Sam is not falling into it.
She brushed past Ari giving her a glare and getting a mouthed, “I'm sorry” in response. She heads toward her desk at the back of the room, swaying through the students refusing to take their seats. She is careful not to touch him while sliding into her seat, retrieving her notepad and pen from her backpack before shoving it beneath the desk, waiting for the teacher to appear. While avoiding the glare from her friend Ari, for not saying hello to her set up. Sam lowers her head, pulling her hood further over her face; her fingers creeping just beneath her hoodie to run gently over her ribs, still managing to make herself wince.
For years all it ever was, is “he says; she says” as far as she was concerned. We do and say what we need to, to get out; it doesn't matter if it’s to yourself or to the world. We all scream out for help and hope someone out there is listening. It’s easy to deceive the truth, but it is different when that trust is shattered into a million pieces. It’s like living in a world where you know you don’t belong. You’re there, but some part of you longs to be somewhere far, far away.
Seconds later, Mrs. Stephanie stalks into the classroom already twenty-minutes late. This is usual for her; the class knew she sat beneath the benches at the football field downing her bottle of whiskey - she never came to work sober. Swinging her bag over her chair, she turns to face the room, her eyes bloodshot.
“Good Afternoon class! Thank you all for joining me today, if you all could take your seats please.”
The room broke into a chorus of depressing groans and curses; however, Sam was rather happy for the distraction. An arm brushes against hers as her ‘partner’ slides into his seat beside her. She could smell his aftershave; her heart gives a jolt. Her eyes pinned to the front of the room she struggles to ignore the gorgeous boy next to her.
Until she has no choice.
“Class, I would like you all to open your Biology books to page 102 for me, today we are discussing the difference between chemical reactions; I would like you all to read the sections and compare the two with your neighbor before presenting your findings to the Class.”
Sam pulls her book out, flipping to page 102 and begins to read; sighing in relief at the break from attention, to settle into her own body . . . until he ruins it. Why does he have to ruin it?
He speaks, “Excuse me, Mrs. Stephanie? It seems I left my book at home. I would be more than happy to run home and grab it to participate in this project.” Humor lines his every word. Smart-ass. . .
“Nice try there Mr. Steele, however I have an even better solution; it seems your lab partner was careful to make sure all of her belongings were present today, why don’t you share with her and complete the project as instructed?”
Sam freezes, Wait what? No, I can’t share with him. Is she crazy!! Get me out of here. He tenses beside her, his eyes briefly meeting hers, hard; emotionless, “I don’t assume there is another choice?”
“I am afraid not Mr. Steele, now carry on,” Mrs. Stephanie says lightly, turning back to her computer screen and typing away.
“Well, it looks like we are buddies,” he states, scooting his chair closer to her own, she edges to the far side of her chair to distance herself from him. He leans in looking over the pages - his eyes intent. Sam breathes in, the urge to be closer pulls at her - would it kill her to admit she has been crushing on him since the seventh grade?
Maybe. . . Ignoring his presence seemed to be harder than she thought but it didn’t mean she had to make him aware that she knew he was there. He bumps his elbow against her own, sending a spark through her. She ignores him, continuing to read over the pages about chemical reactions. He bumps her again making it beyond obvious that he was doing it intentionally and wanted some type of reaction out of her, but she is not caving in. He whispers under his breath, words that she couldn’t make out drowning out her own thoughts. Annoyance is replacing her once feeling of relief. Sam tears her eyes from her paper giving him a glare.
“What is your issue?” she blurted.
Lifting an eyebrow, something she found she could never learn to do, “My, aren’t we snappy there.”
“Maybe if your ass didn’t disrupt my thinking, there wouldn’t be any snapping.”
He laughs his smile charming, “You have more spunk in you then I imagined Sam Echo.”
She was getting enough of his smart-ass remarks. It was clear he thought this was funny... She didn’t give a damn about his looks or the butterflies he made her feel whenever he was around. She wanted his mouth to be quiet so that she could concentrate on her assignment. Turning back to him she slaps her hand on the book, drawing nearby eyes to them.
“You happen to forget your Biology book and get me stuck having to share with you, which is a huge downer might I add, now you are so… so EVIL and won't let me concentrate,” she breathes deeper, catching her breath.
There is a cough at the front of the classroom, Mrs. Stephanie had pulled from her computer and is now staring at the two of them.
“Ms. Echo and Mr. Steele, are we interrupting something?”
“No ma’am.”
“Care to share with the class what it is you are discussing?”
Jake speaks before Sam could form a word, “Of course, we were just discussing the two different chemical reactions and comparing the information that we are both gathering, nothing too important, Mrs. Stephanie.”
Mrs. Stephanie nods her approval and returns her gaze to her computer. They are again left to themselves, catching the eye of Ari, the apology plain and clear. Sam looks at Jake waiting, she knew it was coming - he couldn’t go even a moment without having something “Smart-ass” to say. He places his hand on her thigh beneath her desk, his eyes never swaying from hers; her breath hitches.
He leans in - letting his lips brush her ear with every word he speaks, “Maybe I just wanted to get to know an extraordinary girl like you, you amaze me Miss Echo; I have a feeling this is going to be fun.”
He places a red rose in front of her removing his hand and continues reading. Sam is breathless, her heart is racing in her chest; her cheeks blush red and she can feel it in her core.
How does he have such an effect on her? She can’t give in. He is bad news. There is nothing good about him, nothing human. Jake Steele doesn’t care about the feelings of others; he plays his game and moves on. He is nothing, but danger and she can’t allow herself or her heart to betray herself into giving in, he is just another mistake waiting to happen and she knows this.
After another hour sitting next to him, his constant and yet annoying tendency to bump into Sam and his snorts and ridiculous humor at all the wrong times; the bell finally dings allowing students to rush out the door, on to their next class.
Sam Echo knew the moment she looked into his icy eyes she was in deep shit.
***
Samantha Ever-Stone Echo believed in fairy tales, she dreamed of those clichés under the star dates. She loved the idea of the sloppy romantic love letters displaying the deepest emotions. She believed in a love that makes you glad you are alive. This is something that she longs for and despite the rough childhood she has been dealt with she still believes that someone somewhere can very well be her happily ever after.
Falling into rhythm with her, Jake stays silent. His tall, gorgeous frame shadowing over her as everyone watched, some whispered; others even giggled quietly as they drifted by–apparently not too thrilled with the popular bad boy hanging around a loner like Sam.
“Ignore them,” he said, stern and fearless. He wraps his arm around her shoulders; but his confidence irked her.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
There is a pause; Sam figured he had no smart-ass remarks to add. Then for some reason; he picks that very moment to lean in close, his lips brushing against her ear, making her breath hitch once again.
“Protecting you.”
Simple, elegant, heart aching; and terrifying.
She reaches her locker e
yeing him, surprised, “Protecting me?” Her words came out in a nervous blurt, slurring together to form gibberish.
“I have to protect my soon to be queen,” he says, “Who else will?”
“Queen?” She shoots back, “If you haven’t noticed I am not YOUR anything.”
Jake lets out a long whistle, leaning his shoulder against the lockers looking amused as hell and there’s that stupid smirk again painted on his gorgeous features. There has been too many years of dishonesty that leads her to fear away from attention like this, to dread it. Truth is, she is foolish and naïve; a scared little girl to let herself feel anything. She is scared, scared to be around him, to let herself give in. She can’t let him get under her skin; she can’t break her wall because if she does, she’ll never be able to put it back up again.
She has to fight the urge to smile, averting her gaze from his luscious lips and strong jaw line. She grabs her books, slamming the locker shut. As she is about to stalk forward, she is stopped by his warm hand on her shoulder.
He speaks softly, “Let me take you out some time?”
The confidence danced in his eyes and without another word he grabs her phone from her grasp and enters something in quickly. Before she can get a response out, her friend is howling from down the hall drawing her eyes to her and away from him. He hands the phone back before she started walking backward; spinning on her heels she trails down the hall hugging her books and glances at her phone. A single text sits in her unopened box. I will pick you up at 8pm sharp, tomorrow. Wear something nice!
Ari gives her a knowing smile, “Oooh, looks like someone has a date.”
“Shut up!” A lovely scarlet blush caressed her cheeks.
Ari bounces on her toes, the corner of her lips quirked into a light smile, “Admit it, you are SO nervous, excited, and maybe a little flustered!”
She gave a nervous laugh. They walk side-by-side down the hall, laughing and gossiping about the sexy Jake Steele. Sam has never felt as vulnerable as she did with him.
She is truly risking it all and when she is around him; her heart is on the line.
Chapter Three
Dear Diary,
Today is another day in paradise...or is it? The truth is, it’s just another day, another empty void to wander through till’ I can shut my eyes and drown out the pain that I feel every waking moment that I continue to experience on in this horrible world. It’s supposed to be that kind of day that you thrive for, the one where you can’t sleep until it comes because you’re afraid it’ll be gone if you close your eyes ...but it doesn’t feel this way at all.
He asked me out, can you believe that?
My mind is still not set on believing the possibility, the hope. Is it such a bad thing even in a life like mine, can it be the worst thing to feel?
Today is going to be a good day, I am going to smile, laugh, and I am going to push back this disgust. I am going to live. For once I’m not letting anything break this. I am going to say the words, “Yes, I am alright” over and over again until I can get my own selfish heart to believe it.
Today will be the day that I let myself live, my day.
Sam stares at the sheet of paper, still in plaid sweats and a white tank top when she hears a car horn blare outside her window. She draws her eyes to the clock; 7:00 pm. He’s early…She thinks. Jumping up she rushes to throw on her clothes, leaving her hair in a messy bun she quickly throws on makeup and proceeds down the stairs.
“Where the hell are you going?” he says from his chair.
Gulping, “Out. I won’t be out long.”
She watches him shift; still sprawled out in the chair. She lets out a breath thinking she is in the clear. However, Sam breathes too soon.
“Why don’t you have some respect and get the old man another beer?” he demands.
Shit. . . Knowing if she doesn’t things can get worse; she goes into the kitchen pulling a beer from the fridge and waits beside his chair holding it out to him. Finally, he takes it from her, popping the top and taking a large, annoying gulp. Adjusting to head out, he grabs her around the elbow, his grip tight. Grimacing, she attempts to pull from his grip and fails miserably.
He slurs, his breath reeks of what she would imagine sweaty balls would smell like, “Is that a boy out there?”
“Yes sir.”
“You keep your little mouth shut about what happens in this house, you hear me?”
Sam speaks slowly, “I understand.”
He continues his hold on her, watching her closely, literally his eyes were mere inches from her own, she could pick out every little zit and nose hair this man had. She could feel her arm start to go numb under his sharp touch knowing damn well that this was going to leave a nifty bruise.
After a few minutes, he releases his grip and goes back to downing his beer like its candy. Sam closes the door behind her, rubbing her sore elbow as she drifts down the walkway. Her mother is kneeled in her garden, her hands dark with dirt and her light hair tied into a neat bun with her long sleeve yellow shirt and tan shorts. She looked a lot like her mom with the same shade of hazel eyes and small nose, she is shorter than her mother by a few inches-- her small frame compared to her broad one.
Glancing at the black BMW with tented windows her heart breaks, she had thought that it was Jake picking her up for their promised date, but it appears that it is only her best friend Ari. I knew he wouldn't show up, what an ass!
“I will be back soon,” she tells her mom.
She replies, wiping her hands on her thighs, “What happened in --”
Sam shakes her head, cutting her off. Her mother looks at the car parked on the curb, “Heading out with Ari?”
She nods.
“Going to a party?”
“With Ari you never know where you're going,” she proclaims.
“Doesn't surprise me,” Lifting her eyebrow, “Please just be safe and no drinking!”
“Yes mother.”
“Good, that's my girl. Now go on and have some fun”
Sam answers, “I won’t be gone too long, I promise.”
She sighs. “Just be safe and have fun, don't worry about the time.”
Sam walks away, her hand on the door handle; she turns back, “Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t let him touch you . . . Please?”
Her eyes suddenly turn sad, “I’ll do what I can dear.”
Sam is met with pale hazel eyes and long black hair; her friend Ari sits behind the wheel dressed in a cut tank top and black cargo pants; her steel toe boots and dark make-up showing her natural beauty.
She looks around, searching - her eyes fall on the dashboard clock 8:20 PM... Where is he? She knew it; she knew she was stupid to believe a guy like that was actually interested in a girl like her. Stupidity.
“Well, don’t look too disappointed!” her friend says, her voice low.
“Sorry,” she mumbles, climbing into the passenger side seat.
Ari turns in her seat, her face serious, “Are you okay?”
“I was supposed to have that date with Jake.”
“Oh shit, I completely forgot. I can go if you want?”
“No, you're okay. He didn't show up anyways.”
“Are you serious?” she says, glaring at her, “Not even a text or phone call to cancel?”
She says, “Nope. But than again I should have known better. He has the entire school pawning after him, why would he want to go on a date with a girl like me?”
“Because you're a hot bitch! And if he wants to be a prick and stand you up, well than forget about him. I'm taking my girl out tonight.”
“Where exactly are you planning on taking me?” She says, slumbing further into her seat.
Ari cracks devilish smile, “Old friend of mine is having this huge bonfire party down at Creek and we are going to crash it.”
“I don't think I am up for a huge crowd tonight Ari, it's bad enough I just got stood up by some asshole that doesn't gi
ve a crap about who he hurt. Being around a crowd and risking more embarrassment is the last thing on my list of things to do.”
Sam didn't want to let her best friend down or make her mad at her, but crowds have never been her thing, picking at her nails Ari replies, “Look I get it. I won’t be mad if you want to stay home curled up in your room for the rest of the night.”
She's right, that is what Sam would do. She'd be locked away in her room for the remained of the night to advoid any interaction with her father. She might even lay there staring at her phone waiting for a text message or phone call that will never come.
What are you thinking, he's an asshole Sam. You don't need someone like that, she tells herself silently.
“You're an ass, you know that?” Sam says to her best friend, watching her face light up.
“Yeah, but you love me!” Ari replies, bouncing in her seat, “And we are in this together girl, I am always here for you.”
Sam does love her and sticks with her no matter how much of a pain in the ass she can be 99.99% of the time. While a part of her wants to curl in her bed and hide away from the outside, the other part wants to be there for her best friend as she has always been there for her – she chooses the latter.
“Stop sucking up and let’s go before I change my mind.” Sam laughs, lighting slapping her best friends’ arm.
Ari eyes dance, the specks of them lightening up as she leans her head out the window, “Have a great morning Mrs. Echo!”
“You both have fun!” Her mother says, wiping her dirty hands on her shorts.
She puts the BMW into gear and pulls from the curb taking off down the street. The car ride was silent, not that awkward one that everyone hates so much but the one where it felt normal, almost like it was natural. The ride felt like forever, thousands of trees and houses flew by in a blur. She rests her head on the cold icy window, her mind clouded with thoughts and she cranks her iPod up to drown out the noise. After a few twists and turns the car finally stops, resting in a dirt patch in an open field.
Shattered Echo (The Shattered Echo Series Book 1) Page 2