Looking Beyond

Chapter 10: What's Going On?

     Brea flew into the bedroom she shared with Savannah. She dropped her shoes by the door and tore through her drawers. "Nope...nope...ah-ha!" She tossed a clean ensemble onto her bed.

     "Hello? Earth to Brea?"

     "Hey Sav. I can't talk. I got to go." She scooped up her clothes and headed to the shower.

     Savannah followed her closely, getting the bathroom door slammed in her face. "You can't avoid me Brea! We're going to talk if you want to or not!"

     She could hear the shower turn on and Brea shout to her. "Sorry! Can't hear you! Shower!" She waited beside the door. Brea was not getting away this easy.

     Five minutes later, the shower stopped and she could hear Brea getting dressed. "Vannah-Girl, we have another bathroom downstairs." She jumped as Erik came up behind her.

"I need to talk to her."

     "You NEED to let her get ready. Jacob's taking her to his family's cookout thing." He saw Savannah's eyes widen and thought quickly. "You know, to try to make up for her birthday being so crappy."

     The bathroom door flew open. "Excuse me!" Brea rushed past them with her arms full of her dirty laundry. She went to her room, dropped off her clothes, and returned to the hallway. She stuck her head inside the doorway leading to Jacob's room. "I'm ready when you are Jacob!"

     Savannah and Eric heard the thumping of Jacob's feet racing down the stairs. "Let's go. I called my brother to tell him you were coming."

     Erik and Savannah stared at Jacob. "Your dreads!" Savannah exclaimed.

     Jacob ran his hand over his hair. "Oh yeah. It was time for a change." He looked over at Brea. "We got to go."

     "See you later Sav. Bye Erik." Brea followed Jacob down the stairs.

     Savannah hit Erik's arm. "Did you SEE that? He cut his dreads off!"

     "I saw. He's had them forever." Erik thought a moment. "In fact, he's had them since he got engaged to Janie. He let them get a bit wild after they divorced."

     Savannah's eyes lit up. "He did, did he?"

     "Who did what?" Dan hopped up the last two steps. "You guys talking about Trevor?" He frowned.

     "No. Jacob." Savannah noted. "He cut his dreads. Did he do that last night?"

     Dan looked at Erik. "Jacob did what now?"

     "It's true. The dreads are gone." Erik nodded.

     "No way!"

     "You didn't see him and Brea racing out the door?" Savannah asked skeptically.

     "I was in the kitchen getting another cup of coffee. I didn't see them leave...wait...Brea's with him?"

     "He said that he wanted to take her out for the afternoon to make up for the horrible birthday she had yesterday." Erik explained.

     "I hope she has a good time. She could use it." He took a sip of his coffee. "Maybe Jacob will too." He shrugged his shoulders. "Oh well. Hey Erik, is Trevor in your room?"

     "Hold on Dan. You said that you hoped Jacob had a good time too. Why?" Savannah's suspicions were growing deep.

     "He's just been in a kind of funk. I'm hoping that maybe they can cheer each other up."

     "Dan." Savannah crossed her arms across her chest.