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stunning
"so be prepared. it's going to be like a high school reunion."
they were on their way to the beach they had never really gone to - Carolina not Wrightsville - to see the reunion of a band she had loved
all of it
the lyrics. the name. the vibe.
it would be on a pier and rain loomed.
her mother was doddering.
her mother seemed caged, but (god what is her name) kristen fled north - just a little ways - to see fucking brigadoon.
fucking wilmington.
it was like being near Paris and not coming in for a Pernod.
or what have you.
"so who all is going to be there? rogers? mark? Karen?"
"no. none of them. but Timmy will be there. jerkin."
it was raining. the drive was long. she looked out in between talking to Claire. her brother and Lance were in the front seat. Kristen hadn't seen them since the May birthday in Athens.
"so, it will be the fringe friends. no one that I really invited to my home."
"oh you'll see. You'll know Fred of course."
"but, it's not like I'm going to get to talk to him."
"Maybe after the show."
she watched it. she was almost out of body. her fake quota was the lowest it had been in months - and she was with one person who would know she was fake. Lance of course.
She remembers yesterday, waking up at 5:50ish am without an alarm - knowing she'd have to be on the road back to Georgia driving her mom who would repeat stories and be heartbroken to ever know (ignorance was bliss). Lance was up. the coffee was made. Kristen felt slightly fake - mimicking the pleasant light bouncing hyperness of her mom. she always endeavored to be real - and felt the nicest when it was so.
but when she got back to macon.
she thought of Fred the most.
the lead singer - a guitarist.
mostly the lyricist is always what got her. she was a fookin' words gal.
and it was hazy to her.
so hazy. it was after the first return from somewhere. some weird weird circumstance had paired her with Fred. they went out on the town together - and he never went out anymore. kristen doesn't think they made out, but it was entirely possible.
the only thing that is indelible.
she remembers ending the night in his bed - next to him. feeling safe enough to sleep and safe with him and just smiling all over.
wilmington was wild.
she was entranced but hadn't wanted to go downtown.
yes, all wafted.
"so, the weirdest was that cliche you read about where you think 'wow they all look so old' and then go - 'shit, I must look old too.'"
"whatever though."
"whatever. yeah."
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