"Hey everyone, don't wanna ruin your fun but my dad is here now and he is waiting for us in the back lot near the bowling alley." Amelia appeared sad upon telling the girls that it was time to go.
"Let's take a group photo before we go to commemorate Amelia's first time joining us!" Holly brings life back to the girls who were clinging on to the fun they were having by suggesting a group photo.
"That's a great idea Holly! Let's go over to the cafe. It should be less crowded at this time and it is the main reason we are here."
The girls arrive in front of the store, asking a passerby to take the photo. The stranger happily obliged to take the picture. Grace pulls the group of girls closer together, wrapping them tightly in her arms. Their shoulders gently graze up against one another, causing the girls to giggle lightly. It was the perfect scene to capture. A moment of pure glee was expressed upon the faces of the group. So the picture was taken.
"This is beautiful. Look at ya'll. I will send it to you guys when we get home."
"Thanks, I'll make sure to frame it hehe!"
"Thank you, Grace."
"I will treasure it forever, thank you Grace."
"Woah i know we all had fun but you're all getting a little sentimental. More of these days will come in the future and more of these pictures will be taken. Anyway it's time to go, don't wanna keep Amelia's pops waiting now do we?"
They make their way to the back of the mall where the parking lot alongside the bowling alley resides, being directed by Amelia to her father's car. It is getting really dark. The bright, lone star that once permeated the sky is no more. Light seeps from the mall and cars that are parking up. The girls made their way through a large section of the parking lot before finally reaching Amelia's father. He honked at the group and flashed his lights. Amelia's dad drove a well kept, grey SUV and whilst it was a slightly older model, even in the dark it was sparkling like it was recently washed. It was clearly something important to him. They get in the car one by one, with Amelia sitting in the front seat with her dad. Holly gets in the middle of the car being the smallest of the group. Grace sits on the left side behind Amelia whilst Freya sits on the right, behind Amelia's dad.
"Hey It is nice to meet you all! I am Amelia's dad but you guys can just call me James since you are her friends and all. I thought I'd pick the lotta you up so I can see who my daughters first friends are!"
"Dad!" Amelia's dad let out a hearty laugh whilst looking at her pout.
"I hope she's treating you all well, yeah? And did you girls have fun?"
"Yeah! We sure did and don't worry about Amelia, she's great. A wonderful girl even and we are grateful to have become friends with her. We didn't get along too well at first and it's barely been two weeks since we met her but we sure don't regret adding her to our group. It was actually Freya here who introduced us to her saying how fun she was." Holly was sincere and gave praise worthy of her new friend.
"Really? I have heard a lot about you Freya! Nice to meet you. Anyway girls which of you live closest by? I can drop you all off individually if you'd like."
"Oh me and Holly can be dropped off at my house. It's only about ten minutes away from here by car."
"Is that so? Okay let's go!"
The car ignition sparks, mildly mumbling as James slowly backs out of the parking space. The car was filled with silence after that. They were all exhausted. Their jaws felt heavy and all they could do was lay up against one another shoulder to shoulder. Although uncomfortable, they felt as though being so close to their friends wasn't so bad. It brought a sense of conclusivity that today was finally over.
"Okay, we arrived at the address you gave me, Grace." James pulled up on the opposite side of the road, across the street from Grace's house.
"Hey! Holly, wake up, it's time to go! Thank you for dropping us off James. I will message you both later! Bye bye." Grace shakes Holly awake and drags her out the car as you hear the inaudible groans fade into the distance.
"Hey Dad, can I get in the back with Freya?"
"Sure honey! Go right ahead."
Amelia gets out of the car and switches to the back to sit closer to Freya. She scurries forward into the middle seat and leans onto Freya's shoulder.
"Hey, Freya?"
"Yes?"
"...Do you want to stay over tonight?" Amelia stares deeply into the emerald green eyes of Freya anticipating her response. Completely calm, Freya exhales lightly and flashes Amelia a wide grin as though she was anticipating this.
"I can't. At least not today. Sorry Amelia. However, maybe another time?"
"I see. So you have changed…maybe it's possible." Amelia mumbled under her breath.
"What was that?" Freya didn't quite catch what Amelia had said.
"I said that's fine! It is getting quite late." Amelia seems somewhat pleased despite receiving a negative response from the girl.
"Girls, we are here. This is your place, right Freya?" He points to a rather grand house that lay across the street from where we were situated.
"Yes it is. Thank you Dad-" Freya covers her mouth, in both shock and embarrassment.
"Haha! It's alright Freya. Thank you for being friends with my daughter. It means the world to me to see her be so happy recently and I know it's because of you. So really, thank you. Just know you're welcome to come over whenever. I hope we will meet again soon!" He peers into the back seats of the car and waves her goodbye after unlocking the car doors to let her out of the vehicle.
"Goodbye, Freya." Amelia quickly says her goodbyes to Freya with a goofy and tired smile on her face.
"Goodbye to you Amelia. Speak to you when later." Freya observes the SUV as it drives off around the corner and into the night listening for the bumbling of the engine to dissipate into the night. Now she is standing alone in the dark, taking in the slicing winds that envelope her thoughts with a thrash whipping sound. She enters her home once again.
[Freya's house - 7:30 PM.]
She greets her parents who currently reside in the living room enjoying a helping of pasta and meatballs cooked by their father. It was his turn to cook today for the family and had decided to make some food that the girl's mother really loved. It was simple but effective. He asks Freya to come sit down and eat with them but she declines.
"You two sisters are the exact same, you should eat with your parents more."
"Sorry dad, I am exhausted."
"...That's okay, as long as you're studying well."
"Thank you."
Freya gained a random burst of energy that dragged her up the stairs and up until she got in front of her door.
"Its open? I could've sworn I left it closed before I went out. Maybe my mother went into my room to clean."
The girl enters the room to find her sister sitting down on her chair. They stare at one another until one of them breaks the silence.
"Who are you?"