by Casey Elliot
Instead, she nodded her head, avoiding his searching eyes.
Because what else could she have done at this point?
“I’m going to get dressed,” Sarah mumbled, and Jake readily agreed; nodding his head vigorously, grabbing his shirt from the floor, and hightailing it out of the room. And, as soon as the door shut, Sarah wept.
Sarah avoided the Shepherds like the plague including Mae, who after spotting her in the kitchen wrapped around another senior from their class, inquired her about how she was. Sarah told her that she mistakenly drunk a cup of beer and she slept off her headache in one of the rooms, and Mae seemed to accept her explanation without suspecting anything.
It was graduation day, and the students did their customary march and lining up to get their diplomas and do their final bow on stage, surrounded by the people who love them.
Sarah had been feeling a little queasy for a couple of days now, and adding with it the knowledge of how disappointed her parents were that she didn’t graduate with any honors, she was not looking forward to her turn. But soon, the surnames starting with ‘M’ were called and she crossed the stage and shook hands with the Principal before walking front and center. She took a small bow, and when she looked back up, Mae’s parents were cheering loudly for her while Jake gave her a small smile. Her stomach did somersaults until she forcibly quelled it; reminding herself that she didn’t mean anything to him except a drunken one night stand. She made her exit on the other side of the stage and sat back with the other graduates, waiting for it to be over.
She didn’t throw her cap over their heads when the ceremony ended, instead she made her way to her parents car, having watched her parents already going over there. She had managed to avoid Mae and her parents by moving along the crowd, but she was surprised when Jake came out from behind the tree and grabbed her hand, stopping her.
“Sarah,” Jake said softly, and Sarah kept her gaze on the ground. “Congrats,” he said.
Sarah nodded and was about to walk away when Jake stopped her again.
“Look, I… I’m really sorry about what happened between us. I still want to be your friend. Don’t avoid Mae because of my mistake,” he pleaded. Sarah looked at him sadly.
“I want to be alone, Jake,” she said, pulling her arm away from his grip, and then running to her parents’ car. She jumped in the back seat and slammed the door to the annoyance of her mother. Mae texted her a few minutes later, asking her where she was and to go to their house to celebrate, but she didn’t bother to reply.
She’d explain everything to Mae once she got a handle of her emotions, and then she’d resolve to forget everything she felt about Jake Shepherd and that one mistake they shared.
But three weeks later, she’d realize that she would never be able to forget about it at all.
Sarah’s hand trembled, as she stared at the stick, the end of it glowing pink. She had read the instruction on the box over and over to be sure of the result. Blue for negative. Pink for positive.
The result was positive. She was positive; positively pregnant.
She covered her mouth with her hand to muffle her cries, as she sat on the lid of the toilet seat imagining what her parents would do to her once she told them because she had to tell them now that she was sure. She had been feeling nauseous for weeks and her parents were already suspicious of her behavior.
She walked out of the bathroom still holding the test and entered her room, making a beeline for her phone. Jake had left the day after their graduation, so she couldn’t tell him in person. It would have to be a call.
She listened, as it rang once…twice…three times until a voice that was distinctly not Jake answered his phone.
“Hello?” a female voice asked, and Sarah blinked, thinking she dialed the wrong number until another voice spoke.
“Baby? Who is it?” This time, she was sure that it was Jake’s voice she heard, and Sarah slammed the phone down completely distraught.
“He called her ‘Baby’,” Sarah thought. “He was probably back together with Kimberly then.” Sarah’s heart broke at this, further realizing how dire her situation is. He was happy, and she was miserable.
And soon, Sarah knew she would be all alone.
Chapter Seven
Six years later…
Mae slumped in her chair, sighing as everything on her schedule was finally over and she was home. She was starting to regret that she insisted on organizing her own wedding instead of hiring a wedding planner like her manager suggested, but she was proud of herself just the same.
She was about to be married to her high school sweetheart, now a big time movie producer, and she was a world-famous Hollywood actress. Everything was coming up roses for her, and there was only one thing missing to make everything absolutely perfect: her best friend.
Mae had not seen Sarah ever since they graduated six years ago, and she felt guilty that she hadn’t tried hard enough to look for her. She felt worse when she grew to resent Sarah for ignoring all her calls and texts. When she entered the University they applied for, she couldn’t find her anywhere, and she saw from the list that Sarah wasn’t on it. She went back home to talk to Sarah’s parents, but they shooed her away; telling them they had disowned Sarah. She told her brother about it and a couple of days later, Jake appeared on her doorstep with a contrite expression on his face, as he told her what happened between him and Sarah at the party.
Her relationship with Jake was strained after that, as he shifted his hatred from Sarah to Jake; blaming him for the fall out between her and her best friend. Their relationship hadn’t been the same since. She threw herself into acting until she was discovered by her agent and when her movie became a sleeper hit, she was well on her way to blowing the big screen.
She was stronger and more powerful now, and the first thing she did was hire P.I.’s to look for Sarah. After years of fruitless searching, a lead had finally turned up and, as she looked at the blurry picture of her best friend walking down a street, she smiled.
Finally, she was about to reconnect with her best friend again.
Jake took his helmet off and raised it high as he roared; the scream from the fans intensifying, as his team came running toward him. He slammed the ball into the ground and his mates carried him up to their shoulders; chanting his name. He had done it. He had set them on this course to victory and were State Champions.
He was drafted into the NFL right after college, and after four of being in second string, he got bumped up and led his first play. He had led the team last year, becoming the dark horse all season, but unfortunately, they lost, narrowly missing by a point. Things were different now, and all their practices and efforts weren’t for naught. They had done it.
When he got out of the showers, still hopped on the high of winning, he checked his phone and grinned at the dressy invite email his sister gave him for her wedding. He clicked, “Yes” and sent it back before sending his sister a text telling her he won. She congratulated him before she brought up a topic he thought she’d never ask him about after all this time.
“I found out where Sarah is,” she said, and his breath caught.
Sarah Matthews; the girl he let get away six years ago, the one he slept with after getting drunk off his ass, and then carelessly shrugging off the next morning, the one he couldn’t stop thinking about ever since.
His relationship with Kimberly crashed and burned two months after he arrived back to his dorm when he caught her cheating on him. He hated her for it, sure, but he knew that a part of it was his fault. He wasn’t the same guy when he came back from home after he slept with Sarah. He’d find himself thinking about her more often than he paid attention to his actual girlfriend, sometimes even toying with the idea of what if he had stayed with her that day.
She had called him one night, only to hang up when Kimberly answered it, and when he tried to call her back, her number was disconnected, and like his sister, he never tried hard enough to look for her after th
at.
But, it seemed fate was finally on their side. Sarah had reemerged, and he felt something stir within the pits of his stomach. The song Sarah played long ago in the music room played in the back of his head, as he remembered her again.
“I’m coming with you,” he said in a rush; not bothering to wait for Mae to ask him to come with. He’ll talk to his coach and tell him he was taking his vacation early, being a champ and all. He hung up the phone and stared at the excited look on his face; his eyes brightening up in a way he hadn’t seen them do in a long time.
Ding!
“Order up, Table #4,” said the cook, and Sarah took it, smiling robotically at the customer as she served him.
20 minutes to go and her shift would end, and then she could finally go home. She worked her tables, collected her tips, and waved goodbye to her boss and fellow waitresses before going on her way.
She walked faster, crossing the roads until she finally reached her apartment building. She climbed up the stairs, not bothering to wait for the elevator, and running down the end of the hallway until she reached her door. She put the keys in the lock and pushed her door open, and she smiled as a little girl with dark blue eyes and blonde hair tackled her midsection; wrapping her littler arms around her.
“Mommy!” the little girl cried, and Sarah’s smile grew. She picked her up and planted butterfly kisses all over the little girl’s face, making her giggle.
“Hello, my little Jessie,” Sarah said, and her daughter rewarded her with a toothy smile.
Chapter Eight
“Are you sure this is the right place?” Jake asked, looking at the ancient-looking diner apprehensively. This is where Sarah works at? He was expecting something classier like a pianist at an orchestra or something. Not this. He had hoped better for her.
Mae didn’t like the looks of the diner either, but she sucked it up, pushed the glass doors open, and sat on one of the booths that looked to be the most private. Her PI told her the name of the place, and the time Sarah usually had her shift, purposely coming earlier to see her best friend first before Sarah spotted them. The other waitress told her that Sarah would be coming in a few minutes late because she went to school first. Mae was delighted to hear her best friend was still studying, but the waitress looked at her strangely before walking away to get their orders.
Jake pulled his cap lower to his head before slumping down on the chair; blinking back his urge to sleep. His flight was rough and he didn’t get much sleep either because he stayed up all night thinking about Sarah or how this reunion was going to play out. He needed to wake himself up.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” he said, getting up from his seat. He saw the comfort room sign and entered; heading straight for the sink. He splashed some water on his face; the cold jolting him awake, and he braced his hands on the sink.
“What you doing, Mister?” a voice asked, and Jake jumped. He turned around and, for a moment, he thought he was looking at his little sister. The little girl was sitting on top of the toilet; her pants down, as she looked up at him with the same shade of eyes he had. He swallowed. Her mouth opened in a little ‘O’ as she gasped. “You’re Jake Shepherd from the Dallas Mustangs!” she cried, raising her little fists up in the air.
“Uh, yeah,” Jake stammered, shaking the surprise off of his face. The little girl finished her business before turning back to Jake with a huge smile.
“May I have your autograph?”
“Hey Joel, Marie, sorry I’m late! The line for the accounting office was terrible. Is Jessie here?” Sarah cried, as she entered the diner.
“In the bathroom, sugar plum. By the way, you got someone waiting for you in booth six,” Marie answered, making Sarah frown. Sarah put her apron on and grabbed her notepad before walking toward the said booth.
“Welcome to Joel’s Diner. What would you--,” her words cut off, as she realized who was waiting at the booth.
Mae looked up at Sarah with a soft smile.
“Hello, Sarah. It’s been a while,” she greeted.
“What are you doing here?” Sarah asked, making Mae frown at her.
“Is that any way to talk to your best friend?” Mae countered. “And, what about you? I never saw you in college! We were supposed to go together! What ever happened to that?” Sarah glared.
“Well excuse me, I wasn’t aware you tried so hard to find me,” she retorted, making Mae wince.
“Mommy! Look who I found!” Jessie cried, and both of them turned around; Sarah paling, as she saw her daughter holding hands with her father.
Mae’s eyes widened, as she looked between Sarah’s horrified face, Jake’s shocked one, and the little girl that called Sarah “Mommy.” The little girl that was her spitting image.
And suddenly, the last six years made sense.
“Why didn’t you tell me?! I’m your best friend!” Mae yelled as soon as Sarah had sent Jessie over to her room with the instruction to play her music at the loudest volume.
“Screw that! I’m the father. Why didn’t you tell me!” Jake asked, and Sarah sighed, as she slumped on the couch; already exhausted and they haven’t even started talking yet.
“I didn’t tell you because you seemed to be happy with your life already with your girlfriend and all… I didn’t want to ruin it,” Sarah mumbled, closing her eyes. Jake shook his head; still in shock to find out that for the last six years, he had a daughter growing up in this world without him knowing it.
“But, no matter the reason, Jake is Jessie’s father, Sarah. You should’ve told him regardless,” Mae soothed, and Sarah snapped her eyes open to glare at her.
“And then what, huh? Have him walk away from me again? Call my daughter a mistake, the same way he called me? Or leave me to fend for myself the same way my parents did?” Sarah spat and Jake winced, as he remembered that night; realizing how bad it must’ve affected her.
“You know I’m different, Sarah!” Mae exclaimed, pointedly ignoring whatever Sarah said about Jake and filing it as something she’ll berate her brother later. “I would’ve helped you, you know that,” Sarah shook her head.
“But you weren’t there. You were always going off meeting some other people, and then you didn’t even notice I wasn’t okay until I was gone,” she whispered. Mae frowned. She had become so preoccupied with herself during the last weeks of high school that she didn’t realize her best friend needed help, and now she could see that everything that happened to Sarah for the last six years must’ve been rough to toughen her up like this. It also seemed like Sarah was reluctant to trust the both of them now.
Well, she would have to remedy that starting today.
“I’m sorry,” Mae started, and Sarah looked up at her. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you, and you have to know that I regret being such a horrible best friend to you, but I am here because I want to make it up to you now,” she took out an envelope containing the invitation to her wedding, handing it to Sarah.
“I’m going to be married soon, Sarah, and if it’s okay with you, I’d really like my best friend back and be my Maid of Honor,” Mae said.
Sarah’s eyes pooled with tears and she stood up to hug her best friend, which triggered Mae’s tear ducts so the both of them were sobbing against each other.
Jake watched all of this with a sad smile. Sure, he was glad that they had finally mended their friendship, but he hoped that he’d have the same luck with Sarah, the same way his sister did. He turned his head toward his daughter’s room; wondering if she’d still like him once he told her he was her father.
Chapter Nine
Jake spent his vacation proving to Sarah and Jessie and that he was capable of becoming a father. He opted to stay at a nearby hotel and went to Sarah’s every day; getting to know his daughter and asking about everything she did and learned from the last six years.
When Mae called Sarah to hang out or do things for her wedding, he volunteered to take care of Jessie until she comes back. She was reluctant to
leave at first, but agreed after much cajoling from him. He then started to ask questions about Sarah and his heart melted, as his daughter told him how Sarah had been working hard to support her, and that she was happy her mother was finally having some fun and making friends.
Everything he heard about Sarah made him admire her strength and resilience greatly, and he found himself wanting to spend more time with her or at least, the three of them together. He wanted to be part of Sarah’s life too and whenever he saw her talking to another guy, he’d clench his fist in an effort not to come over, plant a fist through his face, and pull Sarah away from him.
It was then that he realized that he was falling fast for the mother of his child too.
But, Sarah was avoiding him like the plague. He needed to do something huge to get back in her good graces, and maybe into her heart.
He turned and caught sight of his poster taped at her daughter’s wall, wearing his jersey and about to throw the ball to someone.
And just like that, he had an idea.
Mae took Sarah to meet her fiancé, Grey, and asked Sarah to play one of her compositions for the wedding. Grey was intrigued and asked her to play it then and there, so when she obliged and blew his socks off, Grey immediately asked her to send some more of her work, telling her that if he liked a couple more, then he was going to hire Sarah to write the music for his movie.
Sarah was thrilled that finally, she was going to be able to follow her dreams in composing music, not just playing the piano like her parents wanted. She had finally broken out of her chains. It took a long time, but she did.
“Thank you,” Sarah said, hugging Mae suddenly and startling her. Mae smiled and hugged her just as tight.
“You don’t have to,” Mae replied, and they smiled at each other. Mae checked her phone and when she finished reading the message, she looked up at Sarah and smiled.