Brian's POV
Why is she ignoring me? It's been a week since the picnic when Sammy kissed me. I've called her three times since then, just to talk, and every time she'd told me she was busy and hung up the phone.
Sammy's POV
"Sammy,"John said.
"Yeah,"I asked.
"Why are you ignoring Brian,"He asked.
"I am not IGNORING him,"I said.
"Yes you are,"He said.
"How,"I demanded.
"Every time he calls, you hang up,"He said,"Why are you doing that?"
"I kissed him, John,"He doesn't want to be my friend anymore."
"He LIKES you Sammy,"He said,"And he cares about you. If he didn't, he wouldn't be calling."
"Do you think he really likes me,"I asked.
"Oh, yes,"He said,"Claire told me so."
I smiled.
"I guess I should talk to him then,"I said.
"Gonna call him,"He asked.
"I'll go to his house,"I said.
"Okay, I gotta go to detention sis,"He said,"Have fun. But not TOO much fun, okay?"
I laughed and nodded. John kissed my head and walked out the door with his jacket. I found Brian's address in the phone-book and walked toward his house. I wanted to apologize to him in person. When I got there, I stood for a few seconds, then rang the doorbell. Brian answered.
"Hey Sammy,"He said,"What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to apologize,"I said,"For running away from the picnic, and ignoring you the past week. I'm sorry."
"It's okay,"He said,"Wanna come in?"
I followed him in the house.
"Is anyone here,"I asked.
"My parents are at work,"Brian said,"I'm supposed to be studying...oh well."
"Do know why I ran away,"I asked.
"No, why,"He asked.
"I fucked up, that's why,"I said,"I kissed you. But..you don't like me. At least, not how I like you."
"Sammy..I do like you,"He said,"I didn't think you liked me."
"Really,"I asked excitedly.
"Yes,"He said,"When I said you were beautiful, and sweet, I meant it. I know I don't know you very well, but I like you, a lot."
"I'm sorry Brian,"I said,"I'm afraid to get close to anyone. Physically and emotionally. That's why my last boyfriend cheated on me."
"Your last boyfriend,"He asked slowly.
"A real asshole,"I smirked,"He only wanted what all boys want. And I couldn't give it to him. I just wasn't ready."
"Oh,"He said,"I don't want that, Samantha."My face lit up when he said my full name,"Well, it's not the most important thing in a relationship."
"What is the most important thing,"I asked,"In your opinion."
"Trust,"He said,"Patience, caring, love."
I giggled.
"That's four things,"I joked.
I flinched as he grabbed my hands lightly.
"Do you trust me,Samantha,"He asked.
"I..I don't know,"I stuttered.
"Please don't cry, Sammy,"He said,"I understand."
I slipped my hands out of his collapsed down on the couch. I buried my head in my hands. Brian crouched next to me.
"Sammy,"He said.
I sat up.
"Brian, I'm not a virgin,"I said slowly.
"So,"He asked.
"I didn't lose it,"I said.
"Huh,"He asked.
"It was stolen from me,"I said.
"Oh god, you mean..,"He started.
"Yes,"I said,"By Father."
He looked horrified.
"I was twelve,"I continued,"He said he just wanted to talk to me, and I believed him. Like an idiot. I thought he wanted to make up with me for the years of ignoring me. I regretted going in his room once I saw the evil look on his face...and he started ripping my clothes off...I was so scared..dammit Brian, it hurt so fucking much...then I lied to John.."
He hugged me as I collapsed into his arms, crying.
"It's not your fault Sammy,"He said,"I know you're scared. I'll never hurt you, I swear."
I looked at him, very closely. He was smiling. I grabbed the back of his neck and kissed him softly on the lips. I pulled away almost immediately. I was about to leave, when he grabbed me gently.
"Samantha, please don't leave,"He said.
I nodded.
"Okay,"I said,"I won't leave you again, Brian. I promise."
I leaned on his shoulder and he put his arm around mine. He grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.
"Wanna watch TV,"He asked.
"Yeah,sure,"I said.
"What do you wanna watch,"He asked.
"I dunno, let me see,"I said.
He handed me the remote. I flipped through the channels until I found my favorite cartoon.
"Let's watch this,"I said.
"Tom and Jerry,"He asked.
"Got a problem,"I joked.
"No, I love cartoons,"He said.
"Me too,"I said.
"How does a mouse outsmart a cat,"He joked,"And how are they not dead yet?"
"Old cartoon logic,"I joked back,"Don't question it."
"You know if you step on a rake, it will really hit you in the face,"He said.
"What?!"
"Yeah,"He said,"I tried it when I was younger, hit me right in the nose."
I laughed.
"Brian,"I said.
"Yeah,"He said.
"I...I feel..safe around you,"I told him.
He smiled.
"Great,"He said.
"What's your favorite book,"I asked randomly.
"Too many to name,"He said,"What about you?"
"Same,"I said,"Favorite Movie?"
"Back to the Future,"He said.
"Hmm..me too,"I said,"I hear they might make a sequel."
"Yeah, THAT'LL happen,"He said sarcastically.
"Yeah, you're probably right,"I said,"Um...favorite color?"
"Blue,"He said,"You?"
"The friggen rainbow,"I said.
"The rainbow is your favorite color,"He asked.
"No,"I said,"The friggen rainbow."
"What's the difference,"He asked.
"Well,"I said,"The friggen rainbow has a higher level of friggen than your average, everyday rainbow."
"What,"He laughed.
We both laughed hysterically.
Brian's POV
"Sammy,"I said.
"Yeah,"She asked.
"Do you wanna go on a real date sometime,"I asked.
"Sure,"She said,"Where?"
"That cafe on fifth street,"I asked.
"Okay,"She said,"What time?"
"How's next Friday, at four,"I asked.
"Can't wait that long,"She said.
"Monday at four,"I asked.
"That works,"She said,"Wanna do somethin' fun?"
"Yeah, sure,"I said.
I should've said no. Sammy and I walked down to the school. We snuck through the hallways and into the library. We hid behind a bookshelf. Sammy grabbed a book and tore the page out of it.
"I don't usually destroy literature..,"She said.
"Don't,"I said,"What are you doing?"
"Calm down, it's just a blank page,"She said.
Sammy found a pen on the ground, wrote something on it, crumpled it up, and threw it at John.
John's POV
I was sitting, bored out of my mind, in detention, when a paper was thrown at me. I uncrumpled and read it: Hey poopface, look behind the bookshelf. We have a surprise for you. Sammy's handwriting. I looked behind the bookshelves to find Sammy and Brian crouched behind one, giggling.
"What do you want,"I joked.
"Bored, John,"Sammy asked sarcastically.
"No,"I replied sarcastically,"It's real fun to sit and do nothing for eight hours."
"Hey John, guess what,"Sammy said.
"What,"I asked.
"I'm going on a date with Brian,"She said,"This Monday."
I literally cried while writing this next part.
Brian's POV
Why did you tell him that? Now he is going to kill me. John was a little intimidating. He was the kind of kid that would beat the crap out of me at school. John stepped toward me. I stepped back, my eyes widening a little. He put his hand up, I jumped.
"Don't hurt him John,"Sammy said.
"I'm not gonna hurt him,"John said.
He put his hand on my shoulder.
"Take care of her,"John said to me.
I nodded.
"I will,"I said,"I promise."
"Good,"He said,"Cause if you hurt her,I'll kill you."
I froze.
"John,"Sammy exclaimed.
"Just trying to protect you, Sammy,"John said,"Besides, he knows I'm kidding,don't you?"
I nodded.
"Well you're scaring him,"Sammy said.
"Oh, I'm not scared,"I lied.
I looked away.
"Why are you so scared Brian,"John asked.
"Because,"I said,"You used to beat the shit out of me freshman year. And I ratted you out..on accident..then you beat me half to death."
John looked at me for a second, as if struggling to remember.
"Did you forget John,"I asked,"Because I didn't. Everyday, you'd shove me into a locker or push me into a wall. You made my life hell. My parents took me to a psychiatrist when they caught me cutting. Look at this, John,"I showed him the scars on my stomach, they both gasped,"it's fucked up ,isn't it?"
"It..it wasn't that bad,"He said.
"Not that bad,"I exclaimed,"I had to rat you out! They threatened to lock me up if I didn't tell the truth! So I did, and what do I get for it? I get beat half to death!"
John's POV
I don't know why I beat him like that. I didn't know him then, he was just some random nerd. How could I know he would be my sister's future boyfriend?
"I'm sorry,"I told him.
As if that will make up for all that shit. Poor Brian.
"Why did you do it, John,"Sammy asked.
"I don't know,"I said,"Father was really viscous that year."
"Oh, well that excuses everything,"Sammy said.
"Really,"I asked.
"No,"She shouted,"You can't just go around beating people John. If you do, then you're just as bad as our parents!"
"Damn it,"I shouted,"Don't you think I know that! I was angry, and I took it out on him, and other people. I didn't mean to..I was just so..angry...I'm sorry. Brian, if you hated me, why were you nice to me in detention..why didn't you just trash me?"
"I was scared,"Brian said,"Besides, I thought if I was nice to you, you wouldn't hurt me. I was right."
"Brian, come here,"I said.
He walked slowly near me. I grabbed him and hugged him.
"I'm so sorry, Brian,"I said,"For putting you through that..."
"I forgive you,"Brian said,"Besides, it wasn't really you doing it."
I let him go.
"Huh,"I asked.
"It was your father,"He said,"Your father's brutality doesn't excuse everything, but it explains some of it."
"John,"Brian said,crying now.
"What,"I asked.
He looked at the ground.
"When I brought the flare gun to school,"He started,"It wasn't the only time I brought a gun to school."
"What,"Sammy demanded.
"A flare gun,"I asked.
"No,"He said,"A real one. I wasn't going to hurt anybody. I wanted to blow your brains out, right in front of everyone. Then I decided not to, and left it buried in my backpack. That's when I decided to start cutting, to avoid hurting people.."
"Brian, are you okay,"I asked.
"I guess,"He said,"When you pretended to act out my home life, it wasn't even close."
Brian's POV
"What's it like,"John asked.
I sighed and leaned my head back
"An F! Are you stupid?!
No.
Shut up! You're an idiot!
I'm sorry. I tried..
You're too dumb to be my son!
Dad!
I said shut up! Now go to your room, finish your homework, before I beat the shit out of you! Understand?
Yes sir."
Sammy put her arm around my shoulder.
"That was when I failed the elephant lamp,"I said.
"Would he really have beat you,"John asked.
"No,probably not,"I said,"It's just an empty threat. You see, when I get good grades, my parents love me. When I get anything below a c, they hate me."
"They don't hate you, Brian,"Sammy said.
"Yeah...sure,"I said.
Sammy hugged me.
"I should get going,"I said,"I want to be back home before my parents get there."
"Bye Brian,"Sammy and John said.
"See ya Sammy,"I said,"Bye John."
Sammy's POV
Brian left. I looked at John. He was miserable.
"John,"I asked.
"I'm just like father,"He said.
"No you're not,"I said.
John hugged me tightly.
"Thank you,"He said,"For coming here. I really was bored."
"Anytime, John,"I said.
You're not like our parents. You're not Father, and you never will be. You will never hurt the people you love, if you can still love. Can you, John? Or is your heart too broken to hold anything else. I know your heart is broken John. How do I know that? Because mine is too. It may be broken beyond repair, but I still love you. I love you, John.
