Neil Carter hadn’t thought about Ryan Blake in years—not because he wanted to forget, but because life had a way of pulling people apart.

They had been inseparable in high school, the kind of friends who finished each other’s sentences, got into trouble together, and knew every stupid little detail about each other’s lives. But after graduation, things had changed. College, careers, and distance turned their daily conversations into occasional messages, then into nothing at all.

So when Neil received a friend request from Ryan out of nowhere, followed by a simple message—"Hey, it’s been too long. Let’s meet."—he wasn’t sure how to feel. Excited? Nervous? Guilty?

Now, standing outside a small café, Neil checked his phone for the third time. 5:58 PM. Two minutes early. He rubbed his palms together, suddenly aware of how much time had passed. Would Ryan even recognize him? Would they have anything to talk about?

The door jingled behind him. Neil turned.

A man stepped in, dressed in a worn leather jacket, his hair slightly shorter than Neil remembered but still familiar. He scanned the café, then spotted Neil.

For a second, neither of them moved.

Then Ryan grinned. “Neil?”

Neil let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Ryan.”

The handshake turned into a brief hug, awkward at first but settling into something familiar. They ordered coffee and found a quiet corner by the window.

At first, the conversation was cautious—work, family, small talk. But then, as if someone had flipped a switch, the years between them disappeared.

“You remember Mr. Calloway?” Ryan chuckled, shaking his head. “That guy had it out for us.”

Neil laughed. “Because we may or may not have set off the fire alarm to skip his test.”

“We absolutely did.”

They moved from one memory to another—late-night study sessions, sneaking into the school gym, the time Neil had bombed his math final and Ryan had stayed up all night tutoring him for the retake.

Then, a pause.

“So… what happened?” Neil finally asked, stirring his coffee.

Ryan exhaled. “Life, I guess. I moved. Got busy. Stupid thing is, I thought about reaching out so many times. Just… never did.”

Neil nodded. “Yeah. Same.” He hesitated. “Think we can fix that?”

Ryan smirked. “That depends. Are you still terrible at bowling?”

Neil groaned. “Don’t tell me you still remember that.”

“Loser buys dinner.”

Neil chuckled. “You’re on.”

As they stepped out into the cool evening, the weight of lost years seemed a little lighter. Some friendships didn’t need fixing—they just needed a second chance.



PART- 2



As Neil and Ryan stepped out of the café, the crisp evening air wrapped around them. Streetlights cast a soft glow on the pavement, stretching their shadows as they walked.

"So, where to?" Neil asked, zipping up his jacket.

Ryan smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Bowling alley. Ready to lose again?"

Neil shook his head. "I thought some things change, but your arrogance is still the same!"

They both laughed, their footsteps falling into an easy rhythm as they made their way down the street. Memories continued to flow—school trips, the time Ryan accidentally blurted out his crush’s name in front of the entire class, and the day Neil almost got suspended but Ryan had somehow talked the principal out of it.

After a moment of silence, Neil asked, "So, how’s life? Work, friends… everything?"

Ryan exhaled, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Work’s fine, but the rest… feels a little empty. I’ve made friends over the years, but none like us. Talking to you again… it feels like finding something I didn’t even realize I’d lost."

Neil nodded. "Yeah. Some friends come and go, but some? They stick with us, no matter how far life pulls us apart."

Ryan chuckled. "You’re still the same—always philosophical."

"And you’re still the same—always making fun of me," Neil shot back, laughing.

When they reached the bowling alley, they laced up their rental shoes and picked their bowling balls.

"Same rules as before?" Ryan asked. "First one to get three strikes wins? "Neil spun his ball confidently. "And loser buys dinner!"

Ryan laughed. "Deal! Get ready to lose!"

The game began. Neil struggled in the first few rounds, but soon, he found his rhythm. Ryan was just as good as ever, but Neil refused to back down.

Then, in the final round, Neil landed a perfect strike.

Ryan froze for a second, then shook his head with a grin. "Wow. Looks like you’ve been practicing."

Neil smirked. "Sometimes, old things just get better with time."

Ryan sighed dramatically. "Alright, alright! Dinner’s on me."

They headed to a small restaurant nearby, talking and laughing for hours. As they shared stories, it became clear—their friendship had never truly faded; it had only been waiting to be revived.

As the night drew to a close, Neil turned to Ryan and said, "This time, let’s not waste years before catching up again."

Ryan extended his hand. "Promise."

Neil clasped it firmly, and just like that, a lost friendship found its way back home.