Old Friends, Sweet Melodies {Addison}

[MAIA BOLTON]

Amazingly enough, Maia was adjusting pretty well. Granted she had been here all her life. Most of her life. Okay--a year. She had been here a year out of her life, and then left for some dumb boy. Only to come back a year later to make said boy's life a nightmare--only that wasn't the entire reason. Maia Bolton wasn't entirely malicious--in fact, she had been missing a few of her other friends. A small group of people she talked to outside of Freddie--a select few who had something bright in them that Maia liked and wanted to be part of. Someone like Addison.

On the outside, Addison could seem a bit plain. A pretty girl, but nothing too striking. That was--until you talked to her. Her words were flawless, and it sounded like there was a smile that wrapped around her voice. When she scolded you, it was like a mother in some ways. You found yourself wanting to listen and do as she said. Maia sort of liked this--of course not the mothering--she just liked listening to Addison talk or read outloud. Two years ago, they had become friends. Not the sort to hang out very often outside of class--after class time was Freddie or sports time. But between classes, and sometimes at lunch, Maia would accompany Addison.

A year could change people, but Addison had an unforgetable face. The way her lips pulled at her eyes when she smiled, or the way she carried herself. Even the tone of her voice when Maia overheard her speaking. Maia recognized her immediately, but would Addison return the favor? Maia's short, cropped hair had grown out into long, rich waves. Today she was dressed down a bit--ready to head back to the dorms--but she had been stopped by the familiar voice.

"Addision?" She called, almost unsurely. Maybe Addison had a secret twin? Maia turned slightly, cradling two books in her arm, holding them against her stomach with a fringed bag hanging off of her shoulder. Taking a breath of air, she approached Addison, smiling a bit wider. "Addison!" Less of a question, more of a chirp of excitement. Addison, dear, sweet Addison. Maia would at least have a friend here that wasn't a complete and utter pain in the rear end.

Outfit

[ADDISON ROWE]

Sometimes people moved away. And Addison got that. She’d moved from Chicago, hadn’t she? Right. It wasn’t like they left with the intention to get away from ex-best friends, or a bad relationship, or like they were running from something. Sometimes people moved because they had to. Because they had no choice. Whether it was a job transfer (like her father’s), the need for a change of pace, or wanting to get out and explore the world (like she would someday).

Yes, so Addison had been feeling rather nostalgic lately. It was all because she’d begun to clean her side of the room. Addison should really have known by now that she shouldn’t do that. It always led to finding old pictures and stories, which led to an even bigger mess. She found herself too distracted by the memories of years gone to finish cleaning. Some of the stories she’d written so long ago were horrible, and she couldn’t remember why she’d used to wear her hair as she had in a couple of these pictures.

It was in her nostalgia kick that she found the photos of her and Maia Bolton. Now, Addison had never forgotten Maia, but she may have forgotten Maia. Sometimes you are much too distracted by work and school and personal things that you simply tuck things away, to be recalled at a later, less busy time. Maia had been tucked away, and with these found pictures came all of the memories and good times Addison had had with her. Hence the random thoughts of moving, and nostalgia, and digging through boxes for a phone number that Addison could swear she’d written down.

She had spent all day feeling rather unsatisfied with her search, and she planned to continue looking once she got back to the dorm. Class had just let out, and she was at her locker, figuring which textbooks she’d need. Due to her ‘cleaning’ last night, she’d run out of time for homework, and now she was behind (shocking, yes). The classmate she’d been talking with bid her farewell and she wished them well, and had been ready to head home herself when she heard her name. Turning towards the voice, Addison looked curiously at the girl approaching. Had they met? Her face was rather familiar, as was her voice, but everything else seemed new.

It wasn’t until the girl was closer that Addison recognized her. Of course, she thought. Of course! “Maia!” Addison exclaimed, returning her books to her locker, not having closed it yet, and throwing open her arms. The moment Maia was near enough, Addison grabbed the girl and wrapped her up in a big hug, not caring if it was awkward. “Maia, ohmygoodness. You’re… you’re back?” Addison pulled away, gently holding Maia by the shoulders and staring at her with shock and joy. “… You’re back!!”

[MAIA BOLTON]

Maia laughed loud and bright as Addison cried out her name and pulled her into a hug. “I’m back!” She laughed, holding her hands out as Addison realized that she actually was back in the flesh. “I couldn’t stay gone for too long, I guess New York is home.” She grinned. Her voice gentle, and quiet—despite the laughter that wrapped around her words. For a while, it was beginning to feel hopeless. What was the point of coming back if no one missed you?

She would have figured that at least a few people missed her, that word of her arrival would have spread like wildfire and that Freddie would have come seeking her out. However that didn’t happen, and she was beginning to even wonder if he was still here. It had begun feeling like a lost cause until she spotted Addison in the crowd. And luckily—she missed her. “I just needed to get away for a little while, New York’s such a big change, you know?” Her brown eyes widened. It wasn’t entirely true—she had been running from a heartbreak. But no one needed to know that, not yet.

Plus—it was better getting to be somewhere where parents weren’t breathing down her neck.

“I haven’t missed anything too awesome while I’ve been gone, right?” She asked, her eyes bright as she took in Addison’s appearance. “You haven’t changed a bit! I’m guessing you’re still top of the class?” Maia’s lips pushed to the side as she teased Addison. No, Addison hadn’t changed. Sweet, cute, proper. She’d grow up to be a proper lady, one of those house-wives that married a man with money. Quiet and demure, clean with a house that looks like a magazine come to life. Perhaps that was why it was so easy to pick her out of the crowd—time moved around Addison, but she didn’t seem to change.

“Did everyone leave? I don’t recognize everyone, what the hell?” Her eyes darted over the students rushing by. Granted she had been more familiar with the guys—either they left, or puberty left them completely unrecognizable. Then again—she was really only looking for traces of one face in the crowd. Her smile faded for a moment, before she turned back on Addison and came back to life. “Do you have another class, or are you free for the moment? We could run down to the café and get something to snack on, if you’ve got the time.” Maia offered, raising her brows. “Time to catch up? One hour of hookey won’t hurt, scout’s honor.” She held up two fingers, placing her right hand over her heart as she tried to look as noble as possible.

Outfit