She and Allison had kept in contact over summer break, texting, calling, and the occasional Skype session, but both had been busy, Allison with a job at a local bookstore and Reagan with an unpaid internship at an art gallery in their hometown. It had been a casual connection, but now, seeing Allison again, a flood of emotions that had remained dormant for months bubbled to the surface. Allison laughed at Reagan’s enthusiasm. Her hazel-green eyes shone brightly in the early afternoon sunshine. “I missed you so much,” Reagan mumbled into Allison’s neck. Allison didn’t respond, but she squeezed Reagan tighter. Reagan pulled back and inspected Allison’s face. Her grin got bigger. “You cut your hair,” she said breathlessly. Allison tugged at the shaggy ends. She’d finally prioritized getting a serious haircut. She’d found a stylist in Providence who’d chopped off at least four inches. She was still getting used to the shorter length having always had enough hair to at least put it up in a ponytail. “I thought it was time for a change.”
