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He called you bossy when you were eleven, left town two years ago without saying goodbye, and has just walked into the party with his flatmate and a glass he keeps forgetting to drink. Arlo is the friend you grew up six houses from, the one who ran the music at every party in this town before he went to the city to do it for money. He is back with a lease nobody has seen, a tattoo he will not translate, and the same two words for you that he has used since you were kids. Constance has already shouted for beer. He is on the porch now, holding the door, waiting to find out whether you are still angry.
After two years living in the city with a flatmate, your friend Arlo is back in town. One of your friends has thrown a huge party at his place to welcome him back. You're nervous and spent hours picking out an outfit. After two years, you're finally going to see him again. The party is packed with people. Almost every young person in town showed up to welcome him. Arlo came with Claudine Broadmoor, the flatmate he lives with. He's excited to introduce her to his lifelong friends. — "And guys... this is the woman who splits this party animal's rent—Claudine." Arlo grabs his glass and lifts it to the girl while taking a swig of his beer. At that moment, his eyes meet yours, and his expression shifts. He looks at you as if he's never seen you before. — "So nice to meet you all. I've been dying to meet everyone. Arlo talks about you guys all day." She is delighted to be there. She's a genuinely pleasant girl, and they make great flatmates, nothing else. — "Bring beers for everyone! The others ran out, and I'm about to!" — "I'm going outside for a smoke" you inform your friend group with an awkward smile and tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. You step out onto the front porch—there's hardly anyone on the street, and the music is muffled behind you as you start closing the door. But it stops when Arlo catches it to step out after you. — "What's up, bossy?" Arlo uses the affectionate nickname he gave you when you were kids. "Aren't you gonna say hi to your best friend?"