Dinner with the Neighbors

Those next two weeks of school went by like a breeze. I started to really enjoy Mark being our new coach more and more every day. He was definitely the greatest guy in the world…well besides my dad. One day when I came home from school, I was shocked to see him sitting in my living room with his wife.

"Oh, I must be in the wrong house…sorry." I said as I turned to walk out.

My mom laughed, "No sweetie, you're not in the wrong house. Come in here,"

I sighed and walked back around the corner and leaned against the doorframe. I tried hard not to make eye contact with Sam, who was glaring at me slightly.

"Did I do something wrong?" I asked Mark.

He shook his head, "No, your mom invited us over for dinner."

I looked at my mom, "Oh really? Well that's nice. I hope you two are hungry because my mom is an excellent cook."

My mom blushed, "Oh she is so exaggerating…anyways honey I hope you don't mind us having them over since your father is leaving again."

I gasped, "What! Why?"

She shrugged, "I don't know Kitty, we'll talk later ok?"

I sighed and nodded, "Ok. I'll be right back." I turned and went upstairs still listening to them talk as I left.

"You have a very beautiful daughter Lita." Sam said. "How old is she?"

"Fourteen, but she'll be fifteen in a few weeks." My mom said. "She's been real upset with Matt lately though."

"Awe, why?"

My mom sighed, "Well he's constantly on vacation and she barley gets to spend time with him."

"I understand how she feels," Mark said. "My mom was like that."

My mom chuckled, "Yea I remember those days. Sam, Mark use to come to my house all the time just to get away from his parents."

"Oh really? Were you two dating or something?" Sam asked with a slight attitude.

"Oh no no no, Matt and I have been together since our freshman year of high school. Katrina came along during my junior year."

"oh…that figures." Sam said.

"Excuse me?" my mom said.

Mark cleared his throat, "She didn't mean anything by it I'm sure."

"oh no I didn't, you just look so young to have a fourteen year old daughter." Sam said.

My mom laughed, "I get that a lot actually. Well would you guys like something to drink?"

"Sure," Mark said.

When I heard my mom coming I went into my room and gently closed the door. I let out a sigh of relief and then quickly put my bags down and fixed my make-up. I then brushed my hair and changed into my buddy slippers. Before leaving my room I sent Emily a text message telling her that Mark and his wife were here for dinner. Of course she invited herself, and told me she would be over in a few.

As I made my way downstairs, I could still hear them talking.

"So you told your daughter I graduated five years ago?" Mark asked my mom.

She started laughing, "I sure did. You know you act a whole lot younger than what you are."

"That's true actually." Sam said. "Apparently he has no problems with little girls who have crushes on him."

My mom laughed, "Oh do you mean the swim team?"

"Yes she does but I keep telling her that they are just little girls." Mark said. "I know how to control myself around them."

Sam chuckled, "Yea but they can't seem to control themselves around you…"

"You know Sam; you really shouldn't be worried about those girls." My mom said. "If you trust Mark well enough then they shouldn't bother you."

Sam fell quiet and then sighed, "I guess you're right."

I came around the corner and smiled at them. "Hello everyone."

"Hey there," Mark said. "Nice slippers."

I laughed and grabbed an apron, "Thanks, I'm sure they would look great on you."

Sam laughed, "I like her she's got a great sense of humor."

"Very funny." He said before taking a sip of his juice.

I laughed and lifted the lid to the big pot. I stirred the sauce and then added a pinch of salt.

"I didn't know you knew how to cook." He said as he watched me help my mom.

My mom smiled, "I've been teaching her since she was ten. She's a natural."

"Wow. I wish my mom would have taught me." Sam said.

Mark chuckled, "I wish she would have taught you too."

"Hey!" she yelled.

I tried to hide my giggles and my mom shook her head. "Mark would you please behave."

"Sorry…" he said.

When dinner was done, I took the liberty of setting the table. By then, Emily had made her way over and my mom let her stay. She threw her arms around me and picked me up in a tight hug.

"I missed you sister!" she said.

I giggled, "I missed you more,"

"No…I missed you more…" she said as she hung up her jacket. "Do you need help setting the table?"

I nodded, "Sure, it's about time I put you to work around here."

"Whatever…oh hello Coach Calaway." She said upon seeing Mark. "Pleasure seeing you here."

He smiled, "Hello Miss. Stratus, how are you today."

"I'm good, this must be your wife, Hi I'm Emily." She said as she shook Sam's hand.

"Oh so your Glenn's girlfriend?" Sam asked.

Sam nodded, "Yes ma'am."

"Oh wow, you are really pretty." She said.

"Thanks so are you." She said before turning around and hooking my arm with her own. "Alright let's go finish that table."

I smiled and we walked to the dining room arm in arm.

"So has the wench started with you at all?" Emily whispered.

I laughed, "She glared at me at first but that was about it."

"Oh do you think she's mad about you seeing Mark naked?"

I blushed remembering the vision of his succulent body. "Shut up Em.! I don't want to think about it."

She laughed, "What? Does it make you feel some type of way?"

I tried hard to conceal my laughter but of course Emily and I couldn't do that to save our lives.

"What are you girls up to?" my mom asked.

I looked at her and wiped away the tears that were flowing down my cheeks from laughing. "Nothing mom…Emily is just teasing me about a boy as usual."

Emily shrugged, "Your daughter has a small crush on someone and she's afraid to admit it."

Just as she said that, Mark came around the corner with Sam. "Oh yea, on who?"

"On M-"

I stepped on Emily's foot cutting her off. "His name is Marcus." I said.

"Oh does he go to your school?" my mom asked.

I shook my head, "No. But he does live around here."

Mark looked at me as if he didn't believe me but shrugged and sat down. Sam smiled slightly and then sat down next to Mark. I sat across from him, and Emily sat next to me. My mom brought out the spaghetti and sat it in the middle of the table. She then took a seat at the head of the table and asked us to bow our heads and close our eyes for prayer. When she was done praying, we took turns getting some spaghetti.

"So Emily, have you spoken to Kitty about doing the talent show at the high school?" my mom asked.

"uh mom I have a lot of other things to do-"

"-she's going to do it." Emily said as she put her arm around me.

My mom smiled, "Good."

"But mom, I don't want to do the talent show." I told her.

"Why not honey? You hardly ever get out of the house." She said.

I sighed, "Well…I don't have much of a talent except swimming."

Mark smiled, "That's not true…I heard you singing in your backyard a few weeks ago."

My mom smiled, "I hear you sing all the time."

"Yea but I thought you only cared about me swimming," I asked her.

"That's your dad; I want you out there doing something else. Remember this is your life not mine or his." She said.

I smiled, "Ok…what song do you want to do?"

Emily shrugged, "I'm not sure. We'll talk about it later."

After dinner, we all went into the living room and played Just Dance on the Wii. I had to admit, I loved strutting my stuff in front of Mark. He seemed to watch me more than anyone, including Sam. After the fun and games, my mom sent Emily home and sent me off to bed.

"But I'm not sleepy," I said as I yawned.

She shook her head and then guided me to the steps, "Yes you are honey, now go on up there and get some sleep. You have a meet tomorrow."

I nodded my head and then told Mark and Sam goodnight. When I got to my room, I got a quick shower and then waited for Mark and Sam to head over to their house. Once they did, I was shocked to hear them arguing once again.

"Mark, it's obvious those girls want you especially Lita's daughter!" Sam yelled.

"Would you please let that go." He told her. "They are young girls who have a small crush because I'm a hot guy. So what?"

"So what! Mark if some little boys had crushes on me how would you feel?"

He laughed, "I would feel honored because they are appreciating something they can't have."

I felt a small pain in my chest upon hearing him say that. It was true, I couldn't have Mark. All I could do was look at him and imagine him being with me. "Oh no…I'm doing it again."

"Listen Samantha…I love you and only you, but if you keep these accusations up it will cause problems between us." He told her. "Just trust me. I love you."

She sighed, "Alright fine, but don't give her anymore rides home…I've seen her smiling when she gets out of your truck."

Mark laughed, "Sam…I'm not going to leave the girl stranded at the school if her mom can't come and get her. I'm her coach remember?"

"Yea I know…I'm sorry." She said.

"It's alright." He said.

After hearing that I walked to my bed and laid down. I couldn't believe that she was actually jealous of me…me…I was a fourteen year old girl for crying out loud! I sighed and got comfortable in my bed. I had no idea, but a lot of trouble was coming my way…trouble that would start to affect my life.