A Message from Delilah

A Message from Delilah

Chapter One

It was a warm, late spring morning in Arlington, Georgia. Meredith Brownlow stirred from her restless sleep early in the morning. The sun had just risen in the sky mere hours before. Meredith kicked off her covers, sweaty and hot and glanced over at the digital alarm clock at her bedside table. It read just over seven in the morning. Seven o’ nine to be exact. With a grin, she jumped up from her bed. It was June first, the first day of the summer break in the small town of Arlington. It was a long awaited time for the Sophomores of Arlington High School. In fact it was a long awaited time for any student. Summer break meant that she had two full months ahead of her without having to get up at six in the morning to head off to her school.

She sighed at the thought of her containment during the fall and spring semesters. She hated to be at school. It was that simple. She had to struggle to keep on the honor roll, and she hardly had any time for anything other than homework, housework, and baby-sitting. Now that she wasn’t at school until it was practically dark outside, she would be able to get out and do things with her friends and maybe even get some more baby-sitting time in so that she could have some extra pocket money.

Meredith went to her mirror and took stock of her appearance. Her dark brown hair was disheveled from a night of twisting and turning in her sleep but her dark eyes were exuberant. Today was to be an exciting one. She quickly brushed her hair and put it up into a lopsided ponytail. She moved to her closet and slipped on some shorts and a comfy tank top. Despite the late spring date, Arlington was already experiencing record highs when it came to temperatures. It would be nearly ninety degrees today, and she was in no mood to wear anything extra than she needed to. She decided it best to leave her sneakers in the closet. Instead, she chose a pair of black flip flops that matched her chosen attire for the day.

She went over to her desk and picked up the cordless telephone. She quickly straightened up her bed and lay down as she dialed a number that she could recite in her sleep. She waited a few moments and, after eight rings, the answering machine picked up. It did not dampen Meredith’s spirits however. After the beep had sounded, she spoke, “Come on, Sammie, pick up! I know you’re there…” Meredith’s best friend, Samantha Sanders, had her own phone line in her room. Sammie was probably still asleep. She always oversleeps, Meredith thought, impatient. When she was convinced that her friend had not heard her, she began to yell once more. “Samantha Sanders, get up this instant! I know you can hear me!” She waited for a moment before she heard her friend pick up on the other end.

“Hello?” Sammie inquired, groggily.

“Hey, Sam,” Meredith replied. Even from over the phone she knew that she must sound as chipper as a child in a candy store. “You do know what time you were supposed to get up, right?”

Sammie groaned inaudibly in answer. “I’m up! What are you talking about, Mere?” Meredith could hear her moving, more than likely turning over in bed. Her rickety frame always gave her away.

Meredith laughed. “Good one, Sammie, but your frame gave you away again…”

“Crap,” Sammie replied, smiling slightly herself. “I should have asked for a new bed for my birthday. Speaking of which, how was yours yesterday?”

Meredith shrugged on the other end, despite the fact that her friend couldn’t see her. Her sixteenth birthday had been nothing special. She hadn’t had a big party or a delicious birthday cake. In fact, she wasn’t even wished a “happy birthday” at all. Her father, James Brownlow, had been out on a business meeting in Seattle, Washington. He hadn’t even called her. And her step mother didn’t say anything either. Of course, Meredith didn’t expect her to. Julia Yates-Brownlow was always only concerned with herself. Meredith was positive she had married into the family only to take advantage of the money her father gained by going on extensive business trips.

Meredith had wanted a car for her sixteenth birthday, like any other girl her age. She didn’t need anything too fancy, just something to get her from school and home. She wasn’t even really too concerned about how it looked, as long as the windows weren’t held together with duct tape and she had seat belts and doors. She knew she wasn’t asking for much. She had seen several used cars in very good condition. They had low mileage and all that other stuff. They had only been around four thousand to five thousand dollars. Not too bad at all…

That hadn’t been what her step mother had thought. Meredith had brought up the conversation of getting her own car for her birthday nearly five months ago, when it was still cold outside. Her father would have easily been able to save up for it gradually, but Julia wouldn’t hear of it. She went on an elaborate spiel of how she needed to purchase her own car, and learn the “meaning of a dollar”. Her father had been easily swayed. He said that he would match the amount that she saved up for, which didn’t seem too bad to Meredith, though it did irritate her. If Julia wasn’t so greedy herself, she would have been given the car, she was almost sure of it.

Meredith sucked it up, however, and began to baby-sit every chance she got. She never spent what she earned. It was always safely stowed away into a jar in the back of her closet. She did have to admit that it had burnt quite a hole in her pocket. She had seen new CDs, clothes, and movies that she had wanted at the time, but she managed to keep her eyes on her goal at hand. She had saved up to this very day, and, with birthday money from her extended family and several friends, she had just reached over five thousand. She’d be able to buy that little blue car she had seen on the end of Grander Street.

“Meredith? Are you there?” Meredith was struck from her thought when Sammie addressed her. “Hello?”

“Yeah, Sammie, I’m here. Sorry…”

“So,” Sammie was excited and giggly on the other end, despite the face that she had just woken up minutes before, “you were telling me what your birthday was like.”

“Oh, it wasn’t that big a deal, Sammie,” Meredith replied, trying her hardest to keep her disappointment from her voice. “Dad was gone and all, so we really didn’t do anything. I got Kyle to take me out in his mother’s car so I could take my driving test. I got my license at least…”

“Oh,” Sammie’s voice fell on the other end. She sympathized with her pain. She had had a big party herself. Her birthday had been on a Friday, so it had been easy to go to school, and then celebrate it with friends later on that night. “I’m sorry, Meredith. You know I would have come if I didn’t have to go to church right? I tried to talk my parents out of letting me go this one time, but-”

“Don’t worry about it, Sammie,” Meredith interrupted. “I was expecting my dad to be gone anyway. Julia isn’t intelligent enough to remember and plan a birthday, you and I both know that,” she teased.

“I guess,” Sammie still sounded quite hurt over the phone, most likely the result of guilt. “Still, I wish I could have been there…” She tried to brighten up the conversation, both for her own benefit and for that of her friend’s. “Well, Kyle and I’ll give you a party tonight you won’t soon forget, I promise!” Sammie paused for a moment before continuing. “I tell you what, don’t eat breakfast, okay? I’ll be over there in about thirty minutes. We can stop by Kyle’s and we can all go out to Denney’s. Then we can swing by and get that little blue car you’ve been wanting. We had planned on doing that today anyway…”

Meredith smiled at her friend’s attempt to cheer her up. In fact, after such a horrible day yesterday, she needed the comfort of her friends. “That sounds, great, Sammie.” Her mouth started to water at the thought of blueberry pancakes. “I can already taste it! I’ll see you soon.”

“Okay, I’ll be there in a few. Remember to get your money out!”

Meredith giggled, “I will. I’ll see you later.” She hung up the phone and placed it back on the receiver. She moved about her room, trying to burn the next thirty minutes. She went to her bathroom and brushed her teeth and washed her face. As she made her way back to the bathroom, she noticed her father’s bedroom door creak. She had to suppress a moan. She had hoped that she would have been able to sneak out before Julia woke up. Now she would have to battle her way outside.

She let the matter be and retreated to her room until she heard the familiar horn of Sammie’s Sentra. She skipped to her window and pulled aside the curtains. Just as she had suspected, Sammie was parked in her driveway, with Kyle right beside her in the passenger seat. She had apparently swung by and gotten him first. She waved down vigorously and then bolted to her closet where she retrieved an envelope from inside and old shoe box. She did her best to keep her money out of sight and hidden. Otherwise Julia would probably accuse me of stealing from her purse, she thought, shamelessly. She bolted from her bedroom, grabbing her purse, and went down the stairs, skipping several steps at a time. The front door was in sight as she made it to the bottom of the staircase.

“Meredith? Is that you?”

Meredith winced at the sound of Julia’s voice from down in the kitchen. Of course, she thought annoyed. She couldn’t just leave me alone. She decided to become the “wonderful, loving step mom” when the time is convenient for her… Julia appeared from the kitchen with a steaming mug of coffee in her hand. Her hair was still messy from the night before and she wore her thick pink bathrobe with matching house shoes. She raised a brow at her step daughter’s appearance. To Meredith it looked to be as condescending as ever. “Where are you going?”

Meredith was in no mood for her attitude. She wasn’t her mother. She wouldn’t have to listen to her and her father wasn’t there to stop her. “I’m going out,” she stated minimally. She didn’t mention to go get a new car. She was almost positive that Julia didn’t even know that she had a license. Course I snuck out to get that yesterday, too… Hey, my sixteenth birthday had to have been of some importance.

“I don’t remember you telling me you were going out with your friends,” she replied, taking a sip of her coffee. Her voice was neutral. It didn’t suggest reproachfulness or annoyance, but Meredith knew better. She had that strange, kind way of being a witch.

“I didn’t ask your permission,” Meredith responded, her eyes livid. She didn’t even attempt to hide her anger. She knew that she could get away with it with Julia. If she had talked in such a way with her father, however, she would have been picking herself out of the drywall.

Julia blanched a moment at being addressed in such a way, but quickly regained her composure. She had a temper just like that of her step daughter’s, but she tried her best to mask it. “Well, where are you going? I’d feel more-”

“Oh, don’t even try to act like you care about my well-being!” Meredith spat, disgusted. “If you can’t even remember my birthday, how can you even pretend like you care!?” She hastily made her way over to the door. “In fact, I’m surprised you even remembered my name!” She slammed the door behind herself, just as Julia was about to say something. She didn’t care anymore.

Meredith all but ran over to Sammie’s car and hopped in the back seat. She slammed the door shut. “Quick, go.” Sammie didn’t ask any questions but backed out of the driveway as quickly as possible. As she did, Meredith saw Julia peeking out from the living room window. Kyle looked back and followed her gaze. “Did she give you any trouble? Was that what took you so long?”

Meredith sighed and slumped back in her seat. “Yes, she heard me come down the stairs and then started to interrogate me as to where I was going. You know, like a ‘good’ stepmother…” She rolled her eyes as her own sarcasm.

Her friends humored her and pretended to act angry as well. They knew Julia wasn’t all that bad, but, of course, they didn’t live with her either. “So,” Sammie said checking her rearview mirror as she tuned onto a rather busy street, “do you want to head over to Grander Street or do you want to eat some breakfast first?”

“Yes,” Kyle added. His smile was winning, as usual. His sandy blonde hair seemed like it had been brushed through with his fingers and he had a new lip ring on the left side of his bottom lip. “We’ll celebrate your birthday today since neither of us could make it yesterday. The city is yours! You name it, we’re there! Course my mother wants me back at the house by ten tonight,” he added in mock sadness, grinning.

“I’d rather eat something first,” Meredith replied, smiling. Kyle always managed to cheer her up, no matter the situation. They had been friends ever since the third grade, and they both had been friends with Sammie ever since the fifth grade when her family moved to Arlington. She spied his new diamond lip ring. “I see you dressed up for the occasion,” she teased.

He grinned, “Only the best for my little Mere.”

It took the trio quite a while to get across town to the nearest Denney’s, even though it was summer vacation. Adults were still out on the road, racing to get to their jobs on time. After all, it was still a Monday. Sammie slammed on her breaks, narrowly missing a car that had steered out in front of her in an attempt to switch into the turn lane as the last moment. She hit her steering wheel in frustration as the light at the intersection she had been creeping up into abruptly turned yellow. She muffled a curse.

“Now, now. There’s no need for profanity,” Kyle teased. Sammie, however, was in no mood for jokes. She gave him a glare, yet somehow they both knew she was never really angry with him. They had only had an argument once before, and that had been when Sammie had been rather…testy, during a certain time of the month.

“I would let you drive in this mess. That is if I didn’t know you had just recently totaled your car…”

“You didn’t have to bring that up…” Kyle’s voice was one of mock pain and his face looked like that of a whipped puppy.

When the light turned green, Sammie stepped up in the gas. Meredith found herself pulling her seat belt a little tighter about her waist and gripping the handle on the door. Meredith loved Sammie to death, but she hated carpooling with her. Sammie had the worse case of road rage throughout all of south eastern Georgia, and she often would find her friend going several miles per hour over the speed limit while trying to past some of the slower moving cars. Meredith promised herself that she would do everything within her power to have the same diving examiner. Honestly, she didn’t know how Sammie had obtained her permit, let alone her license, but she never spoke her words. Having Sammie drive her about was better than staying stranded at home with her step mother.

They turned onto the nearest street and, at long last, Denney’s was in sight. “It’s about time,” Sammie muttered to herself as she drove into the parking lot and began to look for a parking space. Thankfully, their search was not as difficult as it was to actually get to the restaurant. A family was just beginning to back out when they had come upon them. Sammie parked and they all filed out of the car. The summer heat was quite the contrast from the air conditioner in the car.

Kyle glanced up into the clear, cloudless sky to see the position of the sun. It was still rising and already the temperature was boiling. “It’s going to be a scorcher today,” he commented. Meredith nodded in agreement as they walked over to the entrance of the restaurant. She had noticed it early that morning, even before she had stepped outside. She sighed as they opened the door and saw numerous people sitting in the seats near the windows and entrance. Others were standing and aimlessly walking about the small waiting area, hoping to get seated soon. Meredith began to wish she had decided to get her car first. It would have given the morning rush time to settle down.

Sammie approached the hostess and requested a table for three. She glanced about the restaurant and tried to keep the frown from her face, for Meredith. “About how long of a wait do you think there will be?” she asked. Maybe it if were too long, she could convince her friend to stop and eat over at Hardees. They had good food as well, but it wouldn’t take a half hour to be seated.

The middle-aged woman, clad in the traditional apron, looked down at the sheet and smiled. “You’re in luck, sweetheart. We had a couple leave before they could get seated. Could you deal with a chair pulled up to the side of your table?”

Sammie looked a little apprehensive. It was undoubtedly going to be a small table and trying to fit everyone into a two-seater table, in addition to their food, would be difficult. She was about to ask if they had anything else, but Kyle spoke first. “Yes, ma’am we can,” he stated with a smile, ignoring Sammie’s irritated glare. Meredith grinned as the hostess took some menus from the desk beside her. “Right this way…”

“Kyle, all of us are not going to fit-” Sammie started.

Kyle lowered his voice, watching Meredith follow the hostess, “Just try to enjoy it for Mere, okay? She’s had a rough birthday and week to top it off. The least we could do is enjoy the breakfast…” Sammie sighed but knew that he was right.

When they were seated, they found that it was indeed going to be a tight fit, but they could make it work. After they had placed their orders and drinks, they sat back and enjoyed each others’ company. “So, Meredith, was your driving test hard yesterday?” Sammie asked, intrigued. Hers had not been that difficult. “Ah, I was there,” Kyle stated, eyes caught on they tray that a waiter was carrying to another table. “She passed with flying colors. Hmm…maybe I should have gotten French Toast…” Sammie gave him a playful elbowing for interrupting, but motioned for Meredith to continue.

She shrugged. “It wasn’t too hard at all. I was asked to drive around the block and some of the surrounding streets, and since I went and tested early in the morning, there weren’t many people on the road at the time. Pretty easy; don’t know why I was so worried about it,” she added.

“What’d I tell ya’,” Kyle grinned and clapped Meredith on the back. “We have ourselves a friend who can legally drive…and without giving us all panic attacks when we carpool.”

“Oh, ha ha,” Sammie replied without the least bit of humor in her voice.

Meredith gave her friend a small hug, “He was just kidding, Sam. You know we love you, despite your…bravery behind the wheel.” She had to choose her words carefully.

Sam threw a lock of blonde hair over her shoulder, acting as if not to believe their words. Either that or that she was too good for them. “Well, I didn’t see you two getting your licenses before me.” She gave both her friends a smug smile. “Who was the one who played taxi for you both when you wanted to go out on the weekends?”

Meredith and Kyle exchanged knowing looks from across the table, “You were,” they admitted in unison.

“And that’s why we value your friendship,” Kyle replied, giving her one of his winning smiles.

Sammie couldn’t help but smile. She rolled her eyes, “Gee, thanks.”

Meredith tried to calm her excitement as Sammie drove near Grander Street and to where her new car would be. The street was a quiet one, especially since it was early in the week. Meredith fleetingly worried if the owner, Mrs. Pilkington, would be home. She had talked to her over the phone and had arranged the fact that she would buy the car, but hadn’t decided on a specific day, seeing as she wasn’t sure she would get her license. She tried to keep the negative thoughts from entering her mind. After all, this was the day when all her hard work and savings would pay off. That and she would be thrilled by the fact that she had gotten it without her father’s help. Already, she couldn’t wait to see the astonished look on Julia’s face.

“I think this is where I turn,” Sammie mumbled to herself as she saw the street sign ahead of her. “Grander’s off here, isn’t it?”

Meredith nodded. “Yeah.”

They three pulled up to a rather small grey house. The lawn was neatly trimmed and the flower beds that lined the walkway were in full bloom. The birds took full advantage of the expensive bird bath that had been placed outside and there were even potted plants on the front porch. Meredith smiled. Just as she though, the little blue car was still parked at the edge of the driveway. The “for sale” sign had been taken out, which had kept anyone else from inquiring about the car. To her relief, another car was parked in the driveway, indicating that someone was home.

Sammie parked and all three filed out of the car. “Looks like someone’s here,” Sammie commented. “See, Mere, you were worrying over nothing.”

Meredith approached the front door, followed by her friends closely behind. She tried her best to keep away from the overflowing amount of plants. She didn’t want to disturb them after the owner had worked so diligently. She gave a soft knock on the front door, one that was almost inaudible. Kyle sighed and all but punched his fist through the cherry wood finish on the door. Both girls gave him a nasty look. “What?” he asked. “They’re not going to know you’re here unless you knock louder. I was standing right here and I couldn’t hear it.” Meredith thought it was little justification for his action but said nothing further.

The trio waited a minute or so and still there was no answer at the door. “Hmm…” Sammie looked about the front porch and noticed that the planted that were sitting beside her were freshly watered, so much so that there water drops were still present on the leaves. Someone had to be home. Kyle raised his hand to knock but Sammie gave him a fierce glare. She knocked once more instead. Another minute passed and there was still no answer.

“Maybe they aren’t home,” Kyle reluctantly stated.

“Someone’s home,” Sammie countered, sure of herself.

“Oh, so it was you three that made that racket.” The trio turned to see an older woman behind them. She was dressed in baggy pants with dirt on the knees and a breezy shirt. Dirty gardening gloves covered her hands and an extravagant pink sunhat covered her graying hair.

Kyle snorted with laughter and was immediately elbowed rather sharply by Sammie. “Ow! What was-”

“Mrs. Pilkington?” Meredith interrupted Kyle’s self-pity.

The woman nodded, the wide brim of her hat flopping about wildly. “Yes? And you are? I’m not interested in buying anything for fundraisers. Gee, seems like kids these days don’t know what it’s like to be on social security. I do have a limited income.”

Meredith blushed slightly. “No, ma’am. You don’t understand. I’m-”

“I’m not interested in the book of Mormon either,” she added. “I’ve had two come by here within the last few hours…”

“We’re not here to sell anything,” Meredith replied. “Or convert you. I’m Meredith. We spoke over the phone about a week ago. I’m interested in your car.”

Mrs. Pilkington’s eyes brightened a bit and it seemed like her demeanor changed within a second. “Oh, Meredith! I’m glad you’re here. I didn’t know you were coming today. If I did, I wouldn’t have been out in my garden ‘round back.”

Meredith smiled, stepping down from the porch. “It’s fine, really,” she replied. “I should have called first. We were just in the neighborhood, so I’d figure I’d stop by and if you were home I could go ahead and buy the car.”

Mrs. Pilkington raised an eyebrow. Meredith could detect the surprised look on her face, even with the hat casting a shadow over it. “Of, course,” she replied. “You have the money with you and everything?” She had expected the teenager to be accompanied by a parent with a checkbook.

“Yes, Ma’am,” Meredith replied. She began to grope about her purse and pulled out the thick envelope that held several months’ work or hard labor. “Five thousand was what we agreed upon, right?” She held the envelope out the elderly woman. “You can check it if you like. It’s all there.”

Mrs. Pilkington gently took the envelope while giving Meredith a curious look. She opened the top and found that there were indeed several hundred dollar bills among other various fifties, tens, and fives. “It’s all here,” the woman replied with a smile after a minute or so of counting them up.

Kyle, however, hadn’t liked the incredulous look that she had given Meredith when she handed over the money. He narrowed his icy eyes. “It’s not counterfeit if that’s what you’re thinking,” he retorted. He didn’t bother to keep the distaste from his tone.

“Kyle!” Sammie hissed.

Mrs. Pilkington gave him a reproachful look, but smiled warmly when she turned her attention back to Meredith. “I’m very surprised, to be completely honest. I thought you would have a family member buy the car for you.” She indicated the envelope. “Did you earn this all yourself?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Meredith answered. She couldn’t hide the fact that she was a little proud. After all, the car would be all hers. Her parent’s would be able to take any claim on it.

Mrs. Pilkington gave an approving nod. “Well, good for you.” She dug through the envelope and pulled out five one-hundred dollar bills. “Here. We’ll settle for 4500 hundred. Use this for gas or something nice for yourself.”

Meredith brightened a bit and reached for the money. “Are you sure?”

Mrs. Pilkington nodded, “Completely.” She went up the front porch steps. “Just let me get the car’s paperwork and key for you.” The woman kicked her muddy Keds off before entering the house.

Sammie gave her friend and excited smile. “You’re finally getting your car!”

Kyle still wasn’t over the fact that Mrs. Pilkington had acted so rude earlier. “I dunno, Mere. Is this really the car you want? We went and looked through a lot others. Maybe there’s a better one.”

Meredith gave a slight laugh. “You’re the one who checked the car out, Kyle. You said it was one of the best ones we came across. Especially with the mileage.”

“Well, still…” he replied. “I don’t trust that ol’ bag. Probably put sugar in the engine or something.”

“Will you stop that?” Sammie interjected. “If you hadn’t have been so rude earlier, she would have been more friendly towards you.” She turned to Meredith. “So, how many miles does it have on it?”

“About sixty thousand,” she responded. “Mrs. Pilkington said she really only drove it to church and the grocery store.”

Kyle grunted. “Let’s just hope she doesn’t take that ridiculous hat to church!”

“Humph!” Mrs. Pilkington had walked out of the door just in time to hear his last comment. She eyed him up and down. “My hat isn’t nearly as bad as that hook caught in your lip! At least I don’t go to church looking like I lost a fight with a tackle box.” Both girls couldn’t help but laugh and Kyle was silenced to say the least.

Mrs. Pilkington approached Meredith and gave her the paperwork. “Here’s everything you’ll need. The car manual and registration and all that stuff.” She handed over a single key on a keychain. “And here’s your key. There should already be quite a bit of gas in the car.”

Meredith gratefully accepted the items. “Thank you very much, Mrs. Pilkington.”

“No, thank you, dear.” She shook her hand. “It’s been great meeting you.” She turned to Kyle, her face livid. “I wish I could say the same for others.”

Kyle opened his mouth to respond, but Sammie quickly pulled him away and toward her car. “We have to be going now,” she explained to the older woman. “I hope you have a wonderful day.”

The woman nodded, “I will.” She turned to Meredith, smiling. “Enjoy the car.” She went around the side of the house as the others left and, opening a fence that surrounding the back yard, began to tend to her vegetable garden once more.

Meredith held the key to her new Mercury Sable tightly in her hand. She finally had her own car. All those months babysitting rowdy infants had finally paid off. She approached the driver’s side and opened the door.

“Hey, Mere!” Sammie called from her open window in her car. “Let’s drive by my house and drop my car off. We can spend the rest of the day in yours.” She glared at Kyle. “That way you can drive and I won’t have to listen to Kyle complain about mine.”

Meredith chuckled, “Sure.”

To Meredith, the day seemed to fly by. As they had planned, Meredith drove her friends about the small town and, when they saw something interesting to do, they would stop and check it out. They had played a few games of mini golf, all of which Meredith won under the suspicion that her friends let her. To Kyle’s disappointment, the girls decided to shop about at a couple thrift stores and vintage shops. And, just as he thought, they spend over two hours just browsing.

They had dinner around six. Sammie and Kyle both treated Meredith to a meal at her favorite restaurant, the Silver Dragon Chinese Buffet. Meredith had assured them both that she didn’t want to have her belated birthday acknowledged, but they had managed to sneak the information to the waiter. She had been in the middle of eater her sugary Chinese doughnut when the waiter came behind her and sounded a gong. Several other waiters joined in on the singing, and, in the end despite the fact that she had nearly been scared out of her chair, Meredith got a chance to sound the gong.

The trio decided to end the night at the movies. They had recently seen previews for a horror flick they all wanted to see. Meredith drove down the highway about twenty minutes out of Arlington, the neighboring town, Crawford. Crawford was lucky to have one of the few remaining drive-in movie theaters left in Alabama. In fact, ever since the three friends found out about its existence, they had never stepped foot inside a theater again.

Currently, Meredith, Sammie, and Kyle were parked slightly left of the movie screen next to several other cars. The movie was set to start within the next ten minutes. Some people were going over to the concession stand for popcorn and other late minute munchies while others were locking their cars and sitting on the hood. The trio preferred to stay in the car. It was more traditional, after all.

Meredith cut the car off and pulled her knees up to her chest so she could sit comfortably without the steering wheel getting in the way. “Guys,” she started the conversation, ending the silence in the car. “Thanks. I really enjoyed today. You didn’t have to do everything you did.”

Sammie, who was sitting in the passenger seat with her feet propped up on the console, shrugged off the thanks, “You know we wouldn’t have it any other way, Mere.”

Kyle, who had been stretched out in the back, sat up and poked his head between the front seats. “She’s right. We missed it yesterday, anyway. Oh! I just remembered.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a gift card to Wal-mart. “I got you this. I wasn’t exactly sure what you wanted…”

Sammie, too, pulled out a card from her purse. “I gave you a gift card as well. It’s not much, I know.”

Meredith smiled and took the presents. “Thank you both. I’ll need it. My extra five hundred is only going to last so long.” She sighed and gazed back up at the still blank screen. “I need to get a job.” At least it’ll keep me out of the house, she thought.

“Well,” Sammie shrugged, “A lot of places are hiring this time of year.”

“True,” Meredith replied.

It was then that the movie started up and once again the car grew silent. I really do need a place to get away to during the summer, Meredith thought. And that pays decently well, too. She concluded that she would worry about the situation the following day. After all, it was still her night and her three best friends sat beside her. She smiled, content for the first time in months.