Glitches

Chapter 38 - Stephanie

It had been half an hour or so with us driving in silence, the only sound coming from our heaving chests and Nick who would grunt in pain now or then as he tried to dig the bullet out of his thigh.

My eyes burned, even though I couldn't remember I had been crying at any point.

We were driving, the sight of the city rushing past the windows as we drove on the road.

The shock from the event had only now faded into nothing. I looked up at Sam in disbelief, the fact that he was actually here, along with the others finally sinking into my brain. The plan had worked. The plan had actually worked.

William was having a low discussion with Miranda about something. Not that I payed attention really. I was too busy looking at the boy beside of me, how cliché and soft it may sound. We just stared into each other's eyes in both disbelief and relief.

Oh... how I had missed his eyes.

A deep lush green colour, like grass after the rain had fallen on it and given it strength to grow. And under the green ocean, the dirt was visible like small brown and golden sparks. They lightened them up in the most beautiful way as they shone inside his orbs like stars on the dark night sky.

I could've died. I could have died and never been able to see him again.

But I hadn't. And he was here. He was actually here. Right in front of me with that stupid grin I hated but at the same time loved the most.

And I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close with my face buried into his chest.

Sam was taken aback for a few seconds, before he pulled himself together and hugged me back with a chuckle. He rested his cheek on the top of my head, humming in content and relaxation.

I realised that this was the first time I had hugged Sam for real since we had met. Sure, we had held each other before, but not like this. The hugs we had shared back then had been hugs of consolation. We had hugged each other to soothe and calm the other one down.

This hug wasn't like that. We weren't consoling or comforting each other. But instead just feeling comfortable in each other's arms, clinging to the other one to hold them as close as possible. This wasn't a goodbye hug or something like that.

It was a welcome back.

And boy, I was glad to be back.

"I missed you," I mumbled into his warm chest, the fabric muffling my voice.

A soft chuckle rippled through his body, making my chest flutter, before he mumbled, "I missed you too."

"No, you have no idea about how much I have missed you," I said, clinging onto him a little tighter.

I could almost hear the frown that must have been forming on his face. He kissed the top of my head, before he placed his head back in its original position.

Miranda snorted from beside us, making me laugh while I pulled back from Sam.

"I missed you too Miranda. Don't worry," I chuckled, giving her a pat on the shoulder while she sat with her legs crossed.

She scoffed, eying me up and down.

"I know you did," she stated simply, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips, "I'm just not the one for PDA, so I would request if you would try to keep all of your lovey-dovey stuff on a minimum when I'm around."

"Oh, I'm so sorry Miranda, I promise to respect your request. Stephanie, how about we make out on the kitchen table the second we reach Thomas's place?" Sam asked while looking at Miranda with a lifted brow and a smirk.