What you and I could've been

The Meet

"Okay, so I'm not in love with anyone. Why is that bad?"
Sam and I were taking a walk in the park after school. She continued hissing at me for not falling for anyone. Yet.
"Its just you've seemed really sad ever since your big blow out with Gena and the fact that Victor is not here anymore. I think you need your heart filled with that strong emotion." Sam suggested.

My mind went blank. I remembered Victor. He was my best friend for years all the way until 9th grade. We both had a pretty close connection. All until he had to move to Virginia. I missed him.
"Really? You have to remind me of Victor?" I asked her.
She shrugged, "You two could've been together."
All in all, we actually could have. But his military brother had died in a war and he was sent to be buried in Virginia. Victor wouldn't have been happy being almost half way across the country away from him. Dead or not, he wanted to be close to him. That was the thing about Victor. He had a true heart.
"Yeah but I guess not everyone finds a path like that in life." I spoke.
Jess linked her arm with mine and we started heading for a playground swing set.
"That's the thing about you. You always know how to make me feel deeply sentimental." Sam replied.
We both swung together. Sam's presence made me feel special in a way. A way that Gena's presence used to make me feel.
"You know what? Screw boys and love. You have me and I have you." Sam spoke.
I smiled at her. Being already broken about me and Gena, Sam just always made me feel better. We never let each other down. Even though our friendship is strong, our meet was interesting.

"Alright class, I'm going to choose partners now." Mrs. Arlington announced to our 6th grade language arts class.
I looked around the room knowing no one around me.
"No..." I mumbled under my breath.
Mrs. Arlington began speaking, "James Angus and Sofia Torres."
Some people in the room quietly whispered while James went to move next to Sofia  who had her hands cupped into her face.
I began doodling into my notebook. I wished Gena was in that class so there could be a chance that I would be partnered up with her.
I zoned out for a while before I heard my name called out, "Jessie Gallegos and Samantha Joyner."
I looked around the room and found myself making contact with someone I didn't know. She stood from her desk silently, collected her items, and began heading towards me. My heart began stopping. I wasn't social.
"Hello." Samantha said seeming a little shy.
"Hi." I waved at her.
She put her stuff  down next to me silently. We didn't say a word to each other. She began to get out her supplies for the writing project that we were working on. I took out mine.
"Okay class, you may begin." Mrs. Arlington announced.
I began thinking of what to write. I saw Samantha staring at her paper with her pencil stabbing the paper. We both knew we were supposed to work together, but yet we both felt we just wanted to do it alone.
"Do you...have any ideas?" I asked her.
She sat in silence and turned to me, shrugged, then went back to her paper.
Great. I'll be the one carrying both of us. I grabbed my pencil and began writing. As I was writing I looked out of the corner of my eye and saw Samantha eyeing my paper. I saw her write down the exact words that I was writing. So I guess I'll be the one doing all the work and the teacher still will give us both the credit. Wonderful.
"Could you move your arm a little?" She asked a little concerned.
I followed her orders and moved my arm from where she couldn't see. She continued jotting down the words that I was writing. For the rest of the time, it was complete silence with me writing and her copying. She seemed a little stubborn when she cleared her throat whenever she couldn't see my paper.  As usual, I would follow her orders and moved whatever was in the way. I seemed to begin feeling uncomfortable with her as my partner. I was hoping the teacher would see what was going on and tell Samantha to cut me some slack, but the teacher just kept circling other parts of the room.
"Alright class, time to pack up." The teacher announced.
Thank god. I had already felt so uncomfortable spending any more time with her. She quickly packed her stuff and exited the room without even thanking me for letting her copy me. Oh alright then.