I pack my weekend bag and meet Casey downstairs. Alex doesn't have to go to Dad's since she's 18, so it's just Casey and I most of the time.

  “You ready, Bridge? Don't forget your homework.”

  “Obviously.” I scoff.

  “Jeez. Sassquatch!”

  “Don't dish it if you can't take it.”

  Weekends at Dad's house are different from the ones at mom’s familiar home. He stocks up on all of our favorite foods including those we’ve not had in the pantry before. I happily eat two giant bowls of Cocoa Puffs every morning. He always has plenty of pop and chocolate and got a new computer so I’m able to check AIM frequently.

  Once we are stuffed into Casey's two door coupe, she flips through her CD wallet to find the right mix for our journey.

  “What’ll it be, malady?”

  “Car Jams it is!”

  “Queue it up,” I nod in approval.

  The harp intro to “You Gotta Be” by Des’ree begins and we simultaneously exclaim,

  “Yeeees!”

  We sing together, absorbing her wisdom and sound.

  “Listen as your day unfolds. Challenge what the future holds. Try and keep your head up to the skyyyyy.”

  As we immerse ourselves in song, the reality of where we are headed slips away. Our only choice is to give in to the positivity that seeps into the pores of our souls.

  We pull into the driveway, and Casey kills the engine, drowning us in silence and dread.

  “Well you ready?” I ask like there’s a choice.

  “As I’ll ever be. At least there’s cable.”

  We walk to the garage with our various bags and I enter the code. At least that feels welcoming, not having to knock. As we enter the townhome, the smell of buttery potatoes fills the air.

  “Hey Dad!” I call out to announce our presence.

  He comes around the counter to greet us.

  “Hey girls! Dinner will be ready soon. Go ahead and set your stuff wherever. Get settled in.”

  “Cool cool.” Casey responds, moving towards the stairs.

  “You need any help?” I offer, knowing cooking isn’t his speciality.

  “Just tell me what you want to drink. I have Dr. Pepper, Coke and Mountain Dew.”

  “I’ll take a Coke… Casey! Mountain Dew?!” I yell up to her.

  “Uh yes please!” Her shout echos down.

  “Okay, I’ll be back in a second. I can set the table.”

  I run up every other stair. It’s narrow but I’ve never been one to take my time going from one place to another. I sling off my bags and slide them onto the carpet in our room. It’s pretty bare: one queen sized bed on a simple frame with no head or footboards and a desk from Mom’s house, his new fancy computer monitor on top. He got this new green bubble shaped see-through PC and the monitor is a matching green.

  “Ugh. Did you bring tampons by any chance?” I lament.

  “Obviously since we live together we are synced up. I brought the whole box.” She shuffles through her bag and pulls out the Sam’s Club size box of Supers.

  “Woof. I do not need Super but it’ll have to do.” I scowl dramatically.

  “Sorry my personal choice doesn’t suit your needs.” She rolls her eyes.

  “Girls! Food’s ready!” Dad calls up louder than necessary and we bound down the stairs to his small, but updated kitchen.

  On the menu tonight is fried chicken tenders from the grocery store and a batch of mashed potatoes and some corn. Despite the fact that I will eat pretty much anything, it's a decent meal and I'm grateful he didn't try to do something he wasn't capable of.

  After everything is cleaned up, we watch a few shows on Discovery Channel and lounge. Then a couple hours later, Dad is exhausted from his early work morning and heads to bed. Stacey and I wash our faces and brush our teeth but land on the computer in our bedroom. I plop down in the chair and she’s laying on the bed behind me observing as the account logs in to AOL Instant Messenger.

  “SunnyBK510 Logging In…”

  “We need to work on your screenname,” Casey accuses in jest.

  “Ugh. Don’t remind me. I’m not married to it.”

  “Good.” She shudders like it pains her and the spinning wheel finally turns into the Screen that lists all of my “Friends” who are online.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “Oh sweet Tori is on.” I begin typing my greeting.

  SunnyBK510: Wassup Guuuurl?

  hisTORIc777: Oh hey! Just chatting with your lover.

  SunnyBK510: say what?

  “Who is she talking about?” Casey eyes me like she’s reading me.

  “Umm no idea. Maybe this guy in my History class?” I deflect.

  “Wait! Is this the guy who has the NECK you’re OBSESSED with!?”

  “Oh yeah. I mean maybe. I don’t really know him. Tori’s just being dramatic.” I sigh deeply trying to convince myself.

  hisTORIc777: Denny Denny he’s so fine.

  SunnyBK510: His neck is pretty fine. This is true.

  hisTORIc777: Oh don’t pull that. I’ve seen you staring at him.

  SunnyBK510: You also wear glasses…

  “Oh my gosh. You’re totally into him aren’t you?” Casey exclaims.

  “I, like I said, I don’t even know him. But yes I find him.. Gorgeous.”

  “Holy cow this is the best thing to happen today!” She slaps me lightly on the shoulder.

  hisTORIc777: Well anyways. I told him he should add you and gave him your username.

  SunnyBK510: You didn’t!

  DennyBoy44188 wants to send you a message!

  Accept

  Decline

  I gasp, my mouse hovering over the Accept button. My heart hits my throat and a rush of cold anticipation travels from my stomach upward. Casey lunges forward and clicks the mouse.

  DennyBoy44188: Hey Bridget. It’s Denny from History. Tori gave me your username.

  I freeze as a smile stretches wide from my cheeks to my eyebrows.

  “Oh my god!” I shriek, but not too loud cause Dad is right across the hall.

  “I knew it!” Casey points at me with conviction.

  SunnyBK510: Hey!

  I backspace and change the ! to an . I can’t seem too eager. This feels big.

  SunnyBK510: Hey. Yeah Ms. Schultz is something isn’t she?

  DennyBoy44188: She’s wild. You like that class?

  What is he asking me exactly? I can’t say I hate it because he’s in it and it’s become one of my favorite hours of the day.

  SunnyBK510: The subject itself is interesting but she’s not the best teacher.

  DennyBoy44188: Yeah I don’t love History but she doesn’t help. But I guess it could be worse. Like if someone’s feet were always on my basket under my chair.

  My nostrils flare as I stare agape. Did he seriously just go there? The smile is instantaneous or maybe it never left. I can’t recall.

  SunnyBK510: Yeah someone with huge heavy feet. Sounds awful.

  DennyBoy44188: I didn’t say that.

  I pause. We’re barely saying anything so why am I so excited? My tummy flutters and I continue.

  “Okay can I just point out that it seems like he’s into you too? He knows you put your feet on his chair. That means he notices you.” Casey affirms.

  “I am not getting myself all excited over nothing. He’s flirting and it’s cute but it doesn’t mean anything…yet.” I respond pragmatically.

  SunnyBK510: You have 3rd lunch right?

  DennyBoy44188: Yeah. I do but I don’t really have a table I sit at.

  SunnyBK510: Well I sit with Tori and some mutual friends. You could always sit with us?

  DennyBoy44188: She’s invited me too. I can sit with you guys Monday.

  SunnyBK510: If you don’t have any prior seating plans or anything.

  DennyBoy44188: No, I don’t.

  SunnyBK510: Are you doing anything this weekend?

  DennyBoy44188: Just hanging out at home with my brother.

  SunnyBK510: Oh nice. How old is he?

  DennyBoy44188: He’s a junior at Pinewood North HS.

  SunnyBK510: No way! My sisters go there. Casey is a sophomore and Alex is a senior.

  This goes on for a while. I find out his mom works long days and isn’t around much. Neither is his dad. Well, by that I mean he doesn’t know his dad or that’s what I assume based off of his reluctance to talk about him or acknowledge him. I can’t believe an hour goes by. My eyes are glazing over from staring at the screen but I want more. It’s addicting, talking to someone who takes an interest in everything you have to say.

  “Well I think it’s my turn. I don’t mean to break this up but Seth said he would be online at 9:30.” Casey is referencing her boyfriend of a few months. “Wrap it up!” She twirls her index finger around in the air.

  SunnyBK510: Hey it’s my sister’s turn to log on but I’ll probably talk to you tomorrow or sometime.

  DennyBoy44188: Yeah. It was nice chatting with you.

  Something swells in my chest.

  SunnyBK510: It was nice chatting with you too, Denny. TTYL.

  DennyBoy44188: Night Bigfoot.

  (DennyBoy44188 has logged off)

  What?! Well played, Denny. He gave me a nickname that I set myself up for. But I’m far from upset.

  “Okay it’s all yours.” I sit up and motion towards the rolly chair.

  Casey simply shrugs her brows at me and smiles deviously before sitting down. I waltz to the bathroom to pee before I climb into bed, a little pep in my step.

  “Someone’s smitten.” Casey teases as she’s typing away to Seth.

  “Who? You? I agree.” I retort.

  “You can’t stop smiling.” She turns, looking me over.

  “It seems I may have a new friend.” I turn my cheek toward her coyly.

  “Oh right. Whatever you need to call it.” She scoffs.

  I pull the comforter up to my chin to shield out the cold consuming me, even my socked feet. I close my eyes.

  Denny.

  I hope I dream about him tonight because his face fills my mind. For the first time since I’ve been coming on weekends to my Dad’s, I drift to sleep with hope instead of longing for my other bed.

  I’m sitting on the bench of a picnic table, a warm spring breeze blowing my hair off my face. I look up and Denny is walking towards me, a smile filling his beautiful face. “Hey cutie.” He says. If looks could kill, I’d fall to my death happily right here. His hand reaches up and cups my face using his thumb to brush my bottom lip. I hop down, enveloping myself in him. His arms reach all the way around me and his cheek rests on my head. I breathe him in; he smells like fresh grass and sunshine, like home. A warmth fills my chest, consuming my entire being. This is where I was meant to be- in his arms. “I missed you.” I say, muffled by his shirt, although I have no idea how long it’s been since I’ve seen him. “I’m here now, with you.” I pull back and look up into his eyes, “I could stay here forever.”

  “Forever.” The sound of my own voice brings me back to the dark room at my Dad’s, my sister sleeping hard beside me. Damn my sleep talking! It felt so real. Please let me go back to that dream. I will my mind to return there, surrendering to its decision.