The Loves and Crimes of a Queen

Chapter 4

 Chapter 4

Samantha couldn't keep up with the roller coaster of emotions she was dealing with. Overwhelmed with everything going on in her crazy hectic life. She let out the tears she hadn't realized she was keeping in. She didn't even notice when when the deputy escorted her to the interrogation room. By the time she was seated in the chair the tears had stopped and she was left in a dazed state. She was only pulled back into reality when Sheriff Stone walked in and slammed the door causing Samantha to jump. Damien's eyes were full of pain, "Why Sam? Why did you try to kill the daughter of my best friend? Your own Step-Daughter?"

"Simple. Life happened and hearts were broken."

"What to you mean by that Sam?"

"A lot of things happened that caused me to go down this path. I'm assuming that you want to hear the story and all of the nitty gritty details."

"I don't think I have a choice at this point. Where do you want to start?"

"The beginning. Where else."

1992

I just wanted love. For someone to care about me. My mother never did. "Mommy, play with me!"

"No Samantha. I have better things to do than play with my waste of space daughter."

I thought maybe I could instead of being at home go across the street to the park. All of the other kids were having fun and it wasn't like my mother would notice I was missing anyway. That first day at the park I saw Colin and I would go back everyday I could, just hoping that I would see him again. I went everyday for months and months to see the little boy who laughed louder than anyone else and had a smile brighter than the sun. I wasn't a happy kid but it gave me joy to see other kids be happy and smile. I would just pretend they were smiling for me. I wanted to talk with Colin for so long but for some reason I just couldn't. I didn't even have the courage to ask him to play, but another little girl named Rose did. For some reason I felt like I had to resent her, that if I had asked first I would have ended up with Colin.

Instead of talking to him, I walked away and found a different place to get away from home and my mother. I came across a tree at the edge of the park that seemed like it was separate from everything else, like the hearts and initials on it made it special and different. That tree became my spot to be me. That tree is where I met Hunter for the first time.

It was the summer before fourth grade when I first met Hunter. As per usual I was on my own sitting in my special tree when I heard a voice from below me call," Hey! What's a girl doing in a tree? I thought girls hate climbing in trees. They're supposed to like tea parties or something."

I let out a small giggle at his confusion. Then he called again, interrupting peace and quiet once again. "What are you doing up there?" He may or may not have used more force than he needed to and I may or may not have accidentally whimpered like a sad puppy that got kicked too many times. "I didn't mean to scare you. Could you come down from the tree please?" I nodded my head yes and climbed down from my perch in the trees. As soon as my feet touched the ground the strange boy launched into the most ridiculous apology I had ever and will ever hear. "I really didn't mean to scare you. If anything you scared me. A girl that does boy stuff is scary. I mean seriously what girl likes to climb trees? I didn't mean to insult you, it's just any other girl would run at the sight of me. You know because I'm a Pine and we can't be trusted because we ruin everything. By the way I'm sorry." The entire speech was all kinds of awkward.

I couldn't help but fully laugh. "You do realize that was the rudest and most ridiculous apology that I had ever heard. Besides I love being in the trees. They make me feel safe."

"How old are you anyway?"

"Don't you want to know my name first?"

"Well... that wouldn't hurt. Let's start again. Hi, my name is Hunter Pine and I'm ten. What about to you, Miss I like to climb in trees?"

Slightly insulted I said, "Hello Hunter. It's nice to meet you. My name is Samantha Queen and I'm nine years old."

Hunter's face had a huge smile, "well then, Sammy would you like to play with me?"

Soon I also had a huge smile on my face. That day I realized you can get so much more joy from playing with others than just sitting on the sidelines watching them. Pretty soon the tree that was once just my spot to feel safe became ours. Little did I know at the time it was the sweetheart tree.