Once home, I made sure everyone was comfortable and set for the night, even the cantankerous Rachel. Once in my room, I pulled out my phone to text Chrissy.
Me: Okay, I'm home. You ready for this?
Chrissy: Hold on! I'll call you!
Sure enough, I had an incoming call a minute later. I answered and heard an excited squeal. I pulled the phone away from me and checked the caller id, it says Chrissy, but no way that was her.
"Will you shut up?" I heard Chrissy say followed by a loud 'thump'. "Sorry, Val, that was Raquel. She and I went to dinner when I got Leslie's text. So tell us, how the heck did you run into Nate? Was it intentional?"
I scoffed. "No way it was intentional. If anything, I'm sure the curse on me has upped a level." I explained the conversation I had with Brittany when we drove by the high school, and how for the first time in almost two years of being back, I ran into Nate. "It's like the universe is telling me something." I sighed.
"Yea! That you should give Nate another chance! You're obviously predetermined to be together!" Raquel suggested before Chrissy could say anything. "It's just like how Alex came back to the states and now we're getting married! You can do it too!"
Ehh.
"Shut up you love-drunk girl. This Nate and Val we're talking about. They don't need a shotgun wedding like you do for a green card." Chrissy told her followed by another 'thump'.
"Stop hitting me with pillows!" Raquel complained. "I just said it'd be cute if they got back together, and got married. You're just mad because you'd be the last one to be single."
Chrissy groaned. "This is totally different from you and Alex. Val dated Nate for two years. Then dumped him after graduation. It'd be a miracle for him to take her back." She paused. "No offense, Val."
"Hmm." I thought that way too...but- "Nate wants to catch up."
"What! Why?" Chrissy was surprised.
"Awe! He's already making a move!" Raquel could be heard clapping.
I sighed. "We had a small discussion. I insulted him, he called me ice queen. But when we were leaving, I saw him again in the parking lot. I think we're at the point where we can just be friends. So I gave him my number."
"You can not be friends with your exes." Chrissy sighed. "You know that, right..?"
"What? Why not?" Raquel asked. "Though I also think he doesn't want to be just friends with you. Nate was crazy about you."
"I just gave him my number. It's not like we're suddenly dating. Or engaged." I told them. "Honestly, I don't even know if I'll hear from him."
"You sound unsure whether you want to hear from him or not." Chrissy said.
I shrugged to myself. "I felt bad. I still do. We didn't end in a good way. And after having that douchebag cheat on me, Nate really isn't all that bad."
"Don't pity-date him." Chrissy lectured.
"I wouldn't do that." I sighed. "I just think...the way I broke it off; it was very mean and harsh. Especially after graduation."
"Hindsight is 20/20." She replied. "Well, as long as you know what you're doing. It'd be kind of cool to see Nate again. Maybe after our Vegas trip, we can try to get together as a group. Keep it less romantic."
I laughed. "I don't really know what I'm doing, but you're right. If we got together as a group, it would be less awkward."
"Count me in!" Raquel said. "I loved Nate. He was so nice. I never really understood why you guys broke up in the first place. And he was so sad afterwards-oof! Ow! Stop it, Chrissy."
I smiled. Chrissy was definitely trying to get Raquel to shut up. "We were going to two different places. On two different sides of the country. It wasn't going to work. It was better to cut it off sooner than dragging it out." As for how we felt about it afterwards? It was best to leave it in the past.
"Do you...regret it?" Raquel asked. Followed by a very loud yelp. "Ow!! Chrissy!! It was a valid question. We haven't revisited this breakup in so long. All we do is talk about the cheater."
I laughed. "Chrissy, leave her alone. It's fine. We're cool. It's all in the past. He lived his college life and I lived mine." I thought about the guy who pulled him away. "And who knows? Maybe he has a girlfriend and he just wanted some closure from me or something? There's so many possibilities out there. Best to leave all the thinking to Nate. I'm getting tired."
"Okay." Chrissy replied. "We'll let you go. Have a fun weekend!"
"Byeeee!" Raquel hollered.
The call ended. I put my phone on the charger and finally got into bed for the night. I felt a giant mix of emotions right now. Seeing Nate...talking about Nate...I feel like I'm going back in time to high school. This is how it was back then too. Chrissy, Raquel, and me, all talking about boys. It's weird to think that it was a much simpler time back then.
I didn't have a good sleep that night, overthinking and dreaming about Nate and other random high school crap. I woke up before my alarm, unwilling to go back to that dreamland. I used the extra time to shower first and start the day. It was going to be a long day so it's best to start it off right.
After getting dressed, I went downstairs and started to make scrambled eggs for everyone. I pulled out the mixed fruit from the fridge and set it with the bananas. I also got cereal and milk out just in case Rachel was difficult to get along with today, too. Once most of it was prepared, I started to wake everyone up.
"It's a Saturday..." Rachel groaned.
"We have appointments to keep." I told her simply, moving on to Brittany's room with Kelly.
I opened the door and found her wide awake. She looked like she didn't sleep well either. She must still be stressing about the wedding dress.
"Good morning." I greeted. "Breakfast is ready downstairs. One of you can take a shower first and then eat, while the other does the opposite."
Brittany put on her happy face. "I'll eat first! I could use some food."
I nodded and watched her go. Hopefully today she finds what she's looking for. I'll have to work hard to make sure of it.