The Odd Ever After

Chapter 16: This was what was meant to be

It was almost half way through summer, and I hadn't seen Samuel as much as I used to, only seeing him 3 times this summer. My dad and him would conversate when they saw each other, but my dad wouldn't let me know what was said or that he even saw him.

I was starting to get frustrated waiting for us to have some privacy to talk, I was for sure ready to let him know my feelings. Unfortunately every time we saw each other my dad was always outside too, working on his project (rebuilding a '65 Chevy truck) and would zone in on me.

"Milly?" My mom called as I pulled a book from my shelf. Yes, I had a personalized book self in my room full of books given to me by others as Christmas or birthday presents.

"Yeah?" I asked walking out of my room to meet her in the hallway, book still in hand.

"Can you give this to your dad?" She asked handing me a cold bottle of water.

"Sure, anything else?" I asked tucking the book under my arm, grabbing the cold bottle from her hand. The cold nipped at my fingers as condensation began to grow at my touch.

"Can you take Macy out to play? I would but I'm busy in the kitchen." She asked as I nodded.

Macy was my cousin's daughter, she was spending the day with us,  and I didn't mind it one bit. Macy was super adorable. She was a month short of a year and had short straight jet black hair, some pretty grey eyes and these chubby cheeks that would reveal prominent dimples when she'd smile.

I put my book down picking up Macy and balancing her correctly before heading out. She automatically wrapped her tiny legs around my hip and her arms around my neck as we headed out the door. I took the water to my dad before heading to the baby swing attached to the tree.

"Com'n Macy lets fly." I teased. She didn't get the true concept of swinging yet and called it flying since she was airborne without a known reason.

"Yayyyy! We fly Meeelllllyyyyy" She cheered as I buckled her in. I knew she'd want out in about 15 minutes, but this was still somethings she loved.

"Weeeeeeeeeee!" Macy chreed as I pushed her up a little higher. She was giggling letting me know she was enjoying the small tree swing. I took a step back smiling at her as she let out small cheers. Amongst her tiny giggles was a deeper laugh, automatically my head shot toward the figure in the street.

"Cute." Samuel laughed his eyes showing signs of amusement. He continued walking not letting me reply, and after a glare at his retreating figure I walked back up to Macy, the swing coming to slow strides.

"Meely, boy?" She asked. I knew what she meant, she wanted to know who Samuel was, and why he seemed interested.

"Boy's my friend," I guess I thought before continuing, "his name is Samuel." I said pushing her again. Thankfully her short attention span made her drop the look she had as a wide smile broke free revealing her little dimples.

What was Samuel to me? I mean we weren't really friends, but we weren't really strangers either. I would say we were acquaintances, but it didn't seem suitable. I honestly had no clue what we were or where we even stood.

As I was having this internal debate Macy grew fussy bagging to be taken out. I complied and took her out setting her on the floor. As soon as her little legs touched the grass she ran in the direction of the gate my dad had just opened.

"Macy, no!" I shouted racing after her. She was giggling watching her own feet stomping across the pavement when she bumped into Samuel. She fell onto her butt looking up at Samuel before big tears rolled to her cheeks. Even though she was crying I was happy she ran into him, there was a car passing, and a few tears was not the worst thing that could have happened in this situation if I didn't catch her on time.

"I'm sorry." He said awkwardly putting out the cigarette he was just smoking. Walking over I scoped Macy into my arms. She nestled her head into my neck letting out a few more sobs.

"It's okay. She probably just got scared." I told Samuel before looking at Macy.

"See Mace that's why I tell you not to run away from me." I said in a soothing voice as I rubbed her hair. She nodded and nestled right back into my neck sighing heavily. This was a sign she was ready for a nap.

"You know you'd make a good mom some day." Samuel said with a small smile.

"I don't want kids though." I said quickly. It was true, the thought of kids never sat well with me,  and maybe it was because I was always around children of various ages or other reasons, but kids weren't really in my plans. He nodded about to say something when my dad walked up to us wiping the oil from his hands onto an old rag.

"Hey." He said cheerfully looking between Samuel and I. Great, so much for a private moment.

"How are you?" Samuel asked being polite. It was an unusual sight, but it wasn't hard to believe Samuel could be polite.

"I'm good. So are you guys moving out or something?  I saw a moving truck there the other day and I was just curious." My dad asked. I couldn't help but look at Samuel as I felt my heart sink to my feet.

Please say no, please say no, please say no, became the mantra in my head as I chanted it over and over. It felt like forever as Samuel looked over at me, a form of guilt shining in his eyes, almost as if he wished I wouldn't have found out this way. Only problem was I did, and that look gave me all the answers I needed before the reply even came out.

"Yeah. One of my aunts from my mom's side is coming in from Puerto Rico,  and she needs a place to stay. I mean we already paid this place off, so my mom's gonna let her stay there till her sister and brother in law are back on their feet." He replied looking at my dad. My dad nodded as the conversation continued.

I couldn't believe he was moving away. I thought I'd see him again when school started up and maybe things could happen,  but I guess I was wrong. I felt my chest start to pain, and unfortunately at this point Macy became dead weight making it harder for me to gasp air in.

"I'm gonna put her down." I told the two adjusting Macy again.

"Yeah, I better get going too. I guess I'll see you guys later." Samuel said with a sad smile to both of us.

"I guess you will." I said as I turned to walk away. After I put Macy on the couch I excused myself to my room throwing myself on the bed.

Why was it that when everything seemed okay something had to go wrong? I was gonna suck it up and tell him I had feelings for him, and it didn't go as planned. Nothing ever does.

You know those moments when you imagine something happening, or a conversation going some way and the script gets all changed around and it ends up the exact opposite of how you wanted or imagined it? Well this was my moment. I imagined seeing Samuel and we'd admit that we liked each other at the same time, and even though we were different it would work out somehow and our bond would be sealed with a kiss. But it didn't go that way, our bond was broken by miles being shoved between us, not even a good bye hug to comfort me. Everything went completely wrong and the thought of losing what could have been was crushing me alive.

It's sad to say, but 2 days after that conversation my prince charming rode away in his car, maybe to be never seen again. And it's even sadder that I believed fate was cruel and planned this. That maybe this was what was supposed to happen, this was what was meant to be.

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A/N: This is not the end of the book. There will be an epilogue to end this book since there are some loose ends That need tying.

-Jovy♡