Sorry it took so long to update. I apologize sincerely and hope that you all enjoy this chapter you have waited so long and patiently for.

Chapter Four

I lay there, on top of a guy, who was probably around my age, paralyzed. I just stared into his eyes for what seemed like eternity. You would too if you saw how beautiful his eyes were, like twin emeralds. As you can probably guess, I'm an eye girl. Eyes are what I first notice about a person and what draws me into a guy.

My hair was a curtain around our faces, my hands on either side of his head, and his hands rested just above my elbows, as if he had been trying to catch me. They felt good, his hands. Rough and calloused from work, but they were gentle and warm on my skin.

"I am so sorry," I said, pushing myself up off him and standing up. He stood up as well and I found myself staring straight at his broad chest. Be still my heart.

"It's ok." he said, a small smirk working its way up his chiseled jaw. "I'm used to girls falling all over me." Any other guy would have made the sentence sound egotistical, but not him, not this god, this Adonis. I could believe it, that girls would fall all over him. He was perfect what with his evenly tanned skin and sandy blonde hair, and that smile…definitely swoon worthy.

He laughed softly, a rumbling laugh that spilled over his lips with ease. I couldn't help but laugh with him, completely forgetting the skaters that were chasing me.

"I'm Troy," he said, holding out a strong hand towards me, "Troy Devins."

"Samantha Kellner," I replied, shaking his hand. His grip was strong and his handshake even stronger.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Samantha," he said, bowing over my hand and kissing it gently. His lips brushed the back of my hand like a breath of air. I blushed, oh come on, you know you would too.

I looked down at my feet, hoping my hair would hide my reddened cheeks, and that's when I saw it, the skateboard that rested not far from his own feet. He was one of them! My eyes flew back up to meet his. He looked so nice, so kind. Maybe I had made a mistake. Just cause he had a skateboard didn't mean he was friends with the guys who had been after me. Yes, I was jumping to conclusions.

"Looks like T here bagged the prize," I jumped at the voice and my head whipped around to see the skater that had grabbed me. Okay, so I hadn't been jumping to conclusions. I felt Troy's hand warm around my own, and quickly let go of him. I didn't want anymore physical contact than was necessary. He looked at me, slightly shocked. His eyes searched mine, questioning why I had dropped my hand so quickly. He recovered quickly though.

"Hey Kyle," Troy said. The two high-fived as the rest of the skaters arrived. I was surrounded once more, damn it. I should have been formulating a plan, figuring out a way to get out of this, but my mind was still reeling over Troy. How could somebody who seemed so charming be friends with guys who are, well, less than charming?

"You know I was gonna claim the bitch for myself," Kyle said, dropping an arm around Troy's shoulders and surveying me with cold, calculating eyes, "but seeing as you managed to catch her, she's all yours." Troy looked from his friend to me. His eyes were wide and his mouth slightly agape. I stared right back at him, my gaze defiant. I was not gonna just lay on my back and let him take me, though the thought was kinda tempting. No, I shook my head to shake the traitorous thoughts from my mind.

"Umm," were the ever so intelligent words that came from Troy's mouth. He looked at me uncertainly. I kinda felt all warm inside at the thought that he wasn't at all like his friends. He obviously didn't want to make me do something that I did not want to do and I appreciated that, but how was he going to get us both out of this mess? I hoped and prayed that he was a quick thinker and could formulate a plan.

"Okay." he said after a long pause. He took my arm. I struggled against him at first, but the small, conspiring wink he gave me told me he was just trying to help me get away. I barely had time to register that information when his lips descended on my own. I gasped slightly, clearly surprised, but then I allowed myself to melt into the kiss.

His lips were soft and they moved against my own with tremendous skill. He had obviously done this before. I felt his hands slide over my body, tracing every curve. My body was on fire as his tongue slowly slid through my slightly parted lips. Then I realized that I was supposed to be putting up a fight. Immediately the heady feelings that blanketed my mind were yanked away and I pushed against Troy roughly. He let me push him and we stood there, staring at each other, our breathing labored. The cheers and jeers that filled the air around us quickly brought us back to our senses.

Troy fell easily back into the role of the bad guy.

"I'll see you fellas later." he smirked at the group, grabbing my arm once more and pulling my paralyzed body away from the crowd.

"Thank you." I said, once we reached the entrance to the park.

"Not a problem." he smiled down at me. I felt my insides turn to mush. Those lips, lord I wanted to kiss them so badly.

"Well, I should go." I said reluctantly and taking a few steps away from him.

"I could walk you home." he said hastily. I turned back around to face him.

"Thanks, but I don't know where I'm staying tonight." I had to admit that I was bumming. I really wanted Troy to walk me home, but Colorado was a really far way to walk.

"So…you need a place to stay?" he asked.

"Yeah." I said, "I mean I was gonna stay with my dad, but he kinda kicked me out." Hey, no need to bore him with all the details.

"I know somewhere where you can stay." he ran a hand through his slightly tosseled hair self-consciously.

"Really?" Pointless to get my hopes up, but hey, when a girl needs a place to stay a girl needs a place to stay.

"Yeah, it's not too far away."

"Ok, cool."

>>>>>

The hotel was in a less developed area of New York City, and had none of the gleam and polish of my father's Manhattan apartment building. Instead the awning over the front doors was faded and had a small tear in one corner, and graffiti covered one side of the building.

"It's not much," Troy said, holding the door of the hotel open for me, "but it's home."

"You live here?" I asked. The place wasn't really that bad looking on the inside. It was plain and homey, just the kinda place that suited me.

"Yeah," he said, "my sister and her husband own the place."

"Wow that's so cool." I said. He shrugged.

"I suppose." he replied. We stood there in the lobby in silence for a little while. Then Troy hit his palm against his forehead.

"I'm so retarded," he said, "I completely forgot to ask if you had any bags to bring over here. So do you?"

"Yeah um…" I paused, "they're kinda being held hostage right now." At the confused look in his eyes I added, "It's a long story."

"Okay." he laughed a little awkwardly. "Look about that kiss," he said. My eyes flew up to his expectantly. "I um…" he ran a hand through his hair uncomfortably.

"You were just helping me out." I said, smiling up at him gently. I wanted to make him feel at ease with me, but I could not deny that I also wanted a repeat of that kiss. My head was still reeling from it and my lips were still tingling from the contact with his.

"Yeah." he said, smiling at me gratefully. I couldn't help the blush that I felt creeping up my face.

"So," Troy said suddenly, "let me show you to your room."

>>>>>

I have to admit that when I woke the next morning I was slightly disoriented, and the fact that I woke up in nothing but my underwear and halter top gave me extra cause to worry. Then I remembered the events of the day before. The shouting match with my father, the park, my encounter with the skaters, and Troy. It all came flooding back in one big wave. I was just climbing out of bed and pulling my skirt on when there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" I called, zipping my skirt.

"It's Troy." his voice was husky with sleep and it sent shivers down my spine. I walked over to the door and opened it, praying that my hair wasn't too much of a bird's nest.

"Morning." I greeted him with a smile, wishing that I had a toothbrush and toothpaste so that I didn't have to greet him with morning breath. Very un-sexy.

"Morning." he replied grinning sheepishly, "Um…I brought you some breakfast." All of a sudden he produced a tray from a cart that was behind him.

"Thanks." I said, giving him my best flirtatious grin. He blushed slightly and looked down at his feet.

The girl's still got it, I thought as I watched him shift from one foot to the other.

"Um…I was thinking that if you wanted I could come with you and help you get your bags." he said, bringing me out of my thoughts. Last night, on the way to his sister's hotel, I had told Troy all about what happened with my bags.

"That'd be great." I replied.

"Okay," he said, "I'll come back in about an hour and we'll go."

>>>>>

"Back again sweetness?" the same guy was behind the desk in the lobby, "Couldn't get enough of me could ya?"

"I'm here for my bags." I said. Today I was not going to put up with his crap. Today I was going to be assertive and get what I came for. Of course it would help that Troy was there backing me up.

"I don't know…" the guy said, his eyes taking in my body. I shivered involuntarily. Troy touched my arm gently and looked down at me, signaling with his eyes for me to move aside.

"The lady asked for her bags." Troy said stepping up to the desk. "Now she might be nice about it, but I assure you, I won't be." His eyes flashed like steel and the guy behind the desk started to sweat.

"I could have security escort you out." he sputtered, looking around the lobby fearfully. Troy stepped closer to the desk and looked the guy in the eye.

"Just try." he said, his voice low in warning. The guy reached under his desk, his eyes never leaving Troy and threw my two bags up on the counter one after another. Troy took them.

"Thank you." he said, suddenly turning into the sweet, boy next door.

>>>>>

Well I hope y'all liked this chapter and will review. Again I apologize for how long it took me to update and I hope that it will not happen again.

PS. Sorry it was so short.

PPS: Many of you made comments about Ephram being such a jerk to Sam. I assure you that I meant for him to come off like that. The reasons will make themselves known in later chapters.

Borg: There is an old saying that those who can, do, and those who can't, teach. Well I have a saying of my own. Those who can, write, and those who can't, flame. I hope you will think twice before sending out another flame as it wastes the time of the writer and your own time as well.

Mike Rules 2003, Crazyrussiangal, Kursk, Annonymous, Martina G, shaterika, volleyballlover, Ashely, colorado2, libby, Nautica7mk, OTHlover04, muse-of-the-fairies, C8-H10-N4-02, sportygal71188, whoopiepiez, and auggy1984: I want to thank you all for reviewing and telling me your honests opinions of this story. I hope you will continue to review as this story progresses. Thank you.