After That Night: Until Dawn Fanfiction

Chapter Fourteen

Mike

I need answers. Sam has gotten all these questions in my head now. I told her not to meddle. Why won't she listen? Why won't she just let it be?"

I call Mr. Washington.

"Hey. Michael?" he answers.

"Yeah, it's me. Good morning, Mr. Washington. I hope I didn't wake you. I just have some questions."

"No, no. You didn't wake me. I'm free to answer any questions you have..."

Sam

Once I'm all ready, there's still no text from Mike. With nothing else to do, I flop back on my bed with the off chance of falling asleep despite the light bleeding into my room through the window. Instead of sleeping, though, I find myself pulled into more memories...

The thunder is rumbling and the hail won't stop falling. Lightning lights up the world outside. I came to hang out with Hannah for a few hours, but now I was stuck here because of the storm. Not that I minded. Life would still go on tomorrow. There would still be school.

"Sammy!" Josh calls from the other room.

He comes in with a blanket to find me alone in Hannah and Beth's room, sitting on the bench next to the window and staring out of it at the storm. My knees are pulled up to my chest, my arms hugging my legs.

"Where did my sisters go?" he asks me, walking closer.

"They wanted to watch a movie. I told them to go ahead and that I'd be there later."

"Ah. I see." Josh hands me the blanket, sitting down next to me.

"Thanks," I tell him.

"No prob, Bob."

I chuckle, rolling my eyes.

Josh smiles at me. "If you don't mind me asking, why is the beautiful, newly sixteen-year-old Samantha Giddings sulking by the window? At your birthday party a few days ago you couldn't get enough of watching movies, but now you don't want to? Has this storm washed away the Sammy I know and love?"

I roll my eyes, putting the blanket on my back and pulling it over my body. "No. I just..."

The thunder rumbles and I jump. Josh notices, searching my face with a smirk.

"Wait," he says. "Are you... scared of storms?"

"No," I lie.

"Ha! Liar! You so are!" Josh's smirk changes into a look of confusion. "But then why are you by the window? You wouldn't be able to hear the storm as well in the living room."

"I know... I just thought that if I could get used to it... then I could be braver. And I wanted to think anyways."

" Ah. I see. And think about what?"

I look Josh up and down. "Nothing. Just about when I should say something."

"Say what?"

I shrug. "Wouldn't you like to know."

Josh clutches his chest. "Oh, please! The suspense is killing me!"

I laugh, shoving the pillow next to me on the bench in his face.

Josh swats the pillow away, laughing with me.

"You'll find out when I say it," I assure him. "If I ever do."

"Well." Josh stands up. "I hope you decide to say it eventually." He winks at me. "I don't know how long I can stand the suspense."

Then he leaves and I'm all alone again, trying to become braver in two aspects of my life.

Another memory enters my mind...

I storm after Josh. I think this is the biggest fight we've had since we met.

"Joshua Washington!" I yell. "Come back here!"

Josh whips around, walking towards me and getting in my face. "I don't know if you knew this, Samantha, but I'm seventeen AND you're not my mother. So that's two things against you. I'm pretty sure that I don't need you. I got this whole life thing."

I blink a few times, forcing back any possible tears. "You don't need me?"

Josh's face softens and he tries to reach out to touch my arm. "Sammy, I-"

I jerk away from him. "No, no. I get it. But when you're in trouble, I'll be there anyway, whether you like it or not. Because, guess what? I actually care about you. Even if you don't care about me."

Josh grabs my hand. "I do care about you, maybe too much. I just... I'm sorry. Please just don't go. Don't leave me, Sammy."

I give him a sad smile. "I won't. Not ever."

Damn. Why did we have to be so oblivious?

The long awaited text from Mike finally comes, stopping me from being pulled in by another memory.

I look at my phone to find:

Mike: Be there in five.

I quickly type out a response.

Me: I'm ready for you.

I get off the bed and stick my phone in my pocket, turning the light off in my room, going to the front door, and grabbing my coat. I put my shoes on and exit my apartment, making sure my door is locked.

Once I get outside, Mike has just pulled up in his Jeep with Jess in the passenger's seat.

I run to the car while Mike keeps it running, opening the door to the backseat and hoping in.

"Good morning," I say.

"Morning," Mike replies, backing out of the apartment parking lot.

We drive in silence until we get to Mike and Jess's place. Even then, all Mike says to me is, "Follow us to Matt and Em's place."

What is his deal?

I just nod and grab the keys to my Chevrolet Corvette out of my pocket. By the time I unlock my car and get it, Mike is already driving slowly down the street. I let out a scoff and put the car in gear, pulling out of his driveway and following him down the street.

Once Mike, Jess, and I get to Emily and Matt's place, everybody else is already there.

The three of us walk up to the door together and are surprised when Mr. Washington opens the door.

"Mr. Washington?" Mike questions. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I called Chris earlier and asked if Melinda and I could have breakfast with you guys today. When he told me you guys were meeting here, I made the arrangements with Matthew," he explains. "Here, come on in. The others are in the kitchen with Melinda."

We walk past Mr. Washington and into the kitchen with him. Everyone is gathered around the table, but it looks like they waited to serve breakfast until we got here.

"Have a seat," Matt encourages. "I'll get out breakfast while Mr. and Mrs. Washington tell us what they came here for."

I nod, taking the empty seat beside Chris.

I wonder what this is about.