"I can't believe you guys are moving next week," Bianca said sadly, pulling her friend in for a hug.
"Me neither," Heather said, hugging her back as she looked out over the Brighton Pier. "But we won't be going far."
"I know. It won't be the same though," the blonde responded with a sigh.
It was March and almost time for Kevin and Heather to move to Rochester. It had taken them a little while, during which she worked at the local Iceland store in the Broadstairs high street and Kevin ended up helping Bailey every now and again on jobs, but eventually they'd both found something in Maidstone with Kent County Council. Luckily, finding somewhere to live in Rochester had been relatively painless. But Bianca of course wouldn't be Bianca if she didn't decide to do something as a group before they moved. They quickly concluded that a day in Broadstairs or Ramsgate wouldn't be good enough, and it really called for a weekend away with the whole group. Bianca did a lot of the legwork and ended up looking at Brighton, despite Heather and Kevin's objections; after all, Stephanie still lived here. So far, luckily, they hadn't seen her though as they played games at the Pier, stopping for fish and chips on the rocky beach. The sun was out but there was a strong wind as they huddled together; they were used to this kind of weather of course, from Broadstairs. Tonight, they'd be going out and Bianca had managed to convince them all to go for a spa the next morning.
"I know, but you'll be moving to Medway soon as well, right?" Heather asked now. Bianca and Jamie had been dating since that double date at the end of August and things were going really well. He lived in Tonbridge and there was a chance she would be able to get work there as well. That closed the distance for the two girlfriends considerably.
"Probably," Bianca nodded with a smile. She missed her boyfriend on weekends like this, but she wouldn't have it any other way. "Come on, we should go back in and join the others on the games," she said now, pulling out of the hug finally. The brunette gave her a big smile and together they headed back in.
Bailey, Mikey and Andy had congregated around the basketball hoop game, with Diana, Chloe and Joanne playing one of the 2p machines behind them. Kevin was watching his friends when the two girlfriends found them. He pulled his girlfriend in for a hug, pressing a kiss to her hair as she hugged him back. He was going to miss their friends, but he was excited about starting his new job and sharing a flat with her; it hadn't been that long ago after all that they'd both thought that wasn't in the future for them anymore.
"I love you," he said softly, unsure if she'd heard him over the noise of the arcades until she looked up and smiled.
"I love you too," Heather responded and kissed him softly. He held her a little tighter as their kiss deepened for a moment. She brought the kiss to a close before she pulled back. "Ready to get your ass kicked at air hockey?" she challenged him with a grin, making him laugh.
"You are dead," Kevin promised her before they enthusiastically went to look for the closest air hockey table to their friends.
"Stephanie!" Kevin almost literally ran into her. He'd left his friends to go to the toilet and was making his way back to them.
"Hi Kevin," she said, sounding sad, and he couldn't help feeling bad for what he'd done to her. "Forgot I lived here?" Stephanie asked softly, finding it hard not to sound judgmental or jealous. She'd seen the way he held Heather and it hurt; like their two years together had never happened.
"No, course not. The others wanted to come here while we still could as a group and we couldn't sway them. Heather tried, looking up anything and everything to convince them otherwise," Kevin answered her, feeling perhaps a little less bad. Both he and his girlfriend had been very aware of awkward it could be to meet her, but their friends had overruled them. "Honestly," he impressed on her, and he saw her resolve wavering.
"Yeah, well. Never mind. Hope you guys have a good weekend," she said as she made to leave him.
"Steph, I really am sorry, about everything," Kevin stopped her now, wanting to make sure she knew.
"I know. Guess some things aren't meant to be," Stephanie said with a shrug, briefly putting her hand on his arm. "Take care Kevin, I hope things work out for you," she added as her goodbye.
"You too," he nodded, giving her hand a quick squeeze with his free hand before she pulled away and walked away. He watched her go until he couldn't see her anymore and then turned back towards his friends and girlfriend. Some things don't work out, he agreed with his ex, thinking about their failed relationship, because other things are set in motion long before. Kevin smiled as he looked at Heather and made his way over to her, thinking he was the luckiest guy in the world to have found her… again.