
If I just took pictures of everyone, I won't get a picture with Aubrey. The dilemma held my tongue.
In the silence, the door clicked open. Mom and Dad entered the room.
"Oh, Mom, can you take some pictures for us?" Mari snapped into action and cut off Basil's path of retreat.
"Oh, I'd be delighted!" And Basil was surrounded on all sides. His eyes swam, and he had to raise the white flag. He handed the camera over to Mom, and she started fiddling with the camera.
"First, let's get the stars of the show together!" said Mom with a smile. Mari was already ready, and Dad pulled me right next to her. I can do it by myself! Everyone's watching! I grumbled silently.
Mom was taking her sweet time, positioning herself for a "perfect" camera shot. I wanted to get this over with already. The looming stares from everyone made me uncomfortable.
My hands and legs began to fidget. I need to steady myself so I don't ruin the picture. Breathe in. Breathe out.
'It's just a photo, it's just a photo.' My mantra didn't do much to calm me down. But it did a little.
"Say 'cheese'!" I refuse.
"Cheese!" said Mari.
I stared straight into the camera. Mom's finger pressed the shutter button, and a snap sound came from the camera.
Suddenly, all I saw was white.
She turned on the flash function! When did she even turn on the flash function?! The light blasted my retinas, and I had to hold my hands over my eyes. It took a full three awful seconds for my vision to come back.
"Mom, turn off the flash, please." Mari, also, didn't appreciate being blinded.
"What? But it'll look terrible if you don't have a camera flash."
"No… um, that's not true." said Basil.
"Just… look at the picture, Mom." said Mari.
With a few clicks and a bit of whispering from Basil, Mom's face scrunched up. That's probably going to do it. Hopefully, Mom learned the cardinal rule. Flash made everything look awful. Not a single good thing about it.
"Err… yeah. Let's just turn that off." A small click emitted from the camera. "Okay! One more time! You two ready? Say cheese!"
No.
"Cheese!" said Mari energetically. My mouth didn't utter a word as the camera took the photo.
"Sunny…" Mom sighed. "I know you can smil-"
Kel pulled Basil right in front of my mom.
"Take a picture of me now, ma'am! Basil too!" Kel pointed to the camera, then to himself, at a rapid pace.
"Okay, fine, fine." My mom gave into Kel, so Mari and I stepped out of the way and let the two get their photos taken. "Oh right, thank you for letting me use your camera Basil."
"Oh! Um, it's nothing ma'am." Basil scratched his cheek and looked away.
I watched as Kel posed in front of the camera while Basil stood there and tried to switch to his best smile. Emphasis on the word 'tried'. It looked like one of those smiles you gave to a hungry shark when you ask them not to eat you.
Meanwhile, Mari took a page from Kel's book and pulled Hero to the sides to prep for something.
When Kel and Basil were finally done, Mari and Hero stepped up like it was the most natural thing in the world. It looked like it too. They had a surprise shot from Basil, but I guess they wanted a more formal one this time.
They stood together, shoulder-to-shoulder. They looked wondrous.
Dad grumbled a lot about it, but Mom just had to glare at Dad. That got Dad to go quiet.
Next, Mom wanted a picture of the rest of us. Aubrey, Kel, and Basil got ready, but as soon as I went to join them, I scratched my back and realized something horrible. My hands were moist and a cold chill ran down my back. One very important fact made itself known.
I've been sweating. I've been sweating a lot.
This is bad. If I get too close when we take a picture, someone would notice how absolutely drenched my back was. I mean, it's not like it's noticeable, nor like I smell…
Do I smell? I desperately checked myself for anything that could've made a scent. I mean, all I did was sit down on that chairrrrrrrr…
I rubbed myself against a chair that looked old and smelled funny! The chair scent would've latched onto me!
I have to get out of this. But how? I looked around for an answer, for inspiration! But I couldn't find anything that could make a reasonable excuse.
My eyes met Kel's. He motioned to hurry up. No. That's the worst thing for me to do in this situation. Kel was looking annoyed, and that probably means he'll force me if I don't come up with something quick. But nothing was coming to mind!
"Don't move." Someone whispered as they sprayed something down my back. I shivered as something cold went down my back. I touched it and smelled it, it smelled… like flowers?
Who was that? I turned my head, and I saw Mari. She gave me a smile.
"It's antiperspirant." She whispered. In that instant, I could see angel wings and a halo manifest behind her.
"Thanks." I whispered back.
Mari is the best sister ever.
The scent of flowers fought off the cloying feeling in my stomach. All that's left is the picture…
Is there somewhere I'm supposed to stand for these kinds of photos? Should I bring the bouquet?
There were too many things I didn't know! I was just so confused, and that nauseating feeling rose up again. Do I really have to get my picture taken?
"C'mon Sunny!" Kel finally decided he had enough of waiting and grabbed me by the wrist. He threw me over to everybody in one big swing. That's dangerous, Kel! I could barely stop myself from colliding headfirst into Basil.
"Everybody ready?" asked Mom.
"We're ready ma'am." Said Basil.
Kel tried to move behind me, but I blocked him. I know what he's planning. It's literally the first thing everyone does in a group photo. He wants to put bunny ears on me and someone else! Not on my watch! I will make this photo session as short as possible!
Kel was a slippery one. If I used my hands to grab him, Mom would immediately notice. Then I'd have to let him go. But it also meant Kel couldn't use his hands, either. So, we used our bodies instead.
Kel and I were exchanging positions at a rapid rate. He swerved left, and I almost completely moved that way, but I saw a glint in his eye. He turned on his heel, and spun to the right, but I was ready for him and moved myself into his path! Kel managed not to crash into me by taking a few steps back, but that just meant he had a lot more space to move now. It doesn't matter though, I'll stop him.
We made eye contact. We were in a deadlock, a standoff. But just as it began, it suddenly stopped.
Aubrey grabbed both of us by our collars.
"Stop playing around!" she said. Kel's locked in place! Good job Aubrey!
Aubrey pulled the two of us next to her, and Basil leaned into us.
The camera snapped at that exact same moment. That sound was the trumpet that signaled my victory. Victory was sweet. It also felt kind of warm and smelled nice.
"That was good! Everyone smiled in that picture! See Sunny! I know you can smile!"
I did?! Oh no; I got too caught up in the competition… I hoped the photo didn't look too weird.
At least I got a picture with Aubrey.
Kel and Aubrey ran up to Mom to look at the picture.
"I look so awesome! C'mon! Take another picture of me! You too Hero!"
Kel pulled in Hero for another picture. Hero was more than happy to oblige.
While they were busy doing that, I went to hang out with Basil for a bit.
"Sorry about the flowers." Hopefully, Basil wasn't too down about it.
"Oh, it's fine, Sunny, I got a photo, and I still have more flowers back home, so I could always make another one and send it later." That's a load off my shoulders.
"Oh, let me get the two of you together!" cried out Mom. She must be done photographing Kel and Hero.
Basil and I walked over, but we were both pretty nervous about the picture.
Basil held onto the hem of my shirt, but waved with his other hand. I waited for the photo with a face of stone.
"Huh, aren't you two wearing the same clothes?" Oh, looks like Mom noticed.
"No! I mean, we are! But uh… " Basil started fiddling with his fingers. "I'm sorry, it's weird. I thought we'd look like best friends if I did this."
Disregarding however the heck Basil figured out what I was going to wear, when I hadn't ever shown him these clothes, he's worrying over nothing.
"We're already best friends." I patted Basil on the back.
"Sunny…" He smiled, and I gave one back.
*snap*
"Good photo you two!" A second photo of me smiling was taken. I felt used. Did Mom somehow plan this when she said the thing about clothes to Basil? Did she plan this with Basil?
One look at Basil gave me the answer. His face was red too, so he walked off to the corner to sit on the chairs. I probably shouldn't tell him that that was the chair I sat on, or he must just die.
"Let's do Sunny and Aubrey next!" said Mari as she pulled Aubrey along by the arm. It sounded great! Though one though absolutely bulldozed through my head.
DOES MARI KNOW?!
It sounds nice, but is she doing it for me because she knows about my crush? I mean, why else would she suggest it, but like, sometimes she just does that, but didn't she just take a picture with Hero that was a lot like this, and if she knew, her teasing would be on a whole other level, wouldn't it?
My brain was having a meltdown. Then Mari led Aubrey right next to me. So now it was now primed to explode.
For the group picture, my embarrassment was manageable because everyone else and Kel helped distract me the sick fuzzy feeling in my stomach.
But this, this was somehow so much more nerve-wracking.
I stood next to Aubrey. I felt something warm brush my skin every now and then, and all I smelt were flowers. Everyone's eyes were on me, and I couldn't handle the fire burning in my face. It was to the point where even looking at Aubrey put me at risk to collapse.
Everything about her stunned me. How she looked from a distance couldn't even compare to when she was next to me.
My only option was to focus on my breathing.
Both of us were silent. I really should say something, but what? I need to get it over with already. And why isn't Mom taking the photo?!
I looked at Mom. She was fiddling with the camera for some unknown reason. How hard can it be to just press the shutter button!
"Uh, you look good, Sunny." Aubrey broke the silence with her whisper.
I had to resist pumping my fist.
"Thanks. Um, you look good too." I just returned the compliment, but it was probably the wrong thing to do. The weird silence came back.
"Okay, you two! Get a little closer for the camera!"
I took a tiny shuffle to the left. Aubrey did the same. We were a lot closer now. The space between us could fit a grape at most.
"A little more please!" Mom urged.
And so we crushed that grape together. Our hands were touching. My heart leapt. The back of my hand felt a little ticklish, but it also felt a gentle warmth.
"Okay, perfect!"
All my senses were overwhelmed. It was all I could do to stand still instead of shake uncontrollably. I wanted Mom to take the picture and get it over with, yet last I wanted it to last forever. My embarrassment fought with my happiness.
I should stare straight at the camera, but I couldn't help sneaking glances to my side.
Mom's finger finally pressed the button.
Then Kel slid in front of us. He pulled his cheeks and kicked up a leg. I heard him waggle his tongue, making a leroleh sound.
I tried reaching out my hand to grab him out of the way but…
*snap*
"Ahahaha! Gotcha!" cackled Kel.
"Kel…" moaned Hero.
"It's no big deal, just take another photo!"
Then, the door opened and a staff member walked in. They tapped on their clipboard with their pen and spoke in a husky voice.
"Sorry, but the next recital going to begin soon. The performer needs to use this room, so you all have to go. You have 1 minute."
Kel jinxed it!
"Ah, whoops." he scratched his head.
Kel's birthday was coming up. I had been kind in the previous years, and didn't collect on his debt of birthday punches, even though Kel has given me a few every year so far. It would be time for repayment soon.
"I think we have time for just one more picture." Dad checked on his watch.
"We need one with everyone together!" said Mom. Her arms wildly waved everyone to group up.
So, everyone gathered around the two of us.
Hero and Mari, being the tallest, stood behind all of us.
Kel leaned onto my right shoulder, while Basil was to Aubrey's left.
Me and Aubrey stayed in place. Though, the space between us grew to the size of a watermelon. I looked over, and well, Aubrey gave me a small smile. We probably had to keep this distance.
I felt a pang, and I kind of wished…
No, no. This is fine.
All my friends had warm smiles behind me. Their warmth comforted me.
I'll treasure them forever.
*snap*
The camera snapped up the memory.
It was perfect.