Chapter 1: The Smells of New York

(5 years later)

"Now boarding flights to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Please make your way to terminal 5 if this is your flight" A speakerphone practically shouted as more than a thousand people crowded the airport. But one should catch anyone's eyes.

Getting off the flight was a small plump girl in her late teens with long blonde hair and brown eyes. You should know her; It's Poppy. She took in the air, threw her nose as she walked along the path. She had a black shirt on with a pink skirt with black polka dots. No leggings but had some high leather boots.

"Ah, new york" She smiled. She walked out to the baggage claim and security before walking out the front doors and getting a giant whiff of the new york smell.

"Ah, new york," She said with less enthusiasm, plugging her nose with her index and thumb. It had been five years, so she forgot the intense smell of the streets she had forgotten.

"Poppy?" The young girl turned to see an older white woman with long brown hair and expensive clothing: Louis Vuitton bag, pearl necklace, skinny black dress. The typical luxurious woman looks.

"Hey, Aunt Lindsey," Poppy waved as the woman smiled as she walked up to the teen and hugged her.

"My lord, you have grown. It's been nearly six years!" Lindsey smiled as she held Poppy's shoulders and looked at her up and down.

"What are you wearing?" Lindsey asked as Poppy looked at her weirdly.

"Oh, it's my normal get-up" Poppy smiles unknowingly as Lindsey nodded and then shook her head.

"Nope, simply won't do," Lindey smirked as she looked at her.

"We're going shopping tomorrow, come darling we have much to discuss" Lindey took her arm into Poppy's as she forced the teen to follow her steps, leading her to a parking space where a white limo with her auntie's fashion store logo plastered all over it.

"Now come on, we will head home for the night. I'm sure Roberto has an amazing dinner ready for us" Lindsey smiled as she opened the door, practically shoving Poppy in and then getting in herself.

Poppy sat near the door as she looked around, seeing the leather seating and red stitching cover the limo as some wine bottles held on the wall and even a mini-fridge. This limo had everything a kid her age could want.

"Now then Poppy Davis, the youngest girl of the Davis family. And my brother's daughter and my adorable niece. What brings you to new york? Your call was rather sudden," Lindsey asked as she sat with her legs crossed with a glass of champagne in her left hand.

She knocked on the window to the driver's seat three times, and the limo soon started as they began to drive off. Poppy raised an eyebrow but sighed as she looked at her auntie.

"School, I'm switching from my school in California to Brooklyn College," Poppy said as Lindsey nodded.

"And this just happened? No reason, just a decision you came up with?" Lindsey asked, a little skeptical.

"Indeed, I just couldn't be in anaheim anymore," Poppy said as Lindsey nodded.

"You know, kid, I'm forty years old. Don't worry, I know I look like I'm fifteen, no need to say anything. But with that many years under my sleeve. I know a thing or two about teens, even if I have none myself. So, when you call, and then when I call my little brother asking what's going on and he allows me to listen in on you crying your heart out about a guy everyone warned you about other than your parents. I picked up on what was going on pretty quick," Lindsey said as she took a sip of her drink.

"I-" Poppy started but was cut off by her aunt.

"Was cheated on," Lindsey said bluntly.

"And now you're coming to new york to crawl back into your auntie's arms and your past life. It's not going to be that easy," Lindsey said as Poppy suddenly found her leather boots very interesting.

"I know that," Poppy said dishearteningly.

"Really? Tell me, when was the last time you talked to Keshawn Miller?" Poppy looked at her and then back down.

"Five years," Poppy said as Lindsey.

"I see, how about Nicole Jackson?" Poppy didn't say anything.

"I'm gonna take your silence for five years, am I correct?" Poppy only nodded, causing her aunt to sigh.

"I'm not my brother; I don't beat around the bush. I'm brutal and honest, and right now, you need a wake-up call," Lindsey said as Poppy nodded.

"How about August Crawford?" Lindsey asked, dropping the bomb.

Poppy lost herself in California, was utterly lovestruck with her ex. But with that, she had cut off everyone from new york, and by everyone, she means everyone. August, Her best friend since childhood, she had cut him off completely.

"I see, not even your best friend, huh?" Lindsey was practically glaring down at the girl at this point.

"That boy came to my house more than fifty times! FIFTY!! He came and went for almost two years with friends or alone, until eventually he gave up. And let me tell you, having a 17-year-old kid crying at your feet is not a pleasant experience!!" Lindsey screamed as Poppy flinched.

Lindsey and Poppy went silent as they both found the windows and the limo's interior interesting, the silence was palpable. You could even hear the driver's slight humming of Queen in the front seat. Poppy looked at her auntie as she opened her mouth, trying to find words to say. But she shut it once again when nothing came out.

"You young lady have a lot to work on," Lindsey said as Poppy nodded.

"So, what's your plan, kid? I need to know," Lindsey asked as she practically chugged the champagne from the glass.

"I just… I want to make things right and get my life back on track" Lindsey raised an eyebrow at Poppy's statement before full-blown laughing.

"You kid, are the most spoiled brat I have ever seen. No one comes close; you are tasking yourself with repairing relationships that didn't just crash and burn. It was a 9/11 of relationships!" Lindsey laughed as Poppy just sighed.

"Now then, I'm going to help you, kid. Don't get me wrong, for watching what you did to August I shouldn't, but I'm going to cause I'm your auntie, and I think it'll make things around here a whole hell of a lot more interesting" Lindsey smirked as Poppy looked at her shocked.

"First, All your friends are going to the same college as you. I did put the idea into your head, so you now know why I said it," Lindsey said as Poppy looked at her thankful.

"Thank you, auntie, and you won't regret this," Poppy said as Lindsey rose her hand showing her palm.

"Second, You are tasking yourself with getting those relationships back in order, I will help by driving you places and such, but I will not help you build them back to where they were," Lindsey said as Poppy nodded in understanding.

"Auntie, How is he?" Poppy asked as Lindsey went silent before pointing out the window.

Poppy was so focused on the conversation that she didn't even realize the car had stopped. Poppy turned as she watched the window fall showing a busy Starbucks with a single face looking extremely familiar in the front window.

There he was, August Crawford in the front window of Starbucks with a laptop and note's out. His hair was short on the sides and blended to the top with it risen at the front. His emerald and azure eyes focused on the work at hand. He had a frappucino to his right that was practically all chocolate with a single strawberry on top.

"Right on time, He arrives at this Starbucks every Wednesday and Friday to study at this exact time. I see him almost every time as my work and home are along the way," Lindsey explained as Poppy looked at him.

Poppy looked at him with longing and need, as nostalgia flooded her brain as she remembered all the times they played as kids.

"I hope you're ready, that kid is a tough cookie now. And he is well respected in his community, from what I hear if he ran for mayor. He would undoubtedly win from the information I get from the people at the homeless shelter and the daycare," Lindsey added as she watched Poppy.

Lindsey nodded, knowing this was enough as she tapped the window again, and the limo started driving back. Poppy kept her eyes on him as they drove off before the place was ultimately out of sight.

"So, are you ready for this task," Lindsey asked as Poppy looked at her before she nodded.

"Yes, I'll get my best friend back!" Poppy said, determined, causing Lindsey to smile.

"You are gonna be the most interesting thing to happen to my life if you pull this off," Poppy giggled as Lindsey did the same.

Poppy smiled and nodded as they drove along the road. Her mind was captured by the man she just saw. He grew up well. Now all she wondered if there was any chance for her to get back with him. As much as she hoped, she couldn't help but doubt herself. But with seeing that face, she couldn't help but reminisce of the first meeting, back in grade one.

Looking back on it, she was the outcast; her parents were wealthy for sure. But that didn't mean automatic friends when it came to school. But he had saved her from some bullies, and that's where they indeed became friends.

She closed her eyes as she pictured the past, back in her younger self as she stared at a grade six kid staring down at her with a slight hateful glare.

"Come on, Richy, fight back" The kid laughed as she pushed her down.

"What did I do?" Poppy asked a bit rough as there was sand in her throat from being pushed around in the playground.

"You're rich, and you don't belong to a school with a bunch of slum kids, you don't belong" The kid smirked as she kicked her gut causing Poppy to gasp out some air.

"Oi!!" The two girls turned to see a young August run up to them, pushing the older girl off the more youthful. It wasn't long before a black boy about his age stopped beside him and then a girl with long brown hair kneeling to poppy.

"You okay?" The girl asked as Poppy nodded.

"August? Of course, you would stop me" The older girl growled as the two boys stood their ground.

"Just back off, Clarissa," August growled out as he glared at her causing the elder to scoff and turn.

"Don't think this is over, Davis!" She yelled as she walked away out of the playground.

August and the boy sighed in relief before they looked at each other and laughed wholeheartedly. They bumped their fists as they turned to Poppy, who could only stare in August as he bent down.

"You okay?" He asked as Poppy nodded dumbly.

"POPPY!" Poppy snapped out of her flashback as she looked at her auntie, who was halfway out the door.

"There you are, come on. I'm starving." Lindsey smiled as Poppy giggled, stepping out as well. She kept walking up to an expensive-looking house. Some servants brought her bags up to the house behind her.

"Home sweet home," Poppy sighed as she walked in.