My Personal Fairytale | COMPLETE

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Sam walked up the street back to her house. The walk wasn't long, and she enjoyed the fresh early spring air. When she was just a few yards away, she broke into a run and burst through the door. The school day was done, and Sam had an idea.

"Dad," she said. Mr. Smith looked up from the papers he was reading. Jack and Ellie poked their little heads around the doorway. "Do you mind if I do my homework in the park down the street?" Sam still had her backpack slung over her shoulders, ready to move. No, Sam wasn't an athlete but she still enjoyed relaxing outside. And the day was so beautiful...

"Sure sweetie," her father consented. Sam started to leave. "But," he said, stopping Sam in her tracks, "Take Sunny with you. She's been dying to go somewhere all day." Oh! Sam had forgotten about her dog. She looked around for her and scooped her up. Mr. Smith picked up a cute pink leash with brown paw prints on it and handed it to Sam.

Sam attached it to Sunny's collar and ran out the door with the puppy still in her arms, calling, "Thanks Dad! See you later!"

"Bye Sam! Be home by five at the latest to watch the twins!"

"Kay!" Sam said, her voice growing fainter and fainter.

Once she was on the sidewalk, Sam put Sunny down on the ground to walk for herself. The little puppy strained at her leash, trying to go faster. Sam grinned despite herself as Sunny yanked her arm forward. All the same, they kept a pretty steady pace during the two minute walk to the park. Sam relaxed, thinking about nothing or no one in particular, simply enjoying the day.

At the park, Sam found an empty bench to sit on. There weren't too many people around. She tied Sunny's leash loosely to the bench and took out a purple binder with the word 'french' written across the front cover. Pencil in hand, she opened the binder and started to write.

*****

Will was walking home after school that day as well. His hands were shoved in the pockets of his jeans as he strolled along casually. His mother would be wondering where he was soon, no doubt. But Will wasn't a baby anymore, he was a junior in high school for crying out loud!

Glancing up, he noticed the girl he'd knocked over sitting some distance away. He felt a little twinge of guilt- probably because she unconsciously rubbed her arm. The one she fell on, Will concluded thinking back to the moment. He should apologize. Yes, he'd do that.

Will set off at a brisk pace before he could change his mind. Plus, he comforted himself, it would be a good excuse to talk to her. He stopped about five feet in front if the girl. She looked up in surprise.

"Um, hi," Will said, feeling awkward as he just stood there.

"Hi," the girl said, a note of confusion in her voice. Did she recognize him? Will wasn't sure.

"I'm Will," he started. Yeah, like she needs to know that, he told himself. But it was already out of his mouth. "I just wanted to, you know, say I'm sorry again. For hitting you earlier."

"Oh!" She probably recognized him now. "Don't worry about it, I'm fine." she said. A slight blush (embarrassment?) crept into her cheeks.

"Good." Then there was no more to say. "Well I guess I'll see you around."

"Yeah. See you arou-" she cut of her sentence as her puppy, who he'd somehow failed to notice, pulled free of the bench she'd tied it on. The dog raced madly after something in the distance. "Sunny! Come back!" she yelled, standing and chasing after it. The puppy was already faster than her.

Will's eyes widened with realization and horror as it all came flooding back. That day so many years ago. As if it was happening over again, the same old woman dressed in black appeared in the distance. All this in a split second.

"Shoot," Will muttered. He knew what he had to do. So he broke into a run, trying desperately to overtake the girl he was supposed to fall in love with and her dog. He didn't even know her name!

They were almost at the road, and neither saw the car speeding too fast around the corner. Will ran faster.

When they were close to ten feet from the road, he managed to overtake them. He stuck his arm in front of the girl, and she stumbled back a few steps. With one last lunge, he stomped on the doggie's leash and it screeched to a halt. The car went whizzing by.

Will gently picked up the puppy and handed it to the girl. She looked like she was about to cry, but she held the tears in. "I believe this is yours?" he said.

Sunny tried to lick her face, and the seemed girl seemed to come back to life. "Oh my- just thank you, thank you so much!"

Will laughed shortly. "I guess we're even now."

"I don't know what I'd do if she died." The girl looked up at him and then back down to the puppy. She smiled gently. "I kind of just got her this morning..."

"Well, luckily, she's okay now," Will said just to talk.

"Yeah," she said. There was a pause. Then she spoke again. "I guess I should introduce myself. I'm Sam. Well, Samantha. But nobody calls me that."

"Sam," Will repeated quietly, so she couldn't hear. It matched her perfectly, and he liked the way it felt on his tongue. Samantha.

She laughed. "Will." Oops, she had heard him. She tilted her head prettily, glancing back toward the bench over her right shoulder.

"Do you need to finish what you were doing?" Will asked. Did his voice sound... anxious? Oh jeez, this was going too far.

"Well yeah, I guess I should," Sam said. She had completely forgotten about doing her homework. Talking to Will was distracting, but come to think of it, she actually had a lot to do. Why did her teachers have to assign so much today?

Stupid! Will scolded himself. Now he'd have to leave her to her work. Unless- maybe he could offer to help. He thought about that. But no, she'd probably be offended. She looked like a smart girl.

"Then.. I guess I'll see you around," Sam said, interrupting his thoughts. Now he really had to leave.

"Yeah, see ya," he replied. They walked back to the bench. Sam sat and tied Sunny's leash much more securely to the bench under Will's careful eye.

He pulled the end himself to tighten it. "Can't have her slipping away again," he said with a hint of pride in his voice.

"Right," Sam said. "Definitely not."

Will stood all the way up. "Bye," he said turning and starting to walk.

"Bye," Sam echoed, turning to her work.

Will reached the end of the park, about to step out to the road. He couldn't resist one last glance at Sam before he continued walking. He could definitely see how he could fall in love with her. Had he yet? ...No, he didn't think so. "But you will," a voice whispered in the wind.