In Your Arms (19 page)

“I love this house. How do you use all the space? It’s so vast,” Alex cried.

“You can look around if you want,” Phillip said.

Immediately Alex took Michael by the hand and began to explore the downstairs just like Sam had done.

“So now that I have you to myself…” Phillip said with a wicked grin.

“The question is, what are you going to do?” Sam asked.

“I think I’m going to kiss you,” he said with a smile.

“Wise choice,” she said as Phillip leaned in closer.

“So I think I’ll buy you that fine jewelry now,” Phillip said as they parted. He pulled something out of his pocket and put it in Sam's hands.

“Ah, so I do have some persuasion left.” She laughed at the plastic toy ring and necklace set.

“Oh, I think you have a lot of persuasion left,” he said as he kissed her again.

“I think we should get Alex and Michael and start that movie, before I get sidetracked.”

“Are you sure you want to watch the movie? I mean, I don’t mind getting sidetracked,” Phillip said softly as he began to kiss her neck.

“There will be plenty of time to get sidetracked later.” She took his hand and began to look for Alex, who had disappeared into the music room.

“I thought I would find you in here,” Sam said, opening the door.

“This place is awesome. I definitely need to come back sometime,” Alex told Phillip.

“Yeah sure, anytime,” Phillip agreed.

“So are we ready to watch the movie, then?” Alex asked.

“What movie did you want to watch? We have a ton, so you can go look and pick one,” Phillip said as they made their way into the living room.

“Oh my gosh! You have
Finding Nemo
. We so have to watch this,” Alex burst out the minute she saw the movie on the shelf. “Remember, Sam, when we used to watch this and we had all the lines memorized?”

Sam smiled. “Yeah, I remember. But remember that time when we were watching
Spiderman
and we got so mad at Mary Jane that we began to throw popcorn at the screen?”

“Oh my gosh, that night was so much fun.” Alex grinned at the memory.

“We are not watching that, especially if you know all the lines. I can’t stand it when people say the character’s lines. It ruins the ambience,” Michael said, taking the case away from Alex and placing it back on the shelf.

“Well then, what do you want to watch?” Alex said, placing her hands on her hips.

“How about this one?” Michael said, pulling out
Alien vs. Predator
.

“No way are we watching that one. It’s so scary and gross,” Sam said.

“Fine, what would you choose?” Michael said, placing the movie back on the shelf.

“Um,” Sam continued to look on the shelf. “Okay, what about
Fight Club
?”

“I’m fine with that one,” Alex said.

“Yeah, me too, I haven’t seen it in a long time,” Michael agreed.

“Finally, something we can all agree on.” Phillip laughed.

Sam handed the case to Phillip who took it and placed the disc in the machine. Sam sat down on the couch and Phillip followed after dimming the lights. Michael and Alex took the oversized lounge chair.

It took about an hour and a half to finish the movie, but needless to say none of the four were doing much watching. Sam and Phillip made out until her lips burned.

“Good movie, good movie,” Phillip said as the credits began to roll.

Sam laughed and hit him softly on the arm. “You wouldn’t know.”

Phillip smiled then leaned forward to turn off the television. “So what do you want to do now? It’s only seven-thirty.”

“I’m starving, actually,” Sam chimed in.

“Me too. Phillip, what do you have to eat in this joint?” Alex said.

“Al, a little—”

“If you two are going to be dating and if we are hanging out here more, he needs to learn that I am abrasive and somewhat obtrusive in my manner of speech.” Alex laughed.

“Fine. So what do we have to eat?” Sam turned to Phillip.

“Follow me,” Phillip said as he stood up and led them into the large kitchen. “My mother ordered pizza, if that’s okay. She didn’t know if we would be able to find something to eat on our own.”

“Pizza’s fine,” Sam said, smelling the delicious sent of pepperoni and cheese.

It wasn’t too long before they had devoured almost all of the pizza. “So who’s ready for another movie?” Michael asked.

“If we can find one we can agree upon,” Sam said as they walked back to the living room.

“I was thinking about
Casino Royale
,” Michael said, pulling it off the shelf.

“I’m fine with that,” Sam and Alex said.

“Sounds good,” Phillip agreed.

Sam sat down on the couch next to Phillip as the movie started. She brought her legs up and cuddled with Phillip underneath a blanket he wrapped over them. As the movie progressed, she turned to kiss Phillip, putting her hand on his leg to balance herself. She noticed a strange hardness in Phillip’s lap, and she gasped when she realized what it was. Tentatively she placed her hand on him, awed by the heat and hardness.

“What are you doing?” Phillip gave her a pained smile.

“Touching you,” she whispered, brushing her hand across the foreign feeling part of him again.

“You don't have to do this, Sam,” he groaned softly, glancing over at their friends.

“Don't worry, they're both fast asleep. You might have to give me some directions though,” Sam said shakily.

“Are you sure?” he asked, his blue eyes dark with passion.

She nodded. “Yes, I want to make you feel the way I did in the closet.”

He glanced over toward Alex and Michael again, checking for himself that they were both sleeping. “Ok,” he breathed, reaching beneath the blanket and moving things around for a minute before he leaned back and wrapped her hand in his, placing it on his hard length, which he’d freed from his jeans and now lay stiffly against his belly. He was hot and satiny smooth to the touch, and she looked up at him as she experimentally closed her hand around him.

“I don’t know what to do,” she admitted softly.

He gave a choked laugh. “Oh Sam. There’s no wrong answer here. I love having you touch me. Whatever you do will be great. Trust me, I’m already barely holding it together.”

She didn’t know exactly what he meant, but she nodded. Biting her lip, she gently explored him, running her fingertips up and down him, learning what made him gasp and tremble. Before long, he leaned forward and caught her in a passionate kiss, wrapping his hand tightly around hers and showing her how to stroke him. He moaned into their kiss and his shaft pulsed and leapt in her hands, suddenly coating her fingertips with something hot and sticky.

He broke away, gasping, staring at her with nothing short of adoration. “That was amazing, Sam. God, I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.”

She waved her sticky fingers helplessly and he laughed and grabbed her other hand, wrapping the blanket around him as he pulled her out of the room and up the stairs. When they reached his bedroom, he showed her into his bathroom so she could wash her hands, while he cleaned himself up and refastened everything.

She glanced toward his bed, and he caught the look.

“Not here or now,” he whispered, giving her a deep, passionate kiss and hugging her tightly. “We don’t have to rush it. We have plenty of time. Just come back downstairs and cuddle with me.”

She put her head on his chest, relieved, but a little disappointed too. He made her feel so many things she didn’t know what to do with them all. This was all so new and exciting to her.

They went back downstairs and before long, Sam grew sleepy and utterly content. The lights were out and they were warm, cuddling with each other.

* * *

Sam awoke to the loud ring of her cell phone. She reached forward and fumbled for her phone on the table.

“Hello?” she said groggily.

“Samantha Baker, where are you!” her mother yelled into the receiver.

“What?”

“It is eleven o’clock. I told you to be back by ten!”

“Oh my gosh! We lost track of the time. I’ll be right home,” Sam said, hanging up the phone. “Alex, wake up! We have to get home. I’m an hour late. We fell asleep.”

Sam threw her phone in her purse and grabbed Alex off the chair. “Hurry up! I have to leave now.”

Alex stood up and got her things together. “See you tomorrow, Michael.”

“Bye, Alex,” he said, quickly giving her a kiss on the cheek.

“Sorry we have to leave so suddenly,” Sam said to Phillip. “It’s just that my mom told me to be home an hour ago and—”

“I understand, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Bye, Phillip,” she said as he leaned down to kiss her.

“Come on, love bird, we need to get home,” Alex said, pulling Sam away.

* * *

PhilyCheeseSteak: So did you get in trouble?

SamIam: Yeah, I’m grounded. I can’t go to anyone’s house for any reason for a week. I have to come straight home after school.

PhilyCheeseSteak: I’m sorry. I should have been watching the time.

SamIam: It’s okay, we all fell asleep. No one could have known that we would fall asleep.

PhilyCheeseSteak: I know, but now I’ll only get to see you at school.

SamIam: You can manage. We both can manage.

PhilyCheeseSteak: Well, I better let you go before you’re caught talking online and have that privilege taken away too.

SamIam: I’m not that careless.

PhilyCheeseSteak: Night, Sam.

SamIam: Good night, handsome. See you in the morning.

* * *

The next afternoon after school, Sam was just putting her books in her locker when Josh walked by. The sight of him made her so nervous she dropped everything in her hands with a loud crash. Flustered, she bent to pick them up, only to find Josh suddenly looming over her.

“Baker!” he snapped.

Sam shut her locker, visibly trembling. All Sam could think of was how empty the hallway had become. She turned around, trying to avoid meeting his gaze. If she did, she was sure he would see everything in her eyes.

“I think we need to talk,” Josh said slowly, a frown on his face.

“What about? Besides aren’t you supposed to be at practice?” Sam said, her voice shaking.

“Come on,” Josh said and grabbed Sam by the arm, keeping a strong grip on her.

“Ouch! You’re hurting me,” Sam said as he forced her into one of the bathrooms.

“Shut up!” he said, locking the door behind them then pushed Sam into the bathroom. She stumbled forward as she strove to keep her balance.

“You know, whatever you think you’re going to do, you won’t get away with it,” she said with a hint of fear in her voice.

“And what is it you think I’m going to do? Why are you so afraid of me? Every time I see you, you act like a scared little rabbit,” he said, moving closer toward her. “Perhaps you think I’m going to kill you?” he suggested. “Maybe you saw or heard something you shouldn’t have?”

“No, no, of course not,” Sam stumbled over her words. “Well, whatever you’re going to do, Phillip will know it was you. You’re supposed to be at practice.” Sam reminded him, hoping he would leave.

“Baker, I know you told Phillip. He’s been treating me different the last few days too. He won’t even look at me. Now tell me, have you told anyone else?”

“No, just Phillip,” she said.

Josh looked at Sam. “You’re lying, Baker. I see it in your eyes. Who else did you tell!” he shouted, visibly getting angrier.

“You want me to tell you so you can deal with them like you dealt with Billy? Forget it! I’ll never tell you.”

Josh pushed Sam against the wall and she fell. “Was it your friend? What’s her name? Alex? Was it her boyfriend? Did you tell your family?”

Sam didn’t say a word as Josh sank to his knees beside her. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to kill them all,” he yelled at her.

“You’d never get away with it,” Sam said.

Josh lunged at Sam, grabbing her by the neck and pushing her to the ground. “Tell the authorities or anyone else and guess what happens? Your friends and your family are dead,” Josh said as he continued to push down on her throat. Sam desperately tried to push him off, but he was too strong. There was a reason he was the team’s star quarterback and the steroids probably amplified his strength further. Sam looked around, trying to find something she could use to hit him with but there was nothing within reach. She couldn’t breathe, everything around her was dimming. He was pushing down too hard. Everything went dark, and Sam no longer struggled to be free.

* * *

Sam slowly opened her eyes, but she couldn’t see anything. It was pitch black, and she couldn’t move very easily. Sam felt around, trying to figure where she was. As she reached out, she found her keys and felt around until she found the tiny flashlight keychain her mother gave her when she first got her car.

“You never know when you’ll need it,” her mother had told her.

Sam turned on the small light with shaking fingers and looked around, noticing the stain on the carpet and immediately recognized it to be her own trunk, but the emergency handle was broken off.

Sam tried to recall what she had read about being trapped inside a trunk. One thing she remembered was to break the tail lights with an elbow and catch someone’s attention by waving a hand out the back. But the car wasn’t moving and there was no use in hurting herself. She didn’t even know where the car was located. Was she still in the school parking lot? What if Josh drove it out in the middle of nowhere? What was going to happen to her? How much longer could she stay in the trunk before she used up all the oxygen?

The more Sam thought about it, the more her heart began to race. She had hated small enclosed spaces since she was a toddler and the more she worried, the heavier her breathing became. Her eyes welled up with tears as she came to the realization that no one knew where she was. Why was this happening to her? Why did Chris have to die? Why did she have to witness the shooting?