(flashback)
"Congrats sam." Archer says.
"Thanks, and to you too." I tell him.
Today is the day of our college graduation. I've finally achieved my lifelong dream of going to college to be a police officer, and now I can look forward to actually becoming one. Words can't even describe the joy and excitement that I'm even feeling right now.
"Is paul and your mom taking you out to dinner?" Archer asks as we walk out of the huge room and to the outside.
"No, they couldn't make it. Mom wasn't feeling well enough to leave so Paul stayed to take care of her." I tell him.
"Oh, that's too bad. You deserve a night out after accomplishing this." He says flicking my cap.
I chuckle, "well so do you." I tell him pushing him playfully, "where's your family?" I ask him.
"Not here. We aren't on good terms right now." He says.
"Aww, I'm sorry archer." I tell him.
"Nah, it'll be fine." He tells me, "but enough about that, since neither of us are going out tonight with family, how about you have a picnic with me?" He asks.
"A picnic? At night?" I ask him confused.
"Yea, why not?" He asks.
"Okay, well when?" I ask him.
"How about now?" He asks.
"What? Now? In our cap and gown?" I ask him.
"Why sure! It's not like we'll ever use em' again." He tells me.
I give him a fake thinking look, teasing him for a moment while he anxiously waits for my answer, "well, okay. But it's only because you look so darn handsome that I just can't stay away." I tell him smiling.
His face lights up like a kids does on Christmas morning. He takes my hand and we run to his car.
Then, before he drives away, he just turns and stares at me.
"Turn around." He tells me.
"What?" I ask him.
"Just do it." He says.
I roll my eyes and turn in my seat away from him.
He places a piece of fabric around my face covering my eyes and tying it in the back. I laugh as he does and so does he.
"What are you doing?" I ask him.
"You'll see." He answers.
"Archer Pierce Phillips!" I yell at him.
"Samantha nicole lancaster!" He mocks.
I laugh and he pulls away.
VVVVVVVVVVVVV
We finally stop after a 15 minute trip. He gets out of the car and I can hear him run over to my side and help me out. He leads me over a few steps and sits me down on what seems like a bench.
"Stay right here." He says and runs away. I giggle and wait for him to come back.
As I sit and wait for him, I smell the scent of the outdoors and the special smell of a creek. I hear birds chirping and the sounds of woodpecker knocking on trees. I smile at the wonderful place that he has brought me.
I hear him running back and the sound of something in his arms. He takes my hand in his and guides me a few steps before stopping.
"What are we doing?" I ask him.
"Okay, we're going to get on a bus, so don't let go okay?" He says.
"Okay." I answer.
I hear the bus pull up and Archer pays for the ride before we start to move again. It takes a few minutes, but then, the bus stops and I hear a few people get off. It didn't sound like there were very many people on anyways.
We get off the bus and then, Archer picks me up over his shoulder and carries me a good ways until finally lowering me onto what feels like a rock, until I'm sitting.
"Wait right there, and don't move an inch." He says.
"Like I know where i'm going anyways." I tell him jokingly.
I hear him laugh and shuffle a few things around before coming back over to me and leading me a few steps to my right before setting me down on a blanket.
Then, he takes my blindfold off, and what I see truly amazes me.
We are on top of a mountain, overlooking the entire city, the lights are all lit up and the stars are in full view.
I look over and he is looking right at me with a smile.
I smile back and look at what he's arranged. It's a picnic blanket with candles and kfc.
I laugh, "you bought kfc?" I ask him.
"You did say that kfc was bangin' a few weeks ago." He teases.
"Well at least I didn't lie." I tell him.
He pulls out two plates and places food on both and gives one to me. Then, he sets his down and reaches in the picnic basket and pulls out a bouquet of one dozen red roses and hands them to me.
"For you. Congratulations on today." He tells me.
I smile, "thank you."
I place them down gently and we begin to eat and enjoy the view of the city and the stars.
We begin to get into astronomy since that's what we took together this year, and go into theories about life on different planets and alternate realities.
Then, he puts his plate down in the middle of the conversation and just looks at me with a smile.
"What?" I ask him.
"Samantha, we've known each other practically since the womb and you have never ceased to amaze me." He says, "Sam, I'm in love with you. I have been in live with you ever since we were kids, and I want you to be mine. Would you give me the honor of being able to be your boyfriend?" He asks.
I smile and tease him like I did earlier and pretend to think really hard, but he doesn't fall for it this time. He pokes me in the sides which causes me to laugh, "stop Archer!" I yell in between giggles.
"Then don't tease me like that silly goose." He says stopping.
I chuckle and look at him with a smile, "okay." I tell him.
"So it's a yes?!" He asks excitedly.
I nod, "yes." I tell him.
He stands up and lifts me up with him and he spins me around. Finally, he sets me down and once the world stops spinning, he places a gentle kiss on my lips. I return it and smile throughout.
Then, when we part, we're both smiling and kiss once again.
VVVVVVVVVVVVV
(End of Flashback)
It's been two weeks since Archer's death.
I sit here, shivering from the memory of when me and Archer began to date. It was such a happy memory. We had so much love for each other.
Then, the vision of his mangled dead body flashes before my eyes, causing me to jump and tremble even more. I curl into a ball in the corner and cry for what seems like hours, until I hear that stupid fucking song.
Easy street.
I hear Dwight open the door to Daryl's cell next to me and then my cell door opens. I lift my head and see him handing me a dog food sandwich. I take it and he closes the door to my cell.
I don't eat the sandwich, I just stare at it, and then I drop it having no desire to eat it at all. I turn and lay back down on the floor and tremble continuously throughout the song blaring on the stereo. The wounds from the multiple beatings I've recieved have only gotten worse. I now have a fever and throw up whatever I eat.
I sit here for hours on end, trembling and thinking of Archer, when I hear Daryl's door open and then mine. I look up and see Daryl standing there, he looks at me and picks me up and carries me away.
"Where are we going?" I ask him weakly.
"Home."