It's Just High School

Chapter 17

“Sam?” I asked hesitantly.

“What is it?” Sam replied with a slight tiptoe tone.

“I’ve always been wondering” I paused for awhile, “where do you work?”

She let out a long sigh; like she was dreading the day I would ask her. It’s not that bad, I believe. Nothing is that bad. Unless she works in somewhere completely off-track like a strip club or something. That would have scratched my brains out.

“Do you have time tonight?” She asked almost trying to spit the words out of her mouth.

“Yeah.”

I waited for her to answer but she didn’t say anything. She averted her eyes towards nowhere, deep in thought. I pretended that I didn’t notice and returned my eyes to the hallway. I noticed that she tightened her arms around mine; her nails practically digging in.

Something is wrong with her. She never showed this kind of tense. Not even when I asked her about her past or how she was being bullied. This is an off behavior of hers. I instinctively reached my other hand around hers to give her comfort, but her grip never loosened. Whatever it is that set her off, I’d like to find out so that I can put a stop to it.

As Sam and I passed by the hallway, I noticed that a few sets of eyes were on me. Gary seems to still have some grudge on me by the way he sneered every time we meet eyes, but there is an absence of pranks. I didn’t expect it to just stop especially since it has just been two days from the last one. I’m expecting something big is about to happen, or he turned chicken and ran off.

After we grabbed our lunch, we turned towards our new usual table and my friends were already sitting there. A space was already in between Travis and Jason, while Amanda, had a space for Sam. This had now been our usual arrangement. We made our way to them and sat quietly to eat.

“Hey Sam,” Camille broke the silence after about half an hour.

“Yes?” Sam asked.

“I’m having a party next week at my house for my birthday. Would you like to come?” Camille asked a little hesitantly.

“When is it?”

“Saturday night.”

Sam looked at me hesitantly, like asking for permission, and perhaps asking if she can trust Camille. I can still see that she still has trust issues, but I couldn’t blame her. After hearing her story, I could understand. Before I can answer though, Camille asked me too.

“Come on Dean, she wants too.”

“Who said anything about me not agreeing?” I answered.

“Okay! Come on Sam, please say yes.” Camille asked Sam again, a little more excited.

From what she’s told so far, and as far as anybody knows, nobody has seen Sam in any event. Not any party, not any social gatherings or whatever you might find people. Pulling Sam into a mass of people partying and getting wasted may be too much of a thought for her, but Camille’s never had a history of these. She knows how to control the crowd, me, Travis and Jason being the reason why anything ugly happens outside the gates, not in.

“I’ll go too.” I whispered to Sam’s ears.

“Okay.” She answered to Camille.

“Great! So, can I pick you up at 3?”

“Uhhmm…” Sam looked at me to save her.

“Her neighborhood’s not really big on Mercedes Camille. Can I drop her off at 3 instead?”