Chapter Text
You are Sunny. Today, you are returning to your hometown, Faraway Town. You are returning for the entirety of summer break after you moved away sometime last year. You are excited to come back and see your closest friends, who are Basil, Aubrey, Kel, and Hero.
But today is different than any other day in recent memory. Today, you have a lot on your mind.
Your mother has been ill recently, and she is currently bedridden. She will be unable to travel with you this time around.
The town where you grew up has changed quite a bit since you moved away.
You have a lot on your mind as you approach the final station.
You reach the town. You are not quite sure what to expect, but the last time you were here, it was quite different. It was a crisp, cool day. The sun was shining brightly; you remember that much. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, but there was still a general feeling of sadness lingering over the town.
"Sunny!" a voice cries out.
You turn around and are tackled to the ground.
You open your eyes, and you see Kel, with a wide grin on his face. "It's been so long since I've seen you!"
"Kel, I can't breathe..."
"Oh, sorry!" Kel says, getting off of you.
Kel helps you up, and you hug him.
"So where is Basil, Aubrey, and Hero?" you ask.
"Basil and Aubrey said they will be here soon, and my brother is at home, he said he will be here in a few as well." Kel explains.
"Oh. That's good."
"Sunny!"
Aubrey comes running up to you, and hugs you. "I'm glad you could make it!"
"Of course I would come back to Faraway Town, where my friends live," you say.
Aubrey smiles, and turns around. "Oh, look, there's Basil!" She waves him over.
You and Basil spot each other, and at the same time, you both start running towards each other.
Basil is tackled to the ground as you both hug each other.
"It's been too long, man," you say.
"You're telling me," Basil says.
"Now we are just waiting for Kel's brother, Hero." Aubrey says.
You look at the bus stop. "Is he always late?" you ask.
"Unfortunately, yes," Kel says. "It's one of his better qualities."
"Hey guys! I'm here!" Hero says, walking up to you.
"Hero! How've you been?" you say, giving him a hug.
"Great, you?"
"Can't complain. So, who's ready to go see the old neighborhood?"
"I sure am," Kel says.
Aubrey smiles nervously, "I hope everything is still there..."
"Of course it is," Kel says reassuringly.
You all start walking towards the old neighborhood, chatting along the way.
"So has anyone moved into my old house since we moved?" you ask.
"Surprisingly, no. It's been empty ever since you left." Hero says.
"That's good to hear. So has anything interesting happened while I was gone?"
"Besides all of us growing up?" Kel asks jokingly. "No, nothing has happened."
"Yeah, nothing interesting ever happens in Faraway Town," Aubrey says.
"That's why I like it," Kel says.
"I guess that's why you're still here, right Aubs?" you say.
"Yep, still here."
"You don't ever miss the excitement of a big city?" you ask.
"Oh, I don't know," she says.
You all walk in silence for a bit, before Kel breaks it.
"So where are we going first?"
Aubrey shrugs. "I don't know. Where did we go first the last time you were here?"
"The skate park," you say.
"Weren't we going to see Sunny's old house?" Hero says, confused.
"I mean, we live next door to it." Kel says to Hero.
"Let's go there first, and then the skate park," you say. "We can do the park later, if we have time."
The group nods in agreement, and starts to head towards the house.
"So Sunny, you didn't tell us how long you would be in town." Aubrey says to you.
"I am staying here for the entirety of summer break." you say.
"Sweet, that's more than enough time to do everything we wanted to do," Kel says.
"Wait, where are you staying then?" Basil asks.
You hesitate to answer. "I... I'm not sure yet."
"You didn't rent a hotel room?"
"No, I thought I would figure it out when I got here."
"You can stay with me!" Kel, Hero, Basil, and Aubrey all say at the same time.
"Oh, I don't want to impose..."
"Nonsense! You're already here, you may as well stay somewhere!" Kel says.
"You're outvoted, Sunny," Aubrey says.
"Well then, who do you all think I should stay with?" you ask.
"Me!" Aubrey, Hero, Kel, and Basil all say at the same time.
"Why don't we all just stay together at our house?" Kel says, looking at his brother, Hero, to see if he agrees to this.
"Yeah, sure," he says.
"Perfect!" Kel says. "Now let's hurry up and find you a place to stay! I want to get to the skate park before it gets crowded!"
"Kel, did you just forget what we literally talked about not even a minute ago? We are all staying at your's and Hero's house." you say.
"Oh yeah... Do you think mom and dad will mind if we bring Sunny, Aubrey, and Basil for the summer?"
"I don't think so. They never said anything when you came to stay for a week."
"That's because I live there."
"Wait, you don't think they'll mind? Are you sure?"
"Nah, they won't care."
"Let's go to your house then!"
"My house is literally your house."
"Yeah, but I wanna see it again."
"What the hell is this conversation?" Aubrey whispers to you.
"Unfortunately, I have no idea," you reply.
"Basil, do you have any idea what this conversation is?" Aubrey whispers to him.
"Fuck no."
You, Basil, and Aubrey keep walking towards your old house, while Kel and Hero continue their conversation of God knows what.
"So, are you excited to see your boyfriend?" Aubrey asks you.
"Basil is literally behind me." you joke.
"Yeah, and?"
"... Yeah I'm excited to see him."
"Awwww!" she says while playfully hitting your arm.
You laugh, and then realize what she had just said.
"Wait. Did you say boyfriend?"
"Yeah! Did I accidentally out you?"
"A little bit."
"Well, I figured most of our group had already figured it out. You know, because of how close you two always are and how you're always looking at him."
"Aww man. Is it that obvious?" you ask.
"Yes." Kel and Hero say at the same time.
Basil looks at you, and you blush.
"By the way, I didn't know you were with him. Congrats, man."
"Thanks."
Kel and Hero reach their house first, with you, Basil, and Aubrey following behind.
You look next door, and you see your old house. The memories come rushing back, and you smile as you take it all in.
After Hero unlocks the front door to his and Kel's house and turns on the lights, the five of you walk inside.
"Make yourself at home," he says.
You sit on the couch as Hero and Kel go upstairs, presumably to their room.
"So how long has it been since you've been here?" Basil asks.
"Gosh, I don't know. Maybe like a year and a half?" you say.
"Does it feel weird being back?"
"Yeah, but in a good way. I remember when the five of us used to play hide and seek in this very house."
"Hide and seek, huh? I never was very good at that game. I always got found right away."
"Well it doesn't help when you stand out like a sore thumb."
"Yeah, I guess not..."
You laugh, and you begin to feel even more nostalgia as your gaze meets his eyes.
"You know what I missed?" you ask.
"What's that?" Basil asks.
There is a knock at the door. Aubrey opens it, and Lorde stands there.