The Girl he Wants

27- We'd Die.

***NATALIE'S P.O.V***

   "Natalie?" She hears Sam call from the other side of the bathroom door, his voice breathless and deep. "What's wrong? Can I come in?"

   When Natalie's only response is a sob, Sam enters anyway, crossing the bathroom in a matter of seconds. "Natalie, tell me what's wrong."

   Natalie turns away once again, though this time her shoulder is caught by Sam's hand. He gently tugs her back to face him, but she lowers her gaze and keeps her head facing the floor. This is completely embarrassing. I'm such a freakin' crybaby. She died months ago. I shouldn't be crying.

   Sam hesitates, but rests his hand under her chin softly until her face is even with his. Natalie still doesn't look into his gaze, nor do the tears stop escaping her light brown eyes.

   Sam says, "Look at me, baby. What's wrong?"

   Natalie takes in a deep, shaky breath as the sound of his caring voice, but she remains stubborn. "You're not supposed to be in the girls' restroom."

   Sam frowns, and wipes away her tears with his other soft hand. It doesn't help, really, because more tears flood down her cheeks, but it's the thought that counts and moves her eyes to him.

   Finally, after gathering the courage to speak, Natalie whispers. "That stupid, dead dummy flashed me back to the night my mom died."

   Sam pauses, taking in the information slowly. "Did you watch her die?"

   Sniffling, Natalie nods. Not seconds later, she is warmly embraced by Sam's arms and is pressed against his thumping chest. She buries her wet face in the crook of his neck, her eyes shutting comfortably closed. "I didn't want her to go..."

   Sam's soothing voice coos in her ears. "Sh... It's okay. You're okay."

   Natalie nods, but doesn't let him go. In fact, she never wants to let go and she doesn't until an hour has passed and Sam says, "I really would like to hold you forever, but I have to pee... Like... Really bad."

   Natalie pulls away and laughs out loud, wiping away her tears. When she meets Sam's gaze, she spies the understanding, kindness, and loving that radiates from them, and wishes he could've met her mother. She would've liked him.

***ELIZABETH'S P.O.V***

   "I brought a movie. I'm inviting everyone to my hotel room to watch it as soon as it gets dark." Finn tells Elizabeth, a mischievous grin spreading across his lips. "It's a scary movie."

"Ooh." Elizabeth's eyebrows shoot up as they all step off the bus. Raindrops splash across their skin, gray clouds looming overhead and casting shadows on each and every student. Dusk is just appearing, streaks of dark colors beginning to flood the sky. She grins. "Fun."

"Yeah." Finn flashes her a smirk. Then, in a quieter tone and with a serious line replacing his smile, he says, "Can I ask you something?"

Elizabeth's grin fades along with his as they enter the hotel building and leave the city's loud ruckus behind. "Of course."

"You know Willow?" Finn questions, his voice low and smooth as he gazes down at his fiddling hands.

"Yeah." Elizabeth replies, nodding. "She seems nice."

"Yeah, she does." Finn answers, blinking. "She is really cute. But... I've never been in a relationship... so..."

"So?" Elizabeth's eyebrows raise in question.

"So, I don't know how to go about the whole thing. So far, I've managed not to ward her off. Although, I'm pretty sure my cheesy pickup line earlier today could do the trick..." Finn bows his head, shaking it.