When it was finally time to go, Katie couldn't have been more thrilled. She jumped off the couch, then went to get Morgan out of the bathroom. Once they had collected all of their things, the children said good-bye to one another (most of them) and they said thanks and left.
"Oh, that was nice." Judy said with a long sigh after they pulled out of the driveway.
"Yeah, right." Morgan grumbled from the back where she was sitting with Katie, who had a sleeping Madison on her lap.
"Oh, I know we had that little mishap, but at least you had fun part of the evening." Judy said, turning off their street.
"Judy, how would you like that to happen to you?" Morgan growled.
"I wouldn't, but I'm just saying, I saw you having fun part of the evening with Taylor, so it wasn't a total loss." Judy said, looking at Little Ben, who was peacefully snoozing in the front seat.
"I had fun." Krista said.
"Shut up, Krista." Sandra said.
"Hey." Judy said warningly from the driver's seat.
"What?" Krista said, looking at Sandra.
"You know what." She said.
"Just because you found out that Zac has no interest in you whatsoever doesn't' give you the right to be snotty to everyone else." Krista said.
"I'm not being a snot." Sandra said matter-of-factly.
"Oh yes you are, you always act like a snot anymore." Krista said, saying what everyone was thinking.
"I do not!" Sandra retorted.
"I mean, you were practically throwing yourself at Zac tonight, and everyone knew it. You shouldn't embarrass yourself like that, Sandra."
Sandra's mouth dropped open at the outburst of her usually quiet younger sister.
"Hey, be quiet if you aren't going to be nice." Judy said, looking at them through the mirror.
Sandra was sulking because Zac had politely told her that she was a little too young for him, and Sandra still hadn't let anyone forget about it. I know I'm not too young for him…it's only a few years…she thought to herself.
Morgan just sat back in the seat beside Katie, who was busy thinking. Zac had genuinely apologized and said good-bye before they had left and Katie wasn't sure how to take it. He had kept her gaze longer than usual, and she had turned away before anything else happened.
Once they were home, Katie went straight to her room after putting Madison in her bed. She walked over to the bathroom, brushed her teeth, washed her face, and went to bed. It had been a long day, and she was sure she would hear from Nicole before the day was over tomorrow. That would wear her out enough, she was sure.
I'll bet she's going to give me a whole bunch of crap about that stupid party she's throwing, Katie thought to herself. She certainly did not want to think about that. She rolled over and moved to the cooler side of the pillow to try and get to sleep.
She thought of Morgan and how embarrassed she must feel right now. God, I would hate to have my boyfriend see me topless, she thought. Morgan must have wanted to die right there. But, if she didn't get a boyfriend, maybe she wouldn't have to go through with that.
But try as she might, she couldn't keep Zac from being the last thing on her mind before she fell into a fitful sleep.
She awoke the next morning to see the rain pouring down her skylight. Katie groaned and sat up. She looked at the clock, seeing that it was past nine, and she should get up before she missed anything. She went to the bathroom to get cleaned up a little bit before going downstairs, where Judy was attempting to make breakfast.
"Honey, I don't know how to make pancakes." Judy was telling Madison.
"But I want some." Madison said, giving Judy her puppy-dog face.
"Here." Melissa said. "I'll make them." She said, taking the box from Judy.
"Thank you." Judy said, watching in amusement as the eight-year old poured the batter into the bowl.
Katie smiled at them, then went into the dining room to watch the rain pour down the windows. It would be a long day. Probably no going outside, which ruled out the pool, not that Katie exactly wanted to go there anyway.
Fifteen minutes later, Katie, Krista, Judy, Melissa, Madison and little Ben all had four pancakes each, thanks to Melissa.
"Where did you learn to make these?" Judy asked, loading up the dishes when they were through.
"All you have to do is read the directions." Melissa said, putting her plate in the dishwasher.
"Oh." Judy said, looking confused and a little silly. She looked over at Katie. "Where are your other two sisters? Still sleeping?" She asked, wanting to change the subject.
"They're still sleeping, I think." Katie said.
"They need to get up. I have to break those two of their awful sleeping habits. " Judy said.
"Good luck." Katie muttered. Morgan and Sandra had always slept until noon in the summer as far back as Katie could remember. She went back upstairs to get dressed, when she heard the phone ring. A few minutes later, she heard Judy calling at the bottom of the stairs.
"Katie! It's for you!" She yelled.
Katie, thinking it was just Nicole, took it from Judy. "Thanks. Hello?"
"Hi." A male voice said.
"Zac?" She asked immediately.
"No, this isn't Zac." It said.
"I'm stumped." She said with a slight laugh.
"This is Ian."
"Oh. Hi." She said, completely confused at why he would be calling her.
"Um, I was just calling to ask you something…" He paused. "Um, do you maybe wanna catch a movie later one or something?" He said.
"Yeah, yeah, that would be great." She said, thrilled that he would even be asking her.
"Well, it's going to be like a double date thing, so could you bring Nicole? I've got a buddy I think would be great with her." Ian said.
"Yeah, I'm sure I could get her."
"I mean, if that's okay with you." He added.
"Yeah, that's fine." She said.
"Cool."
"All right, where should we meet?" She asked.
"Okay, how about meeting me at the one at the mall, say, around two? We could maybe catch a few." He said.
"That's great." She said.
"Yeah, it seemed like a good idea."
"True."
"Not much to do here when it rains." He said glumly.
"No, I can see that." She said, looking out the window in the front hall.
"I'm paying, so never fear." He said.
"Thanks." She said.
"No problem." He said.
"Well, I guess I'll see you there."
"Yeah, one."
"Okay. Bye." She said.
"Bye."
Katie hung up the phone, and jumped up and down a few times before turning around to see Judy standing in the doorway.
"And just where are we going at one?" She asked, her eyebrows raised.
"Um, I was asked out on a date with Ian, to the movies, on a double date. " She said.
"Ah, do you need to know this young man?" Judy said.
"No." Katie said bluntly, before handing the phone back to her.
Why did she have to be so nosy? She thought to herself as she went up the steps to her room.
Just as she sat down at her desk to write in her journal, the phone rang again. She ignored it until she heard Judy call for her again. She ran down the hall and down the steps, where Judy handed her the phone.
She gave Judy a quizzical look before taking the phone, but Judy just shrugged her shoulders and went into the other room.
"Hello?" She said.
"Hi." A male voice said.
"Hi…Ian?" She asked.
"Nooo…this isn't Ian."
"Who is it?"
"This is Zac." It said.
"Oh…Hi Zac." She said.
"Listen, I was just calling to apologize again." He said.
"Oh, thank you." She said, still unsure of the whole situation.
"I'm just really sorry about the whole thing." He said.
"No, that's really okay. It's forgotten."
"Oh. Well, how's your arm?" He asked.
"Oh, it's fine." She said, looking at it herself.
"Well that's good." He said.
"Is Zac going to the movies today too?" Judy asked loudly while going to the kitchen.
Katie silently tried to smack her, but the phone cord wouldn't allow it.
"Oh, you're going to the movies today?" He asked.
"Yeah." Katie said slowly.
"So am I." He said.
"Really?"
"Uh huh."
"What a coincidence."
"Yeah." He said, not really knowing what do say.
"Maybe I'll see you there." She said.
"Maybe." He replied.
Sandra stomped down the steps glaring at Katie before going into the kitchen. Katie just glared back, knowing perfectly well why she was glaring at her.
"Um, why did you think I was Ian?" He asked.
"Oh, he just called." Katie replied.
"Oh." He said slowly.
"Yeah." She said.
"Well, that's all I called for." He said.
"Okay."
"Bye."
"Bye." She said, giving the phone to Judy with a death glare. She turned to go up the steps.
"What?" She said, giving her a sly grin.
Katie just stomped back up to her room, hoping for no more phone calls.
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