Reunion (4 page)

“I called him Sav.” He put his arms up in front of his face to shield himself from my inevitable punch to his face. “Don’t hit me Sav. I did it for your own good. Both of you”.

“Tyler Jensen I am going to kick the living shit out of you. Why would you do that. I’ve known for months he wasn’t coming. I prepared myself.” I screamed at him. I could feel my blood pressure rising. I waited for his explanation with folded arms and a tapping foot.

“Sav I called him in London after we had lunch. I told him you were here. He didn’t say much except that he was getting the first flight out of London. I thought he was kidding Sav. I never expected him to jump on the first plane to the states. He told me he literally came here in a cab from the airport. He smells like old lady perfume and airplane food. Doesn’t it mean anything to you that he just flew over the Atlantic Ocean to see you? C’mon Sav. Give the guy a break and me for that matter.” He stood there awaiting my response.

“Give you a break Tyler. Give you a break! I’d like to break your face.” Just then I saw the door to Roy’s open and in strolled my arch enemy. Christa Archer. Tall, blonde, big fake boobs, gorgeous smile. Yep the total opposite of me and every boys wet dream in high school. Captain of the cheerleaders and practically got through high school on hers knees. She always had her sights on Sam. I despised the woman. I turned back to Tyler. His eyes were bugging out of his head.

“Oh whoa. Now that’s a sight.” I caught him off guard and punched him in the arm. “Ouch Savannah” he seethed.

“I’m not finished with you yet Jensen. I’m going to try and have a good time with my friends, present company excluded, and drink A LOT so don’t think your getting off that easily. We will talk. Believe me.” I just shook my head. Tyler bent down and said in my ear.

“But your still my best friend and I love you sister from another mister.” He kissed my cheek and went back to his friends. During his walk back over he stared at Christa as though she wasn’t wearing clothing. Truth be told she was actually dressed in next to nothing. I saw Sam’s face when Tyler approached and his eyes met mine. My heart stopped for a second and I felt a dull ache in my belly. I quickly looked away and made my way back to the bar. The next conversation is one I heard about a few years later from Tyler. He says this is how it went.

“Um Ty that didn’t look too pretty. Was that about me” Sam asked. “What do you think Dude. She’s fucking pissed I called you and told you she was here. How the hell did you get a flight out of London so fast.” Sam played with the bottle of beer in his hand a let out a groan. “I was at the airport Ty. I knew I was coming home. I was waiting to board my flight when you called.”

“ Wait what? You knew you were coming all along?” Tyler was confused. “Yep. I saw Maddy a few months ago back in town and she said that Savannah hadn’t replied yet to the reunion invite but that she wouldn’t come if she knew I was going to be there. Then Maddy e-mailed me to tell me she was coming. Why did she leave and go back to Boston? I tried calling but she changed her number. She even changed her e-mail address and she wouldn’t even accept my fucking friend request. I went to Boston about a week later to look for her at her old apartment but she was gone. I talked to Mrs. Garrett and she told me Sav needed to work some things out and that I should give her space. I even called Georgia but she answered and told me to go fuck myself. Her friends wouldn’t even tell me why she changed all her contact information. It’s like they were sworn to secrecy or something. Tyler shook his head. “ Dude I wish I knew what was in that girls head. That night after our 5 year reunion I thought you were going to ask her to marry you. I thought it was a done deal. “

“ So did I man. So did I. I have to get her back Ty. I really don’t think I've ever gotten over her. I just need to take a different approach to getting her back.” Sam took a long drink from his beer bottle and strummed his fingers on the bar. “ I got it.” I’ll take the I don’t give a shit approach. I’ll act like her being here doesn’t bother me. I’ll make it seem like I’m totally over her. I’ll flirt with other girls and at the reunion I’ll pretend to rub up against anything that looks my way. Let’s see how she likes that. If I know Savy like I know I do, her jealousy will have her back in my arms by the time Sunday rolls around.”

“You think that’s really going to work. She’s a smart girl Sam and she has known you forever. Don’t you think she’ll see right through your plan?” Tyler said cautiously. “Besides I kind of already told her you came here to see her.”

“Ah Jesus Jensen. I guess I should have talked to you first. Well now is that Christa Archer standing at the bar next to Georgia?”

Tyler turned in her direction. “And that it is Mr. Reynolds. What a sight that is.”

Georgia and myself were still at the bar waiting for our next drink.

“Oh if I would of known there was a skank convention in town I would of dressed for the occasion” Georgia said to Christa as she strolled up to the bar to get a drink.

“Oh hi Georgia I knew I smelled white trash the minute I got up to the bar.”

“Fuck off skanky spice.” Georgia replied inches away from her face.

Just before Christa was about to smack Georgia’s lights out Sam walked up behind Christa. “ Hi Christa long time no see. You look fantastic.”

Christa closed her eyes and licked her big pouty lips. She turned to face Sam. “well if it isn’t Sam Reynolds. Last I heard you were in London. You look gorgeous as always.”

“Ew gross. You two are the perfect couple. Skank and an asshat.” Georgia mumbled. Sam squinted his eyes at Georgia then opened them smiling at Christa and said “ can I buy you a drink and then we can catch up?” Christa nodded like the dumb bobble headed bimbo she was. Sam put his hand to the small of Christa’s back and they made their way through the crowd.

I made my way back to the dance floor. Stunned and sickened.

“What in the hell is that!” Ella yelled to me on the dance floor.” What’s Sam doing talking to that bitch Christa Archer?”

I turned to see Sam and Christa at a small table in the corner and our eyes met briefly and he looked back at Christa and they continued their conversation. I felt the chunks of vomit begin to rise in my throat and my eyes became foggy. To hell with tears. Who needs them. I shed enough on that man. Lil and Maddy looked at me and saw I went pale. “ Let’s go Sav, into the bathroom before you puke all over Roy’s floors.”

We ran into the bathroom and I pushed open one of the stall doors. I hardly made it to the toilet when the remnants of my dinner greeted me .

“Ah geez Sav. What the hell is wrong with you? Lilian asked.

“She saw Sam and Christa talking over in the corner Lil.”

“Oh fuck” Lilian said quietly. “Guess it’s sluts night out.” I giggled a little as I sat on the floor next to the toilet. Maddy pushed my hair back from my face.

“Baby girl he is not worth it. Not worth you getting sick over. Let’s get you cleaned up and get back out there to have some fun.”

Why is she here and why is he talking to her. He knows how I feel about her. Is it the fake tits? The long legs? I just need to get through these next few days and then my interview. There was no way in hell I was coming back here for a 15 year reunion. It was already too much for me to take at once. The girls gave me breath mints and helped me reapply some lip gloss. We made our way out of the ladies room and back to our table.

Georgia turned to me and winked. “Want me to go punch her in her fake tits?” I laughed. “No Georgia.. But thanks for thinking of me.”

We all sat at the table. Our feet were killing us and we were hot. I saw Sam and Christa get up from their table and walk past ours. He nodded his head at us. “ Goodnight ladies.” He smirked “ Have a nice rest of the night Savannah”

Savannah! He never calls me that! What the... Ella began to get up from the table.

“That no good son of a …”

“It’s ok. He’s gone. I only have to see him one more time then I can avoid him like the plague for the rest of my life. This will be my last reunion girls. I’m done”. I got up from the table to call a cab.

CHAPTER 4

A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR

HELPS THE MEDICINE GO DOWN

Well Friday was a bust. I opened my eyes slowly and moaned as I rolled over to see Georgia still in the same clothes as last night. She reeked of Tequila. So did I for that matter. I heard a knock at the door. “ Hey lovebug and petunia. You guys awake?” It was mom. Dressed in a kimono type dress with long dangling earrings and smelling like she took a bath in some kind of lotion from Bath and Body Works. I so wanted to puke again.

“Hey mom. Good morning. “ I stretched and smacked Georgia in the head by accident.

“What the fuck Savannah” she yelled.

“Now, now Petunia watch your mouth.” my mom said quietly.

“Sorry mommy. I feel like I just got hit over the head with a shovel”

“Well it sounded like you girls had quite an evening last night. I heard the cab drop you off and I met you at the door. Georgia you were mumbling stuff about drunken booty calls and skanks and Sav you were saying something about punching people in fake boobs and some ones teeth being Zoomed white. I have no idea what you two did last night but I’m all kinds of confused. Who is up for some breakfast? My treat!” We both raised our hands in unison.

I got into a nice hot shower and put my head against the cold tiles. I kept playing in my head the image of Sam and Christa at that table. We sat at that table together after every one of my shifts at Roy’s when I was a waitress there. Sam drove me home all the time. He always took my shoes off and rubbed my feet. He always went to the bar and got me a glass of Ginger Ale. I began to have a flashback of those days.

“Baby you work so hard. I know you have to pay your half of the rent on you and Maddy’s apartment but why don’t you just ask your dad if he would at least help you out until you are done with school. It’s only 2 more months.”

“Sam I can’t. My dad has to help pay for Georgia’s tuition too. I feel so bad asking for help. It was my choice not to commute back and forth from the city to home. You got a full ride to LaSalle. Your parents can afford to help pay your rent. I have a few interviews lined up already for jobs and I put a few out online as well.”

“Oh yea? You didn’t tell me that? Where at?” Sam asked excitedly. “ Um a few in town, one in Jersey, Delaware, Boston.” I mumbled the last state.

“Huh? Say that last one again Savy? I didn’t quite get that?” He acted confused.

“Boston.” I said looking down. “ It’s a private school for wealthy and gifted kids. It’s to teach the whole voice program and it’s starting salary is outrageous.”

“Wow Sav. That is incredible. Just didn’t think you would apply for a job so far away. I mean we both decided to go to schools in the city so we would be close to each other. What happens if you get the Boston job? What’s it mean for us?” He looked concerned.

“I just applied Sam. It doesn’t mean anything. I’m just trying to keep all my options open. I seriously doubt they would hire someone who just graduated. Besides you go to one of the most prestigious business schools on the East Coast. If you applied around the same areas as I have maybe there would be a good chance of us being in the same city. They’d be crazy not to hire a smart handsome man such as yourself.”

“What if its not that simple Sav? What if I get offered a job in Philly and you get one is Boston then what?” He grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it. “You worry too much. We will cross that bridge when we come to it ok?” I’m sure he heard the worry in my voice. I didn’t think it through enough when I applied. I didn’t think about the separation part. How could I survive being apart from Sam like that. His head was still down. I placed my hand under his chin and raised his face to mine.

“You ok?”

“Yea I’m ok.” He gave me an unconvincing smile.

“Now lets go back to your place so you can do vial, dirty things to me.” I raised my eye brows up and down and gave him a sexy wink and a smile.

“I like the way you think lady”. With that he picked me up from under my thighs and carried me out of Roy’s and we headed straight for his bed.

My sister came into the bathroom and ripped open the shower curtain. “Christ Savannah let’s go! I’m fucking starving.” She woke me from my day dream. I got dressed and met my mom and Georgia in the car.

“Where we going ma? Georgia asked. “Tully’s of course.”

“Ugh mom do you think Mrs. Reynolds will be working today? I really don’t feel like having her grab me and squeeze the air out of my lungs and here ask beg me to talk to Sam”.

“Oh honey no worries Katie doesn’t work on Fridays or Saturdays. If it was Sunday then you’d have a problem.” I let out a sigh of relief. As I pushed open the door to Tully’s I heard the tiny bells on the door ring and it sounded like the liberty bell in my ears instead.

“Holy fucking hangover.” Georgia whispered in my ear. Just then I heard a gasp and a “ Savannah baby! Oh my goodness oh my goodness!”

Yep you guessed it, Mrs. Reynolds. Could this fucking trip get any worse. She ran around to me from the hostess stand. She wrapped her skinny long arms around me and shook me back and forth. “Oh honey it’s been what almost a year since I saw you last at the Christmas tree lighting. You look fantastic sweetheart!”

She was really a sweet woman and I loved her dearly. She always treated me like a daughter since Sam was an only child I was a permanent fixture in their house. I was always eating dinner there. I always vacationed with them to their house at the Jersey Shore. The Reynolds family had a way of making you feel welcome and a part of their family.

“Hi Mrs. Reynolds. I’ve missed you too. I love your new haircut. I bet Mr. Reynolds loves it!” I smiled and said back to her.

“Oh honey he wouldn’t notice even if I was bald and got my head tattooed. He asks for you often. He just asked Sam about you last week when he called us from London. I was so surprised when he told us he was coming home spur of the moment. Did you see him last night? Did you kids talk?”