Sam's First Kiss

First Day of High School – First Period

With some trepidation Sam entered his honors math class. It was the first class of the day and it brought back unwanted memories of his other first day of high school in Ottawa. Everything happened because he talked to that girl that was in his math class.

Bella assured him it would be different here. Last week he had gone to the orientation session that was for new students. There were a few other new seniors but mostly it was freshmen.

At least he knew his way around the school and did not need to stop and look at a map to locate his next class. The tour of the school was the best part of the orientation for that reason alone. He blended in. He was just another kid. He was not the General's son here.

The other part of orientation that was good was that he got all his PE uniforms, locks and such sorted out beforehand. He knew when tryouts were for the different sports he wanted to try. He knew when the various clubs met and where too. He would not need to call Bella to arrange or sort anything out.

Sam walked to the back of the classroom and took a seat at a table with two chairs. He dropped his backpack and took out his advanced calculus book and his notebook and pencil. He was prepared for class. Sam sat at attention just like he always did.

He watched as the classroom filled up. He did not fit the mold of those in this room. His hair was long unlike most in this room. A smirk covered his face as the thought that the General would not be pleased with the length of his hair popped into his head. He went back to looking at those in this room.

The problem with being in all honors classes was that he never quite fit the mold. He was not a geek. He was also not a jock, a pothead, a preppy, a goth or anything else the teens grouped themselves into. Hell he didn't really know the lingo of a teenager. Sam knew he was unlike any of them. Maybe that made him a loner.

Sam's internal dialog stopped dead in its tracks. His eyes were riveted on the girl that had just walked in. She had a bounce to her step and her brown eyes were alight with laughter and intelligence. Her blonde hair cascaded half way down her back. She was short and was wearing the school's cheerleading uniform.

His jaw dropped open when she plopped down in the seat next to him. She was stunning. Sam felt his mouth go dry and could not form the word hi to save his life.

Charlotte Noble smiled at the blonde guy and said "Hi I'm Charlie."

Sam licked his dry lips and stammered "Charlie."

Charlie continued to smile "So your name is Charlie too. Amazing. What are the odds?"

Sam sorta of got his wits and said "No I'm Sam. Sam Braddock."

"Nice to meet you Sam Sam." Charlie teased. She knew the effect she had on boys. The she asked "So Sam Sam you are new aren't you?"

Sam nodded without correcting his name. Then he found his voice "Yeah just transferred for my last year."

She unzipped her backpack and pulled out her book, notebook and scientific calculator then said "You are probably gonna like Ms. Moon. She's hard, exacting and a stickler for showing your work but she is good. I had her last year too."

Sam almost groaned. He did not like showing his work. It slowed him down.

Charlie saw Sam did not have a calculator and she held up hers "You're gonna need one of these Sam Sam."

Sam finally corrected her "Name's just Sam. Not Sam Sam."

Charlie giggled "I know that silly. But I like Sam Sam. It suits you. I think you are one of a kind so you get a unique name."

It was Sam's turn to laugh. Charlie was surely friendly.

The class quieted down when the bell rang. Ms. Moon went through her first day spiel and then had everyone introduce themselves and when they did they were to tell two truths and a lie and the class would try to guess the lie.

When it got to Charlie she stood up and said "Hi My name is Charlotte Noble but everyone calls me Charlie. As you can see I'm on the varsity cheer squad. But I guess that shouldn't be one of the truths. Hmmm let's see now. Okay I love to go rock climbing, I'm good at target shooting and I've never been kissed."

The hands went up fast as everyone was absolutely sure they knew the lie. The first one to say something claimed 'I've never been kissed' as the lie. Most of the class nodded their heads. Another suggested it was rock climbing but and several agreed with him.

Sam looked at her hands and asked "Right to left handed?"

Charlie answered "Left."

Sam suggested the lie was 'I'm good at target shooting'. No one agreed with him.

It was put to a vote and the 'I've never been kissed' was decided by the vast majority as the lie.

Charlie smiled sweetly when the teacher asked her to reveal the lie. She turned to Sam and asked "Sam Sam how did you know I'm good at target shooting was the lie?"

Everyone's mouths dropped open for two reasons. One that the new guy was right but mostly that gorgeous Charlie had never been kissed.

Sam held up his left hand. There was a distinct callous on his index finger. Sam said "Your hand does not have a callous in the right place if you were good at target shooting. It takes many, many hours on the range to get good."

Charlie sat down and pulled Sam's hand to her. She traced his callous then smiled "I guess Sam Sam cannot use that he's terrible at target shooting as a lie."

The class laughed.

Ms. Moon said "Sam you're the last one. Two truths and a lie."

Sam saw this as his opportunity to let the teacher know he did not need to write out all his calculations and avoid being accused of cheating on tests. He stood and said "I'm Sam Braddock. I grew up in a desert. I was on a team that placed first in the Frostbite 45 Marathon in Yellowknife last winter. I can do all my math calculations in my head."

There were snorts and laughter at that last one. One boy said "The last one definitely is the lie. Come on, no one can do that." Most the class agreed.

One girl looked at him with dreamy eyes but said "You would have been in school during the Frostbite 45. Besides that is for adults and come on first place? That one is surely the lie." A few agreed.

After a little more discussion from the class it was put to a vote and the doing math in his head was selected as the lie.

Ms. Moon asked "So which one is the lie?"

Sam blushed a bit "The Frostbite 45. My team only came in third not first."

Ms. Moon looked at him closely "So you are saying that you can actually do all your calculations in your head?"

"Yes Ma'am" Sam answered.

The boy that first said it was the lie said "Prove it."

Sam responded "Give me a problem to solve."

Ms. Moon went to the board and wrote out a simple problem. Sam looked at it for a moment and quickly answered.

Another boy said "That one was too simple. I could do that one in my head. Ms. Moon give him a harder one."

The teacher picked up her book and wrote out an extremely complex problem on the whiteboard. Sam again looked at it. He took longer as he mentally worked through the calculations. Then he gave the answer.

The boy that had questioned him was doing the calculations on his scientific calculator and then looked at his teacher "Wow. That's right."

Ms. Moon was staring at the answer in her teacher's version of the book and slowly shaking her head. She finally looked at Sam and said "Yes that is correct. How do you do that?"

Sam shrugged "Don't really know. Maybe because I dislike writing out problems or because I had to learn some math early on when I was learning to shoot and I had to do it in my head. No time to write stuff down if you want to be able to shoot fast and accurately."

Ms. Moon asked "How early on?"

"I was six when I started learning to shoot a rifle. You have to factor in drop, wind speed and several other things" Sam answered.

Sitting down Sam was surprised he had shared so much. It was weird how he opened up in this classroom. But then Sam turned to Charlie and thought that perhaps she was the reason why. Charlie was so different from anyone he had ever met before. He liked her.

Ms. Moon said "Okay class that was fun getting to know each of you a bit. Now let's get down to today's lesson. It may be the first day of school but this is an honors class and I'm gonna push each of you to stretch your knowledge. If at any time you feel the material or lessons are too slow for you I will be happy to individualize your study plans to challenge you. This is your education. Push yourselves to the limits."

Charlie leaned in close to Sam. She wanted to touch that bicep but she refrained and whispered "Hey Sam Sam, want to be study partners? I like math but that problem you did would have taken me five minutes with the calculator. I could use your help."

Sam gave Charlie a lopsided smile "Sure."

Smiling Charlie turned back to watching the teacher but her thoughts were not on math at the moment. She liked Sam already. Not only was he the hottest looking guy at this school he was no dumb jock. He had brains and brawn based on what she saw.

He also had one of the nicest smiles she ever saw. When he smiled it lit up his blue eyes. Charlie wondered what it would be like to kiss him. He probably kissed lots of girls.

Sam tuned out the teacher as he thought about Charlie. How could someone as bright and bubbly and outgoing as her never have been kissed? He stole a glance at Charlie and her soft pink lips. Sam wondered what it would be like to kiss her.

First Day of High School – Lunch

Sam went to this next three classes and each was okay. But none of his other teachers did an introduction or ice breaker activity like his math teacher had. The students that sat next to him or around him basically ignored him. They were too busy catching up with their friends to pay attention to a new kid. Which was fine by Sam. He wanted to blend in and not make any waves.

He entered the cafeteria for fifth hour lunch. Again there were so many choices. But now he was not so much in awe of it. The time he spent with Wilson, Buzz and Dutch had loosened him up and exposed him to so many new things. In some respects it was like a whole new life and he could make of it what he wanted.

No longer was everything dictated, rigid and scheduled. It gave him a sense of freedom but it did not erase his wariness or the guilt he still carried. Sam looked at his choices and chose the Mexican food line. He ordered and used his student id to pay for it. Then he turned to head outside.

Large crowds still made him nervous and he felt several eyes on him. But today was different than last time. Today was the first day of school for everyone and he did not stick out like a sore thumb.

He was half way to the door when he heard "Sam Sam over here."

Sam turned and saw Charlie waving to him and pointing to her table. Sam headed over. He pulled on his friendly mask and hoped talking to Charlie would not end like the last time he talked to a girl at lunch.

Charlie smiled as Sam approached and said "Hey Sam Sam. Looks like we've got the same lunch."

Sam nodded "Yeah."

"Sit with us Sam Sam" Charlie said sitting down and patting the empty seat next to her.

She was happy to see Sam had the same lunch as her. As Sam sat down she turned to her group of friends and said "Everyone this is Sam. He's in my math class. He's new to the school." Then she looked at Sam and introduced her friends "This is Lacey, Beth, Cori and Gene. Over there is Ken, Jett and Peter."

Sam nodded to each one and said to everyone at once "Hi."

Peter looked at the fit guy and wondered if he did sports and said "Hi Sam. What year are you?"

"Need only three classes to graduate so I'm technically a senior" Sam answered.

Ken shook his head "Man that must suck transferring to a new high school for senior year. I bet you are missing your friends."

Sam shrugged "It's okay."

Lacey asked "So where do you hail from Sam?"

"My family lives in Ottawa" Sam answered.

Confused Lacey asked "If your family lives in Ottawa what are you doing in Toronto?"

Sam took a bite of his burrito and tried to think of a way to explain without telling them much of anything.

Charlie said "Lacey quit with the twenty questions. Sam Sam just met you. He may not want to tell you his life story."

Then she turned to Sam and said "Lacey is on the newspaper and she has a habit of interviewing everyone."

Lacey laughed and said "Sorry true. Bad habit."

Peter asked "You planning on going out for any sports. We have an okay Rugby team. Our hockey team is pretty good."

Sam nodded and said "Thought I might try out for Rugby. It's a fun game. Maybe track too."

Peter perked up "We need some strong players on the Rugby team. Did you play at your last school?"

"No. I've never been on any sports teams. I was home schooled mostly" Sam shared.

Jett finally entered the conversation "I've been on the track team for three years. I'm a sprinter mostly. We could use some fresh blood. What were you thinking of going out for? Sprints, hurdles, pole vault?"

Charlie smiled and said "Hence his nickname Jett. He's pretty fast. Nearly took first place at divisionals last year. Was beat out by a second."

Jett groaned "Don't remind me Charlie."

"Sorry Jett" Charlie said but then added "You're sure to win this year though."

Jett said sarcastically "Because last year's winner graduated."

Charlie cocked her head "Noooo silly. You will win because you want it so badly you can taste it and you have been training all summer."

Jett shrugged but smiled. Jett thought Charlie was always so supportive of everyone. She had a sunny disposition that drew people to her like flies. She was a good friend to everyone. He wished that he could date her. But her father was a preacher and did not allow Charlie to date. He had tried talking to her father but that had not worked so he decided that friends is what it would have to be for now.

He turned to Sam and asked "So which events?"

Sam finished his burrito and answered "Cross-country. I like long distance runs better than sprints."

Charlie's smile brightened as she said "I do cross-country too. Maybe I could show you some routes. I love the one through the park near the lake. Oh and then there is the one that goes through the woods."

"That would be good. But Wilson and I run in the park near the lake sometimes" Sam answered.

Cori couldn't keep her eyes on anyone but Sam. He was so cute. She loved his long blonde hair that kept falling into his eyes. And those eyes; man they were so blue. She noticed that Lacey and Beth were also eyeing him. She wondered if any of them had a chance with Sam. She wondered what his type was or if he even had a type.

She asked "Who is Wilson?"

Sam answered "Bella's security man and my friend."

Beth asked "Who is Bella?"

So they had gotten back to this Sam thought. He answered vaguely "I live with Bella. I have since I came to Toronto just after my sixteenth birthday last February."

Lacey asked "So you don't live with your family?"

Sam simply answered "No."

Everyone was a little curious but Charlie shut everyone down by saying "Enough badgering Sam Sam."

Gene laughed "Why do you keep calling him Sam Sam, Charlie?"

"I like it" Charlie said with a huge smile.

The group then all talked about school events and shared their schedules. Sam found out he had PE and weights with Jett and Peter and Honors English Literature with Charlie and Lacey.

When the bell rung Sam was feeling pretty good. He had made some acquaintances. They all seemed nice and it helped that Charlie had introduced him. Sam was really starting to like Charlie a lot. He was glad that he had two classes with her and she shared a love of long distance running.

Things were looking up. This year might actually be fun.

One Month Later – Charlie's Home

Sam sat at the kitchen table with Charlie as they worked on their math and English homework together. For the past month they met at Charlie's house after school on Mondays and Wednesdays to study under the supervision of her mother. On Tuesdays and Thursdays they went running with her father and brother. On Saturdays they usually met in the park and ran with Wilson and her father.

He learned why Charlie had never been kissed. Her father was very protective of Charlie and her younger sister Alexandra and they were never left unsupervised with boys. Her father was a pastor and wanted Charlie and Alex to focus on things other than boys. She was not allowed to date and wore a purity ring.

That was okay with Sam for now. He was enjoying being friends. Charlie was the first real friend he had his age. She was petite, outgoing, full of life and liked to do the things he like to do.

Sam turned to Charlie as he finished his last math problem and asked "Wilson is going to take me rock climbing in three weeks on a Saturday. I was wondering if you might like to come?"

Charlie put down her pencil and grabbed her lemonade. She took a long drink then answered "I'd love too. But I have to get permission from my parents. Is it going to be just you and Wilson?"

"No. His friends will be on a short leave and are coming to visit for a few days. Buzz and Dutch are great guys. Last summer they taught me so much. I had a blast with them and Wilson" Sam answered.

Biting her bottom lip Charlie said "Dad's probably gonna say no."

"Maybe Brad could come with us too. Does your brother like to rock climb?" Sam suggested and asked. Although he ran with Brad and her dad they rarely talked on the runs. He and Charlie were usually talking and they did not butt in.

"Sort of. He's not so good at it. I think he feels kinda embarrassed that his sister is better at it then him" Charlie answered.

Sam grinned "Perfect. Dutch and Buzz are Special Forces. They could show Brad a thing or two then he could improve."

Charlie asked "How do you know Special Forces guys?"

"Wilson was Special Forces a long time ago. Dutch and Buzz were two of his rookies when he commanded a unit" Sam responded.

She laid a hand on his and asked "You don't have to tell me but I've been wondering why you don't live with your parents and sister Natalie. Tell me to butt out if you want."

Sam's grin dimmed and he said "It's complicated. I lived with my Mom and sisters in Ottawa until I was nine. Then I went to live with the General at a desert base until I was sixteen."

Confused Charlie asked "So your parents are divorced. And you said sisters not sister."

Sam raked his hands through his long hair. Sam was never quite sure why but he always opened up a little bit when Charlie asked him things. Never completely open but just enough to share some parts of his life.

He answered "No not divorced. Just the General was away a lot. Still is. I had another sister, Sara, she died when I was nine and she was seven."

Sam could not bring himself to reveal to Charlie that he killed his sister by not protecting her. That his parents blamed him for her death and no longer loved him and that his Mom sent him away because she could not stand to see him. Or at least that is what he came to believe was the reason he was sent to the desert base. His mind could not think of another reason she sent him to live with the General and only visited every so often.

"And that is when you went to live with your father?" Charlie asked trying to make sense of it. It still weirded her out that Sam called his dad the General.

Sam nodded "Yeah, I'm not sure why. But within a month or so of Sara's death I found myself at a desert base. That's why I was home schooled. The base was not really set up to handle kids."

Charlie thought that was so sad. Her father being a pastor she had seen the devastation that could happen to families when little kids died. Sometimes families were ripped apart. That's what it appeared to her had happened to Sam's family. She wanted to know more but decided not to push seeing how sad it was making Sam. She liked his smile too much to want him to be sad.

Instead she said "I'll ask my dad tonight at dinner if I can go. Are you sure it would be okay with Wilson if Brad came?"

The smile returned to Sam's face "Yeah I'm sure."

"I'll let you know at school tomorrow then. How about we get a jump on that English Lit assignment?" Charlie said.

They delved into the English Literature assignment and were laughing and joking around as they worked through it. They always had a lot of fun while they did their homework.

Mrs. Noble watched as she chopped vegetables for the stew. She liked Sam Braddock. He was so different from other boys. He was smart and athletic and very respectful. She could see why Charlie was attracted to him. Sam was the first boy she was truly interested in since Jett a few years back.

Perhaps it was time to talk to Phillip and see about allowing a little more leeway with Charlie. She trusted Charlie to make the right choices. That girl had her head on straight. Maybe Phillip could see his way to allowing an occasional unsupervised run, perhaps a movie or even allowing them to grab a burger together. A simple and small date.

Three Weeks Later – Rock Climbing

Sam and Charlie were the first two up the cliff. They set a fast pace. Wilson, Dutch and Buzz were instructing Brad on the proper techniques. So they were coming up rather slow.

That suited Sam just fine. He and Charlie stood and looked out at the view. Sam moved a little closer. The past three weeks his feelings for Charlie were growing. The urge to kiss her had grown to the point that if he didn't kiss her soon he was going to burst into flames.

Sam thought now, here, in this beautiful place of nature that it would be the best time to kiss Charlie.

Charlie liked that Sam moved closer. The urge to kiss him was driving her nuts. She did not want to be forward and was waiting for him to make the move. But she was wondering if he would ever make the move.

She and her mom talked about Sam and her feelings for him. Her mom said there was nothing wrong with kissing. That it could be fun. Just so long as she kept her head and did not take it further.

Her dad was softening towards Sam too. She could tell. On their runs he would hang back further and further giving them more privacy. She saw him talking with Wilson too on the Saturday runs.

Charlie overheard her mom suggesting to her dad that he should consider allowing her and Sam to date. She also overheard her dad tell her mom that General Braddock was a well-respected man who had raised a polite young man of good character. Her dad also liked that Sam knew what he wanted to do with his life at such a young age. Her dad was impressed that Sam already had a slot waiting for him at the police academy after he graduated high school.

She still couldn't believe that Sam was only sixteen and would be seventeen in four months. He was more than a year younger than her. Sam did not act like a sixteen year old. He acted much older. Charlie had first thought he was eighteen when they first met in math class. But age didn't so much matter to her. The person is what mattered.

Sam stretched and then allowed his arm to go around Charlie's shoulders. When he felt no resistance he pulled Charlie closer and said "It is so beautiful up here."

Charlie smiled and thought, finally. She moved in closer and put her arm around Sam's waist as she answered "Yes it is. I love the cool breeze."

Just then a gust of wind blew Charlie's long blonde hair into her face. Sam turned to Charlie and brushed it behind her ear for her. His fingers lingered on her face.

Sam thought, now or never, as he allowed his fingers to trail down her cheek to her lips. They feathered lightly over her pink lips. The urge to kiss Charlie was overwhelming.

This would be his first kiss too. But he never told anyone that. He was nearly seventeen and a guy and he had never kissed a girl.

Not that he really had any opportunities to get to know a girl well enough to kiss her before now. But still he would be razzed if he told anyone. So he kept that little tidbit to himself.

His anticipation grew as his fingers lingered on her oh so kissable lips. The lips he dreamed about kissing for so many weeks.

Charlie sighed softly and her warm breath covered Sam's fingers. She tilted her head up and slightly parted her lips in anticipation of what she knew was coming. Her first kiss.

Sam looked into Charlie's beautiful brown eyes. His breath caught as he felt the warm breath on his fingers. It did things to his body. He tensed and relaxed at the same time.

The two were spellbound for some time gazing into each other's eyes.

Sam leaned down. His voice was raspy "Can I … can I kiss you?"

Charlie felt the excitement of butterflies and all warm and fuzzy at the same. Sam wanted to kiss her. She could not speak. Charlie moved upwards on her tippy toes and her lips were almost touching Sam's.

Sam took that for a yes and his lips connected softly with Charlie's as he pulled her close to him.

The kiss was tender and feathery soft, sending shivers of feelings through both of them.

Charlie felt weak in the knees as her heart thudded in her chest. She would have slowly floated to the ground if not for Sam's strong arms holding her up. The kiss was glorious. Everything a first kiss should be. It ended too soon for Charlie.

Sam felt himself losing control. His body was craving more and more. But this was Charlie. Charlie was special. Charlie was his first kiss.

He found control and pulled back even though he wanted more.

Charlie sighed and smiled dreamily as she looked into Sam's blue eyes "Ahhh my first kiss."

Sam gave Charlie his first ever WOW smile and said "My first kiss too. I'd like to kiss you again."

Charlie caressed Sam face then went on her tippy toes bring her lips closer "I'd like that."