Ha! Ha! Ha!
"Goober! Give it back!"
I call out to Cleo as she runs away with my bookmark. I laugh and chase after her.
She was Rylee's kitten, but now she is mine.
She runs through the hall and down the stairs with me close on her tail.
I turn the corner and run smack into Tacoma.

"Hey slow down!" He cries.
I laugh. "Cleo stole my bookmark!"
"You'll get it back later. Now come on! If we don't leave soon we'll be late for our date."
I smirk.
Tacoma had invited Rori and her "boyfriend" Mason to go with us to The Drink.co on our Wednesday evening "date" before church.

I hurry to my room and slip on a black skirt, white shirt and tan cardigan.
Back downstairs, I pull my hair into a frizzy ponytail and snatch my black high heeled boots and my purse. Then I run outside and jump into Tacomas truck.
And we are off.
"Wait. What about Rori?"
I ask while slipping on my boots.
Tacoma grins.

I stop to glare at him.
He sighs sarcastically.
"Well you see, I wanted to give her a ride, buuuttttt some old guy beat me to it."
I roll my eyes.

"Mason is the same age as you. Besides, between the two of you, Rori chose pretty good."
Tacoma pretends to be offended and sarcastically wipes a "tear" from his eye.

I smirk, shaking my head.
Before long, we arrive.
We find a nice booth and sit down to wait.
"So, what are you gonna get?"
I ask my brother.
He glances over the menu before saying,
"Everything and more."

I laugh and gently punch him in the arm.
"Real funny Tacoma. You do that and you'll be bigger than a house in no time."
Rori retorts from where she and Mason stand behind us.
I smile at her as she takes a seat opposite us with Mason at her side. They are laughing, and he keeps whispering something that makes her blush and laugh all over again.

Tonight they seem more like a couple than friends.
Tacoma notices too.
"Anything you kids need to tell me?"
Mason leans over and whispers something in Rori's ear.
She turns bright red and furiously whispers something back.
Tacoma raises his eyebrows and gives them both a stare.

"What's going on?"
Rori elbows Mason in the ribs.
"Nothing."
After a minute the waiter comes to take our orders. To my surprise, the waiter is May!
"May!" I cry.
She smiles.
"Mica!"

We exchange a hug and I introduce her to everyone else.
"Nice to meet you all." she says shaking hands with each of them in turn.
After taking our orders she says,
"Well I better get back to work. Be back in a bit." then leaves.

I notice the way Mason can't seem to take his eyes off Rori, and I look over at Tacoma to see if he noticed either. He gives me a small nod, and rolls his eyes.
Rori looks at us and I can see the look of embarrassment and confusion that creases her brow.

"What is it?" She queries
"Nothing." Tacoma quickly cuts in.
I see Mason raise his eyebrows.
"Is there something I need to know?"
"No!" Rori quickly exclaims
He quirks an eyebrow at Rori, and she blushes. I hold in a giggle and turn away.

After we eat, we leave for church.
Our church house is a large white building with vast stained glass windows.
Our small parking lot is almost packed.
Surprisingly, Mason comes in with us.
"I didn't know you went to church."
I tell him quietly.

He nods. "Always have, always will. I normally go to the church in the next town over. I've been here a few times though."
I smile. "I'm guessing we will be seeing you a lot here." Before he can reply, I walk away.

I sit on a pew between Tacoma and Rori, and after a moment, Mason takes a seat next to my sister. She smiles at him and he smiles back.

***

It's Saturday, my brain says.
Grabbing a sharpie, I mark off another day on my calendar.
Only two more weeks until my birthday.
If only Rylee were here too.
I sigh and flop down on my bed.
"Knock, knock."
I glance up to see Rori at the door.
She smiles.
"Hi."

"Hey."
"I was wondering if you would like to go over to my aunt's house with me. If not, that's fine."
I pucker up my lips. "I didn't know you had an aunt."
She nods.
"My late father's younger sister."

I bite my lip.
"I see."
We sit in silence for a moment before I finally make up my mind.
"Sure."
I give her a quirky smile.

Rori just giggles.
"Great. Mom said she'd drop us off in ten. That okay?"
I nod.

Rori's aunt turns out to be some young girl that's at most twenty-two.
But she's great.
We have a blast together.
We play board games, watch a movie, then get a quick dinner.
Paisley Nolan (Rori's aunt) is super rambunctious and totally a burst.

We might be polar opposites, but we get along great.
When she drops us off back at home, I feel kinda sad to see her leave.
We had a great day.
I hope we get to do it again.

Climbing into bed that night, I realize, not once did I think about Rylee.
I almost wonder if that was the point of the excursion.
If it was, I'm kinda glad for it.

(😭😭😭😖😖😟😢)