The Sinner

96

The doorbell ringing echoed through my house.

Maggie and I exchange glances, not entirely sure who it was considering we both weren't expecting anyone. I push myself off the couch, taking the blanket with me as I make my way to the front door.

I yank it open, and see Sarah. She smiles at me, pulling her pink sweatshirt over her hands.

"Hey," I say, "You wanna come in?"

She nods, "Sure." She steps into my house, and closes the door behind her. "Wanna do me a favor?"

"Yeah," I say, "What's up?"

She crosses her arms over her chest, "Come with me to my house?"

She wants me to come to her house? Why?

"Is anyone there?" I ask, not wanting to face Rafe this early. I don't think I was ready to figure things out just yet.

"I don't think so," She tells me, "But, just being there makes me feel weird. So I thought maybe you could come with me, having someone there would make me feel   a lot better."

I nod, "Yeah. Let me tell Maggie I'm leaving."

I walk around the corner, back into the living room where Maggie was sitting. She glances over the back of the couch, watching me walk over to her.

"Who was at the door?" She asks.

"Sarah," I explain, "She wants me to come with her to her house."

I filled Maggie in on where Sarah and I stood after things calmed down. So she knows that we're friends again, thankfully.

"Her house," She repeats my words, "Is that gonna bother you?"

"She doesn't think he's there," I explain, "You'll be okay if I go?"

She nods, hesitantly, "You'll be back, tonight?"

"Yeah," I tell her. "I'll be back in an hour or so, how's that sound?"

She chuckles, and puts her hand over mine that was on the back of the white couch, "That sounds great. We can finish the movie then."

"Perfect."

I walk back towards Sarah, grabbing my car keys from the bowl, that was filled with other keys, near the door.

"Ready?"

She nods, and we both walk out. I was surprised that Maggie had let me out, considering what just happened. Although I am old enough now where they can't force me to stay here. And at the same time, I wanted to be a good friend to Sarah. I know she couldn't face her house alone even if no one was there. I think Maggie knows that.

"So you and Maggie ended up being pretty close huh?" Sarah says, ignoring her bike as we both get to my car. I haven't driven in what felt like months.

"Yeah actually," I say, getting into the drivers seat. "She's actually a really good person. She told me that she loved me the other day, and said that she thought of me as one of her own."

"That's so nice," She says, smiling over at me. I didn't say anything in return. "Did that freak you out?"

"No," I tell her as I start the car and pull out of my driveway. "It did make me cry. But, no I thought it was really nice."

She nods, and puts down the window a bit to let some of the cool fall air into the car. It felt nice, to breathe in some fresh air after being cooped up inside all day.

"Can I ask you something?" She says, after we pull onto her street.

"Yeah."

"Are you into JJ?"