After Hello by Lisa Mangum

Author:Lisa Mangum [Mangum, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, Love & Romance
ISBN: 9781609070106
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Published: 2012-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Sara

I held his gaze for a long moment. “Okay. I’ll stay,” I said. The words were out before I could pull them back. I’d heard what Paul and Will and Rebecca had said about me, and I really didn’t want to hang around and hear anything else, but Sam’s eyes were surprisingly persuasive. Gentle. Soft.

He had opened up to me at the park with a story that was so personal and painful. The least I could do was grant him this favor in exchange.

“Sam? Sara?” Rebecca called over. “You guys hungry? There’s plenty.”

I took a quick breath, tasting the flavor of ginger and soy in the air. “I’ll stay,” I said again. “But you go first, okay?”

Sam nodded and led the way into the small kitchen, careful to keep himself between me and Paul. I mirrored Sam’s movements almost exactly. He took a plate; so did I. He dished up a spoonful of rice, a scoop of chicken, and a serving of some dark noodles; so did I. He grabbed two egg rolls; I took one.

Jen held out a set of chopsticks to me, and I hesitated. “Um, is there a fork I could use?” I asked her quietly, trying to ignore the fact that everyone else had taken a pair—even Sam—like it was no big deal. I felt stupid and clumsy, but it wasn’t like I used the chopsticks at Panda Express back home, either.

“I know—I hate them too,” she said, pulling out two black plastic forks from the bag. She handed one to me with a kind smile as she headed toward the couch to sit next to Rebecca.

“Thanks,” I said, grateful to think that at least one person in the room didn’t hate me. Sam had balanced his plate of food on top of his glass and reached out to pick up a second glass for me. I amended my thought: at least two people in the room didn’t hate me.

Rebecca lifted her hand in our direction. “Sara, come sit by me and Jen.”

I glanced at Sam, who nodded for me to take the lead, and we made our way across the small room. Three.

I took the last spot on the couch while Sam sat on the floor next to me. I could feel Paul’s hot anger and Will’s slightly less-abrasive annoyance, and, for a while, we all ate in semi-uncomfortable silence. My stomach churned with more than just the unfamiliar spices.

I was twirling a strand of noodles around my fork when my phone rang. The marimba music sounded loud in the quiet apartment—even though my phone was still in my bag, which was still in the bathroom. I blushed in unnecessary embarrassment and quickly set my plate down on the coffee table.

“Sorry,” I apologized to the room in general and limped as quickly as I could to the bathroom to answer my phone. I was going to have to do something about my ruined jeans, and fast. I felt awkward enough without sporting such unflattering fashion.

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