Stay Courageous

Chapter 21

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Sam's POV
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"Hey, Zoe," it was Thursday afternoon and I was calling Zoe Zigler on the phone. I never talk on the phone. That's partly why our conversation was so awkward. The other part couldn't be helped.

"Sam?"

"Haha, yeah. Hey, um, I don't really know exactly how to bring this up but I called to tell you that..." I hope she heard me.

"What? You just mumbled. I can't understand you." Geez Louise.

"I said Sean called me to ask me out on a date and I thought you should know. Happy?" I was answered by silence. "Listen, I know you like Sean, Zoe. That's why I'm telling you! I don't want you to think I kept this a secret! And I said no of course," more silence. "Zoe?"

"Sam, I really like Sean. He just randomly called you up and asked you on a date?" She didn't sound very convinced, but it was the truth!

"Yes! I swear, I don't even like Sean. I had no idea he liked me until this afternoon! C'mon, Zo, why would I waste time calling you on the phone if I wasn't taking this seriously? I want you to know I don't like Sean." I stressed the last sentence excessively.

"Okay. Fine. Thanks for telling me, Sam," Zoe was back to that weird monotone voice that she'd first answered the phone with. I really hated this unnecessary human interaction, but there was something else Zoe needed to know so it wouldn't be a problem later.

"Zo?" I really hoped she wouldn't shoot the messenger.

"Yeah?"

"Kat doesn't want to tell you, but she's having a sleepover with Madison on Friday. She doesn't like Madison, she just said something about securing a spot on the starting five," I cringed, waiting for we reaction. "Zoe? Dude, why are you so quiet today?"

"Oh, okay. That's fine. Kat can go be buddies with the starting five of the basketball team and then they can all just make fun of me together! Isn't that just grand?" She sounded utterly sarcastic. "And what about my basketball lessons, huh? Aren't we supposed to be at Kat's house every Friday for y'all to teach me skills and crap? That was her flipping idea!"

"Well, the sleepover will just be for one weekend you know, if your concerned about your basketball lessons." Wasn't Zoe over doing it a little big if that's all she was worried about?

"No, Sam," Zoe laughed but it was a helpless, ironic sort of laugh. "I don't care about the basketball losing my lessons. I just care about losing someone who I thought was my friend." What? "Ya know, never mind. Thanks for telling me, Sam. I have to go do homework. See you tomarrow," she hung up on me.

"Mom..." I went downstairs to ask for an extra anxiety pill. Dealing with friends was giving me a migraine.
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Sean's POV
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On Thursday morning, I guess it was sometime around second period, I was hanging around Fletcher when he told me to walk with him to his Spanish class.

"You fag," I said, "I'm not going to walk you to class. Bro, I don't even have class at that end of the building! Hell no!" I laughed at the fact Fletcher even brought this up.

"C'mon, dude, I wanna show you something," he did that weird smirk thing with the side of his mouth. Girls always seem to go crazy for that, which I didn't understand. Fletcher wiggled his eyebrows at me which made me realize it was a girl he was talking about. I reluctantly agreed. Maybe it was something to do with Sam Donahue.

In the foreign language hall, Stella Ridley caught my eye. Fletcher constantly is going on about her hotness so I can recognize her from a mile away. Frankly, I just don't see it. She's not ugly, but not hot the way Sam is.

""Hey, I'm sorry about the other day," Fletcher slung is arm around the poor girl. "I didn't realize how stressful it was to be friends with a goth. You know, it's really none of my business if Zoe is a sadist or if she cuts herself or-" Stella cut him off by screaming his name in a way that Fletcher apparently found sexy because he did this weird little giggle and said "yeah, babe?" This next part was really weird.

"I need you to do something for me," Stella grabbed his shirt and pulled his face down like she was going to kiss him or something.

"Anything for you, Stella," Fletcher did that weird crooked smile thing again. I think Stella really had him going. She even had me fooled for a second. I thought she was going in for a kiss or something.

"Go. Fuck. Yourself." Stella shoved Fetcher backwards to where he almost bumped into me. I cracked up at dumb my friend looked right now. And all because of this skinny little girl.

Fletcher cussed her out under his breath as she sauntered into the Spanish room. "See you later," Fletcher said as he walked in himself, making a close shave with the bell. I was late. Of course. Stupid Fletcher.

During that class period, I imagined if that same scenario I just witnessed in the hallway happened between Sam Donahue and I. If it were me, if be crushed if Samantha said something like that to me. I'd know for sure that she didn't like me back and that'd be awful. Fletcher just seemed vaguely annoyed about Stella and nothing more. Then again, maybe that's just because he was in it for her body. Sam is the entire package. I continued to daydream about her until the bell rang.
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Alone in my room that afternoon, I decided that if Fletcher Ramsey could be brave, so could I. I decided to finally call Sam Donahue.

One ring, two rings, three rings... "Hello?" Her angel voice answered.

"Hey, it's Sean Miller. You know, from school? Uh, I was wondering if you were free Saturday and if you were, would you want to see a movie with me?" That was a lot easier and quicker than I expected.

"Um, thanks but no thanks. You're pretty cool, Sean, but I'm just not into you that way," I fought tears. "Besides, why deprive some other lucky girl of a date with you? I know there's someone who wants to go to the movies with you more than I do." She was very blunt. I liked it when she spoke the truth.

"Oh. Okay. Well, thanks for talking." Thanks for talking? Come on, Sean.

"No problem. See you at school." She hung up and I stared blankly at the dead reciever. What was she talking about? No one wants to go to the movies with me. And I didn't want to go to the movies with anyone besides Sam.

Just as I predicted, I was pretty crushed. Turns out she really doesn't like me back after all.
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I thought the story needed a little bit of romance. :P comment if you ship Sean and Sam or Sean and Zoe.

Also, Sean is pronounced "Shawn." Idk, that's just the way I spell it. Thanks for putting up with my weirdness. <3

The character is Max.

Thanks for reading! Give me feedback!

-SJ