Chapter 7;
"Everyone, this is Samantha Larson." Her new English teacher, Mrs. Killerman called among the class. The group of people that she had sat with at breakfast snickered and rolled their eyes. Of course, they already knew. "She's come here from…" Mrs. Killerman looked at Sam to finish her sentence. "Jersey City." She replied, for about the hundredth time. "Jersey City, right. You can have a seat right over by Mr. Mueller." She pointed toward Kagan. Sam smiled; at least it was someone she had met before. "Hello, again." He whispered to Sam, as she put her stuff on the desk and sat down. She gave him another slight smile. "Hello to you, too." Kagan leaned back in his chair. His face and body language told Sam he thought it was all boring. "You know, I write stories." Sam informed him. Kagan raised an eyebrow at him. "Do you?" Sam shrugged. "Sure, I just can never finish them." "What kind?" He bit the toothpick hanging in his mouth. "Romance." She quickly answered. It was her specialty. But she had never told anyone about them until now. Not even Chase. "Really?" He smirked at her. Sam's head spun. "Yes, really." "Mind if I read one, one day?" Sam's face turned to an uneasy expression. "Well, I don't know if guys would really like it all that much." Sam commented, trying to get out of it. "You'll come to learn. I'm not like most guys." It left Sam speechless for the moment. Kagan lifted an eyebrow again. "So, am I allowed to?" Sam shot him a crooked smile. "Maybe." She said in the flirtiest tone she could put on. "I'm looking forward to it." The bell rang for the next period. She hadn't heard one word Mrs. Killerman had said. It didn't matter though. Sammy was so far ahead in her work; she probably knew all of it. Heather met her outside. "What was up with you and Kagan back there?" She asked in a curious voice. Sam wrinkled her forehead in confusion. "Huh?" "Dude, he was so flirting, I know that look for him." "He was?" "Yes, Sam! What did he say?" "Nothing in particular." Heather glanced at Sam suspiciously, "Mhm, right." Sam gave her an innocent look and held her hands up with her elbows still to her side. "Seriously, it was nothing, I promise. I already love someone remember?" Sam reminded her. "That doesn't mean you can't like someone else too." Heather pointed out as they walked in the door of History class. "Well-" Heather started, but was cut off by Mrs. Hayfield. "Ah, you must be Samantha." She said greeting her at the door. Sam faked a smile to her. This had been going on all day. Obviously the school never got new students because all the teachers knew who she was. The teacher looked over the kids' heads searching for an empty seat to put Sammy in. "Ah, Mr. Mueller." Sam's heart jumped at the sound of her voice. Not again. Sammy saw Kagan turn to look at the teacher, thinking he was in trouble. "Do you mind having our new student sit by you for now?" Sam bit her lip. She acted like she never talked to the guy. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Heather bounce in her seat nervously. Then Kagan smirked, but only so Sam could notice. "Not at all, Mrs. Hayfield." He winked toward Sam, as she walked over by him. Once sitting down she whispered out of the corner of her mouth. "So why is it that you're always the one with the empty seat by you?" Kagan looked over to her. "It's not that no one likes me, I can tell you that." His British tone rang through her ears. "Then what is it?" Sam gave a sarcastic look. "I just prefer to sketch, instead of listen. I just copy Holly's notes after classes." Sam raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Sketch?" "You're not the only one with a creative mind in this world, Larson." "Mind if I see some of these sketches." "Not until you show me a story." Sam's stomach churned. She didn't actually think he would want to see one of her stories that bad. "Deal." She winked. But for some strange reason, her mind wasn't on the lesson at all. Her mind wasn't even on Chase. It was on Kagan, and how he could come so interesting to her not even knowing him for 24 hours yet.
The rest of the day went on as the same. The only class she didn't sit with Kagan was in biology class, which was with Hunter. Everyone from the group seemed friendly, especially Kagan. Of course in Heather's words he was being too friendly. After classes, she called Chase. "Hey." She said, making him hear the smile in her voice. "Hey Sam." She could hear his too. "How was the big first day?" He asked. "Actually, to tell you the truth, it wasn't so bad." "See, I told you." Sammy chuckled. "Oh stop, it's still not the same." "You're still coming on Friday evening, right, though?" "Of course." She confirmed. "Good, because I have something for you." Sam sat up in her bed. "What?" "Well, if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise anymore, now would it?" "But I hate surprises, and you know it." Sam whined. "Well, that's just too bad, Sam, you'll live." Chase laughed. "I'm leaving early on Saturday, though." There was a pause. "Why?" "Well, apparently everyone's having fun that day, and I guess I wanted to see what they do for fun." Sam could hear the sadness in his voice when he spoke. "Oh." "I'll come again next weekend though." It seemed to have cheered him up a bit after she said it. "Okay." A bell rang. "Well, I gotta go. Dinner bell." "Alright, I love you Sam. Sweet dreams tonight." "You too." She smiled then hung up the phone. Heather walked in. "Ready?" She asked, before walking out with Sam to the dining hall. Sam simply nodded, and walked to dinner. Hunter, Holly, Kelly, and Lauren were already there, but Kagan wasn't. For some reason, disappointment fell over her. She sat down next to Heather, and her eyes moved to the door, waiting for the blue-eyed boy to walk in. Hunter caught her attention, though. "So, Sam, you're still gonna come for Saturday, right?" Sam smiled slightly. "Yep." She replied. "Good, because it's probably gonna be the best Saturday of your life." He winked. Sam was more curious than before now. Then he came. Kagan sat down right across from Sam and stared at her. "Where were you?" Sam asked, when she probably shouldn't have. He didn't answer but then when everyone was engaged with their own conversation, He whispered to her, "Sketching." "Oh." Sam mouthed in approval. "Decided when you're gonna show me that story of yours?" He said, loud enough to be over heard, but no one did. Sam shook her head. "Not yet." A silence came over the two for a moment. "Can I show you something?" He asked breaking the quiet aroma. Sam raised her eyebrows in wonder. "Just come on." "Won't someone get suspicious?" "Tell them you have to go to bathroom." "Fine." She mouthed. Her attempt at bailing obviously didn't work. "I have to go to bathroom." She whispered to her roommate next to her. She nodded and then continued her conversation with Hunter. It was something about a scary movie. Sam slowly got up wondering if Kagan would really follow. "Wait for me in the hall." He mouthed before she walked out.
Once outside the dining hall, she leaned against the wall, and looked at her wrist, looking at an invisible watch. Almost instantly, Kagan came from around the corner. He came at her at a running speed and took her hand, dragging her outside. "Where are we going?" She asked, laughing, as they ran. "You'll see." He called back, running around the school and into the woods. They finally slowed down and Sam caught her breath. She hadn't had time to pay attention to her surroundings. "Where are we going?" She repeated. Kagan guided her head to the left, where she saw a clearing. It was so…open. How could she not have noticed it? Kagan took her hand again and guided her to the edge. Sitting down and swinging his legs over. "Come on." Sam was afraid of heights. She didn't trust it. "I...I don't think so." "Oh, come on, it won't fall." Sam gulped, as she walked closer toward Kagan, and sat down. Her body shook with fright but Kagan gently grabbed her arm. "I won't let you fall, I promise." Sam's body loosened, and she relaxed slightly. "There, that's better." Sam looked down. There was a little river underneath them. "I come out here to sketch, a lot." He informed her. Sam smiled at him. "You know, I've never told anyone about my sketches." He continued. Sam raised an eyebrow. "You haven't?" She asked in response. He shook his head. "Well, I haven't ever told any about my stories." "I know." He stated. "How?" Sam looked confused. "The look in your eyes." "You actually look at my eyes?" She asked in shock. Every guy she talked to had looked at her chest. It was natural guy behavior. Chase was the only one she knew who didn't look anywhere but her eyes. "Well, of course, what else would I look at?" He asked in confusion. "I don't know. I just thought it was a guy's thing to look at a girl's chest." Kagan laughed. "Only a pervert's place to look. Which is most guys, but, I perfer that the beauty is in the eyes." "Hm, that's unusual to hear." She smiled, "But unusal things usually facsnate me." "Oh, so I facsinate you?" She winked. "A little." Kagan laughed. "Sammy, Sammy, Sammy." He said accusingly. "What?" She asked, trying to sound innocently. "Now, why would I facsinate you?" She shurgged, as she got up off the edge and walked more towards a huge oak tree that probably was there way before Sammy was born. "Maybe because of the way you're so different. I mean, most guys find any place else but your eyes to look. And I must say, that sketching is not really a guy's hobby. I mean what else do you do? Play guitar? Write songs?" Kagan stopped her. "Actually, both." Sam stared in shock. "Both!?" She exclaimed. He nodded in approval. "Play a song for me, then." She demanded, sitting by him on her knees, her face and actions resembling a five year old. "Ah." He sighed, leaning back on his hands. "Do I have to?" She nodded. "Fine, but only if-" Sam stopped him and finished his sentence for him. "I'll let you have my story." Kagan held up a finger, signaling her to be quiet. "Only if you met me back here at 11:30 tonight." Sam scrunched her forehead in confusion. "But our curfew is eleven..." Kagan chuckled. "A curfew's going to stop a Jersey girl?" Sam shrugged. "I don't know, I guess I don't want to have a bad reputation right after I get here." Kagan smirked. "If you're with me, you'll have anything but a bad rep." He winked. "Oh really?" She asked, matter-of-factly. Kagan nodded. "And why's that?" She stod to her feet again. "Because I'm amazing." Sam rolled her eyes. "Right. That one I can believe." She laughed and got up. "Are you done showing me something?" Kagan ran after her. "I don't know, what else is there to show you?" Sam winked. "Your sketches." Kagan's lips curled down into a frown. "I have my story picked out." She informed him. "Do I really have to show you them?" Sam scowled. "You promised." She reminded. "I know but, I have to finish this one special one." Sam sighed. "Fine, you have until Sunday night." She paced faster and her fast walk turned into a skip. Kagan strolled slowly behind. Why did he make her feel so...free?
By the time both got back, everyone was almost done with their food. "It took you that long to go to the bathroom?" Heather asked Sam as she sat back down. She shrugged. "I forgot something in the dorm." She lied. "Where did you go, Kagan?" Heather asked him, turning her attention off Sammy. "Oh, uh, I went outside, just to get some fresh air." At least his lie was half true. Heather looked over at Sam suspiciously. Sam shrugged, like she knew nothing, and Heather just shrugged it off. "Whatever." The group got up, and started to walk out the dining hall and into the main hallways, heading back to their dorms for homework and sleep. Sammy followed Heather back to the room. Once inside, she quickly ran to her phone. She had to call Chase. She was going to die soon if she didn't. She tapped his number in her phone like it was just natural, and she didn't need to say numbers in her head to remember it. Truth is, it was natural. She'd dialed it so many times, it was like she had obsessive complusive disorder. The ringing sound killed her. She wanted him to pick up already. "Hello?" Chase's voice rang through her ears. "Chase!" Sam laughed. "Sam! Hey!" Chase replied. Sam smiled. His velvet voice soothed her. Everything around her melted away. "I miss you." Chase commented. Sam beamed, "I miss you too. I think I'll skip 8th block to come early." Chase clicked his tounge in an accusing way. "Tsk. Tsk, Sam. Missing classes on the first Friday?" Sam laughed. "It's high school, hon. No one cares." "Well, the sooner you're here the happier I am." Sam grinned even bigger. Maybe it wasn't going to be so hard to tell him, after all. "I still have a surprise for you." Chase reminded her. Sam had totally forgotten about it. "Aw, come on, Chase. Stop torturing me." She whined. "That's the plan. You'll get to see it tomorrow." Sam pouted. "Fine." Chase chuckled, "Don't worry, Sam. You'll see." Sam giggled. "Okay, okay." She looked over to the clock. 8:30. If she wanted to meet Kagan at 11:30, she had to start on her homework. "Oh, Chase, I'm so sorry. I have homework. I'll text you later tonight. Promise." Chase sighed. "Fine, fine. I love you." "You too." She smiled, then closed the phone. Pulling out her school books, she sighed. She couldn't wait til the end of 7th block tomorrow. No, she couldn't wait until the end of the 3 hour drive to Jersey City was over. She'd get to see Chase's face for the first time in a week. Smiling she started to work on her calculus homework, moving her hands quickly along the page. Math had always been easy to Sam. She'd never had any trouble with it. Heck, she could do Algebra in 7th grade. Once finished with her homework, she stared at the clock. Only 45 minutes until she had to leave to meet Kagan. She yawned, then pinced herself to stay awake. She couldn't be tired yet. It was impossible. Sam was always used to staying up late and waking up early. She shook her head, trying to wake herself up a little more. Heather was on her bed reading her new issue of Teen Vouge. "Heather?" Sam asked, getting her roommates attention. Heather's eyes didn't leave the magazine. "Yes, Sam?" She replied, her voice muffled from her jaw being held together by her chin on her hand. "Are Kagan's songs good?" Heather turned to her, with a what-the-heck-are-you-talking-about-look. "Sam, Kagan doesn't write songs." Sam suddenly felt like she shouldn't have said anything. "Oh. Maybe I got the wrong impression then." Heather laughed. "Apparently." Was it just her, or did Sam know more about Kagan than any of his friend's did? Sam shook the thought out of her head, and look over to the clock. 5 more minutes. "Hey, Heather. Can you cover for me? I'd like to look at the stars for a while." Heather nodded, again absorbed in her magazine. "Thanks." She answered, and grabbed her coat, heading to the door, and down the hallway, to the same exit her and Kagan exited earlier. She walked as quietly as she could, then she heard footsteps. Her heart started to beat faster, and her breathing decreased. Someone touched her shoulder, and she swiftly turned around to see a familiar face staring back at her. "Scare you?" Kagan grinned, showing his perfectly straight and white teeth. Sam let out a small breathy laugh. "Just a little." He smiled again, "Come on." He whispered, grabbing her hand and silently heading out the door. It was chilly outside. A normal 50 degrees. Kagan pulled her over into the woods. The only light guiding thm was the glow from the night sky. Sam could see their breath in the air, as they walked toward the same clearing they met at earlier. Finally, they stopped. Sam stared at him. Kagan did the same. Both were silent for a long moment. "So, what did you drag me out here so late for?" Sam questioned, breaking the silence. Kagan reached behind him, taking off a guitar case from his back. Sam hadn't seen it in the darkness of the night. It surprised her. "You said you wanted to hear a song." Kagan reminded her. She nodded, "I did, indeed." He unzipped the case and pulled out a dark acoustic guitar, and a pick. He grabbed the guitar's neck and sat on a flat boulder, then set the instument on his knee. "Now, please, note that I suck at writing songs." He warned. Sam chuckled, and nodded. She took a seat on another boulder right across from him. He strummed the first chord, then the second, then third, and repeated them twice. Then he started to sing;
Insert lyrics here.
Sam stared in awe. It was so…romantic. She would probably die if someone wrote that for her. So what if it wasn't much? It was still short and sweet. Kagan looked at Sam, with a scared look on his face. "Wow." Sam whispered. Kagan laughed. "I'm not done with it yet, and I'll probably change the lyrics around, but that's one of them." Sam smiled. "I love it. You'll have to show me the rest when it's finished." Kagan nodded. "I will." "Promise?" He smiled, "I promise." "Good." She smiled, as they headed closer to the edge of the clearing. "The stars are beautiful. You could never see this in Jersey City." Sam commented. "Yeah, they are." She could feel Kagan's eyes on her, and turned to him. An awkward silence fell between them. "Uh, maybe we should head back." Sam commented, breaking the silence. "Oh, uh, yeah." Kagan agreed, shaking his head, as if knocking out a thought. He smiled and turned around, heading back to the building.
Sam snuck quietly back in her room so she wouldn't awake her roommate who was now, snoring. She smiled to herself as she shut the door quietly, and tiptoed to her bed. The night was...fun. It was cute how artistic Kagan was. For some reason, he reminded her of Chase, minus the songwriting-skeching part. Sam grabbed her phone and flipped it open to find a new text waiting for her. Goodnight, sleeping beauty. Sam grinned, and text back. Goodnight, my pretty boy. Her stomach churned as she thought of tomorrow. She wanted to know how Chase was going to react. Sighing, she threw on her pajamas, and fell asleep, awaiting the next day.
