Hope you've been enjoying the story thus far! Happy Holidays!
UPDATED: The last two sentences were altered because I felt like there was an emotional blemish to this chapter because of it. It isn't vital to read the new ending but the next chapter will make more sense!
Seven
Quorra
I walked down the narrow hallway that opened up to the interactive screening room where Sam spent most of his time at ENCOM these days, combing through the new operating system that was to be released in July.
I turned the lights on and he turned around to see me, greeting me with a tired smile. "Sam, it's almost ten," I stated as I glanced at the diamond studded watch that he had helped me pick out in late February.
"Sorry, I keep losing track of time," he apologized as he began shutting the programs down.
I leaned up against the wall. "Have you found any kinks yet?" I asked, knowing that there probably wasn't any but knowing that it was protocol to check the systems.
He walked over to me, placing his hands on my shoulders. "No, you did a fantastic job. The board has been talking about promoting you," he said as he squeezed.
"I enjoy working so closely with you though. I wouldn't like a position that keeps me cooped up in the control rooms either," I added with a shrug but smiling at him due to the appraisal.
"Alan and I have kept that in mind. Trust me, I don't think I'd survive work some days without some of your humor," he promised as he winked at me.
"Good."
He dropped his hands from my shoulders. "Let me show you something," he said as he glanced at his watch before grasping my hand and pulling me out of the screening room.
We took the emergency exit stairs up a few flights and I began to slow down, my limbs feeling exhausted as Sam opened a door. "Why couldn't we just take the elevator?" I asked breathlessly as he looped an arm around me and practically pulled me up the rest of the stairs.
"I thought it'd be more fun at the time," he said with a chuckle and I couldn't help but smile. He opened the second door that was a few feet behind the security door to the stairs and my eyes widened as I realized that we were on the roof of ENCOM.
"Wow," I mumbled as he propped both doors open and guided me to the northern side of the roof, sitting on the edge of the building like there wasn't over fifty floors between him and the pavement below. I stood, leaning against the wall that he was sitting on. "I wouldn't advise that," I said as I wrapped my arm around his upper ar.
"I've done it a lot," he said as she rested his hand over mine and then looked back at me to see the distressed look on my face. "Geez, fine," he muttered as he moved so he was merrily standing beside me. "Don't say I don't do anything for you," he went on teasingly as he nudged me playfully.
I nudged him back, letting our sides lean against one another for a few extra seconds for emphasis. "You can see everything from here."
"It's pretty amazing, isn't it?" he pressed as he turned me at a slight angle and pointed up at the sky. "Watch."
I followed where he was pointed and frowned when I noticed that there was nothing there. "What am I looking at?"
"Just wait for it," he replied and about twelve seconds later, the night erupted into schemes of bright colors.
"Fireworks," I breathed with a grin and Sam merrily nodded as we both fell into silence, watching the night light up before us.
Somewhere during the show, our hands had clasped together, almost like there was a magnetic attraction between them but for the first time ever, our fingers effortlessly laced together.
I grinned not just because I was on the highest point in Los Angeles or because the night was beautiful with fireworks but because I was with Sam and we were closer than we'd ever been. It made the trek down eleven flights of stairs that much more bearable. That and the fact that Sam held my hand all the way down.
The car ride home was quiet and when we rolled into the driveway to our apartment, I was halfway asleep, my eyelids refusing to stay open for more than a few seconds.
My car door opened and I let Sam help me out of the car, looping an arm around my torso as we headed up the stairway in the apartment that lead from the garage to the living space.
"Hungry?" Sam asked as he pulled away from me and edged towards the kitchen but I shook my head and made my way to my room, changing and then brushing my teeth and combing through my hair in the bathroom. When I returned to my room, I noticed Sam laying on the normally empty side of the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
I smiled and got under the covers, curling into my pillow before turning to look at him. We were silent for a while and I knew that I only had minutes before I dozed off. "Thank you."
"For?" he asked, turning his face to look at me.
"Giving up so much to take me in," I murmured.
He chuckled softly. "To be honest with you, the move from the storage container was long overdue," he started. "But the rest…" he trailed off. "In a way, needed to be done. Alan jokes about it all the time, how I finally grew up," he said as his tone got a little pang of something in it. "So I should be the one thanking you really."
"Well, then you're welcome."
"As are you."
I reached my arm over and rested it against his stomach, feeling the rise and fall as he slowly breathed. "So, I have an inquiry."
"When don't you?" he asked as he chuckled and wrapped his hand around my wrist, squeezing gently. "What is it?" he pressed.
"I would like to be in enrolled in college if that is a possibility," I told him.
He gave me a strange look. "Why?"
"I want to learn more," I stated as I pressed my hand into him for emphasis. "Biology, physics, chemistry, engineering, business, law…" I trailed off as I fixed my gaze on him.
He was silent for a little while and I knew that he was thinking the pros and cons over because his hand was unintentionally rubbing against the length of my forearm. "I don't see why not," he started. "We'll have to comb over your paperwork before you can apply though. I'd assume you'd like to start in the fall?" he asked.
I nodded. "Or in the summer, or now," I said eagerly.
He smiled but it looked forced and I felt his hand tighten around my wrist. "Will that be a problem?" I asked, concerned.
He frowned, shaking his head. "Not at all."
"But there is some sort of problem," I pressed as I stared at him, my eyes searching for the answers that he wasn't verbally saying.
He shook his head slowly and released my wrist. "There's not."
I sighed and turned onto my other side so my back was facing him now. "Was it something that I did?"
"What?"
"Sam…" I mumbled as I turned around again to look at him. "Don't pretend with me."
He looked up at the ceiling before closing his eyes. "Believe me, I'm not," he muttered. There was a hint of longing in his tone that I knew wasn't meant to be there.
"Then stop lying to me."
His eyes opened and he glanced at me, his jaw set. "You think I'm lying to you?" he asked and I merrily held his gaze. "I'm not," he said as he held my gaze, his tone more than serious.
"Then what?" I pressed as I scooted over so I was now resting my head on his pillow, so close to his face that it was difficult to focus on his eyes.
I felt him tense up but he didn't melt underneath the pressure like I had hoped. "You should get some sleep," he said as he glanced over my shoulder. I pouted at him. He breathed a laugh. "You can't always do that to me, you know?"
I sighed as I pressed my hand against his chest, feeling the pulsing of his heartbeat. "Why not?"
"Because it isn't fair."
I sighed and pulled back slightly so there was more space between us, nestling back into my bed. "I'm not the passive aggressive type, Sam Flynn."
"I know."
We continued to talk though despite the small confrontation until I grew tired and eventually dozed off. As I fell asleep, I could feel Sam's hand resting against my torso.
When I awoke the next morning, I frowned to see that the space that Sam had occupied last night was empty and the side was neatly made, letting me know that he hadn't slept here.
I sighed, feeling the blatant disappointment wash over me in powerful waves. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, slowly making my way towards the door and out into the living area. I opened the refrigerator and grabbed the bowl of fruit that I normally went for in the mornings.
There was a note.
I'll be back this evening - S
I smiled at the note despite his absence, knowing that he had his typical steady routine with ENCOM to contend with while my schedule didn't demand as many hours from me.
I left the note on the container lid, glancing at it every once in a while as I popped grapes in my mouth and watched the morning news.
Tell me what you think or if you have any ideas for the story. I love making a fanned idea into a chapter! See you soon!
