Full Summary: He met her at the corner music store. Over the year, she became one of his closest friends. When his group of friends and him are chosen to go to LA to become a boy band, he has to choose staying behind with her or going to LA to go after his career.
Note: I'm only putting this chapter up to see if people will like this, to give in to further detail. Please, review. Criticism is amazing for writers and I strive for it. So, if you have any suggestions, don't be afraid to talk to me.
Before The Future: Chapter Two.
"Thank you, Mrs. Knight," James eagerly brought the cup of hot chocolate up toward his mouth. It warmed the inside of him; he wiggled slightly to make sure the liquid got as much of him as it could. Mrs. Knight smiled at the younger boy, shifting off into the kitchen then. His hands were clasped tight over the cup, snuggling down deeper in the chair he was on. All four boys were sitting in Kendall's living room, unable to go out into the harsh winter weather that Minnesota offered. James didn't join into the shouts of victory whenever the right hockey team on the TV scored.
"What's the matter, James?" he heard Kendall asked to his far right. He turned his head, just as Kendall jumped up in excitement and high-fived Carlos that was next to him. Kendall turned his head toward James as did the other three boys. Logan was lying on the floor, his head propped up on his hand.
James flashed them his smile and shook his head, "No reason. Just cold, conserving energy." There wasn't really a reason for his quietness; he just didn't really want to participate. He took another drink of his chocolate, savoring the warmth. He leaned forward, focusing on the TV just as the other three boys were. They all groaned at the sight on it; the team had missed the goalie box.
"Maybe we'll bounce back," Logan muttered from his post, which James rolled his eyes at. Logan was usually positive in the most unreal situations. It was a good quality about him, sometimes. James quickly forgot about the game right as his phone rang. He set down his cup of hot chocolate, pulling the cell phone out of his pocket.
"Hello, Mom," said James as soon as the phone came in contact with his ear, "Yes, Mom. I'm at Kendall's," he sighed, catching the attention of his best friends, "Yes, I'm coming. I'll be fine. Goodbye." He flipped the phone shut, glancing up to meet three pairs of eyes. He jiggled the phone in the air before speaking, "Mom wants me to head home, gotta grab a few things from the market." He unfolded himself out of the chair before nodding at his friends, "See ya."
"See ya tomorrow, dude!" he heard Kendall yell from the living room as he crossed through the dining room, hearing a goodbye from Mrs. Knight and finally made it back to the main hallway. Grabbing his jacket, James slipped it on and walked out into their town.
It had snowed overnight. Now, there was no grass sticking out of the ground and the treetops were bare. Their branches stuck out like skeletons; the snow didn't help the image. The sunshine overhead was trying to break through the clouds but it wasn't doing a very good job. It was a Sunday morning and most of the neighborhood was in church. James scurried across the white streets and down the sidewalks. He was walking at a pace that would still give him some warmth from the wind that bit at his cheeks once more but still it wasn't fast enough for him to slide on any ice that was covered by the snow.
The market wasn't busy, in fact there was hardly anyone at all. James liked it when it was like this, no one was pushing to get to the produce and there was no yelling. He smiled at an older woman that passed him before allowing himself to travel toward the dairy aisle. Pressing his lips together, his eyes scanned each of the milk cartons that sat there as he tried to find the right one.
"Aha!" he said, grabbing the correct one before hurrying away from the cold freezer. He shivered, holding the milk under his arm. Why was everything so cold? Sometimes, he couldn't wait until he was old enough to move to a place like California where he wouldn't have to wait out the long winters for the short summers. It would be hot all around. The thought brought a grin to his tanned face before he shook himself out of his thoughts and headed for the cash registers.
He yawned, putting a hand to his mouth as he waited for the old man in front of him to get done. He looked around him, his fingers tapping against the bottom of the carton. He glanced back in time to see the man walk away. He sighed, setting the milk down and pulling out his wallet from his back pocket. Looking up to see the amount, he actually caught the sight of the girl checking out his item.
She looked familiar, in her features. He couldn't place her. Why did the dark red hair make him think of someone? He glanced at her nametag; it said Carmen.
"$2.64." He blinked slowly when he realized he was staring and hurriedly pulled out a five, handing it to her. She looked bored as she got him his change. It was bugging him, so he asked.
"Have we met?" he asked, slowly as if he were afraid of the answer. He was just unsure of the answer, really. She looked up as she placed the change in his hand and shook her head.
"Nope, I just moved here." He nodded his head equally as slowly as he had said the question and grabbed the carton of milk. He offered her a small smile but turned away confused, walking toward the exit. The cold air greeted him in a gust as soon as he walked out into the chilly atmosphere. Rubbing his nose with one hand, he started his walk from the market and toward home.
He passed many houses, most had set out their Christmas stuff. He didn't celebrate Christmas since his family was Jewish but it was nice to see some of the ornaments and decorations that marked up and down the street. It was assortments of large snowmen and moving reindeer. He saw kids playing in the snow as he passed the homes. He heard their laughter and it always brought a smile to his face. Though, his pace slowed slightly as he approached a certain store.
Stein's Music! was what he read. He looked around him, remembering the night before. He looked back at the doors, something on the window was advertising a holiday special but he didn't pay attention. He watched the red-head pasting up the posters from inside. She saw him since she grinned and waved. He decided that his mother would wait a few minutes for her milk.
He entered the shop, the bell chiming overhead as he did so. It was warm, which heated up his body. The shop hadn't changed again, minus the garland that lined the ceiling somewhat. He glanced to his right just in time to see her place the rest of the posters on the window. He put the milk on the shelving unit next to the door and reminded himself not to forget it. He walked up to her, smiling.
"Hey Sam," he greeted, turning his attention from the petite girl and toward posters she was putting up. It was just the advertisements for the place. She turned toward him, having to crane her neck a little because of the height difference. He was almost tempted to ask her how tall she was.
She smiled. When she smiled, everything did. Her mouth and her eyes, which he noticed to be green. Her hair seemed brighter, like she had been in the sun an awful lot that day, "Hey James," she said, grabbing the tape from the window sill and sauntered up toward the counter. James followed her, "How is everything?" questioned Sam as she turned toward him.
James stuffed his hands in the pocket of his jacket before answering, "Just fine," he said with a tiny shrug. She arched her eyebrow.
"Just fine?"
"Just fine."
She smiled, laughing slightly as she nodded her head, "Alright, just fine." The way she spoke to him was like they had been friends forever, not like they had just met the night before. She moved away from the counter which, again, resulted in James following her. She swiped up a box of new CDs and traveled down the aisles, "So you know how I said I wasn't going to the local school?"
James stopped when she did, nodding his head in response to her question. He watched her place the CDs in their according spots, "Yeah?" he said, not even paying attention to what she was saying.
"Well, I am. Mom decided that it was too much of a hassle to drive both of us to the next town for school," she said, absentmindedly as she stacked up the CDs. She grabbed the box and stopped when he asked:
"Wait, both of who?"
Sam looked up at him, looking puzzled for a second before squeezing herself passed him and walked down the aisle again, stopping at another place. She answered his question then when she started to put away more CDs, "My sister, Carmen, and I."
James scrunched up the bridge of his nose at the new information. Where had he heard the name? It sounded familiar. He then turned his attention toward her, "Does she work at the market?" Sam looked up from what she was doing, her hand mid-pause in placing a Blink 182 CD where it belonged.
She nodded, "Yeah, she just started yesterday." She squinted her eyes, "Is that where you were headed from?"
James laughed slightly, nodding his head, "Yeah. I saw her. She looks a lot like you," She resumed her job as she put the remaining CDs up. She grabbed the empty box and moved toward the counter again. James followed.
'Yeah, I hear that a lot. She's older though, just by a year. Plus, her hair is natural. I just brightened mine," she said, giving him a dimpled smile. He didn't notice her dimple before. It was amazing what he was noticing about her just in the second encounter.
He raised his eyebrow before following her movements with his eyes as she went behind the counter. "Why?"
She disappeared behind the counter, shuffling through the stuff that lined the cavity underneath, "I don't know. I was tired being compared to Carmen because we look so much alike. Plus," she popped up almost unexpectedly, nearly scaring James. She found that funny since she snickered but continued on, "I enjoy looking like a ketchup bottle."
"You look more like a cherry kool-aid," James said, gesturing to her hair. She pinched a piece in between her fingers, examining. She shook her head.
"Either way, it's red," she said, smiling as she stepped behind the counter. "Are you staying long? Because, you're distracting me." James grinned at that.
"With my devilish good looks?" he joked but frowned at her own joke.
"No, with the fact that you look like a burnt marshmallow," she was close to him as she poked his poofy brown coat. She grinned like the Cheshire Cat again before laughing at the look on his face, "I'm kidding. I just get distracted easily, don't worry." She said, moving passed him to grab another box full of CDs. He was surprised to see how well she carried the large boxes, they looked too heavy for her small frame. He glanced up at the clock though before realizing how long he had been there.
"Oh, I have to go home. My mom is waiting for me," he said, walking toward the door. He turned to say goodbye to her, "See ya, Sam!"
She smiled, stretching to see over the CD stands, "See ya, James!" He opened the door before stopping when he heard, "James?"
He twisted his upper body, looking back at her, "What?"
She pointed to the stand next to him with a grin on her face, 'You left your milk." He cleared his throat in slight embarrassment, grabbing it and heading out the door.
He was starting to like Sam.
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