Sarah and Kevin 33

April

Thursday evening, Sarah leaned against the door to her rooms with her arms folded around a notebook. Peter had just finished showering and was getting dressed in his bedroom. Kevin was leaning against the door next to her, their arms touching.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Kevin asked quietly.

She looked up at him. "Positive. I'll be OK."

Peter came out of the bedroom. He ignored both of them and walked into the kitchen. Sarah saw Keith staring daggers into Peter's back as he passed. She followed Peter with Kevin on her heels.

"Ready?" she asked. He didn't respond. He just waited by the back door.

"See you later," she said to Kevin.

"Be careful," he said.

She smiled at him and led Peter out to the garage. When they got in the truck, Peter turned his head and looked out the window. Sarah sighed and started the truck.

They drove into town in silence. Sarah was not going to try to keep up a one-sided conversation. She found a parking spot behind the church.

"We're early. Come on and I'll introduce you to Jason." Sarah said.

They entered the back door of the church and walked down to the basement.

A man with striking white hair was setting up chairs in a circle in the corner of the basement.

"Hi Jason," Sarah said.

"Sarah!" He came over and gave her a big hug. "It's good to see you." He smiled at her and made no indication that he noticed her battered face.

"You must be Peter," Jason said and held out his hand. Peter hesitated, then took Jason's hand.

"My name is Jason. Why don't you help me set up the rest of these chairs?"

Peter nodded briefly and set to work.

"Thank you" Sarah mouthed at Jason. He winked at her.

"I'll be out in the truck when you're done, Peter." she said. He didn't respond.

She sat in the truck. God, I can't believe how angry he is with me. A week ago, he did everything he could think of to get in bed with me and now he won't even talk to me. She turned on her flashlight, opened her journal and began writing.

Two hours later, Peter opened the passenger door and got in. He didn't speak, so Sarah remained silent and drove home.

Peter was out of the truck before she even stopped the engine. She sighed and slowly followed him into the house.

As she entered the door, she heard Peter singing with the band. She smiled. At least he's still singing, even if he isn't talking to me. She sat on the top step and listened to them play. They really are good, she thought. I hope buying them time gets them the break they need.

After a couple of songs, she went up to her rooms. Her phone was ringing. She rushed to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Hi Sarah. It's Jason."

"Oh, hi. Thank you so much for not making a big deal about my face," she said.

"I'm used to not noticing things, but that's why I'm calling you. Did you go to the doctor?"

"No."

Jason sighed. "I knew it. Girl, you need to stop being so stubborn. You should have been x-rayed."

"And what? Have Mark over here arresting my musicians? As it was, he came over with a whole team the next day and now he's not talking to me."

Jason laughed. "I can just imagine how that went."

"It was bad. Not as bad as it could have been, but bad." She hesitated a moment. "I know you're not supposed to talk about it, but was he OK?"

She could almost hear Jason carefully choosing his words. "He's about like most of them who come against their will."

She exhaled. "OK. I won't ask you anything else. And don't worry about me. I'm pretty sure nothing's broken and I'm doing everything the doctor would tell me to do plus some things he wouldn't."

"Alright, Sarah. See you next week."