The Boy Next Door

Chapter 7

Samantha's POV:

Later that night after Hayden's friends left, he and I were sprawled out on the couch in the den watching Insidious.

"Sammy, do you think I can go to sleep now?" Hayden yawns and stretches. I smile looking at him knowing I made him stay up just because I was too scared to watch the movie by myself. Before I could respond, there was a knock at the door. Knowing it was already 11 p.m, it could only be Lucas or a stranger. Hayden grumbled and got up to get the door as I sit up and listen. A few seconds later he walks in with none other than Lucas trailing behind him looking rather upset. At this point in time, Lucas basically lived with us. He didn't have the best home life so when he showed up unexpectedly there was a silent understandment that something went wrong.

"Hey Luca," I smile slightly using his childhood nickname.

He smiles but it doesn't touch his eyes like normal. This fight must've been worse than usual. "Hey Samantha," he says as he takes a seat on the other end of the couch.

"'Ight guys I'm going to go to sleep, I'm exhausted. Behave. Goodnight," Hayden winks and goes upstairs after we respond with good nights.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" I immediately look at Lucas.

He just shook his head. His tired eyes looked at me, "Let's just watch the movie."

My heart drops a little and I scoot over and lean onto his shoulder. We watch for a few minutes in silence, giving him some time to relax.

"Samantha..." He begins.

I lean up and look him in his eyes. Something in my clicked. Something that made me feel like I finally belonged. It felt like I was looking directly into his soul, and as he looked back at me I felt him connecting with him. I cough to break the silence that developed around us, "Yeah?"

"You know I care about you a lot right?"

His words came as a shock, "of course I do...where is this coming from?" I ask.

" I don't know...just after the fight with my parents I've been feeling unwanted and useless..." His look tore me apart. Yes he was a my brothers friend and several years older than me but I still felt for him.

I lay a hand on his shoulder and look determinedly at him, "Stop, you know you are far from that! You have me and you have Hayden and that's all you need!"

He smiles sadly and wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me to his side, "You know Hayden told me that he trusts me with you more than any guy?"

I look up at him, "Are you serious?!"

He nodded slowly, "that's basically giving us permission.." His voice trails off.

I blush a deep red. I can't deny that Lucas is attractive and he gave my butterflies every time he flirted with me. But up until this moment it has felt so wrong because of his relationship with my brother. My mind trailed back to Jake and I also remembered how excited he was to see that Sabrina girl, clearly a past between them. I looked at Lucas again, knowing I was more secure with him than with Jake and there was a less of a chance of getting hurt. I bite my bottom lip unconsciously and notice his eyes trailing down to my lip, I immediately let it go. "I think we can give it a try..." At that moment, I didn't know what I was getting myself into.

He beamed, "Are you sure? I don't want to rush you or make you do something you're uncomfortable with."

I grab his hand easily, threading my fingers with his and shake my head yes, "Honestly, I think this was meant to happen since the first time I saw you."