That Girl

Twenty~The Whole Story

A/N: Okay, so this is a bit of a continuation from the last chapter. There's still a tiny trigger warning on this. It doesn't state directly but vaguely mentions potentially triggering topics. Remember, this is a work of pure fiction. All opinions and topics talked about are fictitious. Please don't forget that. Anyway, here's this.

SOTC: I Can't Sleep Without You by Brett Young (nothing to do with the chapter, it's been stuck in my head all week though.)
QOTC: I like it when you smile. But I love it when I'm the reason. ~Unknown

~Samm🙈💚💭

~Drew~

Before long we came to a park. She led the way there. Minutes later we found ourselves sitting in the wood chips under the slide just looking at each other. I said the first thing I could think to say, "Do you know where we are?" A laugh escaped her. "Uh, not really. But I feel like we're on the other side of town. I'm not sure how to get back and I don't know Luke's address so I can't just ask my phone. Once we work this out, I'll call Cal and have them come get us. It's whatever," she answered shrugging. I tried to hold eye contact with her but she dropped hers after only a few seconds. I just wanted to judge her mood. I couldn't do that based on body language alone. I needed to see if her eyes were hiding something. But she wouldn't look at me. She just kept playing with the wood chips under her hands. "Why?" She looked up at my sudden question. Head tilted in confusion, she opened her mouth to speak but I cut her off, "Why didn't you tell me? Do you not trust me? Is that it? Do these five months mean nothing? Is that why you never told me?" I just felt like I was the bad guy. The surprise on her face made me think, maybe I was wrong. "God no! What would make you think that, babe? That's not it at all. I didn't tell you at first because I didn't want you to think I was weird. If you notice, I didn't even tell my best friends. To be completely honest, I did forget about it. I've had so much good in my life, so much happy, lately that it slipped my mind that I even did that. I'm sorry if I upset you. It really was a long time ago. It was 3 years of college, a year off of school and my last year of highschool ago. I did it between the second semester of freshman year and the first semester of junior year. After losing Linzy and before my mom's stroke. It really was a long time ago. And near the end, I barely did that. It wasn't helping. It hadn't been helping for awhile when I stopped. I promise it's not something I'm proud of. I did my best to repress it. That's why I didn't say anything. Please don't be mad at me. I don't think I could handle that. I may be clean but it doesn't mean I'm not fragile." She looked at me with begging eyes. And I just couldn't be mad at her. I could never be mad at her. She was my whole world, my heart, the love of my life. So I just gave her a wary smile and pulled her into my lap.

"I'm sorry if I ruined your trust in me. I understand. I don't deserve it anyway..." she sighed, burying her head in my chest. "Princess, you didn't. It's just a lot to take in. I promise I'll be over it soon. It's just something big I didn't expect. But don't you worry, I'm not mad at you. I could never be. You're my Princess. I love you. Words can't describe how I feel about you, love. Just know that" I told her. She whispered a 'thanks' before she curled up better in my arms and we just watched the kids play and the time fly by. Before too long her phone was ringing. She made no move to answer it. I looked down and saw that my sweet angel had fallen asleep. I took her phone and answered it, careful to keep my voice down so I didn't wake her. It was Luke and he was throwing a fit that we weren't back yet, that we hadn't even tried to call or anything. He was even more furious that I'd answered her phone. He told us that the boys and him were coming to get us. Then asked where we were. I told him a park and leaned carefully around to catch a glimpse of a street sign without waking her. He was even angrier then because, as Sam had predicted, we were across town. With an angry growl he announced they were on their way to pick us up then the line went dead. I just leaned back against the slide to wait for them.

Around twenty minutes later, there was a quiet arguing around me. A male and a female voice. Hushed voices fighting over whether to wake us or leave us. Angry growls and begging whines. I got tired of it so I opened my eyes to show them that I was never asleep. Standing around us was, well, everyone. Kate was attached to Jayk's hip. Shelby and Blake's hands were still stitched together. Alex and Levi were staying back, arm in arm. Michael was pacing with an anxious expression. Luke looked beyond pissed. Ashton and Calum looked annoyed by Luke and Kate's arguing voices. She was begging him to leave us alone and Luke was ready to drag us back to his house by our ears. TC and Michelle were the only ones that noticed my eyes open. They both smiled kindly at me. Nick was standing with Alex and Levi just talking, arms crossed. "Can I ask why you're arguing?" I asked causing everyone but Michelle and TC jump. "Well, Luke is mad and he wants to just drag you home now but I mean, you just looked so cute together I didn't want to disturb you," Kate answered my question. "Well, I'm not asleep, as you can see. I wasn't in the first place. I think all that crying earlier wore her out, she's been out since before Luke called. I don't know if we should wake her up or just take her back like this." I replied. Jayk looked between the feuding siblings and I. "If you ask my honest opinion, I don't think we should wake her. She's had a tough day. Just let her sleep while she is," he suggested. Nick sighed. "You see, Jayk, that's where there's gonna be an issue. She was asleep the whole flight and if you let her sleep anymore she'll be up all night. Not that she wouldn't be anyway but still." He informed. Alex scoffed at him. "Then you wake her up. You know she's gonna lose it. You know she doesn't like being woken up." Nick rolled his eyes. "Or ya know Drew could do it. She's less likely to bite his head off than mine. She's likely to chase me all the way back to London for waking her," he grumbled. Everyone looked at me. "Okay! Fine! I'll wake her up. But can you all wait in the car or something? I'll bring her once she's up okay? And Luke don't even give me that look. She's not your sister. You don't have to protect her. From what she's told me you're only a few months older than her anyway." I said. Luke glared at me before he spun on his heel and fled the playground followed by his bandmates, my bandmates, and her friends. I rolled my eyes at Luke's dramatics.

I gently shook her, much like I had on the plane, "Hey, Princess, you gotta wake up. Luke's here to take us home. Maybe we can convince him to get you whatever you want to eat on the way. Can you wake up, baby?" I spoke softly to the angel in my arms. When she did wake up, she resembled a kitten waking up from a small nap. She yawned and stretched a little before she looked up at me innocently. Her greenish-brown eyes heavy with sleep and twinkling with joy. I repeated the words I used to coax her awake and she perked up. If she had been a puppy her ears would be up and her tail would be wagging. I helped her to her feet and we walked hand in hand to the car. We took the two remaining seats next to Kate and Jayk, who was nearly in his lap. One puppy dog face and a question asked in a small voice and Luke was taking us to a KFC. After we pulled from the parking lot and stopped at a stoplight she jumped up and hugged him over the seat thanking him endlessly. He just grumbled out a 'yeah whatever' and tried to hide his red face by looking out the driver's window. I could see it through the rear view mirror. By the time we'd reached the Hemming's house it had faded away. Sam skipped into the house with one hand in mine and one in Luke's, babbling about Luke being the best big brother she never had. It was really cute.

After we went inside, she ate the food Luke had gotten her, sharing with anyone that would say yes when she asked. Apparently, she felt weird eating in front of other people if she was the only one eating. She said she felt rude. She was raised right supposedly. Once she was done, Luke and Kate brought their family out and introduced everyone. There were hugs doled out and handshakes given. Shelby and Sam were taken in as if they had been family the whole time. Luke, the boys, and Kate had told Liz and Andy all about them and how much they meant to them. And now that Sam and Shelby were family, Andy, Jack and Ben all had a 'talk' with Jayk, Blake and myself. It was like talking to her dad and brother all over again. It wasn't, however, as bad as talking to Sam's "big brother" Josh. He's not related but his dad and hers were best friends so he and his sister Angie were like older siblings to Sam and and her brother. He threatened my life. Told me that if I hurt her he'd kill me personally. I was terrified. But honestly, if I ever did end up hurting her, even on accident, I'd let him. I don't know how I'd live with myself knowing I'd hurt an angel. If she couldn't fly because of me, I don't think I could go on knowing I'd hurt someone so sweet and pure. The fear on Blake and Jayk's faces more than made up for the fear I'd received from Josh. That guy scared me so bad. But he was really very sweet with Sam. He adored her and she him. It really was almost like they were siblings. She'd known him all her life and she hadn't known really any different. I could tell he was important to her just by the way her eyes lit up when she talked about him. After the family meetings, we all, and I do mean all - Michael, Ashton, and Calum's families all came over and joined - watched a marathon of Disney movies per the girls' request and choice. It was cute to see the girls theatrically lip-sync and laugh along with the movies. Halfway through Brother Bear, they all fell asleep and we took them to the rooms they were staying in. And then we all went to sleep.

A/N: Okay so that ended happier than the last one. We're nearing the end of this one. We'll be there soon kiddies! I still haven't decided on whether I'm doing a sequel or not. There are so many angles I could go with it. But anyway, until next Monday. Feedback would be greatly appreciated....

~Samm🙈💭💚