Footprints in the Sand

Chapter 5: Home Sweet Home

Chapter 5: Home Sweet Home

            It was four-thirty when the movie ended. Christy and Hannah were debating on where to out and eat.

“What do you think?” Hannah asked me.

“Um, you know I actually should get home.”

“Now?” Christy asked. I nodded, “I really have to start unpacking, I can’t procrastinate much longer.”

“Well, I guess I could drop you off at home before we go to eat.”

“I could drop you off.” Michael offered. “I should probably get home, too.”

“Okay.” I agreed. We said our good-byes and then I walked with Michael back to his car. He started the car. “You don’t remember me, do you?”

“Huh?” I asked. I just met you.

“We used to go to the same middle school. I remember, I was a year ahead of you, but I moved right after I finished eighth grade.” It took me a moment to recognize him.

“Michael Fornal.” I blurted out. “Yeah, now I remember.” He laughed.

“And Sarah McKee, the sweet, shy, seventh grader.”

“Was kind of shy, wasn’t I?”

“Little bit.”

“He was staring at me because he remembered me.” I realized, slightly disappointed. I sighed. Why did I care? I had Ben. I wouldn’t trade him for anything.

“So how long have you been in Florida?” Asked Michael.

“I just got here today.” He glanced at me.

“Well then you make friends fast.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Michael rolled down the window and my hair blew all around. I pulled it back into a ponytail to keep it out of my face.

“It’s really hot here.” I said.

“Yeah, unlike California, well, at least when you live five miles away from the Oregon border.”

“It was more than five miles.” I disagreed with a laugh.

“Not by much.”

“True.” I admitted.

“And the point was that most of California is hot.”

“Just not where we lived…well sometimes it was, but it wasn’t that bad.” I said just as we pulled into my drive way.

“Well it was good seeing you again.” Michael said as I unbuckled my seatbelt. The statement gave me butterflies. “No, I’m dating Ben. I’m in love with Ben. I barely even know Michael.” I told myself.

“You too.” I responded, and then I shut the door abruptly. I couldn’t ruin my relationship with Ben just because I ran in to a really sexy guy I used to know.

“Really sexy.” Said a voice, inside my head. I thought about how Michael was in middle school. He’d been so laid back and easy going. That obviously hasn’t changed. That was the one thing I liked. Been was always so serious. It aggravated me. It was hard to just have fun sometimes. But, hey, nobody’s perfect. I pulled out the key I took from Korynna before I left and unlocked the door, trying to forget about Ben and Michael.

Korynna interrupted my thoughts. “My mom’s in the hospital. I have to go back to California.”

“Wait, what happened?”