When I Met Her....

Not That Kind Of Party

*SARAH (LAUREL'S FRIEND) IN THE MEDIA*

Not That Kind Of Party

Laurel's POV

I click the power button on my phone. 2:45. Steph should be here any minute. I swipe the unlock streak on my phone screen and click the settings app, taking a seat on the couch in Steph's office.

I need to set a password. I stare up at the ceiling, contemplating potiential passwords. Then it comes to me, the perfect password: 21997.  My birthday.

I'm typing it in again for the confirmed password when Steph walks in.

"I'm so sorry." She says, dropping all of her files and folders on her desk. "The staff meeting ran longer than I expected."

"Its fine. With state of the art technology teens never get bored." I joke, lifting up my phone.

Steph chuckles, reaching across her desk to grab her laptop.

"Let's get out of here before they find another meeting to drag me into." Steph sighs, walking to the door with her purse and laptop in tow.

I grab my bookbag and follow Steph out into the parking lot. In the car I switch on the muted radio and put it on my favorite station.

"You don't mind do you?" I ask nervously.

"No, of course not." Steph smiles, resting her head on the seat, her eyes closed.

"You okay?" I whisper, laying my hand on her wrist, secretly checking her pulse.

It seems fine.

"Yea," she sighs, opening her eyes, "Just a little tired."

"Okay." I say, eyeing her suspiciously.

"So," Steph says, turning the key in the ignition, "What do you want to do?"

I look at Steph's suddenly droopy eyes.

"I think I just want to head home. Catch a movie, order pizza." I shrug.

"Are you sure? We can do something-"

"I'm sure. I've got tons of homework anyway." I smile politely.

"Okay."Steph says, giving in.

Her face still beautiful even though you could clearly see the exhaustion all over.

"I should order the pizza now so we won't have to wait long when we get home." I say, turning on my phone.

"Good idea." Steph agrees, gently running her finger through her blonde hair.

I look up the number of Pizza Hut and click the hyperlinked number under Pizza Huts's bold letterhead.

"This is Pizza Hut." a voice says.

"Uh, yes. What specials do you have?" I ask. 

"We have a large 2 topping pizza, with 8 wings and a box of bread sticks for $25.99." 

I look at Steph and she nods.

"I'll take that one."

"What are the 2 toppings you'd like on your large pizza?"

"Um..."

"Pepperoni," Steph mouths to me.

"Pepperoni...and sausage." I tell the man on the phone.