Rated: K


Fruit Machine

The Ting Tings

From the album We Started Nothing


Fruit Machine

August 9, 2011


I was gonna kill Gregor.

Or...Elliot?

Whatever.

I was gonna kill him. Because no one hurts my Sam the way he hurt her. No one breaks her the way she's broken. She was sprawled across her bed, crying harder than I've ever seen anyone cry. She was inconsolable, even to Tucker, who was sitting beside her, rubbing her back soothingly. And I was just standing in the doorway, gaping at her like an idiot. Because the rage that stormed through my veins rendered me immobile.

What was it about him that made her go so crazy? What did he have that I don't have?

Maybe Sam likes being mistreated. Maybe she enjoys the guys who drop a few fake accents here and there and then cash in on her heart. They treat her like she's a dirty vending machine; just put in a little effort and she'll spit out her affection.

That was probably because she doesn't ask questions. Sam loves like no one else I've ever known. She loves the ones that need loving without hesitation. And she loves with a passion. To be on the recieving end of her love...no man would ever need anything else. If she loved me the way she loves animals, or her ultra-recyclo vegeterianism, I would never, ever need anything else. I could literally live off of her love. That's how amazing she is.

And to see her broken and crumpled because of some other guy who used her?

"Sam?" I said quietly. She sniffled and gazed up at me through blood-shot eyes. I crouched down beside her bed so that our faces were even with each other. "Do you want to get back at Elliot?"

She nodded.

"Good. Because I have a plan."


The next morning, Tucker and I were sitting on the steps to the high school, waiting for Sam. I was glowering at Elliot, who was lounging across a picnic table, sucking face with Star. He was disgusting.

"You really think this is gonna work?" Tucker asked me apprehensively as he watched Elliot. "He seems kind of...distracted."

"I'm positive it'll work." I growled. Sam would be there any second.

I knew it was her the instant I saw the shining black Mustang peel into the parking lot. I grinned when she got out of the driver's seat; her long, pale legs were revealed by a small black dress. Her hair flowed freely around her shoulders, lazily catching the sunlight. She was smirking, as everyone's attention had been drawn to the new arrival. Her eyes locked on mine instantly.

Her smirk deepened as she breezed past Elliot's table, ignoring the sudden outbreak of whispers. "Is that Manson?" "Sam Manson?"

Elliot saw her as soon as she walked past. I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists when he leapt off the table, leaving a very confused Star mid-kiss. He tossed his arm around Sam's neck, bending low to whisper something to her. She glared up at him and hissed something back. He appeared to be confused, before a greasy smile slid onto his face. He said something and touched her face. She glanced at me and pointed.

I strutted over to them rather quickly. She slid out from under his arm and smiled when I wrapped mine around her waist. "Is there a problem?" I asked.

"I wasn't talking to you, Fenton." He spat, still looking at Sam.

"Well, now you are." I said, stepping in front of Sam slightly in a subtle effort to sheild her from his wondering eyes. "Sam's unavailable to you now, so if you want to leave a message for her, you'll have to leave it with me."

He just spluttered at me. So I spun around and walked with Sam back to the school. "We'll have to sell him on it," I murmured to her. She grinned up at me and nodded. I stepped behind her and wrapped both of my arms around her waist. I picked her up and spun her around, grinning when she laughed exhilleratedly. I was enjoying this entirely too much. I set her gently down on her feet again and nudged her with my shoulder. She was blushing sweetly, driving me crazy.

"Sam!" Elliot screamed behind us. We both turned and looked at him. He was running after us, waving his arms around like an idiot. "Sam, wait! I want to talk to you!"

Sam glanced up at me. I tried to give her a look that begged her to stay there with me, where I could protect her and keep her safe. But she just gave me a small smile and slipped out of my grasp. Elliot led her to a secluded, shady spot off to the side of the sidewalk leading to the school.

"That went really well. You guys looked really convincing," Tucker murmured as he walked up beside me. He had his and Sam's bookbags slung over his back.

"I just hope she doesn't fall for him again..." I muttered. They appeared to be in the middle of a deep conversation; neither one of them was smiling. Sam looked extremely annoyed with him. I prayed that she really was.

But then, just as I thought she was about to rejoin me and Tucker, she did something I would never forget.

She placed her hands on Elliot's shoulders and forced him down on his back. She crawled on top of him, taking care to press her body against his. Her face was close to his, her lips inches away from brushing across his. She was smirking at him. Right when it appeared she would kiss him, she blew a raspberry right in his face and rolled off. She laughed when he screamed indignantly, before spinning on her heel and walking toward me and Tucker.

"What was that?" I asked breathlessly when she was within hearing distance.

"Oh, I left him wanting more," She smiled. She planted a quick kiss on my cheek before turning to Tucker to reclaim her bookbag. I stood and stared as they entered the school together, arm-in-arm.

One thing's for sure, I thought as I laughed at Elliot, who was trying to sweet talk Star again.

I have Sam fever.