Chapter Nine: Consequences


On our way home, Libby sits upfront in the passenger's seat chatting away softly with Aunt Maggie while I lean my head against Jessie's chest as his right arm is draping around my neck. I've always felt comfortable and relaxed with him this way that sometimes it is easy for people to think we're more than best friends.

It's just how we are and have always been from day two. Jessie will always be in my heart regardless of our future significant others. Libby's friends grovel over him because his appearance resembles a much younger Brad Pitt but with stunning unusual sea green eyes. But he's not conceited or even believes he's handsome enough to belong as an equal in a girl's life.

I heave a sigh as I notice Jessie's silence ever since we drove away from the hospital. I have no doubt he's worried about the conditions he read in the release forms while Carlisle took me to get X-rays and wouldn't let no one come with us.

During this time, Carlisle expressed importance not showing my barely visible incision where he had to do the necessary repair of a coronary aneurism in my heart. He is in awe and I am in shock. It looks like a long tiny scratch in between my breast bones. Though, the insides are still weeks away from thoroughly being healed instead of the months it would take for an ordinary person. It is completely inexplicable. Whatever source had made this happen, I'm forever grateful. I just hope there wasn't a price to pay for such later.

At least my ribs and wrist bones are healing at a typical rate. Carlisle took the hard plaster off my arm and replaced it with an ace wrapping. That way I could take a shower without any outside help and risk anyone from seeing the non-existent incision.

Now I fully understood his conditions for staying put for six months or possibly a lot longer. It wasn't so much for health reasons as it was from immediate exposure to the both of us and his family.

As Carlisle had wrapped my hand, he thanked me for defending him in my speech earlier in the morning. It proved to him and his family there was no cause for the distress over my knowledge of what they were. It left no more doubt that I would not expose them to the world just as Alice had repeatedly told them there was nothing to worry about from the start regardless if Edward couldn't read my mind.

Jasper and Rosaline had insisted on leaving until they heard me on the outside giving the medicine inspired dialogue to the humans who thought Carlisle had caused me harm on purpose.

That is when I learned they could hear within a few miles and through cement buildings. It is absolutely astonishing that I found myself reeling in such possibilities afterwards that I had a hard time focusing until the Doc revealed more.

Carlisle explained the reasoning for his family being there. It was to get him to leave and disappear but Esmé and Alice wanted to make sure I'd survive first. If they'd had not waited, there would have been no Edward and Bella and it would have all been my fault. I would have probably let Libby kick my ass literally for it too.

Conversely, there are after effects from my passionate speech I made and considering them all makes me shiver in fright. Carlisle revealed the beautiful Rosaline wants to do a tune-up on the Trans-Am. This doesn't bother me too much. One being I don't have to socialize with her and secondly I do need a trustworthy mechanic to work on a classic although it does sound strange to have a female as pretty as she to be into cars.

Although I haven't met Jasper the one who had kept my heart from exceeding into hazard conditions before Carlisle interceded, wants to teach me Chess of all things. If I didn't know any better, I'd believe he read my mind not long ago while I was processing my speculations. Now this proposal, I'm pretty apprehensive about regardless of what he has done for me without my knowledge. Yet, I feel the need to comply for his exceptional and honorable assistance. I have to ask Libby, but I'm positive he's the Cullen who has trouble the most with their diet.

Sophisticatedly, Esme and Alice want to have a sit down conversation with me. I became perplexed until the Doc explained quickly both ladies are very curious of my southern mannerisms in the twenty-first century that are usually non-existent in teenagers. Not ecstatic to do this either but the next proposition is beyond creepier than the last two.

Emmett saw my Green Bay Packers hoodie the other day as they were arriving home in that red jeep. Shockingly he wants to watch a football game together. Carlisle had said he loved the sport and could tell I was a huge fan just by the authentic jersey I wore. The Doc went on to say no one in the family seems to enjoy the sport but him. They only liked to watch and play baseball.

It surprised me the vampires like baseball and were Atlanta Braves fans.

So that left a moody and distant Edward. The person centered in this whole shebang is nonetheless enthusiastic at his family for wanting a relationship with me. Apparently he doesn't want anything to do with my friends and I. Carlisle didn't say as much but that's the impression I perceived. Also, I suspect the Doc wants me to be healthy and build a strong relationship through it all.

Whatever the justifications for attention with the Cullen's or distance in Edward, I will have to be very careful in every step and in every decision and in every word I made in their life for it could be the end of our future. That would be true for Sam and the twins as well.

Heaving a huge sigh as my aunt pulls into the drive-way revealing a suave yellow king-cab muscle truck. It is parked sideways in the paved turn around slash extra parking space next to the garage under the shade of a thick cedar tree.

The smiling male teenager sits on the down tailgate watching our vehicle slowly reach its destination. I can honestly say he could pass as a young Matt Dillon in the movie 'Little Darlings'; from his chocolate mane and coffee eyes to his deep sun-kissed skin tone. He stands in all his glorious self at six' one in height with a medium-tone bod with appreciated muscles due to hard labor.

"Who is that?" Libby wondered before we came to a halt. "I don't know." My aunt replied breaking and putting the Lexus in park.

Breathe.

Jessie feels my tense squeeze in our intertwined fingers and his eyebrows rises in response to my soft gasp. I slightly shake my head in regards to the unexpected visitor.

It seems my earlier speculation about a parallel world is canoodling off into the sunrise in one bittersweet moment as this tall male who is now smiling but hesitant in approaching my door in his smooth stride.

"Sammie is that the guy in the picture from the wildlife ranch in Montana?" Jessie asked eyeballing the unexpected visitor suspiciously as I sit up fully into the seat.

"Yes." I managed to say.

"What is he doing here?" Libby asked before getting out without waiting for my reply. Obviously she was already crushing on him.

Jessie and my aunt followed her example.

Tucker McCoy has also found his way into this Twilight Universe just as we all have. There's no way I alone could have caused such a magnitude modification from traveling and moving here without anyone taking notice besides me and my best friends. No explanation whatsoever on how we entered this ambiguous fictional world. Besides, wouldn't we all have felt a shift somehow into this world where the supernatural existed?

Tucker opens my door snapping me out of my thoughts. "Sammie, I've been so worried about you, sweets." he said pulling me into a hug as I got out of the SUV while Jessie, Libby and my aunt surrounded us a few feet away.

"What happened to your hand?" he murmured in my ear and no hint of yielding from the hold.

"It's a long story." I mutter. "How did you find me?" I asked pulling away from the comfortable embrace. My friends have questionable faces along with a puzzled aunt.

"Uncle Theo kept getting your voice mail and decided to call your home number learning it was disconnected. Then he called another number that was listed on your contact sheet and they said you live here now." He explained. "I'm sorry to hear about your mom." He added in sympathy. I nodded inserting my forefingers in my back pocket nervously.

"Thanks." I said in a reserved manner. "But what are you doing here?" I asked in a suspicious tenor.

Tucker has a girlfriend, but minutes before I left he confessed he had feelings for me. I didn't admit mine because we lived too far apart. But, I didn't think he was here to sweep me off of my feet though.

"Oh. Yeah. Um, remember the bet you made with Uncle Theo about the health of this year's Triple Crown race horse?" he said taking off his cowboy hat scratching his head. I nodded in remembrance. He smiles putting his hat back on. "Well, as it turns out you were right and again saving an animal's life. So, he figured since you were close enough he'd pay up on the debt instead of waiting for next summer. Then I said I'd deliver them and here I am." He replied amiably in tip of a nod at me.

I smile at his thoughtfulness and very excited to see my prize but introductions must come before someone has a tizzy outburst.

"Everyone this is Tucker; Tucker this is my Aunt Maggie and my best friends Libby and Jessie." I said pointing to each one as with their name. "Uncle Theo owns the wildlife ranch in Montana and Tucker works there in the summer months." I explained to them. Tucker greeted all with a 'hello' as they did him.

"Thanks Tuck for bringing Sami Jr..." I say grinning at him.

"Who's Sammie Jr.?" Libby demanded in confusion as Tucker begins walking towards the yellow truck.

"You'll see and its spelled S-A-M-I." I said over my shoulder falling in step with Tucker smiling and waving at my friends and aunt to follow behind us.

"He's still in the cage on the back seat." Tucker said leading us all towards the passenger's side.

As Tucker opens the door, I let all my troubles fade away into the background for a little awhile. He opens the cage and brings out the pup I found one day hiking and exploring the forest surrounding the ranch by myself a couple of months ago.

Tears start to stream as he holds the four-month old pure black wolf cub Uncle Theo named after me. I hug the cub as he licks at my fallen tears. "I've missed you so much." I say to him.

"Awesome." Jessie said from over my shoulder… "Awe…" Libby cooed petting him… "Awe… he's so precious." Aunt Maggie said caressing his enormous sized paw… They all chorused at the same time.

Tucker is surprise when I shake my head no as he tries to pass the cub to me but I tilt my head towards Libby. I didn't want to explain about my broken ribs or the unexpected heart surgery.

Then something occurred to me as Tucker passes the pup to Libby. "Tuck, when you said them, what did you mean by that?" I said a little breathless.

Suddenly, I felt very weak.

Tucker grins and winks his brown long lashed eye at me. "Uncle Theo's giving you this truck, Sammie. He said you needed transportation to come visit him before next summer. And he told me to tell you not to refuse his gift or otherwise pay the consequence." He said to me.

Theodore Sikorsky is a very generous man. He's really not anyone's uncle. But I don't call adults by their first name without a Mister or Misses. I instantly felt a true kinship with the burly man, and uncle fit perfectly since I didn't have one. So everyone in the camp decided it fit really well too with Uncle Theo.

"Say, what is the consequence?" I asked. Tucker's smile faded into a frown.

"He said he'd take back the cub therefore they're gifts he knows you cannot reject." he replied solemnly.

"Then how are you supposed to get home, Tuck?" I replied uneasy before I slightly drooped into a cross-legged position on the cement covered ground feeling unwell.

"Hey, are you okay?" Tucker asked concerned as him and my aunt squatted before me while my aunt cusped her cool hand on my cheek. "Samantha, what's wrong, honey?"

Unexpectedly, Jessie picks me up and cradled my body to his chest. I rested my head on his shoulder as he carried me closing my eyes. "Thanks, Jessie." I said weakly.

"No problem. Are you okay?" Jessie questioned in a panic voice walking towards the house in a smooth gait trying not to jostle me too much. Yet, its a little painful for my ribs but I didn't need to worry him any more than I have.

"Yeah, just feeling very weak is all." I murmured trying to reassure him that this was predictable in my release forms.

Jessie pauses and I open my eyes long enough to see we we're at the front door waiting for my aunt to catch up to unlock the front door. My face becomes hot from a blush in embarrassment as I heard Libby explaining to Tucker about how I just got out of the hospital from the recent discovered medical condition.

A car pulled up into the drive-way.

"Mom and Dad are back." Libby announced in an anxious voice as Jessie carried me inside.

Jessie places me carefully on the couch and kneeled on the wooden floor beside me. "Sammie, are you really okay?" he asked with fright in his eyes. I close mine.

"Yes, Jessie, I am okay." I replied gently.

"Samantha, do we need to take you back to the hospital?" my aunt asked in a fearful tone smoothing away my damp tresses from my face.

My eyes open to everyone's cautious and concerned faces. "No, I just feel weak and my ribs hurt some. That's all. Honestly. It's probably safe to say I need to rest for a few minutes." I said trying to calm everyone's anxiety.

"Here's a cold wet rag, Aunt Maggie." Libby said.

"Maybe. Would you like some pain medicine and a cold bottle of water?" my aunt asked not convinced of my observation putting the wash cloth on my forehead.

"Yes ma'am." I said closing my eyes again. "That'd be sweet. Thanks." I responded to her knowing I needed to call Carlisle but not in front of this anxious and boisterous audience.

"Libby?" I felt Jessie move away as he spoke to a nervous Tucker.

"Yeah Sammie, I'm right here, what do you need?" her uneasy voice came closer as she answered before I felt her grab my hand.

Libby knew me well. I opened my eyes and managed a weak smile. "Could you please go get my tote?" I took the wash cloth off and gave it to her. "I don't need this. I'm okay."

"Sure, I'll be right back." She agreed quickly and left the living room.

That's when I noticed the adults were no longer in the room. All three were probably discussing matters in the kitchen about my health because Aunt Maggie hasn't come back with the water and Tylenol. However, the two teen males stood afar gazing upon me in worried expressions. I am not going to get pass this if everyone is flipping out over my weakness.

"Jessie, why don't you and Tucker take the pup to the backyard? He's needs to adjust and run and most likely take a potty break. Libby and I'll be in the garage." I stated in a neutral voice.

Tucker slightly nodded but Jessie seems apprehensive. I sighed. "Please. There's a door to the garage from the backyard that you can check in on me." I pleaded.

"Come on man. She'll be alright. We'll check up on her." Tucker said to Jessie gesticulating with a wave towards the front door.

Jessie sighed nervously wringing his hands. "Okay dudette, you win. Let's go dude." He said leaving the room.

Immediately I mouthed a thank you to Tucker and he winked at me before he followed Jessie out. I still had no answer to how he was getting back home. I assumed Montana, but then I realized he wasn't from there, he lived in Port Angeles of all places! How could I have forgotten?

Then I heard Jessie tell Libby as she came in the front door. "Yell if you need me. We'll be in the backyard with the cub so unlock the door in the garage that leads to it." He said. I exhaled as if I had held air in my lungs.

"Okay." Libby agreed then the glass screen door thumped and clicked against its frame.

Aunt Maggie entered the living room with the items she promised. She handed me the two pills. It reminded me then that I wasn't quite genuine in my speech at the hospital about medication. I'd forgotten the tiny pill Aunt Maggie had given on my first night here to help me sleep.

I entertained myself with a ridiculous thought. Could that blue pill have set off an alternative world as in the Matrix? Shaking my head at the prosperous assumption, I sat up and took the Tylenol with the water without any dizziness. Carlisle had been right about keeping things at a calm pace. Getting excited in seeing the pup and Tucker, seemed to have brought on the weakness.

Soon after, Libby and I promenaded for the garage with no reprimands or apprehensiveness from my aunt as it had been with Jessie. We discovered Mr. Edward and Janet sitting at the oval dining room table on our way.

"How are you feeling, honey?" Janet asked concerned looking up from reading paperwork set in front of her as Aunt Maggie takes her usual seat at the end.

"Better, thank you." I answered. Libby gently nudged me forward when I paused to speak to her mother.

"You guys have rules to set. Sammie and I need to catch up in the garage." Libby said hugging my neck as we continued walking to our destination.

"Girls, we'll be eating lunch soon." Mr. Edward called out before Libby shut the door.

'When are they leaving, Libby?" I asked my best friend as I plodded over and unlocked the backyard entrance to the garage without opening the door.

"Uh, tomorrow, um, Aunt Maggie is a pack rat, eh?" she amused over the clutter of boxes as I had on Sunday.

Sunday. It feels like an eternity. I haven't been here a week and already in heaps of myriad worries.

"Holly Molly!" Libby exclaimed loudly bringing me back to earth. I smile when I realize she discovered the black glossy Trans-Am. "Aunt Maggie has taste in automobiles." She said getting into the passenger's side.

My aunt had backed Tazzy in like the first time I saw her. Sighing, I sit inside in the driver's seat. We both leave the heavy doors wide open. Libby's hands me my leather tote. She looks around as I reach in for my phone and Carlisle's number. Her awe's and gasp's make me grin.

"It was my mothers. Aunt Maggie gave it to me." I said as I enter Carlisle's number on my phone setting it to #7.

Libby didn't say anything so I looked up. She seems lost in her thoughts staring out the windshield with her head resting on the seat biting her lower lip. Being respectful, I glance down at the steering wheel to see if I did any damage from hitting my fist on it Monday discovering the keys in the ignition.

No doubt Aunt Maggie must have been absentminded from the recent events to forget them altogether leaving the windows down too. I turn the ignition for the stereo to play unwaveringly ejecting the tape to avoid my mother's music letting the radio station entertain us with their soft tunes.

I push number seven on the cell. Carlisle answers on the second ring. "Hello Sammie, is everything okay?" I ignored the fact he automatically knew it was me calling.

I clear my throat. "Yes sir. Just that … a little while ago I got a little excited." I sighed. "I felt faint from sudden weakness described in the release forms." When I said this Libby heaved a big sigh.

"I see. Was there any shortness of breath?" Carlisle queried in concern.

Libby is no longer lost in thoughts. I felt her shift sideways in her seat in my direction and gazing at me still leaning her head on the seat.

Ignoring her for the time being I reply, "Yes sir." because it's what scarred me the most and why I was calling him.

"Have you ever heard of an oxygen piggyback, Sammie?" he asked.

"Yeah, I have. Do you think that's necessary?" I said unhappily. I regret bothering him now.

"Honestly, I should have equipped you with one before leaving the hospital." He replied ignoring the irritation in my voice. "I'll bring one by on my way home which will be sometime after noon. In the meantime, try to refrain from any more excitement."

"Okay Doc. Thanks." I said sighing and rolling my eyes.

Just freaking terrific. Now I'll be a complete ass at Forks High wearing that on Monday. The curiosity of my ailment will be on everyone's mind besides where I'm from and who I am. Ugh!

"See you soon, Sammie."

"Yeah, see ya soon, Carlisle." I said not containing my grumpy voice and pushing the end button.

"Is he coming over?" Libby asked. I bobbled a yes. "Why?"

"He's bringing an oxygen backpack for me to use." I replied sourly. I rested my head back and closed my eyes.

"You seem extremely unhappy about this when it'll help you. Is something you're not telling me?"

I roll my head in her direction and my eyes open looking at her. "Out everyone Libby, you should understand how embarrassing it's going to have to walk into Forks High with that thing on my back." I groaned shaking my head then leaned it back again on the seat closing my eyes and resting my palms on the steering wheel in the center.

"Oh yeah, right." She agreed. "But the good news is that I'll be there to support you. Besides, it'll help you breathe better." She sighed. "I've noticed you're breathing harder and it's frightening me, Sammie." Libby said in a fretful voice leaning and resting her forehead on my shoulder.

Libby's statement halted those unnecessary qualms aside on the piggyback oxygen tank. She is right, and she'll never abandon me. She went through the trouble to get her and Jessie by my side even though Twilight came alive. I believe she'd have done it anyways if it hadn't. It's just how loyal and dedicated she was. And I am lucky to have a friend like her and Jessie both in my life. Without them, I wouldn't exist.

But, I had to ask myself; what were the consequences for permitting them both to evolve in this world?

"Sammie, are you okay?" Libby asked as she wiped at my tears.

Cumbersomely, I nodded and finished wiping my face with my palms sighing. "Yeah, it's seems I've become an emotional ass since….my mother's unexpected demise." I said in bitter tone glancing away.

"I think we all have considering." She replied in a sullen manner.

Precipitately, I turn to look at her detecting that something is wrong other than the world we found ourselves in. She had gone back to seating herself straight and began looking out into the garage in the other direction trying her best not to let the emotions overwhelm her.

"I'm okay my friend. Spill it." I said placing a hand on her arm. She starts crying and embraced my open arms.

"M-My- parents- are getting- a divorce." She blubbers into my chest as I try to sooth by rubbing her back.

What?

"Shh, it's alright. Maybe you're-." she cut me off leaning back shaking her head at me wiping her tears with her palms and sniffling.

"No, Sammie. I heard them discussing it weeks ago the night….um, well; I haven't brought it up because of that. I'm sorry. I just couldn't do that to you after what happened. But now my mom's going to Australia and I don't know what's going to happen between them." She said anxiously.

"But I thought it was your idea for you to stay here while she went to Australia to be with her mom and assumed you were okay with this." I said baffled.

Libby sighed. "Well, I didn't have to persuade her much. Actually she is the one who chose Australia." She sniffled putting her determined face on. "I swear, I refuse to move there Sammie…if they do divorce." She said defiantly crossing her arms in a huff.

Sighing, I gave my best friend a sympathetic hug. I knew exactly what to do to get her mind off this particular dilemma. We will worry about it when her parents cross that threshold.

"Tell me everything I need to know about Twilight in the first two books." I said. Then I smiled internally as she settled down and began the overview of the things to come in murmurs cloak & dagger style.


~ o ~ O ~ C ~ O ~ o ~


After lunch, Carlisle was true to his word bringing the oxygen piggyback. It isn't as bad as I thought. The color matched my leather tote in reddish-brown and it's compacted not thick like I've seen them before and not heavy as I suspected. Libby commented that I probably had Alice to thank for the stylish medical bag. I made a mental note to enquire about that later. If so, I'd have to thank her somehow.

However, it made me feel uneasy to know someone saw me in the future discussing the much-needed oxygen.

When Libby explained every little detail about the Cullen's, the La Push pack and Bella I felt so much better but at the same time a little queasy. I realized we had a very big dilemma in Twilight with the hunter, James and in New Moon concerning the Volturi.

My dream of the hunter in the forest this morning haunted and unnerved me to a degree that I felt an urge of panic to get us out of the state and into Montana at Uncle Theo's wildlife ranch where it might be safe. But then again, I didn't think any place is nonviolent since Twilight came to life and vampires existed everywhere.

So it's late in afternoon. Libby and I are sitting on the tailgate watching Jessie and Tucker throw a football to each other in the front yard. Sami jr. lies on his side as I rub his belly between us in much contentment. The three adults went to Port Angles to Pet Smart to get the stuff we needed for the pup and dinner for tonight.

Tucker wanted to stay for a while before we took him home to his grandmother's house. He said she is working a twelve-hour shift and didn't want to be cooped up watching TV or video games by himself all that time. Although I had a gut feeling it was a lot more to it than that. But whatever, it seems him and Jessie as become steadfast 'buddies'. In which doesn't surprise me. They're both alike in so many ways and with their matching personalities, almost everyone they meet is a friend, not a stranger.

Sam has called a few times. Each time I've let it go to voice mail. It hurt not to speak to him which I didn't completely understand. I barely knew him at all. Libby expressed deeply that I shouldn't be involved with the alpha wolf. Sooner or later, he'd imprint on Emily Young and forget I even existed. She is confident the glitch will fix itself. She also mentioned that without Emily, a certain wolf wouldn't meet their potential imprint. I didn't know much about their wolf's imprinting, but in the wild a wolf has many.

Previously in another lifetime, before any of this became 'real'; Libby said the La Push pack only had one mate at a time. In this present-day, I suspect Libby is in absolute denial about Sam and me. She said the story must go page by page with the right character belonging to their rightful partner and no substitutes were allowable. She even went on to say it was just a crush for the both of us and we would eventually 'get over it' quickly. But, I didn't see such hope on my end and hoped she had enough for the both of us because I felt it was more than some crush.

"Hey you," Tucker said in a husky voice fluctuating his head in front of me to get my attention with a suave look startling me out of my thoughts.

"Good luck. I've tried to get her attention for the past five minutes." Libby said swinging her legs about.

Scrunching my eyes, I glance over at her. "You have?" I questioned.

Tucker leaned in putting his palms on the tailgate on each side of my body. Whoa dude! In return, I lean back a little using my palms for support. Our faces were merely an inch or two apart and he was looking into my eyes in an intense manner. My heart is beating excitedly from the closeness. I should become alarmed, but I feel it's secured in Tucker's cocoon. Thankfully, I have access to a flow of oxygen tubing under my nose.

Breaking the connection, I heard Jessie and Libby's laughter from behind us. I glanced under Tuckers arm. They were playing with the pup and ignoring this dude's brazen appearance over my body.

Uh, hello?

"Sammie," Tucker said my name in a passionate tone. I bring my eyes back to his Starbucks's intense coffee irises. I gulp. "I'm not going to sugar coat anything. I have deep feelings for you. Will you do me the honor and be my girlfriend?" Double gulp, I did a slight bobble when I did and the next, his lips were on mine.

No! I wanted Sam to be my first kiss and the last, dammit!

But, an extraordinary thing happened. My body responded to Tuckers in a way I'd like to murder it later. I started kissing him back placing both hands behind his head pulling him closer wrapping my legs around his waist as he encircled my torso. His lips were extremely luxurious but firm and moving gently with mine that I got butterflies swimming in my stomach.

Pathetically, I pull away slowly from the embrace breathing slightly tenser as my heart beats unsteadily in my chest. I lean my palms and my forehead on his chest listening to his heart beat harder and faster than my own.

Tucker kisses the top of my head. "That was…extremely awesome. Better than I imagined." He murmurs in my ear. Even though the guilt swallows my being almost entirely, I have the same sentiment and the feeling is reciprocating.

"Um, I hope I'm not interrupting anything…but Sammie our guardians are returning in a few minutes with pizza." Libby said in an apprehensive manner.

Tucker backs away an inch bringing me forward making sure I'm upright before he moves and sits beside me on the tailgate wasting no time slipping his arm around my waist. Jessie sits on the other side seemingly pissed and placing an elbow on the tip of the football looking at the ground.

Did he not like Tucker kissing me? That's silly. It has to be over something else. Maybe I'm not seeing the big picture.

Libby stands a few feet away in front of me nervously playing with her necklace and shifting her weight often not meeting my stare. This is not the norm with my best friends. We were usually relaxed in each others company. Mostly that is, up until my mother's fatal accident. Did something happen between them?

Mhm…

Tucker kisses my cheek. "A quarter for your thoughts?" he murmurs in my ear giving me goose bumps.

"Actually, I think I'm going to go set up the table and start preparing for our drinks." I say getting off the tailgate. "Libby, you wanna come with?" I said to her as I passed walking to the house.

"Sure." She said catching up with me. As she paced along side of me, she leaned in and whispered before we entered the house, "I see Tucker made you forget your crush." I stopped just inside of the door.

"Libby, if you want to live then I suggests that you back the fuck off." I murmured harshly.

Shock becomes apparent in her facial features. Abruptly, I turned around treading through the small extended hallway into the dining room for the kitchen all the while feeling absolutely disgusted within for saying that to my best friend of all people.

Frustrated with myself, I get the paper plates and plastic cups from the cupboards by the sink. Someone puts a large warm hand on my shoulder. I pause closing my eyes. I have to be imaging it. My heart paces erratically to the allure of his soft squeeze. Suddenly, I feel whole and well as if I had no ailment. My heart and soul is linking itself to the person standing behind me. It was no other than Sam Uley. Because no one could ever touch me this way and have the sensations run through my body as it does now.


~ o ~ O ~ C ~ O ~ o ~


Things are heating up.