Once In a Lifetime

Seeing Izzy feels so nice, I've missed her more than I can even say. And to be honest, now that I'm back and I'm with her again, it feels like nothing has changed.

"Ugh, Kara I've missed you like crazy, we have so much to talk about. Wait, you brought a change of clothes right?" Izzy says in her usual fashion, talking a mile a minute and jumping from thought to thought.

"Um...no? Why would I Iz?" I giggle as I ask, this girl literally confuses the crap out of me.

"Kara, tell me you didn't honesty forget? The party? My annual Christmas party!" She says, clearly astonished I forgot about her party. Honestly, I'm astonished I forgot too. Izzy has been having this party every year since we were fifteen. It became a big deal around this area with people our age. There was alcohol, amazing music, tons of people, and everyone always had the time of their lives there, even though Izzy's house was pretty modest in size.

"Crap, thats tonight? I must have lost track of my days." I say, dreading the thought of having to go back home today just to get clothes.

"It's alright. We can go to your house after we set up and get you clothes." She says, clearly not knowing that my mom is being... well my mom.

"No Iz, I can't. My mom is being...you know how she gets." I say, exasperated again with the situation between my mother and I.

"Shit Kara what happened? She started crap already?" She says, knowing damn well that my mom isn't the easiest person to get along with.

"She get mad when I said I was coming here, and then she brought Louis up and I kinda snapped at her." I explain to Izzy with ease, knowing she'll understand.

"No way! She really brought him up? Did she say anything about the little um...incident?" She asked, trying to be sensitive toward what happened to me four years ago. I could cry just thinking of what she made me do to fix everything.

"No, oh gosh no. She would never bring that up again." I say in a matter of fact tone.

"Okay, so going there isn't an option. How about we hustle to get everything ready, and then we go shopping for clothes? We'll get you sweatpants and a t-shirt too so you can sleep over." She says quickly, obviously satisfied with her solution.

We hurry to get everything set up so we can go shopping. I start hanging streamers on the fireplace mantle when out of the corner of my eye I see a framed picture. When i really look at it, I see its of Izzy, Louis, and me. It was taken before Louis and I started seeing each other as more than friends. I smile at the happy memory. When I step back, I remember another happy memory. I was only sixteen, at the second annual Christmas party. Louis and I were seated right here, in front of the fireplace. The party was just starting to die down, but a lot of people were still there. Louis and I were laughing and talking about how great it would be to be older, thinking about what the future would be like. We spoke so fearlessly back then, life wasn't scary yet. I was pretty buzzed from the three beers I had, and Louis was clearly pretty high. His blue eyes glistened in the orangey light of the flickering fireplace, and in that moment I noticed how beautiful he really was. I was clearly buzzed because I boldly leaned in and kissed him, and he kissed me back. I can still remember that kiss, and if I try hard enough, I can still feel it.

"You know I remember that too, I think of it every time I light that thing. I was so stoked when it happened." Izzy interjects, knowing exactly what I was just thinking about.

"Stoked? You'd think you were the one shipped off to America for four years, not me." I joke with her, purposely trying to change the subject.

"Oh shut it! Are you ready to go? I finished up while you were daydreaming." She pokes her tongue out at me with a smile. For some reason, when she brings him up I don't react as badly as I usually do, but it almost feels relieving.

"Yeah I'm ready, you're driving right bitch?" I ask her, as if jokingly challenging her say more shit like that to me. She smiles brightly.

"You got it bitch. God literally nothing has changed between us." She giggles, and I can't help but to join in with her. This is probably the happiest I've felt since being back.

The drive to the mall was quick. Izzy and I just blared the radio and sang obnoxiously the entire time. Izzy insisted on classic rock though. When I tried to put on a pop or today's hits station she seemed a little jumpy or uneasy for some reason.

When we got to the we went straight into topshop, since that is Izzy's favorite store.

I have to say, this store isn't particularly my style, but a lot of their stuff is really adorable. I'm on my own while Izzy runs through the entire store looking for anything my size for me to try on. However before I know it, Izzy is back with a huge pile of clothing to try on.

"Okay so I picked out a few pairs of super cute pants and some really hot shirts. Oh and when we decide on what you're going to buy, we'll look for some shoes to match. Go in the dressing room, I'll be right outside waiting. Show me everything!" Izzy spoke a mile a minute, as she usually did when she was excited. She always has loved dressing me. She used to call me her little doll because I was so tiny, something I've always been insecure about. I'm short, but my legs are long compared to my torso, and I have a butt, which makes me have to go a size up in jeans. But to make up for it I was lacking in the cleavage department. All in all, I thought my body was just plain awkward. But for some reason, Izzy never did.

I walk into the dressing room, and in true Izzy fashion, she has already paired which top goes with which pair of pants. I try on a pair of high waisted black skinny jeans with holes on the knees first. Izzy has a white long sleeved peplum top paired with it so I put that on. I look at myself in the mirror, and the outfit reminds me of how I used to dress before I moved. I walk out to find Izzy texting someone. When she hears me come out she quickly puts her phone away. I furrow my brows and give her a funny look.

"Are you texting your hot date for tonight or what jumpy?" I laugh at her. She laughs along but I can tell she feels a little awkward about something.

"Not exactly... but never mind that right now. You look hot, way better than what you were wearing to my house. I got you sweatpants and a white t-shirt already too, and I have shoes at home you can wear. So we're all set, you're wearing that." She says as if I have no say in the matter.

"Hey! I like my clothes, whats wrong with them? And I don't about the jeans Iz." I say, tilting my head while I still look in the mirror. I will say, the jeans paired with the shirt make my eyes and my hair really pop. But I'm so conscious of my lower half and how pronounced it all is.

"You looked like you stepped right out of prep school Kara, way too stuffy. And your ass looks amazing in them, and the shirt draws attention to that. You're buying it." She says, and I can tell she means business so I just softly laugh and agree with my best friend.

Notes

I'm sorry it has taken so long for me to update, I've been super busy with school! I hope you all understand. I'm trying to get back into it though, and I really enjoyed writing this chapter, I hope you all love it as well! :)