Unknown Star Chapter 27: Swing Life Away, a phantom stallion fanfic

Gabe's hand felt really warm in Sam's grasp and she really hoped her hand wasn't sweating...that would be really embarrassing. Her boots crunched in the gravel and the cool breeze, along with other things, sent chills down Sam's back. She was sure if she looked back now the curtain in the kitchen would be parted with Violette and Jen fighting to peek through. She smiled, what dorks.

"Are you ok? I was worried when Violette called me. I thought something was wrong?" He sounded more curious than prying. Sam liked that.

Wait, no, she couldn't like that. Not aloud. She couldn't like Gabe. That last thought made goose bumps rise on her arms. Crap.

"Um, yeah. Actually, I'm ok now...thanks for coming over." Sam was sincere, she was really happy to see him. He hadn't been around the past couple of days.

He squeezed her hand, giving her reassurance. "Anytime Sam."

A few steps back she had been wondering whether or not Jake saw them. Together. Holding hands. She wondered if he was jealous, she even wondered if he would come say something to her. But right now, walking with Gabe, she forgot all that. As much as it scared her, she just enjoyed being in Gabe's company.

Sam stopped near the bank of the river. Her river, her quiet thinking place...her place for time alone with mom. She sat down on the cold ground and pulled Gabe down beside her. She let go of his hand and peeled off her boots, sticking her toes in the water. She shivered as her toes hit the cold water and she really wished that Violette hadn't taken her sweat shirt.

"Here," Gabe peeled off his jacket and wrapped it around Sam's shoulders for her.

She smiled and snuggled into it. It smelled good and it was warm from being on his body. She blushed. "Thanks."

He smiled at her. "Again, anytime."

Yeah, she was afraid that was the problem.

"Violette told me when she found you that you were sitting here, playing a guitar and singing." He said after a moment of silence.

Of course Violette would tell him this. "Uh, yeah. I like to come out here sometimes, you know...just to get away," she pulled her toes out of the water and couldn't feel them anymore. She drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around them.

"It's pretty cool you can do that...you know get away," he added when she looked at him kind of funny. He looked at the stars again. "I think I'd like to hear you play sometime...if that's ok."

He seemed so self conscious just then. Never assuming, just hoping. Sam studied him while he wasn't looking. His shaggy blonde hair skimmed his eyelashes which shone in the moonlight. He had sharp cheekbones and a strong chin, everything was perfectly proportioned, Sam found it unfair. He was extremely handsome. As if he felt her gaze he looked at her, their eyes meet and he quirked an eyebrow...adorable.

Instead of looking away and blushing like Sam normally would have she smiled at him instead. "Really?"

He seemed confused by her question. "Of course."

Sam stood up and Gabe tried to follow but she pushed him back on his bum. "Wait here. I'll be back."

She ran for the house in her bare feet, the gravel making her limp a little. She wasn't sure what she was doing or why. Just impulse she guessed. She heard the door hit someone and a few curses told her it was Violette but she didn't stop. She ran to her room opened her closet and pulled out her Taylor acoustic guitar. She was back outside before Violette could even open her mouth.

She set the case down holding her beloved guitar and sat next to it. She popped the locks open and looked up at a silent Gabe.

He smiled and so did Sam. She shrugged. "It was the least I could do," she didn't say what for but she was pretty sure he knew what she meant. "Any requests?"

"Does it matter if it's originally by a guy?"

She almost laughed. "No."

"Ok awesome. Do you know Swing Life Away by Rise Against?" He sounded a little doubtful and shy.

"I love it. Good choice," she pulled her guitar out and scooted onto her rock, the one she always sat on to play. She put the strap around her neck and gave it a testing strum and tuned it a half a step down so it would sound right for the song. Feeling a little shy now she took a deep breath, repositioned her guitar, and cleared her throat. "Ok here goes...no laughing."

"I wouldn-"

"Shush," she smiled to show she was joking and began playing. As she got past the first couple of notes the nervous jittering of her stomach stopped. She sang.

Am I loud and clear or am I breaking up?
Am I still your charm or am I just bad luck?
Are we getting closer, or are we just getting more lost?

I'll show you mine if you show me yours first,
Let's compare scars I'll tell you whose is worse.
Let's unwrite these pages and replace them with our own words.

By now, she forgot all about Gabe and let herself get lost in the song.

We live on front porches and swing life away,
We get by just fine here on minimum wage.
If love is a labor I'll slave 'til the end,
I won't cross these streets until you hold my hand.

I've been here so long; think that its time to move.
The winter's so cold summer's over too soon.
so let's pack our bags and settle down where palm trees grow.

I've got some friends, some that I hardly know.
But we've had some times I wouldn't trade for the world.
We chase these days down with talks of the places that we will go.

We live on front porches and swing life away,
We get by just fine here on minimum wage.
If love is a labor I'll slave 'til the end,
I won't cross these streets until you hold my hand.
Until you hold my hand.

She felt her body rocking along with the music as she played the little guitar solo, a smile on her lips.

I'll show you mine if you show me yours first,
Let's compare scars I'll tell you whose is worse.
Let's unwrite these pages and replace them with our own words.

Swing life away,
Swing life away,
Swing life away,
Swing life away.

She finished and was shaking a little. The coat had slipped off her shoulders while she was playing making her realize how into the song she really must have been. She blushed, slightly embarrassed.

"Wow," Gabe blew out a breath and shook his head. "That was...really good Sam." Sam could tell he really meant it. Which made her blush more.

She shrugged. "I try," she gave a nervous laugh and looked anywhere but his smiling face.

He got up and came over to her. He sat so their shoulders brushed. Picking up his coat he put it over Sam's shoulders as she gave another shiver, this time she wasn't so sure it was from the cold.

He leaned in close and Sam thought for a terrifying moment he was going to kiss her but he didn't. "Play another?"

A little relieved--and she admitted disappointed--she nodded and tried to ignore the way his warm breath caressed her skin when he asked.

Happy for a distraction she began to play.