You're the Right Person (So it's the Right Time)

Chapter 1

Sarah and John B's dads were friends a long time ago, always scheming something. So they used to play under the big tree, sit with their feet in the water, they ate popsicles, and caught fireflies. All the things little kids do.

But then John B's mom left and his dad hid out in his house for years, not giving John B attention or anything he needed, so his other friends, friends like him, pogues I guess you could call them but Sarah hates those terms, took him in.

JJ gave him his brother hood and sense of stupidity but it helped him not think about things and get out of the house.

Pope gave him a house. A place to stay and warm food to eat.

And even though Kiara isn't a "pogue" by blood, she might as well be. She gave John B a shoulder to cry on when goofing off with JJ wasn't enough.

It was weird for her to see all of this happen. It was like watching a TV show or having a sheet of glass between her and John B. Where she saw everything and heard everything so clearly but couldn't help at all. She used to drop off small packages addressed to him and left them in his hammock.

She knows he appreciated it, he used to leave little thank you notes in the hammock to whoever was leaving him packages. Sarah kept every single one in a box under her bed.

12 years later Sarah heard through the grapevine that John B's dad died. She was tired of watching him suffer through glass doors so she gathered up all her courage and went over to his house a few weeks later.

She snuck into the funeral but no one saw her, she couldn't let him suffer anymore.

Sarah knocks on the door and anxiously plays with her nails. When John B opens the door, her head snaps up immediately. She takes a glance over him. He looks terrible, bags under his eyes, disheveled hair, he also isn't wearing a shirt. Which makes Sarah's ears burn up.

"Uh.. Hi" she says.

"Hi?" He responds "What are you doing here, not that I'm complaining, just that I wasn't really expecting to see you."

"Well uh.. Okay.. um.. I, uh, heard about your dad and I wanted to make sure you were okay. I know we haven't talked in 12 years but I miss you so much and I hate just watching you suffer from afar. So that's all.. I guess.." She trails off

"Oh, um, well, I really appreciate it, and uh, I miss you too to be entirely honest. Do you wanna come in? We can I don't know, catch up?"

Sarah smiles softly at this. "I would love to"

She looks around his house, it's a mess, the door to his dads office/room is still locked. There is trash everywhere but it seems for the most part it seems that it's pretty neat, especially because she heard from Kie that when his mom left his house became a disaster.

"So.. How have you been?" John B starts

"Good I guess. I'd ask you the same thing but I know you've probably heard that question too many times recently."

"You really know me too well Sarah Cameron." He says

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well you know that people ask me that about every time there's silence, and that I hate it."

"When you've known someone since they were a child these things kind of carry over I guess."

"I'm so sorry we lost touch Sarah. I really didn't want to lose you as a friend, even when I was so little. But I guess being so little is what made it easier for us to stop talking. I know your dad visited a few times to check in on my dad, I always hoped you were with him, but you never were."

"Yeah my dad wouldn't let me go with, cause I guess he didn't think you were up for company. I tried convincing him but he wouldn't listen." There's a short pause before she speaks up. "I was the one who left you packages in your hammock, I kept every thank you note you wrote back."

"I always wondered who that was, in all honesty, part of me always hoped it was you."

Sarah smiles and it makes John B smile and they just stare at each other smiling for what seems like forever.

"Want to stay for dinner?" John B speaks up

"Do you have anything for dinner?" Sarah questions

"Well no.. But I have a car and you have money."

"John B! Did you just scam me for food, I'm almost offended" She scoffs and dramatically throws her hand to her head.

"Oh Miss Sarah, why yes!" He replies in an over dramatic tone standing up "I invited my childhood best friend in just so I could get food"

She starts giggling which makes John B start laughing and now they are both laughing and it feels so normal. They laugh until there are tears streaming down their faces and they can barely breathe.

"Okay let's go then good sir." She says when she stops laughing "But put a shirt on first."

"Okay madam" He says with a fake bow

She smiles and shakes her head. She waits for John B and then he emerges from his room with one of his stupid button downs on. But Sarah likes that she still gets a nice view.

After much complaining about the healthy ingredients she purchased, they arrive back from the grocery store. Somewhere along the way she decided she would cook him dinner several times so she picked up a few more things for him.

She didn't know if he had many kitchen supplies so just in case she got a cutting board and knife as well. Overall their grocery total was about a $150

They talk and laugh and catch up all while Sarah is making him food and he couldn't be more grateful. Because stale granola bars and beer aren't sustainable. And to be able to catch up with his friend and have good food was more than he could ever ask for.

After many more laughs, some tears, and dinner clean up later Sarah has to go home.

"Goodnight John B."

"Goodnight Sarah, thank you for more than you know."

She turns back and hugs him. And suddenly there's something different, but a good different. The whole drive home she smiles. That night they both fall asleep smiling. "Something about tonight felt right" they think to themselves as they drift off to sleep.