Sweets

I walked with Dan to the ice cream store.  We were going there to meet Justin.  I hadn't seen either of them in so long, but just walking with Dan made me feel like it was old times. 
We got there before Justin, so we waited outside for him.  When he appeared, he looked kind of the same, but all grown up.  He had on his lightweight frames and his black shirt and pinstripe pants.  He looked very fancy, but also very adult.  We exchanged hugs. 
We went inside.  I didn't really need ice cream, since I had already far too many sweets, but I agreed to get something.  I went with some peach ice cream.  I honestly hadn't been in this shop since I went with friends and my then-boyfriend freshman year, so I'm not familiar with what they had. Both of the boys got smoothies, which is what I should have had. 
Justin and Dan and I talked.  Justin talked about work.  He seems to really love his job and be really enthusiastic about it, which makes me happy for him.  He deserves those good things because he's worked so hard.
As we were sitting there, Johnson came in and went in the back.  I wanted to have a nice conversation with Dan and Justin, and sometimes Johnson can be a little much, so I was praying that he wouldn't notice us. 
No such luck.  Johnson called me from inside the store.  And he came down and sat with us. 
Dan's going to be moving into an apartment with an old friend.  Dan's a little worried, since the friend's only tie to the area is his girlfriend, that the friend's not going to stay long.  I told Dan, since I knew this friend, that he shouldn't worry because the friend wasn't the kind to stiff him.  This particular person strikes me as the kind to not always have long relationships, but the kind that would probably find another girl, and another connection, to make it work. 
Justin also mentioned his family a little, since his parents are celebrating their anniversary.  Justin sadly won't be around this weekend because he's hanging out with them. 
They also discussed another mutual friend, Nick.  They were saying what a jerk he might actually be, but that everyone liked him.  I really like him to.  He is kind of bitchy, but he also has this deeply honest thing going on that makes me like him more.  
Nate then texted me, asking me how I expected to get back to his place.  Okay then, guess that's my cue to leave, I thought.  I said goodbye to people, had more hugs, then I got in the car and we went back over to Nate's place. 
Back at Nate's place, we began to wind down for the night.  Nate worked on an online quiz for a class.  Megan got ready to go to bed.  I wrote in my journal. 
After Nate finished his quiz, we went out for a late night walk together.  It was really beautiful.  There was a crescent moon hanging low in the sky.  We wandered through mostly darkness, Nate leading me since he was familiar with the area.  We trampled through some rough parts, making me regret (just a little) wearing flip flops.  There was even one small spot that felt like a swamp.  But as we walked I thought about what an exciting day it had been and how glad I was to have come for a visit.  Spending time with friends like this always makes me so happy and both nostalgic and enthusiastic for the future at the same time.  As we walked, we spotted a small kitty darting by an apartment complex. 

Coupling Us Of

Jennifer and I had a nice drive over here to East Lansing.  Jennifer complained to me about her job.  I don't mind because I know everyone needs a little space to complain about their job.  Sometimes, even if you love your job, you need some room to say what you don't like.  You need to feel listened to.  I love listening to Jennifer.
Finding Nate and Megan's place was not tough.  I was afraid it might be, but it was this really nice section of apartments.  Jennifer was kind enough to take my bags up one set of stairs and then a second set, since we went up the wrong one.
And then we found their apartment.  The door opened, and there Nate was.  He looked exactly the same.  I almost felt like the Grinch, like my heart was expanding three sizes in my chest.  I felt I was going to burst.  We hugged, we talked.  I said hi to the other two roommates, Valerian and Dorian.  We chatted a little.  (Megan was at work and would return soon.)
We sat around and talked.  I called and texted various people, telling them I was in town.  Now that I was forced to consider it, there were a ton of people here this summer who I wanted to see.
Justin called asking me for ice cream.  Sure, I thought.  I'd love ice cream.  Sadly, Justin's work schedule was a little screwed up, so I would have to wait for his call.  But I was already happy to see even some people.
I laid down for a little in Nate's bed while he worked on his homework (he's taking an online class.)  We had earlier teased people who weren't doing so well with what were pretty easy questions.
I had another bout of not sleeping last night (I think from so much of the excitement surrounding this trip) that I was really tired.  I felt terrible.  Even though I don't think I slept, just giving my body a little downtime was good.
Dorian offered me some cheesecake, which I had.  It occurred to me that maybe I would spend this entire trip eating junk food.  This is a vacation, so I'm okay with that.
Megan came home, and it was so good to hug and see her.  She changed into this really cute outfit and we sat around and talked and took care of some business.  It felt like no time had passed at all, like I just graduated from school yesterday, and the next day I was seeing my friends.
We decided to go out for dinner, since Nate and I got invited to a dinner party tomorrow and Nate is going to be working Saturday night.    
Megan, Nate, Dorian, Valerian and I piled into Dorian's car.  I texted Dan to tell him that he was welcome to join us.
Driving through the town was weird.  I have all these memories here, but I've already been able to put so many of them in the past.  Feels strange to deal with them now.
We went past my old church.  I had accidentally left one of my favorite blue hoodies there right before graduation.  We went in to try to find it.  No such luck.
The church was eerily quiet.  No one appeared to be around.  All I could think of is how people at home are afraid to leave a church like that because people come in and vandalize so often.
We walked over to the restaurant and ordered our food.  The guy at the counter did that thing were he couples people off.  He assumed that Nate and I were a couple, which was awkward.  Nate had already walked away when he mentioned that we were a couple.
I laughed.  "We're not," I said.
"I don't believe you," he said.
People in this town are both crazy and fascinating.