She's Got the Rhythm

Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Wonderful Surprise

Yay, new chapter! I think you guys will like this one :D I know it's a bit shorter than the usual, but I think you'll still enjoy it.

            The next few weeks were hell. I could still play the drums, but only by myself, or with John, who was never even home much anymore. I had to stay away from all the guys, and it didn’t help that school would start back up in a few weeks.

            Hannah insisted on taking me shopping-‘So you’ll look sexy for the new school year!’-but I refused. I didn’t leave the house for a week unless it was to go see my therapist or lawyer, or go for a run in the neighborhood. My court case wasn’t until September, and August had just barely started.

            I had to admit, I was getting pretty antsy in the house, thinking about the trial and whether I’d win or not. I had a gut feeling that I would, but you can never be too sure.

            Fed up with being in the house, I announced, “I’m gonna go grab some coffee at Starbuck’s.”

            Dad looked up from his spot on the couch and said, “Are you going to be fine going alone?”

            “Yeah,” I grabbed the car keys from the top of the fridge.

            “Okay,” he went back to his football game on television and I stepped outside. Ah, the feeling of fresh air was nice.

            After unlocking the car, I blasted the air conditioning and turned on the radio to the country station. Don’t know why, but I’ve been really into country music lately.

            It was four o’clock in the afternoon, and the Scottsdale Fashion Square was packed with eager shoppers. A group of young, middle-school girls crossed the street, their tanned arms accessorized with an array of multi-colored shopping bags. I waited for them to pass and then found a parking spot in front of Starbuck’s.

            When I walked inside, the place wasn’t as bustling as usual. A strawberry blonde and a dark haired guy sat at a table close to the window, probably on a causal coffee date. An old man with hair that was starting to gray sat at a table by himself, sipping on his hot drink while reading the newspaper. In line, there was only a mother with two quiet little toddlers.

            After they got their drinks, I ordered an iced caramel macchiato for myself and sat down in the back, obscured from the entrance. I pulled out my Kindle and picked up where I left off in one of my all-time favorite books, The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen.

            I was so absorbed in my book that I didn’t notice a guy with chocolate brown hair had sat down at the table next to me. I tried going back to my book, but it was impossible; I was too distracted. I knew this guy from somewhere, I knew him.

            I took another sip of my drink, which resulted in an obnoxiously loud slurping noise.

            The guy craned his neck and I was too embarrassed to say anything; I went back to my book. Still feeling uneasy, I got up to go to the restroom, hoping that he would have already left when I came back out.

            No, he was still there, alright. Except this time, there was something blue stuck on my table. More particularly, a sticky note.

Do I know you from somewhere?

          I glanced back quickly at him; our gaze was unbreakable this time. Our eyes locked almost instantaneously. Just looking into his deep blue eyes made me remember. It made me remember everything. I grabbed my stuff and took a seat across from him.

            He passed me his pad of sticky notes and a sharpie.

I think so, I wrote. Adam, right? I added at the bottom and slid it across the table.

Yes and you’re Mandy? He wrote.

Indeed, I drew a winky face next to it.

            “You do talk, right?” he finally spoke up; his voice was as calming as an ocean’s waves at midnight.

            I couldn’t help but start giggling, it was the first moment I had been happy in months.

            “You still didn’t answer my question,” he raised one of his eyebrows.

            “Yes, yes, I’m Mandy,” I replied, shaking my head like an idiot.

            “Wow, who knew we would meet again? Florida seems like it was such a long time ago,” he remarked.

            “Yeah, I know,” I agreed.

            “So, how’s the band coming along?” a smile emerged from the corners of his mouth.      

            The worried expression that overcame my face instantly made him look more concerned than ever. “Did you guys break up or something?” he inquired.

            “We’re just taking a little break,” I contemplated whether or not I should tell him the truth. It seemed like it would completely ruin this moment. “So what are you doing in Arizona, anyway?” I said, changing the subject.

            He shrugged. “My dad got relocated because of his job, so I’m pretty much stuck with him until I go to college.”

            “Right,” I nodded. “Where are you guys staying now?”

            He gave me the directions to his house.

            “That’s not too far from where I live. Maybe we’ll see each other again sometime,” I grinned, getting ready to leave.

            “Definitely,” he threw away his coffee. “Do you have any other plans for tonight?”

            “Unless watching another marathon of Gilmore Girls and eating junk food count, then no,” I got up and tossed my empty cup in the trash.

            “Good,” he laughed. “Wanna go on an adventure?” he asked, completely out of the blue.

            “Depends, will there be food?” I tapped my chin thoughtfully.

            “Yes,” he answered.

            “Count me in,” I looked right up at him. Could he be any more perfect then he appeared?

            “Let’s go,” he grabbed my hand and held it in his and we ran outside to the parking lot.

            “Where are we going?” I squealed, getting the attention of other pedestrians.

            “It’s a surprise,” he unlocked his car and we hopped in. “Buckle up.”

            “This isn’t technically kidnapping if you know me, right?” I questioned.

            “I wouldn’t think so.”

            “Just making sure.”