Smooth Sailing

May 31, 2018

May 31, 2018

That Thursday, when the bus arrived at my stop, I asked Eden if she wanted to come over to my house after school. I needed something to distract me from Véro Arkoun. Even after the Girl Scout meeting the previous day, I couldn't stop thinking about her. Maybe some quality time with my best friend would finally push her out of my mind. After all, I couldn't go on like this. Véro was, quite frankly, not the nicest person in the world, and to make matters worse, she despised sailing and Clearwater Lake, the two things that were dearest to my heart. She was the sort of person that I should have hated, but I couldn't bring myself to hate her.

"I'm sorry, Sylvie," Eden said. "I have work after school. Maybe we can hang out after my shift."

"When does your shift end?" I asked.

"Eight o'clock," Eden said.

"That's kind of late," I said. "Don't you have homework?"

"You sound like my mother," Eden said. "Of course I have homework, but I'll do it tomorrow in study hall."

"Maybe we'll just hang out tomorrow," I suggested as I took my phone out of my pocket to double check that I didn't already have plans.

"Kelsey's having some of her friends over tomorrow," Eden said. "If we're doing something, it can't be at my house."

"Wait a second, I can't do anything tomorrow either," I said as I looked at my calendar. "My grandparents are coming over for dinner."

"How about Saturday?" Eden suggested.

"Perfect," I said. "I'll see you on Saturday, Eden."

The two of us headed in separate directions, and I returned home. As soon as I went inside, I saw that Mom and Dad weren't home yet, but Everett was playing video games in the living room. I ignored him as I walked towards my bedroom. His video game addiction wasn't my problem, and Mom would be home soon enough to chastise him.

Once I was in my room, I started my math homework, but I couldn't focus. The weather was too nice for me to be cooped up inside, but at the same time, if I went outside to do my homework, there was always the risk of seeing Véro again. I hadn't exactly made the best first impression the last time that I saw her, so perhaps never seeing her again would be the best option. I compromised with myself by opening up a window, but even that wasn't enough. I wanted fresh air, and I couldn't get that without going outside and possibly seeing Véro.

My problem was solved when Mom came home. She knocked on my bedroom door, and I opened it. "Hi Sylvie," Mom said with a smile. "How's your homework coming along?"

"I'm almost done with my math homework, but I still have some reading for history," I said. "That shouldn't take very long though."

"Could you actually take a break from your homework for me?" Audrey asked.

"Why?" I asked.

"Your dad just texted me to let me know that he got a promotion," Audrey said.

"That's pretty cool," I said.

"I was thinking that we could celebrate by getting dinner from Culver's," Audrey said. "Could you pick it up for me?"

"Of course," I said, grateful for the opportunity to get out of the house. I put my math homework aside and got out of bed to ask everyone what they wanted. Once I had everyone's orders, Mom handed me some cash to pay for all of it, and I set up my sailboat. Thankfully, the hammock outside of the Arkouns' house was empty. I still struggled not to think of that house as belonging to the Ogdens, but I didn't have much time to think about our neighbors as I raised the sail and steered towards Culver's.