Remembering You (3 page)

The next morning
, I awoke to a good morning text.

“H
ave a good day at school and I’ll see you later.”

“Good morning. I’ll have a great day as soon as I see you!”

I was having Rachel drive me to the garage so I could pick up my car after school. The three of us sat at lunch and I was grilled about Sam and our date.

“You are in love
, Claire Montgomery,” Ally pointed out.

I just smiled and shrugged my shoulders.
She was right, I think I was in love. As soon as the last bell rang, we hopped into Rachel’s car and headed to Irvine to pick up my car.

“Thanks for taking me,” I said.

“No problem, friend; that’s what I’m here for.” Rachel smiled.

We pulled up to the garage and I saw Sam standing there
, talking to Cal. The minute I saw him, my stomach went into a craze and my heart started racing. He looked over at me and smiled as I got out of the car. He waved to Rachel before she drove off, and I walked over to him and Cal with a smile on my face.

“H
ey, Cal. How are you?”

“Doing well, Claire. It’s good to see you again.” H
e smiled as he walked away.

Sam reached over, grabbed my waist
, and pulled me closer to him, gently kissing my lips.

“Hi,” he whispered.

“Hi,” I whispered back.

He handed me the keys and told me not to worry, that the car was taken care of.

“How much do I owe you
, Sam?”

He softly kissed my lips
again. “A date, that’s all.”

“Please let me pay you for the repairs.”

He shook his head no and opened my car door. “Mark my words, Sam Snow, I will repay you.”

He smiled as he gave me a soft kiss. “S
ee you tonight, Claire,” he said as he shut the door.

I drove home, listening to Coldplay and smiling as I thought about Sam.
As soon as I walked through the door, I was summoned to the kitchen.

“Claire, I need you to
come to dinner with us tonight. We are going with Dylan and his family to discuss the engagement party.”

“Mom, no
, I’m going out with Sam tonight and you knew that.”

“I
t’s not open for discussion. You’re going.”

“I’m
not going, and I don’t care what you say. I already made plans, and I’m not cancelling them.”

Zoey got up from the table.
“Mom, just forget it. If she wants to go out with the grease monkey, then let her. I don’t want her at dinner anyway.”

The furnace inside me lit up and my skin started to burn
; nobody called Sam a grease monkey and got away with it. I balled my left fist and, before I knew it, I pushed Zoey to the ground and socked her right in the cheek. Corinne ran over and grabbed me off of her.

“W
hat the hell is the matter with you, Claire? Oh my God.”

“I’m sick of her,
and I’m sick of you always taking her side.” I looked down at Zoey, who was holding her cheek and crying. “And, as for you, don’t you ever call Sam a grease monkey again, you stupid skanky bitch.”

I tore through the kitchen and up the stairs to my room
, slamming the door. Oh boy, was I in trouble now, but I didn’t care. It felt good to punch Zoey and tell her off. Only a few more months of this hell and I was off to college, and I didn’t plan on ever coming back. I sat on my bed, waiting for Hurricane Corinne to blow through, but she never did.

A while later, Harry came knocking on my door
, asking if he could come in. I opened the door for him and waved him in.

“Corinne sent you to do her dirty work?” I asked.

“No. Your mother is very upset. What you did to Zoey, I didn’t think you had it in you.” He smiled.

He sat on the edge of my bed and patted it for me to sit down. “Claire, I get how much this boy means to you
. I can see it on your face and in your eyes, and what your mother and sister are doing is wrong, and I will talk to them, but I need you to do something for me.”

I
looked at the pain in his eyes. “What do you need me to do?”

“I need you to go and apologize to your sister and mother.”

I quickly stood up. “You want me to apologize for them calling the boy I like a grease monkey? Are you kidding me, Dad?”

“
Claire, you are the better person and you know it. Please, just do it for me,” he begged.

I took in a d
eep breath and clenched my jaw. “Fine, I’ll apologize, but let me tell you something, I wish I was never born into this family. I love you, Dad, but when I leave for college, I’m never coming back.”

“Don’t say that
, Claire. You’re upset right now.”

I threw ope
n the door and went to Corinne’s room, where she was putting ice on Zoey’s cheek. “I’m sorry I hit you, Zoey. It was wrong and I will never do it again.”

“Get out of here
!” she screamed.

I walked out and shut the d
oor. The bruise on her cheek was noticeable. Oh well, she deserved it.

****

As soon as I saw Sam’s car coming up the drive, I ran outside and waited for him to pull up. I didn’t even give him a chance to get out and open the door for me. I instantly climbed in and hugged him.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“I’m just happy to see you.”

“I’m happy to see you too.” He smiled and then drove down the driveway
.

I told him what happened with Zoey
, but I didn’t tell him what she said.

“Remind me never to piss you off.” He chuckled.

We drove to the beach and Sam pulled a picnic basket from the back seat. He opened my door
and took my hand to help me out.

“I thought we could have d
inner while watching the sunset.”

Tears started
to sting my eyes, for no one had ever done something so special for me before. He took my hand and we walked down towards the water. We found a spot that we liked and I helped him set a large blanket down on the sand. I sat down on the blanket and watched as the waves lapped to the shore. The air was warm and there wasn’t a trace of wind. It was the perfect night to watch the sunset in Newport Beach. Sam opened the basket and pulled out several submarine sandwiches, five different bags of chips, and four bottles of Coke.

“Wow, are you planning on feeding an army?”

“I wasn’t sure what kind of sandwiches you liked, so I got a variety; same with the chips.”

I smiled at him and sighed. I grabbed his shirt and pulled him towards me as I softly kissed his lips.

“What’s that for?” Sam smiled.

I grinned as I
gently nipped his bottom lip. “Just for being you and nothing more.”

He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight
. We sat on the blanket, ate our subs and chips, and drank our Coke while we talked about life. After we finished eating, Sam laid down and pulled me close to him, so that I was lying in his arms. We watched the sunset over the ocean. It was beautiful, but not as beautiful as that moment that I was lying wrapped up in him. We looked at each other as our lips met and our tongues started to tango. He rolled so he was hovering over me, his beautiful eyes staring into mine, as if he wanted to devour me. He started to kiss my neck, and as I started to moan, he moved to my lips. My hands moved up and down his back as I pulled him in tighter, feeling his erection. His hands rubbed up and down my hips and slowly moved to my breasts. He let out low groans that made me want more of him. My insides started burning with desire and the ache below was on fire.

“Sam, I want you to make love to me.”

He stopped and looked at me. “Claire, are you sure? You need to be sure; it’s a big step.”

“I’m positive.
I’ve never wanted anything more in my life. I saved myself for
you
, I know that.”

He smiled and kissed me again.
“I don’t want your first time to be here; you need to be comfortable. My mom is working a double tonight, so we can go to my house.”

We got up, packed up the basket and blanket
, and drove to his house in Santa Ana. Was it too soon to have sex since I’d only known him a few days? In most cases, yes, and I never would have slept with a guy on the second date. But with Sam, it was different. He was different because when I was with him, I felt like I’d known him forever. We connected in ways and on levels that I never could’ve imagined. We were born for each other.

****

His house was small, only two bedrooms, but cute and comfortable. The outside was beige vinyl siding with white trim and, off to the side, his mom had planted an array of flowers. It was very pretty and it felt like a home. Not a status place where you invite friends over to show off your money, and certainly not a home where you compete with other elites to have the bigger and better home. We stepped inside the house and Sam flicked the light switch. The house was immaculate. It consisted of a small living room with a couch, chair, and TV, a kitchen with a small round table with two chairs, a bathroom, and two bedrooms. Sam took my hand and kissed my knuckles where bruises were left from Zoey’s face. He led me to his bedroom and shut the door. He slowly took off his shirt and unbuttoned his pants. He walked towards me and kissed me softly while stroking my hair.

“I promise
to be careful and not hurt you,” he whispered. “If you’re uncomfortable and want to stop, we will. I want this to be a great experience for you.”

“Thank you
. But don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.”

He pulled
my shirt over my head and moved his hands over my bra. He kissed me softly, starting from my ear and down my neck to my throat. I groaned and threw my head back. He took his fingers and slowly undid my bra, letting it fall to the floor as he unbuttoned my jeans and proceeded to take them down. He laid me gently on the bed and, as he took off his pants, he stared at me the entire time.

“You are so beautiful
, Claire. I hope you know that. I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you.”

He took my erect nipple in his mouth, sucking and lightly tugging at each one. I groaned as I could feel the wa
rmth and the twinges in between my thighs. I arched my lower back so my hips dug into him. He moved his hands down the front of my panties and felt the wetness that emerged from his pleasure. He stared at me as he slowly inserted his finger inside me, moving it in and out. I moaned and brought his head down so I could kiss him. I took my hand and moved it over his underwear, feeling his erection and sliding my hand down the front, feeling his hardness in my bare hands. I stroked it up and down lightly. He groaned and moaned, which made his fingers move in and out of me faster. I felt strange, like I was going to explode.

“You’re so wet
and tight, Claire. Are you ready for me?” he asked as he reached in his nightstand drawer and pulled out a condom.

He took a
hold of his penis and covered it with the condom, then he gently placed it in between my legs and slowly pushed inside of me. I moaned loudly.

“Are you ok
ay?” he asked.

I looked at his face and ran my hands through his
hair.

“I’m great,” I said as one single
, happy tear fell from my eye.

He pushed deeper until he was fully inside me
, thrusting in and out slowly. I could feel myself building up, my body needing to release itself. I started to moan. “Faster, Sam, go faster.” He kissed me as he moved in and out of me, faster and faster, causing me and him to come at the same time. He yelled my name as I did his and dug my nails down his back. Sam collapsed on top of me and hugged me. He whispered something in my ear that I will never forget. “I think I’m falling in love with you, Claire.”

I think he was stunned he said it. He looked up at me and said he was sorry. I
ran my finger down his cheek. “Don’t be sorry. I know how you feel. I think I’m falling in love with you too.”

Sam smiled and after
he climbed back in bed from disposing the condom, I lay in his arms and we talked about our feelings for each other. Even though we had only known each other for a few days, it felt like a lifetime and the feeling was for both us. I believe everyone has a soul mate and Sam was mine, and I was his. I wanted to stay with him all night, but I knew tonight was not the night because of what had happened with Corinne and Zoey. He drove me home and, as bad as it hurt to say our goodbyes, we did.

“Later
, baby.” He smiled as he ran his finger down my cheek.

“Later
, baby,” I replied with a kiss.

I put my key in the door, walked up the stairs
, and took a hot shower. I climbed in my bed wishing he were lying next to me.