Luca's P.O.V.
"Mama, come on. Please? Not even for Connor? Connor wanted to go, come on, it'd be a good time for all of us." I tried to persuade my mom by throwing out my little brother's name for added effect. I had to pay him $20 dollars for him to agree to play along with it. He didn't know why he needed to, and I wasn't about to tell him.
"Luca. No." My mom said annoyed.
"Please Mommy? I want to see the zebras. You know they're my favorite animal." My brother told my mom while giving her his best pouty face. I have to hand it to my brother, he's a really good actor for only 8 years old.
"Fine! Fine, we'll go." She finally said, giving into my brothers expression. My brother hugged my mom tightly then went back to his room. I went back to my room, grabbed my guitar, and started strumming some random chords.
The next morning I woke up, got dressed, and went to the barn to feed the horses. Today was a Saturday, and Sam and I were getting our mom's together for the first time in years. I know Sam hates when I call her that, but I don't know why. The first time I called her that she said something about me not knowing her well enough to call her that, but I swear she isn't telling the truth.
I walked up to my horse, Spirit.
"Hey girl. How are you this morning?" I asked her petting her on her head while pouring feed into her bucket.
I fed the rest of the horses in the barn and went to get ready to go to the zoo.
When my family and I arrived at the zoo, I prayed that Samantha had gotten her mom to come. When I saw her black hair and her small frame, I knew she was here. I don't know how I could pick her out. I mean, it's not like she was special or anything. Wait, that probably sounded too mean. I meant that out of all the black headed girls here, I could pick her out of them all. Then again, maybe it was because she always stood this one way. She had near perfect posture when she stood up. I wonder why. Maybe it was a habit? Maybe not. She turned around suddenly and saw me. She smiled and whispered something to her mom. Her mom nodded, and she walked over towards me.
"Hey Connor!" She said to me, "Hi Grace." she said to my mom.
Okay, so this was her plan? Hope it works.
"Hi?" my mom said sounding confused.
"Mama, this is Samantha." I told my mom, introducing her to Samantha.
"Hi Samantha. I'm not meaning to be rude, but how did you know my name?" My mom asked her.
Samantha looked over to me. I nodded.
"I've actually known your name since I was 12." Samantha told my mom. By the look on my mom's face she couldn't figure out what Sam meant.
"How?" My mom asked her.
"It's too long of a story honestly. But can you wait here for a moment? I need to get something..."Sam said as she walked back over to her parents.
My mom looked over at me. I smiled back at her. Her face twisted up in confusion.
Sam came back with her parents, her parents confused too.
Our mom's looked at each other.
"Lucy?" My mom questioned.
"Grace?" Sam's mom asked my mom.
"Oh my god you're back." My mom said while she pulled Sam's mom into a hug.
"Yeah. Since mom and dad died, we kind of bought their house, and we're staying here now." Sam's mom told my mom.
"Well Mama, I'm going to take Connor into the zoo now, you guys have fun catching up!" I told my mom,"Come on Samantha." I added.
"Oh my gosh! It's so tiny and cute!" Sam exclaimed while we were looking at the Red Panda. I couldn't help but smile as she looked at me with bright eyes. It'd been the happiest I think I'd ever seen her.
"Have you ever been to the zoo Samantha?" I asked her.
"No." She said while gazing at the panda.
"Hey buddy, why don't you go see Zebra over there. We'll be over there in a second." I told Connor. He smiled back at me happily.
"Can I ask you a question?" I asked Sam after Connor left us.
"You just did." She replied looking at me.
"Right. Well that wasn't my question." I told her.
She stared at me for a moment, "Okay, shoot."
"Why can't I call you Sam?"I asked her, preparing myself, for what I wasn't sure, but I certainly wasn't ready for her answer.
She sighed,"Um... Amanda was the only one who ever called me that... and after she died.. everyone kept calling me that, and it didn't feel right at all.", she looked up at me with tears in her eyes.
"I'm sorry... I-I didn't.. I didn't mean to make you sad." I told her.
She smiled up at me through tear filled eyes. I could tell Amanda's death still really bothered her.A tear ran down her cheek, and without thinking I reached up and wiped it off. She looked over at me. She started crying more. But it was different. She was different when she cried from any other girl I've seen cry. She made no noises, no sniffles, nothing. It was just tears. I pulled her over to me and wrapped her in my arms. She wrapped her arms around my back, and put her head into the crook of my neck. People were watching us, but I didn't care. She was hurting, and I was here for her. I glanced over to where Connor was, and he was looking at us. He nodded as if telling me it was okay to stay with her right now. I can say one thing about my little brother, he was raised right. As was I, but when I was his age, I didn't understand most of the stuff he does. He's special, it's like he's older than he really is, mentally I mean. And I was grateful in that moment for it.
