"Well, I'm here for you. We all are," she smiles. I wonder if she means her and Meg. Or her, Meg, Travis and Nate too. Alex. Probably all of them think Brooks is a mega douche. "Yes, all the guys too."

I laugh at how she reads my mind.

"I guess it's pretty serious then. With them." I chew on the inside of my lip to try and maintain some semblance of a straight face. I don't want to know the answer, but I need to hear it. Trix knows this.

"Travis said she moved in with him," Trix says quietly and then looks nervous. Like I may lose it.

"So not too serious." I give her a sad smile.

"No ring or anything," she smiles back.

"Yet," I can't help but finish her thought. It hurts when it comes out. I don't know why. "Do you hear from him much? Any of you?"

I hate myself for asking. "Here and there. You're not the only one who sort of disappeared you know. Tenfire was the first time he came back since Christmas."

"Convenient," I say, rolling my eyes. "We must be on the same schedule."

"He talks to the guys. Spends a lot of time in LA, I think. With his college lax bros." She tries to say it with distaste, but she's too sweet for it to sound truly venomous.

"I'm sure he fits right in in LA," I say, chewing on my cheek. "Hope he stays there. I'll make sure to steer clear."

"I promise not to make you come home again," Trix says suddenly, biting her lip. "I won't ask. Won't even suggest it or think it."

"Thanks," I laugh. Can't help but think no amount of begging from Trix would make me return anyway.

"If I never asked last summer–"

"I would have come anyway. I couldn't stay away forever. I couldn't never go back, Trix. It was time." I try to make her feel how true this is. Instead I'm transported back to that night on the beach –back to when Brooks asked me "Why now?" –back to before this all started. Before my barely healed wounds were split open. It was just time. Well, time's a motherfuckin' bitch.

"And now?" Trix asks.

"And now I know there's nothing back there for me. I just needed to be reminded why I left in the first place. And why I'm not going back." Saying it out loud to another soul feels fantastic, like I'm giving Trix part of my burden. Poor girl.

"Emmy." She flips her red hair behind her head and looks at me sideways. "Don't disappear again. I know it's hard, but you left all of us last time. Texts and calls and social media –that's all great but it's not us."

"You're right." I nod. I know what she means. It's not the same. The way she's looking at me now, with her arm on mine, I'm reminded of New Years, of the prom pic we all took under the canopy.

What an actual lifetime ago.

"We can visit you. Or we can pick places to visit together. We can make new traditions," Trix rambles on now back to her animated self. "And no home-wreckers allowed."

I can't help but laugh. "Well, if no home-wreckers allowed. You've got a deal."

We hug it out. A long hug that only your best friend can give. "And thanks for coming here –to Seattle –to check on me," I smile.

"Anything for Emmeline. I just hope I'm done with the wellness checks for a while," Trix says, squeezing my hand.

"For at least a while," I say, squeezing back.

BEEP. BEEP.

"So how long are you staying?" I ask, removing the bag of popcorn from the microwave.

"How long am I invited?" Trix asks.

"Oh," I pause, pretending to feel awkward. "You know, I never actually invited you."

"Ha-ha," she laughs and throws a pillow at me.

"Really, Trix." I bring her into a hug. "Thank you for coming to me. I didn't know I needed this."

"I knew you needed this," she smirks. "Men are trash, like actual garbage."

"Travis isn't," I blurt out before I can stop. I hope the jealously doesn't sound as loud to her as it sounds in my head.

"No, he's not. I got lucky," Trix smiles. "One day you will too."

"Spare me," I laugh, rolling my eyes.

We change into our pajamas and start on the gallon of coconut milk ice cream that's amazingly still left in my freezer. I pull the jar of peanut butter from my cabinet and grab two spoons. She grabs two cans of cold soda and the can of whipped cream from the fridge.

"Ugh, no cherries," she wines, looking at my fridge door.

"Fresh out." I roll my eyes from behind the couch.

"This will do," Trix says, dropping the chocolate sauce on the coffee table.

"That shits old as shit," I laugh. The cushions from the couch are now on the floor.

We arrange my chairs next to the couch and take the cover from my bed to drape it over the space. It's a tent/fort just like we used to make when we were kids. We string up lights and load the floor with all the pillows and extra blankets, and all the scattered remnants of who we used to be.

"We used to make these all the time, remember?" Trix asks.

"How could I forget? We were so cool."

"We were!" She shoves my shoulder. "Well, we thought."

"Uh-huh," I smile, nudging her back. "The birthday forts were especially cool."

"Oh my god, the birthday forts! Remember we would dress up as characters and sneak leftover cake into the basement," she laughs.

"Of course. And we snuck the cake into the fort and forgot about it for days." I laugh.

"Haha," Trix laughs. "Remember that one time it snowed and school was cancelled? We brought in buckets of snow and tried to make mini snow angels."

"You mean the castle elves made mini snow angels?" I nod.

"The elves!" Trix laughs.

"Then it melted all over the floor." I frown.

"Wow, we were freaks." Trix nods, matter-of-factly.

We prop ourselves up with our backs against the couch, feet dangling over the edge of the cushions. The purple sheet-roof casts a weird haze over the fort. I could be in a dream.

"So," Trix begins in her singsong voice.

"So?" I edge her on.

"I've been waiting to tell you –well show you in person –after I saw you weren't gonna like become sad and fat or anything–"

"Trix," I sigh. But I think I already know. When Trix reaches her fingers into her pocket I 100% know.

"This happened!" Trix squeals, holding up a clear diamond ring. It's made of perfection.

"Oh my god," I say, pulling her hand towards me. Her eyes are almost swimming in tears.

"I've been DYING to tell you! Haven't posted it yet or anything! It's been killing me!" Trix shouts.

"Travis did good," I laugh.

"He really did," she beams.

"Well, it's about time." I mean it. "You didn't have to wait you know. To tell me in person."

I am not fragile. No need to handle with care.

"I know," she frowns. "I wanted to. It's just... Ever since we were 14 and started to notice boys were even a thing –it was always you and Brooks. You guys were the real deal, the sure thing. Engaged first. Married first. Kids first."

"Trix. Trix." I wave my hands at her to stop.

"I hate myself for even reminding you, but I didn't want it to hurt you after everything–"

"Like I forgot," I shake my head. I pick up her hands in mine, little heavier with the rock. "Things change. Sometimes for the better, Mrs. Scott."

"Does have a nice ring to it," Trix smirks, squeezing my hand.