In Your Arms (15 page)

“I know it's crazy, if you ever need to talk, I’m here,” he whispered.

“Hey, Phil!”

Sam glanced up at Josh, who was looking at her suspiciously. She looked away.

“Yeah?” Phillip turned toward Josh.

“I was just wondering what happened to you. ‘Cause you said you would be right back,” Josh said.

“I met Sam in the hallway.”

“You okay, Baker?” Josh asked, looking at Sam.

Sam nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

“What was that, Baker?” Josh said aggressively.

“She’s fine, Josh. What’s your problem?” Phillip said, pushing to his feet.

“Nothing, is she crying about Billy? We’re all torn up, but she didn’t even know him,” Josh said suspiciously. “Why are you crying, Baker? Why do you act all scared every time you see me?”

“Josh, just go,” Phillip said, blocking Sam from Josh’s view.

“Sorry, man, I didn’t mean to make your girlfriend so uptight. Man, I liked Tracy so much better, brainless with a hot body, nothing like her,” Josh said, looking down at Sam.

“Leave, Josh. Now!” Phillip sounded pissed.

Josh began walking back to the cafeteria.

“I’m sorry about that, Sam,” Phillip said, helping her up.

“It’s okay,” Sam said, her voice trembling. Josh had looked at her like he knew she was hiding something. She had to keep it together when she was around him, or pretty soon she’d find herself dead like Billy.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, I should get back in there though.” Sam pointed toward the cafeteria.

“We’re already out here. What’s the harm of staying out here?”

“I have to...it’s going to look suspicious.”

“Suspicious?” he asked, confused.

“Yes, he’ll know. I can’t let him find out.”

“Who will know? Find out what?” Phillip gave her a strange look and she knew she was talking crazy.

“Nothing. I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Sam, please, you can tell me anything. I want you to trust in me,” he said, taking her hands in his.

“I can’t.” Sam looked down at their hands. His fit perfectly around hers. She wanted to believe in him, she really did. She was so scared.

Phillip put his finger under her chin and lifted it slowly until he was looking into her eyes. He touched her cheek softly with his thumb.

Sam closed her eyes to his soft, warm touch. She was safe around him. He made her feel like everything was going to be all right.

Phillip leaned in closer, and Sam took a deep breath. He smiled slightly as his lips softly captured hers. Sam melted in his arms, losing all sense of time or place, until the bell rang.

Phillip nearly dropped Sam at the sound, seeming as flustered as she was. They stared at each other for a long moment.

“Well, then, Sam, err, I’ll see you after school,” Phillip said, seeming like he wasn’t sure what to do.

Sam smiled at the abrupt ending to their kiss. Phillip sprang away from her so fast, she almost fell to the ground. Upon seeing Phillip’s flustered state, Sam couldn’t help but laugh. She was glad to see he had been as affected by it as she had.

“Listen. I was going to ask you—I wanted to know if—” Sam smiled at his loss of words. “Do you want to come over to my house tomorrow? You can bring Benjamin.”

Sam looked up at him. “Uh…sure…I’ll have to ask my parents, but I think it can be arranged.”

Phillip smiled down at her. “Great. I actually have to run to practice, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Sam nodded. “See you tomorrow, handsome.”

Phillip made his way back to his locker, bumping into a few students on the way there.

“You okay, Sam?” Alex said, walking up to her, Michael trailing behind.

“I’m fine,” Sam said dreamily. She couldn’t believe Phillip had finally kissed her. “Perfect.”

“All right, spill,” Alex said.

“He kissed me,” Sam said.

“What?” Alex burst out.

“Just before the bell rang,”

“So that’s why you looked startled,” Alex said. “Come on, let’s get to class.”

Chapter Ten

S
am entered her house. “Hey, Mom.”

“Hello, honey. How was your day?”

“Good.” She took a deep breath. “So I was wondering if I could go over to Phillip’s house tomorrow after school.”

“I don’t know, Samantha. I’ll have to talk to your father.”

“Oh, and I want to bring Benjamin with me too.”

“You want to bring your brother?”

“Yeah, Phillip’s house is huge, and it has everything. Benji would love it!”

“Like I said, I’ll have to talk with your father.”

“All right, I’ll be upstairs then. Call when dinner is ready,” Sam said as she walked out of the kitchen and made her way up the stairs.

“Hey, Benny, how was school today?” she asked, pausing in his doorway.

“It was fun. We saw a movie about animals and had animal crackers for snack!”

Sam smiled then knelt down beside him. “Tonight at dinner I want you to tell Mommy and Daddy that you really, really want to go to Phillip’s house.”

“Am I going to go to his house?” Benjamin asked optimistically.

“Yes, Benjamin. I’m going to take you there tomorrow. But you have to tell Mommy you want to go.”

“Okay, I can do that.” He grinned at her.

“Good. I’m going to be in my room if you need me, Benny.”

“All right, Sammy,” Benjamin said as he focused his attention back to his coloring book.

Sam walked across the hall to her room and signed onto her computer.

PhilyCheeseSteak: Hey.

SamIam: Hey. How was practice?

PhilyCheeseSteak: Good. How was the time with Alex?

SamIam: Good…so…is this ever not going to be awkward?

PhilyCheeseSteak: What do you mean? I find our conversation completely normal. So, what did your mom say when you asked?

SamIam: That she was going to have to talk to my dad.

PhilyCheeseSteak: What does that mean?

SamIam: It means she doesn’t want me to go, but won’t say it. Instead she’ll have my dad say I can go, all the while giving her own opinions.

PhilyCheeseSteak: She doesn’t like me, then?

SamIam: No, she just doesn’t trust me…or approve of anything that involves ‘boys.’

PhilyCheeseSteak: Haha. Well, I hope you get to come. I think Benjamin would really like it.

SamIam: Yeah, I told Benjamin to tell my parents he really wants to go. I don’t think it will be a problem.

PhilyCheeseSteak: Oh, I see how it works.

SamIam: So don’t worry, Ben and I will be there.

PhilyCheeseSteak: Who said I was worrying?

SamIam: I’ll let that one slide for right now, just because you’re inviting me to your house.

PhilyCheeseSteak: Okay, okay. I actually should go.

SamIam: Talking to me is getting too boring, huh?

PhilyCheeseSteak: Never.

Another box popped up. Sam grinned when she saw it was Alex. She couldn’t wait to tell her everything that had happened.

Alexiscool: Hey, Sam. You talking to Phillip?

SamIam: I was, but he just logged off.

Alexiscool: So I saw you two talking after school. Michael told me not to disturb you.

SamIam: Well, tell Michael I said thanks.

Alexiscool: Why? What happened? What did he say?

SamIam: He just asked if I could come over to his house and invited Benjamin too.

Alexiscool: Not me? Or Michael?

SamIam: Maybe another day—I really want you to see it too. It’s so huge.

Alexiscool: So why are you bringing Benjamin?

SamIam: My mother would never let me go over there by myself

Alexiscool: So what’s going to happen when you two start dating?

SamIam: Dating? We haven’t talked about that. I don’t think he’s going to start going out with someone right after he breaks up with Tracy.

Alexiscool: Why not? I mean he’s obviously head over heels in love with you.

SamIam: Really?

Alexiscool: Sam, you have to be an idiot not to notice the way he looks at you. And you did kiss…briefly.

SamIam: I wouldn’t really say that was a kiss. I’ll let you know how it goes. So tomorrow—no you and me time.

Alexiscool: No prob, Bob. I think I’m gonna invite Michael over to study.

SamIam: To “study”…yeah, right.

Alexiscool: Shut up. Pretty soon, you’re going to be hearing me say that to you. To “study,” sure…

SamIam: All right, all right. I won’t say anything, even though you two just make out the entire time you’re really supposed to be studying.

Alexiscool: Not all the time. He’s helped me with Pre-cal before—once.

SamIam: Once…okay, Al…Speaking of Pre-cal, I better start on it. We spent the entire time talking earlier. I haven’t done anything.

Alexiscool: Yeah, me either.

SamIam: So, I’ll see you tomorrow at school.

* * *

Later that night, Sam’s family had just finished eating when Sam brought up the question.

“John, she’s had enough time off. She needs to start focusing on her work,” her mother protested.

“Susan, just let her go. Samantha has been through enough these past few weeks,” Sam’s father said.

Sam’s mother looked disapprovingly at her father, and then turned to Sam, “All right, Samantha, you can go, but I want you back for dinner.”

“Okay, I’m fine with that,” she said, helping her mother clear the table off. After Sam took the plates to the kitchen, she walked back up the stairs, while Benjamin helped her mother wash the dishes and put the leftover food in the refrigerator.

Sam shut her door and sat back down at her desk. She had, like always, finished her homework and was now ready to do something other than studying.

Sam turned on her TV that sat on the plastic drawers next to her desk. She began to flip through the channels, the volume barely audible.

PhilyCheeseSteak: Hey. So did you get an answer?

SamIam: Yes, I did.

PhilyCheeseSteak: And…

SamIam: What do you think?

PhilyCheeseSteak: Um…I would say they said you could go.

SamIam: Yes!

PhilyCheeseSteak: I better remember that then!

SamIam: You better! So I’ll pick up Ben after school and drive to your house then?

PhilyCheeseSteak: You remember where it is?

SamIam: I have a great memory. Besides, your house wasn’t that far from mine.

PhilyCheeseSteak: Does that great memory involve understanding the game of football?

SamIam: No, obviously not and I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t make fun of my football comprehension skills. To be honest, I blame my teacher!

PhilyCheeseSteak: Okay, I’ll leave you alone to your thoughts…maybe you could brush up on your football comprehension skills for homework. ;)

* * *

“Come on, Benjamin,” Sam called upstairs impatiently the next day after school. “I have your car seat all ready.”

Benjamin ran down the stairs with his
Thomas the Tank Engine
backpack hanging loosely around his shoulder. “I’m ready, Sammy. I like your dress,” he said, running toward the door.

Sam opened it and Benjamin took off toward her car.

“Be careful driving, Samantha. Don’t speed. Oh, and let the other cars pass you,” her mother called from the front door, watching them climb into the car. “Make sure you buckle Benjamin’s seatbelt!”

“Yes, Mother,” Sam said as she helped Benjamin into his car seat.

“Is it buckled?”

“Yes, Mom. Bye,” Sam said, waving to her mother.

“Be safe!” her mom called out once more before Sam shut her door and drove off. It didn’t take long before Sam was pulling into the driveway leading to the guard tower.

“Hello, Miss Baker. Mr. Corinodi said you would be coming today. It’s good to see you again.”

Sam smiled. “Bob, right?”

“Yes, miss.” He nodded.

“Thank you, Bob,” Sam said as she pulled into the circular driveway leading to the house.

“It’s Phillip!” Benjamin called from the backseat when Sam turned the car off. Phillip was standing by the driveway, waiting.

Sam got out of the car and walked around to the other side, opening the car door. Benjamin had already unbuckled his seat belt and climbed out of it. “Come on, Benny,” Sam said as she pulled the seat forward, allowing Benjamin to climb out of the car, his backpack around his shoulders.

“I see he’s brought his Thomas backpack,” Phillip said, smiling at them both.

“Yeah, he never goes anywhere without it. Is it okay to park here?” Sam asked.