In a Saturday morning, Chandler wakes up and attends his bed. But soon he remembers his promise he made with Clare. In order to not disappoint the little girl, he quickly moves and does everything in less than fifteen minutes. When he's already prepared, he leaves his home and runs to the Ketcham Park. When he arrives, he can see Carol pushing Clare in a swing.
"Chandler!" Clare said before getting off the swing and runs towards him.
"Hi, Clare! Good to see you", Chandler said, as he hugs her.
"Hey Chandly", Carol said, happy to see him.
"Hi Carol. Good to see you, too. I think you were enjoying the moment without me", he said, joking.
"In fact we were waiting for you. Clare wants to play soccer."
"Yeah! Come on, Chandly. Let's play!"
"Ok, let's do it. Where's the ball?"
"Right there, next to Watterson."
Chandler goes to take the ball, but he confuses Watterson with the ball and almost kicks him.
"Jeez! I almost kick you, little doggy", he said and puts Watterson back on the ground.
The dog walks and hides under a bench, to avoid being kicked. Chandler then takes the real ball.
"Ok, girls. Let's play!" he said, and throws the ball.
The three friends begin to play soccer. Happiness surround them.
"Here I come!" Clare said, and kicks the ball with energy. The ball flies away from they are.
"It's mine! It's mine!" Carol said, as she runs to take the ball.
But she doesn't look where she's running, and crashes with another person. Carol and the other guy fall to the ground, and the ball hits Carol's head. Chandler and Clare run to them, worried.
"Carol! Are you ok?!" Chandler said, helping her to stand up while Clare helps the other person.
"Yes. Aside of the blow in my head, I'm ok", she said. She then checks for the other person she crashed.
"Hey, I'm sorry for that. I was not paying attention", she apologized.
It turns out that the other person is also a teenage girl, like Carol. This girl has brown long hair, wears a long sleeved shirt with white and lavender stripes and a black dress under it.
"Don't worry", the girl said, shaking the dust from her clothes. "Hey! Are you playing soccer?"
"Ehh, yeah?" Carol said.
"Awesome! I love soccer! Can you borrow me your ball, please?" the girl said.
"Sure", Carol said.
After she passes the ball, the brunette girl begins to make series with the ball, like freestyle soccer. Chandler, Clare, and Carol are open-mouthed, very impressed of how good this girl uses the ball. When she finishes, everyone claps to her.
"Bravo!" Chandler said. "Girl, how did you do that?"
"When I was eight years old, I entered a soccer club where I practiced", the girl said, flattered.
"Cool!" Clare said. "You truly are a great soccer player!"
"And you haven't seen me playing in a serious game, yet."
"You know, we're playing right now, and perhaps we should need another player in the team. So, what if you join us?"
"Sounds fun. Ok, I'm in. Oh, I forgot it. My name's Dana Wilson. Nice to meet you three."
"I'm Chandler. She's Carol and she's Clare."
"Ok, I already met each other. Let's play!"
"Let's go!" Dana said.
"Hey Dana! Your outfit is so rad!" Carol said to her with a smile.
"Oh! Thank you, Carol. Yours looks good as well."
Almost immediately the three folks and Dana become friends, and they enjoy of a friendly soccer game at the park. Watterson also gets along with the new friend.
"I never imagined that a girl like you can play soccer so incredibly", Chandler said, panting.
"Thank you, Chandler. You three made my day. I really enjoyed it", Dana said, also panting.
"Amazing! We have a new friend! We have a new friend!" Clare said.
"Alright", Dana said, giggling.
"By the way, what were you doing here?" Carol asked her.
"I just come here to feel the sunlight and the fresh wind on my face. Until I met you and we started to play", Dana replied.
"That's cool", Carol said. "I really love your outfit. Where can I find those clothes?"
"I work on a department store. There you can find the garment you want in the clothing section", Dana said.
"Nice! Can you show me where it is, please?"
"We can go right now if you want."
"Yes, of course! Clare, wanna join us?"
"Sure!" Clare said. "What about you, Chandler?"
"I would be glad to accompany you, but I have to go. Today my mom will do the lunch. I'm sorry girls", he said.
"Relax. It's ok. You can go", Carol said.
"Ok. Well, I gotta go. Bye girls. Nice to meet you, Dana."
"Bye Chandler", Dana said, waving her hand.
As the three girls head to the department store, Chandler walks back to his home. When he's approaching to a house's grid, he receives a new photo in his cell phone sent by Carol. It shows her, Clare and Dana proving some clothes, with the hashtag 'A regular day of shopping'. But while Chandler contemplates the photo, he doesn't realize that the grid is open, and a pitbull dog has just escaped from it. Without any warning, the pitbull runs towards Chandler. He notices this and starts to run for his life. He looks behind and the dog is still chasing him. But due to this, Chandler doesn't look the tree in front of him and crashes with it. He falls on the ground and slams his head, making him to lose consciousness.
TWELVE MINUTES LATER
The boy wakes up, only to realize he's inside a house which is not his. He's lying on a sofa, and after looking around, he touches his head due to a strong pain he's feeling now. Around his head he has some bandages.
"Where… Where am I?" he said, groaning.
Suddenly, a voice can be heard. "Are you ok?" the voice said.
Chandler is scared and looks to his left side. There's a woman sit on a chair looking to him. He gets a little startled due to the young woman's outrageous appearance. She has blonde hair with a teal streak, a turquoise jacket and piercings.
"Who… Who are you?" he said, nervous.
"The question is who you are" she replied.
"I'm Chandler. What just happened?"
"You were chasing by a pitbull and then you slammed against a tree."
"Ok. That may explain this terrible headache", he said, groaning of the pain. "But… How did I end up here?"
"I brought you here to aid you. And I also get rid of the pitbull", the girl said.
"Oh! Well… thank you, really."
"No problem. Stay here, I'll bring you an aspirin", the girl said before heading to the kitchen.
While waiting at the sofa, Chandler takes a look on the girl's house. Then, he sees something that catches his attention. On a dresser there's a golden trophy. He reads the inscription carved on the trophy's foundation. It says 'Samantha Sharp: Music Festival Winner'. In that moment, the girl returns.
"Here. Swallow it with the water", she said as she gives the aspirin and a glass with water to Chandler.
"Thank you", he answered. "Hey, excuse me for my presumption, but are that trophy yours?" he said, after drinking the water.
"Yes, it is", she replied.
"So, your name's Samantha Sharp, isn't it?" he asked.
"Yes. But everyone call me 'Sam'."
"Ok, Sam. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too", Sam said with a smile.
"So, are you musician or singer?"
"Both of them."
"That's amazing! And what instrument do you play?"
"I play all of them. But I specialize in the guitar. Electric one, to be precise."
"Awesome! That's something very nice form you."
"Aw, chucks!"
"Hey, and where are your parents?"
"They're not here. They will come back soon."
"Ok. This will sound kinda weird, but can you play for me, please? Believe or not, I freaking love music, specially rock."
"This may be your lucky day, cause I'm a rocker."
"Cool! So, would you do it?"
"Ok, you win. Can you put on your feet?"
"I guess so."
"Great. I'll play the guitar on my bedroom. Follow me."
So she and Chandler walk to her room. The boy staggers, but regains his step. They enter to Sam's room, which is covered with rock bands' and singers' posters.
"God! You really like rock and roll", he said.
"Told ya. Now, ready to rock?"
"I'm ready!"
Sam takes out her guitar and connects it on an amplifier. Then she proceeds to play a song within. Chandler listens delighted. He has listened many guitarists during his childhood, but not in real life. And also he hasn't listen a girl playing the guitar as wonderful as Sam does. When she finishes, he claps her.
"Fantastic!" he said.
"Thanks, dude!" she said, smiling.
"You truly are a rockstar."
"Oh, please! I'm just an amateur."
"Well, it sounded very professional for me."
"Ok, whatever. Hey, how's your head?"
"It's getting better."
"Great. I have to go to the bathroom. I'll be back."
"Ok. Go ahead."
Sam goes to the bathroom. Meanwhile, Chandler snoops inside her room. He gets entertained looking at the posters. Then, he looks a picture on a dresser. It's a selfie of Sam kissing another girl. But in that moment, Sam pops up behind Chandler.
"What're you doing, dude?" she asked, a little upset.
"Oh! I… I was just looking this picture", he said, nervous.
"A picture that doesn't belong to you!" Sam said, and snatches the picture form his hand.
"I'm sorry, Sam. I didn't want to…"
"Listen kiddo. You don't touch what is not yours, and you won't have any trouble. Got it?!" she said, in a violent way.
Chandler gets scared, believing that Sam would punch him. But then, Sam cools down and realizes what she has done.
"It's getting late. You better go back to your home", she said after taking a big sigh.
"Ok. Are you mad with me?" he asked.
"Just… go. Please, dude", she said.
"I'm sorry again. Thanks for your hospitality", he said before leaving the house.
After he goes, Sam sits on her bed, angry with herself about how bad she treated that boy.
Chandler arrives to his home, at 5:20 p.m., and after he enters to his room, he stands over a wall and thinks about Sam.
"Why did she behave in a rude manner when I saw that photo?" he said to himself and meditates for a minute. "In this cases, I wouldn't interfere. That's not my problem. But, I feel something about that girl. Is like she was hiding something from the others. My Lord, what can I do? Now I feel disturbed", he said.
And then he sits on his bed and makes the only thing he can do in that moment: pray. Ten minutes later, he ends up his pray and calls Carol. She briefly gets very concerned after hearing he was chased by a dog and hurt his head. But then, Chandler tells her about what he's feeling.
"I see. I guess you're feeling worried about this girl you met", she said.
"You think so?" he said.
"I do. Perhaps you should try to talk with her again."
"But what if she rejects and kicks me out of her house?"
"Chandly, that should not happen, because the Lord is with you."
"Yes. Yes! You're right. I can do it! I stand by him."
"That's the attitude! Now listen up. Remember when I met you?"
"Yes, I did."
"Why don't you try like I did with Sam instead?"
"Hmm. I guess it's a pretty good idea."
"See? So, I gave you my advice. The rest depends on you and Jesus. Have faith, darling."
"Of course. I'll do it. I knew it was a great idea talking with you, Carol. You're very smart."
Carol chuckles. "Ok! You know, the girl we met at the park, Dana, is very sweet."
"Nice! What did you, she and Clare do in the afternoon, by the way?"
"Oh, we did a lot of things…"
And she talks with him almost one hour through the phone. But Chandler didn't forget his new mission. The next two days, he gets ready to meet Sam again in her house.
To be continued...
