Chapter 3: Dinner
"Sarah!" Both Tara and Toby shouted as they ran over to hug her.
"Hey guys! Missed me much?" Sarah laughed while getting suffocated from their hugging.
"Of course we did! Who else would read us those childish, yet entertaining stories that you repeat over and over again." Tara laughed, jumping over and sitting on the couch's armrest, a big bright smile on her face.
Tara is an oxymoron of a person, Sarah thought as she smiled back at her, taking in her appearance. Tara looked the same as she did the last time Sarah was over. Her eyes were covered with her squared black glasses, her blond hair was being held up by large black clip in a messy yet charming bun, and her clothes looked similar to Sarah's own work clothes except that Tara's shirt was a creamy white and her clothes were a 2 sizes too big for her. Tara appearance gave Sarah the impression of a future scientist, as well as her personality of being logical. But yet, there was a much deeper side to her that showed in her personality if you looked hard enough. She had a side of her that just loved stories and magic, anything that couldn't be explained and to be honest, Sarah wasn't sure that Tara wanted it to be explained either. And if you looked closely at her, you could see a shine to her hair, a glow to her smooth pale skin, and a joyful twinkle in her clear deep blue eyes that sucked you in. She was a jewel that just refuses to shine, Sarah thought sadly as she turned her gaze to grin at Toby.
Toby! What could Sarah say about Toby that would sum him up? He had grown so much since he was a baby! Well, he should have now that he was 16, but still where has the time gone by? Sarah couldn't help but wonder staring at her little brother. He was now taller then her, just by a little, but still, he's taller! She couldn't have ever imagined it! He was surprisingly lean, his long dirty blond air laid in messy layers on his head, he had cute dimples that showed when he smiled, and his eyes, still kind of large, weren't as blue as Tara's but they shone with sincerity that showed what an honest loyal person he was.
"So, how have you guys been?" Sarah asked as she beamed at them, feeling a bit more like a proud parent then a sister.
"School and such." Toby answered, choosing to sit in an armchair right next to the sofa where she sat. "How bout you?"
"Oh, you know. Making and drawing buildings."
"Make anything interesting?" Tara asked, sliding down from the armrest and landing in a plop right next to Sarah.
"Eh, not really. Just drew some plans for a restaurant and a new church."
"Really?" Toby asked.
"Yeah, nothing too interesting." Sarah answered with a shrug.
"So then, what about that piece of news that I heard about some architect named Sarah Williams that created the plans of a new skyscraper for a huge company?" Toby grinned slyly and Tara squealed with excitement next to her.
Sarah tried to scold at them however ended up just smiling sheepishly as she answered, "You two! You two have been the ones hacking into my account and going through my personal belongs!"
They laughed and Tara said through her laughter, "Well how else were we going to find out anything about your work life? You never tell us anything!"
"That's cause it's not important!" Sarah snapped and rubbing her forehead said more to herself, "And I was worried sick that it was an identify thief or Goblins or something!"
Laughing at her, Tara, Toby and Sarah hadn't heard Toby's mother, Karen, step downstairs and asked as she entered the living room, "What are you guys laughing about?"
"Nothing mom." Toby grinned, and Sarah nudged Tara in the stomach as she tried to control her outburst of giggles.
"Hmm, well, whatever it is, make sure I won't get a complaint about it." Karen said with a small smile while shaking her head, then told them, "I hope you two, or at least Toby, remembered that your father and I are going to one of the gala's that his work hosts."
"Oh, is that why you're so dressed up?" Sarah asked as she took in her stepmother's appearance of her diamond jewelry and sleek blue ballroom dress.
"Yes." Karen told her as she turned to the mirror and started to fix her hair.
"When are you going Mrs. Williams?" Tara asked looking down at her watch with a slight frown on her face.
A slight ache pulled of pity pulled on Sarah's heart as she watched this sight, which she knew Tara was trying to do casually. Poor Tara.
"Right now as a matter of fact." Karen said shortly, then turned herself to face the stairs and yelled, "Robert! Hurry up already! We're going to be late!"
Within a minute of her yelling this, Robert Williams quickly hurried downstairs, while fixing his tie and saying, "Sorry Karen, I was having a bit trouble with the shirt."
"Well, I'm going to be waiting in the car, please hurry up. I do not wish to be late like we were last time." Karen said with a small smile and, after a swift look in the mirror, walked out of the house with a tiny tap of the door.
"I'm sorry Sarah that we aren't going to be in the house after you drove all this way to see us." Robert apologized to his eldest child and only daughter as he rushed to put on his shoes.
"It's no big deal Dad, I'll just hang out with Toby and Tara." Sarah said waving her hand to dismiss her father's apology.
"I should really leave." Tara said, getting up from the couch, "It's not really polite to hang around when you aren't-"
"Tara, it's fine." Robert said with a kind smile, as he yanked on his final shoe, "I have no problem with you being here. I know that you won't do anything bad and honestly, I would prefer having you here."
With a strained smile, Tara mumbled thank you and sat back down. After a chorus of goodbyes, Robert have his children a kiss on the forehead, gave Tara a hug, and quickly ran out of the house, almost tripping on his shoelaces that he hadn't tied yet.
Laughing at the sight as soon as the door shut, Sarah then turned to Tara and asked, "So, how are things at home?"
"Oh, you know. Same old same old." Tara mumbled, suddenly very interested with her shirt's sleeves.
"Your mom's still the same? No improvement? And how about this Kyle character?" Sarah asked, trying to yank the answers out of her.
"Oh, she dumped Kyle. Now she's with someone named Larry. No wait, she just dumped him about a week ago, I think she's with a man named Pete now. And actually my mom made dinner two times last week! So I think that's an improvement. But, you know, I've been hanging around here so I don't really know that much anymore…" Tara faltered absentmindedly playing with a golden dream catcher necklace that hung around her neck.
After an awkward moment of silence, Toby finally spoke up, "How about we order some dinner? I'm kinda starving!"
"Sounds like a genius idea." Sarah said, a little too loudly then was necessary, "How about we get pizza?"
"I'm kinda in the mood for Chinese." Tara interjected a little too softly.
"Yeah, sorry sis, but I just had pizza for lunch." Toby agreed, heading in the kitchen to grab the menus.
"Fine, Chinese is alright with me." Sarah said with a shrug, and then shouted, "Are you going to be ordering the food from there?"
"Maybe! Why?" Toby shouted back.
"Cause I just want the usual!"
"Yeah, me too!" Tara yelled to him as well.
After a quick silence, both of the girls heard Toby's voice in the kitchen, ordering the food, when Sarah turned herself around and asked Tara, "So, how's he been?"
"Fine." Tara said in a slightly business like tone turning herself around as well, "Actually the football players have been laying off him this year. Probably cause they didn't do so well this season." Tara reasoned more to herself with a nasty grin.
"And what happened today?" Sarah asked tilting her head towards the door.
"Oh, well, it was my fault really." Tara said with an aggravated sigh, "Its just, Toby fell asleep during math class, so he was kinda upset already, and then that stupid Blake kid come out of nowhere, picking for a fight."
"So, after he came picking for a fight, what did you guys do?"
"Well, I was kind of smart mouth, he got angry, and started to choke Toby. But, Toby kicked him in the shins, he let go, and we ran for cover."
Shaking her head angrily, Sarah was quick to look happy as soon as she saw Toby walk into the living room from the kitchen, bouncing the phone in his hand.
"Food's gonna be here in a few." He smiled as he plopped himself on the couch next to theirs. "What were you guys talking about?"
"Oh, you know, just about Jessica Henderson." Sarah said and grinned mischievously at her little brother's deep blush that spread rapidly on his face.
"What the hell Tara! You said you wouldn't-! You promised!" Toby sputtered.
"I never promised! And I had already told her about my suspicion on your crush before you actually told me that you like her." Tara said, sticking her tongue out at him.
"This going to be the last time I ever tell you anything…" Toby grumbled, this face returning to it's normal peachy hue.
"Well, I don't need you too. You're so easy to read." Tara grinned and dodged the pillow Toby threw at her.
With a pretend sigh, Sarah said, "Ah, I'm so disappointed. When will you two finally fall for each out and start dating?"
To Sarah's delight, both of them made a face and Toby said, "Really Sarah? That's nasty!"
"Yeah, it would be like going out with your sibling." Tara agreed, having a slight shiver.
"Well, you two are the most cutest best friend." Sarah grinned, "Just stay that way, okay?"
"Why wouldn't we?" Toby asked and Tara just shook her head laughing at the thought.
With a shrug, Sarah then changed the topic, "So, how're your stories coming along Toby?"
"Oh, they're alright!" Toby exclaimed; a sudden spark had flared to life in his honest blue eyes. "I just finished one!"
"And it's fantastic!" Tara praised, giving her best friend a grin, "You should really read it Sarah! You'll love it!"
"I know I would." Sarah exclaimed.
"Quit it you guys…" Toby muttered, an embarrassed blush spread along his face but he couldn't hide his pleased smile.
"This story could top your, Sarah, no joke." Tara said honestly.
"Really?" Sarah asked with a grin, "It could beat the story of the Labyrinth? The one I've been telling you guys since you were babies? The one you grew up on?"
"I think honestly think so." Tara grinned.
"Well then, I must read this story!" Sarah remarked, "Did you print it out?"
But before Toby could answer, the doorbell rang. Jumping up, Sarah quickly opened the door and with a smile, paid the delivery boy and accepted the food. Bring it over to the teens, Toby quickly got up and asked:
"I'm going in the kitchen, anyone want anything to drink?"
"A green tea please!" Tara exclaimed as she slid forward on the couch, looking at the food eagerly.
"A diet coke please Toby." Sarah said with a smile and with a nod, Toby went into the kitchen.
Smelling the food made Sarah's stomach growl with want and Sarah quickly set the food down. As she pulled out the first box, fried rice with shrimp, she handed it to Tara but froze as she saw her face.
"What?" Sarah asked, suddenly worried by her uncharacteristic face of alarm.
"Its just…" Tara said softly, but was cut off by a sudden crash that sounded in the kitchen, followed by Toby's yelp of alarm.
With a swift glace of fright at each other, both Sarah and Tara raced into the kitchen and froze at the sight that greeted them there. For there, what stood advancing on Toby was… well, Sarah didn't even know what.