Earth is on a knife's edge. Has always been. Humans endanger the planet itself. But can it take an invasion of the aliens, who come in peace, befriend the government but plan on achieving something greater than just the mere trust of a species that...
As the sun crawled down from under the clouds that were starting to mask the swirling flames of dusk, the world seemed to adjust with the changes happening as of late, as it did with the daily transitions of day into night.
I sat on the swing looking down at my feet dragging grass. A soft wind jingled the bells from somewhere afar. The constant squeaks of the swings broke the surrounding silence.
And there on the swing to my right sat the person, times had taken away from me.
Julie.
Alongwith my parents, I had went to the airport upon hearing she was coming back. I didn't know what I felt. It had been so long. We barely spoke in the car and it had been nothing short of awkward. On the contrary, our parents seemed to be getting along just fine. Like they had come back from a trip and were casually sharing their thoughts. I don't get how they are so good at socialising.
Those moments kept on spinning in my head...
"So, you're back, huh?" I tried my best smiling.
Both were in the uncomfortable territory, still it was polite to make the other relax by speaking normally, like nothing had ever happened.
Bullshit.
"Um... yeah. And I don't know what to say. It's something I had always wanted. To be back at the place I grew up in. Since the day we parted ways, because of my father's transfer, I kept thinking about my life before- how it could've been. But gradually I adjusted with the new environment. Now I'm back at my birthplace. It does feel a bit awkward." She broke into embarrassed chuckles.
"Trust me, it'd get better." I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's not like you'd be leaving again, right?"
"Nope! It's permanent I think. Dad retired, and Mom has found a job back here. It's not like she did anything important back there anyway so it wasn't a big deal. And they all did it because of me." Her smile was so pure. Contagious.
"Let's meet somewhere."
"What?" she was clearly taken aback.
And that's how we came to be here, in the park. The car dropped us off here, like five minutes ago with the parting voice of my mother, "You kids enjoy!" as the car disappeared at the end of the curb.
I looked at her. The same posture and same look as mine was visible in her outlook. She looked into my eyes, two dazzling stars brightening my orbs of dark night, probably upon noticing my gaze on her.
"Remember the times when we played video games at your place? You always tickled me to win." A cute grin fell across her face.
I chuckled. "Yeah, I was of the naughty type. Still am if you ask my friends." I gave a cheeky grin in return. It was fun to look back on memories. They were the only things left with us after years had taken away our life of the old. It felt like it was another life altogether.
She looked away... far into the distance. "Wow..." she almost mumbled, "how the times have changed, heh, I still remember it so clearly. Us falling asleep after loads of bickering, our parents often leaving us together to look out for each other..." she lost herself into the beautiful past we had sometime left behind.
"It's nice though..." I said, almost to myself.
"Huh, what?" she looked at me quizzically.
"Now that you're here," I looked at her with gentle eyes boring the care and affection of an old friend, finishing the sentence. "We did spend quite some time away from each other, walked on different paths, made different moments we could've made together. But life has given us another chance," I smiled. "To be back, together."
She might have blushed, but the sunset concealed the look somehow. But I was almost sure.
She chuckled. "You sure have learnt how to make sweet talk."
I laughed. "You have a long way to know this new me." I leaned back on the swing, supporting myself with palms wrapped around the chains.
"I believe, I would love this you as much as I did the old one... if not more."
Wow, I really felt that. It surely felt very nice to meet her again.
How had we lost contact with each other? We were inseparable in childhood. Always fighting, playing, laughing; but always together. She was my neighbour. But before anything, she was my best friend.
"Josh?" She pronounced my name in her sweet voice. It tingled in my ear.
"Yeah?" I looked at her.
She flashed her teeth and got up from the swing. "Come on, let's have some ice cream."
I smiled and hurled myself onto my feet. "Could already taste it in my mouth. Bill's on me."
"Ha! No way! I wo-"
"You can't argue. I deserve to treat you when you come back after God knows how long. You would tell me your preference like a good girl and enjoy. That's it."
She made a face and tried to punch me on my shoulders. I moved my body just in time and pulled her hand and wrapped mine around her. Then I pinched her nose. "You can't win!"
She flailed her arms in all directions and one hit me right on mark, on the nose. "Ow!" I retracted my arms, but the pain dissolved when I heard her beautiful laughter.
__________
As evening blurred the distant buildings in Prussian blue and black, lights blinked on like distant stars. We walked side by side, cones in hand.
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"You remembered I like Butter Scotch?"
"How can I forget when you emptied the whole bucket when I was asleep that day our parents had planned a party. It was such a commotion it broke me out of my sweet dreams."
She was embarrassed. "You speak of it like it was just the other day," she murmured.
I tried to picture it in my mind. "Sure feels like it."
The sidewalk curled at the next intersection and we crossed the road hand in hand, ice creams finished.
Back on the pavement, I let go of her hand, but for the briefest moment, her hand didn't let go of mine. "So where are you staying?" I sure had a lot of questions for her.
Sensing my thoughts, she briefed me. "I'm living up close. Ten minutes away in an apartment from your place. Twenty-third floor. Room 2305. Um... opposite to Mama likes it Spicy...?"
I laughed out loud at her awkwardness. "Oh, that's the new place. Opened up last year in November. They sure know how to name a restaurant." She chuckled with me. "Well, might I say they also know how to serve the right food. I will take you there someday, with all of my friends. Well, of course once you are well acquainted with them. I don't want you to get uncomfortable." I sent a soft smile her way.
She swung her hand by mine and leaned over a little, to the pont her head gently rested on my shoulder. "I would love to! Check in on my place. sometime too, okay?"
"It's the first thing I do after my tuitions tomorrow." I showed a thumbs up and winked.
"And when's that?" Is that excitement in her tone? I love being the special one around!
"Six in the evening. I'd be there before you know it!"
She laughed heartily. "I've always loved your surprises."
"Oh yeah?" I poked the side of her ribs. She jumped. Man, I love it when I do that!
"Hahaha! How do you like that!"
"Josh! Same naughty boy" And then a punch came in hard!
__________
The car was parked under the shed signalling that my parents had dropped off Julie's at their new apartment. I hope she'd be able to adjust with her new life, back here.
It was evening when I returned. A blue hue hung in the air. Dark clouds were gathering at the extremities.
I rung the doorbell and Ma opened the door. "Ah Josh! How was your reunion with Julie?"
"Good enough. But I'm visiting her place tomorrow in the evening. We have a lot to catch up on."
"Sure, but don't let that be the cause for the teachers to scold you. I need you up to date with your studies. Always."
"Yeah, right. I'll call in Danny and Blake. We'll have a group study. Hope you don't mind?" I looked up at her.
"Of course not! They are my precious gems! Such a pleasure to have them. Where are the girls? Aren't you gonna invite them too?"
"Don't feel like it today. Moreover Daphne is having some guests so she's busy and can't come anyway. Leila is out at a function, unavailable as well. Bringing in the others would cause them to miss these two so I feel like, us boys would be just fine for today."
"Oh that's too bad. Study well, dear."
"Yep. No problem."
The news channel was on in the dining room TV.
"...and this marks the first flight to moon for the mining missions."
It is about time, mankind set foot on our barren satellite again, I thought.
I headed upstairs to my bedroom after freshening up a bit, Danny and Blake already on the call.
![We're Just Friends [BOOK 1 Of The 'We're Just' Trilogy]] by Riane_Pereira](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/142153467-80-k186266.jpg)
