: Chapter 1: The start of something big
"Do you think I look fat?" I regretted asking that question, but I needed to know.
"Of course not. What kind of question is that?" he said.
"I don't know."
He shook his head. "Why would you even think that?" I shrugged my shoulders. "You are the most beautiful girl I have ever met. You are perfect just the way you are. Do you hear me?"
I nodded but disbelieved. Bailey couldn't understand. But I did. I had my reasons. He kissed me softly. I adored that man. I didn't want anything to take away from that. But something wasn't right with me. I'd been staring these thoughts down for most of my adult life. And just now had they made it to the surface.
"... the restaurant?" Bailey said. "Sarah?"
"Oh, what?" I snapped out of my thoughts.
"I said do you want to go grab a bite to eat from the restaurant?"
"Uh, sure." Leave it to a guy to bring up food when the situation gets awkward.
"Hi, Bay. Hi, Sarah." Charlie was behind the counter, rolling up silverware in cloth napkins.
I smiled politely. I noticed Claudia sitting in a booth with a spiral and walked over to sit down and see what she was doing while Bailey talked to Charlie in the meantime.
"What's this?" I asked. She got frustrated and slashed the pen across the notebook paper, scribbling furiously at the words.
"Oh, it's nothing. Nothing but crap," she replied.
"Well... what was it supposed to be?" I laughed.
"I have this writing assignment for English. 'Who has made the greatest impact on your life and why?'" she quoted in a deeper voice than her own mousy one.
"Sounds tough."
"No joke." She pushed her bangs back and rested her head on her arms. "I just can't think. I mean, man, there are plenty of people worthy of such an honor. Mom. Dad. Charlie. I just can't pick anybody. Without hurting someone's feelings, ya know?"
"Yeah."
"I've started it: 'My mom made the greatest impact on my life. She--' and then I just go blank. 'My dad made the greatest impact on my life. He--' Blank. God, I just can't get this."
"You will."
Bailey called to me. "What do you want, Sarah?" They all awaited my reply.
"Just give me a salad and some water."
"That's all you're going to eat?"
"Yeah. I'm not very hungry."
"Come on," he said. "Get something else."
"Bailey, I just want a salad," I insisted.
He threw his hands up in the air. "All right. Give the woman her salad."
"Coming right up." Charlie walked into the kitchen.
"So, Claud, how long do you have on that paper?" I asked.
"Until Christmas."
"Christmas?" I asked. "Wow. That's like 4 months away."
"I know. But the teacher wants to give us time to think about it. He doesn't want us just throwing a whole bunch of junk together. He wants it to be 'well planned and worth the read' -- or so he says. I don't think I can do that."
"Sure you can. Think about it for 4 months, write it the night before it's due, and you can't go wrong," Bailey said from behind me. He laughed. Claudia and I looked at each other in confusion.
"Okay..." Claudia was not amused.
"Okay, so I'm not that funny. Sue me."
