The Neighbors

Chapter 3

Sorry it's been awhile. Some things came up.......... But now I'm back to writing and expect a chapter every so often. If they're long chapters I need more time to write. You understand right? Good.

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Sam

“What K?” “Where are you S?” I’ve only known my friend Kiara for about five years, but she was easily my best friend. She’s loud, but can be quiet sometimes, but not very often. She has weird mood-swings sometimes.

          She has pin-straight brown hair and bright blue eyes. “Guess what S?!” “What Kiara?” “Ooh! You only say my full name when you’re in front of guys! What guys are there? Are they hot? Can I have one?” I laughed. There was no way she needed a guy. She’s been with her boyfriend Ian for about four years now, and he worshipped the earth she stood on.

          Nate shot me a look. I couldn’t really read his face. “An old friend. Yes and no. There’s only one.” I really hope he didn’t hear that I called him hot. But since he was just looking at the trees with no expression, I highly doubt that he heard me.

          I finally realized that she was still talking. I cut her off from her monologue. “Hey K, I gotsa go.” “Oookay….? Call me soon. Love ya.” I was just staring at Nate. I don’t think he noticed yet. “Mmm kay. Love you too.” At that declaration Nate’s head snapped up and looked me in the eyes. I saw traces of confusion and….hurt?

Nate

          Well if that didn’t set boundaries, what did? It finally dawned on me. The pet names, (I mean K? Really?), the urgency to answer the call and not put it off, the love? I’m so stupid. Why didn’t I think that a girl like that wouldn’t be taken?

          “So…who was that?” The coldness in my voice was clearly there. I didn’t care if I was being rude or intruding.

          “Just K, I’m surprised she waited that long to call. She never did tell me her news.” I raised my eyebrows. She? Was Sam into girls?

          “It probably had to do something with her and Ian. You’d think that she’d be sick of talking about him, or maybe just him in general, but whatever. Once you’ve been going out for four years I guess it becomes natural.”

          I put the pieces together. Relief flooded through me. K must be a nickname for one of her friends. And she did admit that they haven’t talked in a while, so that’s why she wanted to answer it.

          “I hope you didn’t mind that Nate.” “No, no it’s fine Sam.” She looked a little relieved. I wonder why.

          “Maybe we should head back now?” She suggested. I shrugged and nodded. We started making our way back towards our houses.

“Hey, we should camp out tonight. I mean just the six of us. Kade, Liz, Char, me, you, and your sister, Katherine right?” She laughed. “Yes that’s correct, but I also have a brother.” “Oh well, that’s news to me.” She laughed even harder. Just the littlest things made her burst out in laughter. I liked that about her.

“So the seven of us I guess. We could split up tents I guess. How old are yall?” She asked me. “I’m seventeen, Charlotte is fifteen, Liz is fourteen, and Kade is twelve.” “Ok, well does Liz like smaller children?” “Liz loves anything that will listen to her talk.” We both chuckled.

“Ok, my family has two tents, a five person and a four person. We could put Kat, Kade, Shane, and Liz in the five person and you, me and Char in the four. How does that sound?”

“Wait, your stuff arrived already?” I asked. We only had the suitcases in our car to live off of until the furniture got here in about four days.

“My father packed two tents for some reason. And camping gear. As if we might’ve not gotten the house and would have to sleep on the side of the road.” He chuckled.

“Well it’s settled then. We’ll just hafta get the stuff and set it up. It shouldn’t be that hard.”

 By that time we had reached the houses. I saw that everyone was outside and talking, milling about.

“Well, well. Look who decided to drop by.” Sam’s dad teased. I saw Sam blush. So, I had to poke fun into this situation.

“We were just getting reacquainted.” I winked and slid my arm around her tiny waist. Everyone laughed except Sam, who blushed even more and she glared at me. I could see that she was trying very hard to look serious and not laugh, so I tickled her sides.

She gave in and started hysterically laughing. “Stop! Stop! I surrender!” She was gasping for breath by the time I let her go. She looked at me and quietly said, just so I could hear, “I’m gonna get you back Nathan Thomas.” She smiled evilly. I just might enjoy this revenge.

Sam

Of course the parents approved of the camping plan. Everything was ready to go and all we needed to do was set-up when Liz came running up to me.

“Sam! Sam! I have something to tell you!” She shouted.

“You don’t have to shout Liz, I’m standing right here.”

“Oh yeah, well I just wanted to tell you that Charlotte’s sick, so she can’t camp out tonight.”

“That’s too bad; is she okay?”

“ Yeah, right now it’s just pretty much a fever. Oh, and me and Kat are gonna give each other make-overs, since we don’t like camping, and Kade told me that he and Shane are having some sort of video game contest, so they aren’t coming either. So right now it’s just you and Nate.”

“That sucks. Oh well, we’ll manage.”

She grabbed me in a tight hug. “Thanks for understanding! Well, I’m going to go find Kat right now. So have fun tonight, and one day we’ll just camp indoors, k?”

I laughed. Typical Liz. “Sure, sure Liz. One day.”

She gave me another hug and skipped off towards my house.

Well, now I have the perfect revenge plan for tonight. I’m gonna get him good.

Nate

          I walked into Sam’s room at around six. She had her suitcases piled in the corner, a fold up table and a camping chair in the middle of the room, and a blow-up mattress in the above area. I went over and sat down in the folding chair and waited for Sam to come and find me.

She said to meet me in her room at around six forty-five, but I was bored so I came earlier.

I heard a door open on the other side of the room, and I heard a gasp. I turned around to see Sam staring at me with wide, startled eyes. Then I noticed she was clutching a very small towel that was wrapped around her. The towel started about three inches down from her collar bone and ended a little higher above her midthigh. It hinted at her extensive cleavage and long legs.

“Nate!” Her voice squeaked. Crap. She just caught me checking her out.

“Um….I’m sorry. Uh……do you need something?” My voice cracked at the end. Does she need something? While this is her room?

“Yeah, turn around. I need to get dressed. Like, right now.” She blushed again.

Yes, yes. She needed clothes on. And now. Before something happens. I turned around and closed my eyes; while trying to block out all sounds.

A few minutes later there was a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and there she was. No make-up on, her hair wet and curling fast. She was wearing an orange print tube top and a pair of light wash short shorts. Some silver hoops could be seen peaking out through her curls. It was a wonderful sight.

“Nate?”

“Hmm?” I asked in a drowsy voice. My eyes slowly raked her body again. A slow red tint came to her cheeks.

“Um Nate?" She asked in a small voice. She’s just too cute. I looked back into her deep blue eyes. That was it. I knew it. I like this girl.