jamie and eric-18-a decision is made

Jamie sighed, marking his page he got up and headed into the kitchen.

Bridgett let her thought drop as Jamie left the room. She tapped her pencil. “I just want us to get along like we used to.”

Dahlia rolled her eyes. “I don’t think that will ever happen.” Dahlia examined her homework problem again. Bridgett looked down at her book sadly. She really didn’t want to read this article. Although every article was important background information, there was so much overlap and so many words… Keeping her place with her finger she flipped forward to the end of the article, and contemplated the thickness of the article.

Jamie came back into the room carrying three glasses of strawberry lemonade, much to the appreciation of the girls. “I think cool drinks help with hot tempers,” he smiled.

“Uh-huh,” Dahlia commented as she gulped down the sweet drink. Jamie settled in front of his book again and before he could find his spot on the page Bridgett asked, “Don’t you miss Eric?”

Jamie started a little. Bridgett hadn’t asked this specific question before. Or any question along those lines. The answer was yes and he didn’t want to say that.

“Yes.” Jamie said at last. Looking at his page, he waited for her next question.

“Invite him to go to dinner in town with us.” Bridgett pleaded. Jamie squirmed. “Or I could.” Bridgett offered. Dahlia snorted. She had already heard about Bridgett’s and Eric’s reunion. Bridgett shot her a dirty look, but relented. “I bet he would come if you invited him, Jamie. Please invite him.”

“Are we going to dinner in town tonight?” Jamie avoided answering. “Yes,” Bridgett declared, “you, me, Dahlia, and… I rustle up a couple of kids from class, and Dahlia will invite Tonya.”

“Tomorrow’s a school day, thank you very much Miss I-can-get-up-whenever-I-want!”

“Take one for the team,” Bridgett shot back.

“I still think he’s an ass.” Dahlia retorted.

“Well?” Bridgett asked turning to Jamie.

Jamie so rarely left this room. Neat, quiet room. With its comfy brown couch and Jamie’s black-topped lab table over in the corner. In the past he had never felt so scared to leave, but now he realized how dependent he was on the nice quiet world Master Brown provided him with.

“Sure, fine. If he shows up before dinner time, I’ll invite him to join.”