Remember Me

CHAPTER 3

"I know what your problem is. You're too quiet and up tight sometimes." It's Sam who says this. Of course, she's not afraid to get right out and say it. She slides her tall unafraid self into the empty, almost broken chair next to me. "To help you with this I've invited a friend to go skating with us this weekend so that you get to know more people. His name is Patrick and he's a year older than us, but he's so funny! I swear, you will fall over laughing. And don't worry, it's not a date. I just want you to make friends so you fit in more. Besides he cute! So, you never know what could happen..." She trails off leaving me to wonder if she really is trying to hook me up. I don't need a boyfriend right now, at least I think I don't. And a one night stand kind of relationship isn't really my thing either. To be honest I've never even kissed a guy, let alone had a relationship with one. I'm not about to tell Sam that. Not yet at least. What she doesn't know won't hurt her, I hope.
For the rest of biology we do lab work and experiments. Sam is really good and focused at what she's doing which surprises me because in other classes she doesn't really care. Maybe that's why her grades aren't the best they could be. She gets straight A's in biology. She knows everything there is to know and seems to actually be enjoying herself. Why this surprises me, I really can't say.
Sam and I are relaxing side by side at our table flipping through one of her magazines. I promised I would give it a try since she gave reading a try. It's not as bad as I thought it would be, but I'm not going to tell her that. It's still filled with all the crap I knew it would be, however entertaining it is.
"Listen up class, I have news." Mr. Desden, despite being a good teacher, he's also great at getting attention without really doing much. Sam can do the same by giggling or batting her eyelashes, or some other girly thing I can't do.
​"The exam dates have been moved closer." Several gasps spring up all over the room when students here this, including me. I've barely covered the subject, as I just moved here, which makes it worse for me. "This normally wouldn't be a big deal, except the fact, as many of you know, we haven't gone through half of the course yet. Now, with the date a whole month closer, we have to do twice as much as before if we can even hope of passing. I'm sorry to have to tell you all this."
​All around the room, conversations start happening at once. The room grows louder and louder with each person's wailing concernedness. Thankfully the bell rings and not a moment too soon. Picking up my books, I rush out of the room. How am I going to be able to do those exams when I've just barely started this course? I'm good at biology, but not that good.
​Sam runs out behind me. "Charlie, what's the big deal? They're just exams."
​"Exams that I'm not prepared for. We can't go skating this weekend, I'm sorry. I have to study. I really do."
​"Don't cancel the plans!" Sam exclaims. She's clearly heartbroken but I could care less. My future is at stake, literally. "What am I going to tell Patrick if you cancel?"
​"Tell him to get lost, I don't care. I can't this weekend, I have to start studying."
​"Don't cancel. Please? It'll be good for you to go out and have fun while we still can before everyone needs to study. Who knows? You could have fun..."
​Seeing as I'm getting nowhere with this, I reluctantly agree and tell her only two hours. She squeals in delight and drags me to the next class before we're too late.
At lunch the next day, Sam tells me she's halfway through the book I recommended her. She's loving it and is on the edge of her seat, hanging on to every word.
"I didn't realize how much I enjoyed reading. I guess I just never gave it a try you know? My dad thinks it's weird, but my mom thinks it's great. They got into another fight, you know." Sam looks down at the dirty dusty floor. Do janitors here ever do their job?
"It sounds like it's getting worse," I admit not wanting to point out the obvious.
"Yeah, I guess so, but it's ok you know, they always do this and sometimes it's over stupid things but honestly it doesn't bother me. I'm used to it."
"Sam, I don't think it's a good thing that your parents fight as much as they do. It sounds really bad. Aren't you at least a little worried?" I look her straight in the eyes; I want an honest answer.
"Nah, not really. Like I said before, they do this all the time. All day, every day. And if you ask me," she leans close so only I, the only other person at this otherwise empty table, can hear. "I think they sometimes fight just for show. Like they're actually ok all the time but they just fight to keep me occupied."
That's a strange way to look at it, I almost say. I don't want to pick a fight and start arguing with my only friend but to me it doesn't sound good with her parents. If she thinks it's fine, I'll just let her be. What if something bad does happen though? For some reason this doesn't feel right but I can't quite put my finger on it.

Saturday evening, Sam comes by to pick me up. I've been in school for two weeks and our friendship has taken root and broken out of the seed shell. It hasn't blossomed yet, but relationships take time. Well, good relationships at least.
When she comes to the door she's alone and I sigh in relief. My big dog runs out and jumps up on Sam who happily obliges to my dogs petting needs.
"Hi, big boy! Hi baby! Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy?" Sam kisses him on the nose and pushes him down. He whines and cries out at the pain in his joints. He really is getting older; I just don't want to believe it. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean too," Sam exclaims and rubs Bowser's back. "What's his name?" She asks me still waiting outside.
"Bowser," I answer remembering it was my choice to name home when I was five. I was in a Mario mode, my mom said and I named everything I could after Mario characters. So when we did get Bowser, him being only a year old, little five year old me decided it would be a good idea to name him Bowser. The name stuck and we've called him that ever since.
Bowser hobbles back inside just as my mom comes and I make introductions.
"Mom, this is my friend, Sam, I've been telling you about and Sam this is my one and only mother, Elizabeth." I say standing between them skates in one hand.
"It's lovely to meet you, Mrs. Smith," Sam says being polite and nothing more.
"Oh please, no need for that! Call me Elizabeth or mom, if you want to be that bold."
This makes Sam smile and the perky girl I've just met is back. "Well, Elizabeth, it's lovely to meet you, and thank you so much for letting Charlie go skating with me. With the exam dates closer, I didn't think it would be easy to get her out of the house."
My face turns scarlet after Sam mentions the exam dates. Good going Sam, I think even though it's not entirely her fault.
"What are you talking about sweetie?" My mom asks, confused giving me a look that says tell me. Now.
"You didn't know? I thought Charlie would have told you. Oh well, can't know everything I guess." Sam admits awkwardly.
My mom, deciding to be completely embarrassing, decides to have this conversation with me now. "Charlotte, why didn't you tell me the date had been moved?"
"I was going to tell you mom, just not yet. With all the stress you've had lately, I didn't want to make it worse for you!"
"I'm your mother!" she starts to shout making this even more embarrassing. "I can handle anything."
"Can we talk about this later? We need to get going." I bite my tongue to hold back the anger but soon let go because it actually hurts.
She waves at us in dismissal and I couldn't have walked faster to Sam's car. "Good job, Sam." I say when we're in the car.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean too." She starts the car, and in silence, we're off.