“Ok. Then I’ll see you there.”
I didn’t wait for him to respond before I hung up the phone. Seconds later, I’d stripped out of my clothes and jumped in the shower. By the time I got out and dressed it was nearly a quarter after six. I threw the rest of my things into my bag and went back to the bathroom to do my hair, put on my favorite silver hoop ear rings my father bought me last Christmas, and checked over my outfit to make sure that I was satisfied with it. It was now 6:27. After double checking my bag, I threw it over my shoulder and headed downstairs. Mom was in the kitchen finishing up dinner and there was still a little time to kill before I needed to leave, so I sat there watching her. She turned to look over her shoulder at me and smiled. “Well, don’t you look cute?”
“Thanks.”
She stared a few seconds longer before turning back to the pot in front of her. “So, how were things when Antonio came back to school?” She asked.
My heart sank. I’d tried not to think about him these past few days, but she’d just made that impossible. “He actually won’t be back until we go back to school on Thursday. The principal gave him a couple extra days because he punched the wall on his way out of the office. And there’s no school tomorrow, so…..”
She turned to look at me again, but only for a second. “Are you worried?”
I sighed. “A little. I’m torn because I don’t want AJ to feel like I push him away, but I don’t want Antonio to feel like I’m throwing our relationship in his face either. I don’t know how to not hurt one while trying not to hurt the other.”
“I’m sure that it will all work out.
I glanced over at the clock on the microwave…..6:36.
“Gotta go. I told Deanna I’d be there by 7.”
“Samantha……be good now.” Something about the way she said that made me believe that she knew I wasn’t telling the whole truth, but I didn’t stick around to find out. I jumped up from the chair and hurried out the door.
I pulled up in front of Karl’s house a few minutes early, so I decided to wait in the car until I saw AJ pull up. Trevor and Leila arrived shortly after I did, and I watched them walk up to the house without noticing me. Trevor was speaking to Leila, who was inattentive. He smiled and laughed by himself, all the while she maintained her usual unfeeling expression.
Before now, I’d never really paid much attention to Trevor. He and AJ shared very few similarities other than their nationality. He was maybe just as tall, but wasn’t nearly as attractive. His slight overbite and awkward posture, made him a less qualified standin for the real thing than I’d imagined.
I replayed my run in with Leila in my mind. There was definitely the possibility that she’d pull something tonight. I could only hope that AJ’s threat would make her back off. After all, it seemed to work pretty well at lunch today.
Just then, I saw AJ’s black car pull up behind me. He refused to let me carry my own bag as we walked to the door hand in hand. Mr. Holmes answered with the same enthusiasm as before. “AJ! Samantha! It is Samantha right?”
I smiled. “Yes, but you can call me Sam.”
“It’s great to see ya again! You kids get comfortable. I’m just getting everything ready to throw on the grill. You can take your things downstairs, but everyone’s already out back.”
The fire was already blazing. Everyone was huddled around carrying on their usual cheerful banter. “What’s up AJ!” Karl yelled. “Sam! Glad you decided to come.”
There were a few empty seats near Randy so we sat down next to him. Deanna walked over, grinning from ear to ear. “Hey! You made it!”
“Yeah, it took a little finesse, but I got my mom to let me out.”