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[indent][indent][color=9a503d]"Oh wow, your daughter looks lovely. When did they get married?"[/color] Willow smiled kindly as the portly older woman beside her excitedly held her cell phone too close to Willow's face, showing her a professionally taken picture of a tall man in a well-tailored suit holding onto his beautiful blushing bride, surrounded by their wedding party. 

The conversation began after the lady, a sixty-seven-year-old widower named Judy had inquired about Willow's flight nerves after observing her ordering a second whiskey after downing her first fairly quickly. Judy had remarked her deceased husband had also been terrified of flying. Willow did not have the heart to tell her that she wasn't anxious over flying, but was instead dreading the next coming days as she reunites with her past classmates of 2009. 

To distract herself from the nearly four-hour flight from Newark International airport to Key West International, Willow humoured the kind lady with her small talk. First, she learned that dear Judy had been over at Newark to take care of her daughter, who had recently given birth to her only grandchild after being married for nearly three years. Judy had been enthusiastic, and Willow's listening ear had only encouraged Judy to share the good news with anyone that would listen. When Judy asked Willow about her husband, pointing at the modest band around her ring finger, Willow covered her hand in shame.

[color=9a503d]"Ah, I must have forgotten to take it off before leaving the apartment..."[/color]  Willow laughed, sounding a little hollow. When Judy tilted her head, questioning her silently, Willow hesitantly explained. [color=9a503d]"I'm divorced. I... Wearing this thing is just a force of habit."[/color]  To make a point, Willow pulled off the offending jewellery off her hand and slipped it into her purse that was tucked between her foot. 

[b]"I'm sorry to hear that, dear."[/b] It was clear the glum answer had only served to swallow the happy mood Judy had been in. Willow smiled again as the familiar sound of the seatbelt warning switched on. When she looked around Judy towards the window beside her, Willow noticed that they were preparing for landing. It was a sign from whatever deity above was watching, allowing the brunette to gradually excuse herself from the conversation. 

Perhaps this is the reaction Willow should prepare herself for, she thought to herself as she collected her hand luggage from the overhead bin. Although she left Kings Academy with more friends than enemies, she could say with certainty that most of those friendships were now casual acquaintances at most. Perhaps old friends like Alex and Tara wouldn't even recognise her now, given that its been years since she's spoken to either of them. The pit in her stomach grew larger, and she knew it wasn't the whiskey begging to come back out.

Faces flashed in her mind as she absentmindedly waited for her Uber to take her to the hotel. Teddy and Grace came first, the two people she was still in touch with. It was a relief knowing they were also coming, a few friendly faces would help with her developing anxiety. Amanda was the next face she saw, the primary reason why she decided facing her high school demons would be on her agenda this weekend. A couple more faces came too; Allison, Caden, friends of the past that she had nearly forgotten. Even Grayson's face dared to show up in her traitorous mind, reminding Willow that thinking was [i]not[/i] her forte. It was pathetic, but part of her hoped that at least he wouldn't show up. She couldn't expect the deity in the sky to supply her with luck twice in a row, but a girl could hope.

Willow chewed on her lower lip as her hand slipped into her purse again, fingers brushing around her cold wedding band before she caught herself again. She chided herself as the Uber pulled up at the resort. It was too late to turn back now. No matter who comes to the reunion, Willow cannot change things now. It was only a three-day affair, what's the worst that could happen?

At least, that is what Willow was telling herself as her stomach churned again upon entering her hotel room after checking in. [/indent][/indent][/color]