In Your Arms (18 page)

“God no!” Tracy laughed. “I just did it for the popularity. My popularity sky rocketed after we got together and besides, it gave me an opportunity of a life time.”

“Which was?”

“To steal the guy you liked away from you. You know it took some work, but I finally convinced him you didn’t like him.”

“What?”

“He liked you, Sam. In eighth grade, which was why I had to move fast. It wasn’t easy, but after I convinced him you didn’t want anything to do with him, he was all mine. This year was different though. He was bored and was slowly trying to turn to you. And now you’ll have to pay.”

“Tracy, you have nothing. You can try and get Phillip back, but it won’t work. He won’t ever go back to you, especially now that he’s heard the truth,” Sam said.

“What?” Tracy asked.

“Tracy, I can’t believe you,” Phillip said, stepping forward.

“Phil, baby,” Tracy cried, her face going pale as she realized her mistake. “I was just trying to make her leave. You know I love you.”

“Yeah, sure. Sam’s right, though. I will never take you back. You’ll have an easier time trying to get back with Mr. Stevens than with me,” he said, walking over toward Sam, wrapping his arm around her waist.

Tracy gave a little aggressive scream and stalked off.

“So you liked me in eighth grade, huh?” Sam said, turning to look up at Phillip.

“Yes, but as you can see, I was cruelly tricked.” He smiled at her.

“Were you trying to live up to the gullible sports player stereotype? But now, your eyes are open, you’re clear...”

“Yes.”

“So what are you going to do about it?”

“Kiss you,” he said, looking into her eyes. “Because I know your secret, Samantha Baker.”

“And what would that be?” She smiled.

“You liked me too,” he said, leaning down and kissing her gently on the lips.

They parted and quickly noticed the crowd standing around them. The entire school, or at least the crowd who was in the cafeteria, had seen the three of them leave the cafeteria and wanted to see what was happening in the hallway. Everyone stared at the couple and it wasn’t until the bell rang a few seconds later that the crowd began to disperse.

Well, now it was official. “Now we won’t have to sneak around anymore,” Sam said, realizing the whole school had just seen them kiss.

“I wasn’t going to sneak around forever, Sam,” he said softly.

“You just needed time. I know,” she said, taking his hand in hers.

Phillip looked down at their hands then looked back up at Sam and smiled. “Come on, let’s get to class,” he said. “I’ll walk you to US history, right?”

“Yeah,” she agreed, still amazed that this was happening. Phillip was her boyfriend, and he was walking her to class. She’d dreamed of this for years.

As they walked up to Mr. Wright’s classroom, Phillip stopped and turned to face Sam. “So I’ll see you in study hall?”

“I look forward to it,” she said.

Phillip bent down and gave Sam a kiss on her cheek then walked down the hall to his next class. Sam walked into the classroom and sat down next to Alex.

“So I saw he was walking you to class,” Alex said.

“Yes, then he kissed me on the cheek.”

“Okay, so today after lunch, what was that?” Alex asked. “You two were like holding hands, looking lovingly in each other’s eyes, talking, kissing.”

“All right, all right. You don’t have to tell me what I already know. Well, he overheard some things Tracy said to me—”

“Did you fight with her?”

“No, she just wanted to tell me that she’d get Phillip back, but then he overheard that she just used him to boost her popularity.”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah, but he seemed pretty okay with it.”

“Okay with it? Sam, he was kissing you like there was no tomorrow.”

“Alex, it wasn’t that dramatic.”

“Well, it was for all of us who were watching.”

“I know, thanks for being one of the spectators,” Sam laughed.

“Just think of it like this, now it’s not such a big deal anymore. We all know you are with Phillip so it won’t be so bad. It will still be awkward, I think, but not terribly unbearable.”

“Thanks for the captivating pep talk, Alex,” she said as Mr. Wright walked into the classroom which signaled silence. She was already looking forward for the lesson finishing so she could be in the computer room speaking to Phillip.

* * *

PhilyCheeseSteak: So how was Mr. Wright and US history?

SamIam: Boring as usual, but not too bad. We were talking about the end of WWII.

PhilyCheeseSteak: That’s fun stuff right there.

SamIam: haha, how right you are.

PhilyCheeseSteak: Hey, so I was wondering if you want to come over tonight. I have football practice till five but you could come over after. And I was thinking Alex and Michael could come too.

SamIam: Of course. I’d love to come over, I’ll ask Alex about it.

* * *

SamIam: Hey, you! Do you want to come to Phillip’s house tonight after say sixish?

AlexisCool: Yeah! What are we going to do? Didn’t you say his house was huge? With a guard tower and everything….

SamIam: Calm yourself. Yes, it’s huge, but it’s not a guard tower, it’s a guard house looking thingy.

* * *

SamIam: Alex wants to know what we would do.

PhilyCheeseSteak: Um…anything they want, but I was thinking about watching a movie.

* * *

SamIam: Alex, he said we would watch a movie, or anything you wanted to do.

AlexisCool: How big is the TV?

SamIam: You are way too excited…but it’s huge, like the size of the table huge…like it stands on its own huge with surround sound and comfy couches and lounge chairs.

AlexisCool: I am soooo coming and dragging Michael along with me.

SamIam: Glad you are excited. So we’ll go about six and you can follow me.

AlexisCool: Sounds awesome. I’ll let Michael know.

* * *

SamIam: So she sounds excited.

PhilyCheeseSteak: About coming or about watching a movie on a huge television screen?

SamIam: Both…maybe.

PhilyCheeseSteak: That’s fine. I’m guessing she’s going to bring Michael with her.

SamIam: Yeah, she said she’d drag him with her.

PhilyCheeseSteak: Oh, that sounds pleasant.

SamIam: Don’t worry, I wouldn’t drag you anywhere…

PhilyCheeseSteak: Good to know.

SamIam: Although, I can be very persuasive when I need to be.

PhilyCheeseSteak: I believe it. I think I would agree to anything if you were there to persuade me.

SamIam: Oh really? I might just have to persuade you some more then.

PhilyCheeseSteak: I wouldn’t mind…

SamIam: What do you need me to persuade for you?

PhilyCheeseSteak: Anything…

SamIam: Anything, huh? Well, I am in want of some fine jewelry, maybe diamonds or sapphires…maybe pearls.

PhilyCheeseSteak: Okay, so maybe not anything.

SamIam: What my charms aren’t enough?

PhilyCheeseSteak: I don’t think your persuasion extends to that.

SamIam: You would be surprised.

* * *

AlexisCool: Hey, Sam. Michael said that he could come.

SamIam: Great, so we’ll leave about six. Hopefully my mom will be on board. I mean it is a school night.

AlexisCool: Pish Posh, just tell her we will be studying for a test—it’s a study group.

SamIam: Maybe you could come over and tell my mother that. She wouldn’t believe me if I told her.

AlexisCool: Well, at least she still doesn’t know you two are dating. Because when that gets out, she won’t let you go over to his house on a school night.

SamIam: That’s why you need to come over and ask for me. Be my best friend and lie to my mother.

AlexisCool: The things I do for you…

SamIam: But I sure do love you for it.

AlexisCool: So what are you and Phillip talking about?

SamIam: Well, we’re talking about persuasion and how I would be able to persuade him to do anything…

AlexisCool: Anything? That’s some powerful persuasion.

SamIam: Not anything, apparently. I told him I wanted some fine jewelry, but he said he could not be persuaded, but give me five minutes and I’m sure he’d buy me something the next day!

AlexisCool: SAM!!!

SamIam: I'm only messing

The bell rang shortly after Sam’s conversation with Alex, forcing her to log off in a hurry. Sam picked up her backpack and left the room with the rest of the class.

“Sam, wait up,” Phillip called as he managed to get out of the classroom.

Sam turned around and waited for Phillip to catch up to her. “Sorry. I’m just not used to you yet.”

“Not used to me? Well, I think I’m going to have to persuade you to not forget me so easily.” He winked.

“Believe me, you are a hard man to forget,” she said.

“So I’m that persuasive?”

“Perhaps,” she said then began to walk up the stairs, Phillip following behind her.

They walked into Ms. Hatchet’s classroom and sat down in their usual seats. “Only one more hour, we can make it.”

* * *

“Ms. Hatchet is always so much fun, I'm so glad that is over,” Sam said as they began to walk down the stairs after class had finished.

“Well, I didn’t expect that she’d give us another pop quiz nor did I anticipate her handing out group projects.”

“At least she stuck you two on the same team,” Alex interrupted.

“You and Michael are on the same team too,” Sam said, confused.

“Oh I know. I was just pointing out the bright side.”

“So I’ll see you around six?” Phillip asked, in a hurry to get to practice.

“Yeah, see you then,” Alex said. “Now get to practice or you’ll be late.”

Phillip bent down and kissed her on the cheek then ran off, putting his stuff away at his locker then rushing toward the locker room.

“Perfect, absolutely perfect,” Sam commented out loud.

“Was that meant to be internalized?” Alex smiled at Sam.

“Maybe, but he is, isn’t he?”

“For you, yes. So I’ll stop by your house and ask your mom?”

“Sounds good. You and Michael going out for coffee?”

“Yeah, before we hit the books.”

“Okay, see you later then,” Sam said as Alex made her way out of the school entrance and toward her motorcycle.

Chapter Twelve

T
he doorbell rang at exactly six o’clock. “I’ll get it!” Sam screamed as she ran down the stairs.

Sam opened the door. “Right on time,” she said, letting Alex in the house. “Mom! I have a question to ask you.”

Sam’s mother came out of the kitchen, “Yes, dear?”

“Hi, Mrs. Baker,” Alex said.

“Hello, Alexis. How are you?”

“I’m fine. I was wondering though, if Sam could join me, Michael, and Phillip. We formed a study group for our Biology class and are studying tonight.”

“Oh my, is the test tomorrow?” Sam’s mom asked.

“Yes, and it is going to be very hard,” Alex said dramatically.

“Well, I do think it is beneficial to study in groups. Will you promise me you will work? I want to see an A on your next test.”

“I promise. Is that a yes?” Sam asked.

“Yes, but I want you to be home by ten.”

Sam smiled at Alex. “Okay, I’m going to go get my stuff and go with Alex.”

“Okay, but ten o’clock.”

“Yes, Mom.”

Sam ran upstairs with Alex and got her things together.

“I can’t believe it was that easy,” Alex commented.

“Yeah, I know, remind me to have you do that more often,” Sam said. “Okay, I think I have everything. Ready?”

“Yeah, Michael will follow us in his car, he’s parked out front.”

Sam and Alex walked back down the stairs and out the door. As directed, Michael followed Sam all the way to Phillip’s house.

“Oh my God! It’s huge!” Alex exclaimed as they pulled into the driveway.

“I know, you’ll love the inside.”

“I already love the outside.”

They got out of the car and walked up the entrance to the front door, which opened as they neared.

“Hey, guys,” Phillip said. “Glad you could all make it, especially you.” Phillip took Sam’s hand in his and kissed her gently on the lips.

Sam smiled up at him. “So what are we waiting for? I believe we came here for some entertainment?”

Phillip laughed. “Right through here.” They walked inside and, as Sam predicted, Alex fell in love.