“Hey, Jonathan.” Sarah was also feeling uncharacteristically shy.
They all heard Candi clear her throat at the top of the stairs and turned to look at her as she began speaking, “So, let me get this straight – I’m going to be an aunt?”
Sarah looked at her and shrugged. “Guess so.”
Candi stomped down the stairs, brushing past Sarah. She grabbed Jonathan by the hand, dragging him to the staircase.
“Where are we going?”
“Shut up, Jonathan.”
Then Candi reached the second stair where Sarah was and used her other hand to turn Sarah around so she was facing up the stairs, urging her forward by gently pushing on her back. “Up you go.”
“Where are we going?”
“Shut up, Sarah.”
Candi dragged and pushed the two of them up the stairs until they reached Jonathan’s room. She let go of Jonathan’s hand and gently guided Sarah to his bed, sitting her down. Then she pulled Jonathan into the room until he was standing in front of her. “Sit!” she ordered, pointing to the space next to Sarah.
Jonathan did as he was told.
Candi stood in front of them, hands on her hips.
“You two have some serious talking to do. That includes talking about why you, Sarah, are blowing Jonathan off and not returning his calls ... ”
“ ... but ... ”
“ ... no buts! And Jonathan, that includes what you are going to do with Sarah about this baby that you two made together. Obviously Sarah can’t go home, so figure this all out. I’m giving you an hour.”
She turned and left the room, carefully shutting the door behind her.
***
The silence descended, neither wanting to be the first one to speak.
Then Sarah burped. Jonathan’s eyes nearly crossed. In all the time he’d ever been with Sarah, he’d never heard her burp before.
She started to giggle.
He couldn’t help but smile too.
“I burp all the time now for some reason.”
“Is that normal?” he asked.
“For me it is, I guess.”
“Interesting.”
“You would say that.”
“Sarah, why didn’t you answer my calls? You must have known you were pregnant for a couple of weeks ... ”
“You called? Because you could have fooled me. Maybe your phone is broken.”
“Seriously Sarah, stop messing around. I’ve called you every day since the day we got back. I’ve left a million messages. I didn’t have your cell number, so I called your house.”
Sarah got a very angry look on her face. Then tears started to fill her eyes. Jonathan misunderstood. “Listen, I’m sorry it bothered you. I did kind of feel like I was stalking you, but I thought ... I thought ... Oh well, I guess it doesn’t matter what I thought.”
“Jonathan, I never received one message from you. Who did you talk to?”
“Your mom and dad. Or I just left a message on the voicemail.”
“Well, that would explain why the phone has never rung more than once at my house for the past month. I was wondering why my mom was suddenly so interested in answering it. She said she had a charity function coming up and that she was on the planning committee. She said that’s what the calls were for. And I believed her. That lying bi ... ”
“Hey, hey, hey, there Sarah, she’s your mom. She was probably just doing what your dad told her to do, and he was probably just worried about you.”
Sarah gave him one of her threatening looks.
“Okay, so he’s still a douchebag, and we can’t guess what his motivations were. It doesn’t matter now. What matters is that we talk about this, figure things out.” He reached over and took her hand in his.
“So let’s figure it out then. I’m pregnant. I can’t live at home anymore. I will soon become a major cliché – ‘pregnant unwed homeless teen’.”
“First, you can live here. If I know Candi, she’s not going to let you live anywhere else now anyway – you know how she is. Second, you can be pregnant or not. It’s your body, and it’s your choice. Either way, I will be there for you one hundred percent. And last, the unwed part, um, well, we could get married.” Jonathan’s heart was about to explode. He was afraid to look her in the eye.
“A-hem. Okay. So. We’re talking now. Okay, um, so as far as the living here goes, I guess that would be a good temporary solution. Then you can help me figure something more permanent out. Second, I think we’re on the abortion issue – and I’m sorry if this totally f’s up your life Jonathan, but abortion’s not really my style. And last, the unwed part, holy shit. Don’t ever ask me to marry you like that again or I’m gonna have to punch you in the nose. The day you ask me it better be on one knee and with one hell of a ring, you get my drift?”
Jonathan laughed in spite of the gravity of the situation. He grabbed her in a spontaneous hug. “God, I’m so glad you’re here!”
Sarah started crying.
“Now what’s wrong?” asked Jonathan, confused all over again.
“Nothing, I just cry all the time. Deal with it.”
Jonathan just smiled. “You know Sarah, your estrogen and progesterone levels are going to be very elevated, which will probably cause all manner of issues starting with your moods and ... ”
Sarah smacked him gently on the back of the head. “T-M-I, babe. T-M-I. By the way, did you know that I even went to the math club and the chess club looking for you after school?”
Jonathan released her from his hug. “No way.”
“Yes way. I kept going every week, hoping you’d show up so we could talk. I never saw you in school. You’re not on Facebook. I think I met all your friends though. Someone name Albert showed me some chess moves.”
Jonathan smiled wryly. “I’ll bet he showed you some moves. Man, a guy can’t turn his back for a single second at chess club. They’re so competitive there ... ”
Just then the door opened. Candi stood in the doorway. “We all square up here?”
“Not quite,” said Sarah, standing up and walking over to her. “Why have you been hiding here at your house instead of coming to school?”
Candi shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not ready.”
“Well get ready, sister, ‘cause you’re going tomorrow. Show me to your room so we can pick out an outfit.”
“Sarah, I’m not sure ... ”
“Bullfarts. Now move. I’m pregnant and you do not want to mess with me right now. Did I mention I get morning sickness when I don’t get my way?”
Candi looked at her incredulously. “Bullfarts?”
“Yeah, well, I’m going to be a mother soon, so I have to stop swearing so much ... ”
Their voices faded as they walked down the hall and went into Candi’s room.
I’m going to be a father? Jonathan couldn’t wrap his brain around the idea. He did the calculations. That meant his child would be his age when he would be ... thirty-four. Geez, that’s old.
He got up and went to his computer. He needed to research family housing at the colleges he had planned on applying to. He had scholarship offers from some already. Might as well see if they still wanted him if he was bringing two others along.
***
“Listen, Sarah, I appreciate your help and all, but I don’t think I’m ready to go back to school tomorrow.”
“You’re right. You aren’t thinking. You’re sitting here like a little mouse in a hole instead of going to school and kicking Kevin’s ass ... I mean butt.”
Candi’s face dropped, and Sarah saw it.
“Listen, I know you’re sad. I know he’s been a total ... turdmonkey. But trust me when I say this: Kevin loves you. He’s just scared to death. You rocked his world on Peanut Island. Everything he thought he knew about himself changed. Everything he thought was important changed. You got shot, and believe me that scared the ... doody ... out of him. He cried you know.”
“No he didn’t.”
“Yes he did. Like a baby. When he thought you might die, he was freaking out. That’s why he wouldn’t let Jonathan drive the boat – he was afraid Jonathan would screw it up, and the Coast Guard wouldn’t be able to find us. In the hospital our dad wouldn’t let us see you guys. Then Kevin got back to school, and he just got overwhelmed with all the attention. But I know he thinks about you all the time. He sits in his room, holding his stupid bamboo cup all the time.”
Candi was skeptical. “Well that doesn’t explain why he’s not here now, why he hasn’t called.”
“No, you’re right, it doesn’t. He’s an idiot, but he’s a guy. So come with me to school. Do your thing. Show those boys your new look. If it’s time to move on, then move on. But don’t stay in your room every day feeling sorry for yourself. That’s not the Sugar Lump I know.”
“Don’t call me Sugar Lump.”
“I can do what I want, I’m pregnant. Now, let’s look in this lamefarts closet of yours and see what we can find.”
“God, lamefarts Sarah? Really?”
“Have you ever tried to stop saying ‘ass’ and ‘shit’ before? Don’t judge me, I’m doing the best I can.”
Candi smiled. Sarah was going to be a great mom, even if she wasn’t that great at making up rated PG swearwords.
Within ten minutes Sarah had put together a really cute look for Candi and had her swear she would wear it. Then they found something for Sarah to wear since she had arrived with nothing. They called her mom and asked her to pack Sarah a bag that they would come get tomorrow when her father wasn’t home.
***
The next day they all woke up bright and early. Mrs. Buckley gave them a ride to school. They got out of the car and headed into the school together, Jonathan holding Sarah’s hand. Candi was smiling on the outside but nervous as hell on the inside. She didn’t know what she was going to do when she saw Kevin.
She didn’t notice all the people turning to stare at her as she walked by. All she could think about was seeing Kevin. She arrived at her locker and had to think for a minute to remember the lock combination. It had been three months since she had last used it. She opened it up and found everything like she had left it. No one had slipped any notes through the cracks. She sighed and closed it. Standing there, hidden behind the door, was a guy she had seen a few times, but couldn’t remember the name of.
“Candi, right?”
“Um, yeah ... ”
“Yeah, I saw you come into school earlier. I’m not sure if you and I have officially met. I’m Jason. Jason Hicks.”
Candi smiled tentatively, mystified as to why Jason Hicks was introducing himself to her. “Nice to meet you ... ?” Now she remembered where she’d seen him. He was on the rugby team. On the days they had games, they wore their team jerseys to school. She remembered seeing him with Kevin and the other rugby players in the hallways.
“Are you here because Kevin sent you?”
“Kevin who? Peterson? No, man. I’m here because I was wondering something.”
“What’s that?” Candi asked, still suspicious.
“I was wondering if you have a date to the prom yet.”
“Prom?” Candi was confused.
“Yeah. Prom. It’s in two weeks. Do you want to go with me, maybe?”
Candi shook her head in confusion, trying to knock the cobwebs out.
“Is that a no?” asked Jason, wondering why she was shaking her head like that.
“Um, no, it’s not a ‘no’. I was just ... never mind. Um, Jason, thanks for asking, but can I get back to you on that? I actually had totally forgotten about prom. I’m not even sure if I’m going.” She gave him an apologetic shrug.
“Forgot about prom? How is that possible?” He gestured around them. All over the hallways and even ceilings were posters and decorations reminding them of the big dance.
Candi smiled and laughed. “Yeah. Duh. I’ve kinda been gone for a while. Today is my first day back.”
“Yeah, I read about your cruise. I even went to your memorial service. It was nice by the way. Bad luck though, eh?”
“Not really,” Candi answered. “Listen Jason, it was nice meeting you, but I have to go.”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll see you around. Here, I wrote my number down, in case you want to text me or whatever, since you haven’t officially said no to me about the prom.” He flashed her a million watt smile. Candi noticed for the first time since he started talking how cute he was. Wow, thought Candi, he isn’t just cute. He’s seriously hot. She took the paper from his hand and walked away smiling.
Candi made her way to chemistry class, arriving right before the bell rang. She walked to her seat, noticing that all the eyes in class were on her. The girls were shooting her rude looks, the guys looked hungry. What the heck? Everyone sure is acting strange today. First Jason, now her whole chemistry class.
They had a lab that day. By the end of the class period, two more guys she’d never talked to before had asked her to the prom. She was starting to think there was some sort of conspiracy, but when she questioned them, they all seemed innocent of any subterfuge.
She saw Sarah after class and they headed to lunch together. “Sarah, have you noticed anything weird going on at school today? I mean, is there some mass practical joke going on? Do I have a huge booger on my face or something?”
Sarah laughed. “No, what are you talking about?”
“So far three guys have asked me to the prom. Three! And they’re all cute! We’ve had three formal dances so far this year, including prom, and this is more potential dates I’ve had than for the other two put together. The first dance, no invites. The second dance, a friend of my brother’s from the chess club.”
Sarah looked like she was in pain. “Ooh, that’s not good.”
“No, it wasn’t. But so far Jason Hicks, Brice Trawick and Mike Thompson have all asked me.”
“Niiiice,” assessed Sarah. “Well, it’s obvious what’s going on. I’m surprised you don’t know.”
“Well, enlighten me, would you please? Because this is freaking me out.”
“Tell me, Candi, have you been having any trouble with the girls in your classes?”
“As a matter of fact, a few girls have looked like they wanted to kick my butt.”
“Yeah, that’s what I figured you’d say. See, the problem is, you’re hot now. You’re big league hot. The guys want you, and the girls hate you because they’re jealous. Welcome to my world.”
Candi laughed. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it? Take a look, sister.” They had reached the cafeteria, which had a reflective coating on the large, floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Sarah pointed to Candi’s reflection. “Note the amazing hair – dreadlocked to perfection, sun-bleached; the thin, muscular, tanned legs, shown off to perfection thanks to the mini skirt and heels I skillfully chose from your lamefarts closet; and last but not least, the confident air that seeps out of your every pore that says ‘don’t mess with me, or I will lay you out’. You have it all, babe. Better get used to your new life.”
Candi shook her head in denial. “That’s ridiculous.”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Let’s go into the cafeteria and do a little experiment.” They stopped outside the main doors. “What usually happens when you walk in here?”
“Nothing.”
“By nothing you mean that no one pays any attention to you?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, see what happens this time. You go in by yourself. I’ll go in first and take a seat at the tables on the far left, last row. You wait one minute and then come in; meet me at the table where we will discuss the results of our experiment.”
“Fine.”
Candi watched Sarah open the doors to the cafeteria and disappear inside. A minute later, Candi grabbed the doors and walked in. She began walking to the tables that Sarah had mentioned which were across the room and farther back from where Kevin usually sat.
Within ten steps, Candi star
ted feeling the stares. The loud talking that usually overwhelmed the room quieted down a little. She could see girls leaning in to whisper to each other while looking at her. Their faces didn’t look very happy. The guys, on the other hand, sat up straighter and smiled at her, nudging one another with their elbows. One of them left his table to meet her as she walked through the center of the room.
“Hey Candi, remember me? Rick Waznewski? We were in algebra together two years ago?”
“Um, yeah, hi Rick.” This guy had never even looked at her once in algebra or anywhere else.
“Do you want to come sit over with me and some friends?” he gestured over to the table next to where Kevin usually sat. Kevin wasn’t there yet.
“No, I’m meeting a friend at another table, but thanks.”
“Sure, anytime. Uh-oh,” he winked at her, “incoming.” He walked away as another guy came up. This one she knew played for the school basketball team. He was about six foot four, which meant she came up to his elbow.
“Hey, what’s up?” he said as he approached her.
“Um, nothing.”
“Yeah, so, I’m in your chemistry class. Greg.”
“Hi Greg.”
“Hi. I was wondering if you have a date for prom yet.”
“No, not yet. But I don’t think I’m going.”
“How come?”
“I don’t know, I just don’t know if I want to.”
Greg smiled. “Is this your nice way of letting me down easy?”
Candi smiled back. “No, I’m serious. I’m just not sure yet.”
“So how much competition do I have?”
“Excuse me?”
“How many other guys have asked you to go?”
Candi smiled, a little embarrassed. “You’re the fourth.”
“Did Rick ask you?”
“No.”
“Well, count him in, because I heard him saying he was going to. Looks like you’re going to be the prom queen this year.”
Candi laughed. “Don’t be silly; I’m no prom queen.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that. Well, anyway, I’ll see you around. If you decide you’re going to prom, message me on Facebook or something.”