Part Three: Chapter Five

November 20, 1985

The steady gushing of water from the water faucet rang in Sara's ears as she scrubbed away at dishes. Auntie Em was talking to Leroy in the living room over the television commercials, and from what Sara could hear, they were discussing her 'eye-rolling problem'. Sara sighed. The world could be so cruel at times.

As Sara was drying a glass, the doorbell rang loudly, followed by three quick knocks.

"Sara!" barked Leroy. "Answer the door!"

Sara set down the dishtowel and cup and strode over to the front door, combing her fingers through her hair and smoothing her shirt to look at least relatively presentable. When she opened the door, a loud gasp escaped from her mouth.

"Derek!" she exclaimed loudly, mouth hanging open, eyes wide in astonishment.

Derek chuckled, his black hair gleaming in the sun, a slight goatee beginning to grow on his bottom lip.

"Sara! Hey! You…uh…smell like soap!"

"I've been cleaning dishes. What are you doing here?" she questioned through several disbelieving gasps and chuckles.

"I came to see you."

"I haven't—"

"Sara!" came Leroy's loud voice from the living room. Sara flinched. Yes, the world was extremely cruel at numerous times. "Sara, who's here?" he demanded.

"An old friend!" she answered loudly. "Sorry about him, he's my uncle."

"Sara!" the man called again. "I don't want you talking to them until I do!"

"But—"

"Don't make me—"

"Alright! Alright…You're going to have to come in Derek." Sara mumbled. Derek gazed at her, slight smile still on his face, before striding into the house.

"Leroy, this is Derek," she mumbled, waving a hand at him. "Derek, my Uncle Leroy." She rolled her eyes slightly, a smirk riding across her face.

"I thought you didn't have a boyfriend." Leroy muttered, furrowing his brow.

"That's because I don't." Sara responded.

"Then what do you call this?"

"My brother?" Sara answered incredulously.

"Stop taking tones young lady. Besides, you're lying, you're an only child."

"Foster brother, Leroy."

She could see his hand clench into a fist as though he were resisting the urge to hit her upside the head. Derek seemed to notice it too, his original smile seemingly fading from his face as he eyed her uncle.

"And this is Em, Derek. Em, Derek, Derek Em. There. Am I excused now?" Sara asked.

"You have dishes to finish." Em hissed. "Nothing until that's done."

"I'll help you finish them Sara." Derek added.

Em seemed taken aback, and Uncle Leroy threw in his two cents.

"See Sara? Why can't you be more like this nice young man?"

Derek's smile faded once more and he glared down at Leroy.

"Trust me; you don't want Sara to be like me."

Sara, Em, and Leroy all gaped at Derek.

"Uh…Come on, Derek, let's go…" Sara mumbled, grabbing hold of Derek's arm and tugging him gently into the kitchen. Leroy instantly turned the volume on the television up so as not to be disturbed. As soon as they were out of basic earshot, Sara threw her arms around Derek's neck.

"I've missed you so much, and not even a word! You never called, never wrote, never anything! Oh, I've missed you! You have no idea how horrible it is here! It's awful!"

Derek's arm draped itself around Sara's shoulders as she began to cry silently, into his shoulder thanks to the overwhelming joy she felt being with him again.

"I've missed you to. I'll explain everything after we finish those dishes." He pointed at the slight stack of dirty silverware and plates on the counter. Sara let him go and they began working steadily on the chore. Sara, for the first time in a long time, laughed and smiled as she splashed soapsuds at Derek.


"So," Sara whispered, tossing a towel at Derek after digging for it in the bathroom. He took it and ruffled his hair, attempting to get out all the soap and water Sara had splashed on him earlier. "What are you doing here?"

He tossed the towel to Sara who used it on her own hair, seeing as how Derek had managed to get just as much on her as she got on him. "I already told you, to see you."

"After two months of not contacting me at all?" she smirked and tossed the towel down the hamper.

"I've been grounded." Derek muttered, sitting up on the bathroom counter. Sara sat next to him.

"For how long?"

"A year."

Sara looked away for a moment, then spoke up.

"Then how could you have come here?" she asked.

"Mom and Dad, they said I should visit you as soon as I'm healed." He lifted his shirt slightly, fingering a long scar across his stomach. "That's where they operated on me. I have to thank you Sara, for saving my life."

"It's not like I had much of a choice. Em and Leroy practically dragged me out of there."

"Well I have to thank you for not hating me, for not hating my mistake."

Sara smiled and swung her legs back and forth on the counter top.

"Why didn't anyone come and visit me ever?" Sara asked.

"Frankie told us about your drop off. He didn't seem too pleased with your aunt, said he didn't want Meg, Mike, or Taylor to be around them. I'm more concerned with your uncle. Does he hit you?"

"Sometimes, when I talk back or roll my eyes or something like that."

Derek grinned.

"That sounds like the Sara I know."

Sara returned the smile and the room fell quiet except for the slight drone of the television down the hall.

"I'm turning my life around Sara." Derek muttered, interrupting the silence. "I've got a job now and saving up for college. I want to be a car mechanic."

"That sounds great Derek."

"But this is the only time I'm going to be able to talk to you for a long time. Remember, I'm grounded. Then I'm going to college. I've learned my lesson."

"I'm glad." Sara whispered. "You think you know somebody, huh?"

"I am sorry. You know that right?"

"I know."

"That was a stupid question. You always know."

Sara smirked along with Derek.

"I'm thinking about going to college myself." Sara mumbled. "Harvard, if I can."

"Harvard?"

"I want to be a detective."

"Really?"

"Ever since I last saw Clara."

"The old woman who lived at your old house?"

Sara nodded. She'd talked about Clara with Derek before. She was just glad he remembered,

"Sara," Derek muttered, glancing at his watch, "I've got to go. Mom said I have to be home by five o' clock. Takes an hour to get there. Come here," He reached over and gave Sara a tight squeeze around the shoulders then hopped down from the counter. Sara followed, falling only an inch or two due to her lengthy legs.

"Hey Sara," he whispered. "I'll be back though, all right? Maybe even when you least expect it. I promise. I'll be there when it's most important to you."

Sara smiled.

"I wouldn't expect anything else."

He winked at her and stood in the open bathroom door.

"That's the Sara I know."


A/N: Yes, I have finally assured myself there are no more than TWO count 'em TWO chapters left. :( I find myself teary-eyed. To think, that cute little girl in the beginning running along the beach is this teen before us. I'M GONNA CRY:sob: I'm becoming emotionally attached, like a mom...even though I'm not a mom...I'm 13... I don't know if I'm going to be able to type the last word without a breakdown. HUG ME