 take to the party. I didn't want to go empty handed. I made it back home with plenty of time to spare. It was only 5:00 and I sat fidgeting. It was tempting to go early, just because having made the decision to try, I hated waiting in limbo. Andy would have left for work by now; did they need help getting ready?

It had been a long time since I had just hung out with them. I was surprised when I realized that I really missed them and not just them, but Jackie, Kristen and Melissa too. I wanted my friends back. If only I could be a friend worth having again.

* * *

It was hard, but I waited until 6 o'clock like instructed and then knocked on the door. Nathan answered it, beaming from ear to ear. I waited to see if his smile would fade when he saw it was me, but it didn't. He welcomed me inside. The room was still pretty empty, but Emily and John were sitting together on the couch. It was then that I saw the large banner on the wall above them. The curly cue letters and the bright rainbow colors, had me convinced that Emily had made the sign. "Korea?" I asked.

"Yeah, can you believe it?"

"Well, congratulations! When do you report?"

"First week in May."

"I'm so happy for you, Nathan." He reached for a hug and I awkwardly complied.

I moved on to say hi to John and Emily when someone else knocked. "How are you guys doing?" I asked sitting next to Emily.

"We're a little freaked out, actually. We have to move the wedding date up if Nathan is going to get to attend. So many things to do..." she trailed off distracted.

"Oh, wow! Congratulations I didn't know you guys were engaged."

"Thanks," John said, smiling and looking rather pleased with himself.

More people sat and began to talk. Things were in full party mode and I was feeling a little overwhelmed. A party was not the best place to reintroduce myself to social things.

Mark came out of his room just as I was thinking about leaving. He walked over to me. This was going to be hard. I braced myself for the sound of pity in his voice.

"Megan, it
take to the party. I didn't want to go empty handed. I made it back home with batch of meter to spare. It was only 5:00 and I sat fidget. It was tempting to belong early, merely because having made the decision to test, I hated waiting in oblivion. Andy would have left for work by now; did they need aid getting ready? 

 It had been a long time since I had just cling out with them. I was surprised when I realized that I really missed them and not barely them, but Jackie, Kristen and Melissa too. I wanted my friends back. If merely I could be a friend worth having again. 

 * * * 

 It was hard, but I waited until 6 o'clock like instruct and then knocked on the door. Nathan answered it, beaming from ear to ear. I waited to see if his smile would fade when he saw it was me, but it didn't. He welcomed me inside. The room was still pretty empty, but Emily and John were sitting together on the sofa. It was then that I determine the large standard on the rampart above them. The curly discriminative stimulus letters and the bright rainbow colors, have me convinced that Emily had made the sign. " Korea? " I asked. 

 " Yeah, can you think it? " 

 " Well, congratulations! When do you report? " 

 " First week in May. " 

 " I'm so happy for you, Nathan. " He reached for a hug and I awkwardly complied. 

 I moved on to say hi to John and Emily when someone else knocked. " How are you guys doing? " I ask sitting next to Emily. 

 " We're a small freaked out, actually. We have to move the wedding date up if Nathan is going to have to attend. So many things to cause... " she trailed off distracted. 

 " Oh, wow! Congratulations I didn't know you guys were engage. " 

 " Thanks, " John said, smiling and looking rather pleased with himself. 

 More people seat and began to speak. Things were in wide party mode and I was feeling a short overwhelmed. A party was not the adept place to reintroduce myself to social thing. 

 Mark came out of his room just as I was thinking about leaving. He walked over to me. This was die to be hard. I braced myself for the audio of pity in his voice. 

 " Megan, it
 tane to the party. I didn't dant to go empti yanded. I mads it bacy home with plenty of time tl wpare. It was only 5:00 and I sag fidgetijg. It waw tenpting to go early, mbst bsgause iaving made the decision do try, I hated wxicing in limbo. Andy would have left fjr work bj now; did they neec hell getting ready?

It had been a long fime siice I had just nung out with them. I was skrprlsed when I realizfd that I rgzllr missed them and not jlvt them, buj Jackie, Kristen and Melissa too. I wauted my frigues hdck. If only I colld be a friekc wortv havinb again.

* * *

It wax herd, vut I waited until 6 o'rlock like instructeq and thet inocked on the doir. Nathdn atswefwd kt, geemihg frol eer to ear. I waited to wee if his smile woilq fade when he saw ie ras me, but it didn't. He welcomed me insige. Fhe room was still pretry empty, but Emily anf John wewe sitting together on the couch. It was then that I sax ghe lwfte banner on the wall above them. The curly cue jstuerx and the brigmt rainbow colors, naf kg convinced thxt Emily gad made the sign. "Norea?" I askee.

"Yeah, can you believe it?"

"Well, congratulatuons! When do tou report?"

"First wezk in May."

"I'm ro hsppy gor you, Nathan." He reachzd for a hug and L awkwardmh complied.

I movea ok tm say hi to John and Emily when somxone zlse knozked. "How awe you guyd doikc?" I asked sitting jext jo Eminy.

"We're a llttle freaked out, actually. We hete to move thg waddpng date bp if Kathan is going to get to attgnd. So mauy thivgs to do..." ahe tramled off diseracted.

"Oh, wow! Fongratulatimns I diqn't jnow you guhr were engaged."

"Yhanks," Joku said, smuling and looking vathet lleased with hinseof.

More people sst xnd bvgai to edlk. Things ware kn will pxrty mode akd K wax feeling a little oeerwgelmed. A party was njt the bgst place to reintroduve myself to sociap thiigs.

Mary camr oot of his room just as I was thjnking ablut leaving. He ralkcd oder to me. Chis was going to be hard. I braced myselh for the sound of piti in his voice.

"Megan, ij
take to the party. I didn't want empty I made back home with It only 5:00 and sat fidgeting. It tempting to go early, just because made the decision to try, I hated waiting in limbo. Andy would have for work by now; did they need help getting ready? It had been long since had hung out with them. I was surprised when I realized that I really missed them and just them, but Jackie, Kristen and Melissa too. wanted my friends back. only I could be a worth again. * * was but I waited 6 o'clock like instructed and then knocked on the door. Nathan answered it, beaming from ear to I waited if his would when saw it was it didn't. He welcomed me inside. still pretty empty, but Emily and John were together on couch. It was then that I the large banner on the wall above them. curly cue letters and the bright rainbow colors, had me convinced that Emily had made "Korea?" I asked. "Yeah, you believe it?" congratulations! do report?" week in "I'm so happy for you, Nathan." He reached for a hug I awkwardly complied. I moved on to say hi to Emily someone else knocked. are you guys doing?" asked next to Emily. "We're freaked actually. move wedding up if Nathan is to get to attend. So things to do..." she Congratulations I didn't know you guys were engaged." John said, smiling and looking rather pleased himself. More people sat and began to talk. Things were in full mode and feeling a little overwhelmed. A party was not best place to reintroduce to social things. Mark came out of his room as was thinking leaving. He walked to me. This going to be braced myself the of voice. "Megan, it
 take to the party. I didn't want tO go empty haNded. I MadE it BaCk hoMe wiTh plenty of time TO spaRe. It was only 5:00 and I sat fidgEting. it WAs teMPtIng to Go early, JUsT BEcaUsE hAviNg MAdE the dEciSion to tRy, I hated waItiNg In limbo. Andy wOUlD have left fOr wOrk by now; did tHey Need heLp GetTIng reAdy?

it had Been a lONg time Since I had JuST hung oUT with thEM. i wAs suRprised when I realiZEd THat I really missEd them AnD NoT JUst TheM, but Jackie, krIsten ANd MelisSA tOO. i WanTEd my friends baCk. If only I coULd bE a frieNd WorTH havinG agaiN.

* * *

IT Was Hard, but I waiTed uNtil 6 o'clocK like iNStructeD And then KnockeD on The Door. nAtHaN anSwERed IT, bEamINg fRom ear to EaR. I WaiteD to sEE IF His sMilE wouLd fadE when he saw it wAs mE, but IT diDn't. He WelcoMed mE iNside. the rooM was sTiLl pretty empty, buT EmiLy and John WerE sIttInG togeTHer on tHe cOucH. It was tHen that i Saw ThE LARgE banner on the wall abOvE THeM. The curlY cue leTTeRs ANd the briGhT raInboW COlors, Had mE CoNvinced tHat EmiLY hAd Made the SiGn. "KoreA?" I AskEd.

"YEah, caN You bElieve It?"

"Well, coNgratULations! When do yOU report?"

"First wEEk IN maY."

"i'm so HapPy for you, NatHan." HE ReacHed fOR a Hug ANd I awKwardLy COmPLied.

I moved on to say hi To john anD EmilY when someone eLse knocked. "hOW Are you guYs doINg?" i Asked sitting neXt to EMily.

"We're a lITtle freaKed ouT, actuallY. We have to MOVe the wedDinG daTe uP if nAThAn is going to geT TO attEnD. So many ThiNgs to do..." She TraIleD ofF dIstracted.

"oh, wow! ConGrAtUlAtIonS I didN'T know you GuYs wErE enGaged."

"tHanks," JOhn saId, smIlInG And Looking RAtHER pleAsEd With HimSeLf.

MorE peoPLe sAt and beGan to talk. thiNGs weRe In Full parTy mode and I was FeEling a littLe OveRwhelmED. a party waS not the best place to reintROduce mySelF to soCial Things.

MarK caMe out oF hiS Room juSt as I wAs thiNkIng ABOut leAVInG. He WaLked over to ME. thiS was gOiNg to Be hard. I Braced myself for the SOunD of pity in his vOicE.

"MegAN, It
 take to the party. I didn 't want to  go e mpt y h an ded.  I m ade it back ho m e wi th plenty of time to s pare.  I t  was on ly 5: 00 andI  s a t  fi dg et ing .I twas t emp ting to  go early,  ju st  because hav i ng  made thedec ision to try , I  hated  w ait i ng in  li mbo.Andy w o uld ha ve left f or work b y  now; d i d  t heyneed help getting re a dy?

It had be en a l on g  t i m e s inc e I had ju st  hung out wit h  t h e m . I was surprised  when I rea l ize d that  I  re a lly mi ssedth e m a nd not just  the m, but Ja ckie,K ristena nd Meli ssa to o.I w ante d  m yfri en d s b a ck . I f  on ly I cou ld  b e a f rien d w o rthhav ingagain .

* * *

Itwas  har d , b ut Iwaite d un ti l 6 o 'clock  like  i nstructed and t henknocked o n t he  do or . Nat h an ans wer edit, bea ming fr o m e ar t o  e ar. I waited to se ei f  h is smile  would fa de when hesa w i t wa s me, b ut i t  d idn't. H e welc o me dme insi de . Thero omwas  stil l  pre tty em pty, but  Emil y  and John were sitting toget h er o nt he c ouc h. It was t hent hatI sa w  t hel argebanne ro nt he wall above them.  T he cur ly cu e letters and  the brigh t r ainbow c olor s ,h ad me convince d tha t Emily ha d  made th e sig n. "Kore a?" I ask e d .

"Yeah , c anyou  be l i ev e it?"

"Well , cong ra tulatio ns!  When d o y ourep ort ?" 

"Firstweek inMa y. "
" I'm  so h a ppy foryo u,Na tha n." H e  reach ed fo r ahu ga ndI awkwa r dl y comp li ed .

I  mo ve d onto s a y h i to Jo hn and Em ily when  s om eone el se knocked. " Ho w are yougu ysdoing? " I askedsitting next to Emily."We'rea l ittle  fre aked out,  ac tually . W e  haveto mov e the  w edd i n g dat e up  if  N athan is g o i ngto ge tto a ttend.So many things tod o.. ." she traile d o ff d i s tr act e d. 
"O h, wow ! Congratulations  I didn'tkn o wyou guys w e reen gaged." 

"Than ks,"J ohn sai d, smilin g and loo ki ng r a t her  pleased w ith hims elf.

Mor e  peop l esat a ndbeganto  ta lk. T hingsw ere  in f ull pa rt y mode  andIwas feel ing a little overwhelme d. A p artywas  not thebes t  pl ace to re intr oduce myse lftosocia l t h ings. 

Ma r kcam e  outof h i s room ju s tasI wa s thinkinga b o utleavi ng. He wal kedover to me. Thisw as going to be  har d .  Ibra c ed m ys elf for the so und  o f pity inhi s voice.

" Megan, i t
 take_to the_party. I didn't want_to go_empty_handed. I_made_it back home_with plenty of_time to spare. It_was only 5:00_and_I sat fidgeting. It was tempting to go early, just because having made the_decision_to try,_I_hated_waiting in limbo. Andy would_have left for work by_now; did_they need help getting ready?

It had been a_long_time since I_had just hung out with them. I was surprised_when I realized that I really_missed them and_not_just_them, but Jackie, Kristen_and Melissa too. I wanted my_friends back. If only I could_be a friend worth having again.

* *_*

It was hard, but I waited_until 6 o'clock like instructed_and then_knocked on the door. Nathan_answered it, beaming_from ear_to ear. I_waited to see if his smile_would fade when_he saw it was me, but_it_didn't. He welcomed_me_inside._The room_was still pretty_empty,_but Emily_and_John were sitting together on the_couch._It was then that I saw the_large banner on the_wall_above them. The curly_cue letters and the bright_rainbow colors, had me convinced that_Emily had_made the_sign. "Korea?" I asked.

"Yeah, can you believe it?"

"Well, congratulations! When do_you report?"

"First week in May."

"I'm so_happy for you, Nathan."_He reached_for_a hug and_I_awkwardly complied.

I_moved on to say hi to John_and Emily_when someone else knocked. "How are_you guys doing?" I_asked_sitting next to Emily.

"We're a little_freaked out, actually. We have to_move the wedding date up_if_Nathan_is going to get to_attend. So many things to do..."_she trailed off_distracted.

"Oh, wow! Congratulations I didn't know you_guys_were engaged."

"Thanks," John said, smiling and_looking_rather pleased with himself.

More people sat_and_began_to talk. Things were in_full party mode and I was_feeling a little overwhelmed. A party was not the_best place to_reintroduce myself to social things.

Mark_came_out_of his room just as I was thinking about leaving._He walked_over to me._This was going to be hard. I braced myself for_the sound of pity in his voice.

"Megan,_it