young and free

Of course when Mariah had said that it would be good for Sarah to travel, see something else, it really didn’t occur to her that her daughter was thinking about going somewhere longer than a vacation length. Let alone somewhere in a different country. Instantly worry kicked in, though she did her best to try and conceal it. That failed the minute that Sarah mentioned college. Was she planning to drop out? Eyebrows furrowed together as she sat up to, “You only have like a year left Sarah? I don’t.. I don’t understand why you would quit now?”

“I can totally see that,” Lucy said, letting out a laugh. “I bet baby Sarah was just the most adorable thing.” She loved children and hoped to have a couple of her own in the next few years. After years of restlessness, she finally felt ready to settle down. “Of course! You know I’m always here if you need me. I honestly give you a lot of credit. I don’t think I could ever teach ballet to kids that young because everything I do is technique focused. That’s why six is the youngest age for my classes.” 

“Oh I dunno ‘bout that. Although if you speak to my mom or my Aunt Jo, they’ll probably show you all sorts of photos and videos that they probably shouldn’t.” She wasn’t really embarrassed by it - in a small town it was pretty hard to escape your past. “Thanks Luce - I’ll have to take you up on that. Especially now it’s summer break. I’ve got time to get back on form.” Sarah didn’t like to sit around either, and so it would be a good focus. “I mean that makes sense - you teach the kids that are gonna make somethin’ out it. My baby ballet girls just like to play princesses for an hour - y’know?”

“Yeah, safe. It doesn’t mater how old you kids get, I’ll always worry about you.” Jolene nodded completely understanding about moving on. “Yeah, everyone keeps going forward. There’s no used being stuck in the past. My Mom used to ask me if whatever was happening, would it matter in five years? And that’s how I decide what to dwell on and what to let go.”

“I promise I look after myself. I wouldn’t be surroundin’ myself with people that were gonna cause trouble either. I was raised better than that.” Although in reality, recent events had shown that maybe some of them weren’t the people she expected them to be. “That seem pretty fair, I suppose... Easier said than done sometimes, y’know?”

“Takes two t’tango, I hear ya,” Babs nods in agreement, putting a Red Vine in her mouth and yanking on the end of it until she manages to break off a chewable piece. She can’t help but snort softly and lifts up her brows in sympathetic understanding. “Maybe you could take a break for the summer. Got any aunts or uncles that live out of town?” (She was only half joking.)

Sarah gives a soft laugh, shaking her head. “’Fraid not. Or at least not any I know about... Might be some biological ones, but I don’t really know. Only really got my Aunt Jo and Uncle Ivan but they’re more Frostford than anyone I know.” Her family unit was small, and most of the time she liked it that way. But Babs was right - it’d be good to get away. “Fancy a roadtrip somewhere?”

“I wish there was a quick fix I could give ya for it.” She pulled a sympathetic glance, smiling at her. “Well Im glad that I can at least help with that part, and you’re doin’ the right thing giving her time.” She was proud of how Sarah seemed to be handling it, and taking the advice. “Well, me and my bakin’ will always be here for any drama you got.” She reassured. “Well, definitely on the less dramatic side of things. But nothin’ to write home about either. But summer is just getting started, so I’m sure I’ll have fun things to tell soon. Tubing, beach trips. Ya know those bring out the fun for everyone.”

“I mean cake is about as close to a quick fix as we’re goin’ to get I think,” Sarah grinned, breaking a laugh for the first time in a little while. “I ‘preciate it, Morgs... But really no drama? Not even any gossip either,” she quizzed, raising an eyebrow at the older woman. “You gotta give me somethin’. Not met anyone or anythin’?”

Every time Landon thought he was getting closer to Sarah, she always ended up saying something that showed him exactly where he was: in the friend-zone. He had been trying to hint at her that there was more he was feeling than just being her friend but it wasn’t working out in his favor. He probably should have given up already. Everyone saw that she wasn’t interested in him. Even Delilah saw that her attention was elsewhere. His lips parted as he was about to begin speaking, but held his tongue instead until the horrible pang in his chest disappeared. “Thanks Sarah… Maybe. Maybe not,” he shrugged, looking down at his hands. “You’re gonna do that for someone too. You’re really amazing and I hope you see that as much as I do.”

Sarah had always been grateful to have Landon in her life - he was someone with no ulterior motives. Even when every other guy had broken her heart, he’d always been there for her with a movie night and a pint of ice cream. She just wasn’t quite sure she could mention Calvin to him yet. She didn’t have siblings, but she guessed her interest in his brother might be a little weird for her to discuss with Landon.  “Maybe not? What’s up Land?... Don’t doubt yourself. You’re the best guy I know,” she insisted, smiling. “I don’t know about that. Guys seem to only want one thing from me.” Although she hoped that wasn’t the case with Calvin. 

“Sometimes all you can do is apologize and move on. As much as you may want people to forgive you for something, or work hard to do so, it doesn’t mean that they will. It sucks, and it’s gonna hurt a lot to learn how to live with that, but you can’t change other people’s minds. You just have to be sincere about being sorry and try to move on,” Mariah frowned slightly, still holding onto Sarah. There was one sure thing about being a mother, you always wished you could take away your kid’s pain. That was true in this instance. “I am your mom. That means I have to love you but I don’t have to like who you become. However, I love you and I love who you’re becoming. Everyone makes mistakes. It’s just part of growing up. Getting out of town is a good thing, as long as you’re safe about it, okay? Sometimes I forget there’s a whole world outside of this town. You shouldn’t feel like you’re stuck here.” 

“Of course I remembered,” as if she could forget. Sarah was important to her. She had quickly become on of the members of the family and while it had taken longer for Sarah to warm up to her, she had always wanted to be part of her life. “Morgan’s muffins are talk of the town per usual,” she could never turn down a muffin or sweet treat from the bakery if she was being honest. “I really couldn’t pick a favorite flavor if you asked me too.” 

“She’s the best, honestly. It’s a good thing I used to do so many activities; Morgs used to ply me with treats when she’d walk me to school.” Sarah explained, smiling at Andy as she took a sip of her drink. It was nice for things to be more normal between them. She’d missed her. “I mean it wasn’t like my mom could exactly bake them. However hard she would try.”

Nadia laughed, nodding her head, “It certainly is a story to remember,” one that she would remember for the rest of her life. “You don’t need to worry about it so young, either.” She gave Sarah a smile, “You’ve got your whole life a head of you and don’t want any Frostford boys holdin’ you back when they aren’t goin’ to do anything with their lives, if you know what I mean.”

“I mean you’re in the minority of people in this town that think so. A lot of those women seem to think I should already be wifed up at 21,” Sarah laughed, shrugging her shoulders. “I mean not all Frostford boys are bad, Nadia. You can’t say that.” She could think of one boy who was on her mind, but she equally had experienced her fair share of the ones Nadia was talking about. “But there’s definitely some sorts around here. They ain’t goin’ nowhere.”

She shrugs. “It wasn’t easy. I guess knowin’ what the end goal was helped. Like I was working towards something, you know? I’m not sure I would’ve if I didn’t constantly remind myself how much I wanted it.” She smiles a little, looking at Sarah. “School doesn’t have to be your thing. There’s so much more out there.” The comment about Mariah draws out a laugh and she nods, sighing. “Oh, I know. ‘M not sure how I feel about bein’ second place to coffee but I s’pose I’ll live.” 

“I don’t even know that the end goal is, Mel. I should’ve never gone. But the scholarship made my mom so proud,” she groans. “I mean I suppose. Just don’t know how I make a livin’ out of whatever my thing is.” Cheer maybe - Sarah knew she needed to figure out how she was going to make that work. “Hey, you’re not even her daughter. I’m pretty sure that I’m even behind coffee.”

Camille had a way of trying to be apart of every conversation she had going on, babbling away as she listened to Sarah and Honey speaking to one another. “It’s fine, Sarah. How are things?” she knew a good amount about Sarah given she babysat Camille whenever Honey would go to the gym, but she wanted to know everything like the nosy mother figure she tended to be to her. “She looks so much like her father.”

“Yeah, they’re okay thank you. Glad to be done with classes for the summer,” Sarah shrugged. She didn’t really need to bore Honey with the details of her life. “How’re you doing? Need me to look after Camille any time soon?” She bit her lip slightly at Honey’s words; she’d known Carlos and what had happened was desperately sad. “She does... But she also looks a lot like you.”

Despite Sarah’s lack of mathematical skill, Honey knew that she was trying her absolute best and would pass her on a lot that she truly should have failed on. It had nothing to do with the fact that she was Louise’s best friend, but that she just appreciated the effort Sarah put in for her grades. “Oh please.. I told you to just call me Honey after you graduated, sweetie!” she smiled at her former student, shaking her head with a grin. Camille waved in her spot from the cart, laughing in her little baby voice.

Aside from Coach Parker, Honey had definitely been one of Sarah’s favourite teachers. She knew full well that she probably wouldn’t have passed if it was anyone else teaching her math. “I know, but old habits die hard I guess. I’m sorry,” Sarah admitted, laughing softly. She waved back to Camille, not able to stop the smile from spreading across her face at the little girl’s infectious laugh. “She’s so gorgeous.”

“I’m not sayin’ this town is dry, but.” And Rayleigh stopped, because she thought she sounded like her mother. “I am sayin’ my mom’s finally run outta people to set me up with. That must be a good thing.” 

@frostfordstart·

“I mean it is pretty dry though, let’s be real. Unless you’re interested in the old men down the Legion or a fishin’ date,” Sarah groaned at the reality of Frostford’s dating scene. “I mean I’m gonna say it is. I thank my lucky stars that my mom’s never tried that.”

Status: Open Location: Bushels 

@frostfordstart·

Though Camille wasn’t speaking full words yet, she was fully pointing at what she wanted and snatching things off of the shelf from her secure seat on the shopping car if her mother got close enough, today was no different. “Oh my goodness, I am so sorry. She’s realizin’ that her hands are magical these days..” she said, realizing that her aforementioned daughter had literally reached over and took someone’s car keys. Honey took the keys back from Camille and held them out to the rightful owner, letting out a gentle sigh in the process. “I’m gonna have to teacher her that is not okay..” she’d truly hoped that the person wouldn’t be too upset at a one year old.

Sarah hadn’t even noticed that her car keys were missing from her pocket until Honey returned them. “Oh thank you,” she smiled, taking back the offered item from her. “She’s fine, Miss Jefferson. Honestly.” She might have known Lou’s older sister for years, but she still couldn’t get her mind out of high school. “Camille, how’d you get so big?” she got down to the little girl’s level, smiling at her best friend’s niece.

Magnolia almost snorted with her short laugh, “Sounds like I should just call your aunt up to drop off my goodies instead of makin’ the trip myself.” She joked back, all in good fun of course. “I’d say you’re in them too, Miss Strawberry Princess.” Mags teased, because it’d been weeks since the festival but she still remembered. This time, the blonde did snort, “Goodness, I was gonna tell you the same thing, seems the wells are dry ‘round these parts in terms of marriage material.”

Sarah shook her head at the princess comment. She had almost forgotten about that at this point. “Perhaps I should be wearin’ the crown around town. Might draw out someone I’ve not noticed before.” Although she was pretty sure that she knew everyone in town at this point. “Marriage material? Jeez, Mags, I’m 21 - I’d take a guy who actually wants to go on a date rather than make out down the creek. Marriage certainly ain’t on my radar.”

“Back in my college days, yeah it was all cheap beer and way too much of it. But in Central America, tequila is like water. Guess I got accustomed to it.” He chuckled and nodded his head, but tucked that away for later, assuming she wouldn’t be sober for too terribly long and he’d get her to spill. “Oh please, Sarah, you can’t fool me. I know how it goes when a beautiful girl shows up at the bar, she drinks for free all night. I know how those guys are – I was those guys not that long ago.” His bar tab could have rivaled his tuition costs. “Oh, so you’re fancy, huh?” he asked with raised brows. “You wound me.” It was hard to really know where they were on the journey, as there was nothing in the way of road markers; the place really was in the middle of nowhere. “I promise I’m no serial killer. But if I were, traveling the world is really a good cover, right?” Calvin was nowhere near smart enough to come up with a plan like that; but again, maybe his stupidity also made for a good cover. A dim light shined just ahead of them. “There’s the corner market and liquor store. Her house is about two minutes away from here,” he said, pulling into the near empty lot. “You grab the refreshments and I’ll grab the booze?”

“I mean I feel like that sounds like a good time, but also dangerous. If the tequilas kept flowin’ then I’d I probably wouldn’t be able to stop myself.” She’d always been easily let astray by other people, and drinking was certainly no exception. “I mean there are guys who guys you drinks, but they usually back off if they realise they’re not gettin’ what they want.” Did Calvin think she was beautiful? Sarah decided not to press that; she didn’t want him thinking she’d got the wrong end of the stick. 

Nodding as they pulled into the parking lot, she grabbed her purse and made her way into the store. She emerged five minutes later, two bags in her hands. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I’m pretty sure I got half the store,” she laughed, holding the bags up for Calvin to see. She’d also bought things for breakfast. Although it had never actually been said that they were staying the night, it was late and neither of them were going to be in a state to drive back if they were drinking. 

“Hm, I dunno. You pose an excellent question.” She’d always loved school – she was good at it. But she understood lacking the energy for it. It had taken her two years to go back to school, and even then, it’d been difficult. “The good news is, finals are temporary. They’ll be over before you know it. You’re almost there.” She shakes her head, a betrayed expression on her face. “Decaf? You think I’d even think to bring you decaf? Mariah might disown me.” 

“Honestly, I don’t know how you managed years of med school as well. I’m tellin’ you I’m never steppin’ foot in another classroom once I graduate.” Sarah had never really planned on going to college, but she hadn’t really been able to turn down the scholarship or the chance to cheer for longer. Although she was regretting that decision now. “I mean I don’t even doubt that she would. She loves you, but I’m pretty sure she loves coffee more than anythin’ in this world.”