Love Always, From Mayberry

chapter twenty eight

Neither of us said anything but it went without saying both of us was pretty uncomfortable. Pulling up to the house, I hated to admit it was cute. It was a smaller white house with burgundy shutters. It looked like it was pressure washed frequently. The yard was small but very well kept. Drew's dad must have a thing for humming bird watching as I noticed several feeders about the property. Several cars were in the driveway, one in particular I noticed Steven's eyes went to as soon as we pulled up.

I felt like such a creepy stalker girlfriend sometimes. I noticed everything about him but never said anything about it.

Steven parked the car in silence and sat frozen before reaching for the keys. I looked over at him intently. The sun was beginning to set and I couldn't help but become distracted and look past Steven. I've always admired sunsets and this one was particularly breath taking. The orange and pink was mixed perfectly. I was drawn back to Steven by a returning smile on his face.

"This should be interesting. That's Jody's car. Let's get this over with." I'm sure my face was panic stricken as he gently cupped my chin and I looked straight ahead to the silver Corolla parked in front of us.

"It'll be ok." He smiled again as he turned the car off.

I felt myself walking extra slow, I think Steven was subconsciously doing the same. As much time as I had to put off walking in Drew's house the better. I wasn't looking forward to this dinner anyway because I hated the fact that my family was falling apart. I didn't so much blame Jonathan or my mom, just the situation. I didn't understand how two people that have been married for my entire life could all of the sudden just separate and how my mom could be with someone else. I realized this was an adult situation and I was a teenager but even so, none of it made sense to me.

Steven drops my hand as we approach the door and I just stare at it.

"Whitney, I'm not exactly a genius but if we want to enter their home, we should probably knock on the door." Steven smirked at his own smart ass comment. I couldn't help but laugh. This is exactly why I needed Steven with me for this.

I knocked several times before the man from the hospital who had been entangled with mom that night answered. He had a welcoming smile. I had expected to see my mom but she wasn't in sight.

"Hello Steven." Jonathan smiled and nodded in his direction as Steven returned the gesture.  I was reminded how everyone knew each other in this town.

"You must be Whitney. I've heard so much about you. Your mom ran to the convenience store down the road. I didn't realize you only drank Pepsi. We don't really keep much soda in the house." He stepped further inside motioning Steven and I in.

"Oh, goodness, she didn't have to do that. I could've drank something else." I tried to be as polite and socially mannered as possible but secretly I was glad she had thought of that. As unhealthy as it maybe Pepsi has always been a must for me. I had been known as a child to refuse to eat at restaurants that didn't carry Pepsi products.

I heard mom pulling up. She looked frazzled getting out of the car. I had missed her. She had a joyful smile on her face, she looked to have lost some weight. Her hair was frizzy like mine tended to be when I stayed outside for an extended period of time. She was wearing clothes in which I'd never seen her in before. Mom was never one to wear shorts but had on some denim shorts and a white tank top. Jonathan was smiling at the sight of her walking in. She was carrying an entire case of Pepsi.

"Good lord, Mom, how much Pepsi do you think I need?" I couldn't help but laugh.

"Well what you don't drink you can take back to your dads." My dads? You mean your home. It had been her parents home, after all. I couldn't help but question her statement in my head.

Jonathan ran out to grab the sodas from her. "I'll carry them inside, let's get out of this heat." At least I knew Jonathan and myself were on the same page regarding heat.

Drew and Jody were sitting in the living room hand in hand. Jonathan's house was decorated very colorfully. He had a bright red leather couch in the living room that looked like it was peeling at the edges. He must like elephants because he has several pictures of elephants and elephant statues around. He also must have been patriotic with several American flags hanging in various places.

Steven was looking everywhere but at Jody, I could tell he was uncomfortable, which was a rare occurrence for him. Jody was looking down at the ground, obviously uncomfortable herself. She didn't seem surprised, however, to see myself or Steven. She must have known. I wish I'd been given the same curtesy.

Jody had curled her hair and it looked nice on her. She kept her hair cut short, slightly above shoulder length. She had on a pretty white dress with some white sandals to match. The white really made her tan glow incandescently. Drew was ever quiet. Despite Steven's obvious distaste for being here he was ever charming.

"Imagine seeing you here, Drew." Steven smirked and Drew smiled. Drew had the biggest, friendliest smile I'd ever seen. He looked a lot like his father.

"Where is your brother? I forget his name?"...

Before Drew could answer Jody answered for him. "Trey, Steven. His name is Trey and he lives with his wife and children, obviously." I was reminded as to why I had named Andrea and Jody mean girls one and two upon our first meeting. That first day at Mayberry High seemed like so long ago, my only worry then was wanting to move back home to Madison and finding a parking place. I couldn't imagine leaving now and being without Steven, Callie or Dan.

Steven seemed unbothered by Jody's rude comment. He didn't acknowledge her or even look her way.

"Your mom and I made spaghetti, Whitney. She said it was your favorite." I smiled at the gesture. I hated to say it but Jonathan did seem nice and other than Drew breaking Allison's heart he'd always seemed like a nice guy.

"I didn't know spaghetti was your favorite food." Steven whispered in my ear. "I didn't know you had to have Pepsi at every meal, either." He tucks my hair back behind my ear. I simply smiled thinking to myself, there's a lot you don't know about me.