Misinterpreting Fate (Book 2)

17. Mind Games

Chapter 17: Mind Games

Sam

"What are you going to do?" Jaime asked me.

We were currently sitting on my bed. I had called her as soon as Poppa and I finally got home - after having to go to a different store for the groceries. I told her everything, needing to get it off my chest.

I shook my head. "I don't know what I can do." I grabbed my pillow and hugged it to my chest. "I'm so confused, Jaime." Between whatever was going on with Ryan recently and now my apparently murderous mother showing up, I felt like my life was spiraling out of control.

"Do you want to get to know your mom?"

I shrugged. "I always did, but I was told she was dead. Now...? She's alive but she tried to kill me as a baby. I was also getting serious creepy vibes both times I've run into her this weekend."

"Then maybe you're better off without her in your life, Sam." She gave me a small smile. "You already have the best dads. Why throw a crazy mom into the mix?"

That made me laugh a little. "I guess you're right. I just... it's a lot to deal with, especially with whatever's happening with Ryan and... I don't know."

Jaime moved so that she was sitting right next to me, with her back up against the wall like mine was. "Do you like him?"

"He's my best friend."

"So?"

"So... I don't want to think about him any other way."

She nudged my arm. "That kiss last night said otherwise."

I groaned, burying my face into my pillow. "Shut up." I didn't need to be reminded of that.

"Oh!" She poked my side, making me look back up at her. "Did I tell you that I almost hit a cat on my way here?"

"What?" I was slightly concerned by the smile on Jaime's face when she said that. But then again, she really wasn't a fan of cats.

"Yeah, I was on Church Street. All of a sudden, some little white cat ran out from under a parked car right in front of me. I swerved out of the way, right? I knew hitting it would probably send me flying off my bike and I didn't want to get hurt."

"You're sick," I said, trying to hold back a laugh. Her enthusiasm was contagious, as bad as the story was.

"I'm not done." At this point, she was laughing so hard she could barely get the words out. "I don't know how it happened... but my back tire ended up hitting it."

"Why is this funny to you?" I exclaimed. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing! I swear!" She took a deep breath, calming herself a bit. "Turns out it was just a plastic bag!"

Her face turned into one of disappointment, like she had wanted to run over a cat. I completely lost it, bursting into laughter.

I stood up from the bed suddenly. I had definitely laughed too much. "I gotta pee. Hold on." Maybe this is what I needed. Jaime always knew how to make me feel better, and definitely was able to make me laugh.

When I returned to my room a minute later, I was shocked to see Ryan standing next to my bed. "Ryan?" I questioned. "What are you doing here?"

"And Courtney!" she had to announce from where she was standing by my dresser. "But of course, you only have eyes for him. Never mind me."

I rolled my eyes. "That's not true. Now, what are you doing here? And how did you get in?" As far as I knew, Poppa had already left for work. I really hope they didn't use the window again. At some point they were going to get caught and it would be my fault.

"Sam," Ryan said with a strange amount of seriousness. "I've never told you this before, but I think it's time you found out. I possess the ability to walk through walls."

I waited until his straight face cracked, which went longer than I expected it to. Eventually though, he smiled and started laughing. "God, your face!"

"My face? How'd you get in here? Seriously."

It was Courtney who answered. "The window, of course."

I turned towards her. "Stop using the window! My dads will be mad if they find out!"

"Well maybe if someone answered their phone once in a while..." Ryan said, obviously referring to the fact that I hadn't looked at the message he sent me earlier. Honestly I just had too much on my mind today to want to open it.

"He answers me," Jaime spoke up. I glared at her. She was not helping.

Ryan scoffed, pretending to look hurt. "What did I ever do to you, Sam?" He took a step closer to me and my breath caught in my throat. "I thought I was your best friend, Sam."

"What are you doing?" I muttered.

He took another step closer. "I'm not doing anything."

"You're playing with my head."

Ryan smirked, taking one more step so that he was inches away from me. "Oh really?"

"Stop." The word came out as a whisper. I knew what he was planning, but I honestly didn't know if I wanted him to stop or not. I couldn't think straight.

"You want this." He had also dropped his voice to a whisper. That alone was seriously doing something to my mind. Then he leaned in closer and I couldn't move to try to stop him.

"Uh, guys?"

Ryan took a step back from me, clearing his throat. I can't believe I almost let him kiss me again. I shouldn't let him get to me like that.

I crawled back onto my bed next to Jaime, burying my face into my pillow to hide my blushing face. I felt so embarrassed right now. How could I have let myself do that? He needed to not affect me this way. I hated it.

Someone grabbed my ankle and yanked me off the bed. From my new position on the floor - with a sore butt now - I glared up at Courtney. "What?" I demanded.

"Come on," she said. "We're not staying here for the rest of the afternoon. We're going to the lake. You can't say no."

I sighed, getting to my feet. I guess today couldn't turn out any worse than it was earlier, as long as Ryan doesn't try something like that with me again.