Chapter Ten — Sandra

Sandra was watching a movie with her parents when her phone chimed with a new text. Watching movies was their weekly Friday night tradition, one that she’d never dare break. They so rarely saw each other anymore, outside of a couple of hours in the evenings, that her mom had implemented it as a way for them to get their family time in. Sunday nights were game nights, and that was also non-negotiable.

It had been Sandra’s turn to choose the movie this week, and when she got home from work, she’d chosen a new action-comedy that had just come out. She hadn’t checked the reviews, instead relying on Gracie’s recommendation. That had been a mistake.

The humor was so corny that only someone like Gracie could appreciate it. It wasn’t even the kind of comedy where the jokes were so bad that they were funny. It was just bad.

Thankful for the distraction, Sandra reached over for her phone. A number she didn’t recognize appeared above the message.

Hey princess, I forgot to give you my number in return for yours.

Sandra snorted, and her mom looked over at her, her gaze landing on the bright screen in Sandra’s hands.

“I knew you couldn’t be laughing at the movie,” her mom said. “No one could possibly think this is funny.”

“Gracie did.”

Her dad groaned. “Gracie was the one who recommended it? No wonder it’s so bad.”

Sandra immediately jumped to Gracie’s defense, even though her dad was totally right. Gracie had terrible taste in movies. “She sees things from a different perspective, that’s all. It’s good to think outside the box and do things we wouldn’t normally do on occasion.”

Her parents simultaneously gave her a look that said, Really?

She threw her hands into the air in defeat. “Fine. You’re right. No more asking Gracie for movie recommendations.” She picked up the remote to turn the movie off. Her mom grabbed it from her hands, however, and hid the remote behind a pillow.

“What do you think you’re doing?” her mom asked.

“Turning it off.” Duh.

“I don’t think so.”

Sandra stared. “But we all hate it.”

Her dad chuckled. “You know how this works. We watch the whole thing.”

“But it’s horrible.”

Her mom smiled, then turned to face the TV. “You should have thought of that before you trusted Gracie with your movie choice. We live with our mistakes around here.”

Sandra wondered if her mom’s statement had a double meaning. Was she also referring to Sandra’s choice to stop going to school? Maybe that was why she hadn’t insisted on Sandra returning to school. She was allowing her to live with her mistakes, and her mom definitely considered Sandra’s choice a mistake.

“Fine,” Sandra grumbled.

She picked up her phone to respond to Blair. It wouldn’t be hard to tune out the movie with him on her mind.

“No phones,” her dad said, yanking it from Sandra’s grasp.

She huffed. “What is with you guys and taking stuff from me?”

“What is with you forgetting family night rules?” her dad said, mimicking her tone, though in a way that was so terrible, it was funny.

Against her will, Sandra laughed. She stifled it quickly, not wanting to encourage him.

“No phones. You know that.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Sandra gave a dramatic eye roll, though neither of her parents could see it in the darkened living room. “Can I at least have the bowl of popcorn?”

It had been sitting on the floor by her mom’s feet, and she handed it over to Sandra, who promptly nestled it between her legs and scooped up a large handful.

“You going to share any of that?” her dad asked as Sandra continued to shovel several handfuls into her mouth, feeling more animal than human.

She gave a quick shake of her head. “Nope,” she said around a full mouth, a couple of pieces dropping out.

Her mom wrinkled her nose, obviously disgusted. “That was supposed to be for all of us, you know.”

“Guess you have to live with your mistake of trusting me with it.”

Her parents laughed, used to Sandra’s antics, and her dad jumped from the couch. “I’ll make some more.”

Her mom jumped up after him. “I’ll help you.”

Sandra leaped across the empty couch and grabbed the remote that was still smooshed behind the couch pillow. “I’ll pause it for you.”

“Oh no, you don’t need to do that,” her dad said. “Really, we won’t be long.”

She waggled a finger at them. “You’re just trying to get out of watching it. But family rules state we have to watch the whole thing.”

Her parents exchanged guilty looks. “Fine,” they both grumbled.

She grinned, nestling back down into the couch with her popcorn.

That had felt good.

* * * *

By the time Sandra had finished suffering through the movie, she was so tired that she was practically dragging herself up the stairs to her room. She considered skipping brushing her teeth, but that was gross, and even in her near-asleep state, she couldn’t bear the thought. She compromised and didn’t wash her face instead.

As soon as Sandra lay down, she was a goner. When she woke the next morning, she didn’t even remember falling asleep. Judging by the bright light shining through her blinds, Sandra figured she’d probably slept in pretty late. At least she didn’t have to be at work today. She snuggled deeper into her covers, too tired and comfortable to get out of bed quite yet.

Until…

Bacon.

Her senses were now on full alert.

Sandra could hear the sizzle. And oh my gosh, that smell. She could practically taste it.

So much for snuggling.

“Morning,” Sandra said, stumbling into the kitchen, still sleepy.

Her mom looked up from where she was frying the bacon at the stove. “You’re up late. And yet, you still look exhausted. Why don’t you go back to bed?”

“Can’t,” Sandra said. “Must have bacon.”

“Told you that would get her up,” her dad said from where he sat at the kitchen table. He sipped his morning coffee. “She’s never been able to resist.”

Sandra humored him with a small laugh, then collapsed into the chair opposite him. “What is that noise?” she said, suddenly aware of a faint buzzing.

“Don’t know,” Sandra’s mom said. She lined a plate with paper towels before transferring the crispy bacon from the pan to the plate. “We’ve heard it off and on for the past hour.”

Sandra stood and followed the noise into the living room. That was when the realization hit. “Oh my gosh. My phone.” Sandra pulled it out from behind the cushion her mom had hid it behind the previous evening. One quick glance told her that she had six missed texts, all from Blair.

Shoot. She had never texted him back.

“I’ll be right back,” she called to her parents, then ran upstairs and jumped onto her bed. Sandra wanted to read the messages in private, without her parents looking over her shoulder. They were already acting weird about her going to the dance with a boy they’d never met. That being said, she thought they were more thrilled at the idea of her going to the dance with a boy, as opposed to her friends, than they were worried about who the boy was.

Sandra pulled up her text messages.

Hey, it’s me. Blair. Cameron’s friend. Just in case you didn’t know who sent the last text. Didn’t want to freak you out.

She smiled. Yeah, she knew who he was.

The next text had been sent a couple of hours later.

Do I have the right number? If not, could you tell me so I don’t keep messaging you and turn into a creepy stalker?

That made her laugh.

Okay, I double-checked with Amanda, and I have the right number. Thank you for not giving me the wrong number on purpose. That would have been sad.

That one had been sent that morning, around nine.

The last text sent panic coursing through Sandra. She checked the time. He’d sent it just a few minutes earlier. Holy cow, it was already ten o’clock?

I have a swim meet in an hour, but wanted to make sure we’re still good for tonight. Am I going to have to call you? And talk to you? You know, old-school style? We both know we don’t want that.

Yeah, she definitely didn’t want that. With texting, she could react, then contemplate, then decide what to text back. No pressure. Talking though…in real time? There was nothing but pressure. What if she said the wrong thing, or laughed when she shouldn’t or…or…

Sandra’s phone came alive in her hands, vibrating like crazy. The screen didn’t show a name, but she recognized the number as Blair’s.

Oh, crap.

What was she supposed to do?

If she didn’t answer, he’d think she was avoiding him. She could choose not to answer and text him back instead, but that would be weird…texting in response to a phone call.

Shoot, she was going to have to answer, wasn’t she?

Before the call could go to voicemail, she quickly swiped the green icon on the screen.

“Hello?”

There was silence on the other end, but she could hear breathing. It would have been super creepy if she didn’t know it was Blair. No, scratch that. It was still creepy. And this was why people shouldn’t ever talk on phones.

“Sandra?”

Okay, creepiness gone. Butterflies erupted in her stomach, making her nauseous. “You got her.”

A sigh on the other end created static. “I worried I’d scared you off earlier.”

“Nope. Sorry, you’re stuck with me.” Sandra groaned inwardly, realizing that had totally sounded flirtatious.

“Oh, good.” A pause. “I just mean…not that I want to be stuck with you. Of course I wouldn’t mind it. Only if you want to be stuck.” Blair released a long breath into the phone and Sandra’s stomach flipflopped. “None of this is coming out right. I just wanted to make sure that we’re good. When you didn’t text back last night…I guess…I’d hate to make things awkward between us after the dance. Or before. Like now.”

Sandra’s pulse quickened. “Yeah, we’re good. Sorry, we were having family movie night and then my mom stole my phone and it spent the night behind a couch cushion.” And then her brain caught up with her ears. “What do you mean by ‘after the dance’?”

“Uh…” He paused and then talked away from the phone, like he was speaking to someone else. “What, Mom?” Another pause. “I have to get off and get ready for my swim meet.”

Sandra wondered if that was just an excuse so he didn’t have to tell her what he’d meant, but she decided to let it go. “Okay. Good luck.”

“You should come,” he said quickly. “You know, if you’re bored. Or whatever. Amanda will be there, so you wouldn’t have to sit alone. It’s at the school at eleven. No pressure though.”

Blair was asking her to come to his swim meet? Sandra’s thoughts immediately went to him in a tiny Speedo. She suddenly felt lightheaded. “Uh, yeah. Maybe. Thanks for the invite.”

She congratulated herself on sounding so collected. Inside, she was totally freaking out.

Blair didn’t seem to know what to make of her response because there was a long silence before he said, “No problem. I guess I’ll see you around, then.”

And then Blair hung up so quickly, Sandra was left staring at her phone.

A text message came through just as she started back down the stairs to where her bacon awaited.

I’ll pick you up tonight at five. Can’t wait. Blair included a winking emoji.

Her stomach twisted at the thought of what this could mean. He acted like he really liked her—like he wasn’t taking her to the dance as an act of rebellion against his mother or because his best friend was pushing him to.

But could Sandra really date Principal Howell’s son? Going to the dance was one thing. But a long-term relationship?

She knew she was getting ahead of herself. She and Blair hadn’t even gone out yet.

That didn’t stop her mind from running through all the ‘what ifs’ though.

And it always stopped at one place.

Sandra really liked Blair, and if he liked her back?

Well, his mom was just going to have to deal with it.