Sam made her way to Mr. Stevens’ classroom and turned the handle. It was locked. She peeked through the space between the edge of the window and the blinds to see if he was still inside and realized why Mr. Stevens locked his door early.
Mr. Stevens was fairly young to be teaching. He was twenty-five, fresh out of graduate school, tall and had short, shaggy dark brown hair. Sam thought he was cute, but of course she had never thought of him as anything other than a good teacher. Other people obviously thought differently.
As Sam looked through the small crevice, she saw yet another thing she didn’t want to have to keep a secret. She knew, though, if she told someone—even Alex—word would get out and Mr. Stevens would probably be fired, because right in the front of the classroom, he was making out with a student.
Tracy Gibbons, to be precise.
She’d always had a feeling Mr. Stevens was dating—if you could call it that—a student. She just wasn’t sure who.
Why was Tracy Gibbons kissing their teacher? Tracy was dating Phillip, so why would she do this to him? Sam couldn’t think, didn’t know what to do.
“Oh, my God,” Sam whispered under her breath. “I have to get out of here.”
She turned around and started running down the hallway, but as soon as she turned the corner, she ran straight into Josh McFadden.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you,” Sam said nervously, picking up her backpack, which she had dropped in the collision. Sam continued to look down as she gathered a couple of books that had fallen out of her backpack. “I’m sorry, again.”
“Just watch where you’re going next time, Baker,” Josh snarled.
Sam started stumbling backwards, desperate to get away from him.
“You okay, Baker? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost,” Josh commented, peering at her intently.
“Uh, no, I’m…uh…I’m fine. Sorry I ran into you. I really have to go,” Sam said as she turned around and made a run toward the front entrance. She was too scared to look back as Josh shouted her name. The only thing she could think of was whether he had figured out she knew his secret.
She ran out the door, straight to her car. Sam threw her backpack in the car and locked the doors. Her hands shook as she tried to put the key in the ignition.
“Sam!” Michael said as he lightly tapped on her window.
Sam screamed at the top of her lungs when she heard her name. She turned her head and saw Michael standing outside her car. Her heart was racing.
“Are you okay, Sam?”
She turned her key and rolled down the window.
“Yeah. Why are you here, Michael?”
“Oh, late tutor session. I just saw you running in the hall and you looked scared. Especially after Josh started calling after you.”
“Oh yeah, I’m just late for, uh, my time with Alex.”
“Right, sorry I bothered you then. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Sure, see you later,” she said.
Sam rolled up her window and made her way out of the parking lot.
* * *
“Sam, what are you doing here?” Alex said when Sam walked into her room a few minutes later. “I thought you said you weren’t coming over today.”
“I know, but then I bumped into Josh and I have to tell you something.”
“Oh my God, don’t tell me you like that Josh guy now.”
“God, no! Why would you say something like that? It’s about the school shooting,” Sam said with a shudder.
“Oh, well, then go on, you can tell me.”
Sam told Alex the whole story, how she had lied about where she was when the shooting occurred, how she saw the whole thing take place, and how Chris hadn’t shot himself, but been murdered by Josh McFadden. Sam told her the whole story, even what had taken place earlier that day, and how she’d seen Tracy and Mr. Stevens making out in his classroom. She just couldn’t keep it all held inside any longer. She felt like she was losing her mind.
“Now tell me what I should do!” Sam was annoyed that her friend kept dwelling on the fact that Tracy and Mr. Stevens were together and not focusing on her current situation with Josh and Billy.
“Well, Josh will only find out that you lied if you keep acting weird around him. Just be yourself—”
“It’s kind of hard when I know he’s killed someone!” Sam cried.
“Why don’t you just go to the police? That seems like the smart thing to do.”
“Because, Josh’s dad will just hire some big shot lawyer to get him out of it, and when he does get out, he’ll know I’m the one who told and I’ll be the one he’s coming after.”
“Sam, you can’t just pretend that Josh didn’t kill Chris,” Alex said with a frown.
“Don’t you think I know that? But I can’t do anything about it, unless I want to end up just like Chris!”
“Calm down, Sam, it’s okay,” Alex said, trying to hide her own shaking hands by putting them in her pockets. “We’ll keep quiet then, until we come up with something. Can’t you tell your father? I mean, he is a lawyer, he would know how to handle this.”
“I can’t tell my father. He’ll just tell the police. I have to figure this out myself.”
“Well, what about Tracy and Mr. Stevens?” Alex asked.
“What about them? You can’t tell anyone!” Sam said, looking Alex in the eyes.
“What? I won’t. I promise. I swear, but you know if you tell Phillip, he will be a free man. I'm just so glad you have this thing going on with Phillip, something to keep our minds occupied with, so that we don’t have to think about the other stuff.”
“Al, I can’t tell him. That would be wrong. I can’t, I won’t.”
“Not even if it meant that he and Tracy would break up?”
“That’s not a good enough reason. It would jeopardize Mr. Stevens’ job and put Tracy at risk of expulsion.”
“Since when have you cared whether Tracy Gibbons is expelled or not?”
“It’s not right. I could never forgive myself for getting Mr. Stevens fired and more importantly, making a fool out of Phillip. I would be humiliated if I found out my boyfriend was cheating on me, right under my nose—with a teacher, no less.”
“Sam, you don’t have a boyfriend.”
“I’m speaking hypothetically.”
“I’m just saying that this would be your opportunity to get him,” Alex said reasonably.
“Okay, Alex. Please just promise me you aren’t going to say anything.”
“Fine, I promise.”
“Not even to Michael?”
“Not even to Michael,” Alex agreed, even though Sam knew this secret was going to kill her.
“I better go, I need to get home. I’m late,” Sam said, looking at the time, realizing she would be thirty minutes late getting home.
“All right, Sam. See you tomorrow. And don’t be all weird.”
Sam smiled at her. “Sure, Alex.”
Sam walked downstairs and made her way toward her house, carefully stepping over the bushes that separated the two houses.
“Mom, I’m back,” she called as she headed up the stairs.
“You’re late,” her mom said, coming out of the kitchen.
“I know. I’m sorry, I just got caught up talking with Alex.”
“I thought you guys did homework together?”
“We do, I just had to talk to her about something. I’ll be up in my room.”
“Okay, sweetie. Check in on your brother. I sent him up there a while ago, when I thought you’d be back.”
Sam made her way up the stairs and checked in on Benjamin before settling down in her room. Sitting down at her desk, she pulled out her books and logged on to her computer.
PhilyCheeseSteak: Hey, Sam.
SamIam: Hey, didn’t we just talk?
PhilyCheeseSteak: Yeah, a little more than an hour ago. Listen, after practice, Josh said he bumped into you.
SamIam: Yeah, after I talked to you, I ran into
him on the way to my car.
PhilyCheeseSteak: Well, he said you dropped your notebook.
SamIam: I was wondering what happened to it.
PhilyCheeseSteak: I have it with me, so I can give it to you tomorrow at school.
SamIam: Great, thanks. So, how was practice?
PhilyCheeseSteak: It was good, Coach drilled us hard today, you know, since we haven’t had practice in a week.
SamIam: So when’s your next game? You know you still haven’t told me how it works.
PhilyCheeseSteak: What? Football? Well, maybe tomorrow I’ll have a chance to tell you how it works. And as for our next game we have one this Friday. Maybe you could come watch it…and bring Alex and Michael along too.
SamIam: Um….I’ll have to think about it.
PhilyCheeseSteak: Sure. I didn’t mean that you had to come.
SamIam: Phillip, I was joking…Of course I’ll come.
PhilyCheeseSteak: Awesome. I’ll tell you how the game works before Friday then.
SamIam: Great. I look forward to it.
Chapter Seven
Sam was putting her books in her locker the next morning when Alex and Michael came by.
“Hey, Sam,” Alex said.
“Hey, what’s up, you two?” Sam had to smile. They just looked so cute together.
“We were just wondering if you had made up your mind if you were coming to the ice rink with us this Saturday,” Michael said.
“If you guys will come with me to the football game this Friday,” Sam retorted.
“Uh, sure, but why do we have to come to the game?” Alex asked.
“Because Phillip invited me to come—and you two—but really I just don’t want to show up alone,” Sam replied.
“Oh.” Alex smiled. “He did, did he?”
“Yes, we’re friends, Alex. Nothing more. And friends go to other friends’ games, right?”
“Yeah, I suppose, but you two did almost kiss—” Alex said, then put her hand over her mouth.
“What? You and Phillip? How did I miss that?” Michael said.
“Shut up, you two. Yell it to the entire school, why don’t you? So will you come with me this Friday or not?” Sam said, looking around to make sure no one else had heard.
“Of course we’ll come,” Alex answered for the both of them. “But the real question is, are you coming to the ice rink?”
“Yes, of course. I love ice skating.”
“I know, but are you going to bring anyone?” Alex hinted.
“I was thinking about bringing Benjamin,” Sam teased.
“No, really, did you ask him or not?” Alex became impatient.
“Calm your horses. Yes, I asked and yes, he’s coming.”
Alex gave a little squeal.
Sam raised her eyebrows at her friend, who sounded ridiculous squealing like a little girl in the hallway.
“Only you, Al,” Sam laughed as they made their way to first period Pre-calculus.
* * *
“I can’t believe it’s already time for Bio,” Alex commented that afternoon.
“I know, the day has gone by fast,” Michael said, his hand around her waist.
“Oh, God, you two go ahead,” Sam said.
“What?” Alex said.
“Nothing, lovebirds, I’ll just be a minute. I’ll catch up with you guys in class.” Sam couldn’t bear to be around them anymore today. She had to admit she was a little jealous.
“Don’t be late!” Alex warned.
“I won’t. Don’t worry so much.”
Alex and Michael made their way toward room 324 as Sam lingered back a little. She was happy for her friend, but sometimes felt out of place when the two went all lovey-dovey on her.
“Hey, Sam, someone feeling like a third wheel?”
Sam turned around to see Phillip walking behind her. “Hey, I thought you would be walking Tracy to class.”
“I haven’t seen her today. And I don’t always walk her to class,” he retorted.
“Uh, Phillip, yes you do.”
“No, just last week, I showed Michael to the classroom.”
“Yeah, and Tracy was lagging behind you.”
“Well, it’s more her than me. I didn’t even know she was behind me.”
“Uh-huh, how do you not know that your girlfriend is behind you—especially with one like Tracy?” The minute the words came out of her mouth she regretted saying them. Why couldn’t she hold her tongue? Or better, why couldn’t she think before she spoke? “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.”
Phillip smiled. “It’s okay, Sam. I know she can be a little overbearing sometimes.”
“Sometimes?” There she went again. “Oh, God, I did it again.”
Phillip couldn’t help but laugh a little. “You ready for Ms. Hatchet?” Phillip said, obviously sensing their joint discomfort talking about Tracy.
Sam eyed him. How did he know? How could he sense that she wanted to change the subject? How did he always know what to say, and when to say it? Sam smiled at Phillip. “Ready as I’ll ever be,” she retorted.
Phillip opened the door and Sam walked into the classroom, taking her usual seat in the back next to Alex.
“I almost forgot. I have your notebook,” Phillip said, sitting down in front of Sam.
“Oh, great, thanks,” she said as she grabbed the notebook. Phillip pulled it back just as she was about to grab it. “Come on, Phillip. Give it to me.”
“Why? What will I get in return?” Phillip said.
Why was he playing with her? Why couldn’t he just hand her the notebook? What did he expect to get?
Sam paused for a minute, unsure what exactly he meant. “Well, I’ll give you—”
“Ms. Baker and Mr. Corinodi, you are talking after the bell has rung. Get your things and go to detention immediately.”
Sam heaved a big sigh, took the purple slip from Ms. Hatchet and began to make her way out the door, closely followed by Phillip. They walked to detention in silence. Sam wasn’t sure what she was going to say in reply to Phillip’s question.
Sam opened the door to detention. “Hey, Mrs. H.”
“Sam, what are you doing here? I thought you were trying to stay out of trouble in Ms. Hatchet’s class.”
“Don’t look at me,” Sam said, handing her the slip. “It was his fault.” She pointed at Phillip.
“What? This wasn’t my fault,” Phillip said with a laugh.
“You wouldn’t give me my notebook,” Sam said. “Well, he wouldn’t,” Sam said to Mrs. Hutchinson.
“All right, kids, take a seat.” Mrs. Hutchinson rolled her eyes.
Sam walked toward the back of the classroom, followed by Phillip.
“It wasn’t my fault,” Phillip said again.
“Yes, it was. If you had given me my notebook, we wouldn’t be in this mess. I was trying not to get any more detentions in her class.”
“Well, if you had remembered to pick up your notebook yesterday, I wouldn’t have had to give it back to you.”
“If you would have given me my notebook earlier, we wouldn’t have been sent here for talking.”
“Have you gotten it all out?” Phillip asked.
Sam furrowed her brow. “What?”
“I think we’ve ripped at each other enough, don’t you think?”
“Well, if you—” Sam began then paused. “I have nothing.”
“Coach is going to kill me for being late to practice.”
“I’m sure you won’t be late.”
“Sam, we’re in detention. We have to stay here an hour after class ends.”
“Believe me, we’re the only ones in here, we’ll get out early.”
“I see. You and Mrs. Hutchinson have a deal going on.”
“Not really a deal, she just knows how unfair Ms. Hatchet can be. I’ve just been here so many times…” Sam trailed off. “Okay, I’m not making any sense.”
“I understand what you mean, though. So what do you normally do in det
ention?”
“Draw,” Sam said, blushing at the thought of the picture he’d seen.
“That’s right, I forgot.”
“I’ve never actually been in detention with somebody I know. This is actually kind of strange.”
“Well, I can go over the particulars of football so you’ll understand what’s happening Friday.”
“Yeah, sounds great. I really do need to learn how that game is played. I don’t know why my parents never taught me. I mean, my brother played the game—why wouldn’t I know how to play?” Sam felt her cheeks heat as she realized she was babbling. “I’ll stop now and let you explain. I have a tendency to ramble sometimes.”
“Sometimes?” Phillip smiled, mocking Sam’s statement before class.
“Ha ha, handsome, just tell me how to play the game,” Sam sneered.
Phillip smiled at the mention of his nickname and began to tell Sam how to play the game. The whole class had gone by before Phillip had finished explaining the particulars.
“Do you understand?” Phillip asked.
“Uh, yeah, sure I do,” Sam lied.
“You know, you’re not a very good liar.”
“I understood some of it, maybe not a hundred percent but I understood some. Like kicking the ball to start the play—then throwing it to your teammate and the whole point is to get the ball to the other side of the field and score a touchdown or a field goal.”
“Sam, that’s how much you knew when I first started explaining the game,” Phillip said.
“Okay, so I retained none of it. I have enough to go to the game, I think, and I’ll just cheer when everyone else does, no biggie.” Sam smiled at him, hoping he wasn’t mad.
“You know, you’re pretty cute when you smile,” Phillip said softly.
“Hey, kids,” Mrs. Hutchinson said. “I think you two can leave, if you’d like.”
“Great, thanks, Mrs. H. Hopefully I won’t be seeing you around,” Sam joked, deciding not to read too much into Phillip’s sweet comment. He had a girlfriend, she reminded herself.
A cheating whore of a girlfriend he’d probably break up with if I just told him what I knew…
“And I don’t want to see you either, missy,” Mrs. Hutchinson said as Sam and Phillip were leaving.
In Your Arms Page 7