The door to Clay's house swung open and Ariel smiled as Mrs Jensen's face came into view.
She didn't hide the shock on her face.
"Ariel."
"Mrs J, hi." Ariel spoke forcing a smile.
Clay's mum pushed away her initial shock and pulled Ariel in for a hug.
"Hi. How are you, sweetie?"
Ariel hugged back. "I'm okay, thanks. Uhm, is Clay home?"
Ariel knew how strange this all probably looked. She hadn't been to the Jensens house in almost two years.
And now she was just randomly showing up in sweatpants with her hair half hazardously thrown up in a ponytail.
Ariel got how weird it must have looked.
The last time they had seen her was at her boyfriend's funeral and they must have heard about her going to therapy.
So her showing up like this must have looked like she was having a serious mental breakdown.
"Yes he is, come in, come in." Mrs Jensen ushered Ariel in asking about her parents.
Ariel was barely listening really. Her heart was thudding in her chest and it took everything for her not to shake from anxiety.
"You know first Sherri was here last night and now you. I'm glad Clay is hanging out with you guys again." Mrs Jensen spoke.
Ariel turned to look at Mr Jensen.
"Sherri was here?"
Of course Sherri had been here. She had seen her and Clay leave together yesterday.
Anyway that didn't matter. It wasn't why she was here anyway.
"Honey, look who's here." Mrs Jensen announced when they walked into their kitchen.
Mr Jensen who had his back to them spun around.
He furrowed his brows at Ariel.
"Sherri!" He spoke with a wide grin.
Ariel gave a weak smile. Mr Jensen had never learnt to tell them apart. "It's Ariel, Mr J."
"Oh. My apologies, how are you?" He moved over to give her a side hug. "Your sister was here yesterday."
"So I hear." Ariel spoke. She fiddled with her fingers nervously. "Uhm, is Clay here?"
"Oh yeah." Mrs Jensen spoke. "Clay! Get down here!" She called up the stairs.
"Do you want some coffee?" Mr Jensen asked Ariel.
"Uhm, no thanks. I don't really drink coffee." Ariel spoke looking anxiously at the door hopping Clay would show up soon.
"Try telling my son and this one that." Mr Jensen spoke gesturing to his wife.
Ariel gave a friendly laugh.
She almost sighed in relief when she heard footsteps.
Clay showed up at the door.
A look of confusion immediately took over his face when he saw her.
"Ariel."
"Hey." Ariel greeted.
Clay slowly looked around at his parents.
"Ariel came over to see you." His mother announced.
"Right, for our school project." Ariel smiled.
"Yeah..." Clay spoke seeming unsure.
