Deadly

four - edited

Sam and I parked in front of our apartment, Ashley and Andrew's cars still in the driveway.

"It's going to take a while to get used to all the space I'm going to have here," Sam smiled as we walked to the door.

"No it won't," I laughed. "You'll be used to it in a day."

"Yeah, you're right. Bless you for having such a big place."

I laughed again, rolling my eyes slightly.

"So when am I moving in?"

"Whenever she's out, I guess. We can ask her right now."

The place seemed almost naked when we entered. A little less than half the items that made the apartment ours were gone. Pictures, accessories, the blanket that sat draped over the back off the couch- all of them missing, showing Ashley's absence. With the new open space, the room looked much bigger.

"It looks... lonely." Sam said after a few moments of silence.

"I know." I replied, taking in the room.

"It's weird, isn't it?" Ashley giggled as she emerged from the downstairs bathroom. "I think I'll be completely out by Monday. Most of the big stuff is already packed. Sam, when are you moving in?"

He shrugged. "When you're out."

"You don't have to wait that long. Start moving in today."

Sam gave me a questioning look, as if asking if that was okay.

"It's your house too," I told him. "Want to get your stuff today?"

He nodded, a shy smile taking over his lips. "Please."

"Okay," I smiled. "Let's go."

—

It wasn't that I hated Sam's house, it just wasn't my favorite place to be.  The house was big, but Peter over-filled it, creating a lack of personal space. Before the new guy moved in, there were five people living in the house already. Two of them, Mason and Ryan, were stoners. Ryan was an asshole who tried to sleep with any girl that came near him, and Mason was a good kid who got mixed up in the wrong crowd. James, another person in the house, kept to himself, but from the few times I had talked to him, I knew he was a sweetheart. I also knew that he was only living with Peter because it was cheap, and his last year of college, and that he didn't like Ryan either, which made me like him even more. Peter had a give 'em hell attitude, which normally made me feel safe around him, although sometimes it was frightening to be around. Sam and Peter were very close, which was why Sam was the first person to move in with Peter. Sam enjoyed it at first, but Peter kept letting people move in, and Sam quickly got annoyed with the lack of personal space.

When we arrived at the house, Peter was in the kitchen with the new guy. James came out greet us, retreating to his room after giving me a hug and nodding at Sam. Mason and Ryan were nowhere in sight, which put me at ease.

"Hey guys." Sam smiled at the two seated at the glass kitchen table.

"Sam!" Peter stood up to greet his friend, smacking his back when he hugged him. "And Marilyn." he smiled, giving me a much more gentle hug than he had given Sam. "Long time no see! What, are you too good for us now?"

"No! No, of course not, I've just been busy."

"Avoiding Ryan?"

"Something like that."

Peter laughed, gesturing for us to join him and the blonde boy at the table. "I'm sorry, I'm being rude. Marilyn, this is Luke. Luke, Marilyn."

Luke smiled slightly, his blue eyes shinning as he did so. "Hi."

"Hi." I returned his smile, sitting across from him and tucking my legs underneath me.

"Do you want some water or something?" Peter asked, walking to the fridge as Sam sat next to me. I said yes, looking around the room.

"Where's Mason and Ryan?"

Luke rolled his eyes. "Ryan's probably getting stoned and Mason's probably trying too hard to fit in with that crowd."

"Hey, go easy on him."

Luke chuckled, shaking his head lightly. "So what are you guys doing?"

"Packing," Sam answered, taking a sip of my water. "I'm moving out."

"And you need her help to move your whole two boxes?" Peter laughed, leaning against the counter.

"She probably just wanted to get away from her annoying ex-roommate," Sam chuckled.

"Sam!" I chastised, hitting his arm lightly.

"Sorry, sorry. She's being a good friend." he said, rolling his eyes.

"You might want to get up to your room," Luke said, looking out the kitchen window from his seat. "Ryan's back."

"See you later!" I called, already running up the stairs. Sam chuckled, but followed me up the stairs and into his room.