𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳 - 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵

03

I try to stop my stomach from doing backflips. This is the most Sam Fraser has talked to me in 3 years.

"I like the rain, I guess." I mumble and stare out the window, too nervous to make eye contact with her.

"Sorry I uh, almost killed you." Sam says, her face saddened with guilt.

I mumble out that it's fine but other than that I stay pretty quiet. Sam thinks it's because I almost died, but truthfully it's because she's so close to me. I could reach my hand out slightly and I would be touching her shoulder.

I take in a deep breath and realize that her car smells like butterscotch and old books. I bite back a smile and fiddle with the buttons on my flannel.

"Why do you like the rain so much?" Sam asks suddenly.

How could Deena explain when she felt no one would get it? It was more than a feeling, more than just a physical touch. It made her feel real, even when most days she was mindlessly floating through her school hallways or into her bedroom.

"I think it's one thing in this shitty town that isn't so shitty." She replies, not exactly telling the truth but not lying either.

Sam nods her head and smiles when I register the fact that she never asked where I lived.

"Uh, do you know where my house is?" I ask.

Sam pauses and laughs. Her laugh makes a thousand tiny fireworks go off in my stomach and I can't help but smile.

"Nope!" She chuckles.

"It's just down Fier Street." I direct, pointing with my finger.

Sam turns on the road and continues driving.

"Right there." I say.

Sam parks by the sidewalk.

"Thanks for not killing me and for the, uh, ride." I nervously chuckle while scratching the back of my neck.

"Anytime." Sam laughs as she reaches over and unlocks my door.

I freeze as Sam leans over me, my heart beating in my ears. She leans back again and pushes her hair behind her ear as I get out.

"See you on Monday!" She calls out as she starts up the car.

"Yup!" I say, pointing finger guns.

As soon as she drives away, I mentally hit myself. Finger guns? What kind of an idiot makes finger guns?

Wishing the ground would dissolve and devore me whole before I have to go to school tomorrow, I open up my front door and step inside.