"I'm really sorry about them, Cat. They're usually really nice guys."
"It's ok, don't worry about it." I said smiling.
"Are you hungry, thirsty?" Sam asked me, smiling softly. I felt my stomach churn; his smile was so familiar, so much like…
"No, I'm fine thank you."
"I'll be right back, I'm going to go grab a hot chocolate."
"Hot chocolate? Not coffee?"
"No I hate coffee."
"Me too!" I replied surprised. "My friends don't get it but I would rather drink hot chocolate than a cappuccino." At least I used to.
"Are you sure you don't want anything?" I nodded. "Be right back." He left and sauntered over to the counter. I turned to look out the window. It had started raining again and the noise of rain splattering down on the sidewalk was soothing. The smell of the hot chocolate reached my nose and I turned as Sam slid into his seat. He was carrying two cups.
"Here, I got you one as well. It wouldn't do you any good to get sick and the chocolate will warm you up."
"Thank you," I smiled broadly. I took a sip, prepared to taste ashes or something just as bad. Instead my tongue was able to savor the rich chocolate flavor and I could swallow it. It was quite the opposite from my experience with the eggs my mother had made.
"Like it?" I nodded enthusiastically.
"It's really good. I haven't tasted something so good for a long time."
"Been eating too much cafeteria food?"
"Yeah," I said, the lie making me cringe inside. I've always hated lying, thinking it far below me.
"I know what that's like. Whenever I go home for the holidays, I can't get enough of my mom's cooking. Its amazing."
"Yeah I know exactly what you mean. My mother bakes the best apple pie ever!"
"Are you going home for Thanksgiving day?" I shook my head ruefully. "Why not?"
"My dad and I had an argument. My mom says its best I don't go home yet."
"Oh, I'm sorry." I shrugged. "So are you staying here all by yourself?"
"I'm not sure what I'm doing yet." Sam looked pensive for a moment.
"Would you like to come to Texas with me?" My eyes widened in surprise.
"But you hardly know me! What will your family think?" I protested.
"My brother brings home girls he's known for a day. I think we know each other better than that."
"I suppose so, but wouldn't it be awkward?"
"Only if you make it awkward." I chuckled. He was right.
"If you're sure it's alright with your family and only if you insist, will I go."
"I do, I insist. I can't go home, knowing you might be here all by yourself."
"Ok," I said softly. "I guess I'll go." He smiled widely.
"Great!" I just hope its not as awkward as…well this "date" hasn't been all that awkward. "It's stopped raining. We should get you back to your dorm so you can take a warm bath. It would be horrible if you got sick while you were visiting my family." He grinned. I swear this boy smiles too much for his own good.
"Uh-huh, I should." We got up and walked out of the warm diner into the cold November air. I shivered instantly.
"You do get cold easily, here." He slipped out of his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders. I hugged it close to my body.
"Thanks." I briefly wondered how I would get to Texas and voiced my question out loud. "Are you flying to Texas? Should I buy a ticket?"
"No, that's alright. I have an extra one. My younger brother was going to fly out with me but he decided to spend Thanksgiving in NYC with his buddies."
"Oh, ok. Thank you."
"And don't even think about paying me back." He said silencing my next statement.
"Alright alright. I get it." I smiled. This is strange. Why is he being so nice? Why…I shook it off. I analyze things too much. I should just go with the flow. A puff of cold wind blew through me and Sam's jacket did nothing to warm me. My fingers and face were red with cold. Sam glanced my way and a sympathetic expression crossed his face. He moved closer and held me close to his body, his warmth pleasant. I snuggled closer trying to take advantage of his heated body. As I pressed my body tightly against his, I could only think about Will. I hadn't thought about him for such a long time. It's best not to think about him. He's not coming back. I may love him…for strange unknown reasons but that does not mean that he loves me back…that he will come back for me. Alice still hasn't heard anything from him. I hope he's safe.
"We're here." I brought my face out of his warm embrace and saw the dorm building looming over us.
"So we are." I said quietly.
"What room shall I come get you tomorrow?"
"The flight's tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I'm spending a whole week in Texas. You don't mind do you?" Do I?
"No, its better than staying here all by myself." I felt guilty for a moment, was I betraying Will? No, it's been almost half a year. As much as I love him, I should move on with my life.
"Your room?" He insisted.
"304," I finally said.
"I'll be here at six to get you."
"I'll see you then." I turned my head up to smile at him and was surprised to feel his lips brush mine. He was gone before I could respond. I brought my fingers to my lips, bewildered that I could still feel the heat emanating from so soft a kiss. I smiled softly and walked into the building. I opened the door to my room and entered in a daze.
"Cat!" Alice's voice roused me from my thoughts and I gazed at her intently. "We packed your suitcase already!" She squealed.
"Am I ever going to get to tell you anything?"
"No, I don't think so Cat. Alice gets a little bit too excited about these types of things. Especially since Jasper isn't all that romantic." Rosalie said, regarding me with a soft smile.
"You leave my Jasper out of this, Rosalie Hale." Rose laughed and put up her hands in defense.
"Ok OK, forget I said anything."
"Hey Alice?"
"Yeah Cat?"
"Why was I able to drink hot chocolate today?"
"I'm not sure. Perhaps because you are half and half. The werewolf part of you can eat human food. You must be like Nessie."
"You're right! YES! This is great! I can eat whatever I want! Oh you don't know how much I missed human food." Rose laughed.
"Food means that much to you?" She asked me.
"Yes! Food is…food is amazing! Ok I have to shower. I'll be back soon guys." I left my two friends in the room and headed to the showers.
****
A knock on our dorm door jolted the three of us awake. I raised my head from the pillow to look at my alarm clock: 5:45 AM. Alice grumbled under her breath as Rose got up and stumbled to the door. The light from the hallway flooded the room and I pulled the covers over my head and shut my eyes tighter. Rose spoke with someone in hushed tones (I was too tired to listen in) and promptly closed the door.
"Cat," She whispered. I pushed myself further into my pillow, resisting the urge to wake up. "CAT!" She wrenched the covers off and shook me harshly. What remained of my sleepy state fled as her shaking increased.
"Rose, Rose, I'm awake. You can stop now. Stop it!"
"You know I'm not patient with this type of thing!" Rose said huffing. I nodded wearily, knowing it was the closest thing to an apology I'd get. "Sam's outside get dressed." I forced myself out of bed and groped around for the clothes I'd set out the night before. I finally found them and exchanged my warm p.j.s for a long sleeved shirt, a pair of hip hugging jeans, and a pink hoodie. I yawned widely and sat back down on my bed, only to be yanked up hard by Rosalie. "What are you doing? Sam's outside."
"I'm sorry. I don't really function this early in the morning." Rose scuffed, grabbed my purse and shoved it into my hands. "Here, now get out of here!" I picked my suitcase up and staggered to the door, my body still tired. I opened it and held back a yawn as I peered into the hallway. Where did Sam go? I walked out of the room and closed the door gently behind me.
"Cat?" I turned towards the noise and saw Sam at the end of the hallway. He waved and I walked towards him, pulling my suitcase alongside me. "Here let me," He reached for my bag but I shook my head.
"No its ok. I got it."
"Are you sure?" He asked me, looking hurt. I nodded. I like carrying my own things. "Ok" He shrugged it off and I followed him down the silent stairs. Everyone was sleeping, the only sound was that of the building.
Sam and I made it to his car without waking anyone in the dorm building. He opened the trunk and I shoved my bag in next to his. I pushed my hands deep into the pocket of my sweatshirt in an attempt to warm them.
"Cold again?" Sam asked. I nodded. "The car's open and on so it should be warm. Get in, I'll be right back."
"Ok." I said softly, while opening the door of his silver Cadillac Escalade. How he could afford such a car was beyond me. I slipped into the huge car as Sam walked off. The car was warm, thankfully, and I soon had my hands out of my pocket and fiddling with my purse straps. I closed my eyes momentarily and sighed. I should probably figure out where I stood with Sam. I didn't want to lead him on. At some point between last night and right now, I had figured out that although irrational, my love for Will was too strong to be ignored or put aside. Nothing and no one would ever change that, even should I wish it. This love was too profound, too deep. All Sam could ever hope for was a close friendship…maybe not even that. The parallel between my life and Bella's in Twilight was unbelievably ironic. My favorite book was literally coming to life with myself as the protagonist.
I heard Sam's footsteps outside and opened my eyes. He came in, holding two cups of steaming hot chocolate.
"For the ride." He said.
"Thank you." I replied smiling widely. "That's so sweet of you!" I took them from him as he got in and started the car.
"I hope you like whip cream."
"Mhmmm. I love it. How much do I owe you?" I asked, while trying to pull out my wallet.
"Nothing. My treat!"
"I can't let you pay for everything!" I protested.
"You can treat me to lunch when we arrive in Houston."
"Alright." I sighed and let my wallet slide back into my purse, unopened. We rode on in silence, listening to music on the radio. Occasionally I'd hum along if a song I knew was playing. The ride to the airport was only fifteen minutes long and speaking would have ruined the quiet of the morning. My cell phone's ring tone broke the stillness I was enjoying and I fumbled around for it.
"Sorry." I glanced at Sam and he waved for me to pick up.
"Hello?"
"Cat?" an unfamiliar man's voice came through.
"Yes. Who is this?" I could hear him let out a breath…in relief?
"Are you safe?"
"Emmett?" I asked.
"No, Where are you Cat?"
"Who is this? How did you get my number?"
"Cat, I don't have time to explain. Where are you?" I began to panic slightly.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
"Cat listen, I need to know where you are!" Sam glanced in my direction and took the phone out of my hands.
"Don't ever call this number again." He growled into the phone and snapped it shut. He tossed it into my lap and I stared at the blinking screen: "Call Ended: Private Number."
"Are you ok?" I waited a minute for my heart to cease beating so rapidly and my breath to come easily before responding.
"Yeah. Thanks."
"Who was it?"
"I have no idea." I said but deep down I knew who it was. I just wasn't prepared, wasn't ready to admit it to myself that I knew the voice, that I recognized it.
"If he calls again, just give me the phone, ok?" I nodded not trusting myself to speak again.