The reunion erupts into a chaotic group hug, with everyone talking over each other in an attempt to catch you up on what's been going on. You can't follow most of it because it's all coming at you at once, but you'll have plenty of time now that you're back home to hear about it.
The gang helps you take your stuff up to your mom's car, though you don't have a lot with you.
"Mom, would you mind bringing my stuff back and I'll unpack it later? I thought I'd hang out for a bit and then walk home," you tell her.
"Of course," she says. "If you want, you can all swing by the diner later for dinner."
Your mom drives off. When you turn to face the general store again, there is a face you don't recognize, and that face is looking directly at you.
"Who's that?" you ask.
"Oh, there he is," Addy says, then waves him over. "I was wondering where he disappeared to."
"That's Kirill. He moved here with his dad a couple months ago," Anuja explains as he jogs up to the group. "He's in our grade. We've been showing him around and making sure he's not utterly bored here. I think you'll like him."
"Yeah, he's super cool," Diego adds. "Kirill, this is Petzeiros. Petzeiros, Kirill. His dad's working as a lobsterman. They moved here from Saint Petersburg! Russia, not Florida."
"Actually, I lived a little ways outside Saint Petersburg. Also, I lived in New Jersey for a while before moving here. But yes." Kirill's words and smile are cautious, but you can't tell if it's because he's wary of you or just generally socially anxious. His English is perfect, so it's not that. He just seems a little awkward, though in a charming way.
Judging by the way your friends are all looking at him, he's certainly charmed them. It seems that they've really taken a liking to this new kid while you've been gone.