Sarah's POV
The doorbell rang just as I finished pinning my hair up. After many hours of staring at my closet, I decided to go casual. I wore my favorite pair of blue jeans, a white tank top with a baby blue cardigan with flowers and paired it with the same colored heels and handbag.
I made my way down the stairs towards the door but was beaten to it. "Ahh!! Dave. Come on in. Sarah is just upstairs finishing getting ready. Shouldn't be much longer."
"I'm here," I smiled as I walked down the last three steps.
I looked up to see a smile on Dave's face. I could feel a blush as he looked me over, head to toe.
"Aww honey!!" My mom came up and gave me a tight hug. Almost too tight but I didn't show her the pain. Instead I couldn't help but chuckle as I looked over her shoulder at Dave covering his mouth to stop him from laughing.
"You're father is at work but you guys have fun. Not too much fun of course!!"
"Oh goodness. Mother. Please stop." Dave laughed in the background.
"Now you!" It was my turn to laugh as Dave jumped. "You better take very good care of my daughter. Understand me?"
"Of course Mrs. Sanders. I will have her home safe and sound." Wow he's good at first impression. Then again he is an actor.
Still weird.
We walked out of the house and towards his car. He walked toward my door and opened it for me. After I had gotten in he shut the door and jogged to his side. Without talking he started to pullout out of my driveway. I took deep breathes as he pulled off of my street and onto the freeway. I watched as cars and houses flew by.
"You're awfully quiet," Dave chuckled breaking the silence.
"I could say the same about you," I laughed turning towards him.
"Just praying that James behaves himself tonight." He said shaking his head.
"I'm sure whatever happens, I can handle it." I chuckled.
"I don't know. My brother.... Is crazy. He has absolutely no filter. My mother is just well my mother. She will take one look at you and you will become her best friend. She is super friendly. Almost too friendly. We won't have to worry about my other brother, Tom. He is away on some business trip. My dad is crazy but a lot calmer than my mom and James. They will come off really strong at first but you get use to them. I hope."
"Dave," I said cutting him off. "It'll be fine." I said as we pulled into a driveway.
"You're right. It'll be fine. My family will behave. Hopefully. And even if they don't, then you won't hate me. You won't hate me right? I mean, I completely understand if you do. Knowing my family, they will probably come off crazier because I asked them not too. If that makes....."
"Dave. Breathe." I laughed. He let out a chuckle as he turned the car off. I waited as he walked around and opened my door for me. He held out his hand and helped me out. He continued to hold my hand as we walked up his driveway.
"Dave, if you keep gripping my hand I won't be able to use it." I joked causing him to laugh and loosen his grip. He stopped at the door but made no movement to open the door.
I waited for him to say something but he didn't. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Sorry. Just preparing." He sighed.
"Whenever you're ready," I smiled causing him to smile too.
Right as Dave was about to open the door, the door swung open to reveal a smiling James. "Sarah!!!" I was pulled into a tight hug. I bit my lip to keep from crying out. My ribs were still sore.
"James! Let her go! She is still sore!" Dave jumped up. When James let me go Dave stepped forward.
"Are you okay?" He asked softly.
"I'm fine." I said reassuringly.
"Sorry about that Sar! Come inside. Mom and dad can't wait to meet the girl Dave used as a speed bump!!" He said grabbing my hand and pulling me inside.
"Dude," Dave sighed. I looked over my shoulder and sent Dave a wink. He laughed as he followed behind us and closed the door.
"Dave? Is that you?" Came a sweet voice from the kitchen.
"Yeah mom. It's us." Dave called back. Soon a woman who looked a lot like James came around the corner with an apron on.
"Honey!" She wrapped Dave in a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're here sweetie! I made Chicken Parmesan just for you!" She smiled pinching his cheeks.
"Mom," Dave complained nodding his head towards me.
"Oh! You must be Sarah. I'm Betsey!" Just like Dave said, she gave me a gentle hug. "How are you feeling hun? Do you need to sit down?" She asked looked at the bruise on my temple.
"I'm fine Mrs. Franco." I said sweetly. I looked to see Dave looking at me sadly. "Really. I'm okay."
There was a minute that no one talked. I know Dave feels guilty. And I know his family feels guilty for him.
"Well, why don't we head into the dinning room?" Betsey smiled. I started following her and James down the hallway.
"Hey, Sarah?" Dave's voice made me stop.
"Yeah? You okay?" He shook his head.
"I..... I am so sorry for hitting you. I can't get that moment out of my head. When the car... When I hit you. How you looked laying there. When the ambulance lifted you onto the gurney. When I saw you in the hospital. There isn't a minute that goes by that I don't think about what I did and what would have happened if I hadn't left late...."
"Dave," I cut him off. "I'm not mad at you for what happened. I don't blame you. Think of it this way, if you had left earlier you wouldn't have met me." I joked.
"You're right. I wouldn't have met you. Come on. Let's go to the dinning room. I'm starving." He grabbed my hand and led me down the hallway. When we got to the dinning room. Betsey and James were setting the table.
"There you two are! Dave help James set the table and Sarah can help me in the kitchen." Dave started to object but when she gave him the "I'm your mother so listen to me" look he stopped making me laugh. I followed Betsey into the kitchen.
"Can you cut the tomato for the salad?" She asked sweetly.
"Of course." I smiled.
"Honey, do you mind if I ask you something?"
"Ask away." I smiled as I began slicing the tomato.
"Are you really okay or are you just saying that to protect my son?"
"I'm not lying or keeping my pain from anyone. I am still sore but I'm healing and getting stronger everyday." She nodded at me with a sweet understanding smile.
I continued cutting the tomato as she washed the lettuce. "I just wanted you to know that I don't blame Dave for anything that happened. I hate how he blames himself. I was the one who went running. I was the one in the middle of the street. I was the one who wasn't looking where they were going. I was the one who was distracted. I wasn't thinking straight. I was just trying to get away." I didn't notice a tear fell until Betsey caught it.
She pulled me in to a soft motherly hug. "Whatever happened that made you run, happened. It's over. Everything is okay. You are an amazing girl. Your past is just that- the past. You can't do anything about it. But you can keep going." She knew nothing about me but what she just said was exactly what I needed to hear.
"Thank you," I whispered. We pulled apart and laughed.
Dave came into the kitchen and ran up to me. "Sarah. You're crying. What happened? Are you okay? What happened?"
"Dave, I'm fine." Betsey and I laughed making him confused.
"Just girl talk sweetie," his mom patted his shoulder as she took the tomato I cut up and put it in the salad. Dave and I helped her carry stuff to the table.
"Hey, where's dad?" Dave asked as he put the lemonade on the table.
"He was playing golf this afternoon with Mike Erickson from across the street. They've been playing since 2." She said looking at the clock on the wall.
"Are we starting without him?" James asked.
"I guess," she sighed. "He knows you two were coming."
We sat down and started to dish out the food. Dave was seated next to me. His mother was across from me and James was at the seat to my left and to his mother's right. As we started to eat we heard the garage door open. "Speak of the devil," James laughed.
"Betsey? Dave's car is in the driveway." He stopped when he saw us all at the table. "Oh. Hello. I'm Douglas Franco. You must be Dave's new girlfriend."
Dave almost spit up the drink he just took. "No no daddio. She's the girl that Dave ran over."
"James." Dave said harshly. I reached under the table and intertwined our fingers.
"Oh. Sarah right?" He asked nicely.
"Yes. It's nice to meet you Mr. Franco." I smiled.
"Oh please call me Doug. The pleasure is all mine. I'm glad to see my son did not damage something so beautiful." I could feel my cheeks redden.
"Doug," Betsey laughed.
"Dad," Dave looked down at our intertwined hands.
"Yeah, we got lucky." I sent a smile towards Dave hopping he would relax.
"Alright! Let's eat!" James said. We started to dish out the food and started eating.
"So Sarah, tell me about yourself." Doug said.
"Well not much to tell really." I awkwardly chuckled.
"That's not true." Dave smiled. "Sarah use to dance competitively. She won all kinds of awards too."
"Dave," I whispered.
"Oh really?" Betsey smiled.
"I'd love to see a video." James smirked.
"Use to? What happened?" Doug asked.
I looked down at my food and took a shaky breathe. "Dad," Dave warned.
"I umm got into an accident on the way to a competition a few years ago. I haven't danced since." I said playing with my salad.
"Oh I'm so sorry." Betsey looked at me with a soft smile. I just shrugged.
"What happened?" This question made me look up from my salad.
"James!" Dave looked at me before sending a glare towards James.
"Ummm we were driving on the freeway and we drifted into the other lane."
"We?" Dave's dad asked.
"Doug," Betsey warned looking at me cautiously.
"Umm me and my little brother Kyle." My breathe caught in my throat when I said his name. I cleared my throat and looked up to see Dave sending me an apologetic look.
"Where is he?"
"He umm.... He didn't...." I let out a breathe not being able to finish.
"He died?" James finished.
The table was silent. "Excuse me." I said softly as I stood up and left the room. Before I walked out the back door I heard Dave sigh.
"What is wrong with you James? Why would you say that?"
"I just wanted to clarify." James didn't finish.
"Couldn't you tell she was struggling to tell the story?? And you and dad kept asking
questions." Dave started to get angry.
"Dave hunny, why don't you check on Sarah. And James, he's right. You need to be more polite okay? Dave likes Sarah. Don't scare her away."
Dave likes me?
I opened the sliding doors and walked into the cold night. "You okay?" I didn't turn around because if I did Dave would see the tears. I just nodded.
"Sarah?" I covered my mouth to stop the sob. Suddenly I felt him wrap his arms around my waist and place his chin on my shoulder.
"I miss him." I whispered.
"I know you do." His arms tightened. "I wish I could've met him."
"He would've liked you. But he would've pretended not too. He would've tried to be all tough and protective. He always told me no guy was good enough for me." I laughed.
"I'll try to be." He said as he kissed my neck. He turned me around and kissed me. My arms wrapped around his neck as our lips moved in sync.
"We should go back inside." I whispered pulling away.
"You're right." He took my hand and led me back inside.
The rest of the night was relaxed. We joked around and listened to stories. "Dave was so scared!" James laughed. I looked over and laughed as Dave cheeks turned red.
"It's really not that funny." He mumbled.
"It kind of is." I laughed. He laughed and shook his head.
"So Sarah, we have done all the talking tonight. Why don't you tell us some stories?" Doug asked as we ate the cheesecake Betsey made.
"How about the GhostBusters dance?" Dave joked. I could feel my cheeks burning.
"The what?" James laughed.
"The nothing." I gave Dave a fake glare.
"What's your favorite dance you've ever done?" Betsey asked.
"Oh! That's easy. I did a tap duet with my teacher to Sing by Ed Sheeran . (A/N a.k.a the video) There were these crazy stairs that we had to tap up and down. One day during rehearsal I actually fell off the second step. I had a bruise on my shoulder for weeks!" I said laughing. They soon joined in.
"We also did a jazz number to My Momma Told Me by Crystal Waters. My team did a hiphop dance to Its Tricky by Run DMC. My second all time favorite dance though was to Just A Dream by Carrie Underwood. It was beautiful. My mom said it gave her chills. It was a tribute to the troops. The story was that I had lost my husband in the war and they had given her a flag and everything. There were times in rehearsal that we had to stop because we were all in tears." I smiled at my plate.
"Sounds like you were pretty talented." Betsey smiled.
"Yeah," I couldn't help but think what it would have been like if Kyle and I hadn't gotten in the accident.
*******************
"Thank you so much for having me. I had an amazing time." I gave Betsey a hug as Dave and I walked to his car.
"It was so fun having you! Please come back!" She waved.
"Yeah! You're the one girl Dave has brought home that we actually want back." James said giving me a hug.
"Dude," Dave groaned.
We waved goodbye and got into the car. As we pulled out of the driveway, Dave leaned his head back and let out a sigh.
"See?" I laughed turning towards him. "It wasn't that bad."
"Yeah. Look, I'm sorry for all my brother's questions. He...went too far. And all those questions about your brother.... I'm really sorry Sarah."
"Dave, it's okay. Honestly, I expected your family to ask questions. I just thought I could answer them better." I played with my hands in my lap.
"Hey," he said as we pulled to a stoplight. He reached over and grabbed my hand. "I'm glad you came tonight."
"Me too." I smiled. Suddenly he leaned over and placed his lips on mine. Our lips moved in sync as he ran his fingers through my hair.
We jumped apart when a car behind us honked their horn. We laughed when we realized the light had turned green. I could feel my cheeks burning as we started back down the street.
We rode in silence until we pulled into my driveway. The lights were off except for the ones in the hallway and in my parents' room.
"Thank you for tonight." I said as he walked me to the door. "It was...."
"Awkward." He finished.
"I was going to say interesting." I corrected. We stopped at the door, neither one of us saying anything. I watched as Dave debated something. He took a deep breathe before nodding like he decided.
He then stepped forward pinning me against the wall. With a hand on my cheek he put his lips on mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck as our lips moved in sync. He soon moved from my lips to my neck. He went from my collar bone up to my ear and then back to my lips. We pulled away when neither one of us could breath.
"You should come by the set tomorrow." He whispered.
"Would that..... Would that be okay?" I said still trying to catch my breathe.
"Yeah. People visit all the time. Plus your with me so." He smirked.
I just simply nodded. He kissed me one last time before stepping back. "I'll pick you up tomorrow. Around 8? I know it's early but we have to be on set by 9."
"8 works." I smiled as I unlocked the door. When I closed the door and locked it, I rested my head against the door and giggled.
"Is that you Sarah?" My mother called.
"Yeah mom, it's me." I called. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face as I walked up the stairs and headed towards my room. I past my mom on the way to my room and felt her follow me. I opened my door put my phone in my pocket and tossed my bag on the chair in the corner. (A/N We all have that one chair we throw random crap on...... Or is that just me?)
"Soo?" My mom partially sang.
"So?" I copied her.
"How was it? Meeting the parents?" She giggled.
"You make it sound like it's a big step in our relationship." I rolled my eyes taking off my shoes.
"So there is a relationship?"
"No. I didn't say that." I stuttered.
"But you want there to be."
"I didn't say that either."
"But you like him." She said more of a statement then a question.
"I.... Well I don't know. I mean I do but he's an actor mom. He wouldn't...... He could be dating actresses or supermodels. Why would he want to date someone as boring as me?" I sat on my bed and picked at my nail polish.
"Sarah," my mom sighed as she walked over and joined me on my bed. "He doesn't care that you aren't an actress or a model. If he likes you, which I think he does, he likes you for you." She said brushing a piece of hair behind my ear.
"Who said he likes me?" My mom gave me her motherly knowing look.
"Honey, he stayed at the hospital. He has been around since you got home. He promised to make it up to you. Dave likes you Sarah." She said matter of factly.
"I'm messed up mom. My past is a disaster. What if he's just doing this because he feels guilty?" I asked softly.
"Your past doesn't matter. Everything with Kyle is not your fault. You have to stop thinking it is. Plus, Dave wouldn't kiss you just because he felt guilty." My eyes widened.
"How did you......"
"You're smile when you walked in. You haven't smiled like that in such a long time sweetie. Dave may have hit you with his car but he brought back our Smiley Sarah. And I owe him a very big thank you." She gave me a hug before she got up and left. With a sigh I laid back on my bed.
I had no idea I had butt-dialed someone when I put my phone in my pocket.