Manny stood by the door watching Sam pace around the instrument, as if she had seen it but for the first time.
Sam let her fingers grace the black veneer of the elegant beast that sat in the corner of the room. Her eyes almost watered at the sight. There it was. A piano. A beautiful, black, grand piano. To play on one of these was a dream. One that would come true if she could garner up the courage to sit on the inviting bench.
Manny heard as the bell rang. He checked his watch, then helplessly at Sam, but he could see that she was having a moment so he reluctantly closed the door behind him. He looked around and realized they were in the choir room.
She took a seat, and it felt- It felt perfect. Time stopped. She gently placed her fingers in the familiar position, and closed her eyes.
"Okay Samantha. Deep breath. Sit up. Now, feel the keys. Find your emotion, the courage, fear, hate, and happiness. Now play."
A slow, and sad song emanated from the pair, the instrument and her. She had a command of the piano that made Manny's jaw drop. Her whole body moved with the music. This was the first classical song she had learned. Canon in D. Thrice and her worked hard to get it perfect, and boy, was it perfect.
The beautiful sound flooded the room. It was the sound of icicles and little sleighbells impacting into one masterful combination. Manny drew his way closer, and stood by the piano watching Sam intently. She had lost herself in the music just as Ms. Thrice taught her. Her slender fingers danced on the keys and moved like melting butter. Anyone observing the scene could see the connection Sam had with the piano. And just like that Sam brought the looming instrument to life.
The final keys played and Sam slowly lifted her fingers once more. She waited for the echo to stop then opened her eyes. A lone tear fell down her cheek.
Manny still had not yet fully recovered from the surprise, "Sam that was...so, good." He whispered, anything above that seemed inappropriate.
Sam smiled, "I've been playing since I was six." Since I first got to Clydesville.
He went over and took the liberty to sit next to her. She scooted over a bit. "Who taught you?" He asked with his hands in his lap.
"I've been getting lessons from the same teacher since the beginning." My social worker taught me.
"Here in Tree Hill? When do you go? That's a great teacher you have, and you're a great pianist." He complimented her sincerely. Maybe he wasn't as crazy as Sam had anticipated.
"Umm a bit further from here. I go on Tuesdays after school. She teaches lots of girls." In South Side, she teaches music to the Clydesville foster kids.
Manny smiled at her, "Well you're probably one of her best students."
She blushed a bit, "Something like that." I'm the only one that really cared to learn piano.
He cleared his throat, "Well I have great news for you."
"What?" She said turning to him.
He leaned in and whispered, "I sing really well. I was in the glee club at my old school, but Tree Hill doesn't have one."
She smirked at him. He was getting really excited again.
"We should join forces. How 'bout I sing and you play?"
She liked that idea a lot. If she could just stay in this empty room and never go to class, she might actually like Tree Hill. Oh, shit. Class. Sam froze for a second, but shrugged, oh well. The grand piano was too good to pass up.
"What song?" She finally asked him.
"Well I've gotten back into the Twilight movies." She stopped Sam from laughing, "Hush, say no words to anyone about it." He looked at her dead serious.
Sam scoffed at him, "Such a romantic." She joked.
He got up and stood expertly by the piano, "Always will be." He admitted, "Now, A Thousand Years, please." He requested.
The two kids were enjoying themselves now.
"Of course my liege." She responded.
He cast a glare at her, "Wait, can you sing?" He narrowed her eyes, if she could then Sam was perfect.
She gave him a sly look, "I can carry a tune, but mostly because I like to sing when I play. But I'm not amazing or anything."
He gave the piano a quick slap, "Great, then let's duet. You enter in the chorus. You know the song, right?" He had forgotten to ask her that pretty pivotal question.
Uh, duh. She knew the song. Who didn't? She didn't bother answering she just started playing. The first few notes swelled into the room every so gently, but powerfully at the same time.
Manny waited for his cue to start, and so it began.
Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone,
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow.
His voice grew higher and it gave Sam chills as she fell deeper into the notes.
One step closer
Sam closed her eyes once more and joined Manny.
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more...
Their impromptu session ended when they heard a throat clear behind them. Sam lost concentration and hit the wrong note. They both turned towards the sound. There stood a whole class of students, and next to those students stood an annoyed teacher. Damn it.
"What're you two doing in my classroom?" The man asked.
Sam looked to Manny, where was his talkative mouth when they needed it?
"We're sorry. We'll go now." Sam said getting up and picking up her bag. Manny followed her lead.
"Make your way into class, kids." The teacher told his students. They did as they were told, but just before Sam made it out, he grabbed a hold of her arm, "Whoah there. You're going nowhere except up to my office."
We weren't trying to do anything. We just-"
He stopped her before she said anything else, "You can tell me in my office. Now go." The office was right inside the large room. The window could see out, but the classroom couldn't see in. He looked at the two students, "I'll come in a few. I'd advise you to think hard about what you're going to say."
Sam just sunk into the chair and crossed her arms. Manny's eyes still didn't seem to go back to normal.
"We'll be fine Manny." Sam assured him, "Just be cool."
The teacher came in around ten minutes later. He crossed over to his desk and sat in front of them. It was a bit intimidating. "Hi I'm Mr. Parker." He said with a smile.
Both kids were confused.
"Hi?" Sam answered.
He looked at the girl in front of him. She was unassuming, never would he have expected her to play the piano. "You play well young lady. Names please."
She gave him an uncertain nod, "Um thanks, and it's Sam and he's Manny."
He then looked at Manny, "And you sing well. It was a beautiful performance really, the both of you." He gave them three short claps.
"Sir, are we in trouble?" Manny finally spoke.
He gave them a small chuckle, "Depends."
"Depends?" Sam asked intrigued.
"Come to my choir practice on Wednesday. You both have nice voices, and we need a pianist to accompany our songs, preferably one that sings."
Manny was elated, but Sam deflated him, "And if we say no?"
"Umm I say yes." Manny said.
Sam glared at Manny. So much for solidarity.
Mr. Parker folded his hands and laid them on the table, "If you say no Sam, you'll have detention and a phone call home."
Sam tensed.
Manny's talkativeness finally kicked in, "Mr. Parker, see we're new here. And well Sam saw the piano here and freaked. We didn't intentionally miss class, we just kind of got lost in the moment is all. No harm intended, I assure you."
He eyed them both, "Hmm. Well Ms. Sam do you do that everytime you get excited? Just decide to forget about the rest of your responsibilities?"
Sam wanted to roll her eyes but willed herself not to, "My old school gave away all the arts funding for remedial programs. We didn't have a piano, or a band, or anything at that. It's called being poor." She blurted with some attitude that was not lost on Mr. Parker, "So just back off."
"Watch it young lady. I can drop this deal just as easily." He warned, "Now tell me Ms. Sam, what is your decision?"
Sam didn't want to go to a choir practice, that sounded stupid, but she also didn't want her parents to find out about this either. "Fine, I'll go to your dumb practice."
He smiled, "Wonderful. Now I'll write you two passes. Congratulations you're talent got you out of trouble. Now you better hope to God this doesn't happen again."
They both nodded. "It won't. Right Sam?"
She sighed, "Yeah."
Mr. Parker stood up from his desk and handed them the notes, "Get to class. If I don't see you Wednesday, then it's off with your heads!" He sing-songed.
What the hell did Sam just agree too? She hoped this would end with the detention and that'd be it, but she had a feeling that Mr. Parker had other plans.
…. …. ….
Lucas had instructed Sam to wait for him in his office after school. Brooke was waiting in his office for the both of them. They wanted to take Sam out to an early dinner. Lucas came in, but to his surprise, well, not exactly surprise, he knew it wouldn't be easy to get Sam to listen to that simple instruction with her still bitter about Tree Hill, she was not there.
"Where's Sam, Luke?" Brooke asked. She was sitting on his chair.
"Not here apparently. Let's go check if she's with Hales."
Brooke was once again walking the halls of her old kingdom. She wondered if the trophy case still held her and Lucas's pictures. They had joked before that it was their shrine. She heard some girls whisper about her. They had definitely recognized the woman. Brooke tried not to turn and talk to them. She would've loved to, but she wasn't there as Brooke Davis, the mogul. She was there as Sam's mom.
"Hey Hales, you haven't seen Sam around have you?" Lucas asked as they both came in.
Haley was with a student from first period. Actually, it was Ashley. "Samantha Walker?" Her interest was peaked and looked up. Ashley's heart stopped, was that?...It couldn't be. Brooke Davis? No. No….Yes. YES. YES!
Haley looked to her friends and shook her head with wide eyes.
They both noticed the stunned girl slowly coming back to her senses.
"Oh my GOD you're Brooke DAVIS! Holy Shit! What're, what're you doing here?" She got closer but didn't know how close was too close.
Brooke smiled at her, "Hi sweetheart." She said kindly, momentarily going into Brooke Davis mode just for the excited girl in front of her.
"Can I, can I hug you?"
Brooke laughed, "Of course."
She didn't hesitate and hugged Brooke. She literally had tears of joy in her eyes. "I look up to you so much Ms. Davis. You're absolutely amazing!" She wiped at her eyes, "My name's Ashley by the way. And I'm head cheerleader just like you! I, I love you so much."
Brooke nodded, "Thank you Ashley." Brooke took a good look at the girl in front of her and rubbed her arm, then back at Haley, "I'm glad I got to meet you sweetheart, but I think Mrs. Scott here needs to finish up with you."
Ashley nodded. She didn't care what happened around her, thee Brooke Davis was talking to her!
Brooke let her arm fall, "Hales?" Brooke said trying to get Haley to divert Ashley's attention.
Haley didn't miss a beat, " Ash, hon, we need to focus on your homework. Your mother made it clear to me that you were having trouble understanding the reading. So let's work on this together."
Ashley thoroughly blushed. She was not stupid. It was just hard!
Success. Haley had deflected the situation.
Brooke and Lucas were about to walk out but Ashley stopped them, "Wait! What're you doing here?"
She then remembered Coach Scott asking for Sam. Her eyebrows furrowed as she took one good look at the two adults standing in front of her. Then it clicked. Her eyes widened in shock. They were Samantha Walker's parents?!
Sam had Coach Scott's eyes and Brooke Davis's facial features, although the height was what threw her off a bit.
"Wait," She said deep in her head, "You and Coach Scott, you guys are...new girl's parents?! You guys are a couple? That was not in the gossip magazines."
"We're not a couple." Lucas said, missing Brooke's frown after his comment.
Brooke wasn't sure if this is how Sam wanted her peers to find out.
Haley tried to salvage the situation, "Ashley!" She chided lightly, "I'm sure Ms. Davis and Coach Scott are busy people. You and I have a date with your writing assignment." She gently grabbed the girls arm and led her back to her desk, "Let's go young lady."
But even though she listened, Ashley was just starting to scheme up ways of getting to Brooke.
They swiftly walked out while Ashley looked longingly at the door where her role model walked out of. "It was nice meeting you!" They heard her yell.
Lucas and Brooke looked at one another once they were back in his office. Sam still hadn't come in.
"Maybe it was a bad idea to have you here." he said looking into the love of his life's eyes.
Brooke sighed, "I suppose so."
But she was sure she'd have to come to Tree Hill for many functions, possible meetings and conferences. It was inevitable, and Sam and Lucas would have to deal with it sooner or later.
"I'm calling Sam." She said whipping out her phone. Lucas nodded, he also wanted to know where his little kiddo had gone off to.
"Hello?" came Sam's nonchalant voice.
Brooke could hear chatter all around her.
"Are you on the bus?" She asked her.
"Yeah, I wanted to go to Southside. Sorry I forgot to tell you guys." She still didn't seem too worried.
Brooke took a deep breath. Their daughter was something else.
"Sam, how many times have we told you that you can't just disappear without telling Lucas or me where you're going to be?"
There was a silence. Sam didn't want to answer that dumb question!
"Sam." She warned.
"Alotta times." She mumbled.
"Hmmm, yet you still can't seem to follow our simple request. If you want to continue going to Southside, I suggest you fix that tendency of yours to run off without a care in the world."
Sam sighed. Damn it.
She just wanted to be left alone. Well, left alone from her parents. The day had been long. After the piano incident, Sam had felt terribly lonely in the rest of her classes. Then to top it all off as Manny and her walked to lunch she found a freakin' shrine to Brooke and Lucas, and apparently Nathan as well. Seriously, what the hell, man?
"Do you have anything to say?" Brooke asked now tired of the silence her daughter had opted for.
"I'm sorry?" Hopefully that would work. She was not about to go back to Tree Hill. She needed to go to Clydesville.
"Come back home." Brooke directed, "Lucas and I wanted to take you out to an early dinner."
Sam wiggled in her seat on the bus, "But I already made plans." She tried to sound neutral. That was probably her best shot.
Brooke pinched the bridge of her nose. She planned her whole work schedule around this!
"Sam are you planning on going to Southside everyday?" This could not become a regular thing.
"Maybe." Sam sassed.
Lucas sighed knowing the conversation wasn't going well. She handed the phone to him, "Talk to her." She said not wanting to yell at Sam, "Before I lose it."
Sam rolled her eyes hearing Brooke talk to Lucas on the other line.
"Sam?" She heard Lucas this time. He had put her on speaker so Brooke could hear as well.
"Lucas."
"You need to get on the bus back." He also wanted to sound calm.
Sam's stop came and she got off, now walking towards Clydesville, "No. I'll see you at home." She tried sounding adult-like, "Tell Brooke I said sorry. I know she missed work for this, but I, I have plans. And this is important for me too. I promise it is." She didn't want to tell them what she was doing, but she also wanted to alleviate the blow as much as possible because she was probably in trouble, or in for some sort of talking to.
Lucas was stunned, "Little girl." He seethed. Who did she think she was? She did not dictate them. "You're not the one in charge here."
"I know that!" Her adult facade was breaking, "But, but I just I want to be here, not back there."
Brooke instantly heard Sam's emotion. She sighed inwardly and took the phone from Lucas, "Sammy, do what you need to do with Jack and Tamara."
Wrong. That's not why Sam was going to Southside.
"But I want you back home at 7:30."
"But my curfew is nine!" She whined.
"7:30. We're not budging young lady."
Sam pouted, "Fine then, whatever. Bye Lucas, Bye Brooke." She knew she was on speakerphone. God, parents sometimes really sucked.
She walked a few more minutes and stood in front of the Clydesville steps. Jack and Tamara didn't know she was there. She wasn't there to see them. She needed to talk to her teacher, and longtime confidant: Ms. Thrice.
….. ….. …. ….
Ms. Thrice looked up from the sheet music she had, surprised to see Sam. "Sammy? Instruments isn't until tomorrow. What're you doing here?"
She wasn't unhappy to see her, she was just surprised. Since Sam had moved in with Brooke and Lucas she had only gone to the class on Tuesdays. She used to hang out during Thrice's choir lessons on Mondays as well, but not since the move.
Sam shrugged and sat on one of the familiar chairs. "I just felt like being here today."
Thrice knew there was something going on with her star student. Well Sam wasn't really a student anymore. Sam would just play and play. She had learned the basics long ago, and now it was just about practice with occasional direction from Ms. Thrice. The girl was musically inclined.
"You want to talk about it?" Thrice asked, well aware that something had happened.
Sam walked over to the couch and laid down, "There's a piano at Tree Hill." She said simply.
Thrice looked towards the girl once more.
"Wonderful! Maybe you can play there. Wouldn't that be great?"
Sam had told Ms. Thrice that under no conditions was she allowed to tell her parents about her and piano. Which was harder said than done. It took everything for Ms. Thrice not to tell them and she was meeting with them to hand over Sam's case report on Friday. But she would never break her promise with Sam.
Sam put an arm over her eyes as she relaxed, "I got caught playing when I wasn't supposed to and the dumb choir teacher is making me go to his choir practice on Wednesday. He says he wants me to play for the choir."
Thrice raised her eyebrow, "Did you ditch class Samantha?"
Crap. Caught again.
"I didn't mean to. I just got excited when I saw the piano." And that was the God honest truth, well, sort of.
Ms. Thrice rolled her eyes. Some of the Clydesville girls would come down soon, but she wanted to talk to Sam, "Honey, why don't you want to tell your parents about you playing? It's a wonderful talent you have."
Sam sat up. She really didn't know how to explain it. "I, I don't know. It's just, it's something I learned here. It's something that connects me to Clydesville, to you, Jack and Tamara. When I play it's like I'm back here and nothing's changed, and, and I kinda like that." Of course she loved Brooke and Lucas, that was definitely not a point of debate. But she was scared, scared of forgetting, scared of losing what she had known all her life.
"It was a mistake playing that stupid piano in school. It was just so pretty, you know? It was a grand piano, and you know it's my dream to play on those. But, but I won't do it again. I'm only playing here."
"Oh Sammy." Ms. Thrice got up and sat next to her, "Playing the piano elsewhere is not going to change anything." She put an arm around the girl, "Sweetheart what connects you to all your friends here and Southside itself is the emotion that you put while you play. I know you're scared of losing the Southside in you, but that won't happen." She shook her a little, "We really dug ourselves deep in there." She said pointing softly at Sam's chest.
Sam laid her head on Ms. Thrice's shoulder. She was probably right, but these types of things took time.
"They'll probably make a big deal out of it. I don't want them to."
Ms. Thrice looked down at the girl on her shoulder. Her dark brown locks smelling distinctly like watermelon as they always had, "So tell them." She said softly, "You can't expect them to know how you're feeling, or what you want, if you don't talk to them."
Sam lifted her head up and looked at Ms. Thrice, "I guess you're right."
Thrice smiled at her, "I'm always right."
Sam knew she was. I guess it was just a matter of telling them her feelings, fears, and thoughts, but she wasn't ready. Not yet. She needed to do something first.
"Thrice, I'll tell them, but only after the showcase."
She was talking about the Clydesville annual showcase at the community arts theatre. The south side community as beat up as it was, supported the showcase. It became a tradition on that side of town.
"It's in a month. Are you going to invite them, kinda like a surprise?" Thrice asked.
"I don't know. I just, the showcase is special, and….personal." Sam played every year since she learned the piano. And this year Thrice tasked them to play the song that either invigorated them to learn their instrument, or a song that inspired them to keep on playing.
This was a piece that Sam felt she had to practice and play at Southside. It had so much deep ties to her days in foster care, to her longing for her parents. It was an intense feeling of nostalgia she got when she heard the song. It just felt right to tell them after she played it.
Thrice understood, "Okay Sweetie. Are you staying for choir?"
Sam nodded, "Yeah, I miss the girls."
She smiled and stood up, "They miss you too."
…. ….. … …..
Sam looked at her watch and gulped. She saw Brooke's car parked in Lucas's driveway and gulped again. Time had gotten the best of her and she ended up staying in Southside way past 7:30. after choir she had gone to Jack's house with Tamara and she told them what happened. Tamara agreed with Thrice and Jack didn't really comment because he was a bit jealous of this Manny guy. Sam's was his girl, well not yet exactly. But why else would she be laying on top of him? They were just too close for her to find some other guy. He told her that he'd be sneaking into her room tonight, and she agreed. They hadn't done it in a while anyway.
But all that didn't matter if Brooke and/or Lucas killed her tonight. It was 9:30pm, and she had only texted them at 7:00 saying she might be a little late, but then put her phone on silent after that.
Shit, and it was a school night as well. This was not going to be good at all.
The moment she opened the door she heard two chairs scrape the floor. She hadn't even gotten a chance to take her coat off when Lucas grabbed her arm and guided her towards the kitchen where Brooke's hand was already on her hip.
"Little girl, explain yourself." Lucas said letting her arm go.
Brooke had her fist clenched, "We were so worried about you Samantha! Where the hell is your phone?!"
Sam took it out and put it on the table, "RIght here. It's just, I, I had it on silent and I didn't check it. It was an accident!"
"Do you realize what time it is? We told you to be here at 7:30, not two hours later. What were you doing? I thought we already talked about this!" Lucas was not having it tonight.
Sam rolled her eyes, "God, I said it was an accident!" She crossed her arms, "I was doing nothing alright."
Brooke's eyes narrowed, "You mean to tell me, you did absolutely nothing. That's what was so important, absolutely nothing?"
Oh. Sam had not thought about that. She did make it a point to tell them on the phone that she was doing something important. But, but she still didn't like this at all! And unfortunately, her teenage mind clouded her reason,
"Well, I'm fine, so why does it matter?!"
"You are not to go to Southside for the rest of the week." Lucas ordered.
Sam's eyes widened. Tomorrow was piano! And she was going to present the song she was planning on playing at the showcase.
"Yes I am!" She yelled at them.
"No, no you are not." Brooke said calmly.
Hell no, Sam was not going to give up that easy.
"Yes I am! I don't care what you say!"
"No. You're not." Lucas spoke more firmly, "I'll be driving you to and from school. That's it. I'm sorry Sam, but you lost that privilege."
Sam seethed with anger. Brooke was going to try and calm her, but Sam pushed her arm away, "I'm going and that's it! Just, just fuck off and let me do what I want!" Angry tears pricked at her eyes.
They stood there stunned. Did she really just do that? Brooke grabbed her before Lucas even had the chance.
"That's it young lady." She roughly pushed Sam up the stairs, even as she struggled against her.
"Leave me alone!" Sam yelled, only to feel Brooke tighten her grip.
Once in her room Brooke let her go and closed the door. Sam stood there with her fists gripped, "This is so stupid! I need to go to Southside!"
"Sam, stop yelling at me, right now." Brooke scolded, taking a step towards her daughter. Sam continued on with her tantrum, "No! No! NO!" She stamped her foot.
Brooke grabbed her daughter's right arm and pulled her close, "Samantha, you are too old to be acting this way! Now stop it!" Brooke said, swatting Sam hard four times.
"Brooke, ow! Stop!" She cried when she felt the second swat.
Brooke turned her daughter to face her, noting her watery eyes.
Sam was rubbing her behind, too upset to respond. Her mom just swatted her like some little kid!
"You need to calm down now." Brooke said sternly as Sam hiccupped, "We will go back down and talk about this, then you're going straight to bed."
Sam rubbed her eye with a balled up fist, "I, I don't want to talk to you!" She said childishly. "You, you hit me!"
If the situation wasn't so serious Brooke would've smiled at Sam acting so childlike.
"I did. You earned that." Brooke noted seriously.
"No I didn't! You're just mean!" New tears sprang to her eyes. Those swats really hurt her feelings. More than Lucas's single swat did.
Brooke wasn't letting up though, "Samantha-"
"No!" Sam cried, "You're mean! I hate you!" She spit at her mother.
Brooke didn't bother hiding the hurt and anger this time around. Sam knew what she had said, and she did it on purpose to spite her. Brooke wouldn't give her the satisfaction. She gave Sam a small nod as if they had come to an understanding, "Goodnight Sam. I love you."
She turned around and walked out, "And don't you dare leave this room." She warned without turning back and closed the door behind her.
Sam dropped her crossed arms, worry filling her gaze, "Brooke!" She heard Sam sob with sudden remorse, but she didn't turn. Her little girl needed to learn her lesson. Words hurt and they have consequences.
Lucas had heard everything from downstairs. He was gunning his way up when Brooke stopped him, "Let her." She said grabbing his arm.
"What?!" Hell would freeze over before he let Sam get away with that. He had a good mind to give her a real spanking, despite knowing that Brooke had already swatted her.
"She wants to act grown. Then let her be grown and sit in her room."
"Brooke that's-"
"Her deal's with me. I'll teach her this lesson how I want to."
He could see the determination in her eyes, and would not get in the way of that. "Alright, alright, fine."
They both heard Sam's renewed sobs, "Brooke!" She cried, "Brooke, come back!"
Lucas saw Brooke cringe. They both knew she really wanted to go back up there. Instead she cleared her throat,
"It's late she'll probably go to sleep soon."
But Sam wasn't going to sleep. She had stripped herself of her clothes and pulled on Brooke's shirt, letting the hem hang at her knees and the sleeves pool at her elbows. She was hot because of all the emotions. Why wasn't Brooke coming back up? She wanted her to come back up, damn it! She always did. Last time she yelled at her mother, Brooke came back into her room and allowed Sam to apologize then wrapped her up and gave her a kiss. She wanted that now. Lucas was even missing in action.
But both parents were in Lucas's room folding laundry, some of Sam's and some of his. He thought it'd be a good way for Brooke to calm down a bit, and for him to just be there for her.
"I thought temper tantrums ended when kids were toddlers." Brooke said as she pulled one of Sam's shirts to her chest and folded it over in half.
Lucas chuckled, "Oh definitely not. You should see some of my students. But Sam's just different. I don't think she's ever had the chance to really blow off steam the right way. You know when I was lecturing her about that Mike guy she was so terrified of me because of what she thought I might do to her."
Brooke hugged Sam's shirt at Lucas's comment, "Really?"
He frowned, "Yes, really. I assured her that you and me would never hurt her purposely. She has so much built up inside that she was never allowed to let go before. This time it's different, she's learning that we're not going to hurt her, and so she's finally letting her emotions out but it gets the best of her, just like today. She doesn't know how to handle them yet because she's never had to deal with them, besides bottling it up. But you did the right thing. Our job is to reign her back in too."
Brooke handed Lucas a pair of his socks, "And cuddle with her after, which is what I wish I could be doing right now." She admitted.
Lucas sat down on the bed and smiled, "You're such a softy."
Brooke gave him a look of feign surprise, "I am not!"
"You totally are!"
She pushed him, but he grabbed her arm and they both fell backwards onto the bed. He sighed tired now. She laid beside him feeling at ease with his presence. It just felt right.
"I missed you so much when you were gone in New York." He whispered.
Brooke turned to look at him. She hadn't expected that. He was with Peyton at the time.
"I know I was with Peyton, but the depths of my mind never stopped thinking about you."
Brooke said nothing, but lost herself in the ocean of his eyes.
Lucas moved over.
"What're you doing?" She asked, watching his movements.
He slowly got on top of her, his hands on either side of her, "You don't know how much you mean to me." He said softly, "You're my daughter's mother. You never leave my mind. I can't get you out, no matter how hard I try."
"Lucas." She whispered. His heart was beating fast, "Tell me to stop. Tell me no." He would do as she said, but he knew she wanted this, just as much as he did.
She bit her lip, "I missed you too." She finally said.
He reached down, slid his hand under her shirt and rubbed her stomach. Brooke sighed at the tingle that his touch sent through her body. It was a wave of familiar and glorious feelings that she knew she wanted more of.
Her eyes never left his as she wrapped her arms around his neck, and one leg behind his back then the other. He sat up with her on top of him as she ran her fingers over his head and neck. She pulled him closer and his lips started to dominate her mouth. She softly bit at his lip as their kissing became more ardent.
"You're amazing." He groaned.
"Shut up." She said, pulling him back in.
Passion was the only word that could describe the electric feeling that surrounded them.
He fumbled for the button on her jeans then started unbuttoning it as she did the same for his. In a flurry of actions they found themselves pantless and soon it all came off. And the rest, the rest was history.
. …. …. …..
It was already 1:30 in the morning and Sam felt horrible that no one came up. Did they hate her? Of course not, Brooke had told her she loved her right before she left. But, but she wanted her mom!
She pulled out a thick notebook from under her bed and began to write. It would calm her, she knew it.
And just as always, she addressed it to her parents.
Mom and Dad,
You guys were so mad today. And I know I sounded dumb when I was explaining it to you, but I wasn't doing "nothing" at Southside, I was talking to Ms. Thrice, and I played some piano with the Clydesville girls. It was really fun. That was the reason I was there. I think you guys would like that I play piano. Maybe. I know I'm not a cheerleader or an athlete. I'm sorry. But maybe when I show you guys how good I play you'll really like it! I really love playing, it makes me feel at peace.
And I know that I said really bad things but I was mad too! You have to understand that. I have to go to Southside tomorrow. I was supposed to show Thrice and the girls what song I was playing. Tomorrow's the designated day, and I've been waiting so long to show them. I've been listening to it over and over. I was really excited to finally start playing it. I mean, I guess I could've waited until next week, but still!...Sure, if you had known you probably would've let me, but whatever that doesn't matter anymore because you're both really mad at me. Besides, I still don't like Tree Hill. But I think I made a new friend. He's weird, but cool.
And mom you hit me! I know I was being mean, but why didn't you come up and make it all better? Mama, I wish you would've. I hope you don't think I really hate you because I don't! I don't, I don't! I do need you. I was stupid. Ugh, I guess I am sorry. Daddy you also didn't tuck me in today. Was I that bad? I also really don't want to face you guys tomorrow. This just really sucks.
Love,
Sam
A few moments later she heard a knock on the window and remembered that Jack was coming. She was so glad someone could provide her with comfort. She locked her door then opened the window.
Per usual, he gave her a smile and waited for her to lay back down. But when he laid down behind her and wrapped his arms around her she burst into renewed tears.
Jack tightened his slack grip, "What's wrong Sammy?" He whispered.
"I really messed up." She said through her tears, "They didn't want me to go to Southside this week, and I know it's just a week but I really wanted to be there tomorrow."
Jack already knew why, so he didn't ask.
"And I yelled at them and told them to fuck off, then I told Brooke I hated her!" She purposely left out the fact that Brooke had swatted her.
If Sam could see jack's face, she would've seen his jaw drop. Wow, Jack was intimidated by both her parents. Sam really had guts.
"What happened after that?" He asked.
"Nothing. They just sent me here. And no one came up to say goodnight or to yell at me some more or anything. It's like they just forgot me!"
"Maybe they know that you and them need space. And you're in trouble Sam, that means they're not just gonna come up here and make you feel better. You're the one that kinda messed up, not them. Maybe if you apologized, that's probably what they're waiting for."
Sam didn't say anything. He was probably right, but Sam was also a stubborn little one. He held her, and waited for her to calm down. "Hey, turn around and look at me." He whispered. She did so. Jack stared at her, "You're beautiful." He told her. Sam chuckled a bit, "Thanks?"
Jack tried to hide his disappointment. But then Sam turned a bit more serious, "Thank you for being here Jack." She scooted a bit closer and pecked his lips.
"Have you had any nightmares because of him?" He asked her.
"Not since last week. As long as I don't think about it, it doesn't bother me."
Jack wished she would just tell her parents, "You should tell them about your nightmares." He urged quietly. She snuggled into his chest, "I'd rather just tell you."
Jack smiled. Manny had nothing on him.
… …. … ….
The next morning Sam woke up earlier than usual to make sure she unlocked the door before Lucas got up. Today was definitely going to suck.
Lucas laid in bed with yesterday night still fresh in his mind. Surprisingly, Brooke did not leave angry or flustered after they had sex. They laid together after, and he was wise not to say the "L" word. She left at around 1:00 am, telling him to take care of Sammy. He gave her a strong hug as she walked out, and it was as if nothing had happened. He wondered if Brooke was going to continue to act like they didn't have the best sex ever. He wiped his face, trying to get rid of his sleepiness. It was time to get up.
When Sam finally got dressed and went down Lucas was drinking coffee and reading his paper. She padded her way towards the couch near the door and sat down waiting for when it was time for them to leave.
He gave her a glance and could see that Sam was looking very contrite. He sighed, "You're not going to eat?" He asked her.
She shook her head.
He really wanted to see her smile, and put yesterday behind them, but it wouldn't be that easy. After Brooke banished her to her room no one ever went up, and she never came out.
"We're leaving in ten minutes then." He told her.
She just nodded again.
Sam saw Lucas come into her line of sight and hand her a coat that she had been eyeing when she was out shopping with Brooke. More like Brooke shopping and Sam following her around bored out of her mind.
"Brooke wanted me to give you this." He said handing her the navy blue coat.
Sam never bought anything when she was with Brooke, but Brooke figured out that Sam never denied clothes that were already bought, because she couldn't turn them down when they were already paid for, so whenever they were out she kept a keen eye to see if Sam liked something.
Sam took it, not looking into Lucas's eyes, "Thanks."
He bent his knees and patted her thigh, waiting for her to look at him.
'Daddy, I'm sorry.' She thought.
"I'm sorry." She finally said when she looked at her dad. Last night really allowed her to think a lot, and she knew that she was in the wrong this time.
"Lucas I'm sorry. I was just mad." She repeated again when he only looked at her.
"I know you are." He could see the remorse all over her face, "But the person you should be apologizing to is your mother." He said sternly.
Sam's voice became watery again, "She's really mad at me." She looked down again, "And you didn't tuck me in yesterday." She mumbled a bit embarrassed to admit it. She met his eyes, "I know I was acting like I didn't want you guys, but I still wanted you to come up. Is that stupid of me?"
There it was again. He saw all her insecurities and sighed, "Come here kid." She put his arms around him and he picked her up and hugged her.
"You needed space." He said "and frankly, so did I. You really did a number on us yesterday. I'm sorry, but Brooke and I have emotions too buddy." He couldn't be anything but honest. He really wanted to tuck her in, but knew that Sam needed to think over what she had done.
"You still love me?" She said in a small whisper with his arms still around his neck, and her legs wrapped around his waist. He smiled, "Forever and always kiddo. But you're still not going to Southside, young lady."
She didn't fight it this time, her dad was hugging her! That's what she wanted. "I know." She said dejectedly, "Is Brooke coming today?"
"Afraid not Sam. She's working late because she took yesterday as a half day." He gently put her back down, "It has nothing to do with what you said to her. Do you understand me?" He didn't want her getting confused.
She looked at the coat that she wanted so badly, but never even told Brooke about. Her mom knew her so well, and it had only been a few months.
She frowned at Lucas feeling guilty as ever, "Okay."
But somehow she still felt that her mother didn't want to see her. What if her mom got her that coat as a goodbye present? Shit, she must've screwed up that bad. She had to fix this, and on her way to school she came up with an idea.
… …. ….
Sam stared at her mother's office building and took a deep breath. She had to apologize, and she had to do it now. The gust of cold hit her face and she took out her beanie, put it on and walked in.
"I need to go to the sixth floor." She told the doorman. He looked at her and already knew who she was, but was surprised to see her during school hours, "Sam shouldn't you be in school?" He asked her.
She shook her head adamantly, "No, I should be here. Can you let me up so I can talk to Brooke?"
He nodded saying nothing else and opened the elevator for her. She pressed the button and wrung her hands nervously. The ding prompted her to get out of the elevator and towards the office. They all turned to look at Brooke's daughter. What was she doing there?
Millie, the ever-persistent gatekeeper, furrowed her eyebrows, "Sweetie, what on earth are you doing here?" She knew for a fact she was supposed to be at school. Brooke had told her all about yesterday.
Sam didn't bother looking at her, "I need to talk to my mom." She said not thinking twice. Everyone who had heard Sam were a bit stunned, they had never heard her call Brooke "mom" once. Luckily, they were wise enough not to mention it.
Millie didn't try stopping her from entering her mother's office.
Brooke was with Nick when her door was burst open.
"I'm sorry!" Sam blurted out. It was the first thing that came to mind, and it was...less than eloquent, but it was heartfelt.
Brooke's mouth dropped a bit. Sam was in her office and not at school.
"Samantha Walker, you should be in school!" She scolded, though lightly. It was also the first thing that popped in her mind.
Sam slammed her hand onto her side, "No, Brooke! I'm sorry. Don't you get it? I need to be here, so I can tell you that I'm sorry, and that I don't hate you. I don't. Please don't send me away. I'm sorry!"
Brooke looked to Nick who understood and made his way out. Sam was still standing in the middle of the office desperate to hear her mother say something. Anything!
Brooke didn't move from her desk and Sam didn't move from her spot in the middle of the office.
"Sweetheart, I'm not sending you away. You know that nothing you do will ever make me do that. Now come here, and tell me what you're sorry about and why you had to leave school for this."
She needed Sam to talk to her, and tell her what she was thinking and feeling before she could offer her any type of comfort.
Sam went over. Brooke saw the tears beginning to stream down her daughter's face. She stood up and as Sam cried and sniffled she began the task of taking Sam's beanie off and placing it on her desk, then did the same with her coat. Sam let her. She was more than capable of doing it herself, but it was nice to feel Brooke do it so lovingly.
Brooke sat Sam down on her chair, then stood in front of her, "Go on Sam, talk to me."
Sam wiped her nose on her sleeve.
"I was just mad Brooke. I didn't mean to tell you that I hated you and stuff. I know you know I'm mad that you left me when I was a baby, but I could never hate you. I, I can't. I love you." Sam met her mother's eyes, "You didn't come back when I called you, and I know it's because I needed to apologize but I would've if you just came back!"
Brooke was glad that Sam was talking to her, "And I love you too. But Sam if I had gone up last night you would've apologized just because you felt bad, but I need you to understand why it was wrong."
Sam sighed, "I know, I know. I need to control myself better. It was just, I freaked. You had hit me!"
Brooke rose an eyebrow, "Really, Sam? I want you to tell me why I swatted your behind."
Sam averted her mother's scary eyebrow, embarrassed to hear the question, "I, I don't know."
"You don't?" Brooke said giving her another chance.
Sam crossed her arms. It was another dumb question! Ugh.
"Because I was having a tantrum." She grumbled, "I'll try harder next time, I will."
Brooke sighed and bent down much like Lucas did that morning. She pushed some of Sam's hair out of her face, "Peanut, you need to control your temper because if not you'll find yourself in trouble every week. Do you want that?"
"No m'am." She would much prefer to never be in trouble again, thank you very much, "I hate being in trouble."
Brooke knew that for a fact. She didn't know if there was any other teenager that could get themselves so easily into trouble, but then try everything in their power to fix it, like skip school for example.
"Now tell me, why did you have to come now and tell me this. Why couldn't it wait until after school?"
Sam pointed to the new coat. Brooke looked at it, "You didn't like the coat?" She asked confused.
"No, I did. I just, I thought you gave it to me like a goodbye gift because of what I said. You had said goodnight and I love you then never came back up, and then I got the coat, and it just it felt like a farewell. I needed to get to you before you disappeared forever." She started to get worked up again, "And that happened once before, you know. When I left my first foster home. She gave me new shoes, and then they packed me up. I know you're not going to do that, I don't know why I thought that. It's just-"
Brooke needed to hear no more. She lifted her daughter's chin, "You're right. I'm never doing that to you. You can be a royal pain in my ass, and I still won't leave. Nothing you do is ever going to chase me or your dad away. "
Sam placed her hands in her lap feeling a bit dumb for ever thinking that.
"And Sam?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you." She said with a smile.
"For what?" Sam scrunched up her face, confused.
"For not hating me for giving you up." Brooke said keeping her emotions at bay, and wrapped her daughter in her arms.
'I love you mama.' Sam thought. But just hugged her mother tighter.
"Now come on." Brooke said letting her go.
"Where are we going?" Sam asked taking the coat that Brooke handed her to put on. Brooke waited for Sam to put the coat on, then fixed the beanie onto Sam's head, "I'm taking you back to school."
Sam groaned, but took Brooke's outstretched hand anyway. She felt a ring on one of Brooke's fingers. She looked down and there certainly was a ring, one with her birthstone on it. She smiled up at her mom as they walked and said nothing else.
Hope y'all liked it! Btw, I'm not planning on Manny being any type of competition for Jack! What'd you think? Questions? Please continue to review!
Note: I know that Sam sometimes acts like a little kid (tantrums and such), but she's been through a lot, and didn't really get the chance to emotionally develop. Sorry if that bothers some of you guys! But Brooke and Lucas are trying to work it out. It's a slow process.
I have some possible ideas of how Sam will finally get to call her parents "mom" and "dad," but if you guys have ideas, go ahead and let me know! I'm planning on having a month's time jump next chapter making it around four and a half months of them being together. But that might still be to early on. And yes, piano. I love the piano, so Sam just had to play it!