2 Chapter 2

Cameron looked up, staring at me for a few seconds, clearly trying to see if I was who she thought I was. Then his puzzled face broke out into a huge beaming smile. She placed her goods on the outside table in front of the café and started running over to me. I copied her actions running into her arms. Passing bystanders smiling at our interaction.

"holy shit it's really you," Cameron squealed excitedly. "I didn't think i'd ever see you again, it's been so long."

"I know, I can't quite believe I'm back here." i said, relief had taken over my body, i was still extremely comfortable around Cameron.

She grabbed her treats and we both started walking back towards the lake. I caught Cameron up about everything that had happened since i had last seen her, including everything to do with my dad and how this was most likely going to be his last summer with us. I also explained to her about my anxiety towards facing Matty again, which she told me was ridiculous.

We arrived back to where our houses were. I looked up to the Johnson's lake house and saw my family entering their house, Denise and Sean welcoming them inside. Panic started flowing through my body again, I can't believe I'm going to have to face him again. Cameron noticed my distress and tried to calm me down.

"It's literally just a kiss, and it was 4 years ago, relax," she said, trying to reassure me.

"Cameron I never told you this, but the kiss with Matty didn't go exactly as I had first explained to you 4 years ago," I said, turning to face her. She furrowed her brows trying to understand what I was saying.

"what do you mean?" she questioned.

"after me and Matty kissed, he ran away, without saying anything. It left me hurt and confused for a 14 year old girl. I really wanted to talk to him about it but I ended up leaving that evening. We've kind of left things on awkward terms," I explained to her, looking down at me feet embarrassed.

"That's why he seemed so unsettled that day, we couldn't figure it out. And I'm sure he's completely forgotten about it." I raised an eyebrow at her, knowing this was something you just don't forget.

She shrugged her shoulders and grabbed me, I tried to protest but she was too strong.

"we are going to enter our house, and everything is going to be fine, trust me," she said looking at me sternly. I nodded my head, gulping back the nerves. Here goes nothing.

As I reluctantly stepped through the Johnson's front door, I instantly regretted how easily I let Cameron convince me this would be okay. I blankly stared at the large group of people, my family and Johnsons, who had all gathered in the living room. I gulped as I awkwardly stared at my feet as I stood next to Cameron.

"Oh my goodness Taylor look how gorgeous and grown-up you look," Denise gushed as she jumped forward towards me and pulled me into a hug. I smiled gratefully at her for breaking the silence, but my eyes were locked on Matthew who was staring at his feet, just like me moments before Denise embraced me. I couldn't quite believe my eyes at the sight of him. I wasn't sure if it was possible for him to get anymore attractive, but yet here he was, causing me to feel tingles and butterflies throughout my entire body, just like when we were 14.

"I see you and Cameron have already reunited, isn't this lovely, it's just like old times!" My mum was so enthusiastic, enjoying all the nostalgia and very unaware that I felt physically sick from all it.

"sit down Taylor and make yourself comfortable," Denise smiled at me as I scanned the room for any empty spaces. Luckily there was one next to my mum, however it was opposite to Matthew. I slowly removed myself from Camerons side and sat next to my mum, as she started another conversation with Denise about some sort of gossip from around the area. My dad and Sean removed themselves to grab a beer and watch the football, while Warren engaged in a discussion with George about college. Everybody was in a conversation but me and Matty, and I could tell that he felt just as awkward as I did. Matty tried to engage himself in the conversation with my brother but I could see in his face that he wasn't listening as his eyes kept drifting back towards me. We made eye contact for a brief second and I shifted in my position, uncomfortable at how stupid I must look to him.

"so how have you been?"he spoke quietly, almost inaudible to me, as though he wasn't certain on starting this conversation.

"I've been ok I guess," I told him honestly, no effort to put on a fake smile and tell him how brilliant my life was, cause it wasn't. "How about you," I replied, trying to make the small talk as awkward as possible. He smiled at my effort to keep the conversation going "yeah i've been alright, haven't seen you back here at the lake houses for some time though," he questioned, genuinely curious.

"Yeah the last time we were here, we were both 14," I said, my face turning a slight shade of red at the memories of the last time I had seen matty.

I abruptly stood up, not letting him reply with whatever he had to say, as I really didn't want to talk to him about the last time I saw him, I was still so embarrassed. I told everyone I needed to continue with my unpacking and quickly scurried out of the house before anyone could protest and stop me from leaving.

Once I was standing outside in the fresh air I felt a wave of relief. That was until I heard the Johnson's front door open and close behind me, causing me to snap my head around to see who it was. I let out a sigh of relief when I saw it was George with his arms wide open gesturing for a hug. I smiled at him and embraced him, his hug being just like they used to be, yet he was a lot taller and broader now.

"I've missed you," he sighed as we pulled away "and I could see how uncomfortable you were in there," he laughed as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder as we walked next door to my lake house.

"really you could tell?" I questioned turning red once again. He chuckled at me and shrugged his shoulders ``I can always tell what you're thinking just by your face," he replied " but I do understand why." This caused me to look up at George, a coy smile evident on his face as I buried my head in my hands. "so you know what happened the last time I saw Matty?" I questioned. "Yeah, he told me, and believe me you have no reason to be uncomfortable, it was years ago. And he's just as embarrassed as you are about the situation, you should have seen the look on his face when your mum walked through the door," he laughed lightly, causing me to smile. " but I do think you still like him," George giggled this time, acting like a 10 year old girl " cause why else would you feel so awkward," I stood there silently "that means yes then," he said still acting like a gossiping middle schooler. "well maybe I used to have a crush on him, but not anymore," i protested as we entered my house. He just raised an eyebrow at me and shrugged, "well I think you're meant to be, soul mates if I must label it," he said rather overdramatically as we walked through to the kitchen, I just rolled my eyes at his statement. "fine, don't believe me, but you'll see, I know you both extremely well and i'm never wrong." I just laughed at how certain he was about this. "Plus it's cute how you're still calling him Matty, no one calls him that anymore," George said, genuinely smiling at me. I thought about what he just said, anything other than matty was weird to me, it was my nickname for him. I couldn't imagine calling him anything else, no matter how much I didn't want to speak to him.

For a little while me and george just hung out in my living room of the lakehouse and caught up, I hadn't realised how much I had missed having him as my best friend.