CHAPTER TWELVE

Samantha's eyes slowly opened, squinting at the morning light. She yawned and reached over to the other side of the bed. When she felt nobody there, she sat up slightly and looked around the room curiously.

"John?" she called out, but got no response.

Samantha rolled her eyes and laid back down in the bed. She sighed and placed her hand over her eyes, trying to block out the morning light. She groaned when it didn't work and sat up and scooted to the edge of the bed, holding the sheets to her body. She reached out and took one of John's football jerseys that was on the chair next to her and threw it over her head. She inhaled deeply, it obviously hadn't been washed yet because it still smelt like John. She smiled and pulled her panties on before she stood up and walked to the bedroom door.

"John?" she called again as she walked along the landing and towards the stairs. She shrugged when she got no response. "He must have gone out for something." she said to herself as she walked into the kitchen. She opened the fridge door and took out a bottle of orange juice. She picked up a glass from the sink, rinsed it, dried it and poured the juice into it. She took a sip and turned to put the bottle back into the fridge. As she turned around she jumped in suprise, gasping slightly at the figure standing in the doorway.

"John!" she yelled, but with a smile on her face. "What are you doing there? You scared the heck outta me!"

John just laughed. "I wanted to suprise yah."

"Well, you certainly did that." Samantha said sarcastically.

John chuckled again and walked towards her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to his body. "Good morning to you, too."

Samantha laughed herself and brought her arms up, wrapping them around his neck. "Where have you been? I woke up and you weren't there."

"Yeah, sorry about that. I just had some stuff to sort out." John said, holding her tighter. "May I say how sexy you're looking this morning?"

Samantha giggled. "You may."

"Especially in my shirt." John grinned as he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "It's nice having you here in the morning."

"It's nice being here in the morning." Samantha smiled. "Do you mind if I use your shower?"

"Of course I don't mind." John said. "You don't have to ask, yah know?"

Samantha kissed him gently before pulling away from him, running her hands down his arms and squeezing his hands slightly, then turning to leave the kitchen.

When she got to the doorway she stopped and turned to curiously look at John.

"What's wrong?" he asked her.

Samantha walked back over to him and took his left hand in both of hers. She examined it before looking up and frowning at John.

"Your knuckles are all swollen." she commented, looking back down and running her thumb over his bruised hand. "What happened?"

"Oh, nothing." John said. "It's not important."

"It's important to me." Samantha insisted. "Have you been in a fight?"

"Of course I haven't..."

"Don't lie to me, John." Samantha said, letting go of his hand. "I've seen this enough to know what it is. My father's knuckles used to swell up something awful after..."

"Don't finish that sentence." John interupted her, his eyes glazed over with anger.

"Wait a minute." Samantha said, pausing for a second before continuing. "No. John, please tell me it wasn't him."

"Well..."

"It was, wasn't it!" Samantha yelled. "John! I told you to leave it! What did you do to him!"

John sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "Listen, Sam, I--I just wanted him to leave you alone. I wanted him out of your life."

"No, John, this wasn't about my well being, was it?" Samantha said. "This was about revenge. He messed with something that was yours. That's what this is all about, isn't it!"

"It wasn't like that." John tried to explain. "I couldn't just let him get away with hurting you..."

"But I told you to leave it! I told you to let it go!" Samantha shouted. "You promised me, John, you promised me that you wouldn't do anything to him, and you broke your promise. Why should I trust a damn word that comes out of your mouth ever again?"

Tears burned in her eyes as Samantha turned away from John and ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Hee hee! Another cliffhanger! I'm too bad! lol. R&R please guys!