“And I saw you here a couple of weeks ago. I was here with Alex and Benjamin.”
“Ah, now I understand. So do you come here often?” he asked.
“I used to, but now, I just come when I have the chance or when my mom wants me to take Benny. So are you ready to skate some more?” Sam asked.
“Yeah,” Phillip said.
Sam and Phillip walked to the entrance and glided onto the ice. Phillip reached over and took Sam’s hand in his. She looked down at their hands then back at Phillip. All he did was smile at her. She smiled back and entwined her fingers with his.
“Can I tell you something?” Phillip asked.
“You can tell me anything.”
Phillip was interrupted by the loud ring of his cell phone. “Sorry. I’ll just be a minute.” He reached into his pocket and grabbed his cell phone.
“It’s fine. I don’t mind,” Sam said even though she wanted to know what he was going to tell her.
“Hello?” Phillip answered the phone. “Yeah, hey, man…It has to be one of the other guys…What? No, I haven’t seen him…No, he’s not with me…I’m at the ice skating rink…With Sam…Josh, come on…”
At the mention of Josh’s name, Sam grew tense. Phillip was talking to him about what? Who were they talking about? Was it Billy?
“All right, talk to you later, man,” Phillip said then hung up the phone.
“What was that about?” Sam asked.
“Oh, Josh was wondering if Billy was with me.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” Sam asked.
“Nothing that I know of. Josh just can’t find Billy and was wondering if I’d seen him.”
Sam got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. She’d done pretty well during the last few days blocking thoughts of what had happened to Chris from her mind, but Josh’s name brought it all rushing back.
“You okay, Sam?” Phillip asked, sounding concerned.
“What?” Sam turned to look up at Phillip and lost her balance and fell to the ice, dragging Phillip down with her.
Phillip was trying to keep Sam up, but instead ended up falling down to the ice with her. She managed to land fairly light on the ice, not causing too much pain, but Phillip’s luck wasn’t as good. After the initial fall, they tumbled over and landed on their backs, Sam’s head resting on Phillip’s outstretched arm.
“Are you okay?” Sam asked as she sat up, realizing Phillip had broken her fall.
Phillip moaned loudly. “Not really.”
“I’m so sorry. Where does it hurt?” she asked, placing her hand on his chest.
“Everywhere,” he groaned.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect you to try and keep me up.”
“It’s okay, Sam. You can make me feel better though.”
“How? You want me to help you up? We can sit down for a while,” Sam babbled.
“Kiss me.”
“What?” Sam said with a slight laugh. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine, Sam. I’ve wanted to kiss you since that night in your room.”
“Are you sure you didn’t hit your head?” Sam said.
“Kiss me, Sam.”
“Here? Now?”
“Yes. Kiss me.”
Sam smiled at Phillip, who was still lying on the ice, unsure quite what to do, but knowing she might never have another chance. She bent down, her hair falling to one side of her face, gently brushing his chest. Sam moved her hand to Phillip’s other side, supporting her weight on the ice as her face drew closer to his. She looked into his crystal blue eyes.
Everything around them went silent, nothing but the two of them mattered. Sam leaned further down, her face inches from his.
“Are you two all right?” Alex asked.
Sam bolted upright, only to slip on the ice again, falling straight back onto Phillip.
Phillip groaned.
“I’m sorry, was I interrupting?” Alex asked with a smirk.
“Just help me up, Al,” Sam said, holding up her hands, her tone a little sharper than she meant it to be due to her intense disappointment. She’d been so close to kissing him.
“Glad to see that you’re doing fine,” Alex said, helping Sam up.
After she stood up, Sam held out her hand for Phillip and helped him off the ice.
“I think I’ve had enough fun on the ice,” Phillip said as they both glided to the edge of the rink.
“So I guess you two are okay then?” Alex asked.
Phillip tore his gaze from Sam. “Yeah.”
“Just a little bruised,” Sam commented as they both took off their skates. They grabbed their things from the locker and sat down to put on their own shoes.
“So what happened out there?” Alex asked.
“I just lost my balance,” Sam admitted.
“I saw you were on your cell phone,” Alex said to Phillip.
“Yeah, it happened after I hung up.”
“Who were you talking to, just out of curiosity? Was it Tracy?”
Sam gave Alex a panicked look, but she didn’t notice.
“No, it was Josh. Tracy and I broke up,” Phillip said.
“You two broke up?” Alex repeated, her voice rising with excitement.
“Yeah, she was cheating,” Phillip said.
“Cheating?” Alex asked. “So Sam told you?”
“What?” he asked.
Sam cleared her throat, but Alex kept going.
“Sam told you about Tracy and Mr. Stevens.”
“What? You knew?” Phillip said, turning to look at Sam.
Sam looked into his eyes. She didn’t want to hurt Phillip, but she had to tell the truth. “Yes.”
“And you didn’t tell me?” he said, sounding hurt and angry.
“No. I didn’t know what to say,” she said helplessly.
“How about the truth? Why didn’t you tell me today?” Phillip’s voice grew harder.
“I don’t know. I wanted to tell you, but it wasn’t my business,” she miserably.
Phillip stood up. “If I hadn’t found out today, would you have told me about Tracy?”
“I don't know. Probably not. No,” Sam said simply.
Phillip turned around and started to walk away.
“Phillip, wait!” Sam called but Phillip kept on walking. “I wouldn’t have told you. I didn’t say anything because it wasn’t any of my business. Tracy should have told you herself, not me.”
Phillip walked out the door, but Sam knew he had heard her. She turned to look at Alex. “What were you thinking? I gave you the shut up look.”
“No, that was your scared look. I was wondering why you were giving it to me.”
“Well, can you get this one?” Sam said, narrowing her eyes. “It’s my I’m-Annoyed-At-You-Because-You’re-So-Stupid look.” Sam sighed. “It was going so well, too. Now he won’t trust me again.”
“Calm your horses, woman. He heard you. From what I could tell, he likes you, really likes you. He just needs some time to cool off. Believe me, he’ll be calling you soon. He’ll realize his mistake and call to ask your forgiveness.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I know people. People are my thing, Sam. Oh, and by the way, thanks for not telling him the rest of the skating story.”
“Alex, you continually amaze me.”
* * *
On Monday morning, Sam managed to get to Mr. Stevens’ classroom just as the bell rang. No Tracy. Sam wondered if it had something to do with what happened on Friday. Mr. Stevens was still teaching. Were Mr. Stevens and Tracy still together?
“Did you hear that Billy Lederman is missing?” Michael said as he and Alex sat down next to Sam.
“What? How do you know that?” Sam asked, her stomach twisting.
“We just heard some guy talking in the hallway,” he said.
Sam looked at Alex, knowing exactly what she was thinking. Was it Josh? Did Josh do something to him?
“Okay class, settle down,”
Mr. Stevens said.
Sam sat through class, preoccupied, thinking about Phillip, and about Billy and Josh. Was Phillip going to forgive her? Would he ever talk to her again? Was Alex right? Did he like her? If so, how much? Was this just a passing fad? What about Billy? Had Josh done something to him or had he just ran away because he couldn’t take the guilt?
“Uh, Sam?” Alex said, waving her hand in front of Sam’s face.
“What? Oh sorry, did the bell ring?” Sam asked.
“Yes, Miss Baker,” Mr. Steven’s said, “but I’ll excuse you this once for not paying attention in my class.”
Sam looked up at Mr. Stevens. She had completely forgotten that he had seen her with Phillip after school on Friday. “Uh thanks,” she said. This was awkward. Her once favorite class had now become the most uncomfortable. Was this going to continue the rest of the year? What would happen when Tracy came back to class? Where was Billy?
* * *
At lunch, Sam sat down with Alex and Michael at their usual table.
“Are you okay?” Alex asked Sam.
Sam looked blankly at her lunch. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just not hungry.”
“Is it because of Phillip?”
“No, it’s a lot of things—”
“Because he keeps looking over here,” Alex said in a stage whisper. “I don’t think he’s upset anymore.”
“You don’t know that and besides, if he had forgiven me, then he would have talked to me. I haven’t seen or heard from him all weekend. And he’s avoided me all morning.”
“You mean, you’ve avoided him all morning. Anyway, sometimes, guys just need some time to cool off, especially after a week like Phillip’s had.”
“Attention, students!” Mr. Norton said over the loudspeaker. “My intent is not alarm you, but Billy Lederman has just been found—”
Cheers and whispers spread around the cafeteria the moment Mr. Norton mentioned Billy’s name.
“He was identified this morning—”
Identified? What happened? What did he mean by that?
“I’m sorry, students. There’s no easy way to say this, but he’s dead,” the principal concluded.
Students erupted in a buzz of concern and sorrow. They couldn’t believe what was going on. First the shooting with Chris and now Billy.
Only Sam knew what had really happened. Her eyes welled up with tears as the full realization of Billy’s death hit her. If Josh killed Billy to silence him, it was possible she could be next if he found out what she knew.
Sam ran out of the cafeteria. She couldn’t be there any longer. How could she be in the same room as Josh? How could she act normally around a murderer?
No one was in the hallway as Sam ran toward her locker. She wanted to leave, just get away from everything. As Sam opened her locker, she realized that leaving was not an option if she wanted to remain unnoticed by Josh. She couldn’t make Josh more suspicious of her, couldn’t let him suspect her. Tears fell down Sam’s cheek. She sank to the floor, crying.
Sam felt an arm wrap around her shoulders. She looked up, expecting to see Alex, but it was Phillip. “So does this mean you’re not mad at me?” Sam said, wiping the tears from her face.
“Of course I’m not mad at you,” he said softly. “I’m sorry I never called you. I just needed time to think about some things.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“I shouldn’t have been mad. I can understand why you didn't tell me,” he said, looking into her eyes. He reached up and wiped away a fresh tear that had rolled down her cheek. “Were you crying about Billy or were you upset with me?”
“Don’t give yourself so much credit,” Sam said, still able to find something funny to say. “I just don’t think I can take anymore.”
“Anymore what?”
“Deaths. First Chris, now Billy,”
“I know it's crazy, if you ever need to talk, I’m here,” he whispered.
“Hey, Phil!”
Sam glanced up at Josh, who was looking at her suspiciously. She looked away.
“Yeah?” Phillip turned toward Josh.
“I was just wondering what happened to you. ‘Cause you said you would be right back,” Josh said.
“I met Sam in the hallway.”
“You okay, Baker?” Josh asked, looking at Sam.
Sam nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
“What was that, Baker?” Josh said aggressively.
“She’s fine, Josh. What’s your problem?” Phillip said, pushing to his feet.
“Nothing, is she crying about Billy? We’re all torn up, but she didn’t even know him,” Josh said suspiciously. “Why are you crying, Baker? Why do you act all scared every time you see me?”
“Josh, just go,” Phillip said, blocking Sam from Josh’s view.
“Sorry, man, I didn’t mean to make your girlfriend so uptight. Man, I liked Tracy so much better, brainless with a hot body, nothing like her,” Josh said, looking down at Sam.
“Leave, Josh. Now!” Phillip sounded pissed.
Josh began walking back to the cafeteria.
“I’m sorry about that, Sam,” Phillip said, helping her up.
“It’s okay,” Sam said, her voice trembling. Josh had looked at her like he knew she was hiding something. She had to keep it together when she was around him, or pretty soon she’d find herself dead like Billy.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I should get back in there though.” Sam pointed toward the cafeteria.
“We’re already out here. What’s the harm of staying out here?”
“I have to...it’s going to look suspicious.”
“Suspicious?” he asked, confused.
“Yes, he’ll know. I can’t let him find out.”
“Who will know? Find out what?” Phillip gave her a strange look and she knew she was talking crazy.
“Nothing. I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Sam, please, you can tell me anything. I want you to trust in me,” he said, taking her hands in his.
“I can’t.” Sam looked down at their hands. His fit perfectly around hers. She wanted to believe in him, she really did. She was so scared.
Phillip put his finger under her chin and lifted it slowly until he was looking into her eyes. He touched her cheek softly with his thumb.
Sam closed her eyes to his soft, warm touch. She was safe around him. He made her feel like everything was going to be all right.
Phillip leaned in closer, and Sam took a deep breath. He smiled slightly as his lips softly captured hers. Sam melted in his arms, losing all sense of time or place, until the bell rang.
Phillip nearly dropped Sam at the sound, seeming as flustered as she was. They stared at each other for a long moment.
“Well, then, Sam, err, I’ll see you after school,” Phillip said, seeming like he wasn’t sure what to do.
Sam smiled at the abrupt ending to their kiss. Phillip sprang away from her so fast, she almost fell to the ground. Upon seeing Phillip’s flustered state, Sam couldn’t help but laugh. She was glad to see he had been as affected by it as she had.
“Listen. I was going to ask you—I wanted to know if—” Sam smiled at his loss of words. “Do you want to come over to my house tomorrow? You can bring Benjamin.”
Sam looked up at him. “Uh…sure…I’ll have to ask my parents, but I think it can be arranged.”
Phillip smiled down at her. “Great. I actually have to run to practice, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Sam nodded. “See you tomorrow, handsome.”
Phillip made his way back to his locker, bumping into a few students on the way there.
“You okay, Sam?” Alex said, walking up to her, Michael trailing behind.
“I’m fine,” Sam said dreamily. She couldn’t believe Phillip had finally kissed her. “Perfect.”
“All right, spill,” Alex said.
“He kissed me,” Sam said.
&nb
sp; “What?” Alex burst out.
“Just before the bell rang,”
“So that’s why you looked startled,” Alex said. “Come on, let’s get to class.”
Chapter Ten
Sam entered her house. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hello, honey. How was your day?”
“Good.” She took a deep breath. “So I was wondering if I could go over to Phillip’s house tomorrow after school.”
“I don’t know, Samantha. I’ll have to talk to your father.”
“Oh, and I want to bring Benjamin with me too.”
“You want to bring your brother?”
“Yeah, Phillip’s house is huge, and it has everything. Benji would love it!”
“Like I said, I’ll have to talk with your father.”
“All right, I’ll be upstairs then. Call when dinner is ready,” Sam said as she walked out of the kitchen and made her way up the stairs.
“Hey, Benny, how was school today?” she asked, pausing in his doorway.
“It was fun. We saw a movie about animals and had animal crackers for snack!”
Sam smiled then knelt down beside him. “Tonight at dinner I want you to tell Mommy and Daddy that you really, really want to go to Phillip’s house.”
“Am I going to go to his house?” Benjamin asked optimistically.
“Yes, Benjamin. I’m going to take you there tomorrow. But you have to tell Mommy you want to go.”
“Okay, I can do that.” He grinned at her.
“Good. I’m going to be in my room if you need me, Benny.”
“All right, Sammy,” Benjamin said as he focused his attention back to his coloring book.
Sam walked across the hall to her room and signed onto her computer.
PhilyCheeseSteak: Hey.
SamIam: Hey. How was practice?
PhilyCheeseSteak: Good. How was the time with Alex?
SamIam: Good…so…is this ever not going to be awkward?
PhilyCheeseSteak: What do you mean? I find our conversation completely normal. So, what did your mom say when you asked?
SamIam: That she was going to have to talk to my dad.
PhilyCheeseSteak: What does that mean?
SamIam: It means she doesn’t want me to go, but won’t say it. Instead she’ll have my dad say I can go, all the while giving her own opinions.
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