– Vivian, do you think many of us will come?” Nicole asked excitedly.
– I think many will come: after all, it’s thirty years of graduation. Besides, you know how our headmistress persuades… Everyone should come! No way! – Vivian smiled slyly. – You’re not just interested, are you?
– What do you mean?” Nicole was embarrassed, her cheeks flushed. Pretending that nothing had happened, her friend continued to decorate herself in front of the mirror.
– Thomas! – Vivian suddenly said.
– What does he have to do with it?
– Oh, come on! I understand everything…
– He’s married, and I’m not a girl anymore.
Vivian straightened her red curls and looked at her best friend.
– I know, I know, – Vivian said, – We have to go, or we’ll be late.
Having finished dressing up, the friends left the house and breathed in the aroma of blossoming apple trees with pleasure. On the way to the cafe, they discussed the evening of the reunion, not believing that thirty years had passed since their graduation.
***
It seemed quite recently that Vivian and Nicole stood on the porch of the school in their dresses. They smiled and rejoiced that school years would soon be behind them, and an adult and independent life awaited them. However, Nicole was quieter than usual that day, and her best friend, of course, knew the reason for this seemingly unreasonable behavior. She was afraid that she had made the wrong choice.
With a trembling hand, Nicole adjusted the ribbons woven into her hair and watched her classmates, Thomas and Jodie, holding hands. And when Thomas looked at Nicole, she instantly looked away.
– Relax, – Vivian whispered in her ear.
– I can’t!
– You said yourself that you don’t like him! Or am I confused?
– I did…
– Jodie gave him a brisk kiss. Now see how happy she is, looking down on everyone!
– Let it go, – Nicole straightened up. – I love Gregory and we will soon sign!
– Isn’t it too soon?
– Just in time!
Vivian looked at her friend with distrust and noticed:
– Gregory, of course, loves you. But it seems to me that he is an irreparable egoist. You should think carefully.
– Vivian! I have already said a hundred times…
– Vivian continued for her and rolled her eyes.
Clamping her lips together in discontent, Vivian made a promise to herself not to interfere in her friend’s personal life anymore, simply because it was useless. Nicole had lost her head right after she started dating Gregory. Vivian hoped that it would not last long and she would quickly come to her senses, and then pay attention to their classmate Thomas, who had long been hitting on her. However, her friend’s crush turned out to be very serious. So much so that Nicole directly told her classmate: “Find yourself another one!”. Less than a week later, the whole class found out about it, and then, Jodie, put all her charm into action.
Now Nicole was trying to convince herself that her decision was right, because there would be no turning back.
***
Loud music came from the open window of the cafe. Vivian, dancing, headed for the door.
– Oh, you will carry me home today! So, Nicole, don’t drink too much!
Nicole laughed, remaining tense as a spring. With a trembling hand she held the door and entered the room.
– What people! – exclaimed a former classmate. – I was about to send a carriage for you! Are we late?
– We are not late, but delayed, – Vivian replied calmly.
– You haven’t changed a bit, – the head teacher waved her hand, – Come into the hall.
The classmates were very happy. The “girls” hugged each other, and the “boys” joked together. Nicole greeted and thought about how lucky she was to study with such good people. And all thanks to their class teacher. She was always the heart of the class, and thanks to her they lived such an amazing, full of impressions, school life. The graduates presented the teacher with bouquets, and she, sitting at the head of the table, did not stop laughing.
Nicole looked for Thomas and noticed his smile and nodded. He was alone.
– ‘Jodie’s not here today,’ Vivian whispered, ‘Maybe it’s for the best, at least you can talk face to face.
– Vivian!
– What?” Vivian rounded her eyes. “You made a mistake, but it’s not too late to fix it! There is nothing left to fifty, we must hurry.
– He’s married,” Nicole filtered through.
– So what? You can talk.
Silent, Nicole looked up again and was surprised to find Thomas looking at her, not at all embarrassed.
An hour later, when the classmates were already laughing at the memories of school life, Thomas approached Nicole. He sat down on the chair where her friend used to sit and said:
– You look great.
– Thank you, Nicole was embarrassed and suddenly blurted out, “Jodie couldn’t come?
– She was a little sick, – he answered reluctantly. – And how are you?
– Fine…
– I heard that you have two children.
– Yes, two girls: the older one has already finished school, and the younger one is about to graduate. Do you have children?
– No, – Thomas answered dryly and hesitated, – Life is a very strange thing: you dream of one thing and get… another.
He looked at Nicole carefully. And she, without wanting to, remembered her life after graduation from school. How after entering a university located in a big city, she became pregnant in a year. How hard it was to raise first one daughter, and then the second, with a husband who did not help her at all. How, unable to withstand his endless jealousy, she filed for divorce and left, leaving everything, and a year ago returned to her hometown.
– I was in love with you, remember?
Nicole nodded uncertainly.
– ‘I didn’t think it would happen…’ Thomas continued, ‘You’re divorced and I’m…
He fell silent.
– Yes…! – exclaimed the headmistress – Let’s get up and dance! Thomas, Nicole… Come on, come on…
The headmistress ran through the hall like a whirlwind, lifting up all those who sat too long.
– Shall we go? – Thomas smiled.
He stood up and gave Nicole his hand. When they stood opposite each other and Thomas hugged her, Nicole felt dizzy.
– Are you all right?
– I haven’t danced for so long.
– Nicole, tell me honestly, did you love me?” he suddenly asked.
– Yes, I did, she answered quickly.
– Then why? Why did you do it?
– You were young.
He looked at her in surprise.
– Really, – Nicole sighed, – Gregory, my ex-husband, turned my head. He spoke beautiful words, thought right. I decided that I would be better off with him. But nothing good came out of our family life. One thing makes me happy, I now have two daughters … Are you happy in marriage?
– Me? – he asked again.
– Yes, I am. You and Jodie have been together for so many years.
– I haven’t told anyone yet,” he said quietly, holding her close, “but Jodie didn’t come here because she was sick. We broke up.
– How?” Nicole gasped.
– She is going to marry again. I hope she will be happy now. After all, I did not love her, and she missed it so much.
Nicole looked at Thomas inexplicably, not even noticing that the music had long since ended.
– Let’s go to the table!” Vivian giggled.
They stopped. Thomas reluctantly released Nicole from his embrace and led her to the table.
– This is going even better than I thought,” Vivian remarked as Nicole sank into a chair.
– He’s divorced…
– What? That’s great!
Nicole pushed her glass towards her and silently watched the bubbles of sparkling wine slowly rise to the surface.
– Nicole, wake up! This is good news, – Vivian whispered, – I’m tired of looking at you. It’s high time to start a normal relationship and all the blues will disappear. Especially since he’s in love with you!
– Why do you think so?
– If a man looks at a beautiful woman all evening – it says a lot.
Nicole looked at Thomas. Well, Vivian was right…
The evening was coming to an end. Classmates could not part, and it was getting dark outside the window. After saying goodbye to everyone, Nicole and Vivian slowly wandered towards the house.
– Shall I walk you home? – Thomas offered, catching up with them.
– Of course! – Vivian sang cheerfully. – What if someone steals us? Especially Nicole. Look how beautiful!
Nicole looked at her friend unhappily.
– Don’t be angry, – Thomas reassured her. – Vivian is right. I don’t want you to be stolen. Especially now that we finally met.
He took her hand and smiled. Vivian, staggering, walked beside him and thought about how a person can change just by meeting his former love. Nicole was glowing with happiness, and that was worth a lot. Vivian didn’t know if they would make it, but she wanted to believe that everything would be fine now, as it should be.
