Misinterpreting Fate (Book 2)

6. Accusations

Chapter 6: Accusations

Sam

"Yo lovebirds!" Shawn called from the water. "Get back over here!"

I sighed as I lifted my head off Jaime's shoulder. It was the running joke among them that she and I were secretly dating. No matter how often we denied it, they wouldn't give it up.

"Shut up, Shawn!" Jaime yelled back. Then she looked at me. "Are you okay?"

I shrugged. "I don't think I'll ever be okay again."

"I'm serious. I'll go hunt him down."

I shook my head. "That's not necessary, but thanks. I think I might just go home."

She looked up at me as I stood with her big brown eyes that could probably start a war if she wanted. "Can I come with you?"

I knew what she was doing. She didn't want me to be alone. I sort of agreed - being alone right now sucked - so I let her tag along with me. If it was anyone else though, I would have refused. It also didn't help that I could never refuse her when she used those eyes on me.

"Wait!" Ryan called when he noticed us grabbing our bikes. "You're leaving?"

"Yes we are," Jaime answered. "See you guys around."

"Sam? Really? We haven't seen you in weeks."

I looked at Ryan, who honestly looked pretty sad that I wouldn't be staying longer. I felt bad. "I'm sorry. Next time. Promise."

"This isn't about your dads, is it?" Courtney asked. "They're not going to know you're here, Sam. You can stay a bit longer."

"Can you just leave him alone?" Jaime demanded.

"Now you're defending him?" Shawn accused. "You two probably spent the last two weeks hooking up behind our backs, weren't you? If that's how you want to be, then fine. Who needs us, right?"

I let out an exasperated groan. "I'm gay!" I shouted. In the silence that followed, I lowered my voice to say, "And I honestly just want to go home."

No one said anything as I started pushing my bike up the dirt path. This wasn't the way I had wanted to tell them, but I was done with their accusations. I didn't know why I thought coming out here with them today would be a good idea.

I was almost back to the road when I heard Jaime calling my name. I only glanced over my shoulder to see her coming after me, but didn't stop. She'd catch up eventually. I just needed to leave here.

"Sam, wait," she said, slowing down to a walk next to me, out of breath. "Are you okay?"

I shrugged. "I guess."

"I know that's not how you wanted to tell them. Are you sure you're okay?"

I shook my head. "Nothing is going the way I planned it anymore. I was going to marry Owen as soon as I turned eighteen. That's not going to happen anymore. Why should I care what happens in my life now? What's the point?"

I climbed on my bike, finally on the road. I didn't even want her company right now.

"Sam! Please!"

The desperation in her voice made me stop. I didn't say anything though as I looked at her.

"Your life has a lot more meaning than him. You have friends who care about you - they do, I promise. You have amazing parents who only want the best for you. I honestly wish they were my parents sometimes. You are the best artist I've ever met and you're only going to get better when you pursue that art degree you want. And Sam... you can do whatever you want with your life. Don't let some guy control your decisions. Only you can do that. Take control of your life, Sam. Be better than him. He never deserved someone as wonderful as you."

I shook my head. I didn't need to hear that right now. She didn't know how I was feeling. "I'm just going to go home. You should stay here, have fun with them. You don't have to come with me."

Before she could answer, I was pedaling away. I didn't know where I was going - home didn't seem like a great option either at this point, to be honest - so I just rode. Jaime may be my best friend, but that didn't mean she knew what was best for me, especially not right now. She's never had a boyfriend before. She doesn't know what I'm feeling.

Somehow, I found myself in the last place I wanted to be. My pedaling slowed and I came to a stop just outside Owen's apartment complex. I looked up at the second floor window that belonged to him. Why did he have to hurt me? Why couldn't I still be his? Everything was easier then.

Suddenly the door opened and Owen walked out. He didn't seem to notice me at first, walking down the three steps to get to the street. He started walking in my direction, stopped when his eyes landed on me, then immediately turned around to walk the other way.

I dumped my bike on the ground. "Owen!"

He stopped walking. I ran up to him, going around to stand in front of him.

"I'm sorry if I did something to you," I said. "Whatever it was, I didn't mean to hurt you."

He scoffed. "You're such a child. I'm done fooling around with a kid."

Without another word, he turned again, walking in the direction he first started going. I stared after him, tears threatening to fill my eyes again. It wasn't fair. I wasn't a kid.

I sat down, not caring that I was in the middle of the sidewalk. The pain was back, full force, and I couldn't take it anymore.

"Fucking bitch!" Owen shouted.

I snapped my head up, wiping my eyes to see him holding his face with Jaime standing next to him. Did she hit him? Had she been following me?

"You hurt Sam, I'm going to hurt you," she said. "You're lucky all I did was slap you."

"You're crazy," he spat. Then he glanced back at me. "Both of you."

With a burst of confidence, I stood up and marched over to him. "Tell me why you did it. Why did you tell my poppa I was obsessing over you?"

"Every attempt I tried at getting us caught failed. Mika trusted you too much. I had to change that. He had to know what a fucking little whore you are. You leaving those drawings was the opportunity for me to get away from you."

I ignored the insult. "We loved each other."

"I never loved you."

I hit him. My fist flew into his stomach, but I forgot how toned he was and my hand bounced off him. He barely seemed affected while my hand throbbed.

Owen scoffed, shaking his head. "Leave me the hell alone."

As he walked away, I turned to Jaime. I wanted to cry again, not only because of the renewed heartbreak but also because I was pretty sure my hand my have been broken.

She pulled me into a hug. "Thank you," I whispered. I wasn't sure why exactly I was thanking her - whether it was for standing up to Owen before I could or just being here - but she seemed to understand.

"I think you might need an ice pack for that hand," she said.

I nodded. That was definitely a good idea.