Chapter 7
"I don't even remember Billy being this strong, or this cool." Sarah said to an invisible Smith and Alicia. "And I never thought about popular people in that way before."
"The whole world can look different in someone else's shoes." Smith commented as the trio made their way to the high school.
"So what am I supposed to do now?" Sarah cried out in frustration. "How am I supposed to get me to change?"
"TESS!"
Sarah turned to find Bobby pull up beside her in a stunning red classic corvette. Billy waved from the passenger seat. "Need a ride to school?"
Sarah looked around, but Smith and Alicia were gone once again. "Uh sure, that'd be nice."
The door to the sports car propped open. "Hop on in." Bobby was grinning from ear to ear.
Sarah slid in and looked around the car in amazement as Bobby pulled away from the curb. "Quite a classic isn't it? My parents are out of town for the week, so that's why I get to drive my dad's car."
"I never knew you had a license." Sarah said in amazement.
Bobby laughed. "I'm not like those popular kids who get a car as a present when they get their license. And I'm not the type to brag about getting my license. Although my dad did say that I can drive it whenever I want after grad. At least until Billy graduates."
"If he doesn't crash it by then." Billy joked.
Bobby stuck out his tongue at his younger brother.
If I don't get this right, Billy may never get to graduate. Sarah thought to herself as they pulled up to the school. She forced herself to put on the act of joking and laughing with the two brothers.
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Sarah's heart nearly stopped as she watched the younger version of herself approach. "Are you Tess?"
"That's me." Sarah fought hard to stay calm, but she could feel her heartbeat race. "What can I do for you?"
"You talked to Billy Thompson today, I saw you." The fourteen year old looked nervous and afraid.
"You sound like it's a huge deal."
"Well it is." The younger Sarah nervously twirled a lock of hair around her fingers. "He can't even talk to the popular group in his own grade, yet he seems to be more comfortable talking to seniors. That's off limits even to us. Why do you talk to him?"
"Billy is a very cool person, if you got to know him." Sarah was finally able to see how annoying her younger self was. "You would know too, if you got to know him. And despite what you might think, seniors are not off limits in terms of younger grades approaching and talking to them."
"Well, I tried, but he's being stubborn and won't talk."
"Well, if you didn't spend your spare time teasing and making his life miserable, maybe he would talk to you." Sarah replied.
"Who died and made you an analyzer into my life?"
"You know I'm right." Sarah shot back. "I was once in your shoes. I wanted to be one of the popular people so bad, and I didn't care what it took to get more there. Well, I did achieve my goal, but at the expense of others."
The young Sarah glared at her older self. "I'm nothing like you." She said before stalking off.
"You're more like me than you could ever know." Sarah said only to herself. She almost collapsed as a new realization began to sink in.