When Lightning Strikes

When Lightning Strikes: Chapter 10

The honk from outside made me peer out my window. After staying over at Florence’s house until about twelve in the morning, I had woken up later than usual.

I cussed and ran over to my closet to tug on one of my favourite jackets: a cropped coral blazer. When I was sure that I hadn’t left anything, I hurried out of the house and hopped into Ruby’s car. Immediately, the smell of freshly baked cookies enveloped my senses.

“I bought some white chocolate cookies from Subway. Take some!”

I reached my hand into the paper bag and took one out to eat. As I started to munch thoughtfully on it, Ruby started talking.

“Gracie?”

“Mmm?”

There was a bit of a pause before her words tumbled out. “HisnameisLennon!”

“What?” I laughed at how cute she sounded.

Ruby sighed. “I said his name is Lennon …”

I gasped when I realised she was talking about a guy. “Oh my gosh! So he’s your prince?!”

“He is. I really like him. He’s cute and sweet.” I was so happy to hear that from my best friend, who hadn’t been as lucky with love as I had been. “I met him yesterday in college.”

“He goes to Mercer?” I cocked my head to the side, trying to remember any Lennon’s.

Ruby shook her head when she saw my expression. “I don’t think you’ve seen him. I remember seeing him around though, once or twice in the common room playing pool.” She paused to think about something. “He’s got light blonde hair that’s sort of … scruffy, but a nice scruffy, and he likes to wear Vans.”

There were too many people which fit that description, so I didn’t bother trying to figure out which guy he was. “What’s he majoring in?”

As the car came to a stop outside the elementary school gates, Ruby smiled at me. “Social science. Cool isn’t it?”

I nodded, slightly impressed. “Definitely.”

We both jumped in our seats when the school bell trilled.

“I think you should get going,” Ruby pointed out. Then, she slapped her head and cried out, “Oh! By the way, Lennon and I want to go on a date, but we both agreed that it’s safer and easier if we double date, so it’s not as awkward …”

Oh for crying out loud! “You are too shy for your own good, Rubs,” I said.

She blushed. “So will you and Vince go with us?”

“Sure,” I said in a heartbeat. Anything for my best friend. “Contact me with the details sometime?”

She laughed and her cheeks became a deeper shade of pink. “Do you think you could choose a location? It’s just that I have no idea what to do, where to go …”

“You don’t need to say anymore.” We swapped kisses on the cheek. “Thank you for the ride by the way!”

When the class of children saw me walking into the room, they grinned and greeted me excitedly, telling me all about their weekend.

Rowan laughed when a small group of girls surrounded me and showed me their new matching butterfly clips. “KS, I want you all to sit on the floor in a circle! Come on now, we’re going to read a book this morning!”

Ainsley raised her hand but didn’t wait for her teacher to tell her to speak. “Can Miss Elwood tell us the stowie?”

I giggled at how she pronounced the word ‘story’. Children were too adorable.