It's Now or Never
By:
Brittney Estelle & Niki Lynn

Chapter One

Samantha;

8 years ago, things were not what they are today. Samantha Rose Collins was not a bar tender, nor did she have a son, whom she loved dearly. She and her best friend were still as close as you could imagine, and she and her current boyfriend at the time [James Hamilton were as strong as ever and already talking about the future. Life was grand, Sam couldn't have pictured it any other way, nor would she want to. That is until one fateful day, late in the spring, graduation was just around the corner and the two high school love birds were as strong as ever, or so they thought.

Graduation loomed nearer and things were extremely stressful for Sam and all of her friends. Finals for the seniors were growing closer, studying had risen 110 and the pressure was definitely beginning to show in everybody. When things got tough though Sam always did one thing, she would find James, and they would sit and just talk about anything and everything they could think of.

It was one night in particular when she had hit her breaking point, where things were just boiling over the pot and she knew she had to get out of her house before she imploded. And Sam left to do just what she always did. Tearing open the door to her old red ford, she slid in and peeled out of the gravel driveway in front of her house, it was a five minute drive to James' house but those five minutes always felt like five years to her. Pulling into the long wooded drive Sam pulled the cell phone from her pocket and flipped open the lid, the light from the screen illuminating the dark car, scrolling through her contacts she landed on James and hit the send button. When James picked up a smile spread across her lips.

"Hey you." Sam smiled.

"Hey yourself." James replied peering out the window at the sudden glow of headlights in front of his house. "I'll be right out."

"Okay." Quickly shutting her phone, Sam dropped it in the center compartment and reached over the passenger seat unlocking the door. A minute later James appeared outside and hopped inside the car, leaning over the armrest to plant a kiss oh his girlfriend's cheek. Once he had shut the door Sam took off turning around and pulling out of the driveway en route to the local park just down the street. Trees flew past, the gentle summer breeze flowing through the open windows, the wind in their hair and on their faces. The ride there was quiet, mostly just enjoying each other's company, but when they got there, quiet was no longer an adjective in their vocabulary.

"So what's on your mind babe?" James asked as he ran forward scooping her up into his arms. Breaking into a fit of laughter Sammy squirmed around in his arms, James however only held on tighter. These were the kinds of moments they lived for. They had the kind of love that never altered some even asked them if they were married yet. Which they would always reply "not yet" with goofy grins plastered on their faces.

James spun the both of them around in circles until her got so dizzy that they topped over one on top of the other, to the ground. Sammy's brown hair cascaded , shielding both of their faces as she leaned in for a kiss. James wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and held her close to him. Sammy smiled into the kiss and rolled off beside him, her head laying on his chest with a sigh.

"So what's going on with you?" He asked planting a kiss on the top of her head. "I know you would not't have just showed up if something was not't bothering you." He was always able to read her so well. The stars above them twinkled in the dark night sky. Sammy's eyes followed one's path as it darted across the abyss of darkness. Closing her eyes she breathed in deeply and wished.

'Never let this moment end.' She thought to herself, when she opened her eyes the dark path that had been left when she closed her eyes was now replaced with a twinkling star almost as if it was winking at her saying her wish was granted. "A lot." Sammy said finally speaking up after moments of silence. "Graduation, finals, college, my parents divorce, my sister being a bitch." Sammy let out a sigh as she turned her face up toward him. "And I'm just scared."

"Scared of what?" James asked cocking an eyebrow, his green eyes locking with hers.

"The future." Sammy replied. "I mean, what's going to happen to us James? What if something happens and after tomorrow we never see each other again?" Her eyes were so full of worry, they were sparkling desolately, looking on the brink of tears. James sat up, Sammy following suit and he looked at her with all seriousness in his eyes. Cupping her face in his hands he looked at her, searching her face.

"If I promise you, right here, right now, that nothing will happen to us, and that I will try my damnest to make sure of that, will you stop worrying yourself sick?" James sounded so concerned, so detached from what she was saying. Sammy felt her heart flutter crazily like a butterfly escaping running water. It was that moment that she knew they were meant for each other, and that nothing would tear them apart, but little did she know how wrong she was.

"I love you." Was all that Sammy could think of to say in that moment.

"I love you too Sam." And he leaned forward to kiss her with such passion and force. Slowly Sammy kissed him back and wrapped her arms around his neck. She and never before in her life crossed that line she always wanted to wait for the right time, for the tie when it just came. And right now it felt like the right time, and it was now that she made the split second decision to once and for all give herself away completely. Things heated up quickly and just as suddenly James pulled away looking at her.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" His question rang in Sammy's ears for a moment but without hesitation she nodded, and without another word, their lips locked again. Kicking the shoes off here, undoing a button there and before either of them knew it their bodies were engaged in the forbidden dance, and any ties of innocence they once had were now gone.

Sunlight streamed through the tree tops birds chirped loudly in the distance, the chilly morning air nipping at their skin. Slowly Samantha opened her eyes looking around, her face turned up toward a sleeping James beside her. His arms were still wrapped tightly around her. Sammy pulled the blanket covering them, over her bare shoulders to block out the chilly rush of air. "Good morning." She smiled noticing his eyes flutter open at her slight movement. There was something about waking up beside him that thrilled her, she felt as if she were taking a glimpse into her future, of what it would be like every morning when she woke up.

"Good morning yourself." James laughed sleepily hugging Sammy tightly in his arms.

It was finally over, graduation had come and passed and now the seniors were out celebrating one last night together before they eventually went their separate ways. Samantha spent her night saying goodbye to people and wishing them all luck in their futures. Her best friend Michelle was drinking away her problems as usual, and James and Brandon were off somewhere with the guys. Much to her surprise though she turned around to see three friendly faces in front of her and she smiled at each one. James stepped forward placing his arm around Sammy's waist and smiling at her. A large banner hung on the wall that said 'Goodbye High School' and another said 'The End.'

"Still scared?" James asked noticing Sam's glances at the banners. Sammy just shook her head in response though.

"Not really anymore." She smiled and reached up planting a kiss on his cheek. "So what's going on with you all?" Sam asked quickly as she turned to look back at Brandon and Michelle. Both just shrugged in silent response. Michelle quickly finished off her drink and went to get another one, but Sammy stopped her. "Hey Chelle, how many of those have you had tonight?" Worry was evident in her tone.

"Like 7." Michelle replied with another non chalant shrug.

"Maybe you should call it quits for tonight, ya know..."

"No way!" Michelle traipsed back to the liquor table to top off her glass but in the attempt tripped over absolutely nothing and ended up colliding with the floor. Sammy quickly tore herself away from James and threw herself down besides Michelle.

"Michelle?" Sammy shoved her a little. "Oh god Michelle." A sigh escaped as she felt Michelle's forehead. "She's burning up."

"Maybe we should take her home." Brandon suggested as he appeared on the floor seconds after Sammy did.

"No we can't take her home, she had enough problems there as it is, her showing up passed out drunk wouldn't help that situation." Sammy couldn't think of what to do when she plopped down flat on the floor. "My parents would KILL me if I brought her home, and Brandon I'm not even going to ask you, god knows how many drinks you've had." Suddenly her sight set on James and a look came across her face, one of pleading. "James?"

"Huh?" James said aloud obviously a little out of it at the moment.

"Could we take her to your place? I know you're parents are out all night aren't they?" James nodded in response to Sammy's question.

"Yeah, I can take her. Brandon can you help me carry her out to the car?" James asked as he dug for his keys in his pocket. Nodding Brandon slid his arms beneath Michelle and lifted her up with help from James. Sammy stood up quickly and smacked a kiss on James' cheek.

"Thank you." She smiled. "I'll meet you there in a while, I've got to go find my stuff somewhere and say goodbye to a few people. So I'll see you in a few." And quickly without a word she took off in search of her things.

Meanwhile, after time had passed Michelle had eventually woken up from the previous events and yet was still wasted off her butt. And what happened next was about to ruin the lives of Samantha and James for a long time.

It had taken Sammy longer to get out of there than she thought. People were catching her left and right and not letting her go. Finally though she was able to break free, she had arrived at James' house and walked to his bedroom pushing open the door. "Hey sorry it took me so lo-" She stopped dead in the middle of her sentence however when she saw what was going on in front of her. "Uh... I-I need to..." She couldn't say anything more, throwing her hand up over her mouth she turned around. Tears stung her eyes and pain clinched inside of her. As she ran outside she got in her car and took off as fast as she could, she didn't want to even hear what he had to say for this.