Rendezvous: A Lost Chapter of Sam Drake

Chapter 6: Samuel Drake

Nathan and I went back to my hotel room. We settled on the couch in the living room area. 

"So... what is it? What did you want to tell me?" I asked giving Nate my full attention. He seemed nervous. He took a deep shaky breath. He wasn't looking at me. It was almost like he was trying to work up the courage to tell me what was on his mind. "Nate?.. you can tell me. What's wrong?" I grabbed his hand. They were clammy and rough, yet tender and loving. He closed his eyes and finally met my gaze. 

"Uhm... so last night. After I texted you to meet up.. I got a phone call. It was Sam. He's still alive. Hell, he's at my house right now. I didn't bring him that way you had time to digest all this." Nate rambled on but my brain stopped listening. My mouth hung open as I tried to process that Sam was alive. He was alive. Breathing. My Sam. The Sam I fell in love with at 17 who had claimed my heart ever since. The Sam that destroyed me in my twenties when he died. The Sam I dreamt about. The Sam I had nightmares about. Nightmares where he died over and over again in my subconscious. 

"Sky...? Talk to me. Tell me what's going on in that head of yours." Nate let go of my hand to wipe tears from my face. I didn't even realize I was crying. My heart broke all over again. 

"Nate... can I see him?" I pulled myself together. 

"Of course, you can. let's go" 

Nathan sped to his house which wasn't too far from my hotel. We stood at his footstep. "Nate.. does he know that I'm here? Does he even remember me?" 

"Sky... Sam never forgot you." 

LAST NIGHT

After a beer or three each Sam finally asked me about Skylar. As if he was working up the courage to bring her up. 

"Are you still in contact with Skylar? From the orphanage?" I noticed Sam's face blush slightly. 

"All the time. We talk all the time. She's the same girl from the orphanage. Just older and hotter. More intelligent, which I have no idea how she did that. she was always the smart one. She's badass, dude. She never forgot you, Sam. We've had many drunken nights where we laughed and cried talking about you. She was in love with you, Sam. I think she still is. Even after all these years she loves you, man. She just pushes people away. The last time she loved someone they ended up dead, so. She's in town. I'm seeing her tomorrow. She might stop by." 

Sam smiled hearing about her. He had never let go; I could see it in his eyes. He was still 17 sneaking in her dorm room at night. As kids, they just clicked. I've never seen any two people fall in love so fast and still have this love for each other even after 15 years. 

PRESENT

I stood staring at Nathan's front door. I knocked on the door. 

There he was. Sam. My Sam. He had aged like fine wine. His hair was longer now. He had scruff on his face which he could never grow at 17. He still had those soft hazel eyes. He smiled at me just the same as he did all those years ago with that crooked smile. My eyes filled with tears as I bit my lip. 

"So are you two just gonna stare at each other or what?" Nathan said laughing, but eventually leaving us alone. He still peeped through the front window. Sam stepped out onto the porch as I ran into his arms. His arms were so much more muscular. Must have been a prison pastime. I cried into his chest. He smelled like hot coffee, cigarettes, and faded cologne. He rubbed my back as he hugged me tightly. I pulled back still keeping our bodies close. He was still just as tall as I remembered him. He smiled and pushed my hair out of my face. He wiped my tears with his thumb and said his famous line to me once again. "Hey sweetheart." We laughed and laughed and laughed. It really wasn't that funny, but Sam's laugh was just so contagious. It was truly like I was 17 again. He made me feel 17 again. "I don't even know what to say, Sam".