The Ones That Got Away

mmmmkay, buddy

"Don't need money, all I need is you." Sam sings along to the radio on the way to school. And on the way home. He sings along to the radio basically anytime he's in the car from what I can gather. His music taste is kind of surprising, to be honest. I thought he'd like country music or maybe rap or maybe rock but I didn't expect him to lean towards dream pop and indie pop. It's not a bad thing, it's just.... Really fucking funny.

Since I got ungrounded, Sam or Henry brings me to school. It's been about two months since the night we all ended up at Laura's house. And needless to say, my parents weren't exactly happy that I got home so late and I was grounded for two weeks. By grounded I mean, mom takes me to school, tells me I have to come home right after, I convince her to let me hang out with my friends, and I come home before a set curfew. I've never actually been grounded before, my parents don't know what to do.

Sam pulls the car to a stop, "Here's your stop, milady." I roll my eyes and laugh, "It's your stop, too." He says that every time he brings me to school. He gets out of the car grinning at me innocently. "Bet Henry doesn't say anything like that, huh?" He teases. Is he jealous of Henry and I being friends? "Actually, he does." I inform, walking in the direction of our school. "Wait, what?" Sam sounds dumbfounded as he catches up to me. "Yeah, he says the same thing but is more dramatic and kind of like makes fun of you a bit." Henry will open my door and bow and formally escort me to the school. He'll raise his voice a bit to sound like Sam and puff up his chest. "Oh." Sam looks at the ground passing below his feet.

I put my hand on his arm, his tan skin is warm against my pale hand. "Sam, it's nothing. He's just being silly. No need to get jealous." Sam gasps and turns red. "I'm not j- jealous," he sputters. "Just taken off guard is all." Mmmhm mmmkay, buddy. Nothing has happened romantically between anyone in our friend group since the first week of school. Laura decided to move on from Henry and Sam and she got a boyfriend from the grade above us, his name is Austin. And since Laura and Austin got together a few weeks ago, Sam and Henry have been talking to me more, but never want to talk to me together.

The morning passes slowly but surely just as it always does, when did we form a routine? And usually lunch is always the same, consisting of Sam talking, Laura listening until she leaves to sit with her boyfriend, Henry typing about fifteen hundred words per lunch hour, and me simply just existing. Today, Laura's not there. I glance over to where she usually sits with her boyfriend and he's not there. "Ugh, Laura's sick today." Henry groans as he sits down next to me. "Huh?" I ask. Henry pulls out his phone and shows me a text from Laura, "Won't be at school, sick."

"Oh, I hope she feels better soon." I mutter. Bzzz-Bzzz. I read a text from Sam out-loud, "Won't be at lunch but meet me after school, my car." Henry's eyebrows furrow, "does he say things like that often?" Bzzz-Bzzz. I read my next text from Sam out-loud, too, "Don't tell Henry." I look up at Henry and shake my head, "No, he never says stuff like this." Henry pauses and looks down at his half-eaten burger then back up at me. "Has anything happened between you and Sam?" He picks up his burger and starts eating, as if to prove it's a casual question.

"No, he barely even comes within a foot of me." I answer. I put my hands next to me, "See, even right now you're closer than a foot away from me." My hand is resting partially on his thigh and we both look at it. "So," Henry starts feebly. He clears his throat, "So, he's acting like contact with you could result in death?" I remember this morning and how Sam brought up Henry. "Well, this morning he seemed kind of jealous of you." Henry chokes on his food. "Well, maybe not jealous, but kind of like he's trying to impress me more than you can or something like that." I add quickly.

Henry's face is red, I can't tell if it's embarrassment or the fact that couldn't breathe for a little bit. "Okay, I'll wait at school during your talk with Sam and when it's done say that you forgot something and come inside to meet me." He sounds... angry? "Um, alright." I say slowly. "What if says he wants to come with and walk me to me locker or whatever?" Henry thinks about this for a moment. "I don't know, you're a smart girl. Think of something." And with that Henry leaves. 

----

I walk over to Sam's car and wait. He's not here yet? Henry didn't mention any about this during our next two classes, he was just normal, silly Henry. Does he know what this could be about? "Ro," Sam breathes out as he slows his pace to a stop right next to me. "Ro, I have something to tell you." My heart pounds in my chest. He hasn't called me Ro since Laura's house. I hold his gaze, "Okay." He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. "Will you be my girlfriend?" He asks, the words streaming out of his mouth so fast I'm almost sure I heard him wrong. "W-what?" I stutter. His face turns redder than a tomato.

Sam grabs my hands in his, suddenly more confident than before. My face heats up. "I said," he starts smoothly. "Will you, Rome, be my girlfriend?" My heart is beating so loudly I'm surprised he can't hear it. Oh my God, Rome. Say something! "I- I." I look down and try to find my voice. "I'd love to." I answer looking back up at his green eyes. He lets out a big breath, "Oh thank God." He said. "I was scared you would say no."

-----

When Sam takes me home, I remember I was supposed to talk to Henry. I text him, "I'll call you tonight, couldn't leave convo."

He texts back, "fine, u need to tell me all of the deets."

I smile internally and text back, "thank u."

"Who ya texting?" Sam asks curiously. I don't think I should tell him the truth, he doesn't seem to like how close I am to Henry. "My mom," I lie easily. "She's at the store and wants to know if I need anything." He nods his head in understanding as he pulls into my driveway. "May I walk you to your door?" He asks politely. "I suppose that wouldn't be too bad." I answer while getting out of the car.

He puts his hand on my lower back as he walks me to my door. "I'll see you tomorrow, Sam." I lean up and kiss his cheek before walking into my house and close the door behind me. I stand with my back against the door for a second, taking in all the events of today. Then I sprint upstairs to my bedroom, in desperate need of a call to Henry. 

First new chapter since 2016!!!! now time to disappoint anyone who actually keeps up with the book! I probably wont post very often. at least until I get a computer to work on. Maybe I'll post several chapters at a time bc I'll write them in the notes on my phone??? idk we'll see what happens.

-holly