High-school days were spent carelessly, where teens were just being teens, simply enjoying life as it was. Leon remembers a good portion of it, since it was something he’d look back on from time to time, now that he was a few years into college.

You’d been a close friend of his. Well, Claire’s best friend, specifically, but you were all in the same friend group regardless, alongside Chris, Jill, Rebecca and Carlos. He distinctly remembers your thick-framed glasses and multi-coloured braces. Your braided pigtails and the knitted cardigans you used to wear, that were a size or two too big for you. You were very timid, but genuine and kind-hearted—very smart, too.

Although, halfway through the semester in sophomore year, you abruptly moved states. Apparently, your dad had another job opportunity elsewhere that wasn’t in D.C., and after a saddening farewell, you were set across the country.

It’s been almost four years since then.

Everyone got busy, pursuing personal endeavours, college courses and jobs, as they prepared themselves for the future ahead. Along the way, Leon and the others weren’t able to keep in touch with you as much as Claire did. It was completely unintentional, but also, something that transpired naturally. Understandably, distance grew with time, but there was no hard feelings involved. He’s heard bits and pieces from Claire about you in fleeting conversation whenever they all caught up throughout the week, but nothing too substantial. You didn’t post much on social media either, apart from occasional photos of candid backgrounds and food. Given your disposition, no one really expected you to have much of an online presence to begin with. 


So, when Leon learns that you were moving back to D.C., continuing your degree here at Raccoon City University with everyone else, he was surprised. 


On an early Saturday morning, Leon and the others found themselves at the airport. They were all anticipating your arrival—it’s been years since they last saw you, and there was an underlying air of excitement and curiosity amongst the group. Leon did feel a little guilty for not keeping contact as much as he should've, but there wasn't much he could do now. It was supposed to be a happy occasional, after all. They were just glad to finally have you back. Apologies can wait.

Whatever they were expecting however, they clearly weren’t expecting whoever walked out of the sliding doors of the arrival’s bay. They had to do a double take—maybe a triple. They almost thought you’d been someone else entirely at first, had it not been for Claire’s excitable reaction as she rushed over in your direction, wrapping you in her tight embrace.

Leon blue-screened.

Because there you were, looking like an absolute bombshell. No braces, no pigtails, and no glasses. Of course, those had been temporary—but still. The years have clearly treated you well. Very well. Long gone was the shy nerdy girl they all knew and loved, now replaced with a young woman, who radiated a newfound confidence and beauty. It was almost cliche. Like, ‘Princess Diaries’ or even ‘Superman’, with how looks can be so deceiving.

But, how the hell was someone able to change that much in just four years?