"I don't think she'd mind you there."

Michelle saying this about Heather kept running through my mind.

What made her say that?

Would Heather want to see me?

Am I ready to see Heather?

I mean, it's been 4 fucking years.

Michelle told me at work that the party was going to be at her and Heather's apartment, and the thought of attending the party made my stomach do somersaults. Something, however, was telling me to go to the party. To see Heather.

The night of the party, I started questioning that instinct. So much so that besides texting Michelle saying "happy birthday", I asked her if she was sure she wanted me to come. She said she absolutely did.

I sat at my vanity, getting ready for the night. Admittedly, I tried to make myself look as good as possible. I took my time on my makeup, curled my hair, and wore a light pink v-neck shirt tucked into a miniskirt.

As I was finishing up getting ready, Caroline FaceTimed me.

I am always thankful that my college freshman roommate turned out to become my best friend that I made in college. Caroline was just about the sweetest person one could meet, and she was always there for me. I had told her I was going to Michelle's party.

I answered, and Caroline's emerald eyes lit up, "Don't you look pretty! Heather won't know what hit her."

"Thank you," I smiled at Caroline, "I'm...really fucking nervous."

"I understand, and it may be weird for you at first. But I think by the end of the night you'll be feeling a lot better. Who knows, maybe a whole lot better."

I laughed, "If you're insinuating something will happen with Heather, you're out of your mind."

Caroline chuckled, "Hey, you never know. All I know is that you look stunning, and she won't be able to resist you."

"Well, thank you. I promise I'll let you know how everything goes."

"You better!" Caroline responded.

Michelle had texted me the address to her apartment, and I put it in my maps as I sat in my car.

18 minutes away.

Heather was less than 20 minutes away from me.

The whole time as I drove, my heart was racing, and my palms were sweaty against the wheel.

"It's okay," I said to myself, "If it's that bad, you'll leave. You'll be okay, Alice."

I pulled up to the apartment complex and parked in a lot that was close to empty. I had a gift for Michelle in hand, I got her some high end skin and makeup products I thought she would enjoy.

As I walked up the steps and to the front door to the apartment, I could hear music and voices from the inside. I heard a laugh that I swore was Heather's, and my heart skipped a beat.

Michelle had texted me that I could just come in when I arrived, the door was unlocked.

I took a deep breath, and I then walked into the apartment. The entrance led right to the living room, which was packed. I stood there for a moment, my eyes searching for Michelle, when I heard a gasp and someone said, "Alice?"

I knew who that voice belonged to.

Edwin.

Heads turned my way, and when Heather turned around, our eyes locked immediately.

It was as if time stopped, and in that instant, everything cracked open again. Every feeling that I had for Heather came rushing back 10 times harder, and it was overwhelming.

Heather's eyes widened when she saw me, like she couldn't quite believe I was across the room from her.

"Alice, you're here!" I heard Michelle say, and she came walking over to me, Edwin following behind her.

I broke eye contact with Heather, with both of us looking away at the same time.

Michelle looked stunning in a burnt sienna sundress, and her hair was long, straight, and silky. She pulled me into a hug, and I wondered if she could feel my heart thumping as she squeezed me for a moment.

I then faced Edwin, who smiled down at me.

"Alice Winston, it is so good to see you," he said, "Don't you look fabulous?"

I smiled up at Edwin, "As do you. You always did."

Edwin laughed and then pulled me into a friendly hug. As I hugged Edwin, Julian came walking up to us and said, "Alice, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me when you walked in. It's great to see you."

Julian hugged me as well, and I felt better being welcomed so warmly.

As I pulled away from Julian, I saw Lucy walking up to me, and behind her was Heather.

And my god...did she look hot.

Her dark hair was in a ponytail, and she wore a black fitted t-shirt and black cargo pants. As she swore she would be, she was completely tatted up. She had tattoos up and down her arms, and I even saw one on the side of her neck as well. I noticed that she had a bunch of silver rings on, and her nails were painted black.

My breath hitched as she neared me, with Lucy.

Lucy looked great as well. Her dark hair was down and wavy, and she wore her usual black glasses. She wore a short, fitted plaid skirt tucked into a long sleeved black shirt.

However, I couldn't keep my eyes off Heather. And she seemingly couldn't keep her eyes off me.

Lucy's mouth turned up into a smile and she said, "Alice Winston. I didn't think I'd ever see you again. What a pleasant surprise."

Lucy pulled me into a quick hug, and I was then face to face with Heather. After 4 years, we were reunited...and I had no idea how it was going to play out.

Her expression was unreadable as she said, "Hey, Alice."

She stood still, and she made no move to hug me.

"Hey," I said to Heather, my nerves kicking in.

Heather looked right at me again, and her expression seemed much more stoic...cold, even. It made me want to cower away.

"I had no idea you were coming," Heather responded.

"Michelle didn't tell you?"

"No, she didn't," Heather crossed her arms.

"I...I'm sorry," I said, feeling any sliver of confidence, I had started to dissipate, "Maybe I should go."

Michelle must've heard what I said, because she stepped toward Heather and I and stood in front of me, "No, no. You're not going anywhere, Alice. I want you here."

"That's nice," Heather said to Michelle, and she then glanced at me one more time before saying, "I need a drink."

I watched as Heather sauntered off.

I was certainly not used to Heather having an icy attitude.

Michelle gave me an apologetic smile, "I think she's probably just surprised to see you."

"Why didn't you tell her I was coming?"

"I thought it would be more of a pleasant surprise for her to see you."

"Michelle...you know we didn't really end on good terms, right? I'm pretty sure she still has me blocked on everything."

"I know, it's just when I told her we worked together she got this look on her face like...I don't know," Michelle said, "I'm sorry."

I gently placed my hand on Michelle's shoulder, "Hey, don't worry about it. It's your birthday, I want you to enjoy. I'll just avoid Heather unless she talks to me. Everyone else seemed glad to see me."

At the party as well was Mallory, who was perfectly nice to me. We hadn't talked at all since she came to the mountain house 4 years ago, so she was welcoming and happy to see me.

Even though I was trying my best to have a good time, I was extremely aware of the cold front in the room that was Heather. I avoided her, and she avoided me. That meant I didn't talk to Lucy as much as well, as they seemed to stick together.

Heather and Michelle's apartment was on the second floor, and they had a deck outside of the living room. The deck was empty, until Julian came up to me and asked, "Do you want to sit out on the deck with me while I smoke?"

"Sure," I nodded, "I'd like that."

We went out to the deck, which had two chairs and a small table between the chairs. As we sat down, Julian took a hit of his vape, and the aroma of some kind of berry mixed with nicotine floated in the air between us.

Julian held out his vape to me, "Want to smoke?"

"No, I'm okay," I said, "Thank you."

Julian smiled at me, "That's right, with you being a nurse and all, I wouldn't think you'd smoke."

I chuckled, "Believe me, even though I don't smoke, I'm not that healthy."

Julian smiled at me and spoke, "I'm glad you're here. Michelle mentioned to me that you work together now. I know that we drifted apart after the summer in the mountains, but I've thought of you quite a bit."

"I've thought about you too, Julian. I'm really happy for you and Edwin as well."

Julian grinned, "Thank you so much, Alice. We went to college not very far from each other and started to visit each other, which basically just turned into us hooking up. Somewhere along the way we both caught feelings. True, real feelings. It was tough for us to admit it to each other, but we finally did, and I couldn't be happier."

"That's incredibly sweet. You two always had chemistry."

Julian gave me a pointed look, "So did you and Heather."

"Well, I'm not so sure we do anymore."

I could tell Julian wanted to ask me a question, but he paused before he then said, "Today is a weird day. It's fun because it's Michelle's birthday, of course. And even though I know it technically happened on August 23rd...all I can really think about is Haley."

At the mention of Haley, I immediately tensed, and my jaw tightened.

"I understand," I nodded, "I think about her a lot, but especially on this day. I know it happened 4 years ago, but I can remember it way too vividly."

Julian shuddered, "Same here. It haunts me, honestly."

I turned to look at him, "You too?"

He nodded, "Oh, yeah. I was in therapy for years over it. It completely fucked me up."

I swallowed nervously, "Me too. I used to have nightmares about it."

Julian's green eyes widened, "Same here. My freshman year roommate hated me. I would wake him up as well when the nightmares would wake me.

"I'm so sorry. Thankfully, my roommate was really understanding."

Julian paused before saying, "It's nice to talk to someone about this. Edwin doesn't really understand as much because he wasn't there. Heather and Michelle don't like to talk about that night."

"It was traumatizing," I replied, "Completely fucking traumatizing."

Before Julian could respond, the door to the deck slid open and we both turned around.

Heather stood by the door, her eyes on me.

"Can we talk?" she asked.

Julian got up quickly, "I'll leave you two alone."

Oh boy.

What's going to happen with this conversation?