Alone From The Start (Editing And Updating)

Chapter Twenty

The sight that Lance came upon both angered him and pleased him. He was angry to see Samantha so pale and flustered. She was a mess. Her dark brown silky hair was the total opposite. Her big brown eyes were dull and bloodshot. Although her appearance was an aching sight to see, he was pleased to know that she was okay.

"Hey, Mrs. Coleman." He said as he approached them. Even though he was acknowledging Janett, his eyes stayed glue on Samantha. He couldn't seem to remove his eyes from her. She wore a deep frown on her face. Her eyebrows were knotted together and the expression she wore could not be mistaken for the frown turn into a deep scowl. It was a pity she didn't lash out right then. She was angry, he could tell. It was obvious that she was trying to avoid eye contact but the question he wanted to know was, why? She wasn't mad at him, was she? No, that couldn't be. He had saved her from drowning, of course she couldn't be mad because he saved her?

"Lance dear, it's so good to see you..." Janett said. He hadn't heard the rest of the sentence because he was too busy assessing Samantha. He wanted to abolish the anger from her face. The dark circles below her eyes proved that she hadn't had enough sleep. She looked so fragile he wanted to rap his arms around her just for proof sake, to know that she was real and right in front of him. "You know what, we'll leave the two of you just for a few seconds so that you guys can talk."

Lance couldn't help being more glad with what Janett said. Samantha made no attempt to make eye contact with him. Instead, her eyes were glued to his blue polo shirt. "Have I done something wrong?" He finally asked. The question threw her off guard, he could tell, because her big brown eyes stared directly into his then and her eyebrows were drawn together in confusion as if asking the question; how had he found out? But it quickly disappeared when she shook her head.

"No." Came her simple reply.

"Then what's up with the frown and the angry face? I have the slightest feeling that there's something I did and I'm not at all convinced that it's nothing." He told her. Her face began to redden as if she was on the verge of bursting it out but kept her mouth shut instead. "Aren't I suppose to receive a thank you? After all, I kinda save your life." Her face softened at his words. "Unless you didn't want me to? Did I hurt you when I did?" Just for the sake of annoyance, he wanted to pester her and find out the cause of her anger. He deserve that much.

He'd confronted the guy that pushed her into the pool with an enraged fist to his face and he'd confessed that he had no intention of hurting the innocent girl. He had been set up by Melissa and Lala who threatened to disclose something personal to the whole school if he hadn't done what he did. The boy looked so desperate Lance would be a fool not to believe him. Maybe he was a fool after all, because he had the mere feeling there were more to what he was letting on. He didn't pester him though. He'd never made it a habit to go indebt with someone's personal concerns.

"I should go." Samantha said quietly. Her eyes were downcast as she made an attempt to walk around him. Lance was quick and swiftly stepped in her way; blocking her path. She raised her eyebrows in question to his action.

"What's wrong?" He asked quietly with concern. She shook her head silently. "I'm not letting you pass until you tell me what's up." He pestered on. He could tell that it had an effect on her for an irritated expression appeared on her.

She opened her mouth as if to say something but quickly decided against it. Lance gave her a stern look as she made another attempt to move around him.

"Why are you acting as if you care about me? I'm sick and tired of it. You think I don't know what you have been up to? You and the rest of your 'friends' planned all of this and I was a fool to think that you had changed. You acted as if you regret what you've done but really, you only do this to get my guard up so that you can just torture me all over again. I hate it and I hate you and congrats you have finally succeeded in what you wanted. Do congratulate your companions, will you?." The last sentence was pure sarcasm. Lance couldn't help but feel infuriated and shock with every word she uttered. Not again, he almost groan in frustration.

"You don't know what you're talking about Samantha." He said through clenched teeth. She flinched when he said her name and that was the exact reaction he wanted from her. He ensured that his voice was stone cold, hard and serious. He could not believe that she had even implied he had been a part of what happened to her. Did she not think he was sick and tired of her pushing him away without even knowing the truth of his actions? Hell, he hated the fact that she despises him because in truth his feelings were the total opposite. "I'm sick and tired of you pushing me away. I'm trying to make up for what I've done to you but you can't see that because you're too goddamn naïve." It was his time to lash out. He could not stand having to be shouting at her but maybe it was what he needed to do for her to understand.

"I-- " She started,

"You know what, I'm sorry for wasting my time coming here. I thought you'd at least realize my true intentions but it seems like you don't. So have a nice life and I won't be bothering you again." He quickly turned on his heels. It hurts to say those words but it was what she wanted. He had to give that to her. He had never felt an ache like what he felt in that moment. The truth of his intentions; he wanted her. Damn, he felt as if he needed her but the truth of reality was that you don't always get what you want or need. She wanted nothing to do with him and he needed to accept that. But somewhere buried deep inside of him, he knew he couldn't.