Life Catcher

Chapter Twenty-Five: By The Way... Can I hold Your Hand Again?

25.

I walk down the street in the direction Sam and Winter most likely went. I turn down a few streets and finally find Winter and Sam fast walking toward the edge of the forest. They must be in hurry to get back before tomorrow so that Kai doesn't have a fit. I laugh and Winter turns around to look at me. They're about three yards in front of me.

Winter is wearing an ink black shirt and dark skinny jeans. His bleach white sneakers seem like they glow in the dark but the most noticeable feature is his silver eyes. Which suggest that he is angry. His dark brows frown when his eyes lock onto mine. I just smile.

"Hey guys!" I yell. I gave up on trying to get there before them.

Sam turns on his heals and his face turns into astonishment. I notice he is wearing a dark brown T-shirt and strait-leg jeans. His black shoes hit's the pavement loudly as he runs quickly in my direction. I don't even have enough time to dodge him as he grabs me and squeezes me tightly. I decide I'm too tired to struggle and let him hug me.

As Sam rants on how much he missed me I spot Winter. He hasn't even moved from where he was standing when he saw me.

You must hate me by now, huh? I say in my head.

He just nods slowly. His expression is anger but I see a little pain in his bright silver eyes.

What's wrong?

We really need to get back to the hut. . .

I laugh in my head.

Yeah Kai must be furious. It's probably already been 48 hours. I wonder what she'll do when she sees Sam. Dang will that be-

That's not what I meant! Now get that leech off of ya and come on! He yells angrily and his eyes glow brighter.

"Sam. . .," I begin to say and try to push him away but he clings to me.

"-you just don't know how much torture it was being here. Oh God, I'm never coming back here again ya here me? I'm done with my family. I just want to get outta this place. Oh Cleo-"

"Sam! Get off of me! We need to get going," I say and fling him off of me.

He stumbles backwards and looks at me, amazed at my sudden anger. I walk past him and grab his arm pulling him in my direction. When we catch up with Winter he walks alongside us.

Sam looks from me to Winter but remains silent. He must know something wrong too.

I notice that I'm still holding his arm and let go but he takes my hand and our fingers intertwine. Winter walks ahead of us into the forest edge. We walk about half a mile into the forest and by now Winter is a good 100 feet ahead of us.

Sam squeezes my hand. "What's wrong?" he whispers.

I look into his dark brown eyes and think of John.

"I'm not sure but it must be serious. I just wanna go home."

"Me too," he says.

We walk over a tree limb and he trips a little but I hold him steady.

"Thanks," he whispers.

"Sure."

Winter looks back to make sure we haven't straggled too far behind. I smile at him but he turns his head away. I sigh and look down at me shoes. I finally admit that I followed them here and Sam blushes because he knows I heard everything he said on the way to his house.

"I have one question," Sam says with a sigh.

"Hit me," I reply.

"What?"

"I said hit me."

"Why in the world would I hit you?"

I look at him thinking that he is the most idiotic boy I've ever met.

"Just ask the question Sam," I say and rub my temple with my free hand.

"Why are you wearing my little sister's tennis skirt? I didn't know you were that. . .tiny."

I look down at my skirt and shrug my shoulders.

"Did you actually go into my sisters room? That must have been suicide."

"I didn't go into her room I just found it. . .lying around. Looked decent enough so I just slipped it on."

I feel him staring at me but I just look at the back of Winter's head.

"Why did you follow me to my house? And then stayed there the whole time? Don't you think that defeated the whole purpose of me leaving?"

I sigh loudly. "I thought you just had one question to ask me. That was like. . .five," I say and he laughs.

"Sorry. . .I'm just excited."

I smile to myself. "Me too."

"Huh? Why are you excited?"

I look at our hands intertwined together. I'm surprised we are still holding hands. It's been more that half an hour.

"Why are we holding hands Sam?" I ask ignoring his question.

He looks down at our hands.

"Since you followed me and Blade here you should know the answer. Don't you. . .feel the same way? I mean your still holding my hand too."

I blush but don't let go. "I don't know" Is all I can say.