Chapter 4

Later that evening, Samantha lay in bed trying to decide what to do. She felt very bad for the way she had treated Joshua. At first, she thought he had lied to her. Then when he told her the truth she didn't believe him. Now he was going to leave for Hero College and she would not see him for a few months. Her thinking was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Come in." She called as she sat up. The door opened slightly and Joshua stuck his head into the room. Samantha immediately stood up but she did it too quickly and she felt dizzy. In a flash, Joshua was by her side. He caught her before she fell.

"Are you all right?" Genuine concern flooded his voice as he laid her down onto her bed.

"I'll be fine. Thank you." Samantha said weakly

"You took quite the hit earlier today. I just came to see how you were feeling." Joshua smiled slightly.

"I appreciate it." She smiled back. The conversation sounded strained and Joshua was surprised that she even let him into her room let alone talk to her. There was an uncomfortable silence between the two.

"So you're going to Hero College." Samantha finally said.

"Yes, I leave in about two weeks." Was all Joshua offered.

"Your mom said you had a few weeks before you left." She said.

"Well, she didn't look at the calendar very well." There was a hint of anger in his voice.

"I want to…" Samantha stopped. Joshua looked at her. Swallowing hard, she continued.

"I want to say that I'm sorry."

"It isn't that simple. You called me a liar and told me to never speak to you again. I didn't come here to makeup. You hurt me." The anger and volume in his voice grew.

"What I did is inexcusable. I don't want you to go and not have the chance to tell how bad I feel." Samantha tried to keep her emotions in check.

"I'm going away because I can't stand to be here anymore." Joshua told her flatly. "There is nothing keeping me here." That last statement cut Samantha deep but she felt that she deserved his contempt.

"Somehow I think your parents would disagree." Amanda said from the door. She had over heard their loud conversation. Joshua didn't say a word as he stood up and left the room. Amanda came over to her daughter and gave her a hug. She could feel tears dripping onto shoulder.

"Its all right." Amanda tried to comfort Samantha.

"No, its not! Joshua hates me and I don't blame him. I hate myself." The distraught girl said. Amanda knew that arguing about it wouldn't help the situation and she just held onto her until the tears stopped coming. Then she told Samantha to get some rest.

Amanda closed Samantha's door and walked out to the living room. Robbie was sitting in his favorite orange fuzzy chair. The look on his face displayed his feelings.

"So what do we do?" He asked obviously upset.

"We made this mess and by the looks of things we're going to have to undo it. First thing, I'm going to do is call Stephanie." Amanda told him.

WWWWWWWWW

Samantha rolled over and looked at her clock. The bright green digits told her it was one in the morning. She got out of bed and went over to her closet. There she pulled a large purple duffel bag out and began to fill it with clothing. Once that was full, she grabbed her sleeping bag and her pillow. A slight smile crossed her face as she picked up her teddy bear.

"It looks like its just you and me now Teddy." Samantha whispered. Giving the small yellow bear a squeeze. Carefully she put him inside her duffel bag and made her way to the side entrance.

Samantha slung the duffel bag over her shoulder and bungeed her pillow and sleeping bag together. Then she took the roll and placed it under her arm. Quietly, she opened the door and stepped out into the night.

To Be Continued…