2) Epiphanies in the Wafflehouse

As the music plays and the people mingle all I can do is stare at the small crowd in Lee's house and try to work out who all these people are.

I swear I'm not this bad with names but I am certain that I didn't know this many people a year and a half ago.

Zoe seems to already know a couple people here as she waves at a group. I clear my throat so that she remembers that I am still standing next to her.

She shrugs "Well pretty much everyone you remember from high school has gone off my radar besides the occasional Facebook post from the very few people that I didn't delete because I'm interested to see if they go bald. Plus the people you actually like which only includes three people have travelled to the other side of the country or the world in Charlie's case."

I nod, thinking back to all the food Charlie and I ate while in Europe "He seems to like it in France. Eating cheese even though he is now lactose intolerant."

"That leaves 3 people that don't mind being around you, so it would be more of a meet up rather than gathering."

"That still doesn't explain who these strangers are."

"Lees robotic buddies," she says like it'll clear everything up, "He thought the house would look more inviting with more people inside."

Clearly, they have forgotten my great dislike of people "Can we just go back to the part where we are associating lee with robotics? Is it like a robot war phase he is going through?"

"He's studying robotics because I quote 'I want to become the next terminator'. Yeah none of us understands either but they have welcomed him with outstretched metal arms. And surprisingly he is at the top of his class."

I never imagined Lee would be doing something this interesting but I guess that just proves you never know where life is going to take you. Maybe I can convince him to make me a robotic butler that can cook me food. 

My stomach rumbles at the thought of food. Whatever I ate on the plane was unidentifiable with the red sauce on top, for all I know it could have been cardboard. It would be nice to eat some real food, preferably carbs.  

Zoe catches my arm before I can make a run for it, "Wait where are you going? There are people who want to-"

"To the food table, it's calling to me. I've been living off aeroplane food for the past day which has no nutritional value. I'll consider socialising after I've eaten the tray of party pies."

I saunter off in the crowd following the intoxicating smell of lollies and buttery pastry, my mouth waters when I see a mountain of mini quiches  "Home sweet home."

I'm a bit worried about not having a proper plate to put my food on. I doubt a flimsy napkin will be able to hold at least two of everything from this table. 

It's as soon as I stuff three quiches in my mouth that someone startles me from behind

"Relieved to finally be back home?"

Recognising the voice only makes me chew quicker which was a good idea until I started to choke on the dry pastry shell. A cup of water is shoved in my face and I take it, gladly sculling the entire thing.

There is an awkward pause before I answer his previous question "Not really. I just found the table with all the food on it and forgot how much I missed kids party food."

It takes me a second to realise just who is standing in front of me before I freeze up. 

His warm chocolate brown eyes stare down at me as a small smile makes its way onto his face. My eyes can't help but wander over him in curiosity, I linger over the small changes that make him look more mature and out of my league.

"Hey," the simple word alone makes me want to melt. This is the effect Sam has on me after our time apart.

"Hi," good job, you haven't embarrassed yourself just yet.

"It's good to see you."

I can't help but smile back at him, "My eyes enjoy your presence and you smell good," and I was going so well.

His familiar laugh warms my heart and makes me slightly relax.

Okay, so you've started the conversation with some slight embarrassment which we can wallow in later but now you have to continue talking. I would suggest some kind of small talk.

"What exactly was 'Code Green'?" I ask curiously.

"I wasn't really listening when she was going over everything so it either meant hide the llama or we ran out of guacamole." He bites his bottom lip compressing a wicked smile.

"Both very important elements to a surprise party."

"Yes, I took care of the more pressing issue first."

"You got the guacamole?"

Leaning forward he picks up a bowl of guacamole that's big enough for an entire army "Yep. Even made with my own two hands!"

"How very thoughtful of you. You really know what to say to make a girl go wild. Oh, do you hear that, I think I'm being summoned by Zoe? I better get going but I'll talk to you later, yeah?" I give him a quick pat on the shoulder and don't wait for a response before I make a break for it. 

Scanning the room I'm surprised to find that it is almost impossible to find my friend in what feels like a sea of males.

"Zoe!" I pull her out of a conversation she is having with another girl.

She tugs her arm from my tight grip, "Ow why'd you do that? I was having a very important conversation with Sasha about the best place to get giant cutouts of people."

I have to restrain myself from rolling my eyes, "I would love to join in with that I have a very pressing matter to discuss with you."

Dread passes over her features before her head flicks around to a group of guys gathered around a fish tank "Oh no. Did Brent try to prove gravity is something the government made up so they could conceal the fact we can actually fly?"

Lees friends are actually making me feel semi-normal. Maybe I should make more friends. On second thought, that's way too much effort and I'd have to talk to them.

"Ah, no... You forgot to mention a very important detail," I trail off, hoping Zoe will catch my drift.

"Okay so maybe I didn't tell you that we all went to a chocolate festival and won a lifetime supply of chocolate but then lost it on the way home. We thought it would hurt you less not to know we misplaced all the chocolate, " she cringes at the memory.

"Not that but we will definitely have to go over the details later... I mean Sam. Who has suddenly gotten..." I wave my hand frantically at him still standing at the food table cleaning out a bowl of chips.

"Hotter?"

"Yes, that is one of many words one might use to describe his.."

"Hotness?" Zoe suggests.

"I was going to say a slight difference in attractiveness. He's gone from a 'I don't feel guilty staring at you because you know you look good too' to 'You are practically radiating with swagaliciousness, I'm never taking my eyes off you'. And then you get me who looks and feels like a used tissue blog thing." 

She reaches and takes a piece of popcorn out of my loose braid "Well you did just get back off a 24-hour plane ride so I wasn't expecting you to come home looking like a supermodel."

An ear-piercing sound comes from a speaker from the other side of the room where Lee is standing. This can't be good. "Who's ready for Karaoke? First is 'My Heart Will Go On! I'll be picking people at random if no one comes up. I think the crowd wants to see the main lady were all here for tonight. Mackenzie where are you?" He scans the small crowd slowly. 

Covering my face I try to hide behind Zoe "I think that's my cue to leave."

"But you've barely been here for 30 minutes.

I bring my arms around Zoe in a tight hug "I'm half dead from Jetlag and all I want to do is go to bed and sleep. Thanks for throwing the party. It really appreciates the thought, it really means a lot to me." I give her a genuine smile.

Her eyes soften "We'll go out for a proper breakfast tomorrow yeah? When you're more alive and don't smell like puke."

Just as I get to the door and turn back to my friend "Can you tell Sam I need that guacamole recipe?"

"You'll have plenty of time to ask him yourself tomorrow okay." She winks before unplugging the karaoke machine against much protest.

***

My attempt at soaking up the sun rays in peace is short lived when I ear my name being called from a distance.

"Mackenzie!! Over here!" The voice is too loud and enthusiastic for this time in the morning.

I squint through my sunnies to find Lee running in my direction with Sam walking behind him.

When I got a message this morning saying to meet at the front of the old cupcake shop I was immediately up and put the door. What I needed right now was sugar.

But I get very confused when there is a new shop in its place.

Zoe arrives just as Lee runs into a bin

Good friends and good food. What a great way to start a week! Look at me having a positive attitude towards life.

I look around at the shops, curiously watching people pass in and out. "Why are we out the front of a smoothie place? I swear there was a cupcake shop here. More specifically one where I used to work."

Sam places his sunnies on his head "Well Tiffany left and now it's been turned into a smoothie and health bar."

I disapprovingly stare at the bright yellow and green sign hung above the entrance  'Groovie Smoothie'. Plants are having from the awning while there are small tables set out the front with stools.

I can already feel the juice cleanse working on my soul.

"What does this place have that 'Tiffrific' didn't?"

"Protein balls, Acai bowls and Superfood smoothies," Lee says

"You're saying them words like I'm supposed to know what you're talking about."

"Plus they have gluten, dairy, egg, sugar-free and Vegan options" Zoe adds, looping her arm through mine and walking me into the store.

"So pretty much nothing that tastes good?" I give them a knowing glare while we find a table at the back.

I fidget, not being used to places like this with everybody wearing activewear "Please tell me nothing else has changed."

"I got a duck," Lee exclaims eyes lighting up.

"I'm going to regret asking this but why a duck?"

He leans over the table with an infectiously wide smile. "Well to celebrate being a free man I bought myself a duck off a guy from eBay! His name is Mickey."

I can only nod silently while watch San and Zoe shrugging like they still don't understand either "So you're renting your own apartment?"

He scoffs "Of cause not. Nobody can afford renting, especially while paying off uni. I built myself a man cave out of my families old Garage. It's pretty rad."

"Oh um okay," not to self, don't go near Lees man cave as it is no man's land.

Looks up at menu my eyes almost bulge out when I see the price and ingredients.

"Why is there vegetables, fruit AND ginger in this smoothie? Are they trying to kill me with a health coma? I am not paying $8 for this even if it's organically farmed in in Wonderland. JUST NO."

My small outburst gains the attention of the girls behind the counter. She readjusts her high ponytail before coming in our direction.

Oh no she's going to kick us out and ban us for life. Or maybe not.
The smile on her face only widens as she gets closer. Am I supposed to know her as well? Wow, my memory really has gotten worse.

"Hey Sam, getting your usual today?" Cute smoothie girl asks my-. I don't even know what this is any more.

"You know me so well Casey," he nods before ordering drinks and food for the rest of us.

Eh even her name is cute Casey. 

I raise my eyebrows in interest "I've been coming here a lot lately. It's close to home and the guys always give me a discount," he shrugs like it's no big deal.

"Is that why you've become-" I trail off realising what I was about to say

Sam cocks an eyebrow and smirks.

Oh, I forgot about this Sam.

"Nicer to look at," I finish my sentence

"Ahhhuhh. Sure," a sly grin is pasted on his smug face and my heart flutters.

Zoe bumps my shoulder in interest "So what made you decide to finally come back? Was it the weather, the people or were you homesick?"

"I missed the food," which is definitely one of the main reasons.

They all stop to look at me. "And I may have missed you guys as well." I continue.

"So what are you going to do now as the shop obviously isn't here anymore?"

Ah yes life, I have to do that thing called staying alive, don't I? "Well, I've gotten a job set up with a catering event company, something like that, as a casual. And I'm going to a college which will be an interesting experience. So I will be doing something besides sitting in my bed reading. Sadly."

Sam takes a long sip from his mysterious green drink then proceeds with a nod of approval "That's cool, you'll obviously doing something involving food so what made you want to go to college?"

"A waffle house."

They do a double take.

"Oh, did you realise how much you love sweet food and decide that you were going to open up your own bakery? How cute!"

I poke at my everything free cupcake. "Actually, my friends and I were watching our food being brought out from the kitchen when there was this brown fury thing that ran across the seat in front of us. Then it ran under the table, brushing all our legs. My assumption was that it was a rat, so we obviously made a run for it. Then it came to me suddenly, I want to have the power to shut down places like that. And that was it. That's how I knew I wanted to be a-"

"You probably can't see a waffle without being sick!" Lee says dramatically draping a hand over his face.

"Not really. I found another place 30 minutes later and got my chicken and bacon waffles
plus I want a badge."

"Well, you're home now and none of us are leaving anytime soon so I guess we're all stuck with each other." She raises he cup "a toast to home, smoothies and friends you can't get rid of."

"Here here," we all say in unison except for the one that says:

"You can't toast a home unless you're setting it on fire. Wait did you set a house on fire?"

I can't help but laugh.

It's good to know that some things haven't changed

Chop Chip Tip #2
Never leave home as apparently everything changes and you'll be forced to drink veggie juice.

:):):)

Well, I made it!!

Second chapter is up and fastly pacing (I don't believe in running.)

It's been a long and exhausting week. It's been... eventful

Three things that have happened this fortnight:

-I saved  a baby possum and called it Herb (baby aus possums are adorable)

-I was mistaken for someone else and got all their information

-I was invited to a party by someone I haven't talked to in two years.

I hope you are well and want to thank you for continuing to read.

I promise the next chapter will be my interesting.

Lots of carbs and sugar loaded love,

Theforgottonone