Page 82 of Dreams
Chapter Twenty
Sarah was waiting at the airport with a grin stretched wide. She ran at Taylor and almost tackled her to the ground.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she squealed.
“Me too,” Taylor said, instantly relaxing. Sarah had that effect on her. She never had to put up a front for her best friend, pretending to be okay.
Sarah shoved Taylor’s bag in the backseat of her car before they both got in.
“Mom and Dad will want to see you,” she said, eying her friend carefully.
Taylor shrank back from the words, so Sarah quickly added, “We can just meet them at a restaurant.”
“Okay.” She sighed in relief. She hadn’t been to Sarah’s parents’ house since the memorial service over the summer and didn’t want to go back and have to walk by the room Danny had lived in.
She thought she was okay, better. She thought she’d moved on. Until she hadn’t. She’d been so proud of herself when she mailed the videos to Danny’s family. That was supposed to be the final step.
But now, as they drove through the familiar city, old feelings resurfaced. She’d spent the best time of her life with Danny in Portland. She’d also spent the worst year of her life here.
They got to Sarah’s dorm building and went inside. She had a double room to herself, which was perfect. Taylor put her bag down and then sat on one of the beds as Sarah bustled around, picking up a few things.
A water bottle came flying through the air. Taylor saw it last minute and ducked out of the way.
“Oops.” Sarah giggled. “I thought you’d be thirsty.”
Taylor laid on her belly and hung herself off the bed to reach where the bottle had rolled underneath. Finally finding it, she pushed herself up and laughed at her friend. “I am. I just don’t want to die for my thirst.”
“You’re hardly going to die from a plastic bottle to the head.” She sat next to Taylor and shrugged. “Maybe just a little brain damage.”
“Oh, is that all? Then sign me up.” Taylor laughed again as water dribbled over her chin.
“Just as graceful as ever, I see,” Sarah joked.
Her own water spilled down her shirt as Taylor pushed her, laughing the entire time.
“It’s good to see you like this.” Sarah’s face was suddenly serious. “When I saw you last, it was still pretty bad.”
“Yeah, well I had a lot of help this year.” Taylor smiled while also silently kicking herself for saying that.Why did I have to blurt that out? Now Sarah won’t ever let it go.
“Josh?” Sarah grinned.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Have you talked to him since what happened in the game?”
“Sarah,” Taylor warned.
“Tay,” Sarah mimicked her tone. “Do you mind if I call him? I mean, he’s like my brother, and I’m a little worried about him.”
“Go ahead.”
Sarah went out into the hall, and Taylor pulled out her sketchbook. She hadn’t drawn anything in a few days, and her fingers were suddenly itching for it.
Sarah returned a few minutes later and clapped her hands together.
“You’re drawing again,” she yelled excitedly.
“Obviously.”
