tidal wave

It was raining in Stanford which was unusual but Bre didn't mind. It snapped her out of her usual daydream. Thinking about Cousins, how it's the first summer she isn't going. The first summer without the Fishers. The first one without Susannah.

"Hey babe, when are you coming to visit? My Mom wants to know. She has clothes for you" Conrad rolled his eyes while talking to Bre on Facetime. Their daily Facetime was a sense of familiarity for both of them.

"Well, I booked a ticket for tomorrow if that's okay?" Bre said nervously. She had been putting off going to visit for a month.

"Of course that's okay, I can pick you up from the airport?" Conrad said with a visible smile on his face.

"If that's okay, I don't want to be a burden or
anything," Bre said, recently she'd been feeling like she was annoying for her family having to travel too far to see her. As well as Susannah getting sicker.

"You won't be a burden, I'll pick you up on my way back from Brown. What's up? You don't seem yourself?" Conrad asked noticing her shift in mood.

"I don't know Con, I just keep on getting overwhelmed. I have like three papers due this week and then I'm trying to be present for everyone. But it's hard being so far away" Bre said putting her head into her hands.

"I can come back with you for a few days after your visit and we can figure this out. You aren't alone you've got a family and me that cares about you" He said with a smirk. It was moments like these that made Bre feel worse. His Mom is sick and he's here comforting her.

"Only if you're sure" Bre answered.

"Course I am" Conrad whispered.

Bre snapped out of her long daydream when her roommate came back.

"So I got Popcorn and Chips because I didn't know which one you'd want" Keegan said, she was bubbly which was a good distraction for Bre. She was also the stereotypical California girl. She'd managed to get Bre to join the surfing club and the debate club as well.

"Oh thank you," Bre said smiling looking away from the window.

"You better not be daydreaming about a certain brunette," Keegan said joking.

"I'm not don't worry, so when's Hattie and Finn coming over?" Bre said trying to cover up her feelings.

"In an hour or so, we can cancel if you want to relax before your flight?" Keegan said seeing the shift in her mood.

"No, it's okay. I need this" Bre said smiling, she truly did need them. A reminder of life before going home to avoid the obvious pain everyone else is feeling. Bre had laid down on her bed staring at the ceiling.

Bre spent the evening with her best friends. If she knew that summer that she'd be sitting with Finn and two strangers in a dorm room playing games and watching movies with them she would've laughed. But now it felt normal like a part of her was happy where she was. She was enjoying college. She loved studying medicine, and everything she was learning.

"So have you spoken to Finn?" Keegan asked like she couldn't hold it in anymore.

"No why do I need to talk to him?" Bre asked confused sitting up.

"Well you know he's coming back to your brother's graduation?" Keegan asked making it sound weird.

"Yeah, he knows that Keg it's not anything weird I promise. He's my friend and he knows them" Bre said trying to convince herself.