Painkiller [ON HOLD]

Seventeen

"I'm making mac n cheese. Do you want some?" I called out from the kitchen.

"Yes, please!" Sam was in the living room playing with Minnie. I sighed with relief, thankful that Sam looked happy. I can't imagine what she's going through. I just have to be there for her.

The mac n cheese was finished and I poured some in a bowl for Sam, who happily finished it within a few minutes.

"Do you even taste your food?" I joked.

She scowled but couldn't hold back her smile and pushed me playfully. "Haha. Yes I taste my food." She rolled her eyes. "I just eat fast, you know that." It's true. Sam has always ate her food pretty fast.

"I know. I'm just teasing." I playfully poke her and she swats my finger away laughing. I can't get enough of her laugh.

She put her bowl in the sink and ran upstairs, leaving me alone to finish my bowl. Sam seemed anxious, not in an uncomfortable way but more so like she couldn't wait to go do something. I wonder what has her riled up.

"Ha! I found it!" Sam squealed. Yup, she was excited for something.

What did she find this time? I sighed. She's digging through my stuff again, isn't she...

I put my dish in the sink and washed the dishes, putting them in the dish washer afterwards.

Sam came running down the stairs holding my football. I rolled my eyes. "Let's go play!" she exclaimed.

My eyes widened, surprised she would even touch the ball. She's never been the athletic type. I mean, she'd come to my games but she's never been interested in sports. "Umm..."

I was about to protest but she grabbed my arm and yanked me into the backyard. "Come on. It'll be fun." She handed me the ball. "Go on Mr. Jock. Show me how to throw the ball." I rolled my eyes at the nickname.

I sighed. She was happy and that's all that mattered. I loved her so much and I wanted to give her the world.

If this makes her happy then I guess I have to give in.

I showed her how to properly hold it and the correct arm movement. She tried to throw a spiral and after a few throws, she finally got one, though she still had to work on the distance.

"Your turn. Throw it to me." She increased the distance between us.

"I'll go easy on you." I threw the ball so that she could catch it.

We threw it back and forth to each other. She was giggling with a huge smile on her face. I couldn't help but smile. I was glad she was having fun. Deep down I hoped this would help ease her mind.

Eventually, she started begging me to throw it as far as I could. I threw it and it went into the neighbor's backyard across the street.

"Now I see why you're the lead quarterback," she said with a huge smile on her face, clearly amused. I rolled my eyes and went to retrieve the ball.

When I got back into the yard, I searched around for Sam. Where'd she go?

All of a sudden, she tackled me to the ground and started giggling. I grab her hands and pin her down. She smirked and pressed her lips to mine. I didn't want things to get too heated, besides it was starting to get dark.

I pull away. "It's getting dark. We should head inside." I lift her up bridal style and carry her to the couch. "Pick out a movie. I'll make popcorn." Sam got up and searched the shelf while I went to the kitchen. "Do you want microwave popcorn or stove top popcorn?"