Chapter 10
“That’s it. I’m transferring to that fancy school just to kick that girl’s ass.” Sarah Mae sits on the edge of my bed. Her legs crossed with a sketch pad in her lap. I may be short, but Sarah Mae is dainty. We are the same height, however, while I’m curvy, she is thin. Her dark hair is a wisp of curls. I’ve always loved her hair and questioned how it’s always wildly perfect. I admire a lot of things about Sarah Mae. She’s small but fiery. While we had originally planned to get together this weekend, I called her on the way home from school to vent. I gave myself two days before telling anyone about the altercation Tuesday.
I knew if I told her she would want to come over immediately and I needed ample time to calm down before facing my mom. I couldn’t tell her what Lisa said about her. She’d insist on contacting the headmaster and I don’t want to get flagged as a trouble student.
As predicted, Sarah Mae did insist on coming over. Now having her here, I”m not sure how I survived four days without her. I sit across the room in my desk chair laptop open. I’ve spilled every single detail of my first days at Briarwood, not leaving anything out. Including how Ben has shown up the last two days with an extra coffee for me.
“That would look great on the application” I laugh. “Reason for admission: To kick founding daughter’s ass.”
“Obviously, I wouldn’t put it on the application.” She sasses. “You should have punched her in the face.”
“I wouldn’t even know how to punch someone. I’d probably do it wrong and hurt myself.” I try to type out another sentence but stop. “Besides, zero physical aggression policy remember?”
“Ugh fine.” Sarah Mae has always been a touch more heated than me. I don’t mind standing up for myself, but she is quicker to anger.
“Anyways, I need a break from Days of Briarwood. Tell me about junior year at Wilcocks.” I put my laptop down on my desk and lay on the bed next to her.
“It’s no different than sophomore year.” she sighs “Honestly, I’m a little jealous of you. I bet the art program at Briarwood is amazing and the art teacher isn’t also the softball coach.” She frowns at her sketch pad. I’m shocked. Sarah Mae isn’t the jealous type. With her talent and confidence, I have always looked up to her.
“I thought you loved Coach Stephanie.” I say, sitting up enough to lean on my elbows.
“I do, I just… ugh! I want more.” That is something I understand. It isn’t a feeling I’m unfamiliar with. My heart breaks for her.
“Mae Mae” I use her nickname to stress my care for her at this moment. Sitting all the way up, I wrap my arms around her. “With your portfolio, you’ll go past getting more. YOU will have it all.” I look down at the sketch she has been working on. “Wait, is that me?” She has sketched an image of me in a flowing gown surrounded by thorns. Unlike my nightmare though, I am bursting out of them. “This is incredible.”
“Thanks. I wanted you to see how that nightmare you keep having ends.” As she speaks I stare at her work, tears threatening to stream out of my eyes. I don’t deserve her. “You’re going to take that school over.”
“Maybe, but only two more years and we are both at college.” I smile at her.
“Right,” she perks up “but before then I need you to do one thing for me.”
“Oh yeah. What’s that?” Her requests are never simple and a bit of unease creeps in.
“Give that Ben guy a chance. I think you could use a little fun with all your focus.” Nope not happening. She did not.
“I’m sorry did you miss the stalker class schedule change?” I oppose. She cannot be serious.
“Nope. That’s my favorite part.” She smiles and nudges me with her shoulder “We love protective vibes.”
I get up off the bed to move back to my desk “You read too many dark romances.”
“And you don’t read enough of them.” I’m never going to win with her. “Besides, after Tyler it would be good for you to realize not all guys are jackasses.”
“I’m not talking about Tyler or seeing any other guys.” She knows why I broke up with Tyler. I can’t believe she would bring him up. I tried to have a boyfriend once, it didn’t work out, I’m done. The only romance I need is on my kindle.
“Look, I get it. He burned you. Bad. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t try again. Date a little. Dating is like shopping, you don’t buy one pair of shoes, you try out several styles, if one pair isn’t right for you, you go find another pair.”
“Is that why you have 20 pairs of shoes? “I laugh.
“Exactly.”
I needed this night. I needed my best friend. In a perfect world, she would have been recruited too. We could take turns driving and I wouldn’t have to worry about where I sit at lunch or Lisa cornering me. We would conquer the school together. At least we have tonight.
My mom has never been strict about having Sarah Mae over even if it is a school night, allowing us to spend the rest of the night with her sketching and me working on possible articles and homework. Eventually my mom coaxes us out of my dungeon into the living room for dinner. No more junk food tonight. Gabriel caught wind of our freezer food dinner and prepared meatloaf with my favorite fondant potatoes and glazed honey carrots. There are some perks to living in an inn. I end up falling into bed at 11:30, homework done and belly full. The last thought before I fall asleep is “Dang it. I have to play golf tomorrow.”