"I hope you are not suggesting that my art project is an excuse for me not going with you on the thirty-first."
"Not entirely...but I KNOW you're reveling in the fact that you have something to get out of the party with and force me to go with someone else."
"I'm HURT. You SERIOUSLY suggest I would stop a yearly tradition just so you can have a DATE?"
She didn't blink. In fact, the slight glare she was giving grew even worse. "You've tried to match-make me with four guys since I moved in with you. I don't hold you above THAT."
Sam grinned. "And hey, at least ONE of them worked, didn't it?"
The glare dropped and was replaced with a sullen look. "I'm not touching the Eugene topic with a ten-foot pole." She muttered, turning away with crossed arms. "So don't even start on him."
Samantha sensed the tension in the air at a delicate subject - one she had good knowledge of - and agreed with her friend's order. "Alright then...so maybe I AM pushing you to go out on a date. Skirting that guy altogether, the only other date you've been on was before you two broke up before you turned twenty. You haven't had a date in, what...six months?"
"Eight."
Light blue widened. "Okay...unless you're going for some type of record, I suggest you follow my advice and pick someone to go with you. Preferably a GUY!"
She smirked and sat on her bed, falling back to stare at the ceiling. "You found my loophole." Silence followed the weak joke as she thought. "So who do you suggest? I don't know any guys really. Heck, I don't even have that many FRIENDS."
"You know SOME guys..." A pudgy hand floated in the air as Samantha counted off her fingers. "You know Hal, my brothers - but let's not go there, Inaki -HEY! That's it!" With a wide grin, Sam flopped on the bed and stared at her friend. "You can write Inaki and ask him to go with you!"
Deep green dryly met blue. "How many times am I going to have to remind you that he has a GIRLFRIEND - G.I.R.L.F.R.I.E.N.D - until that sticks?"
The grin on Sam's face didn't falter. "Until I get you two together. But to emphasis a point here..." A hand reached down and gripped her arm. "Since you two ARE just friends...what's the harm? The last time you saw him was when he stopped for your birthday. Why don't you take initiative and ask him to go with you?" Sam's hand shook her a little, as if to persuade. "Come on - I know if you DON'T go, you'll end up studying, since your shift has been successfully swapped for that night."
"I only switched shifts because I figured we were going again this year and I like going to the university get-togethers." She dully answered, looking back to the ceiling. "But if you're not going, then perhaps I can just say screw the changes and -"
"Kalie Himmen don't you DARE." Samantha ordered. She sat up and glared. "Me or someone else doesn't really matter...the point is to get you out and ENJOY life! You spend enough time on your studies as it is! Why do you think I keep trying to match-make you with people?? It's to get you out and enjoy your youth before you turn into a dried up, spinster old lady!"
A sarcastic smile lit her face. "You make that sound like a bad thing." She kidded, no real humor in that. She often fought like this with Sam over men and dating because she didn't really WANT a guy in her life. As much as she envied the lovey-dovey couples, she didn't need or want a guy around like that. Part of her said it was safer to be alone, to keep her independence...but the smaller part that'd experienced dating and what it gave her - even in the past - said to not give up...
Samantha's lips twitched, but she refused to smile and lighten her glare. She knew if she did, the girl wouldn't do as suggested - which would probably result to pleading - and stay home or go to work. She COULDN'T let that happen! As much as she was irritated by knowing Inaki was taken, that didn't stop her from trying to get the two together whenever the beautiful, rare opportunity presented itself.
"Why don't you just ASK him! What could it hurt? If not, you could always ask Chance to go if you don't want to go with a guy. I'd offer my brothers, but I don't consider them human half the time anyway..."
She grinned, stifling a small giggle. That humor never failed to lighten the mood, even if Sam sometimes made it serious. "I tend to agree with you on the little monsters, but I don't really know Chance that well to head with her to the dance. We're more like good acquaintances than friends."
Sam blinked with a lost look. "You...are...SO weird..." She muttered, a hand going to her forehead. "And you think I'M bad." She gave a sigh before going back to the matter at hand. "Well that leaves Hal and Sheryl...and in that case, I'd pick Hal over Sheryl. But I know of your reluctance to accept dates from the guy so that leaves Sheryl."
Deep green looked to the far wall in hesitation. "I...I don't know about anyone from Westchester. I mean, they're all people from high school if I have any friends from there. It'd feel kinda odd..."
"Again...and you call ME weird... Why would that be strange to invite an old friend to your college?"
She couldn't explain it well enough to be understood, but she'd try. "The only people I ever connected with were Sheryl and Hal. Now I'm older and in college. I'm not the same person I was in high school -"
"I beg to differ. Bookworm."
She felt a small smile appear. "But still...I feel that the past few years HAVE changed me...even a little. There're times when I wonder why they're still friends with me." Both indexes pressed together in a fidgeting move.
Sam scooted back and rested her back on the side of the daybed, draping her feet over Kalie's stomach. She ignored the put out look and stared at the girl, even when Kalie's arms rested over her feet in acceptance to their position. "There are times when I think I don't understand you and this is one of those times." She quietly answered, eyes drifting closed. "You are smart, funny, helpful, amiable, congenial, independent, and a whole list of other things. It's a miracle that anyone WOULDN'T want to be your friend." A heel dug into her stomach gently to chastise the girl. "Every time I hear you spout such garbage it makes me want to slap some sense into you. But being the charming, witty, and BEAUTIFUL best friend that I am - I put up with it and go with the flow."
Talks such as these happened from time to time whenever deeper matters uncovered themselves. It was amazing someone bright and hard-working like Kalie had such an esteem complex. It wasn't very noticeable, as she hid it well, but it wasn't easy to run from either. It was amazing how her best friend continued to shove it aside and ignore it instead of work to get past it.
"You know I ask little of you when it really counts and times I do normally benefit you more than they do me." Arms crossed as Sam sat up and crossed her legs, staring into green with a serious expression. "Since you don't feel comfortable with anyone from Westchester or the university, I strongly suggest you write Inaki and ask if he's free Halloween night for the dance. It can't hurt if you two are strictly friends and he's already taken. I'm being serious about that for once." A hand moved and grasped hers as the two remained in eye contact. "I'm asking this as a friend, and also the surrogate sister you asked me to be a year after we met. Write him and ask. You have plenty of time and also something to wear to the dance. If he can't, and you don't want to go with anyone else...I'll let you go to work and or study without whining about it." Sam gave a gentle squeeze. "Agreed?"
She stared for what seemed the longest time into light-colored eyes in small wonder. Why did Sam make so much sense sometimes, when she seemed to lack it during daily life? Was this her real best friend hidden underneath the sarcastic comments and jokes? That would make sense, as HER real self was hidden through hard work and responsibility.
Finally, she looked to the bed with a small nod. "Agreed."
Sam smiled. Mission accomplished.
Letting the mood wind down, Sam gave it a minute before jumping off the bed. "Alright...now that THAT'S settled, you want to continue to work on your costume?"
She scooted to the edge of the bed and stared at the carpet, unable to meet her friend's eyes. "It's kind of pointless now...since we were going to go in identical outfits."
A hand waved. "It can still happen. Why not? I'm sure you could knock Inaki's socks off with the outfits we were planning on wearing..."
That managed to get her eyes and she gave a good-natured glare. "Sam... Novia, Sam...NO-VI-A."
The pout Sam gave got an even bigger smile that helped evaporate the bad. "You are SUCH an effective killer of my fantasies toward you two..."
She blankly stared for a second, stupidly blinking, before her nose scrunched up. "You're disgusting."
"I didn't mean like THAT!" Sam defended, wagging a finger. "NOW who's disgusting?? I meant as a happy, sickeningly cute couple!"
A wry grin spread over her face as she stood and went for her desk and the articles covering it. "With any chance to have me get laid in the process right?" She leaned against the wood and crossed her arms knowingly.
"Hey...anything to get you to unwind..."
She bust out laughing, slapping a hand to her forehead.
~*~*~
Inaki,
I know I sent you a letter at the beginning of this week, but this is different. One - it's going to be within an actual page limit (don't give my letter that look)...and two - I've got something I'd like to ask you.
On Halloween, my college is having its annual dance. I've gone to it since I started, having gone with Sam at the time as a sort of tradition. (Yes I DO do things outside of studying and I do enjoy dancing.) There's the small matter of a project Sam is working on for an art class that's a few weeks long and she wants to use the time effectively. All I know is it's a very detailed piece and is kind of like a massive test for that class. Sam is very passionate about her art and tries to get good grades like I do, so I didn't pressure her too much getting out of it.
Which brings me to my final thought - yes I did have one. If you are not doing anything massive that night, I was wondering if you would like to accompany me. As friends of course, I know you have Cameron.
It's not required to wear a costume, but the council organizing the event advises it because there's a contest. The areas are single, couple, and group- the individual gets twenty-five dollars, the couple fifty a piece, and the group (up to five people) each get seventy-five dollars.
With the contest of course there's an entry fee, and it's cut if one wears a costume. There's also student id required, and those who aren't students will end up paying more. Regardless of the costs and all fluctuations, it's relatively cheap and there's always a big turnout. There's a live D.J. and the dance area is pretty big.
So in light of all the information I think I've rambled - I have a tendency to do that don't I? - if you could let me know within the next week that'd be great. If not, that's no big deal...I got time off with a co-worker at Coffee Works, but if you don't wanna go I was planning on going to work. That or study.
Anyway...yea. Waiting for your response.
Kalie
October 16, 2097
She stared at the half page and felt like there was much more she wanted to add, but there was nothing else she needed to say. It was normal to feel like she was forgetting something, as her letters usually were a page or more in length.
With a small shake, she sealed and got it ready for posting. She would send it off right away so he could get it by the weekend and give his answer to her before the start of next. Well...she HOPED anyway. She always did find herself a small planner at heart.
She smiled and exited her room. Best to do it now while she still had the drive before Sam found she finished and swooped down on her.
As she grabbed her house keys off the small table, an evil grin appeared. "I'm heading out for a bit Sammy! I'll be back soon!" She called, opening the door.
"Say what?! Where? We've gotta work on your costume!"
She giggled and jogged to her bike, unchaining it as quickly as possible. Sam wouldn't force her to remain, but there was that childlike innocence that came whenever she was with the girl. Grinning, she jogged the bike to the sidewalk and hopped on.
The nearest mailbox was half a mile or so away, and therefore didn't take her long. She returned within half an hour and headed back inside. "I'm back!" She called, dropping the keys where they belonged. "You can harass me all you want now - I've got the rest of the night."
That blond head popped out from part of the stairs. "Really?" A gleeful light hit those blue eyes. "You mailed the letter?"
She nodded and bypassed Sam on the way up. "Yes I mailed the letter, and yes I asked him. I requested he give me his answer within the next week and if I know him, he'll give it around the beginning. I also gave him the details of the dance and costumes."
Sam grinned as she followed the girl into her room. "Alright then, we've got two weeks to make this outfit spectacular! I know you don't wanna spend that much and that's why we're going to use that time restraint to make a few things."
A hand went to the faded blue jeans and picked them up. "Considering there's not much to work with and we're going off books and your artistic creativity, I don't know how well we're going to succeed with this one. Can't I just wear the fairy costume I had on last year?"
"No! Everyone knows you show up and a lot of people will know you wore that. You can't go every year in the same thing!"
"Then what about the prom queen outfit I had on the year before? You still have that tiara right? Won't that pass?"
"Same rules apply. And I want to see you in something wild for once." Sam zoned in on all the supplies littering her desk. "Now let's get to it. We'll work an hour or two now and then you can fix lunch before I have to head to work."
"Yes mother..."
Spanish language will be translated under the Japanese when it appears together. This language will be correct, as I have half put half a decade into learning.
Translations: Novia-Girlfriend