Try and Try Again

Chapter 1: The Beginning

Ethan was different than most guys. He knew how to make me smile. He knew how to get on my good side. He knew how to manipulate me and get me to come back to him. He was a real charmer, that's for sure. Despite all of these things, he meant the world to me. I wanted to be with him despite my friends disapproval. I wanted to be with him regardless of what he put me through before. I wanted him more than anything. I thought we were soul mates, hell, I still do.

So I'm sure I'm being very confusing right now. I guess I should start from the beginning.

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I met Ethan through my sister one day at school. He was her age, 15 years old, a mere freshmen in high school. Now, I was 16 years old and a junior in high school. Yeah, I was sporting the cougar status. Anyway, I had straightened my hair that day just because my sister said something about a boy. I wore a tight, blue, short sleeved v-neck with skinny jeans and my pink converse that I wore everyday.

My sister, Kelsey, looked like me but skinnier and she had darker hair. Other than that nothing was different. You could definitely tell we were sisters. So, we walked up to this boy in the hallway and I was taken aback instantly. His hair was gelled up in the front to keep it out of his face and he wore seriously nice clothes. I mean, this kid was wearing khaki dress pants, dress shoes and a dark red, long sleeved, button up shirt. He was dressed to impress for sure.

"Good morning Kels. Is this your sister?" Ethan asked. Kelsey nodded. She was a girl of few words. "Nice to meet you, I'm Ethan." He said to me.

"I'm Samantha. You can call me Sam, Sammy, whatever you want." I replied. Yeah, I felt like a dork.

"Cool, what grade are you in Sam?" He asked. Damn, he had a lot of questions. I was nervous. I know he was a freshmen and I didn't have to impress him but I wanted to. He caught my eye for sure and he was a perfect gentlemen.

"Eleventh." I answered.

"That makes you sixteen then, right?" He further questioned.

"Yes, sir. Kelsey said you were fifteen?" I asked back. Hey, I didn't want to be the only one answering them.

"Almost, I'll be fifteen in a couple months." He replied.

"Damn, you're young." I said. I have to admit, not the smartest thing I've said to a boy. That had to come as an insult.

"It's not that bad, is it? I mean, most people say I look like I'm sixteen." He implied.

"Well, those people would be right." I replied.

"Thanks, I guess." He said with a smirk on his face. That smirk got me every time. I always fell for it.

"I mean, yeah." I blushed awkwardly. Yes, I was an idiot.

"How about I give you a pen and you give me your number?" Ethan requested. I giggled and he gave me a pen. I looked at him questioningly.

"No paper?" I asked. He put out his arm.

"There, better?" He offered. I held his arm and wrote my number on his wrist with a heart and my name next to it. He looked at it and smirked again. "Cute hand writing."

"Thanks. See you around, I guess." I replied.

"Yeah. Most definitely." He answered. I turned to walk away when he spoke again, "What? No hug?" I turned back around to see that smirk on his face again. Damn, why did he have to do that?

"Sure. If you really need it." I stated.

"Oh, I don't. I think you do." He smirked and shot a wink at me. I walked into his arms for a long embrace. At that moment I was hooked. I fell for him like that. I'd snap my fingers if I could to show how fast I fell for him. He let go of me and I suddenly realized my sister was standing there the whole time. She looked pretty awkward at that point.