She realizes her mistake as her stomach clenches, thinking about Hannah touching the batter she’d gotten on her chest. Hannah’s cheeks immediately pink with the mention of that night, which they have very much avoided mentioning, as do her own.

Just like that, the tone shifts. She almost misses Hannah’s unhappiness with her.

She breaks eye contact, pushing the clothing back into bags, as she clears her throat. “So, um, where did you go today? You look – different.”

Hannah looks down at herself before letting out a self-conscious laugh, one that she used to make a lot more frequently in the beginning of their friendship. It, thankfully, sounds almost foreign now.

“My advisor wanted to meet up with her capstone group this year and she only just sent out the email last night.” Gray eyes roll as Hannah brushes a hand over the thigh of her slacks, that self-deprecating expression on her face, still. “It’s not a big deal to most of my classmates, because they’re all in their early twenties and, I believe, don’t have any kids. But I have Abbie to think about for last-minute meetings. Which I discussed with her today, so you won’t have to worry about stepping in at the last minute like this all semester,” Hannah is quick to tell her.

Caroline shakes her head, maintaining eye contact as if it will get the point across this time. “How many times have I told you? I really don’t mind.”

Hannah’s lips quirk into a small smile that reads with both fondness and exasperation. “And I still don’t know how we lucked out with you in our lives. But it’s also… not just about you.” Her voice is quiet, almost more to herself than anything.

Caroline’s eyebrows furrow in confusion at that because – she doesn’t get what else she is referring to. But Hannah also doesn’t seem like she wants to elaborate on it, so she drops it.

“In honor of you going back to school, I have to say…” She bends down to quickly rustle through the bags again before finding the one she’s looking for. “We didn’t just shop for Abbie today.”

Hannah’s eyes land on the backpack – navy blue with a peach colored artsy design over it – that Caroline offers her.

In that moment, whatever else Hannah had been feeling prior to this seems to disappear entirely. Her expression softens as her eyes fix on the backpack before looking up at Caroline.

“You are too much, Caroline Parker.” Is what she says, in a voice that is barely more than a whisper. This time, “too much” doesn’t sound like a bad thing. She gives Caroline a long, considering look before she shakes her head. “And I should have started with this, more than anything – thank you. For everything. Even if I am going to pay you back.”