Trouble in Paradise

Chapter 21

"Hey," Sam says when i pick up the phone.
  
"Hey. Whats up?" i reply.
  
"I was wondering if you wanted to go to the jump park with me. And Jackson."
  
"Sure. Is Jackie going?"
  
"No."
  
"Why not?"
  
"When i called her and asked her she told me to go to hell and not to call her unless i was dying," Sam tells me, bluntly.
  
I laugh at him, "What did you do to her?"
  
"I may have hinted that she was getting fat."
  
"Sami, oh my god. Why would you say that to her?"
  
"She is. She eats all the time now. And i didnt mean to say it out loud. It slipped."
  
"What did she do to you after you told her that?"
  
"She kicked me in the balls and then yelled at me while i was on the ground."
  
"I guess you kind of deserved that."
  
"I didnt though," he whined.
  
"You did though," i whine back in the same tone as him.
  
"Whatever. So do you want to come or not?"
  
"I said yes. What time are you coming to get me?"
  
"I was actually wondering if you could drive. Im grounded, remember?"
  
"Yeah sure i can drive. But your bike wont fit in the trunk of my car."
  
"I know. Jackson is taking the dirt bikes in his truck."
  
"The dirtbikes?"
  
"Yes. Those motorized bikes that y-"
  
"I know what a dirtbike is. I just didnt know you rode."
  
"Well i do. And im pretty good at it too."
  
"Your so conceited."
  
"Only because i can be."
  
"Whatever. Ill be at your house in ten."
  
"Alright. Bye!"
  
I hang up.

  
"Hey mom!" i holler. Im standing by the front door, getting ready to leave, "Im going to the jump park with Sami!"
  
I wait for a response, "Okay, sweetie!" She hollers back, "Have fun!"
  
I head out the door and hop into my car and drive to Samis house. I get there ten minutes later.
  
Sam is sitting on his front steps, his head in his hands. He doesnt see me when i pull up so i honk. He jumps.
  
"What the hell is wrong with you?" he says, climbing into the passenger seat.
  
"What do you mean?" i back out of his driveway.
  
"You are always sneaking up on me."
  
"Oh. Because its funny to scare you."
  
He rolls his eyes at me and is silent as he looks out the window.
  
"Whats wrong?" i ask.
  
"Nothing," he says not even bothering to look at me. I can definately tell that something is bugging him. He would be talking non stop is there wasnt.
  
"Bullshit," I say, making Sami turn my way, hes frowning and i think i see tears forming in his eyes, "Just tell me whats going on, Sami. Its not like im going to judge you. I wont repeat anything  you tell me to another living soul. You have my word."
  
He stares at me for a good minute, as if contemplating his decision, before speaking, "Its my dad. He threatened me and then when my mom found out this morning they got in a fight. Thats why i was sitting on the porch when you picked me up."
  
"How did he threaten you?"
  
He bit his bottom lip, "He said that if he ever found out i was skipping school again, then he'd beat me until i couldnt stand up any more."
  
Are you serious? That is terrible.  I feel so bad for him, he has to live in the same house as that man.
  
"And do you believe him?"
  
"Uh, yeah i do. Hes hit me before. And plus he has fucking anger issues."
  
"Fuck. Im really sorry Sami."
  
"For what?" he snaps at me, "You feel sorry for me because i was born his son? Because my mom married a douchebag? Yeah, well, theres not much that we can fucking do about."
  
Im not going to lose my temper because i know that the only reason he is acting like this is because hes hit a rough patch at home.
  
"No Sam. Im sorry because i care about you. And i dont think you should have to go through this. You're so sweet and you dont deserve to be treated this way by your dad."
  
Hes silents for a minute, "You know what, i dont feel like going to the jump park anymore. Can you just take me home? Please."
  
"Are you su-"
  
"Lexi, i want to go home."
  
"Whatever you want," i turn my car around and head back to Samis house.
  
Poor Sami. I cant even imagine what he must be going through with his dad. My dad never did anything like this to me or my brother. What makes a father turn on his son like that?
  
I drop Sami off but before he gets out of the car, i grab a hold of his jacket sleeve, holding him in place.
  
"Sami, promise me that you wont let your dad hurt you. I dont want you to get hurt. You can come over to my house if you want. Please i dont want you to go home with your dad," I plea with him.
  
He is looking over his shoulder at me, i have a perfect view of his back, "I cant promise you anything, Lex. My dad isnt even at home right now. So dont worry about me."
  
He gets out of the car.
  
"I cant just not worry about you, Sam. I dont want to see you get hurt. Please. Just come to my house for a little bit."
  
"I dont want to go to your house. I didnt ask for you to worry about me. So just leave," his voice sounds like he is one more comment about his dad away from exploding.
  
He slams the car door shut and i stay put until he goes inside, then i drive off.
  
My first instinct is to go find Jackie and tell her everything Sam told me, so she could help him. But i promised Sam that i wouldnt tell anybody. Ill just have to get Sam to tell her himself.
  
  
When i get home, nobody answers when i say hello. Great. It always seems that nobody is home anymore. Im always alone.
  
I call Ryan to see where he is at and if he is coming home tonight.
  
"Hello?" Ryan answers.
  
"Hey, where are you?" i ask.
  
"Im at Trevors', why?"
  
"Oh i dont know. Probably because i never see you anymore and im always home alone. And im having a bad day and have nobody to talk to."
  
"Why dont you talk to that little boyfriend of yours?"
  
"My little boyfriend is kind of the problem here. But of coarse you wouldnt know that because you are never fucking here!"
  
"Woah, dude, chill. Ill listen, tell me whats going on."
  
"I dont want to talk to you over the phone. I want you to be here with me and talk to me face-to-face."
  
"Do you want me to come home?"
  
"No, you go ahead and have fun at Trevors house. Dont worry about me, ill just be here... all alone... with no one to talk to."
  
"Ill be home in a little bit, okay?" Yes! "Then you can explain to me why you're being such a bitch."
  
He hangs up and i go into the kitchen to heat up some leftovers for supper.
  
Its an hour later before Ryan gets home.
  
Im in my pajamas, sitting on the couch and watching funny videos on youtube on my dads laptop, when he walks through the front door.
  
"Hey," is all he says, then he disapears into the kitchen. He comes back out with a banana. "So tell me whats going on. Im hear to listen," he sits down beside me.
  
I raise an eyebrow at him, then shut the laptop and shove it off to the side.
  
"Really? You want to hear about my problems?" i ask in disbelief.
  
He nods, "Yeah, im your big brother."
  
"Well, this morning Sam calls me and asks me if i could drive him to the jump park so him and his friend could ride their dirtbikes. I go and pick him up from his house and he is sitting on his front porch when i pull up. He looked really mad, sad, i dont know what it was, but he wasnt acting normal. Then when i asked him what was wrong he told me that his dad had threatened to beat him, because he found out that he skipped school the other day.
  
"So i told him that he could come over here for a little while, you know to stay away from his dad. But he declined and told me to just take him home. Then he yelled at me over, i dont even know what. I want to be sure that he is safe when he is at home. But it pisses me off when he wont talk to me and let me know what is going on."
  
"Sounds like he needs to get off of his man period," Ryan says, chewing a banana.
  
I glare at him, "I knew you wouldnt take it seriously. Im really worried about him, Ryan."
  
"Then go over there,"
  
"He wouldnt want me to just show up unannounced."
  
"Then dont. Text him and tell him your coming over."
   
"Nevermind. What was i thinking? You wont understand."
  
"Wow, you are fiving me way too much credit," he says sarcastically.
  
"Shut up."
  
"Are you done talking now?"
  
"Yeah."
  
Ryan stands up and heads for the hallwayto his room, "Ill be in my room," he houts back at me.
  
"Glad your home," i mutter to myself.
  
I call Jackie. I dont care if Sam told me not to tell anyone. Jackie has to know, i know she'll understand.
  
"Hey, whats up?" she says.
  
"I have to talk to you. Its about Sam."
  
"What about him?" she asks, uncertainly.
  
"Hes having problems with his dad, again. And im really worried about him."
  
"What happened?"
  
"His dad found out that Sam skipped school the other day, and Sam told me that his dad said he would beat him until he couldnt stand if he ever did it again. What if his dad already did something to him?"
  
"Have you tried calling him?"
  
"No."
  
"Okay. Ill call him and then call you right back."
  
She hangs up.
  
I wait the longest three minutes of my life before Jackie eventually texts me saying: ill be at your house in five
  
I holler to Ryan that im going to Sams house.
  
He hollers back, "Your welcome!"
  
"Shut up!" I walk outside and stand on the sidewalk in front of my house and wait for Jackie.
  
She drives up five minutes later, as promised. I hop in and we barrel down the road to Sams house.
  
Please be okay. Please be okay. Please be okay. I repeat over and over inside my head.
  
We pull into Sams driveway and i hop out and race up the stairs to the front door, i bang it with my fist.
  
Sams mom answers, as Jackie comes up behind me.
  
"Hello, girls," She says kindly, "Are you wanting Sam?"
  
I nod, "Is he home? We really need to see him."
  
"Hes in his room. Is everything alright between you two?" she asks.
  
"We're working on it. Can we please talk to him? Now."
  
"Sure. The last time i went up there him and Jackson were deep in a video game. But you girls can go right on up."
  
"Thanks," we head inside and up the stair to Sami's bedroom.
  
I dont even knock i just push open the door and go inside, Jackie right behind me.
  
Sam and Jackson are sitting on the floor in front of the tv, with their headphones on and controllers in  hand. They are too absorbed into the game to notice Jackie and i standing here.
  
I look at Jackie and she says, "And what we have here is the male species in their natural habitat."
  
I bust up laughing, and that grabs Sams attention.
  
He looks at me, clearly confused on why i am here.
  
He doesnt pause the game, just takes off his headphones.
  
"What are you guys' doing here?" he asks in a bored tone.
  
"Lexi told me what your dad said to you. We were worried," Jackie told him, ratting me out.
  
Sam snaps his head in my direction. His gaze is full of anger and betreyal, "What the hell Lexi!" Jackson finally notices us standing here and watches us tentatively, "You promised you wouldnt tell anyone," i know he is hurt by the tone in his voice, but he has to forgive me because this is serious and he cant hide it anymore.
  
"Im sorry Sami. I had t-"
  
"No you didnt, Lexi!" he snaps, "You didnt have to tell anybody! You lied to me! Why would you do that?"
  
"Sam shut up for one goddamn second, alright?" Jackie shouts at him, "She only told me because she cares about you an-"
  
"Bullshit! If she really cared about me she wouldnt have fucking told you!"
  
"Sami, please. We just want to help. And please dont think for a second that i dont care about you, because i do."
  
He scoffs and continues playing his video game.
  
Jackson sits their staring at Jackie and i, confusion written all over his face.
  
"Am i missing something?" he asks.
  
We ignore him. I go over to Sam and crouch down beside him on the floor.
  
"Please, Sami. Listen to me, i-"
  
"Shut up!" his voice makes me jump and i stare at im in shock, "Stop fucking lying to me. I dont believe a single word that comes out of your goddamn mouth."
  
Tears are streaming down my face now, but he doesnt seem to care. He stares at me, his face showing no emotion.
  
"Come on, Jackson," Jackie says gesturing for him to follow her into the hallway. Jackson gets up, and they shut the door behind them, giving us privacy.
  
"You have to listen to me. You dont know where im coming from. I do care about you, and im really scared that i might lose you. I just want to be sure that you're safe, Sami. Please. That is the only reason that i told Jackie. Please, i cant lose you, Sami," i mutter the last part.
  
"Well its too late because it looks like you already have," he says, his voice barely above a whisper.
  
"Are you say-"
  
"Yes. Now get out."
 
His eyes are glistening with unshed tears and his bottom lip is quivering, like he might break down and start crying any minute now.
  
I know he doesnt mean it, hes just upset. He cant mean it.
  
"Sami, you cant be serious."
  
"I said get out, Lexi," i know he doesnt want to push me away, he cant do this to me.
  
I put my hand on his wrist, but he jerks it away, "Leave! Im done talking to you!"
  
He stands up and i mimick him.
  
"You are so frustrating to be with!" he stares at me, shocked, "You always just want to shut down whenever something gets hard! But you cant do that or you'll never get anywhere! You never try, you just push people away, hoping everything will get better!
  
"Well, newsflash, nothing is ever going to get better for you if you push people who actually care about you, out of your life! You need to learn how to trust people and to let them in. You need to talk to someone, instead of bottling it all away, or you're going to be miserable for the rest of your life.
  
"But you just dont get that, do you? You have so many people who actually care about you, and are willing to help you through the hard times. Only you're too selfish and self-centered that you dont realize it. You dont realize how many people would drop everything just to help care for you when you need it.
  
"I sure hope your happy with yourself, beause yet again, you push away people who care about you. And its going to be hard to get them back."
  
I hear the door creak open behind me, and then hear Mrs. Tuckers' voice, "Everything alright?"
  
Sam doesnt look away from me. I see a tear roll down his cheek and i immediantly feel guilty for everything that i just said.
  
"Sam?" his mom says.
  
"Im fine, mom. Lexi was just leaving," he says without taking his eyes off of me.
  
"I thought you were different," i whisper so only he can hear. Then i storm out of the room, Jackie follows closely behind. When we get in the car i cant hold it back anymore. I break down, crying into my hands.
  
Jackie holds me in her arms, rocking us back and forth and whispering soothing words into my ear.
  
"He broke up with me," i manage to sob out between gasps and hiccups.
  
"Oh, Lexi. I am so sorry. We'll get through this, promise. Im with you every step of the way," She strokes my hair, her touch is the most comforting thing i have right now.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°
  
   Oh no! Show of hands, how many of you are mad at Sami? How could he do this to Lexi?

   Do any of you think they will get back together? Or is this the end of Lami?
 
   Let me know what thoughts you guys' have swirling around in your minds.

   Remember to Vote, Comment and Share! Please! I would really appreciate it if you guys' let me know how im doing with this book. Thank you bunches!!!