Summer is always a time for relaxing. After spending a whole school year studying and preparing for graduation I needed a break. What was coming next for me was huge. I mean, college! I was full of excitement, but also there was a feeling of homesickness even when I still hadn't left home.

Not only would I miss my family, Marjorie, and Kimi, but also my friends, Paxton and Millie. Even though we were bound for the same university, we were aware that things might be a little different than usual. That's why I intended to spend as much time as possible with them these next three months.

"I can see food rolling in your mouth, Kerri!" Millie said annoyed as I munched on my breakfast on video chat at the kitchen counter.

"Maah bawd," I tried to apologize with my mouth full.

"Kerri-Ann Hayes! Manners!" my Mom turned around from the dishes and stared incredulously at me from the sink before coming behind me to wave at my friends. "Forgive my daughter and her big mouth!"

"It's cool Mrs. H. We love her anyway," Paxton replied hearing my Mom, waving back.

"She's lucky we do because anybody else would have dropped her when they saw her eating on camera! What a mess, girl." Millie teased me.

"Boo hoo, they will drop you right after me when they see you slurping on a milkshake, like a freaking human vacuum," I replied.

Paxton snorted suppressing a laugh. My mom shook her head before walking away and leaving the room.

Millie gasped. "That is SO not true!"

I raised my eyebrows at her and we all stared for a few seconds before bursting into laughter.

"Okay, it's true! Milkshakes are too good. I'll chug them down anytime, I don't care who's watching."

This was great. I loved these moments with my friends. We grew up together through years of innocent happiness since kindergarten, years of feeling misunderstood in middle school, and years of whatever high school was. They were everything to me. Even though we weren't going to be pretty far from each other in college, it was a bummer when we realized things just weren't exactly going to be the same.

I continued finishing my food while Millie and Pax chatted about our options for summer entertainment. We were planning on a few trips to the beach, maybe some hiking, some movie days in, but our biggest plan was the Simmer Down Music Festival. We had been waiting for that Festival for months and nothing was going to get in our way to make it happen. The Festival was celebrated every summer a few cities away from our hometown and it lasted a whole week. So, that meant a road trip and a stay at a cheap BnB with my friends. Parentless, independent, care-free.

"Earth to Kerri?" Millie's voice caught my attention.

"Hmm? Sorry. I was thinking about the Festival. What did you say?"

"I asked if you've told Kimi about leaving for uni yet."

I paused. "No. I haven't."

Paxton looked up and Millie sighed. "You gotta tell her. I mean, she'll live, but you can't just wait until the day you leave to let her know 'Hey, Kimi. I'm leaving for another city and you won't see me for months'."

"I know. I just don't want to bum her down."

"You won't! Have you met the kid? She's a bright sunflower. Nothing can bring her down."

"True. I'll tell her this afternoon when she returns from camp," at those words a lump formed in my throat and I suddenly felt like I wanted to cry. But none of it was because of the news I had to bring forth, there was just a strange feeling in my chest.

"Kerri, you okay?" Paxton asked, concerned. "You spaced out for a moment."

Confusion filled my mind. I couldn't understand what I was feeling. "I--I-- Have you ever felt this dread that something bad is going to happen and there's nothing you can do to stop it, but you don't even know what it is?"

Both my friends just blinked from each half of my computer screen.

"Ooookay, creepy much?" Millie pointed out. "But if you want an actual answer... Yeah, I guess it has happened to me. Like, deja vu, you know. Happens to everyone."

"But it's not a deja vu, though."

"Are you worried about something? College?" asked Paxton.

"I don't know. Maybe it's just that damn nightmare I had this morning."

"Dreaming about the boogeyman?"

I rolled my eyes at him and half smiled, "Of course not, Pax. It was actually about... Kimi."

"That's your brain reminding you that you have to tell her about college before it's too late!" Millie chimed in.

Shaking my head I said, "No, no. Hear me out." I went on and told them about my nightmare, the way Kimi jolted me out of sleep, and how I felt afterward that was the same feeling I had now.

Pax whistled, "Whoa."

"Right?! Weird dream. But maybe you're right Millie. I just gotta tell her."

"I'm telling you, girl. That's it. Now, are we up for tonight?"

"What's tonight?" I asked.

"Uh, we're meeting up so Pax can tell us all about his date, of course." Millie wiggled her eyebrows.

Pax's date. Right. After middle school's awkward and full of acne phase, Paxton hit the gold turning into one of the most attractive guys at our school. All girls drooled when he walked by, but he was always oblivious to it until one finally asked him to a school dance in 10th grade. From then on, he's had a few girls, but he's never convinced enough to have an official girlfriend.

"Who is it this time?" I asked.

"Uh... Layla." He sounded uninterested.

Millie gasped. "Layla? The head of the student body Layla Norwalk? Reaching high, Pax. I'm proud."

"Ex-head of the student body 'cause she did graduate with us," he clarified.

I chuckled. "Alright then. Let's see how this one goes."

"Pax, we'll meet at Kerri-Ann's at 8 pm."

"That early? When even is this date?" I asked.

"In about twenty minutes, so I gotta get going," Pax said looking at the clock on his phone. "Wish me luck?"

"Good luck, loverboy," said Millie.

"Have fun, Pax."

"Until later, girls." He said before logging off.

"And you... stop worrying, Kerri. It was just a dream, okay?" said Millie.

"What? I'm not thinking about that anymore."

"Yeah, you are."

I sighed. "Fine. I'll let it go."

"We'll talk later!" Millie blew a kiss to her camera.

After blowing one back I said, "Later, girl." And our call ended.

Breathing deeply I shook the feeling and the nightmare off of me before heading to my room to start a marathon on my favorite series while I waited for Kimi to come back.