I Think It Will Be Okay Now

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"Sam" He says with a sly grin on his face. My heart is racing. He takes a step closer. I stare at him with all the anger and hate I'm feeling, we are less than three feet away. As angry as I am, I'm not stupid; I'm not going to get into anything, I need a way to get back into the school. He chuckles and smiles at me, clearly entertained by this. Now that is exactly what makes me nervous with this kid; he is not intimidated at all. He is too confident for his own good and it pisses me off. Though I can't help but to smile myself when I see that his cheek has a light bluish- purple tint to it, right where I hit him last night.

"Nice face." I spit at him, trying to get the upper hand.

"Nice legs." He replies, his eyes scanning over my body. He is just trying to throw me off; don't lose it, Sam. I just roll my eyes and take the opportunity to try to head back to school. As soon as I turn slightly to take a step, Aaron had already grabbed me and trapped me between him and the Oak tree. He pushes me hard against the tree, pain ripples down my back, but I don't drop my icy stare at him. With my free hand, I grab his wrist and dig my nails into it, trying to force him to let go of arm. He just laughs.

"You're going to have to try better than that" He says, pressing closer to me. I can feel his breath on my face. I turn my face to not feel so close to him.

"We have to get to class." I say. I have to get out of this. Come on, Sam, do something! I shove him with everything I have, he stumbles back and let goes of my arm for a second, but he quickly adjusts and wraps an arm around my waist and pushes me back into my tree. This time I can't help but to let out a painful gasp when I hit the tree. I shut my eyes tight, feeling the pain run through my body and then settle down. I'm breathing deep, trying to focus. I feel Aaron's hand stroke against my cheek and push my hair behind my ear. I open my eyes as Aaron cups my face in his hand, his thumb tracing my jawbone.

"God, you're something else." He says. Is he really admiring me right now? I'm gonna be sick. I don't know how much more fight I can take. "I heard a lot about you when I got here; how strong you were and how you went to find your friend and ended up in the hospital after fighting off the kidnappers. You're reputation precedes you Sam, but it doesn't do you justice. And_"

"Shut up" I say. He just smiles and continues.

"And I must say, you don't disappoint." He says, his hand moves down, off my face, and traces my collarbone, "Not at all." I shiver under his touch, chills going down my spine; the kinds of chills that make you want to run away and make you feel sick. My heart isn't settling down, this is not good. So not good, why is this happening to me?

"Get the hell away from me" I snarl roughly even though there's weakness dripping through my voice.

"No" He whispers. He leans towards me and kisses my neck and his hand tangles in my hair. I gasp from the shock of the kiss. Okay, did not see that coming. He brings his lips to my ear and I hear him take deep breaths. Yeah, this is where I officially start to panic. I furiously pound on his chest, trying to get me him off of me.

"Get off of me!" I shout. I keep shoving him, but it's pointless, I can't move him.

"Someone's feisty" He jokes. His thumb brushes over my lips. Please don't kiss me, oh crap, please don't. I think I imagine the sound at first, but then I realize my phone is ringing. Before Aaron can stop me, I grab my phone from my pocket and flip it open. I am about to talk when Aaron covers my mouth with his hand.

"Don't speak" He harshly whispers in my ear.

"Sam?" I hear Carly say from the phone, "Sam are you there?"

"If I don't say anything, she'll know something is wrong" I say to him.

"Fine, but lie to her or there will be trouble" He whispers. He grabs my hand and places the phone by my ear.

"Carly" I say into the phone, trying to calm my voice.

"Sam, where did go? Freddie told me what happened and the file with that Grace girl. Look we will get Aaron. Spencer said he will come pick us, we are ditching today. Where are you?" Carly says quickly, I don't even think she took a breath.

"I needed some air, I freaked out but I'll meet you guys at the locker" I say.

"Okay, but Sam_" Carly starts but Aaron shuts my phone. I stare at him, he looks so on edge.

"I have to go, you know I have too." I say. I'm in control now. He smiles and let's go of me; taking a step back. I take a calming breath.

"I don't want you to hate me, Sam." He says. Are you kidding?

"You're crazy" I say, "I know everything. I know about Grace."

"No. no. no." He rambles, "You are not Grace. She wasn't right, but you, you are so perfect."

"You're sick" I snap at him, "and I hate you. Stay away from me" I turn and run as fast as I can back into the school; I don't stop until I'm through the front doors and realize he is not following me. I lean against the wall and slide door to floor trying to slow down my heart and calm down.

"Sam?" I hear someone say. I look up and see Ms. Harris coming towards me looking worried. "Honey, are you alright? You are breathing really heavy." She kneels down to me and puts a hand on my shoulder. I shake my head, I can't do this. I don't care if I don't have proof on Aaron, I know the truth and I have to get real help, so in one quick ranting story I tell Ms. Harris everything. When I'm finished I'm almost in tears just from thinking about it all again. Ms. Harris looks frightened and very concerned.

"Alright, you are going home with Carly and Freddie now?" She asks.

"Yeah, Carly said Spencer is coming to get us." I say.

"Okay, Sam you go by Carly and Freddie and go home. I am going to go talk to Principal Franklin right now." She says and stands up. I slowly stand up too.

"I don't know what to do" I say.

"Just go home, I'll call you as soon as I talk to Principal Franklin and we will see what to do. We will most likely call the police and at least get a restraining order and go from there."

"Okay" I say and leave to meet Carly and Freddie. It will be okay. Everything will work out. I keep telling myself this over and over.

"Sam" I hear Freddie say. I see him and Carly waiting for me. My face must say everything because they both ask what happened and if I am alright.

"Not here" I answer.

XXXXXXX

We are all sitting on the couch. Carly is looking at me worriedly and Freddie looks down right pissed. I just told them everything that happened with Aaron when I ran out of the school.

"Oh my God, Sam" Carly says, "I didn't even know he was there when I called you."

"It's okay." I say.

"That crazy… you know what" Carly says. I kind of smile when she says this, it's so Carly. She is too cute. I glance at Freddie who looks like he is going to explode any second.

"Freddie?" I say.

"I have to go." He angrily says and walks out Carly's door so fast I don't even have time to say anything before it slams, but once I see that he is leaving, I get up from the couch and follow behind him.

XXXXXXX

"Hey!" I shout to Freddie when I finally catch up to him in the lobby. "Where are you going?"

"Nowhere" He says.

"You're lying. You are obviously planning on going somewhere if you came all the way down to the lobby" I say.

"I just need to go for a walk and relax." He says and walks out of the building. Oh no, he is not getting rid of me that easy. I follow right behind him.

"Go away Sam" He says. I walk up alongside him.

"No, not until you tell me why you are so wired up and what you are doing out here." I say.

"I just want to go for a walk."

"Good. I like walks too, don't mind if I join." I say. We walk for a few minutes in silence, now passing through the park.

"I was going to go find him" Freddie says.

"What?" I ask.

"Aaron. That's where I wanted to go after you told us what happened; I wanted to find him and I am pretty sure I would have punched him, more than once." He says.

"Turning to physical violence now Benson?" I joke.

"This isn't funny" He snaps at me.

"Okay, sit down." I say, stopping next to a park bench.

"Sam_"

"Freddie please just sit" I say. He reluctantly sits and I join him. Once again we sit in silence for a while. Freddie needs to calm down…. "The stars look beautiful tonight" I say looking up at the sky.

"Yeah, I guess they do." Freddie says glancing at the sky.

"Freddie?" I ask.

"Hmmm?" He responds. I don't even know if I should begin this conversation, but there is just something I need to know.

"Why are you doing this for me?" I ask softly.

"Doing what?"

"Everything. Helping me with Aaron and thinking of ridiculous plans to try and get proof on him. Just everything." I say.

"Because… I … I care about you. You are my good friend" I say, but for some reason he sounds unsure with what he just said. I don't think about it before hand but I end up moving closer to him and looking straight at him.

"Is that it?" I whisper. I have this weird feeling again, the one I started getting sometimes when I'm around Freddie. My stomach feels inside out. Does he feel it too?

"Well I…. there's… it's…" He mumbles trying to think of how to say something. We are so close, only a few inches apart. Then, I feel his hand against my cheek. Now, my heart flutters. He pushes hair behind my ear. I look into his eyes and he is leaning forward. Wait, is he really going to_ then I feel his lips on mine. Warmth spreads through my body. The kiss is gentle and sweet, just perfect. He breaks the kiss and looks at me; he is totally blushing. My heart won't settle, but this time, I don't want it to. I give him a soft smile, he returns it. What to say now? Did he feel what I did when we kissed? This is just awkward post kiss silence now.

"Soooo, we should head back. It's getting cold and dark." Freddie says with a dumfounded look on his face, as he tries to think of something to say. I can't help to laugh a little because it is 1:30 in the afternoon and 74 degrees outside.

"Yeah, you're right. I should have brought a jacket in this weather, bad Sam." I joke and stand up from the bench.

"Yeah" Freddie laughs and gets up from the bench, "Come on" He says and holds his hand out. Now, I'm the one blushing as I take his hand in mine. My fingers fit perfectly in his. I can't believe this is really happening, I mean me and Freddie holding hands and becoming well…. Whatever we are to each other now… more than friends? Dating? Well, I can figure that out another time because right now this moment is perfect and in this moment all the craziness with Aaron just slips away and I honestly see now that it is going to be okay.