The Aftermath

10

After diner they talked more about the events of the day, and several things were decided. Doors would be locked, cell phones would be used when going to and coming from school, and everyone would be on alert status.

"Oh, and no new friends on Facebook or G+ until we get this worked out." Tom told Angie.

"Alright." She said, a little miffed. "But what if I know them from school?"

"Only if you are really sure it is them. It is really easy to get a name and fake it Angie. Too easy." Tom told her.

"Ok, I'll make sure. I'll talk to them at school before I accept the connection." She suggested.

"That sounds good." Tom agreed.

"Maybe she should stay home from school for a week or so." Samantha suggested.

"This close to finals? Are you joking? I'll never make it up!" Angie complained.

"We won't go that far yet," Tom said.

"Shouldn't one of us should drive her to school and pick her up?" Samantha suggested.

Tom took $40.00 from his wallet and gave it to Angie, "That's for emergencies only. For example, if neither of us can pick you up, you are to call a taxi."

"Sweet!"

"Emergencies." Tom repeated.

"I know." Angie said.

With that arranged they talked about the reporter's suggestions.

"I'm leaning toward yes." Tom told them, "What do you two think?"

"I think it is the Facebook idea on steroids." Samantha told him. "So, I'm a yes. Angie?"

"Will she use my name in the newspaper?" she asked.

"Probably, if you talk with her." Samantha admitted.

"Sweet!" Angie said, "I have to post this!"

Samantha and Tom looked at each other and shrugged, "I guess it is settled then?" Samantha told him.

"Guess so. I'll call Teri tomorrow. She's probably busy tonight making up headlines." Tom said.

Angie ran up the stairs to her room to get on the computer. The news breaking story of Tom Blake's adventure on highway 52 would break twelve hours before any major media would be able to muster their energies, and the blast across the high school campus, and then out into the college world, spreading like fire on the wire.

"Anything else you want to tell me?" Samantha asked.

"Nothing except I love you." He told her and pulled her into a hug.

"Are you really alright?" She asked.

"So far." He told her. "I'll be better after a shower."

"I'll join you." Samantha told him and took his hand to lead him upstairs.

#

Tom never told her, perhaps she knew, that she was his first. She was his first everything. First kiss, first sex, first relationship -- his first. He was not interested in women, not in their physical presence at least. He read the normal allotments of Playboy and watched the required amount of porn for a normal teen-age boy, but his mind was set on medical school. He just never found anything to talk about with teen girls.

In college he met Samantha. She was in Psychology 250 with him, and they were paired up for a project. He had to meet with her several days to finish the project. At first she was just another student, who happened to have breasts. Then she became more interesting, because she was interesting. She was going for a Psychology degree. She wanted to work with traumatized children. Children in the system, from abusive homes or who were subjected to disasters.