WEDNESDAY - JUNE 23, 1976

Sarah held the package in her shaking hands. It had just arrived as she was going out the door, leaving for Pete's. She was supposed to be there at 6 and she was running late. She nearly knocked over the delivery man, in her rush to get out the door. When he handed her the package, and she saw Trish's name in the corner, she had sat down, hard, on the front steps, staring at it. Her heart nearly pounded out of her chest as she guessed what it was. She didn't know if she was ready to look at the pictures inside.

"Sarah, what are you doing, honey? What is that package you're holding?" Jane was looking out the screen door at her daughter.

Sarah stood up, slowly, still staring at the package in her hands. "I'm going to Pete's now."

She looked back at her mother. "I don't know when I'll be home. If you want to put the phone back on, you can. If Sam calls, tell him I'm with Pete. That's all, just say I'm with Pete."

Sarah knew that Sam would think she was going back with Pete. She wanted him to think that. She hated the thought of what it would do to him, but maybe now he would stop calling.

Sarah had been at Pete's for an hour, when her mother called. Becky had answered the phone then passed it to her. Sarah took the receiver nervously, she had been waiting for the call.

"Sam called." Jane said.

Sarah rubbed her hand over her eyes. "What did you tell him?"

Jane paused. "I told him you were with Pete, just like you said. He hung up."

"Ok, thanks, Mom. I don't think he'll call anymore, but if you want, you can take the phone off again. I love you." Sarah hung up the phone and went into the living room, slipping quietly into her chair.

Midgie was the only one who knew what Sarah's mom had told Sam. She smiled at Sarah as she handed her a drink. "We're just about to toast Pete's entry into adulthood."

Midgie held up her glass. "Here's to Pete! No longer allowed to play as a child!" She giggled. "It's time to grow up, Pete!"

Sarah lifted her glass and attempted to smile.

***

Sam slammed down the phone. "She's gone back with Pete!" He told Trish, angrily.

Trish looked at him, sadly. "Did she say anything about the picture album. Maybe she hasn't gotten it yet."

Georgie added. "At least the phone is working now. She might be ready to talk."

"You know, Sarah had said that today is Pete's birthday. Maybe that's all it is, she's with him now, she'll be home again tomorrow. It doesn't necessarily mean they're together." Trish said, thoughtfully.

"Yeah.... I'll call again tomorrow." Sam laid back on his bed, his arm over his face.

***

The party was well under way at Pete's. He had opened his presents, a new pipe from Sarah and a four finger bag and pack of rolling papers from Midgie and Dave. Becky had given him a new rolling tray, and a small package that she had said to open later. Sarah smiled as she saw the two of them whispering together.

Pete sat now, on the couch, cleaning the pot and rolling up several joints. Dave was filling the bowl on the pipe. Sarah was curled up in the chair, quietly, listening to the conversations around her.

Midgie came to sit next to Sarah, whispering. "What was the other package that you brought?"

"It's a photo album from Trish." Sarah whispered back. Midgie saw a glint of tears in her eyes. "I'm not sure if I want to look at it, though. I don't think I can handle it."

"What are you two whispering about?" Dave lit the pipe and sucked in the smoke.

"We were wondering if you are going to share that with us!" Midgie teased back.

They all smoked the new weed and the pipe was passed several times around their circle. Pete had gotten out a deck of cards and they were all engrossed in a game of Crazy Eights, one of his favorite games when he was younger.

Midgie was aware that Sarah was still sniffling beside her.

Sarah bent to take off her shoes and her necklace slipped out of her top. She stuffed it back in, impatiently. It had been coming out all night, like a bad reminder of Sam's cheating. The small necklace actually felt heavier, weighing her neck down.

Finally, she could stand it no more. She made the excuse of getting a drink from the kitchen, and found a small hammer from a drawer. Holding the filigreed heart down on the counter, she lowered the hammer forcefully on it, hitting her thumb in the process.

"OW! Shit, damn, fuck! That hurt!" She yelled, as she shook her hand around.

The others came rushing into the kitchen, led by Pete, who got to her first. He was visibly shaken at her cries of pain.

"Sarah, what happened?" He took her hand, gently and looked at her thumb. It was swelling already, and blood dripped off the end.

"Oh, baby, what did you do?" He asked.

Sarah held up the heart, the stone was cracked and in two pieces, but still held together by the crushed filigree. She looked defiantly at the faces around her.

"I just broke Sam's heart. I hope he feels the pain."

"Well, you certainly are." Midgie added, dryly. She turned on the faucet and held Sarah's thumb under the water. "Let's make sure you didn't break your thumb."

Sarah winced when the cold water hit her thumb. "It's fine. I can still bend it. See?" She wiggled her thumb. "Go on out and take your turn. I'll be out. Have that pipe filled, I'm ready for more."

Everyone filed out of the kitchen, except Pete. He walked over to her, and held the hand that was under the water.

"Are you sure you're ok? Maybe we should go get it checked." He pulled it from under the water and saw the bleeding had stopped.

"You know, they say if you suck on it, it takes away the pain." He chuckled.

Sarah giggled and obediently stuck it in her mouth. "I've heard you say that to me before." She spoke around her thumb.

Pete let out a quiet laugh. "Yeah, and it worked that time, too." He looked down at Sarah, seriously, his voice softened. "That's the first time I've heard you laugh tonight."

Sarah lowered her head, she pulled her thumb away and studied it as she talked. "I've been thinking. When Sam and I fought one time, I told him that I regretted choosing him over you. But I see you with Becky and you two are a good couple. So I think, in the end, it was the right choice. For you. She makes you happy, Pete."

"Yeah, she does. I guess it's meant to be that you and I are always just friends?"

Sarah studied Pete's face, then she said, softly. "Yeah, just friends. I need that more than anything else."

Becky stood in the doorway, watching it all, then she turned and joined Midgie and Dave in the living room, a thoughtful look on her face.

The party broke up around two in the morning, Sarah left to go home and Midgie and Dave, to go back to his cabin at the campground. Pete closed the door and turned to Becky, pulling her in close and kissing her.

"Now do I get to open that little package?" He asked.

Becky put her hand on his chest, pushing away. "I think we have to talk."

"This doesn't sound good." Pete worried, as he sat beside her on the couch.

"I saw you and Sarah in the kitchen tonight." She began.

"Becks, that was nothing."

"No, I think it was something." She talked over his protests. "Let me say this, please. I knew when we started dating that you and Sarah had a past. Geez, Pete, this is a small town. I grew up here, I saw the two of you. I knew all that when you asked me out. But I thought that maybe I could help you forget her."

Becky looked sadly at Pete. "But I can see that isn't going to happen. You still love her, Pete, whether you realize it or not. I've seen you look at her. I heard you call her Baby tonight. I don't even think you knew you did that."

Pete shook his head. "No, I didn't know. But it's just a name! I have called her that since we were little."

"I've never heard you call her that before."

Pete was silent. He knew Becky was right. The name had slipped out without his knowing it. He usually used it only when he and Sarah were alone.

Becky stood up, gathering up her courage. She took a deep breath. "I think it's time for me to leave."

"I wish you would stay."

"No, I don't think I can do this anymore." Becky said, sadly.

"I'll take you home then, we can talk more." Pete picked up his car keys, and reached for her hand.

"Pete, I'm going back to my grandparents for the night. But as soon as I can, I'm going home, where I live with my parents."

"Becky, I wish you wouldn't do this. Please, think about it." Pete pleaded.

"I have. I've thought of nothing else all evening. I think even before I saw you two in the kitchen, it has been in the back of my mind. Tonight just opened my eyes." She sighed. "Could you please take me back to my grandparents, now?"