New Dreams Ahead

January 2031 - Arcadia, North Carolina
Smith household - Zared is 48, Carol is 45, Isabella is 17

“You know, you could go to college closer to home,” Carol tells her daughter. Isabella is halfway through her senior year of high school and Carol doesn’t like to think about what might happen later in the year.

Isabella rubs at her forehead impatiently as she takes in her mom's question once again. "I already told you my decision.”

And Carol doesn’t like to think about her decision. Isabella is now eighteen. Eighteen. Her baby is grown, about to finish high school. She has sent in her college applications and has the University of Britechester at the top of her list. And if she does get it, she will soon be off on her own life just like her brothers.

It's a life that Isabella is looking forward to. She talks to her brothers as much as she can, though they stay busy in their own lives away from the small city they grew up in. 

And that's what she wants. A place to get away from everything and start over with something new. That would be the best decision she could ever make.

 ***

February 2031 - Arcadia, North Carolina
Gates-Watson household - Shelley is 42, Logan is 41, James is 17

He didn't have a real party on his birthday because the restaurant was open that night, so James holds a small party one weekend in February after the busy days of the New Year and Valentine's Day have passed by.

James isn't sure about inviting Christi but he does. And even more surprising is the fact that she actually comes to the party, even after that embarrassing day in the theater. She seems nice and shows him funny pictures she's saved on her phone. Does she really like him after all?

But when he tries a little movement toward her in a flirty smile and words, there it is once again.

"We can be friends," Christi tells him, "but I don't think we'd...Maybe we should just be friends."

Ugh. Friends. He just doesn't understand her.

James gets up and tries to focus on the other guests. If Christi wants to just be friends, that's fine. He can be just friends too. "Thanks for coming to my party," James tells Cheryl, pretending not to notice Christi watching them.

His cousin Caleb is there too, along with Caleb's girlfriend Emily.

The party is good, but James can't push aside the disappointment Christi keeps causing him. Why is it that she seems to be interested in him one minute and then pushing him away the next? He just can't figure her out.

He's slipped away to the garage to play a game of darts on his own and get away from seeing Christi everywhere he looks. The door opens behind him and Cheryl appears.

"Hey," she says. "Can I play darts with you?"

So they do. Cheryl is in several of his classes and they've always gotten along, though not best friends or anything. He was just as surprised to see her show up at his party as he was Christi. But at least she doesn't treat him one way for one minute and then completely change her mind the next. Or at least, she hasn't so far.

They play a few rounds of darts, Cheryl winning most of them. "I won't give up," James promises. "I'll win during our next tournament." 

He laughs, a bit embarrassed when he realizes what he said. Our next tournament. Like he's expecting Cheryl to want to spend more time with him.

She pushes at his shoulder as she laughs. "We'll see about that."

He's not sure if the look in her eyes is really what he thinks he sees. He's too nervous to try, too afraid he's misreading someone again.

But Cheryl steps toward him, wrapping him in a hug. "Thanks for inviting me to your party."

------------

They both were feeling some chemistry for each other!