London calls me a stranger

Chapter 10

Sam's POV

I was stunned. Did she really mean it? After all I'd heard about her, she believed.. In me! Me! I was always the girl who was known for her drama skills but always was given the most menial roles. After I while, I made the most of having the bad roles and played my part to the best of my ability and didn't complain. The arts was an escape for me. Something that I lived for. I thrived on it. The feeling I have on stage must be the feeling that birds have when the fly. Weightlessness. Freedom. Feeling that you belong. But another feeling ticked at the back of my mind. Did Matt really write that song for me? Was this his confession of love? I barely know him. But love can come from a single look. I don't want to fall into his traps. "Be resistant" a thought in the back of my mind whispered to me, "If he really loves you he will fight for you!" Then it's settled. No more drooling. I would be resistant.

It was still relativly early. It was about 2:30 and I had no other classes that day. There was no point in retiring for the day, so I grabbed my copy of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' and made my way out to the open clearing at the front of the school. I saw the clearing everyday, but have never really explored it. I saw it when waiting for Conor that day we went for a drive. Also I saw it when coming back from my day out with Matt. The steps of the school seemed to be a place where a lot happened: the crying of yesterday, My first kiss with Matt, when I was penetrated for the first time by him, going out with Conor and many more. It seemed like a place of safety. A place I knew was home.

A walked across the pebbled drive at the front of the school, heading towards a giant willow tree. The branches always seemed to applaud the day in the morning. I sat in between two roots, making a perfect arm chair for my body to nestle down into. After about half an hour of reading, without disturbance, a voice that I recognised came from across the clearing calling my name. "Sam!" It called for me full of excitement. I stood up as I saw the bleach blonde hair and icy blue eyes pin my location. I want to run away. Run away from him. Because what happened yesterday was too painful. My legs refused to move. I was glued to the ground. My grey converse hand melted into the grass. His pace quickened and before long, he had reached me. "Hey," he said, breathless from the jog. His face was still swollen and the bruise on his forehead was turning a prominent black now. Guilt struck through me... Even though it wasnt my fault.

"Hi" I said, trying to cut the small talk.

"So how are you?"he continued.

"I'm good thanks" I said in reply.

He examines the closed book in my hands. "Alice in wonderland? It's a great book"

"Yeah it's my favourite"

"Can I join you?" He asked.

"Sure" I may as well been friendly to him. He was after all a good friend. Even if I didn't see him in the way he sees me, I still see him as someone I can trust. He pulled out a copy of 'To Kill a Mocking Bird' and joined me in my armchair of roots. I peered at the cover, recognising the book. "April had that book for English Lit!" I told him.

"Yeah we're in the same class." Really?! She never mentioned, probably to cut up about it.

We sat facing each other. My legs rested on top of him as the summer breeze, blew across my bare skin. I don't think Conor read at all because every time I looked up, I caught him staring at me. I could feel his eyes examining my every feature. "Can you stop staring? It's creepy." I asked.

He apologised, and continued with his book. My phone vibrated and lit up with a text message from April. The message read; 'Hey Sam, Ruby's invited us to a gig tomorrow night at The Glass Slipper. You coming?'

The Glass Slipper. Gig. Tomorrow night. It could've only been Matt.

"Who's that?" Conor asked curiously.

"April, she's inviting me to a gig at The Glass Slipper tomorrow night"

"Oh yeah, Elisa Smiles are playing" he said a little disheartened. Elisa Smiles. That must be the name of Matt's band. Conor's eyes were full of worry. I thought he was too cautious of me. I don't think that he thinks that I can look after myself. The look in his eyes turned to anger.

"Do you want to come?" I think this will settle his mind. He nodded as I gave him the details.

"See you tomorrow night then Sam." He said as I walked away from him.

"See you!" I said with a small wave and smile. His smile showed off his tops set of white pearls as I turned away from him and ran to the stone steps of the dorm building.