Chapter 10

Sarah sat on the balcony with Abby, as she watched her marshmallow roast in the fire. After a hectic week at school, she was in need of a girl's night with her sister. The term seemed to come with ease, and she wasn't feeling like she had to hide herself or put up a guard for the people around her anymore. However, she still couldn't bring herself to say 'Mom' and 'Dad'. She just wasn't ready yet.

"So has anything happened with Conrad?" Abby asked her, a smile on her lips.

Sarah shrugged but smiled. "We keep 'accidentally' bumping into each other everywhere." She grinned. "It is actually pretty funny because it bugs Dustin a bit."

"I wonder why."

Sarah sighed. "I think he's just…afraid that I will leave him if anything happens with Conrad. I get the feeling he didn't have many, or any, friends before I came along."

Abby nodded. "Would you?"

Sarah immediately shook her head. "Dustin is…interesting. Back in North Carolina I always had Cassie, but I never had a friend who was a guy before. It was weird at first with Dustin, but it's good to have a friend. I wouldn't leave him…he's too nice for that."

"That's nice of you." Abby smiled. "Not many people would do that, especially if the guy was as popular as Conrad."

Sarah blushed. "It's weird. I have never had any guy come after me, and the first week I am here the most popular kid in school starts to like me."

"That's high school." Abby laughed. "But don't complain. If they most popular, cute guy is falling for you, let him."

Sarah nodded. "I never said that it was a bad thing!" She laughed. "It's just different."

"I totally understand that. But remember that if your gut tells you that you like him, and that he is a good guy, just go with whatever happens." Abby smiled.

"So do you have a boyfriend?" Sarah grinned. "I've spent time with the guys and their wives and kids, but I haven't heard anything about you and a guy?"

Abby sighed. "It's complicated."

Sarah stared at her as she blew out the fire on her marshmallow. "I'm a teenager who was in foster care for most of her life, just moved cities, went from having no family to a huge one, and I am having guy problems. My whole life is complicated. I'm sure I will understand."

Abby looked at her, and realized that she was right. "Well see there is this guy named Brody and-"

She stopped when she heard someone knocking on her door. She glanced at Sarah and then stood to answer it. Sarah turned in her seat to see who it was and when Abby opened the door, she didn't recognize the man standing there. She waited a minute, and then stood, walking out there.

"Sarah…" Abby sighed. "This is Brody."

Sarah looked at her and then smiled at him. "Hi." She waved.

He grinned. "So this is the Sarah I have heard so much about."

She was confused. "From who?"

He laughed. "Well…I am Richie's partner, and he talks about you all the time. And actually so does Abby."

Sarah looked at Abby, and knew that she just had to hear this story now. "Really? Wow."

Brody smiled. "Well I was going to see if you were free, Abby, but obviously you aren't. So I will let you go back to hanging out with your sister."

They said their goodbyes and when Abby shut the door and turned, she saw Sarah stared at her, with her arms crossed and an eyebrow cocked. "Please tell me he is your boyfriend."

Abby sighed. "Like I said…it is complicated."

Sarah nodded. "Which is why I want to hear this story."

They went back to the balcony. "Basically, Brody was Richie's partner, and our brother wasn't aware that I was sleeping with Brody. Well he found out, and got really angry. There was a long time where they weren't partners, and Richie wouldn't even look at Brody. Now they are partners again, and Brody and I are still sleeping together, however we are not dating…sort of."

Sarah stared at her. "Wow. That is complicated."

"Oh that is only half of it." Abby grinned and the young girl motioned for her to continue. "There is this guy who I have known for a while. His name is Danny. The boys and I have known him for a long time. Anyway, he likes me too. And I kind of like him. And I am…kind of sleeping with him too. But he kind of scares the Hell out of me with how serious he is about us, and since I am not dating him either, neither guy knows about the other."

"Oh boy. That is complicated. Definitely not what I was expecting." Sarah sighed. "If you could be in a relationship with one of them…who would it be?"

"Honestly?" Sarah nodded at her. "I would probably choose-"

Suddenly Sarah's new cell phone started ringing and when she looked at it she didn't recognize the number. "Hello?" Her eyes grew wide and she looked at Abby. "Oh…hi Conrad."

Abby smiled and motioned for her to put it on speaker, which she did.

"I hope it is okay that I am calling. I called your house and your mom gave me this number." he said quickly.

"Oh it's fine." She said and bit her lip.

"So…I was wondering…" he hesitated.

"Yes…"

He sighed. "Are you doing anything tomorrow around noon?"

She smiled at Abby. "No I should be free. Why?"

She could almost hear him relax. "Well I was wondering if you would consider getting lunch with me?"

She had to bite on her lip to keep herself from freaking out. "I think I would love that."

She could tell he was smiling. "Good. I will text you tomorrow for your address."

"Okay. Cool." she ended the call and turned to Abby. "Oh. My. God."

"I can't believe he called me." She said quickly.

"Who called you?"

Both girls jumped to a standing position and turned to see Steve and Donnie standing there staring at them.

"My new friend Dustin. He is at this party for his sister and I just can't believe he called me to try and get out of it." Sarah pulled the story out of nowhere.

They stared at her and Abby smiled. "What's up guys?"

"We went by the house and mom said Sarah was hanging out here. We figured we'd stop by and see what you guys were up to." Steve said.

"Just…chilling. And talking about girl stuff." Sarah smiled.

Donnie walked to the fridge and grabbed a couple of beers, handing one to his brother. "So Sarah…how was your first week?" he asked as they walked to the balcony to sit around the fire again.

She unconsciously smiled. "It was good. Not as bad as I thought-" There was a crashing sound and the three adults turned around.

Donnie sighed. "Great. She's an even bigger klutz than Abby."

They looked at Sarah, who had tripped over the leg of a chair and was now sprawled out on the ground. "I didn't trip. I was testing gravity…it still works."

Steve rolled his eyes and helped her up. "Try and be more careful."

"Yeah because I planned for that to happen, Steve." She said sarcastically.


Hey guys! I am so sorry that I haven't updated in so long. I went home last weekend and I had a huge research paper, a speech, and a project to work on. I hope you guys like this and I should be updating either again tonight or tomorrow! :)

Random question...who do you like better with Abby: Brody or Danny?