Reunion (16 page)

About a half hour later while sipping my beer and sitting around having a conversation with the girls and a few others and Tyler telling us about how he caught his parents doing it for the umpteenth time in the pool last summer. The boy was hysterical and could really tell a story. I leaned to tell Maddy I was going to use the bathroom and she followed behind me. I looked around again gingerly for any sighting of Sam. He still wasn’t there yet and it was getting late. Oh well I thought. The stars just aren’t aligned tonight. Maddy and I made our way towards the bathroom. Along the way we stopped to talk to a few people but my eyes inadvertently began searching for Sam. Why? He probably made a bet with his friends about how he could try and bag the choir girl along. Like in that stupid movie.

We made it to the bathroom. When I went inside I sat down on the lid to the toilet while Maddy fixed her lip gloss. I was looking up at her and she looked back down.

“What?” She asked. “ I feel so silly Mads. I mean I’m having a great time but I’m looking over my shoulder every 5 seconds waiting to see if he will show up. If Sam will talk to me. I just feel… stupid.”

“Sav I saw the way he looked at you today at your locker. You didn’t see him when he strolled up but he looked well… nervous. Like he hesitated but in a good way. You know what I mean?”

“No I don’t. What have I had 3 boys since freshman year ask me out and they weren’t the caliber of Sam. I have no idea what he’s thinking taking an interest in me.”

“Savannah if we leave this bathroom and he is standing out there waiting to talk to you, don’t run. Don’t hesitate to meet him half way. Please don’t go in it with the attitude of oh I’ll wait for him to talk to me first. Just say yes to yourself and let it all fall into place. Once he gets to know you Savannah, he’s going to fall in love with you.” I smiled at Maddy and took a deep breath in and let it out. “I doubt that but Ok let’s go.” I mumbled.

We exited the bathroom and headed outside back towards the pool. When I stepped out onto the patio I saw that God awful blonde haired, big eyed bimbo Christa Archer. She was talking to someone I couldn’t see very well. Only his back and she flashing her slutty red nail polish back and forth in some kind of gesturing hand move. She kept flinging her long blonde hair off her shoulders and I saw her hand rest on the guy’s chest. As I moved closer I began to make out the shoulders and the hair line of the person whose back was to me. It was Sam. They were only inches apart from one another and I felt a little ill. We stopped dead in our tracks and Maddy looked at me. I stammered for words.

“I...um I think I’ll go out front. I think the air may be fresher out there.” I turned on my heels to leave and made my way through the French doors. I heard Maddy Yell my name. “ Aw Savannah don’t run away . Just wait!”

From what Maddy tells me years later Sam turned right around at the sound of my name and ran up to Maddy.

“Hey Maddy how are you?” Sam and Maddy had a few classes together since freshman year so they were comfortable around each other. “Was Savannah Garrett just here?”

“Yes and I’m sorry Sam she saw you talking with Christa and she ran out front.”

“What?” he looked confused. “ Oh God I’m not with Christa. Does she think that?” Maddy shrugged her shoulders. “ Christa is nice and all but she hangs on me. I hate that. When I got here I didn’t see Savannah so I figured she wasn’t coming and I didn’t see you and you guys are always together.” Maddy squinted her eyes at him puzzled at his statement.

“Wait how do you know we are always together Sam?”

He smiled at her and shut his eyes for a brief second. “Maddy can I talk openly with you for a sec?”

“Sure shoot.”

“I’ve kind of had a crush on her since last year. I know she’s friends with Ty but when I asked him her name he wouldn’t tell me. He told me to find out for myself. What a smart ass. I didn’t even realize they were as close as they were. Here he tells me they hang out constantly. She’s in my study hall and lunch but I never had the guts to go up to her. Two weeks ago I was on my way to the locker room and as I was coming around the corner my heart stopped when I heard her singing. The words flowed out of this person like a freaking angel. I’m not into the type of music she was singing but damn , well it made me come to a complete stop. I had to lean against the freaking wall and close my eyes. I didn’t want it to stop. I peaked around the corner and to my surprise it was … Savannah.” Maddy just stood there dumbfounded.

“Um ah go on?” Maddy didn’t know what else to say.

“Well I knew I needed to talk to her and get her attention so I ran around the corner and my intention was to bump into her but I kind of ran too fast and I um …I..”

“Knocked her on her ass.” Maddy said jokingly. Sam laughed. “Yes I guess you could say that. It wasn’t the best first impression I can tell you that.”

Maddy turned her head towards the doors and motioned with her head. “Well here’s your chance to make a good second impression there quarterback. She went out front.” He looked excitingly at her like a little kid. “Thanks so much for listening. I’ll see ya later.” And off he went to find me. At least that’s what Maddy tells me and well Maddy’s my best friend. She doesn’t lie to me and never will. You always have to have someone in your corner like that.

I remember sitting on the porch swing of Tyler’s parent’s house. I could hear the music coming from inside and just sat there and talked myself into being a silly stupid girl. The front door swung open and it startled me. I saw a figure rush out and onto the front lawn. I couldn’t make out who it was because only the street lamp was illuminating the front lawn slightly. There was no light on the porch on. All I heard was “Ah shit!” I saw the person bend over and rest their hands on their knees and shake their head as they looked up and down the street. The figure stayed there for a few minutes then proceeded to walk back up towards the front door. When the face came into the light I realized it was Sam. Go for it Savannah. Grow some balls I told my inner self.

“Forget something on the front lawn jock?” He jumped at the sound of my voice. The porch swing was hidden on the end so he didn’t see me when he ran out.

“Jesus Savannah. You scared the hell out of me!”

I giggled. “ I’m sorry but you practically leaped out the door and onto the lawn. It was sort of funny.”

“Sort of funny and I guess you giving me a half heart attack was funny too?” he still had his hand on his chest like he was clenching his heart. “Well yes. It was funny. What were you doing anyway.?

He made his way over to the bench and leaned against the brick wall next to it. “Well if you must know I was looking for you. I talked to Maddy and she told me you went out here.” My heart began to beat out of my chest.

“Well why may I ask were you doing that?”

“I got here and I didn’t see you inside or outside. I asked a few people but they said you may have left.” “ I was in the bathroom.” He just stared at me. “ So you figured I left huh?”

“Well not exactly. I saw some of your friends still here. I just didn’t see you and Maddy.” I glanced his way confused. How does he know me and Maddy were missing? How did he know who my friends were? I know Him and Maddy have a few classes together but they are not close in the least. All questions that needed to be answered or did they? I had to play this cool. “ Um so when did you get here?” I figured I would listen to what he had to say about Christa. “ I guess about 40 minutes or so ago. I was inside saying hi to people and grabbing a beer.” He took a sip of his and rocked back and forth on his heels. “So what are you doing out front by yourself anyway? Not much of a partier?” He cocked his head to the side waiting for my answer.

“Uh no I’m fine. I like parties. I just saw something outside that I didn’t care to see so I came out here to clear my head.”

“Clear your head? Did someone get in a fight? It’s way too early for anyone to be drunk and acting like a total asshole. So what was it?” He paused and his facial express changed from a puzzled look to a eureka expression. He didn’t say anything. He pursed his lips together and waited. My turn.

“So is Christa Archer a friend of yours?” Why the hell would I say that? Now he’s going to know I saw them together. If he hadn’t already figured that one out. What an idiot. He started to step over to the swing.

“Mind if I sit?” He asked.

“Nope, not my swing.” Damn, damn, damn. Why did I have to be so cocky.

“Jeez you are a testy one aren’t you.” He chuckled.

“I’m not testy but it’s a public porch swing so why would I have a problem if you sat there.”I was talking like an idiot. Stop talking Savannah. You are digging yourself into hole.

“It’s not actually public now is it? It’s Tyler’s parents if you want to get technical.” I rolled my eyes and gave my best whatever look. “So why are you asking if I’m friends with Christa Archer?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I was just curious. I thought I saw her here tonight that’s all and she usually hangs out with college kids.” I could see his smirk and then I knew I was caught red handed. I was jealous and he knew it.

“I do believe she is here. You can’t miss her.” One thought in my mind. Smart ass.

“When I went out to the pool area after I got here she spotted me and struck up a conversation.”

“Oh” I replied looking down towards the ground. “Yea Christa is cool. She’s probably the most popular girl in school. She’s the topic of a lot of conversation around the locker room.” He rested his elbows on his knees and held his red cup between both his hands.

“I imagine she would be. I mean look at her. She the epitome of your blonde-hairded, big-boobed high school junior. I’m talking from what I think would be a males point of view of course.”

“Oh yes of course, of course. “ he agreed.

“It’s just that if you like that sort of well… look.” He eased back on the swing and draped his one arm over the back of it. The other kept a grip on the red cup. He took what looked like a long drink and I caught him looking at me out of the corner of his eye. “You mean to tell me that blonde with big boobs is not your type Jock?” He shook his head from side to side. “Not my personal preference mind you. It looks appealing I mean if I didn’t notice then how would I be categorized as your typical 17 year old high school male.” I laughed out loud and that ridiculous remark.

“Haha. You guys are all the same. You cannot fool me or any other girl in this school for that matter. It’s all about the looks Jock. Just admit it.” He smiled.

“So that’s what you think. You think that every guy in the world goes for someone like Christa. May I please enlighten you Ms. Garrett?” He cleared his throat and I replied. “ By all means Mr. Reynolds. Please explain to me how the teenage male psyche works.” He placed his red solo cup on the table beside the swing and turned to me with his legs crossed together like a pretzel. He rested his elbows on his knees. I followed suit. Our faces were mere inches away from one another and that’s when I got a look into those eyes of his. His iris’s were the colors of autumn. Warm and inviting and his long dark eye lashes made them even look bolder than I had seen from a distance. I think if time would allowed me I would of stared straight into them for the rest of the night. His hair waved slightly and it appeared a little long over his ears. He looked like your typical California surfer type boy but he was from the east coast. How did he get away looking like that?

“Ok well you see Ms. Garrett you have two types of girls and two types of guys. The first girl’s type is your typical Christa. Box dyed too- blonde- for – her skin tone coloring, Big perky breasts which at 17 I seriously doubt are medically enhanced,ones who start conversations with AW -Muh-Gawd and talk your ear off about the latest Hollywood gossip, and legs that go on for miles and a butt like…”

“Ok, ok I get the picture. Please stop with the elaborations.” I interrupted.

“Do you want me to finish the lesson or not Miss Sassy.” I rolled my eyes. “Yes I do but stop calling me Sassy. I can’t stand it.”

“Well ok then how about I call you…. Savy. Short for Savannah and sassy. You like that?” I smirked a bit and buried my face in my hands for a brief second. “I suppose that’s ok if you must.”

He clapped his hands together in a girly way that made me smile. “ Ok good then we are set with the nickname. Well then Savy there are other girls who are a bit more reserved. They don’t like to stir up trouble and you can have a decent conversation with them about other things besides Brad Pitt’s latest movie. You can talk to them about life and where they want to go to college. Hey by the way where do you want to go to college and what do you want to do with the rest of your life for that matter?”

“Oh me? You really want to know what I want to do for the rest of my life?” I looked at him and he nodded his head yes and smiled broadly. “Well I want to teach music to children. I want to teach them how to let music take you to places that they never thought they could go to. I want them to feel music and for them to have their own soundtrack. You know what I mean.” He looked a little confused and he tilted his head giving me the expression of tell me more about this. I inhaled and exhaled.

“Ok. Did you ever hear a song that is being played at the time some kind of event in your life is taking place and then every time you hear that song it reminds you of that special time. Like tonight for instance. When you were running out onto the field they played that AC/DC song Back in Black. As the first guitar riff began to play everyone got on their feet and cheered for you. I felt the adrenaline and it wasn’t even me.” I smiled up at him. He nodded a few times and said “ I think I got it. Yes actually I know exactly what you mean and what you’re talking about. Oh my God that’s an amazing concept. Do have a soundtrack?”

“Yep! Certain songs remind of certain things and when I hear them I get happy or I get sad. Either way each song triggers a memory. I may sing along to them or just listen.” We sat quiet for a few moments. “So Sam I know you mentioned this afternoon at my locker about going to LaSalle. If you get in what do you want to study?” I waited for his answer.