Once Classmates and Now Soulmates

Annie Stones had barely finished her morning coffee when she spotted the familiar blue envelope sitting in her mailbox. The envelope was unremarkable at first glance, a soft, powdery blue that blended in with the other mail she had gathered that day. But something about it felt different, almost personal, in a way that most mail never was.

She sat down at her kitchen table, sliding her finger along the edge of the envelope. Inside, a crisp invitation card revealed itself, adorned with elegant gold lettering:

Crestwood High School 10-Year Reunion

Join us as we celebrate a decade since graduation!

Annie stared at the words for a moment, her mind flipping through memories she hadn't thought about in years. High school seemed like a lifetime ago, a distant blur of awkward teenage years, tests, and a handful of people who had drifted in and out of her life since then. She had moved on, built a successful career, traveled the world—everything she had dreamed of back then. The last thing she expected was to feel a tug at her heart, a sudden flood of curiosity about what had become of those old classmates she hadn't thought about in years.

Her first instinct was to toss the invitation aside. What was the point of going to a reunion? She hadn't kept in touch with anyone except a few acquaintances on social media, and the idea of awkward small talk with people she barely remembered didn't sound appealing.

But then she saw the name.

Calix Wood.

It was written at the bottom of the invitation, under a list of people helping to organize the reunion. A name that, for some reason, stood out from the others. Calix. The boy who had sat behind her in chemistry class, who had a mischievous grin and a laid-back attitude that had always intrigued her. They hadn't been close, but there had always been a strange sort of chemistry between them—no pun intended.

Annie hadn't thought of Calix in years, but seeing his name triggered something inside her, a sense of unfinished business, of roads not taken. Back in high school, she had been too focused on her grades, too eager to leave their small town, to ever consider exploring that unspoken connection. But now, with a decade of distance between them, the thought of seeing him again stirred a flicker of curiosity.

She ran her fingers over the edge of the invitation, thinking. What if she did go? What if this reunion wasn't just about catching up with old classmates but also about finding out what paths those people had taken—including Calix?

Her phone buzzed, jolting her from her thoughts. It was a message from her best friend, Emma, who had also received the invitation.

"Are you going to the reunion?" the text read.

Annie sighed. She knew what she should say—no, absolutely not—but instead, she found herself typing, "I'm thinking about it."

Emma's reply was instant: "No way! You've always hated these things. Why the sudden change?"

Annie paused, fingers hovering over her screen. How could she explain this odd pull she felt? It wasn't just the reunion itself; it was the opportunity to reconnect with a part of her past that she had left unresolved. Finally, she responded, "I guess I'm just curious. Might be fun to see what everyone's up to after all these years."

She didn't mention Calix. It was silly, she told herself, to be this affected by a name on a piece of paper. People changed, moved on. Chances were, Calix had forgotten all about her, and even if he hadn't, what were the odds that they'd strike up any meaningful conversation after ten years?

Still, the thought nagged at her throughout the day, lingering in the back of her mind as she went through her usual routine. She found herself thinking about those last few months of senior year—Calix sitting behind her, cracking jokes, always seeming so carefree. She remembered the times they'd exchanged glances in class, moments of shared laughter that never seemed to go beyond the classroom. She had liked him, of course, but back then, everything had felt too complicated. Too uncertain.

But now, she wondered, had things really changed?

By the end of the day, Annie had made up her mind. She was going to the reunion. Maybe it would be awkward, and maybe she wouldn't reconnect with anyone in a meaningful way. But the chance to see how far they'd all come, to revisit that part of her life—even for just one night—was too intriguing to pass up.

A few days later, she RSVPed.

The day of the reunion crept up faster than she had expected. As she stood in front of her closet, trying to decide what to wear, she couldn't help but feel a bit of nervous anticipation. It was strange—she was successful, confident, and accomplished. Yet, the idea of stepping back into that high school environment made her feel like a teenager again, unsure of how the night would unfold.

In the end, she chose something simple—a classic black dress that made her feel both comfortable and confident. As she got ready, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and smiled. She wasn't that insecure high school girl anymore. She was Annie Stones—self-assured, independent, and ready to face whatever the reunion had in store.

When she finally walked out the door, invitation in hand, she felt a sense of anticipation bubbling up inside her. Maybe the reunion would be just another night of small talk and reminiscing. Or maybe—just maybe—it would be something more.

As she drove toward Crestwood High, her thoughts kept drifting back to Calix Wood. What was he doing now? Had life taken him down a path he never expected, the way it had with her? Would he even remember her?

One thing was certain—this was going to be a night she wouldn't forget.