Hey, I finished my semester. Hope I passed my classes. Anyhow, I've been working on chapter 12 for awhile. And the more you tell me to update the more motivated I am to post it. I tried to update but fanfiction and my usual laptop arent exactly simpatico right now sooo that's why it took forever and ever. But enough of my rambling: So here we go:
Chapter 12:
2 hours, 30 minutes, and 50 seconds had passed since Sam had left with tears in her eyes; it had been 2 hours, 31 minutes, and 2 seconds.
"We have to find her." Madison said after dragging her hand down her face.
"No." Toby said looking a bit miffed with his own response. "We have to let her think, and she'll come back; whenever she's ready to come back."
"But she won't come back Toby; we have to go find her."
"Give her time love."Toby said wrapping an arm around his very distraught girlfriend. "Just give her time."
Austin suddenly stood, and grabbed his car keys and wallet in the process. Then he headed for the door.
"No! A, I'm sorry but we all know that right now, you are the last person that she needs in her presence, let alone wants. If you go to her now, you'll be pushing her farther."
"But T," Austin said close to tears. "I have to explain. I have to. . ."
"When you had the chance A, you didn't. Now, you have to deal with that. Don't push her farther. Let her come back on her on time and terms. You messed up, not her."
"How am I supposed to . . . ok, I'll try."Austin's shoulders dropped in resignation.
Realizing Reality
"You ready talk about it?" Rhonda asked Sam.
"No I'm not, but I am ready for another slice of pizza and a refill."
"Sam, that's your third slice."
"Yes, I know Rhon; and now I am ready for my fourth."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Wait, no. Instead of the shake can I have a Boston Egg Cream? Please, please, please?" Sam smiled up at Rhonda but there was only sadness in her face.
"Alright."
Sam watched Rhonda walk away, and thought about the last 24 hours of her life, and what a mess she was on the inside right now. Even in all that he's done, Sam just wanted Austin to hold her, pathetic.
"Well so much for a happy Saturday." Sam mumbled to herself.
"I have a slice of pizza and 1 chocolate Boston Egg Cream for the pretty lady."
"Thank you Rhonda."
Rhonda sat in the booth. "I'm on break, mind if I sit and share your drink madam?"
Sam's eyes lit up and watered when she recognized what Rhonda was doing. After her father died once a week she and Rhonda would share a Boston Egg Cream and just spend time. The tradition lasted till she was 15. Fiona walked in, witnessed, and banned it.
"Would you please?" Sam asked.
And they shared it in silence.
Realizing Reality
"T, it's almost been four hours." Austin exaggerated.
"Just calm down, A."
"How can I ?"
"Austin give me your keys." Madison jumped in, halting the annoying conversation.
"What?" Austin looked at her then at Toby. "Why?"
"I am going to find my best friend."
"Okay, then I'm coming with you."
"No you're not. You'll just make things worse."
"But I"
"And you know I am right bro." She cut him off.
Austin walked over to his sister and gave her his keys. "Can you tell I love her." It wasn't a question though, it was a plea.
Realizing Reality
Sam and Rhonda were finishing their drink when Sam saw the familiar black car pull into the lot and park.
Panic filled her for a second, she wasn't ready to see him. The car door opened and. . . and a messy bun poked out then hopped down. Sam let out a small sigh of relief.
Madison walked to one of the diner windows and searched the building. When her eyes landed on her best friend, she smiled and waved then rushed to the door.
Sam giggled a bit.
" Hey!" Sam said coming back to her surroundings. Rhonda had taken a huge bite of her pizza.
"What? I was hungry, my break is pretty much over." Rhonda smiled. " And besides, you were being rude."
"No, taking a bite of my pizza was rude."
"Hey you guys." Madison said upon approaching the table, and immediately began eying what was left of Sam's pizza.
Sam eyed her best friend for at least ten seconds then said. " Ah, for goodness sakes, go ahead Sadi."
Rhonda got up to get back to work.
"Thanks Mammy. You're the best." Madison said as she set down, then promptly got down to business.
"How is he?" Sam asked quietly after watching Madison for a couple of seconds.
Madison looked up from her pizza and stared at her best friend as though she gained two more heads since the last time she looked at her.
"Are you kidding me Samantha Marie? He hurts you, and you ask how he is?" She shook her head. "You've got to be an angel." She concluded.
Sam shrugged. "I just don't want him stressing. He already has so much on him."
"Sam, he cheated. He kissed Shelby."
"I know."
"Then he deliberately tried to hide it from you."
"I know, Sadi."
"And you're worried about him?" Madison asked. "Unbelievable, best friend S, un-freaking-believable."
"I'm hurt and angry; more than that I'm disappointed. But regardless of all that, I love him. And that will not change."
"Alright, Mamantha." Madison said. Her eyes held understanding but she shook her head and sighed.
Sam waited a few minutes but eventually gave her best friend a pointed look, letting her know she wasn't slick.
"He's beside himself with regret and worry. He told me to make sure you know he loves you."
"I do know that." Sam said. "But I just don't understand…why"
Madison looked at her best friend drowning in confusion and hurt and knew what needed to be done.
"Let's go shopping Mamantha!"
"You're tripping Sadison!" Sam's eyebrow rose. "Does it look like I want anything to do with shopping? Especially right now?"
"Nope. But you're going."
"But I don't want to"
Madison slapped her hands down on the table and leaned forward. "You're going!"
And that was that.
Realizing Reality
"Mm. There is nothing like a warm pretzel and lemonade to cheer you up." Sam murmured after taking a sip of her drink.
"Now who's making love faces at her food?" Madison chuckled.
"Oh, shut up Sadi." Sam playfully elbowed her best friend. "I think I deserve to enjoy my pretzel and lemonade without being made fun of. Don't you?"
Sam bit savagely into her pretzel.
"Maybe." Madison laughed out this time as she looped her arm through Sam's and guided her through the mall.
"I have a question Sadi." Sam said moments later.
"Then you should probably ask it, Mammy."
Sam stuck her tongue out at Madi. "Does my pretzel and lemonade count as two items?" She asked hopefully.
"Nope."
"But you"
"Nope."
On the way to the mall Madison informed Sam that she was leaving with 10 items.
"Why don't we start here best friend S?"
"Not like I have much of a choice best friend M."
This time Madison stuck her tongue out at Sam and pulled her into Victoria Secrets.
Realizing Reality
"I can't believe this is happening."
"Why is that Austin? For every action there is a reaction. For everything you do, there's going to be a consequence. And you know that. You're my brother and my best friend. I know you; but for the life of me I can't seem to understand why you did it, what you were thinking. I just can't , not when I know how much you love and care for my little sister."
"I don't know, T. I . . ." Austin began to try to explain. "Peer pressure. I could feel it. Its what the crowd wanted. I've always been one to give what was wanted."
"But, what about you? What about Sam?"
Austin couldn't answer.
"Is their happiness worth yours, hers?"
Realizing Reality
"Sadi," Sam pleaded. " That 9 items. Whats 1 more? Can we please go home?"
Even though she was in no rush to see Austin, she was ready to get some rest.
"Nope, I said 10 items and that's exactly what you are leaving here with."
"Fine."
They turned into Windsor and ran straight into Shelby and her minions.
"Great." Sam mumbled.
"Oh hello." Shelby said.
Sam scoffed and Madison looked at her best friend, proud.
"Missed you at the party last night Sarah."
Sam looked around for this "Sarah".
When she didn't find any one there she turned back to Shelby and simply said "Grow up Shelby. Just grow up." Then she side stepped her and went in search of her tenth item.
She spotted a leather jacket that she would love to have. She went to it and turned to show it to Madi only to find her staring down Shelby.
Sam walked over to Madison.
"What do you think of"
Shelby's phone went off and Shelby informed her minions and everyone in the store Austin was calling.
Once again Sam scoffed. Austin was with Toby. Toby and Austin would definitely duke it out if Austin was calling Shelby.
Madison gave Sam a look that said exactly what she was thinking.
Sam took out her phone and dialed Austin on speaker phone.
It didn't have the chance to ring once before Austin answered it.
"Samarie."
Everyone looked from Shelby to Sam.
"Hey Austin. Just letting you know I should be home soon."
"Okay, baby I"
Sam clicked in his face.
"Aren't we a little old for pretending and make believing, Shelby?" Sam said then took Madison by the hand a led her to the leather jacket.
Realizing Reality
"Gosh that was so awesome Samantha Marie you are something else."
"Well you know, I try." Sam said with a small smile and a shrug."
Sam and Madi had been in Austin's parking space at his house for an hour now.
"You ready?" Madison asked minutes later.
"Yeah, I'm ready to get in the bed."
"You're not going to talk to him?"
"I will, when I can."
"Are you sure, Sam, holding things in can"
"When I can, Madison, I will."
Madison held her hands up. " Alright." Then she called Toby to come out so they could go.
Sam gave Madison a hug after she helped gathering her bags. She gave Toby a hug when he was coming out the door as she was going in.
Then there were two. Just Sam and Austin.
They stared at each other until Austin opened his mouth to speak.
Sam dropped her eyes and moved to put her items up.
Austin let her do so in silence.
Then she gathered her pajamas and went into the bathroom .
"That's new." Austin mumbled.
Realizing Reality
Night had come and gone. The sun was rising.
Austin hardly slept because of Sam.
She moved every hour.
She started off in bed. Then sat at the desk. She watched TV. She went outside. She came back in. She sat on the couch. Then she laid on the couch. She finally settled on the floor. But her breathing never evened out. She didn't get a wink of sleep.
She wouldn't let him be there for her either. No words. No eye contact. Just silence; silence and tears.
Austin was at a lost. Sam was lost. How were they going to find each other if she won't communicate?
"Good morning Samarie." Austin tried.
He was only met with silence.
He looked over the edge of the bed where she lay staring at the ceiling.
"Sam, please at least look at me baby."
Sam turned her back to him, and let her tears fall.
"Where do we go from here?" they thought to themselves.
Realizing Reality
"T, I don't know what to do." Austin practically whined during their free period. "She won't event look at me."
"Won't even look at you?"
"No."
"And how does that make you feel." Toby said, while jokingly panamiming a notebook and a pen.
"Come on Toby. You're supposed to be listening and giving advice."
"No I am trying a different approach. We're doing person centered therapy. All I have to do is nod my head and be sympathetic." Toby smiled cockily. "You want my honest opinion, bro?"
"The answer to your question should be obvious."
"Alright." Toby took a dramatic breath. "Talk to her. Even if she doesn't say anything or listen, just talk to her. Let her know that you're there regardless if she wants you there or not."
Austin absorbed what his best friend was saying. Then asked him "T, when did you get so smart?"
Toby smirked. "That's really funny bro, because I was just asking myself when did you get so dumb."
The bell rang.
"Come on. We're going to go meet our girls." Toby said standing up. He was a man on a mission.
Realizing Reality
The bell didnt ring soon enough for Sam.
If she had to sit through one more class and endure her name, Austin's, and Shelby's whispered every five minutes she was going to burst.
Sam walked to her locker, trapped in her thoughts. As she was unlocking the locker a timid hand tapped her shoulder. Sam turned to find one of her nice classmates.
"Oh, Hi Chris. What's up?"
"Hey Sam. You left your binder in the class. There's no way you could've done your homework this week without it, so instead of wasting your time, I decided I'd deliver it to you."
Sam smiled at Chris as she took her binder.
He was a real sweetheart, the star point guard on the basketball team and he was cute too. But he wasn't Austin.
"Thank you I really appreciate it. Walking all the way back to get it would have been a definite hassle today."
Chris nodded sympathetically, almost as if he understood. "Well I should probably get going, I got a lunch date."
Sam's eyes lit up a bit. "With who?"
"Oh, um..." He looked embarrassed.
"Its ok. You don't have to tell me." Sam seeing his discomfort, gave his shoulder a strictly platonic friendly tap.
"Its with Narnia."
"Come again?" Sam asked completely dumbfounded. Wasn't Narnia a series?
"My date. Its with the fourth book from the Chronicles of Narnia."
"Oh." Sam smiled at him, no judgement in her eyes. "Well don't keep it waiting."
Chris laughed. Then he turned to walk away but turned back and gave Sam a quick hug.
"I'm sorry if I've just over stepped any boundaries but it looks like you need all the hugs you can get right now."
Sam was shocked to say the least. But she honestly appreciated Chris for giving her the comfort she'd been craving since Madi dropped her off Saturday night. So she reached out and hugged him back.
"Thanks." she whispered.
"So somebody want to tell me what the hell is going on?" Austin said appearing out of thin air. Toby stood next to him shaking his head.
"I think I can." Shelby said also manifesting out of thin air. "She's cheating on you with a basketball team member guy."
"I thought Austin was your man, which one is it Shelby?" Sam asked then she turned to Chris. "I don't want you to miss that date, thank you again." Sam said while she effectively showed everyone that Chris was not a factor in the situation by dissmissing him from it, at the same time.
"You are very welcome Sam." he said taking the hint and walking off in the library's direction.
Shelby was still searching for a come back when Sam turned to Austin and simply said, " I dont cheat. You do. Remember that. Chris is just a nice guy." Then she turned to Shelby and said, "I know we had this discussion on Saturday, Shelby. You really need to grow up. People don't like patty-cake mess in the real world. So let it go now, don't bring it. Grow up."
Toby looked proud of Sam and pissed at Austin all at once.
Austin looked lost.
Shelby, well Shelby was Shelby.
"Now, I'm going home. I will see you guys later." Sam turned and pulled out Austin's car keys and walked away.
She stood there staring at the space Sam had been in for five seconds, the pivoted and stormed down the hallway yelling "Move!"
Austin leaned his head on Sam's locker and shook his head.
"She hates me. We're doomed."
"A, shut up."
"What?" he said turning to look at Toby.
"Who's varsity hoodie was she wearing?" Toby asked.
"Mine." Austin mumbled confused.
"Who's car keys did she just flash?"
"Mine." Austin repeated a little louder.
"And who's house. . . well pool house is she calling home?"
"Mine." This time he said it firmly.
"She's still declaring herself as yours." Toby said. " But what everyone is wondering, including her, is are you?"
"He's right you know." Madison said joining hands with Toby and laying her head down on his shoulder. She watched the whole situation unfold and fold. She knew her prescence would have only added fuel to the fire so she stayed a couple of paces away. She was very proud of Sam.
"T, can you give me a lift."
More to come. Please,please,please Review. I promise, the next chapter will not disappoint you. xoxox