"Will!" I called out "Will!"

My brother wasn't home. Good.

I picked up my cellphone along with the post-it that was on the table.

All day I had been thinking one word that was only three letters long but had all the power in the world: Yes.

I dialed the number slowly making sure it was correct.

I heard the phone ring once...twice....

"Hello?" a melodic, deep voice said.

"Hi," I said. "It's me, Lauren."

"Lauren," he said "you called."

"Of course," I said. "I know that yesterday, Will kind of interrupted so I just, um...I just wanted to say yes."

"Yes," he repeated.  "Thanks for telling me. That chocolate would've been for nothing if you had said no."

I laughed with him.

"I'll see you Friday," he said.

"See you," I said before I hung up.

I screamed with excitement and jumped up and down. The anxiety and nervousness left as anticipation replaced it.

"Lauren," I heard behind me.

I turned around and saw my mom. Her light brown hair was in a neat bun. She was still holding her brief case and smiling weakly.

"Mom," I said.

I saw another figure step up beside her.

"Cat," I said surprised.

Catalina's black hair was in a sloppy bun and she wore blue jeans and a plaid shirt- probably a boy's.

"Hey, Laur," Catalina said.

I approached her slowly, "Cat, what are you doing here?"

"I'm here for you," she said. "I missed you, you know."

"I missed you too," I said in a barely audible voice.

My mom smiled at both of us,"I knew there was something missing in the house. I had to get my family back."

Cat looked at me with her dark eyes that could see into your soul, "We have a lot to catch up on."

***

Cat sat on my bed smiling at the wall.

"Man, I missed this place," she said sitting up.  "I haven't been here in--"

"Three years," I interrupted.

We were quiet then she said, "Right."

"I'm sorry I just, you know, left out of the blue like that," she said . "I was young and stupid."

I nodded simply.

"I promise I'll try and stick around, okay?" she said. "Trey's not in my life anymore."

I froze at the name Trey.  It was a name from the past, but every time I heard it, it'd bring a mix of both positive and negative emotions.  I wiped away all the thoughts regarding him.  

"Why did mom let you come back?" I asked curiously.

"I have to go to rehab. She still thinks I'm a druggie," she said laughing.

I laughed with her.

"I missed you," I said finally.

She smiled at me and said,"I missed you, too."

Drew

"What's a nice place you'd bring a girl on a first date?" I asked Will.

"I don't know," he said.  "Your bedroom?"

We laughed then I said,"for a classy girl--a nice girl."

"Since when does Drew Law go out with nice girls?" he asked.

"Since a few days ago."

"Wait a minute, you're dating a new girl. You and Alison are officially over?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said thinking about her and the file.  "Long over."

"There's a new place next to the bakery," Will said casually. "I brought a few girls down there."

"Same place for first dates?" I questioned.

"Makes everything much easier," he said.

I laughed and said, "I'll think about it."

"I'm gonna grab a soda downstairs," I said.  "Want one?"

"Yeah, sure," Will said.

I got up and went downstairs. When I turned the corner, I saw Lauren sitting peacefully at the kitchen table with the laptop closed in front of her.

I took a step forward and her head turned startled.

"It's just you," she said relieved.

"Should I be offended?" I asked.

She chuckled.  "No, if anything I'm glad you're here."

I walked closer to her and sat across the table.

"What were you thinking about?" I asked her.

She glanced at me curiously then said,"My sister."

I nodded thinking about Samantha.

"I try not to, though," she said. "It's too energy consuming and I think it's giving me wrinkles."  When I smiled at her, she returned it brightly then said, "I wish we could have our date right now."

"Why don't we?" I asked.  "I don't want to waste any time."

"Okay, you're crazier than I thought," she said joking.

"I'm serious," I said.  "You never know when your last day on earth may be."

She gazed at me smiling, considering the thought then said, "Let's go."