Too Equal For My Taste
Chapter 5: A Mother and a Daughter
The one standing in the doorway was not Elliot, and it was not Jake or Mike. It was Kate. Kate walked in, and sat beside Sarah's laying form. She looked down at it curiously, and smiled.
"Mom, what're you doing?" Sarah asked.
"Sitting," Kate replied simply. "And wondering why my daughter isn't outside with Elliot and the boys. Or did you not know the Murtaugh's were here to live next door to us?"
Sarah would've been happy at the fact, and her insides were really soaring with excitement and joy. However, her face was showing the opposite. "That's why Elliot has been coming lately?" Sarah asked miserably.
"Elliot and Kenny have been here to visit for ages," Kate said to her. "And then there's your father and Jimmy Murtaugh, who once again tries to out win each other in everything. So odds are we're having another competition."
"What's different?" Sarah moaned.
"What's different is that last time, you were so eager to spend time with that Elliot boy," Kate told her. "This time, they're actually here to live next door to us. Everyone expects you to seize the opportunity, and spend time with Elliot. Instead, you're hiding up in your room, and isolating yourself. What happened? Fight on MSN or something?"
Sarah shook her head. She didn't seize any opportunity, because she believed it was Elliot's job to seize any sort of romantic opportunity. Plus, Elliot didn't even ask about her. How was she supposed to know that Elliot was there? What if she hadn't spotted Elliot coming up the driveway? She could tell Jake hadn't even planned on telling her. "Mom, you know how it's like, don't you? Elliot hasn't even asked about me. Jake and Mike forgot about me. Elliot didn't give a damn. Maybe he's just not interested anymore."
"Why wouldn't he be interested?" Kate asked rhetorically. "Sarah, you never know if he's eager to see you too or not. Why not show yourself. If you see an obvious sign he's not interested, tell me, and I will judge it. Don't make that kind of judgment yet."
"Ok, why would he want to spend time with me when our dads are acting up again?"
"Why did he spend time with you when your dads were acting up last time? Why is he skate boarding with Jake and Mike when their dads are acting up again? Why is he sitting outside talking with them, probably hoping that you would sooner or later come out? I may be wrong, Sarah, but you might be giving him the impression that you're the one avoiding him. For all you know, he might he thinking the same thing you're thinking."
Sarah got up, and moved over to the window. She looked out once again to see Jake and Mike chatting with Elliot on the curb. Elliot was nodding speechlessly. It sure did look as if Elliot was waiting for something. She turned away as Mark and Ken ran into the picture. As a matter of fact, this was her chance. Maybe she could walk outside normally, and sit with them.
"But I made a problem with Jake and Mike about it," Sarah protested. "I yelled at them for not telling me Elliot was here in the fist place. So now they might take it personally if I go outside now."
She told Kate the story of how she fought with the two. Kate listened with attention, and then replied, "First, ignore them. This kind of thing should evaporate by tomorrow. For today, just go outside, and join them. You don't have to talk to the boys."
"Then why not talk tomorrow?" Sarah asked. "It'd be safer."
"If there's one piece of dating advice I can give you," Kate began. "It's that procrastination is always the worse idea. Go now while you still have the chance, before it's too late and he ends up getting the impression that you're avoiding him, and asks another girl out when they join you at school."
Sarah was quiet. Mom was right. Completely right. She really had to go outside. Now was her chance. She gave in, and left her mom in the room to make her way downstairs, open the door, and walk outside to finally show herself out of seclusion, pulling her dark hair back as she walked up the three boys who were sitting and chatting animatedly.