The Garden Where We Met

Chapter Twenty-two

Annabelle

Prom yesterday night was the best night of my life. Also the best day, when I was getting ready with my mom. The only part that really ruined it for me was the drama.

Sam and I were told by multiple people that Sabrina Cavina liked him.

That's when we decided to go take a walk outside on the nice paved path outside and discuss this, it was really getting hot in the gym anyway. Despite the fans and water jugs.

The complicated part was that I didn't want to hurt Sabrina's feelings, and that's exactly why I sent Sam to come find her and walk her home when we realized she had been watching us the whole time.

I remember wondering what state she was in.

Surely, not happy. Definitely, heart-broken. But more importantly, I remember how I called my mom to tell her what was happening.

"Drama like this is more than normal for prom," my mom told me. But she drove all the way to my school to come talk to me anyway, which I thought was so sweet of her. We sat together and talked on the bench, where I had sat and talked with Sam not so long ago but what seemed like ages ago. I told my mom that me and Sam were nominated for Prom King and Queen. She started crying and told me that she and dad were nominated too, at our age.

"I guess it just runs in the family," she nodded and looked at me and we both chuckled a little at that, it was nice.

"I guess it's just in our blood," I added.

Then we got all serious and started talking about Sabrina.

I started crying.

"I know Sam doesn't like her and likes me," I stated through tears. "But for some reason, I'm scared. I'm scared, mom. What if he changes his mind? What if I did the wrong thing by forcing him to walk her home?" I gasped. "What if he, somehow, by some false miracle, develops feelings for her!?"

I know it was a silly thing to say but I couldn't help wondering about all these terrible thoughts. It felt good to say them out loud to someone, and get some opinions.

"No no," my mom told me. "You did the right thing," she reassured me. "You know how many girls wouldn't have done what you did Annabelle?" She didn't wait for me to answer. "Almost no one. Almost no one is as thoughtful and caring as you," my mom reassured me, putting her hand around me as if to protect me like a mama bear does her bear cubs. "And Sam cares about you so much. He told me he worries about you all the time. He's always thinking about you, even when he's not, you always somehow find a place in the back of his mind. You two are going to have a bright future, I just know it, and dare I say, endgame?" my mom finished.

Just then Sam came back to us through the bushes.

"I can't do it," he told me, then saw that I was crying. "What's wrong? If you don't want me to do it Annabelle just tell me and I won't!" Sam exclaimed, sounding worried about me.

"It's not that," my mom explained. Sam looked at her. I don't think he noticed her until now because he was so focused on me. It made me smile softly.

"Oh hello," he said to my mom politely, noticing her for the first time.

"Hello," my mom said back. "Don't worry about Annabelle, she will be alright," she said, patting my shoulder gently.

But Sam didn't look so convinced.

"Okay," Sam said, sounding worried anyway.

"Do it, Sam," I told him. It came out more sincere than I really was feeling.

"Are you sure?" he asked to confirm one last time. I nodded. I wondered what they would talk about as they walked together through the moonlit streets.

"Anything for you, Annabelle," Sam gulped as he pushed his way back through the bushes. I smiled. Maybe my mom was right after all.

"Can I tell you a secret?" my mom asked me.

"Go ahead," I told her.

"I'm not supposed to tell you this at all....will you promise not to tell anyone?" my mom asked me.

"Of course. I promise," I replied, turning my attention to her. 

"Sam told me that he doesn't need to go to college to understand that he wants to spend the rest of his life with you. He's had the ring ready for almost four years now," my mom said.

I started tearing up again.

But I was confused.

"But we have only been dating for four years," I said.

"I guess he just knew," my mom told me.

"I guess he did," I said. "I know I did."