the 1  by taylor swift

"I can't believe that I agreed to this," I grumbled. The cherry pie I was holding was still warm from the oven, and it made the situation all the more real.

The Harding's house looked exactly the same. The pale-yellow house sat surrounded by acres of grazing land that seemed to go on for miles. It brought back memories that I had pushed back for so long I had nearly forgotten them. But if I closed my eyes and focused, I could remember Connor and I running around and hear our little giggles. What a difference three years could make...

"Better believe it," Tobias gripped my shoulder, "Now put that smile on and let's get to business. It's game time."

Reanna and Beau came along with Toby and me and, I was hoping that they would be a distraction. Together we all climbed the front porch steps and, Toby knocked on the door.

"Well, I'll be dammed." Connor's grandpa, Papa, opened the door with a crooked smile.

"Hey, Papa. We thought we would stop by and check in on you. See how everything was." Tobias took the lead and, I'm glad he was here because I couldn't even process what was happening. I was almost 100% positive that I was going to puke my guts out in the next five minutes.

"Mhm. On the same day that everyone is moving back in? Wouldn't doubt for one second that the two were related." He squinted his eyes at us before grinning and opening the door wider. "Y'all come in."

Reanna, Toby, and Beau all rushed in but, I was stuck on the front porch. I couldn't bring myself to move my feet quite yet. This is not a good idea, I thought, I want to go home.

"Is that a cherry pie I smell, Miss. Hope?" Papa's question snapped me out of my daze, and I put on a smile.

"It sure is. It's your favorite, right?" That's right Hope, just smile and wave. Smile and wave.

"I'm glad you remembered. I've been missing them all these years; you make the best one for miles. But shh, don't tell my wife." He motioned a finger up to his mouth and chuckled. "Will you put that in the kitchen for me?"

"Of course." I blew out a breath and, with trembling hands and weak knees, I walked towards the kitchen.

Being in this house felt surreal. The last time I was here was the day I found out that Connor was gone. I had been frantically searching for him and ended up a sobbing mess on the old hardwood floors. I couldn't bring myself to come and visit, although Papa and his wife told me I was always welcome. It just wasn't the same without Connor. Nothing was the same without Connor.

The living room was cluttered with brown moving boxes, that had poorly written words, that described where they were supposed to go. Picture frames still lined the beige walls, and I smiled at the blue frame that enclosed a picture of Connor and I from elementary school. It had been the first day of third grade and our moms had made us stand on my front porch and take our annual 'Back to School' picture. I let out a quiet laugh and brought my hand up to wipe some of the dust off of the frame. What I would do to go back to this day...

As I was making my way towards the kitchen, someone carrying a stack of boxes bumped into me.

"Oh, I'm sor-" Before I could finish my apology, I looked up and saw those ocean blue eyes. The eyes that had haunted me for the past three years.

Connor was standing in all his glory. He was shirtless and sweating probably, from moving in all of the boxes and furniture that they brought with them. He looked so.... different. His dirty blond hair was cut short, which minimized its usual curl. He had obviously grown, and he now towered over me. Connor wasn't the lanky boy that I remembered. Puberty definitely did him justice.

Although he was so different, he felt familiar. The stretchmarks on his shoulders stood out on his tan skin, and it reminded me of all the times he would get upset over them. He had been so distraught when they showed up like it was the end of the world. The heavy dusting of freckles on his face stood out as well. He was the same Connor but, he was grown now. We weren't kids anymore. It had only been three years, but it might as well have been a lifetime.

"Don't worry about it." His voice had dropped too. Fuck.

"Okay." Okay? Ugh. I didn't know what else to say. I probably was making a fool of myself just standing here.

Connor cleared his throat and scratched the back of his neck, showing off his large biceps. Working on the farm had definitely benefited him, oh man. We stared at each other for a little while longer, just taking in the other person. Or at least that's what I was doing.

I couldn't help but notice the lines that had settled around his lips from smiling too much, and God, that smile. It was just as charming as ever.

"Guess I'll see you around, H."

My eyes bugged out my head as I watched him walk away. Three years had gone by and, he was just gonna act like normal? What? I needed to call Layla ASAP. She was going to kill me when she heard that I came over here.

I quickly put the pie on the counter in the kitchen and awkwardly greeted his two sisters as well as his grandma.

"Hope, Hope, Hope," Tobias came running around the corner, "We need to leave right now."

"What?"

"Mom and Dad found out we were here." Kill me now. If I made it through the night, it would be a miracle.

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sorry that this is a shorter chapter, but at least connor was formally introduced!