"So what's your middle name?" Austin asked Sam as he pushed her on the swing. They ate their lunch and got lost in talking to each other. When they had finally checked the time, they realized that 5th was half way through. So Austin suggested that they stay at the park until the end of 6th. After all he didn't have to be back at the school until 7th, and Sam didn't have a 6th or 7th.
"I am pretty sure we're over 21 questions by now." Sam said.
She was basking in the feeling of flying, and ultimately avoiding the question. She hated her middle name.
"You, my lady, are evading the question." Austin pointed out as he stopped the swing and looked over her shoulder and planted a kiss on her cheek.
Sam smiled and said to him "You should probably stop kissing my cheek. You're spoiling me."
"From what you told me, you deserve to be spoiled. And that's just what I am going to do." Austin said looking Sam in her eyes and giving her his gorgeous smile, "Now, how about that middle name ma'am?"
"My middle name is Marie." Sam said, not really looking at Austin. In fact she was looking at the sand. "I know, I know it's an old woman name."
Austin stepped around the swing to stand in front of her. He then lifted her head so she could hear the sincerity in his voice and see the seriousness in his face.
"I like it. I actually love it. I think it suits you well. You are wise beyond you years. You aren't like others. You're not the average. I love it, Samarie."
"What did you call me?" Sam asked. She loved how the name sounded when Austin said. He said it soft and gently like it was an important and rare treasure.
"Samarie. Do you like it?" he asked.
"Crazy as this might sound, yes I actually do." Sam answered giggling.
"Good. I am glad you do sweetheart."
Sam stood up and gave Austin a hug. Austin marveled at how perfect she fit in his arms. He marveled at how right she felt there. As if she was finally home. As if he was finally home. Everything felt right in the world. Nothing could bother or mess with either of them. He could feel that they both were at peace.
Sam experienced the same feelings as Austin. She didn't know what was going on between them. But she knew, whatever it was, she was going to treasure it and try to keep it for as long as she could. Sam knew that the outcome of whatever she and Austin were having could either be something extremely beautiful or extremely painful.
How long the two of them stood in each other's arms, neither knew. But what they did know was that they did not want to let go. And they probably wouldn't have any sooner if Sam's phone had not gone off.
Sam removed herself from Austin and pulled her phone out. Fiona was calling. Sighing, she hit the talk button.
"Hello?" Sam asked.
"SAM! Look I'm out of Salmon. And I need you to pick up my dry cleaning. But more importantly, I need you get to the Diner within the next 10 minutes. It's swamped and Ellienora decided to get sick. Then when you get home I need you to go wash the jag." Fiona's voice rang out over the phone followed by a click.
Sam took the phone away from her ear and just looked at it and shook her head.
"Austin I need to get back to the school." Sam said.
Austin, who had heard Fiona's entire monologue of things to do, handed Sam his car keys.
"I'll walk back its only a block. And besides it means I get to see you in between your chores." Austin said and finished with a wink.
"Are you sure, you don't have to do this." Sam said, really touched that he trusted her enough to take his car, cared for her enough to sacrifice and walk, and liked her enough to want to see her some more.
"Look, practice should be over around 5:30. Just meet me in the bleachers. Now c'mon, I don't want your step mother adding extra things onto your plate because you were late." He slid his hand in hers and guided her to the range.
As he opened the door for her, Sam turned and gave him a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Austin. See you at 5:30." She then climbed into the huge car/truck and drove off.
Austin waved her off a true genuine smile on his face. He was in love with her. And he was going to ask her to be his girl.
Sam had kept a close eye on the clock. It was now 5:15 and she grabbed her bag and yelled goodbye to Rhonda. And Rhonda blew Sam a kiss and waved her goodbye.
All afternoon Sam had smiled and gave great customer service. During her break Rhonda pulled her into the back and told her she'd better talk. And Sam did just that. Rhonda had tears in her eyes. Rhonda knew that Sam was in love, her baby had grown up. Sam asked her why the tears. All Rhonda could answer was she was happy for her. After all it wasn't her place to point out how Sam feels to Sam. Sam needed to recognize it on her own.
As Sam pulled into the football field parking lot she suddenly realized that if the football team was practicing, then so were the cheerleaders.
"Great. This is just great." Sam said to herself as she opened the car door and climbed out. She begrudgingly treaded up the path to the bleachers and took a seat.
"What am I doing?"Sam mumbled to herself.
Austin was in a huddle. And he suddenly felt the urge to look in the bleachers. And there she was. Something was bothering her. Her body language suggested that if she could run and hide that she most definitely would.
Austin looked around for and visible and liable threat. He didn't see any. So there was no way he could get rid of it before seeing her. He would just have to ask her. Then get rid of whatever was bothering her.
"Alright team, good practice. Let's hit the showers." He called out still focused on the girl in the bleachers who held his heart.
Instead of heading to the locker room for his shower, he made a beeline to the bleachers. Sam was so deep in her thoughts she didn't even notice him. He and crept behind her waited for her to recognize she was not alone anymore. After waiting a good 15 seconds he took matters into his own hands.
"What is on your mind, Beautiful?" Austin asked from behind Sam in her ear. Sam jumped about a foot in the air.
"When did you get there?" Sam looked over her shoulder and asked, with a small smile of her face.
"About 30 seconds ago now." Austin answered. "And now, I'll repeat, what's on your mind?"
Sam turned away and looked to where the cheerleaders were. Before Austin came to sit next to her they hadn't even noticed she was there. Now, every single one of them was staring. Well, every one of them but the Head Captain. She was more like glaring and/or sending death rays.
Austin saw where Sam's head was turned to. And he figured it out. This is all new to Sam. Attention period. And spending time with him is going to get her attention, both good and bad. But if she just focuses on the two of them, on him, she'd be just fine.
Austin moved around and sat himself in front of Sam and blocked her line of view.
"Hey. Remember our deal?" He asked Sam.
Sam just nodded her head and then looked down. Austin put his hand under her chin and gently lifted her head.
"Well let's make good on our pinky promise. Let me be your shield. Nobody will mess with you, or us. Focus on us. Focus on me."
For a second Sam just looked him in the eyes. She found that she could drown in them. But she didn't mind drowning one bit.
"Okay." She simple said and smiled at Austin.
"That's my girl." Austin said kissing her cheek. "How was work?"
"It was good."
Austin's phone vibrated and he saw the time.
"I have to go Samarie. But we'll talk later tonight, right?" He asked standing up and bringing her with him.
"Of course, and here's your keys." Sam said as she handed him his keys.
"Let me walk you to your car." Austin said taking her hand.
This time when he took her hand she intertwined her fingers with his. Austin smiled on the inside. Sam smiled on the outside. They made small talk and laughed exiting the football field.
Shelby having saw the entire thing, stood dumbfounded, and asked out loud to no one in particular "WHAT and WHO the hell was that?"
Sam got home from dropping Austin's car off, and wished she hadn't.
Fiona was in rare form tonight. Straight Drunk.
"Is that you Sam?" Fiona slurred when Sam shut the front door.
"Yes ma'am." Sam responded.
"Come here I'd like to tell you some things."
Sam braced herself. She had an awesome day; but she knew that Fiona could screw it up in a heartbeat. She walked into the living room and took a seat across from Fiona.
"You know," Fiona started. "I never liked you from the beginning. You never gave me a chance. You were always judging me, comparing me to your mother."
There it went. Sam's wonderful day had just been flushed down the drain.
"Fiona how could I compare you to my mother when I hardly got the chance to know her at all?" Sam asked.
"DON'T INTERRUPT ME!" Fiona screamed at Sam.
If there was one thing Sam hated, it was a person screaming at her.
"You thought I couldn't tell that you didn't like me. You didn't like that your father could be happy with another female. Well guess who he was coming for in the end? Guess who he gave his life for? That's right Samantha. Me. Get over it. You are going to start treating me with respect. Or you will be out on the streets with nowhere to live and no family. I would say no one to love you, but that's your present situation anyhow."
Sam was shocked to say the least. Fiona had done an Oscar performance tonight. Sam's heart throbbed. Tears welled in her eyes.
"GO! Go and do what I told you to do." Fiona said dismissing Sam.
Sam had cried all the way to Cleaners. Then she cried all the way from the cleaners to the grocery market. Then she cried all the way from the Grocery market to the car wash.
As Sam pulled into the car wash, her sobs were subsiding. She was calming herself down so she wouldn't be sobbing in public. She would just silently cry. She had done this act twice already, quieting her sobs when she pulled into the public place, then sobbing once she was back in the car.
A tap on the window made Sam jumped, embarrassed at her tear-stained face she kept her head down while she rolled down the window.
"A wash, a wax, and a vacuüm job?" The worker asked.
Sam only nodded her head. But the worker didn't see it because he was already writing her receipt.
"Excuse me miss?" the worker said.
Sam slowly looked up. And there stood Austin.
Austin recognized Sam. And she was crying. Without even thinking it through he opened the door for her and pulled her out of the car and into his arms.
"Baby, what's the matter? What's wrong?"
Upon hearing the concern in his voice, Sam just began sobbing.
"Yo, Jason?" Austin shouted at one of his workers. "Can you do this car for me?"
Jason nodded his head. And Austin didn't wait for anything else. He picked Sam up and carried her around the building to his car. He climbed in with her and sat her on his lap.
Austin rocked her, hushed her, and whispered that he was there. Sam slowly calmed down.
"What happened baby?" Austin asked.