movie nights - casey gardner (discontinued)

season 1 - chapter 10

"Cool shirt." Casey said as Sam walked over to the girls. He was wearing a bright blue t-shirt with 8 whales on the front. Harriet thought that it was the perfect shirt for Sam, it suited his personality to the t. 

"Thanks. I'm hoping it'll get me a practice girlfriend." He said.

"Or a regular girlfriend." Harriet said, subtly trying to get the idea of 'practice girlfriend out of his head, she and Doug had never meant it like that.

"I was being sarcastic. You look stupid." Casey said. She looked at her brother. "But, hey. You're not hideous. I'm sure some sad, insecure girl will crush on you someday, deep in the very far future." They were walking up the stairs, now and they were almost half way up. 

"Hey!" Harriet said, lightly hitting Casey's arm. "Don't listen to her Sam, your shirt is cool and you'll find a girlfriend, soon."

"I wish." They reached the top of the stairs. "Now, jacket or no jacket?" He asked, holding up a very punk-rock leather jacket. Harriet looked at it, judgingly. "Zahid thinks jacket but i think no jacket."

"No-"

"As many jackets as you can find." Casey cut her off. He started taking his backpack off and putting the jacket on. "Hey, Sam. This is random but do you know why dad wasn't at the first Autism Awareness Walk?"

"In 2004?"

"Mh-hmm" Both girls said.

"That's the year he left us."

"What do you mean, he left us? Like he moved out of the house?"

"Yes, for 8 months."

"Are you sure?" Casey seemed very shocked and sort of in denial, Harriet was shocked, too. How could he leave them? "How could he do that?" She said, echoing Harriet's thoughts. She seemed on the verge of tears.

"I guess he packed his clothes and drove off." Sam explained, turning around and walking away.

Casey stood for a moment, deep in thought about the whole situation.Harriet looked at her, she was willing to bet good money that her and Casey were having the same idea. The thought of school seemed so small to her at the moment and she was thinking of skipping and she knew Casey was too. 

The brown haired girl looked at Harriet and they sort of spoke without saying any words, Harriet reached forward grabbing Casey by the hand and she began walking down the tall set of stairs to the school gate, pulling Casey along with her. 

When they reached the bottom she pulled out her phone, clicking on Evan's contact number. He picked up almost immediately and Harriet spoke into the phone, "Hey, Evan. Can you pick us up? I'll let you know what's going on when you get here but, um, Casey doesn't feel like going to school today she just heard some pretty big news." Harriet was far enough away from Casey so she didn't hear what she was saying, but the taller girl looked solemn and deep in thought. She kicked a rock with the front of her vans as Evan spoke from the other end of the line.

"Oh, yeah, of course. Where are you?" She heard the jingling of keys faintly through the phone.

"Just at the gates of the school. See you soon." 

"See you soon." He hung up.

Harriet walked over to her best friend. "Evan is gonna pick us up."

"Okay." Casey said, quietly. She sat on the bottom step and Harriet sat next to her. Casey lay her head on Harriet's shoulder and Harriet, even though she was a lot smaller than the brunette, put her arm around her, protectively.

The trio were now sitting on Evan's car at Kennedy Park. Casey had her knees up to her chest and she looked rather upset. Harriet and Evan sat on either side of her as she looked around at the kid's play equipment, all empty and sitting still.