Stalker

Samuel

        Mom looked at me, "You have everything right?"

I sighed for the fifth time, "I told you Mom, I have everything."

"I'm just making sure, hun. You have you medicine and inhaler, right?"

"Yes, Mom." I was starting to feel a little annoyed and pushed the feeling away.

My phone beeped. I looked down at it.

Mariah: I'm right behind you guys. I have everything.

I texted her a quick "K" and looked behind us, seeing her small white car and feeling a twinge of excitment. 

Mom looked behind us and her eyes lightened, "Hey, thats Mariah's car!"

I gritted my teeth, "Your right."

"I didn't know she was going to be staying! Thats wonderful!" She beamed at me.

"Oh yeah, she's just driving through. Her family lives an hour from here." I lied and twisted my hands together.

Her smile fell into a pout, "Shame."

        Just then, a dog came running into the street chasing a ball and Mom screamed out, swerving and slamming on the brake. We came to a screeching stop and I saw three people jump up and my heart began to beat. It was Hazel. The guy beside her glanced at her worriedly and I felt jealousy rise inside of me. Who was that? They started there way over here and my eyes widened.

"Go!" I yelled out and she pressed the gas and began to drive again.

She looked at me crazily, "What has gotten into you?!"

"I... paniced." I twisted my fingers.

"Did you take your physcosis medication?" 

I coughed nervously, "Oh, that must be whats it."

She sighed, "You have to take your meds, Samuel."

I played along, "Oh, Mom, I know. It just slips my mind sometimes, thats all."

"You can't let something like that slip your mind." 

We pulled into a graveled drive way and I sighed in relief as I saw my dad standing on the front porch with his hands in his pockets. I hopped out of the truck when we stopped and saw my dad smile.

"Sam! You've grown!" He came down the steps and I noticed how I was several inches above him.

I grinned, "It seems so!"

"Your hair got longer." He raised an eyebrow.

"Eh." I flipped my bangs from my eyes.

Dad led us inside and every now and then would shoot my mother an appraising look. Adoration shined in his eyes.

"How are you Emma?" He smiled.

She smiled tiredly, "I could be better, Rick."

"Couldn't we all?" 

I went into my room and put my stuff on my bed. I laid the shoe box by my pillow and listened to my parents conversation.

"So, how did the testing go?" Dad spoke low to Mom.

She sighed, "Cancer. I'm not happy about it. I told Sam so he knows."

There was a silence and then my dad spoke, "Oh, Emma. You will be fine."

"I miss you."

"And I miss you, Rick."

I took my face away from my door and shook my head unpacking. I put everything away in my droors neatly and watched as the sun began to set. I was going to lay low for tonight, but tomorrow was when I would begin. There was a knock on my bedroom door.

"Sam?" My mom's voice echoed in the hall.

I looked up as she opened the door, "Yeah, Mom?" 

She smiled weakly, "I'm gonna head out. Come around whenever you can to see me okay?"

I nooded, "Alright, Mom. I love you."

"I love you too, Samuel." She closed the door.

I headed out to the living room as soon as she left and sat on the couch.

"Hows football?" Dad smiled.

"I quit."

"Oh. What are you doing now?"

I smirked, "I'm in yearbook and doing photography." Photography of her.

"Oh, nice! I did yearbook back in my day." I could feel a story coming on.

After a long conversation I made my way to my room and laid down, pulling out a picture of her and putting it out next to my bed. I stared at it until I fell asleep.