changes.

four.

Summer passes by slowly and me and Margo finally found an apartment. The culinary chef called and told me he loved my recipes and would love if I came and waitressed for his restaurant. I figured I could work my way up as head chef one day. Finally tomorrow we will be leaving in downtown Seattle and working. I couldn't wait to live out my dream with my best friend.

Katie has been helping me pack up my suitcases all morning. She has been reminding me of what to do and  not to do. She also has been telling me how proud she was of me and harping on all the old days.

"Gosh it seems like only yesterday I was teaching you how to twerk in diapers." She folds my t-shirt.

"You know I had some quality parenting!" I joke. We both laugh and she nudges my shoulder.

"You know kid... you are truly astounding." She smiles.

I shake my head denying her.

"You have gone through so much and are the best kid I know. Most kids would be bad as fuck by now." She continues folding. "You grew up to fast."

"No you grew up to fast. I just wanted to help you out. You quit school for me. You gave up so much for me. I don't deserve you aunt Kate." I pull her into an embrace.

"Don't call me that it makes things so formal" she sniffs. "Now I'm going to go fix us something to snack on. Tell Margo to bring her fine as boo thang over." I laugh at her response.

Katie has never been good with emotions. She hates crying. She hates talking about deep things. She hates acknowledging that everything happened so this conversation was surprising. Normally she is so fun and careless and just wants to be one of the girls. Or tries to at least.

For the rest of the day we all just hangout at my house watching tv and eating. Margo brings over Danny and we pass by the day. Danny lives in Seattle and helped get us our apartment. A guy he works with pens the place.

The day goes by super quick and before i know it I am passed out on the couch.

-

I wake up to the tv blasting. I turn it off and look around the living room. Margo and Danny are cuddled together on the recliner and Katie is spread out on the sofa. I head towards my room as I hear beeping outside my house. I look at the time.

10:00 am

"Shit!" I huff under my breath.

I shook Margo until she wakes up.

"What?" She groans squinting her eyes.

"The moving truck is here. I forgot they were coming this early."

By this time everyone is now awake because of the loud knocking on the door and the man shouting.

"Be there in a minute just give me a second!" I shout back.

"Oh god!" Katie groans and let's the man in.

Him and his guys are in our living room and I point them into the direction of my room. They begin to take all my boxes out of my room and then my bed. Eventually, my room is empty and all in the back of that truck.

"Thank you guys." I say before shutting the door. They told us they would be arriving at our apartments in an hour and a half.

"We better get going mom just texted me and said all of my stuff is on the way too." Margo closes her phone.

"Well I guess this will be the last time I see you for awhile..." Katie begins to tear up. She never cries.

I just hugged her. No words. No nothing. Just a hug. That's all she and I needed to understand each other. That's how we knew everything would be okay. In a way that's me responding to her by not saying "I'll text and call everyday"

She already knows we will.

I go to my room and end up changing into a loose white tee and some ripped jean shorts. I paired it off with some checkered printed vans and pulled my hair in a high ponytail. I grabbed my purse and walked into the kitchen. I am greeted with Katie handing me keys her grandfathers old Pontiac.

"No way. No." I am in shock. She lives that car. She would never.

"I want you to take it. I've been working on it and finally got a new engine so now I want it to be yours." She smiles tossing me the keys. I catch them and exhale.

"Ka-" I can't even finish my sentence.

"Take good care of her."

I walk out into the garage and greet myself to the shiny black vintage sports car. It was a too door and had leather interier. Everything about it was perfect. Katie comes outside and I get in the car. It's a stick. Many people don't know this but I was taught on a stick shift. Katie loves them.

I back out and start to drive off. Before I gave her a smile and she waved. I took a breath and then drove off.

Now it's surreal.