byeeee

Brooke has always been the shoulder I lean on when I struggle to hold myself up. She always knows the right things to say, or when to say nothing at all. She was a safe space for anyone who needed her. Not a single mean bone in her body. If Angels are real, she's got to be one. She's the light in my darkness. I couldn't remember the last time I let someone

hold me and comfort me after one of my nightmares.

"Thanks for being here with me tonight, really, I don't think I'd be as okay as I am if you weren't here."

"I'm here whenever you need me to be." Brooke responded with her gentle and supportive smile.

"Finish that, it really does stink." Brooke said giggling "We need our beauty sleep tomorrow's a big day with a lot to do."

"You're right" I said putting the joint out "Let's go."

Brooke and I head back inside and crawl back into bed. I fall into a much needed deep sleep in the arms of my best friend.

***

"You sure you guys aren't gay?"

Are the first words that I hear when I first open my eyes.

"Fuck off Josie." I said pulling the blanket in closer.

I see a flash of light "No for real girl. You and Brooke hiding things from me?" She laughed.

"Meredith, I think your daughters queer like me! I indoctrinated your daughter!"

"Good, no more boys" Dad yelled back.

"You jealous Brooke likes me more?" I teased back.

"You bitch." She laughed.

"You guys are so loudddddd" Brooke whined pulling her arm away from me. "What time is it?"

"Time to get up and get ready to go cause we've got shit to do and places to go." Josie demanded. "Move. Move. Move." She said clapping her hands.

"I've got coffee, come down before it gets cold." Dad shouted from downstairs.

"Ugh." Brooke and whined at the same time.

"Seriously though, looks how cute you guys are?" Josie teased showing me the photo of Brooke and I snuggled in each others arms.

"You're ridiculous, why does everything have to be about sex?"

"Why can't it be?" Josie asked heading into the bathroom to wash up.

"You're such a man."

"Get ready, don't make me man-handle you." Josie teased.

Brooke and I work our way out of bed

and downstairs to grab coffee.

"Happy 21st Birthday baby!!!!" Mom and dad came rushing up to me, my mom embracing me tightly. "I can't believe you were born 21 years ago today."

"Thanks mom and dad." I responded hugging her equally as tight.

"I can't breathe, you're choking me." My mother said tapping my back.

"Opps sorry." I laugh.

"Happy Birthday Sweety." Dad says hugging me, "Here's for spending." Stuffing money into the back of my shirt.

I shift around tickled by the bills, before they fall to the ground.

"Did you just give her money?" Mom said side eyeing my father.

"Come on Sammy, let's go potty." I escape before it turns into a showdown of who loves me more.

Grabbing a blanket from the linen closet and taking my coffee onto the back porch with Sammy I lean against the wooden post, it was chilly, I could see the hot steam rising from my cup. Holding it with both hands to keep them warm as I sip.

It was a blissful moment.

"Hey." Josie said walking out the backdoor

A blissful moment ruined.

"Hey." I said sipping my warm coffee.

"I didn't know you were still having nightmares." She said her voice racked with guilt.

"They're not that bad." I say dismissing it. "I promise."

When did I become such a big fat liar?

"You're lying." She said in a low voice.

"I am" I admitted.

"Why?" She asked pain in her voice.

"Because talking about it affects others, keeping it to myself affects me." I said.

"I didn't think it was possible for such a selfless sounding sentence could be so selfish." She sounded kinda annoyed.

"Just drop it, okay? It's my birthday, where's my happy birthday? Why an interrogation instead?"

"Wowww" she rolled her eyes. " Happy

Birthday you selfish little brat." She said pulling me in for a hug, and she reaches up to tousles my hair. Josie was short, a solid 5'3. I was 5'9, which was kind of tall for a girl.

"Wow sounds so genuine." I said sarcastically shoving her, smelling some of my coffee on my hands.

"Tsss Ow." I hissed, memories from my

nightmare flooded my mind, it was the sound of the mug shattering on the wooden porch bringing me back.

A single tear slipped from my eyes unknowingly.

"You're crying? It's just a mug."

I quickly wipe the tear and sniffle, "No, it's just the cold air. Sorry. Mom can I get a broom? Josie made me drop my mug."

"I did not! Don't pin your clumsy butterfingers on me."

"You girls. It's amazing you two still have a neck with how often you go at each others throats." My mom said coming out with a broom, laughing.

"Thanks mom. It's cause Josie has a thick man's neck. Wishes she had my delicate framed neck."

"You shit," Josie said attempting to smack me, but I use the broom to block her hit.

"Go upstairs and get ready, you need to hit the road before morning traffic on CA 299." My mom said "I got the clean up, your dad will make you a cup to go."

"Kay" I say turning inside to pack and get ready.

I hurry up the spiral staircase, and Brooke was finished getting ready walking out of the bathroom.

"I'm gonna meet you ya downstairs, I'm

hungry." Brooke said.

"Kay, see ya down there."

Closing the door behind her, pull out a pair of my warm fleece leggings and a hoodie that has a cute teddy bear sleeping on the front. I put on a little make up and fix the braid Brooke did. I go through my clothes and pack up the new clothes I just bought, along with

my shoes and make up. "Are you done yet?" Josie yelled from the stairs "You've been up there for a century."

"I'm coming, I'm coming, Jesus." I yell down to her. Before leaving, I pack my paint supplies too, never know if I'll get a chance to find something to paint.

"I love it when you tell me your cuming." She joked.

"You're so gross." I yell down grabbing my bags and exiting my room.

"I'm ready, stop nagging."

"Well don't take so long and I won't nag." Josie teased.

"I'm gonna kill you before we even leave and give my mom your ticket." I said sharply glaring at her.

"I'm offended." Josie joked acting like she was taken aback by my comment.

"When are you getting an agent so you can work on your acting career." I teased back rolling my eyes.

"Get in the car, loser." Josie said "Bye, Meredith, bye Joseph, I'll see you tomorrow night!"

"Bye Josie, bye Brooke. Bye baby" Mom said giving me a big hug. "You better go out there and have the best Birthday ever."

"You betcha, I'm going now bye mom, bye dad!"