groovygamers.com

"Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find." --Shakespeare

At the sound of the last bell, Sammy grabs up her belongings and hustles across the building to get her instrument from her locker.  On the way she sees Alicia and Donnie chatting; she purposefully keeps a crowd between them so that she doesn't get drawn into the latest squabble.  She waves at some girls she knows, and finally gets to her locker.  Her face screws up in disgust as the faint smell of vomit reaches her nose.  Maybe I should have listened to Alicia and tossed out that sweater after all.  She grabs her horn case, slams her locker shut, and heads out toward practice.

Practice is where Sammy isn't Sammy.  She's a note in a performance.  Part of something bigger, that has life breathed into it by dozens of people all seeking the same goal.  Before flying, this was when she felt right.  It still feels good, easing away some of the knots of the day.  The chat is friendly, the jokes only funny to band kids.  It's her place to be whatever note her mind decides she is that day.

Eventually though, practice ends.  Heather and the other girls chat with Sammy as they pack up to go.  It's still cold outside, so there is the bundling up before they venture out of doors.  Elrod is there, "Hey you."  he says, "Want a ride?"

"Hey you," she happily echoes, and enthusiastically wraps her arms around his waist.  "Sure.  Did you get your keys?"

"Yeah, Sylvia's mom found me and gave them to me.  Is there a story there I want to hear, or should I just happily be the boyfriend and not ask?"  he says returning her embrace and kissing her.

"Cool.  Some really scary weird stuff happened this morning, and I wasn't sure where I'd need to be this afternoon.  I was afraid we'd miss each other, so I passed off your keys to someone else to give to you."  She gives him an extra squeeze, and not just because it makes her feel good to be this close.  "Bu-u-u-ut, nobody's told me that I need to be anywhere special, so I'm a-gonna let you drive me home.  I'll want my flight suit anyhow, if I get called anywhere."

"Okay."  he says, walking them to his car.  "The last drummer we checked out has had a few lessons, and he's really starting to sound good.  So it looks like we're a go for summer."  He gets the door for her, stealing a kiss as he leans over her to buckle her seat belt for her.  Then climbing bodily over her to his seat, reaching across her and closing the door.  "My folks had dinner with Jack, so they're thrilled about the whole chaperone idea.  I should arrange for our parents to spend some time together."  He starts the drive home.  "Give them some time to get used to each other."  he says with a smile.

Sammy's core temperature, respiration, and pulse rate went up a few notches with the body crawl.  She's buzzing all over.  She likes the feeling.

"Mmm-hmm," she says distractedly.  "I thought Jack... never mind.  At least it's done.  Them?  How about your folks and me?  I'm still not sure they forgive me for Donnie putting you in the hospital.  It wasn't really my fault at all, but still."  She reaches out to touch his leg.  "Do you feel like going straight home?  I don't.  We could go for a ride.  Or a walk.  Or just park someplace and... talk."

"I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but I'm delaying you meeting my parents as long as possible.  It's driving my mother insane, which I take no small joy in."  When her hand comes to his knee she feels him tense some.  Then she suggests a detour.  "I know a private road.  We could fog up the windows for a while, or just drive."  He rests his hand on hers.

She flips her hand over to hold his and generously replies, "You're the one driving.  It's up to you.  I wouldn't mind fogging up some windows though."

On the access road to the house where the Halloween party was held the pair spend some time fogging up the windows.  There are boundaries that are not crossed, but they don't stop the two of them from having a good time.  The lazy exploration of the back seat and each other is interrupted by Elrod's phone.  It vibrates between them and causes the pair to giggle for a time.  He fishes it from his pocket to toss it in the front seat and pauses when he sees the number.  "Never good when dad's assistant calls."  He listens to the voice mail message.  "time to go."  he says, kissing her, "I need to take sis and fly out to St. Louis tonight.  Apparently we're getting our picture taken as a family."  he shakes his head.  "My folks do the craziest shit sometimes."

Back in the front seat, with shirts buttoned back up and jackets zipped they're headed back to town.  "So, summer band trip.  My folks will certainly invade for a night or two, especially if I've managed to keep you under wraps until then."  he giggles.

She giggles too.  "Don't worry.  I can fly home on those nights and keep them guessing if you want."  She starts talking about needing to rehearse some and needing to work on those keyboard lessons to get ready for the summer. 

Elrod drops her at her house, with a lingering kiss good-bye.  "I'll call you later on.  See you tomorrow."

She gives as good as she gets in the kissing department.  Before he goes, she gives him a muzzy, dreamy smile and says "Thanks for being a boyfriend and not my big brother.  I needed the boyfriend today."

"Big brother?  Am I doing that?" he kisses her again, "Sorry.  I'll try to be more demanding and annoying then in the future."  He smiles.

"Just a little.  I won't mind."  She kisses him one more time, then heads in.

Elrod pulls away.  a few minutes later Sammy gets a text from him. <3 U!

OOC: Anything else on your agenda?

OOC:  no.  Just looking for normal.  Or not normal.  Whatever shows itself.  Or doesn't.

Or maybe I'm just filling time.