The day I met the loves of my life was the same day my world fell apart.

The playground was not a friendly place, it never was. I mostly kept to myself, and did my own thing, but on that particular day I was feeling on edge, and when my eyes locked on the bully terrorizing the shy boy from class 2A, something snapped.

The sixth-grade bully tortured everyone, but his favorite were us third graders. Of course, that one afternoon his target was Everett Brooks. Everett was a thin boy with glasses. He loved science and spoke about aliens as if they were real.

His friends, Danny Cooper and Bennett Dixon sat back watching, their faces paled with fear. I strolled right up to Tanner Montgomery as if it were no big deal. There was nothing special about this kid. He might have had several inches on everyone, but that was about it.

Danny and Bennett noticed me first. I tapped Tanner's shoulder and his elbow nearly took me out, but I ducked in time. He ignored me and inched forward punching Everett in the gut. I tapped him again. This time it got his attention.

"Leave him alone, Tanner." I crossed my arms at my chest.

When he smiled, his teeth were crooked, and the scar on his upper lip wrinkled. He had to look down at me because I was short.

"Oh, and what are you going to do about it, little girl?"

At first, I stood there, unsure of what I could do, but then he swung back around and shoved Everett right into his friends. The force sent them all to the ground. I lost it, and when he turned to me, I took my stance and nailed him, right in the balls. Of course, that was when Coach Michael's decided to look up from flirting with one of the recess monitors. So, I was the one in trouble, and poor Tanner got away with it.

After school that day, I learned that my sister had passed. She was two years older than me. She'd gone in for surgery for a heart defect that morning, and around the time I'd kicked some boy was the time she'd passed. Guilt doesn't begin to describe the way I felt.

I was absent for a week following, then the next week I had detention during recess. When I finally returned to the playground, I expected the backlash from Tanner.

He stopped my swing with a strong grip.

"You ready to go again, girly?"

I ignored him. I was numb to my core. My parents had gone off the deep end, and it felt as if I was all alone in the world. Tanner shook the swing with all his might, but I didn't budge. Not even when it knocked me to the ground and him and his buddies surrounded me.

"Not gonna fight back?"

"Leave her alone!" Danny yelled, as he stepped in front of everyone.

Our eyes met and he winked as if his magic charm was going to make everything better. Even back then Danny held that boy-ish charm that made all the ladies swoon, but that day it wasn't him who caught my attention. My eyes landed on Bennett and the worried lines across his forehead. There was a mixture of emotions drawn on his face, like he wanted to step in, but didn't know how.

"I said, leave her alone." Danny pushed Tanner and he stumbled sideways. Then he tried to help me up, but Tanner wasn't having it and he shoved Danny out of the way and into Everett and Bennett's arms.

Tanner ignored them and kicked my side just as Coach Michael's loud booming voice yelled from a distance.

Tanner fled, but the coach followed. The three boys surrounded me, but one hand reached down, the hand of the boy who would change my life forever. Bennett Dixon.

###

There was something special about coming home to Long Island. This time was even better because I was home for good. I've spent the last four years going back and forth between Seattle and New York for college. I took the occasional trip home for holidays, sometimes my parents would come to me, because they loved the ambience of the city more than Manhattan, but mostly it was me spending months at a time away from home.

Like clockwork, every summer I came back, but last year when I landed an internship at a local Seattle radio station, I stayed there instead. It didn't stop me from checking in with the boys, face-timing, or sending crazy messages in our group text, but it somehow felt like things had changed.

Bennett and I chatted a lot, but then he started to call less and when I'd reach out needing a shoulder, it would take him hours to answer, or he'd tell me he was busy. Even so, there was still that burning desire to want to be with him.

The plane lands smoothly into JFK, and while I'm excited to be reunited with the three men who are my life, I'm worried about the big confession I'm ready to make.

My phone rings as I start to grab my carry-on in the compartment above my seat. It took a while, because of the guy in the seat next to me. I spent the flight listening to him snore, and when we hit turbulence, it got much worse. I'm jet lagged, sleepy, and ready to crash in my childhood bedroom, but first the reunion I've been waiting a whole year for.

"Hello?" I cradle the phone between my ear and shoulder.

"Hey, Fal."

I almost trip over nothing as I cross the threshold between the plane and the boarding bridge. It's Bennett. My heart is not ready for him or for what I'm about to confess. While all three boys have my heart to the fullest, Bennett might have an extra sliver or two.

"Hey. So, I just landed. I'm heading to baggage then I'll be out. Are we still meeting out front?"

I'm one of the last ones to make my way out into the airport. Moving over I lean on the backs of some chairs to brace myself for what he's about to say.

"Uh- about that." His tone is heavy, there's something on his mind. I know Bennett, like we're one person.

"I'm not going to the airport. I'll be at dinner tonight. I have a surprise for everyone, and I - I need some time to prepare."

I do like surprises, but something about this one feels off. Maybe I'm over-thinking. My brain is already on hyper-drive from the number of times I practiced what I was going to say to him in my head. Before leaving I paced my room and wrote it all down, but I'll probably stray from the script, because my feelings for him are anything but scripted.

"Okay. I'll see you tonight."

"Thanks for understanding. See you later."

Without another word he hangs up. It's unlike him to cut a conversation short and not let me say goodbye. It should be easy to shrug it off, but I haven't seen him in person in so long, and I was looking forward to meeting up at the airport with everyone first.

I pick myself back up and make my way to baggage claim. I've only got two suitcases. Most of my belongings have already been sent back and my parents received it two nights ago.

After an easy grab of my bags, which I'm thankful for, I almost ran through the airport like the McCallisters in Home Alone. I'm desperate to see the guys. Even with the distance between us, they got me through four years of college. Everett was my go-to when the school-workload killed me, Danny was my relationship guru, and the voice of reason when I felt uneasy about something. His most recent advice helped me when I found my boyfriend cheating on me outside of his dorm room. I swear Danny has ESP. Then there was Bennett, my go to for everything else. Bad day, it's him. Failed a test and needed reassurance, him. Always him.

I hurry through craving their presence. Through a crowd I see some signs outside the main entry way doors. One is bright pink, the other a fluorescent yellow, both with large colorful lettering on them. Holding back my grin, I shake my head. As the crowd clears it's obvious who the two dorks holding signs are.

Everett has grown into his lanky body, he towers over both Danny and I, and could probably do a slam-dunk without question. Danny is a few inches taller than me, but wider with a muscular toned body. His muscles pop from his black t-shirt showing off all the curves and the dark ink snaked up his arm.

I glance up at the words on their signs.

WELCOME HOME FROM PRISON, FALLON!

And

WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!

"FALLON!! You did it girl!" Danny yells.

"Oh-my-god, you guys are such assholes." I say it with love, and laughter fills my lungs.

I drop the bags beside me and close the space until I'm wrapped in their arms. The familiar warmth and mixture of their colognes, woodsy and leather swirl around me.

"We're just happy our girl is home," Everett says.

"How did you guys sneak those on the plane?"

"Oh, we didn't. We've been here for an hour, and we went to one of those stores, they had these, and we bought markers too. Oh - and I bought a coloring book, one of those adult ones with those really awesome designs."

Danny, always trying to be a goofball.

I don't want to pull away, because then they'll see the tears running down my cheeks. My sniffle gives me away and they push back, both staring at me.

"Hey. Don't cry. I'll buy you one too, or we can share."

I shove at Danny's chest playfully. "Can we never be a part for that long again?"

Danny grins and pulls me back into him. "Well, you won't lose me, my uncle is finally giving me the hardware store. Dad put in his will that when I graduated college if I was interested it could be mine, and I am."

"Woah! Congratulations. I know how much you loved working there growing up."

My attention falls on Everett. He hated Long Island and was always looking for a better place.

"And you? Are you staying, Mr. Harvard? I'm so upset I missed your graduation, that must have been epic."

Everett, being the sweetheart that he is, goes to pick up my luggage along with his. He turns back. "I um - I have an interview in Boston in two weeks, but I have one here too, so we'll see."

I can't help but notice the hesitation in his voice when he speaks about the interviews, like maybe he's already made up his mind on where he wants to go. We are all adults now, and it's easy to see what different paths we're all on.

"Awesome. So, how are we getting back home? I'm going to need a nap before the big dinner tonight."

We start walking a bit towards the left where cars are lined up waiting.

"Did Bennett send a text about a surprise?"

Everett turns to both of us.

"He called me," I say.

"I only got the text," Danny adds.

"Do you guys have any idea as to what it is?" I ask, while Danny pries my second bag of luggage from Everett's hands.

The two of them eye each other, like they're telling secrets through their gaze. Why do I suddenly feel like a third wheel? As if there's something they know, and I don't.

"Nope. Probably just Ben being Ben."

I attempt to shrug it off as a large white van pulls up in front of us. Danny's mom Alice waves at us as she rolls down the window. She's him - only in female form. They share the same golden-honey eyes, and chestnut brown hair.

"Hey, kids. Looking for a ride?"

Theawkward silence between all of us with this looming secret of Bennett'svanishes as Alice gets out of the van, hugs us all, and helps us with ourthings. We chat and joke like old times, but even so something feels off. Likethe calm before a storm, and I'm not sure I'm ready for the damage it willbring.