Edited 2019

AN: Yeah chapter 18! I like this chapter I hope you all do too. There is something fun at the end that has been a long time coming. I want to thank all of my readers for sticking with me. This is nowhere near the end. At the moment I have no idea of just how far I am going to take this, but I do know where I want to go. Thank you to those of you that review you never know just how much help you all can be sometimes. One of my frequent reviewers MerryCain has inspired me to add things to the story. So it goes to show that I take everything that you all write to me into consideration and it may even end up in the story. Anyway thanks again for reading and enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except my thoughts and dreams.

Chapter 18

I thought that my brother was going to faint when he saw me. Sitting in the living room was Gran, Jason, Calvin, Crystal, and Reverend Norris. I smiled and said hello as I walked to the stairs and up to my room. I put my cello and bag down. Then I flopped down on my bed. I was tired but anxious at the same time. "So are you hiding up here too?" Eric asked from my doorway.

"No, I just got home. I thought you guys would be at practice till late?" I asked.

"Coach Davis let us go he wanted us to be well-rested. He said something like if we didn't know the plays by now then we never would. Of course, that was minus the swearing and insults. I was kind of glad cause I think that Jason was going to pass out. He has been getting more and more nervous as the day has gone on." He answered with a laugh taking a seat next to me.

"When did Crystal get here? I swear that she was just at the tryouts. I did not think that we talked that long afterward. Why are you hiding up here anyway I would think that this would give plenty of ammunition against him for years?" I presumed sitting up on my bed and turned to look at him.

"Crystal and Calvin showed up about ten minutes before you did. I could not stay down there with the reverend asking me why my father and I have not been to church in a while. He seems to have issues with divorce and that made dad upset. I don't blame him. Anyway, he was making me feel weird, so I said that I had homework to do. Do you think that God will punish me for lying to a clergyman?" He asked leaning back on his elbow.

"I think that as long as you ask for forgiveness he will be ok with the occasional fib just don't let Gran know I told you that or she will have my hide. Do you actually have homework to do cause then it would not be a lie?" I asked him.

"Technically I have a paper to write but it is not due until next week. So have you all figured out who all is on the team? I would have thought you would be there most of the night with the way Lafayette can talk." He countered.

"We did, it was surprisingly easy once we figured some things out. My cousin Claude is going to be my co-captain, well, once I ask him fingers crossed. I actually do need to work on my homework and then practice my cello for tomorrow. I know that I can play that piece in my sleep but I want it to be perfect." I said trailing off.

"I will leave you to it then. I will be across the hall if you need any help with anything." He stood up and walked to the door. "I wanted to say congratulations on getting JV captain not that I didn't think that you could." He finished awkwardly heading to his room. For the next hour, I worked on Math and then English. I finished my writing it was around the time that Gran would be getting dinner on the table. I decided that I could practice after dinner and headed downstairs. The scene in the living room was a little less tense when I arrived. The Reverend was even smiling. I took that as a good sign. Jason's posture was a little more relaxed.

"I hear that you are the new JV captain for the dance team Sookie that is quite the accomplishment for a freshman." Reverend Norris said as I took a seat.

"Thank you I am." I retorted quietly.

"Can you tell me if I made it on the team I don't want to wait to find out if I don't have to?" Crystal asked animatedly.

"I can say they you are on the team but that is all for now because Lafayette and Tara may change the placements," I answered.

"Well, the good news just keeps coming. Jason asked me to date Crystal and to take her to homecoming." The Reverend said smiling.

"Sorry to interrupt, but Sookie dear could you come into the kitchen to help me for a minute?" Gran interrupted sticking her head around the corner. I got up and made my way to the kitchen. Apparently, Gran was going all out for dinner. She had freshly baked bread with butter, green beans, a rib roast, mashed potatoes, and gravy so thick you could walk on it. She also had a strawberry rhubarb pie cooling on the counter. "Sookie go set the table for me please I am almost finished. Use the good china and silver. I have only ever gotten to touch the good china and silver a few times in my life and mostly it was to wash or polish it. I got the table set and laid out the dessert dishes and server to use later. I even got out the good crystal to use too. When I was finished I rented the kitchen to help Gran get the food on the table. "Go ask what everyone wants to drink for dinner. We got tea, milk, and coffee."

I went into the living room to take drink orders and found Eric had come down and joined the party. "I am taking drink orders for dinner, we have tea, milk, and coffee," I said looking around the room.

"Tea, please Sookie." Answered the Reverend.

"How do you take it, Sir?" I asked.

"Sweet." He answered. Crystal and Calvin both asked for milk. So did Eric and Jason. I relayed the requests to Gran and helped her to pour. Dinner was a relatively relaxed affair. That is until Crystal asked me if I had been invited to the homecoming dance. This caused two reactions at the table. Jason looked like he just remembered that I was a girl and would be getting asked for things like dances. Eric, on the other hand, had a relieved smile on his face.

"Not yet. I am thinking that I might go with Lafayette if I don't get asked by anyone else." I answered.

"You mean Ruby Jean's colorful child. That boy is a spirit unto his own." The Reverend interjected.

"Yes, he is a good friend of mine," I said. Thankfully, Gran changed that subject to what the Reverend was planning for the prayer at the game tomorrow night. He went off into a short sermon about persistence and perseverance. We finished dinner and I got up to get the pie and dishes to serve. Gran had gone as far as to make fresh whipped cream for the pie. If I did not know yet that she was trying to make a good impression I would have figured it out then.

"This was a wonderful dinner Adele I would like for us to do it again soon." The Reverend said patting his stomach.

"It was my pleasure. I need more excuses to cook." Gran said sweetly.

After dessert and a little more conversation, the Reverend and his kids left. I was helping Gran with the dishes. She was making Jason polish all of the silver before we put it away. Eric was helping him to make the job go quicker. When we were finished I returned to my room to practice. I had gotten lost in the music again when I noticed Eric standing in my doorway.

"If you don't get first chair I think I will have to go talk to Mrs. Fortenberry." He said entering my room and sitting on the end of my bed.

"I will be happy to get second stand. I have three more years to get first chair." I answered and then went back to playing. We sat in silence except for the music for a long time. "Is there a reason you came in or are you just hear for the music?"

"I was wondering if you want I mean if it is ok with you if want to go with me to homecoming." He stammered rather unlike himself.

I sat there stunned for a minute. I knew that he wanted to date me but taking me to the dance would be announcing it to the whole school that we were together. I did not know if I was ready for that. If he was still staying with us people would start to talk. I was quiet for a little too long cause when I was about to answer he interrupted me and dejectedly said. "I get it you don't have to I just thought that maybe you like me too." He got up and left my room for his and shut the door. I put my cello down, walked over to his door and knocked. He opened the door and returned to lying on his bed.

"It is not that I don't like you or that I don't want to go with you. I would like that very much it is just like I had said I am not ready yet. I don't want people to get the wrong idea about us if you are still staying here by then. I really like you, Eric, a lot. I just …" I did not get to finish my sentence because he kissed me. It was my first real kiss and it was nice. He was a really good kisser not that I would know.

He pulled away and looked into my eyes with hope. "Just don't say no and wait if you can for me to ask you again when I know when my dad will be back." He said giving me a hug and kissing the top of my head. I stood there in his arms just enjoying the closeness. "I think that you should go to bed or just back to your room so I am not tempted to kiss you again."

"I would not mind. It was nice." I said truthfully.

"I would not want to sully your reputation by having you stay. Goodnight Sookie." He said giving me another kiss this time on the cheek. I walked to my room with a goofy smile and an ever-deepening blush. I closed my door and got my pajamas out to get ready for bed. I went to the bathroom and brushed my teeth. I would take a shower in the morning. I did not want to wash the kisses off just yet. I went to bed that night smiling like a fool. I dreamed about white dresses and magical kisses.