"Kimberly?" A voice called behind me as I tuned my guitar. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw the office assistant, Tiffany, standing in the doorway on the music classroom. She smiled, her red hair pulled back in a bun on the top of her head. "There's a call for you. I tried to patch it through in here, but the phones are still acting up. Do you want me to send it to the office?"
"Yes, please." I responded. She nodded, disappearing. "Thanks, Tiff!"
"Any time!" I heard her call back as her heels clicked up the empty hallway. A few moments later, I heard the desk phone ringing in the small office in the back corner of the room. Setting my guitar down, I jogged passed the chairs and desks that were set up. Grabbing the receiver, I brought it to my ear.
"Hello. Miss Hart speaking." I said, wrapping the long cord around my finger.
"Girl, it's so funny to hear you say that." Trini's voice said in my ear. Grinning, I leaned on the corner of the desk.
"I know. What's up?" Trini doesn't usually call me at work unless something important has happened. Granted it was almost the end of the school year, she knew that it wasn't something I enjoyed doing during the day. It made me feel unprofessional and I was desperate to land a full-time spot at this school.
"I got a call from Angela and the reunion planning committee. They keep saying that you haven't returned your RSVP yet. They just wanted to know if you were planning on coming." I rolled my eyes.
"That's it? That's why you called me at work?" I asked.
"Well, at least it's during lunch time. I figured you were probably just sitting in your classroom. Was I wrong?" I hated when she was right.
"No. I haven't made my mind up yet."
"Kim, the reunion is THIS weekend. As in less than 72 hours. What is taking you so long to decide?" In the background, I heard JC running around and playing with his toys. "Don't you want to come back here and see everyone? Especially this little terror."
"You know it's more complicated than that. Has Jason heard from Tommy? Is he planning on going?"
"Not that I know of. I mean, Jason hasn't mentioned it or anything. I know Rocky and Aisha are coming. Adam couldn't make it and Zach was still waiting to hear if he had the time off. Tommy was still up in the air as far as I knew but he was pretty certain he couldn't get the time off from school so late in the year." Biting my lip, I glanced out the window across from me. My boss' car was parked in her spot. I thought of the invitation I received to her birthday party this weekend. I was supposed to be the one bringing the cake. At that point, I figured I wouldn't even be entertaining the idea of this stupid high school reunion. But now, I was having doubts.
"Trini, can you ask Jason about Tommy? Please."
"Of course. Actually, I think he just came in the back door. Hold on. JASON!" She called out, causing me to wince from the loud outburst.
"Yeah?" I heard him call back. There were some muffled voices before he came on the line. "Hey, Kimmy. What's new?"
"Hey, Jase. Not much. How about you?"
"Oh, you know, just the dojo. It's doing great! I think we are going to have a great year. I can't wait for you to see it! When does your flight get in?" He asked.
"I don't have a flight. Have you heard from Tommy at all, Jase? Is he coming?"
"Tommy? Well, the last I spoke to him, he said that there was no way the school was giving him the time off. I'm thinking he isn't going to make it." A small wave of relief and sadness washed over me. "I mean, there's always a chance he might show but more than likely not." He was silent for a moment. "Is he the reason why you aren't coming? Cause that was ten years ago, Kim. Don't you think the two of you should patch things up by now?"
"There's nothing to patch up. We broke up. Most people don't become friends after that."
"You know what I mean. OW!" He exclaimed, telling me Trini had hit him. "Here. Talk to Trini before she beats me again. But I would reconsider not coming." There was shuffling on their end and I heard Trini swear.
"Kim, please come. It will be lots of fun. It's been so long since we had the group all together again. Even if Tommy does show up, it's not like the two of you have to talk. Chances are, he isn't coming. Please come to the reunion. We'd all like to see you."
"I don't know, Trini…" I trailed off, thinking. What if they were right? What if I didn't go and I regretted not seeing them all again? But what if I do go and he's there? It would be so incredibly awkward facing him after all these years. Especially after all the things that went unsaid between us after my accident. Everything he didn't know about me. About how I still felt.
"Kimberly Ann Hart, if you don't come, I am flying down there myself to bring you back." She said sternly. A smile came to my lips at her threat. I believed her.
"Fine. I will book a flight and a hotel right now. I guess I'll see you guys in a few days."