Bradley Point of View
Chapter 4 – "Friends"
Carol's first night alone in her dorm room was lonely. She talked to her parents and to Charlie but the one person she really wanted to talk to hadn't called.
She knew he was angry with her and she couldn't blame him. Getting in her Jeep and driving away wasn't the smartest thing she'd ever done. She had picked up the phone a dozen times to call him but couldn't make herself do it.
Finally after two days of not talking to Sam she picked up the phone and dialed. His grandmother answered, telling her he was out. She hangs the phone up, tears running down her face.
Charlie calls her a few hours later, making the evening a little better. They talk till dark but Charlie never mentions Sam once. Carol wondered if Charlie didn't mention Sam for a reason.
Another day and no Sam, it was starting to drive her crazy. She sits by the phone, waiting for it to ring. Charlie calls with her usual chit-chat and gossip but no mention of Sam.
As Carol turns the desk lamp off she looks at the picture of her and Sam on her wall. They are both smiling, covered in white paint. She grabs her car keys, running for the door.
She drives into the night determined to see Sam. She goes to the first place she can think of, the garage.
When she gets there it's late, she can feel sleep heavy on her eyelids. She parks her Jeep and walks over to the door. Pushing the button to the remote she can see Sam fast asleep. His bike is parked behind the couch, making her smile at him.
She sits in one of the plush white chairs, watching him. She had missed him more than she knew. His sleeping form brought tears to her eyes. "I'm sorry Sam."
Carol rises from the chair, turning to leave. A hand reaches out grabbing hers. "Don't go."
She turns to him with her eyes full of tears. "I'll stay if you want me to."
Sam pulls her to him, scooting against the couch. She lies down next to him, his arms wrapping around her. "I want you to."
Not another word is said, they lie there sleeping. Sam was sorry his choice to not call her had caused her such pain but she was the one that left him.
By morning Carol woke to find herself still in Sam's arms. Her smile beams from her face, her heart finally whole again.
She frees her hand, moving a piece of hair from his forehead. Sam opens his cool blue eyes, smiling back at her. "Morning, I'm sorry if I woke you up."
Sam kisses her forehead, squeezing her a little tighter. "No, I was lying here, listening to you breathe."
They talk for a while, Carol sharing the few days of experience she's had at college. Charlie's little beetle bug car pulls up to the garage. "Carol Ann, are you in there?"
Carol shakes her head, walking toward the garage door. "Hello Charlie."
"You scared me shitless. Don't ever do that again. I didn't tell your parents I couldn't find you. I knew when I called for the hundredth time that you had come home. Ever think about calling someone?" Charlie stands by her car, her arms crossed over her chest.
Carol hugs her, trying not to laugh. "Don't be mad Charlie, I had to.
Sam and Carol spend a few more minutes together, neither wanting to let go. "I'll call you when I get back and you better be there."
Sam holds her tight, rocking her in his arms. "I will, I promise. If I'm going to sit by the phone you better call."
Once back on campus she tries to get back to things as usual. Classes, homework and hanging out in the library don't help her stop missing Sam. This was just the way things were going to be from now on.
Her first year flies by, one more year to go without Sam. Charlie moving in kept her occupied. Sam called and visited and she did the same. Summer was here and she was moving back home.
Carol and Charlie almost have their cars packed when Sam pulls up behind them, smiling at his two best girls.
"You girls about ready to go." Sam watches as Carol drops her box and runs to him.
She can feel his strong arms around her, her arms had missed holding him.
Three months, she had three months of summer with Sam. Carol had made her mind up to make every day count.
Hanging out at the garage had become the highlight of her summer. The trips to the beach, hiking and camping were all nice, it was time with Charlie and Sam but her nights with Sam alone in their garage were the best.
Carol knew staying the night with him here was out of the question. Alan and Lora kept a close eye on her were Sam was concerned.
In a blink of an eye her summer was over and back to school she went. Carol hated the idea of leaving him so bad she had thought about leaving school. Charlie had to spend the hours traveling back convincing her to stay.
Sam would be with her before she knew it and leaving would only hurt her. Starting another year brought new challenges. Sam was a senior and his life would be different.
Carol soon found that Sam wasn't at her beacon call anymore. She'd call and he wouldn't be home. She'd come home for visits and he was never around. She didn't know the reason for his distance till one evening on campus.
Charlie parks her car, getting the grocery out of the back. Her cousin Regina was there for a campus visit and had ran into her. Carol gets out of the passenger side, grabbing some of the bags from Charlie.
"Hey Regina, so what do you think of the school?" Charlie smiles at her cousin, waving for her to walk with them.
Regina looks a little uncomfortable. Once they walk into the dorm room Regina leans over and whisper to Charlie. Charlie takes Regina by the arm and walks her out in the hallway.
Charlie comes back in a few minutes later, her face looking very hard. "Carol, we need to talk."
Carol sits down on her bed, expecting the worst. "Don't beat around the bush Charlie; just give it to me straight."
Charlie sits down next to her. "Okay girl, you asked for it. Sam has been seen with Spenser Wade. Regina said they are dating, like she saw him kissing her."
Carol looks at Charlie completely dumfounded. "He's got every right to date, I can't be mad at him for that. We're just friends, remember."
Charlie gazes back at her, her mouth hanging open.
