Sabrine + Dylan

Be Grateful for the Now

"So?"

"'So?'"

"Yeah, you promised you'd tell me what was going on yesterday. Why was-" Sabrine paused, frowned. She didn't know his name yet. "-the painter at your house? And- and are you the one that did that to him?"

Dylan sighed and rocked back in his chair. The day was over, and they hadn't gotten a chance to talk yet. Sabrine knew Dylan was avoiding her, but that didn't mean she was going to make it easy on him.

Sabrine could hear Circe, Romola, and Perdita laughing as the trio left the classrooms, giving Sabrine one last look of reassurance. They'd encouraged her against approaching Dylan- "That one? No, you should stay away from that one," Perdita had frowned- but she needed to know. Maybe it would also explain why the painter hadn't been in school.

"So? Are you going to tell me or not?"

She'd only just finished her sentence when Dylan started coughing violently, like he had in the car after Sabrine and Margot had asked him what he was doing. Sabrine rolled her eyes, finally seeing right through the convenient distraction.

She wondered, for a second, if the fall the previous day had been a diversion as well.

Sabrine waited patiently until he calmed down to re-ask her question.

Only for Dylan's cough to start up again.

"You can cut it with the coughs, you know. I'm not stupid."

Immediately, Dylan stopped coughing, and titled his head to the side. "I don't think you're stupid," he said earnestly.

Sabrine felt herself blush. That was a first. "Really?"

"Yeah! I mean, just because you get easily distracted in class-"

Distracted.

"Hey, stop that! Just answer my question already. You said you would."

Dylan clicked his tongue and Sabrine braced herself to deflect another distraction, but it never came. Dylan Marandola surprised her by answering her question.

"His name is Tobias Caine and no, we aren't friends. His dad works for mine, so I've known him my entire life." Dylan leant back in his chair, putting his palms over his eyes. "God... my entire life." 

Sabrine rolled her eyes, biting her tongue to keep back from judging his melodrama. She briefly noticed that the classroom was empty.

"My dad..." Dylan took a deep, shaky breath before continuing. "Well, my dad and I are too much alike; we never got along. He was more of a fan of Tobias's than he ever was mine. Once," Dylan laughed bitterly, "he took Tobias and my mother on a fishing trip and they were away all weekend. Can you believe that? They left while I was in school, and when they came back, my dad acted like nothing had happened. I guess I always tried to prove to him-," his eyes fly to Sabrine's for a second, "-to everyone, that I'm just as good as Tobias is. I guess that's why we don't, you know, like each other."

Sabrine nodded slowly, taking it in. "So you did that to him because...? Because you had to prove a point?"

"What? No, Sabrine, if you're asking if I beat him up then no, it wasn't me. You're gonna have to ask him what happened yourself because I don't care enough to find out."

"Well what happened to your fists, then?"

Dylan ran a finger over his knuckles, which were looking a lot better now than they had the day before. "That... was a misunderstanding. Nothing to do with Tobias."

He said the name quickly, like the sooner he expelled the word from his mouth the better.

"And," Sabrine hesitated, not sure if it was a line she was allowed to cross. "The woman?"

"Oh," Dylan said, biting on his lips. It was an expression Sabrine hadn't seen on his face yet, and it would be one she'd spend days trying to decipher. "She's my mother. She was sick for a long time but... she's better now. She really likes Tobias, too. Thinks we're best friends."

Sabrine noticed he gave Tobias's name a full beat that time.

"Anyway! Let's go pick up your sister? I don't think she likes me, by the way."

Sabrine laughed. "No, I don't think she does, either."

"Hm."

It wasn't until Dylan left her to speak with his friends- a boy with fire engine red hair and a boy with hair as blond as Dylan's- that Sabrine realized what the painter's name meant.

Tobias Caine.

T.C.

Her heart was beating so hard, her blood pumping so loudly in her ears, that she didn't notice Margot was calling her until the girls were face to face, the younger one gripping her sister's arm.

"Sabrine, are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah... Come on, let's go home."

They were quiet on the way home, 

Sabrine's head buzzing with the name Tobias Caine.

*

Mrs. Rodgers was already home by the time the girls arrived. She was sitting on the sofa by the door, chewing on her nails as she read a sheet of paper, so focused on whatever it was she was reading that she didn't notice her daughters walk in.

"Mom?" Margot asked warily.

Mrs. Rodgers jumped, eyes snapping to meet Margot's. "Oh, hi! You girls are back. How was school?"

Sabrine pressed her lips into a thin line and walked into the kitchen while her mother and sister discussed Margot's mean professor. Their mother hadn't made food yet, despite being home before them. That was the rule they had agreed on before moving; whoever got home first cooked unless they were sick or they had another reasonable excuse that they made known beforehand. Sabrine was aware that she would be making food most days, unless one of her parents took the day off, like it was the case right now. She tried not to be annoyed and went to the fridge to get cooking. When she opened it, however, her frustration rose upon seeing the complete and utter lack of groceries. The same went for the pantry and the cabinets. Why hadn't she realized it sooner?

In the living room, her mother laughed at something Margot said and she couldn't help it; she snapped.

"What time did you get home? You were supposed to make food."

Her mother stopped laughing and turned to Sabrine. There was something different about her eyes. She looked exhausted, and Sabrine almost wished she could take back the anger she was about to spill on the floor.

"Oh, right, but I was... preoccupied."

"With what?"

Mrs. Rodgers laughed nervously and looked at her two daughters. "Well, it- it's none of your concern."

"Yes, it is, if it's going to stop you from holding up your end of the deal! You could have at least let us know you weren't going to cook!"

"You didn't even know I was going to be home, Sabrine."

"I might have figured you'd be home! You've been doing nothing but fight with Dad for, like, a week now!"

Her mother pulled her head back, as if she were preparing for what was to come. Sabrine didn't even want to say it, but she couldn't stop herself. She was tired and angry. "You had to stay home today and, what? Read divorce papers?"

Sabrine didn't wait for a response. She ran out the door, making sure to slam it extra hard behind her. She climbed into her car and began driving. She'd only been in Morcian for two weeks and her heart was still pumping in her ears from yelling at her mother, so she realized after a few minutes in the car that she was hopelessly lost. Sabrine pulled over and reached for her phone before realizing she had left it on the kitchen table.

How had she been so happy an hour ago?

Oh... yeah... Tobias Caine.

A thought occurred to Sabrine. From where she was, there was no hope of her finding her way back home. However, the street she was on, she knew, led to the street that led to Dylan's house. Maybe it wasn't the best choice, but if she managed to get to his, she could manage to get to hers. Besides, Dylan knew a thing or two about arguing with a parent, by the way he had told Sabrine his story.

Sooner than expected, Sabrine was pulling into Dylan's driveway. She stepped out of her car, nervously looking around, making sure it was the right house. Not that any other house in town had Greek statues and arched hedges.

Sabrine was standing at the door, ready to know, when she decided that maybe this wasn't the best idea. It was possible Dylan wouldn't even be home. And what if-

What if Tobias is here?

She had just turned toward her car, ready to run, when she heard the door open.

"Yes?" It was Dylan's mother. She was wearing a paisley bandana and dark blue jeans under her orange and yellow striped dress.

"Hello, I, uh, was looking for Dylan?"

Mrs. Marandola eyed her coolly. "And who are you?"

"I'm his friend." Despite her outlandish outfit, Mrs. Marandola could be as intimidating as Dylan, apparently.

She tugged on her bandana and narrowed her eyes. "Forgive me if I don't believe you. Wait here."

The door slammed in Sabrine's face, giving her a second chance to leave, but Sabrine was frozen to the ground. Besides, it wasn't even a minute later that the door swung open again. This time, Dylan was standing there, eyeing her as if she had grown a second head.

"Sabrine?"

"Hey, Dylan."

"Hi... What- what are you doing here?"

"I got into a fight- uh, no, I yelled at my mom. Then I got in my car, drove until I got lost and found my way back here."

Dylan snorted and opened the door a little wider. "Come on in, then."

The inside of his house was as impressive as the outside. For one, Sabrine had never been inside a house with a foyer. There was a spiraling stair case to her left and more doors than Sabrine could count. The walls were covered in tapestries and paintings and busts. The only photograph she saw was one she passed as Dylan led her down a long hallway. It was framed and hanging, showing a group of young boys in a soccer uniform. Sabrine paused and pointed out the blond boy with a missing tooth.

"Is that you?" she laughed, but Dylan only flipped it around and muttered something about never being on a team.

They finally came to a stop in front of a slightly ajar door that creaked when Dylan pushed it open. "This is my study," he said. Books lined the wall opposite to Sabrine, and two writing desks sat pushed against the other two walls. A thick layer of dust had settled around the room, which Dylan apologized for. "I don't use this room much, and the maid isn't allowed inside."

Of course he has a maid, Sabrine thought, resisting the urge to roll her eyes as she and Dylan took a seat on a dusty leather sofa.

"So, tell me what happened."

Sabrine explained everything quickly, trying to ignore the guilt gnawing on her stomach.

"Well, I don't see what you did wrong," he said finally.

"Oh, shut up, Dylan."

"What?" he laughed. "I'm just saying, it's perfectly reasonable that you yelled at your mom while she's having marital problems .We should also go yell at some homeless people, or some orphans."

"Dylan!"

"Ah, and now you're yelling at me." He raised a single, taunting eyebrow, and Sabrine would have yelled at him some more if he didn't have a point.

She sighed. "I'm sorry, okay? It's just- I don't know, I want to go back home."

"Well, do you know your address? I can jot down some directions-"

"No, Dylan, I mean- I mean my home."

"Hm. I don't- Oh, you mean... you mean your old town?"

Sabrine nodded. "That sounds stupid doesn't it? But I used to have everything. I had the best friends, and a happy family. This town has done nothing but cause me problems."

Dylan flinched at that last sentence and Sabrine immediately apologized; "That came out wrong." 

"Well, Sabrine," he started after a second. "Have you tried thinking about what the town could offer? Instead of being stuck in the past, maybe you should be grateful."

"I-" Sabrine wasn't sure what to say. He was right, after all. Finally, a small laugh escaped her. "Well, you're insightful."

Dylan laughed, too. He opened his mouth to say something when someone at the door cleared their throat. "Dylan?"

It was his mother, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. "What did you say your name was?" she asked, eyes boring into Sabrine's.

"I-"

"Mom," Dylan stood suddenly, "can I talk to you?"

Dylan led his mother to another room, out of Sabrine's sight. She lounged around on the couch trying not to overhear what they were talking about but, soon, she couldn't help it. She crept to the door and peeked out into the hall.

"I trust her," she heard Dylan mutter.

His mother said something unintelligible to which Dylan answered, "I'm sure."

After a second of silence, Sabrine heard Mrs. Marandola gasp. "Oh, honey! Okay, that's great! Go, go, I won't interrupt."

Sabrine bolted back to the couch and tried to make it seem like she hadn't moved from her spot.

"Sorry about that," Dylan said, sitting back on the couch. "My mom thinks you're after my money."

The way he said it, Sabrine laughed, but cut herself short when he didn't join her. "Do you get that a lot?"

Dylan nodded.

"That's... sorry about that, then,' Sabrine answered. It made sense. Out of everyone in the entirety of Daley, everyone seemed to flock around Dylan. She wondered if any of the boys he called friends were actually looking for handouts.

Dylan only shrugged, however. "Yeah, I don't care. If people aren't around me for my personality, that's their loss."

If Sabrine was a bad liar, then Dylan was terrible.

*

"Drive safe! Very nice to meet you,' Dylan's mom shouted as Sabrine pulled out of the driveway.

Sabrine chewed on her thumb the entire drive home. She was in the middle of racking her brain, trying to think of the right way to apologize when she opened her front door to a suspiciously quiet house.

"Margot?" Sabrine called out into the quiet.

There was no answer.

"Is anybody home?"

Again, she was only met with silence. And-

She froze. Someone upstairs was crying. She followed the noise to Margot's bedroom, taking the steps two at a time to get there.

"Margot, what's wrong? Where's Mom and Dad?" she asked, as she swung the door open. Her younger sister was under her blankets, eyes watery and nose runny, but she sat up when Sabrine walked in.

"I- My parents were arguing again, and they both left. And Dad said-" Margot hiccoughed a sob and threw herself back, covering her face in blankets. Margot hated it when people saw her cry, but Sabrine was the exception. "I think Mom is cheating," she wailed.

Sabrine bit her tongue and sat on the other end of the bed. She looked at her hands, folded on her lap and took a deep breath. "I think... I think that Mom and Dad love each other," she said, careful not to lie. "And I think that, whatever problem they're going through, they can get past it... if they love each other and talk it out. Don't you agree?"

Margot's eyes were dry now. Slowly, she sat up and began brushing out knots in her hair with her fingers. "They do love each other... So you think they'll be okay?"

She couldn't help it. Looking into Margot's hopeful eyes, Sabrine gave in and lied.

"I think everything is going to be okay."