SAM

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s a m u e l
*

"Being in love with your best friend is problematic."
- J.M. Richards, Tall, Dark Streak of Lightning

"Dude, seriously though. There are so many hot chicks at your school and you haven't even taken one?" Dylan snorts.

"First of all; I really hope you grow out of your misogynistic ways and realize that you can't just do that and second of all; Its not like that. It's the special girl I'm waiting for. I can't just sleep around everywhere. I need to find the one." Silence cloaks us and then both the twins burst out laughing.

"Or it could be because of the secret." Daniel casually answers.

"Oh yes, this wonderful and mysterious secret. Tell me again why Samikin knows it and not your two best friends in the whole wide world?"
I scoff and let out a smirk. "You know for a fact that I'm closer to your sister."
Suddenly, my face is forced against the window.

"Dylan! What the Hell are you doing? Put Samuel down!" Mrs. Perkins screams.

"He's not Dylan, I am!" Daniel fakes being hurt about this.

"Honestly, woman and you call yourselves our mother." Dylan, the one pressing my head against the window, replies.

Mrs. Perkins rolls her eyes at the Harry Potter reference. which I only know because Samantha forced me to read the books and watch the movies, and turns to continue her conversation with her husband. She knows exactly which twin is which.
Both the twins lean in and Dylan whispers, "Are you sleeping with our sister?"

I immediately push him off of me, "What? No of course not!"

Next thing I know; Daniel has me in the same position that Dylan did. Mrs. Perkins has the same conversation as she did with Dylan except she says 'Daniel'. Being right once again.

"What's wrong with our sister? She too ugly for ya? Or can you not handle her spitfire?".
As I did before, I push Daniel back.

"No, dude. Sam's great and she's well, great... There's... I..." I have no idea how to finish this sentence. I've never been able to think of Sam like that. I just feel safe with her. That sounds stupid because I'm supposed to have this strong and bad ass persona but I'm just a kid. With her, I feel as though I can do more with my life and I feel as though she can help me with it.

"Yeah, whatever you say man."

-

We've been driving for at least 20 minutes and finally we arrive at The Hampton restaurant. The most expensive place in town. I still don't know what we're doing here. No one bothered to tell me.

Mr. Perkins pulls into a reserved parking space and we all exit the car. Just after we exit into the cold air, my dad's car turns into the parking lot followed by the Carters. The windows are tinted, just like all the other cars. I move, a bit too quickly, towards the car as it stops. I go to the door that I saw her enter previously and open it. Sam turns around and smiles. She's in mid-laughter as we lock eyes.
"Oh, Sam."She lunges forward and swings her arms around my neck. I catch her, like always, I catch her.

"I haven't seen you in forever! I miss you." I look in the car just in time to see notice the Carter boy scowl before he heads out.

"Samantha, Samantha. What has gotten into you?" I let her go and she holds my arm as we walk towards the front door of The Hampton.

"Just been thinking about how lucky I've been to be your best friend, Sam." She sends me a sweet smile and I try to send her the same.

"Ah, Lucas. It's been a while, how are you?" My eyes widen as I hear the name. I feel Sam tense up with me. We both turn around and right in front of us is Lucas Parkins. My big brother. I study him carefully, his long brown hair falls just below his shoulders and his eyes glitter in the light and his body stands firm. Everyone greets him, excluding me and Sam. When everyone starts going in, I let go of Sam and she turns to me.

"Are you sure? You don't have t- " I look at her and nod. I have to deal with this myself. I slowly walk to my brother who did not walk in with the others, he simply leaned on the wall next to the front door. Waiting, waiting.

"Hey, pipsqueak." He utters. I turn around to meet the eyes of Lucas.

"Lucas, why are you here." He smirks at me and pushes himself forward off the wall

"I was invited by mom and dad." Now, it's my turn to smirk.

"Sure, you were." I start to move towards to door but Lucas quickly places a hand on my chest.

"You think you're better than me?"He slams me against the wall. I immediately smell his alcohol stained breath, "You think that your new bad persona is going to keep you from crying yourself to sleep because of your big brother."

"Lucas, leave me- "He cuts me off by slamming me harder against the wall.

"Shut up, Sammy. Shut up. Every day of my painful life has been because of you. You're the youngest. You're what's wrong with my life," He slowly leans towards me, "And I would watch my back if I was you. I will hurt you and everything you will ever love." He throws me to the side and I land hard on the ground and watch Lucas chuckle and stroll through the door.

I've never loved someone but I know what really caring about someone has felt about. It's what I feel about Sam. I remember everything about her. I watch her every move when I'm with her. I make sure that I remember everything about her, in case something goes wrong.
I remember me watching Sam coming down the stairs and almost not recognising her. Her brown curly-ish hair falling just below her shoulders and her satin skin glowing even more than usual. I notice all these types of things. She's wearing a dress which is very unusual for her. Her eyes glowing when her mom start speaking to her even though her physical appearance seems to hate it. I remember watching her leave through the door and that blond boy following her. I remember watching him hand over his jacket and him smiling at her.

I remember me hurting while watching her smile back.

~

anon