Ch71: New Best Friend

Cindy had just found a new best friend. Before she knew what she was doing, she swiftly kissed Steve on the cheek and blushed when she saw the stunned expression on his face. 

“Sorry,” she said. “I just wanted to thank you for sticking up for me.”

He blinked several times then shook his head. “I’m not, sorry.”

They stared at each other neither knowing what to say, and just as they both opened their mouths to speak, they were rudely interrupted.

“Hey, kids,” Donny said. “Ready to go home?”

Cindy quickly dropped Steve’s hand, turned to her father and then she hugged him round the middle. 

“Hi, Daddy. We can’t go home. Ms. Meadows invited me and Wes to dinner,” she said casting a hopeful glance at Wendy. Would she invite her dad, too? Oh, she sure hoped so!

Wendy elbowed Donny playfully. “See? I told you. Now you have to come too.”

 Donny laughed and kissed the top of Cindy’s curly head. “Here I thought you were lying to me and making up stories.”

“I will have you know, Mr. Sebastian, I tell no lies, but I make up stories all the time,” Wendy said, winking at Cindy.

“Just like my mom!” she said giggling.

“Well, not exactly. I never write them down and sell tons of books like she did. Maybe I should!”

“Mom, there isn’t enough food for all of us,” Steve said, glowering at Donny.

“What are you talking about? I spent all weekend cooking. There’s enough for the whole soccer team and half the neighborhood,” Wendy said.

“Fine," Steve grumbled. "You taking me home now?” 

“Actually I was hoping Troy or Wes could give us a ride. Alec dropped me off here, so I have no car,” Wendy said.

“You can come with us! Right, Dad?” Cindy said.

“Got plenty of room,” Donny said.

Wendy clapped her hands then hugged Cindy. “Yay! Let’s go.”

Wendy started down the steps clutching at Cindy and dangerously tottering on her heels, until Donny grabbed her arm. “I’d rather you hold on to me, Wendy. Cindy isn’t very sturdy,” he said.

“Yes, I am!” Cindy protested.

Wendy laughed. “Maybe your daddy’s just trying to tell me he’d rather not have you tumbling down the bleachers with me falling on top of you. I don’t like trips to the hospitals, either,” she said, taking his proffered arm.

Cindy giggled and let them go ahead of her. She then smiled at grumpy Steve and followed their parents. She couldn’t have been more delighted about her dad getting along so well with Steve’s mom nor Steve more ornery about the very same thing.

“Where did the girls go? I should tell them we’re leaving with you,” Wendy said, looking around for her twins and then walking off in search of them.

“Daddy, can me and Steve wait for you in the car?” Cindy said holding out her hand for the keys. 

Without think he fished them out of his pocket, dropped them into her expended hand and followed Wendy like a man in a trance. He found her talking to the girls just outside the gym doors.

“We’re staking our claim, Mom,” Janet said, pointing behind her to the same group of ruthless girls she had spoken to on the bleachers. “Jazzy may trust Troy but I don’t trust them.” 

“Hmm, I see why,” Wendy said, eying the girls who gave the distinct appearance of vultures awaiting the rightful owners—Jasmine and Janet-- to leave their carrion—Wes and Troy-- unattended.  “They do look ready to jump on the first thing that comes out of the locker rooms. I remember having to do this, too. High school just never changes. 

Anyway, make sure the boys know they are expected to come to dinner. Stevie and I will catch a ride with Donny and Cindy. See you soon.” 

She then turned around and smacked right into Donny who stood directly behind her.

Wendy laughed. “Sorry, Donny, I didn’t know you were there,” she said.

“Thought you might need some help finding them,” he said, offering his arm again, though unnecessarily now that she was on solid ground.

She took it anyway and they set off chatting amicably.

“Gees, what took you so long?” Steve asked peevishly. “We’ve been waiting forever!”

“Stevie, bring it down a notch,” Wendy said, slipping into the front seat and buckling up. “I had to find your sisters to make sure they knew to come home for dinner with the boys and to tell them we found a ride home.”

“They’re not stupid,” Steve snapped. "They would've figured it out."

“Funny,” Wendy said, quietly so only Donny could hear. “He often claims they are.”

Donny laughed.

“You’ll get out of that grumpy mood once I feed you…I hope,” she muttered.

“Don’t you just love teenagers?” Donny said.

"Oh, yeah... to pieces," she replied, rolling her eyes.

“Daddy, did you know, Ms. Meadows gave Wes and me breakfast this morning? French toast, super yummy!” Cindy said from the backseat.

Donny glanced over at Wendy who wore a smug expression on her face. 

“Well, wasn’t that nice of her. Hope you thanked her.”

“Of course we did!” Cindy replied. “She even said we should come over every morning and have breakfast with them. Isn’t that cool?”

“Way cool,” Donny said. “But two extra kids at breakfast every morning is crazy talk. She must have been deprived of sleep when she said it, so I wouldn’t take her at her word, Honey.”

“Really?” Cindy said, sadly.

“I say what I mean and I mean what a say, even early in the morning," Wendy said. "So, don’t listen to your dad, Cindy. You and Wes and Troy are all welcome every day for life!”

“She obviously stayed out in the sun for too long,” Donny said. He laughed when Wendy smacked him on the arm.

“You shouldn’t mess around while driving. It’s dangerous,” Steve said through clenched teeth.

“You’re right, Steve,” Donny said. “You better behave, Wendy, or you’ll get us all in trouble.”

“Me behave? Not likely!” Wendy said, just as they reached her house. She opened the front door and a cat streaked outside as if chased by a dog. “Stupid cat. Who told you to hide when I left this morning?” 

“Oh, what a pretty cat! What’s his name?” Cindy asked, watching it disappear into the bushes.

“Her name is Liatris, a stupid name,” Steve said.

“And Butt-kiss isn’t?” Wendy said walking into the house.

“You were gonna name her Butt-kiss?” Cindy said, giggling.

“No, that’s my dad’s dog. He got that name because he likes to...”

“Self-explanatory, Stevie, thank you,” Wendy quickly interrupted. 

Donny burst out laughing and she shoved him into the kitchen.

You’d think they were old friends, but a new friend, possibly a new best friend, is good too.