Searching Cassie

13) Nothing to do with

Chapter Thirteen:
Nothing to do with

Samantha forced a laugh. "Don't jest with me, Evan," she exclaimed. "Why would he, out of all people---" She stabbed her fork into a pancake. "---leave this plate of delicacy for me on purpose?"

"Ward loathes strawberries, Samantha," Evan gave her a strange look. "And he isn't exactly fond of pancakes too."

"My point is that he is not exactly fond of me," murmured Samantha, her voice almost dreamy in the end.

Evan broke the silence with a short answer. "Why are you so sure of that?"

***

Make sure the deal will be sealed.

Ward stared at the bright screen of phone. His message had been sent for a good ten minutes, and the supposed recipient had not read it yet.

Shaking his head, Ward swallowed back a furious snarl. He clenched his hands into fists. Indeed, his patience was wearing thin, but he didn't want that to be the reason of his cell phone damaged.

The device vibrated. Ward immediately picked it up from the bed.

You are fully aware that he's tracking us down.

Ward could feel the steam coming out from his ears. Yet he managed to keep his emotions in check---barely, and typed a message.

You were always under his radar. Keeping an eye on everything is practically his hobby.

It's different this time. Kat and I may need to leave the town.

Kat has NOTHING to do with our problem.

So is Samantha. Originally.

Fuck, Mike. You know this is different.

You made me pull out that card first, son.

***

Samantha emitted a satisfied sigh.

"So much fat," Evan commented, his stare embedded with amusement. "What a big stomach."

She scoffed. "Aren't you supposed to be nicer than Ward?"

"Never said that. You just trust people too easily."

"Yeah," Samantha muttered half-heartedly. Maybe he was right. She didn't really know about her mood swings after all.

"Does your body hurt?" asked Evan suddenly.

Samantha laughed. "Nah," she shook her head. Images of Rae's sultry...threatening made themselves thoroughly visible to Samantha."My foot's okay," She said, ignoring the slight aching on her waist.

Evan's eyes darkened. Samantha involuntarily moved her chair a few inches away from him. She looked at him, wariness prominent from her tense movements. "I'm fine," she added quickly. The pain seared to her arms somehow during the short five seconds of her pause. She fidgeted a little. "You're a great doc."

"I'm far from a good doctor, Samantha," whispered Evan, his tone soft. Samantha's eyes widened. "Yes, I may seem the kindest among us three," he smiled as he said this. He smiled a smile that didn't quite reach his orbs. "Do not be fooled by appearances, Kerrigan."

Samantha chuckled. Evan's stare didn't waver away. "I'll keep that in mind," she answered, a little bit too smoothly. "As you are so wise."

"Look, Samantha---"

"I just don't understand!" She snapped. "I know I'm acting bitchy---"

"I wasn't talking about that," said Ward. "Look, Samantha. Look behind you."

Samantha tore her fiery gaze away from Evan and turned around. She felt her mouth gape as she found herself facing a woman.

"Katherine?"

A/N: Picture attached is a character you haven't known yet. Please excuse my bad drawing skills. Remember the reddish brown hair and green eyes of hers though, it may be useful to you in the later chapters.
BTW, who is Ward messaging? Is he Samantha's strong ally or her potential foe? Hehe, I adore unsolved questions ;-)

xoxo,
Zoe