The Most Popular Boy

Chapter 9: Getting Closer

The following days darted by with no answers or trace of what she had thought she saw in the pink envelope. Samantha began to feel more at ease with everything. With Jess and his friends. Popularity spun to her level and before she knew it she was one of them. It started on a Thursday.

The spring weather began to warm up and the showers that had once started came to a halt for the time being. The hallways were flooded with students in between classes and it was this day in peticular that Samantha was noticed. It wasn't exactly just the hi she had been getting from Robbie occasionally. It was when Jenny Hastings stopped in the hallway.

"hey I know you, your the girl whose dating Jess!" she exclaimed.

Samantha nodded nervously.

"I guess I mean we're not exactly dating but we're something."

Jenny smiled. "Jess is quite something, you know he usually goes to parties and gets hammered drunk. Must be your style huh?"

Samantha stared at her dead on before making her turn in the hallway.

"I don't drink."

Jenny's eyes widened but now it was too late for a reply because Samantha was no longer there.

Later on Samantha caught up to Jess in the lunch room and pulled him aside.

"People seem to know...everything that goes on."

Jess shrugged "it's the lime light partly but for me it's just my friend group. Never really minded everyone knowing my business. Why does it bother you Sam?"

She nodded. "partly I'm not sure what to conclude." as she said that, something crossed her eye. Sitting in the corner was Lilly talking up to Robbie giggling.

"hey when did that happened?" she stammered almost shocked to see her best friend with the guy of her dreams.

Jess eyes glanced over there confusingly until he got what she was talking about.

"Man I'm not as close to Robbie as I use too..."

His face expression went down as he said that. Samantha rested her head on his shoulder leaning against him.

"Hey don't worry I'm not going anywhere."

Jess smile. "Sure you will Sam were all going places."

She smiled at that and continued on.

"But not me I'm staying right here."

As she said that the lunch bell rang but both remained standing in the lunch room long after everyone had left. Starring and her head on his shoulder. The clock ticking by minute after minute. Suddenly after the long silence he pulled away.

"Run along to class Sam I'll see you later."

And with that she kissed his cheek and headed off.

The hallway was empty with the few skippers and people that had convinced their teachers there wasn't enough time at lunch to use the washroom. Most restless, some tip toeing down the hall hoping not to get caught by a passing teacher. As Samantha made her way to class 15 minutes late Lilly stopped her dead on in the hall.

"Where we're you I saw you in the lunchroom with Jess. We're you planning on skipping? It's not like you!"

Samantha glared at Lilly.

"Where you going to even tell me about Robbie and you? And by the way I was just on the way to class."

Lilly smiled her mood lightening up.

"oh really, yeah we started taking about stuff we have in common. It's going good, what about you and Jess?"

Samantha's voice softened as she replied to her friends questioned.

"it's good I think, I mean what more Is there to really say. I still think about Ryan though, a lot."

"Don't..." Lilly said hastily "He's been missing for a really long time."

Samantha hesitated. "but that doesn't mean he's dead."

Lilly sighed. "you gotta let it go, most police and people on the case told you he's probably buried deep by now. It's the sad truth."

As they reached the class Samantha stopped at the door.

"but who would hate him enough to kill him?"

Lilly walked in and saw as Samantha wasn't going to follow till she answered the question.

"Well if one of us knew then maybe we could catch they guy...."

Samantha took a step forward.

"So your saying it's a guy?"

And with that Samantha walked into class.