What She Forgot

Chapter Four

this book consists of flashbacks/memories, and this chapter will be one of them. just a public service announcement so u don't get confused as to why ariana in awake in this chapter but in a coma in the previous one. also just a reminder, but all chapters in this book will be in sam's pov. all of the flashbacks will be of my favorite sam and ariana moments from the first book, but this time we'll be experiencing it from sam's point of view!

FLASHBACK: THE NIGHT ARIANA FELL ASLEEP WHILE WATCHING A SCARY MOVIE WITH SAM DURING FAMILY WEEK @ LASPA

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At first, I was insanely bummed. I was really hoping to see my family during Family Week. For crying out loud, I go to a boarding school. I hardly ever get to see my family. I missed watching NFL games with my dad, I missed my mom's home cooking, hell I even missed my siblings. 

Turns out, my parents completely forgot it was even Family Week. They took off to Paris! As in Paris, France. Out of the country! Across the Atlantic Ocean! I'm on the West Coast! I'm pissed. I'm pissed they completely forgot about me and took off for a family vacation. Minus one kid. 

I feel like I'm in a home alone movie. 

The LASPA board decided to take pity on me. I had no other family in the state and nowhere to go. LASPA decided that I could just stay in my campus house with no supervision. The second I found out Ariana was here too, I knew that I wasn't staying in my campus house. I'm staying in her campus house.

Might as well make the most out of the situation, yeah?

I've been knocking on Ariana's bedroom door for ten minutes. She hasn't been doing a good job of being here alone. The front door was unlocked for Pete's sake! I took the liberty of locking that for. After I let myself in of course. 

Finally, Ariana spoke. "Who is it?" 

"Sam," I said. Irritation seeped through my words.

"Sam who?"

You're fucking kidding me. "Your boyfriend Sam!" I snapped.

Ariana opened the door a crack. I could see her peering out to see if it really was me. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. I glared down at her when her eyes widened in shock. She can't be seriously surprised. I already told her it was me! 

"Now that you've unnecessarily ID'ed me, can I come in? I've been knocking for ten minutes, Ariana!" I rolled my eyes. I could tell she didn't appreciate that, but she let me in nonetheless. I'm surprised she hasn't snapped at me yet.

"What are you doing here?" She asked hesitantly. She crossed her arms and looked at me in surprise. 

I gave her a what do you think? look. "I'm staying here for the week." 

Her eyes hardened. I could tell she had enough of my attitude. "Real descriptive, Sam. Stellar job, honestly," Ariana snapped, rolling her eyes. With a sigh, I mentally slapped myself. I was being a jerk. If I want to stay here for the week I need to shape up. I shouldn't take all of my annoyance out on her. 

Heaving another sigh, I told her, "I'm sorry. I'm just pissed at my parents for forgetting it was Family Week and going off to Paris for a spontaneous trip." I tossed my duffel bag beside me as I sat down on her bed. 

Immediately Ariana shoves it off. But as I look into her brown eyes, I can tell she isn't mad anymore. "I know how you feel. My family is in Australia without me because they forgot it was Family Week. It was too late to get me a ticket too so I told them to go without me."

I smile at her accent. Ariana's Australian, something not many people know. She hasn't lived there in four years, but you can still hear a trace of her accent. It's cute. 

 "LASPA let you stay too?"  I asked stupidly. No shit they let her stay! Why else would she be here? Luckily, Ariana didn't call out my stupidity. "Me too. I'm supposed to be in my house, but as soon as I found out you were staying too I ditched that place. Sorry that I'm here without invitation, by the way. I just didn't want to be alone on Family Week."

 "No, it's fine," Ariana said. We sat in silence for a moment. To make it less awkward, I spoke again.

"Should I sleep in Peyton's bed?" I asked. I didn't want to make Ariana uncomfortable if I slept in the same bed as her. Sure we've been fake dating for four solid months now, but it's still fake. I didn't want her to think I was making a move on her. If she thought that, the whole plan would blow. It'd be a waste of our time.

Ariana shook her head furiously. "No way! She's loco about her bed. Once, I sat on her bed and she freaked. My bed is pretty big. We'll just have to share it."

 "Are you sure? Peyton couldn't get that mad," I said. I didn't want Ariana feeling uncomfortable just because Peyton's a neat freak. Ariana threw me a look that had me shutting up. "You know what? Never mind. You take one half, I'll take the other."

As I unpacked some clothes from my duffel, I could feel Ariana watching them. I felt scrutinized as I put my clothes on top of her dresser. I knew Ariana didn't realize she was watching. She does this thing- she observes. She watches people's movements and Ariana can figure out what their next move is or what they're thinking about.

One day, that won't work out for her in the way she hopes. I can feel it.

When I'm finished unpacking, I look at her awkwardly. What do I do now? I don't want to intrude her privacy or anything. Maybe this was a bad idea.

 "Come sit, Sam. We can watch Netflix," Ariana said encouragingly. She patted the spot on the bed beside her. 

Immediately, a smirk flew onto my lips. "Are you asking me to Netflix and chill with you, Ariana?"

Ariana immediately rolled her eyes at me. As she pulled her laptop closer to her, she said, "We're watching Gossip Girl if you don't come and sit in five seconds."

That had me scrambling to sit beside her. Ariana raved about Gossip Girl. It was about rich kids in New York and their issues. Sounds like a seriously girls only show. I do not want to watch it. Ariana knows this. Obviously, she used it against me. Ariana always knows how to play me. 

Since I had sat beside her in less than five seconds, Ariana let me choose what to watch. I wasn't in the mood for a show. If I was, I would've picked Flashpoint. But I wanted a movie. A scary movie. I picked The Conjuring. It wasn't that scary so hopefully Ariana would be okay.

"Just so you know," I said teasingly as the movie began, "if you ever get scared, I'm totally up with the idea of holding you."

"Oh screw off, Wilkinson."

The first time Ariana jumped during the movie, I laughed at her. It wasn't even at a super scary part. It was amusing. The second time, which closely followed the first, I laughed again and scooted closer to her. Just to make sure she knows I'm there if she needs me. The third, which was five minutes after the second, I put my arm around her shoulders. She obviously needed someone to touch her. If someone was touching her, she'd know she wasn't alone. It'd make her less scared. The fourth, a mere two minutes after the third, she scooted against me. With her head against my chest, she fell asleep.

As the movie progressed and Ariana slept deeper, I had a hard time focusing on the movie. I mean, come on. Who can focus on a scary movie when there's a beautiful girl lying on your chest? Her arms were tightly wound around me. I sucked in a breath as her legs entangled with mine.

Ariana isn't a calm girl. She's full of life and snappy. But as she sleeps now, she's calm. It's weird, seeing Ariana like this. Not firing back sarcastic comebacks at me. I like Ariana when she's awake, but seeing her asleep is different. I like both.

Slowly, I begin to completely tune out the movie. I'm completely focused on the sleeping beauty in my arms. As I hold Ariana, I realize there's a smile on my face. I hadn't even realized I had begun smiling. And then, just like that, it hits me.

I like her. I really really like this girl.

I have feelings for Ariana. I'm not pretending anymore.