-S-
It had been a while since Sara had met up with Bailey. They met in the food court downtown and had lunch together.
“So, how are the things going with Joe?” Bailey asked while she was putting a piece of orange chicken in her mouth.
“It is really good, except for the fact that he has to leave soon.”
“When is he leaving?”
“Like in two weeks.”
“Don’t worry. I have seen people do long distance well.”
“Yeah, Michelle said the same thing.” Sara took a bite of her gyro. “What about you? Are you seeing anyone?”
“No.”
“Do you have anyone in mind?”
“Hmm.” Bailey moved her head left and right instead of answering.
“Is that yes or no?” Sara asked.
"I don't know."
"Hey, do you remember the day when Jennifer left when we came back with lunches?"
"Oh, yeah, I remember." Sara remembered that Michelle was going to tell that story.
"That day, Jake asked Jennifer to marry her."
"What?" Sara was shocked and looked at Bailey. Sara thought Bailey looked sad.
"What did she say? That is so random."
"Of course she said no. Actually he did not just say it, but he said something like, I wish I had children, I wish my wife knew how to paint, and then he just proposed her."
"That is..."
"That's dumb. I know."
"Well. Maybe he was sincere. Did Jennifer tell you?"
"No, Jake did."
Sara thought Bailey might want to say something more. After lunch, they walked around the mall and did some window shopping. Sara was interested in bags, and Bailey looked at some shoes. Sara liked a small red purse. It had a long handle and the front pocket was black. It had a great texture. It was not expensive, but she did not buy it. Bailey was looking at some brown shoes, but they were too expensive. Sara sensed that there was something going on with Bailey, but she did not ask, she waited for her to say something. They bought frozen yogurt and sat down.
"I wish I was like you," Bailey said.
"What do you mean?"
"Well. To be specific, I want what happened to you and Joe."
"Explain?"
"Isn't it amazing? When you first met him, you were not open to him, or anybody; however, when you guys were together for a while, the wall disappeared and now you guys are happy together. Joe waited and you were probably like, oh, this might work, so I will give it a chance. Something like that." Bailey stopped talking for a while and continued. "I wish I was like that to somebody."
Sara carefully asked what she had thought for a while. "Do you like Jake?" Bailey slowly nodded.
"You can’t tell anybody, especially Michelle. If she knew, Jake would know in a second."
"I know. I won't tell anybody. I promise," Sara said. "So Jake has no idea?"
"I couldn't tell him."
"Why?"
"Because he likes Jennifer."
"I am not sure if Jennifer likes Jake at all."
"I know. She is not interested in him, but look at her. She is amazing. She is really beautiful, smart, and talented. I am nothing like that. He would never like me. I will only make things awkward,” Bailey said.
"People have different strengths. I think you are great. You don't know what he thinks of you." Bailey sighed.
"I know. I thought about it, but this is real life. It's not a movie or a novel. In the real world, things are harsh. We are good friends now. If he knows, he won't treat me the same way."
Our lives aren’t like reading a novel. You are right, but those stories are based on our lives. Anything you believe can happen is possible. Sara wanted to say that out loud, but she was afraid of giving her false hope.
"Sorry. I didn't want to give you a hard time or expect some kind of solution from you. I was just really frustrated."
"I understand." Sara thought about Jennifer. She was an amazing girl, just like Bailey said, but Bailey was also great. She had a great heart, and she was very thoughtful. Most of all she knew how to share her love with others, but most of the guys couldn’t see that.
"I tried to date other guys, but the guys that like me are all creepy," Bailey said with smile. "And... I think I really like Jake... If I was like Jennifer…beautiful and talented, maybe, but it’s not possible because we can't choose how we are born."
When Sara heard that, she remembered the people that she saw at the food service, and she grew very sad. She had tears in her eyes.
"Sara are you crying?"
"No, I am not." Sara wiped away her tears.
"Haha. That's silly. I am not even crying. Why are you?"
"Bailey, you are a great girl. There will be someone who can see that, and plus, you don't know what Jake thinks," Sara smiled.
"Thanks." Bailey smiled at Sara too. They talked a little more, and Bailey thanked Sara for listening to her. She said she felt much lighter.
"Would you still like me if I was ugly?" Sara asked Joe.
"What?" Joe made a silly face and laughed.
"Oh, well. I think you have to be serious about this question."
"Sara, you do not look like a model."
"Ha, that's your answer?"
"No, I mean. There is something very important about you. I saw something special in you. It is hard for me to explain, but I think it is the light that is coming from you. I loved that."
Sara liked the answer. Joe was looking at Sara but his mind was thinking about when he first met her.
"Explain it to me."
"Well. It's not easy to explain, but when I look at you," Joe stopped talking and stared at Sara. "Your personality, voice, smile, kindness and everything you have is very genuine. They have a special color. Just thinking about you made me feel good and made me smile, and I am just so happy thinking about you, and when I see you it's even better."
"Well, that sounds good, but I am not sure I am following you."
"I don't know what I'm talking about," Joe laughed. Sara actually knew what Joe meant. He saw her inner side and liked her the way she was. Sara beamed.