Troubled

Chapter 8 - The start of a new season and a new semester, darn it!

Back to nicole's POV! xoxo

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It was the first day back, and the snow in the school parking lot had melted a little more, I noticed. 

I was hurriedly stuffing my books into my locker when I felt a sudden, sharp jab on my waist, making me shriek and jump three inches above the ground. "What the he―"

Flustered, I started to turn around, but a pair of huge hands covered my eyes and nose from the back so I couldn't see who it was.  

Guessing from the faint scent that wafted from the hands into my nose- soap with a little bit of mint- soon it became seemingly obvious who had so expertly caught me in his trap. "I know it's you, Sam." 

At that, there came a burst of laughter from my captor that proved my guess to be right. Sam removed his hands from my face and I blinked rapidly until I could see the amused look on his face that ticked me off a little more since I almost had a heart attack on the spot when he poked me.  

"I hate you," I grouched and socked him in the gut. He seemed entertained by my reaction and I avoided looking toward him, even when he started tickling me under my chin I did my best to control the laughter that was bubbling up inside me, threatening to escape. It was so hard to stay mad at Sam. Sam Watson, with his brown-blonde hair and chocolaty eyes, he had this effect on everyone that only he possessed. 

I glowered and silently went back to rearranging my stuff as he casually leaned over my locker, towering over me. Watching the scowl on my face, he said teasingly, "Aw, come on, don't be like that, Nicky. Not on the first day back! Don't I get a 'welcome back' hug?" 

I couldn't suppress my smile anymore when he said that, and I let out a fit of giggles. Seeing this, Sam smirked victoriously and wrapped his muscular arms around me and I circled my arms around him.  

I knew he'd wanted this all along. I snuggled in his embrace and remembered how he told me, while we were sitting on the balcony of Taylor's Cape Cod villa last summer, that he wished we could somehow be more than friends. I couldn't, though. I mean, I love Sam as one of my best friends. He's really, really sweet, but I don't know if I can love him that way. That was what I'd told him, but still, I admit that I constantly tease him by playing a little bit too flirty...  

I gave him one last squeeze and inhaled his familiar scent that lingered on his long-sleeved tee-shirt and he pulled away reluctantly, but not before I executed a perfectly planned small, soft kiss on his cheek, near the corner of his mouth that made his breath become a little bit ragged and I swore I could've heard his heart beat faster. 

When he looked at me again, I gave him a smug smile that made him move closer and murmur in my ear, his brown eyes darkening.  

"I missed you, babe." 

I let out a scoff at the name he called me and pushed him away, a smirk playing on my lips.  

"Still not your babe, bro," I punched his arm playfully. Hearing my response, he chuckled and tucked a loose strand of my hair under my ear. "A guy can try, right?" 

I chortled at what he said and just then, Cameron appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. "Hey guys," he high fived me then turned to Sam for a fist bump.

He had grown so big since I've last seen him- what did he do over the break? To get those massive arms and broad chest must've taken him a lot of work and it seemed impossible during this season, but I knew him well enough to know that he could've been working out in his room every single night since it was too cold to go outside or even drive to the nearest gym as the snow blanketed the roads in the heart of wintertime. That's Cameron for you. Today he was looking particularly cute in his varsity sweater and he had his brown hair mussed up attractively. Not that I was interested in him, though...  

"Hello? Earth to Nicky," Cameron said, interrupting my thoughts. 

"Oh, sorry, what?" I blinked. 

"I was saying that Janet was looking for you." He pointed down the corridor on the left, and I bobbed my head up and down. Then he turned to Sam. "Hey, did you hear?" 

"Yeah, man, I did," Sam nodded. "Apparently they just found out today." 

What were they talking about?

"Find out what?" I pestered. 

"Connor's back in town," Sam said. I furrowed my brow and thought about it for a while, but the name didn't really ring a bell.  

"Who's Connor?"  

"My right hand man," Sam guffawed and Cameron let out a chuckle before explaining further. "He's an old mate of ours. He moved to England to spend a year, 'cause his dad got this huge business opportunity or something there. His family's stinking rich, but he's not the stuck-up type or anything. He left a couple of months before you moved here." 

"Oh." I said, before checking the time on the clock overhead and fishing in my locker again for my schedule. "Ugh, I have Literature after Homeroom. Walk me?" I asked Sam. 

Cameron then left since he wasn't in the same homeroom as us, so we walked to Mr. Warren's class together. As we walked down the hallway I had my books on one arm and another clung to Sam, and he had his arm around my waist, but in an easy friendly-like way. That was actually another good thing about him- he was so comfortable to be around, so easy. It's like everything's natural and it's never awkward, and it was good to know that he would always be there. 

We were calmly making our way to class when Janet barreled into us.  

"Connor's back, I heard!" she squealed. 

"Yeah, he is." Sam mopped his brow. "And I believe you have a boyfriend?" 

"I knooow," Janet said lamely. "I haven't forgotten. I'm just excited, that's all. Nicole, you gotta meet him. He's cuuute!" 

I shrugged and doubted that I would like this 'new guy' more than a friend, like Janet was expecting. She was overreacting big time. I tugged on my sweater, staring at the big-eyed cat printed on the front, and pulled up my sleeves. 

"But obviously not cuter than me," Sam wagged his eyebrows, being silly.  

"You wish, Watson. You're just jealous." Janet teased. 

"You'll like him when you meet him, Nicky. He's cool." Sam grinned at me, ignoring Janet's comment, and I stuck my tongue out at him. 

"But I'm still the cuter one," Sam said and puffed his cheeks like a chipmunk, moving closer to me until his face was right in front of mine, and I swatted him away playfully, laughing. 

Janet rolled her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself. You're such a flirt, Sam," and he blew a mouthful of air in her face in response, making Janet cave in and start giggling as hard as I was. "You have badbreath," Janet pushed him away; still laughing but this time she was obviously giving him her goo-goo eyes and battering her eyelashes. 

"Um, you have a boyfriend, don't forget that." Sam reminded her again and shot her an amused look, obviously noticing Janet's not-so-subtle intentions and she stepped back, pretending to be insulted. 

"I was just having fun with you, as friends," she pouted." Screw you, Watson. You're such a killjoy." 

He smirked at that.

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hey peeps x

ANOTHER ONE FOR YA. you have to love us for this. i'm typing so much lol

muah.

plus i love ivonne. this chap is dedicated to her.

nata. plus a bit of niki.