Chapter Seven

Sami slowly opened the door to her house resisting the urge to slam the door as she entered. She tried to sneak up the stairs to her room since John and her mom weren't in the living room at the moment. Also, because she didn't feel like being questioned as to why she was home so early. Unfortunately, she was unsuccessful in getting up the stairs before Marlena and John entered the room.

"Why are you home so early?" Marlena asked.

Sami shrugged.

"The party sucked so I decided to leave,"

Marlena gave her a skeptical look.

"Okay,"

With that, Sami went up the stairs to her bedroom.

When Sami got up, she walked into her bedroom and shut the door making sure she locked it. She walked over to her bed and pulled back the covers then, proceeded to crawl under them. Sami turned on her side and shut her eyes hoping somehow to stop the tears that were threatening to spill over but it was a fruitless attempt because the tears came anyway. Sami opened her eyes and looked at the pictures on her nightstand. One was of her and Lucas at the homecoming dance junior year, the other was of her and EJ going swimming the summer before they started high school. She smiled at the memory despite the stream of tears running down her cheeks but when she looked at the picture of her and Lucas, she felt the anger she felt towards him bubble to the surface again. She picked up the framed picture and without hesitation threw it across the room feeling the stream of angry tears quicken as she heard the glass from the frame shatter on the floor.

EJ sighed as he reached the front door to Sami's house. He wasn't sure if that was where she went but he knew she didn't want to run into any of the kids from school so this was the most logical place. EJ hesitated for a moment and then knocked on the door. After a few moments, the door opened to reveal John.

"What are you doing here?"

"Something happened at the party and Samantha needs me," EJ explained not offering anymore detail.

"What happened exactly?" John asked.

"It's not my place to tell you,"

John hesitated for a moment.

"Fine you can come in."

EJ walked through the door and gave an appreciative nod before heading up the stairs.

EJ walked up to Sami's bedroom door and tried to turn the knob but the door was locked.

"Samantha," EJ started "Will you let me come in please?"

"EJ I just need to be alone right now," Sami said her voice perfectly audible through the door.

EJ sighed, he knew Sami thought that's what she needed but he knew better than that.

Before speaking again, EJ made a mental note to ring Lucas's neck for hurting Sami when he saw him at school on Monday.

"You can't fool me Samantha I know you better than that. But if you don't want to talk right now I'll sit out here until you're ready,"

"You know you'll get in trouble with my parents and your dad if you do that," Sami pointed out.

"I don't care, and since when have I cared what my father thought when it came to you?"

"Never," Sami responded.

"Right and I'm definitely not going to start now," EJ said sitting against the bedroom door.

Sami didn't respond she just got out of bed and sat against the door.

Later that night John and Marlena walked up the stairs to Sami's room since it was getting late and they hadn't heard anything for awhile. When they reach Sami's door they found EJ sitting against it.

John and Marlena exchanged glances.

"EJ, are you sure you can't tell us what happened at that party that hurt Sami so much?" Marlena asked.

EJ held back a frustrated sigh.

"Like I said before, I can't tell you that's Sami's job and she won't tell you until she's ready,"

Marlena just nodded knowing he wouldn't say anything else.

"Okay, just don't stay too long, it's getting late,"

EJ just nodded in understanding.

After that, John and Marlena went back down the stairs.

EJ blinked in an attempt to keep himself awake but ultimately sleep won over.

Sami looked up at her digital clock on her nightstand. It read: 11:00 P.M.

"EJ?" Sami called wondering if he was still out in the hallway.

When she didn't get an answer, Sami got up, opened the door, and smiled at what she saw. EJ was had himself leaning against the wall and was fast asleep.

"EJ wake up," Sami whispered.

EJ opened his eyes and rubbed them in an attempt to wake himself up. Once he stood up and got a good look at Sami, he saw her eyes were puffy and red and her cheeks were tearstained.

"I guess I don't have to ask you how you are," EJ said spotting the broken picture frame as they entered Sami's room.

"Isn't it obvious?" Sami replied motioning towards the broken picture frame.

EJ put his hand on Sami's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.

"Lucas didn't deserve you, he is an idiot and that's putting it nicely,"

Sami gave a weak smile.

"You know I probably could've handled it better if it had been anyone-- anyone but Carrie,"

EJ gave an unconvinced look.

"Okay, yes I still would've been so mad I couldn't see straight but I mean, everyone picks Carrie over me. That's how it's always been,"

"Not me,"

Sami smiled.

"Thank you,"

"No problem," EJ said as Sami wrapped herself in his arms for a hug.

After a few minutes, they pulled away their lips only inches apart.

Sami thought to herself.EJ thought to himself as he reluctantly pulled away.

"It's getting kind of late, maybe I should go so John doesn't kick me out,"

"Stay a little while, please,"

"Okay," EJ agreed.

Sami climbed underneath her covers again and EJ climbed on the bed and gently stroked her hair until she fell asleep. After that, he left quietly careful not to wake her.