- Created By lynn4pkmn
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Samantha’s mouth fell open as she stared at the back of Locke’s house and then to the back of her Father’s. Locke let go of her hand and leaned against the side of his car, folding his arms and continued to smile at her reaction.
Samantha looked to him and smiled the biggest smile he had seen from her all night. Ironically her smile seemed to make the atmosphere seem brighter.
“This must be what all of those mushy love stories turn out like with things like this going on.” He thought as he gave a slight smirk. “I would love to
see what else this summer has in store for me.”
“We’re….. Neighbors.” She muttered softly through that smile, letting the words sink in. She closed her eyes and started twirling. Her dancing, Locke could tell, was influenced by a ballet style. His eyebrows raised in amazement of her flowed movement, even in those sandals.
She was just so happy that she just kept dancing. The spun too close to a crack in the concrete and her sandal caught and she toppled backwards into Locke’s arms.
“Carful, Sammy. If you hurt yourself I may just have to carry you.”He chuckled.
Samantha blushed at her clumsiness and at how close she was to Locke again. She hobbled forward and slipped her other shoe on properly.
“Let’s go in, shall we.” She said. “But which house shall we see first?” She turned to ask grabbing his hand.
Locke shrugged. “Lady’s pick I guess then.” He smiled at her.
She smiled back, as usual and led him over to her Father’s house. “I promised
I’d at least show you around.”
Locke frowned. “Yeah, ok.” He thought the rest to himself. “At least? I wonder what her other plans are then?”
Swiftly took the keys out of her pocket and unlocked the back door, she let go of Locke’s hand and swung it inside the house and then held the door open for him. He slowly made his way inside. Pausing long enough to unlace his high tops and set them right behind the door. Samantha smiled at how polite he was being already. She walked around still holding the door open and kicked off one of her sandals to land next to his. As she tried to kick off the second one her foot swung hard into the corner of the door, stubbing her toe.
Samantha squealed and jumped back on her good foot, holding the injured one in her hands.
“That’s it!” Locke smiled playfully as we walked over and effortlessly picked Samantha up bridal style.
The swift motion of movement made Samantha cling onto Locke’s neck out of fear. Her foot kicked the other shoe off and it landed with a clatter on the kitchen floor next to its mate.
“Now what did I tell you.” Locke laughed. “Get hurt again and I would carry you.”
Samantha blushed at how effortlessly he was able to hold her up. He kicked the back door closed with his foot and began to walk around the house with Samantha still in his arms.
“Kitchen…..check. Dinning room…check…..Back bathroom…..check.” Locke did this for every room down stairs until he came to the living room in the front of the house. “I’m guessing your room is upstairs?”
She nodded and he walked effortlessly up the stairs near the front door in the living room. Most of the doors in this hallway were closed except for one. He gingerly walked across the carpet to a door that was part way open. On the door hung a sign that read, “Sammy-man!!!” and a picture of a four year old girl in a Spider man outfit with flaming red pig tales sitting on her father’s lap sharing Halloween candy.
Locke just laughed at the innocents of the girl in the picture that he can still see in the 18 year old today. Samantha piped up finally, “Like I said, Father wanted a little boy.”
“And I am so glad he didn’t. You are far too pretty, even at that age, to be a boy.” Locke smirked.
Samantha blushed more and looked away from him and to her picture. She thought to herself. “He called me pretty before and I’m still not used to it.”
Locke nudged the door all the way opened with his foot and set Samantha down on her bed. “How is your foot, Sammy girl?” He asked moving down and taking Samantha’s foot gingerly in his hands.
She looked down at her swollen big toe and wiggled them. “Still hurts but at least it isn’t broken.”
He let go of her foot and stood up. Looking around the room he saw little jagged pictures hung on the wall of different animal pictures that were cut out of magazines. With a mixture of high school pictures of her and her friends now that looked to be new to the collection.
There was a box on her dresser of things a girl would normally keep in a room. Locke looked at that and his heart sank. He looked around at the genially bare room and asked quietly. “Moving away?”
He looked towards Samantha and she just smiled and shook her head. “Moving in. I used to live with mom down from when I was four threw high school across the state. I wanted to come to college here for art and music so I came to live with my dad.” She laughed. “He wanted to celebrate my homecoming today so we went to the amusement park. I haven’t even finished unpacking,” She motioned to the box, “but he insisted on going, today.”
Locke looked at the little clock sitting on Samantha’s desk. 10:23. “It’s not that late just yet. You wanna come over to my place and meet my folks. I already met your dad and I got the OK.”
“Yeah, alright.” Samantha answered. “but let me change first, please. This dress is all sweaty and icky.”
He chuckled at her. “Alright, Miss. I’ll be waiting downstairs. Can you walk by yourself?”
She swung her legs over the bed and stood up on her left foot and slowly placed her right foot on the floor. A little bit of pain shot through her leg but she gritted her teeth and walked over to the closet, turning only briefly to flash him a quick smile.
“Alright then, I’ll be downstairs.” Locke said and promptly left, shutting her door.
Samantha let out a sigh of relief. And slid her door back to her closet, she went through all of her hanging shirts and dresses until she came to a little blue one that almost matched the one she was wearing now. Throwing her dirty dress in the hamper she finished changing and applied more and perfume.
Meanwhile, Locke was downstairs looking over the many pictures of Samantha and her dad that were hanging on the walls and on the mantelpiece. Sadly enough, the timeline only went through when she was born to when she was about four years old, like the picture on her door looked. He stared at a smiling little Samantha holding an ice cream cone out to a little white puppy dog for him to have a lick.
“That was my dog, Skippy.” Samantha said sadly. “I loved that dog but mom hated it so he stayed here while I was gone. Dad had to put him down because he got hit by a car one week before I came to live here.”
“I remember this dog.” Locke laughed. “I thought I knew your Father from somewhere. It just hit me that he was the guy that would bring this dog over into our fenced side yard to play.” He laughed. “Funny how I only remember this now, huh?”
He turned to her to see she was in a longer blue dress that hung below her knees and was a beautiful deep blue color. She walked closer to him and that same flowery smell drifted over to him. “Do you believe this is alright?” She asked picking the skirt up and twirling around again so the skirt bellowed out around her, like a flower.
“Yes, Sammy. You look beautiful.” He blushed holding out his hand for her again.
She promptly took it and they were out the back door after collecting their shoes. Locke slipped off his socks and walked barefoot across the cool grass. The grass tickled Samantha’s feet enough so she left her shoes on. They walked to the back door and he slowly opened it and peered inside. The kitchen light was on and his mother was standing washing the dishes. She was a pretty short woman, a little bit taller than Samantha herself with a full head of jet black hair pulled back into a bun. She had normal summer clothes of shorts and a T-shirt that sported Locke’s old high school football number on the back. “Cooper # 24.”
“Mom, I’m home.” He held the door open wider and dropped his shoes and socks down by the door. “I brought a new friend home too.”
Her cue Samantha came through the door and into the warm light of the kitchen. His mother turned off the running water and turned around; wiping her hands on a little half working apron she was wearing.
“My now. She must be different Percy.” She said un-tying her apron. “You never introduce us to any of your other lady friends from school.” She threw the apron on the table and reached out for Samantha’s hand.
“Nice to meet you Mrs. Cooper, I’m Samantha Wilks. I live next door with my Father now that I’m going to college.” She stated politely as they shook hands.
“Is that so?” She thought. “Now that I get a good look at you, you do look an awful lot like Bill.” She suddenly gasped and threw her hands up to her mouth. “Oh my goodness! Now that I remember, Bill and I would take you two over to the park down the street to play. Do you remember that, Percy? Oh we used to sit and talk for hours while you played in that park. I think I have a picture somewhere.” She finished and scurried off to look threw a drawer over in the dining room china hutch.
Samantha giggled and looked to Locke. She slipped off her sandals, carefully, and followed Mrs. Cooper into the dining room. He followed close behind, blushing at the embarrassment from his mom. But if he knew her, It wouldn’t be the half of it. Mumbling to herself she rummaged through a bunch of pictures of family but mostly of Locke.
“What are you going on about now, woman?” Samantha wheeled around to see a pudgy looking man with glasses walk in their direction.
“Oh, Henry! Goodness you haven’t met Percy’s father, Henry.” Mrs. Cooper grabbed Samantha by the shoulders and pushed her the rest of the distance between her and Mr. Cooper. “Henry, this is Locke’s little girlfriend, Samantha who lives next door with her father, Bill.”
At the world girlfriend, Locke made a choking sound and turned towards his mother.
Henry stroked his chin and looked at her face and squinted. Samantha held out her hand for him. “My name is Samantha, sir. It is very nice to be your neighbor.” He let out a hearty, booming laugh that shook the house.
“Well, I’ll be damned, if you didn’t look just like your Papa.” He shook her hand with a strong grip. Samantha smiled a big grin.
“AH!!!” Mrs. Cooper shouted out which made Samantha jump and release Henry’s hand.
“Geese Loretta, scare the girl half to death why don’t you?” Henry laughed.
“Oh hush now. I only just found a group of pictures of when these two were children. Can’t a woman be a little excited?” The both of his parents laughed as Samantha slipped past his mother to be at Locke’s side again.
While his parents were admiring the pictures Locke leaned over and whispered.
“I’m sorry about them. They normally get like this about anything.” He said scratching the back of his head with a blush from embarrassment crossing his face.
“Oh nonsense.” Samantha reassured. “I believe they are fun. No harm done, right?” She smiled.
“Not yet anyways.” Locke mumbled under his breath as Samantha walked over to his parents to see this mystery picture.
Sure enough there was a whole series of pictures varying in age of different activities the two used to do together from playing with Skippy the puppy, or building sand tunnels at the park.
Samantha’s favorite picture was both of them together holding hands as they jumped through a sprinkler in her Father’s front yard.
“Aw now isn’t that precious?” Henry asked after laughing again. “Looks like we have plenty of pictures for you twos weddin’ now don’t we?”
Samantha let out an innocent sounding laugh while Locke looked away, blushing even more.
“Alright then,” Loretta spoke up. “They had a long day at the amusement park. Let’s let them wind down for tonight.” She said walking over and joining her husband in the living room to watch T.V. but not before handing the fistful of pictures to Samantha.
Locke hurried upstairs as fast as he could. Samantha stopped briefly before heading up. “It is very nice to meet the both of you…. Again.” She said boldly before hustling upstairs as well to join Locke. Clutching her new prize of pictures to her chest.
Chapter 4
The last of the fireworks echoed overhead as Samantha sat up from leaning on Locke’s chest. Locke gripped onto Samantha again and pulled her back into a hug. He then lazily stands up and brushes off the grass from his clothes. He offers his hand down to Samantha who was calmly waiting.
The applause that was for the fireworks finally dispersed and after giving Sam’s hand a good squeeze, Locke swiftly hoisted her to her feet. Once standing, she stretched with her arms overhead and then looked up at Locke.
The path lights flickered on one by one illuminating the way to the parks exit. Samantha smiled at Locke and then to the calm sky.
“So, Miss Samantha,” Locke asked smoothly, “Shall I be your company tonight? I would hate to leave you alone at all.” He finished.
Samantha’s smile slowly melted as she thought hard about how the night was going to end. Her gaze drifted from the sky to the sea of people as she thought to herself. Her reaction to his playful question made Locke uneasy.
Her thoughts continued to churn and whirl in her head of all the different problems that might occur.
“If I brought him home and ‘something’ happened, he could easily turn it into a one night stand. He seems like the one to do that, but maybe I could change that. He has been so wonderful to me and……”
“Samantha!!” Locke said again snapping his fingers in front of her face.
Startled, Samantha looked up into Locke’s cool, grey eyes and smiled sheepishly.
“I….I’m sorry. I was just thinking. A little too much.” She muttered.
He chuckled a little nervously and stepped forward, wrapping her in a hug.
“Sammy.” He started. “I don’t know what has you so worried, but if you would like, I could simply drive you home, no questions. Ok?” Locke asked softly down into Samantha’s ear. She could hear a hint of pain in his voice.
Samantha smiled sadly. She was not happy for his pain but she knew she had uncovered more of his intentions. She stepped back out of his embrace.
“I just don’t know. I know my father trusts me and all, but I’m not the kind of girl to bring a guy home on our first meeting.” Samantha sighed.
Locke added to her statement. “And I am not the type of guy to make a beautiful young lady worry.” Locke stopped and looked around before continuing. “Come on, we still have plenty of time for you to decide my fate. But first, we need to leave here.” He finished nodding his head toward the path of the exit.
She smiled shyly, feeling better about Locke altogether. He held his hand out to take hers but she stepped forward and latched onto his arm and looked up at him innocently.
“Well, alright. That works too.” Locke laughed whole heartily.
They followed the rest of the guests toward the exit of the park. Not much was said between the two as they walked. They both finally came to the exit and then out to the parking lot. Coming up to a white car, Samantha stopped in her tracks.
Locke stopped also, “Sammy? What’s wro……”
Locke was cut off by a shrill wolf whistle and a voice he was afraid to hear. “Damn Locke. I didn’t think you could do it, get her to put out so easily, I mean.”
Leaning on the hood of Locke’s little red car was the two other boys from that afternoon. Samantha broke away from Locke’s arm as her face grew red from embarrassment and anger.
“Ah, man.” Locke mumbled, running a hand threw his spiked hair. “I forgot I had to drive these buttholes home too.”
Walking up to the car he protectively placed an arm around Samantha’s shoulder to encourage her to walk forward. He fumbled in his shorts until he found his car keys and unlocked the doors from the passenger side. He opened the door and Samantha quickly slid in, looking a little frazzled. Locke leans on the passenger side door to get closer to whisper to Samantha.
“You still want me to take you home? We can call your pop and I can’t tell you how these two will act towards you. They just love giving me a hard time and they know that my soft spot is for…..girls.” He chuckled nervously, finding it hard to cheer her up.
Samantha’s face grew redder at this but she kept his gaze just the same.
“If all the other girls you bring home can handle these two, then so can I.” Samantha says coldly. Locke just looks at her with amazement and realizes what he said.
“Oh! .....well, I mean….. there weren’t too many others, No! That’s not what I meant…. Oh man.” Locke ran a hand through his hair again nervously.
Samantha chuckled at his fumbling words. “Besides, I have decided I want you to see my house, regardless of what anyone thinks of me.”
“That settles it then!! The lady has spoken.” The boy with the shaven head said, clapping Locke on the shoulders as he stood up. Locke lightly closed the passenger door for Samantha and then turned around to his “friends”.
Samantha could hear bits and pieces of his soft promise to the others but she knew he spoke quietly so as to save her from those choice words. She thought to herself how cute he was acting protecting her like before. She knew she could handle any “trouble” the two bring her way but it was nice to have someone else stick up for her too.
Waving Locke off with a hand, the boy who spoke jumped into the back seat behind Samantha.
“Yeah, yeah. We will play nice with your lady friend.” The blond haired boy said climbing into the seat behind Locke as he slipped into the drivers’ side and closing his door.
“Right, dude. We were only seeing if this one was good enough for our best-friend.” The other added giving Locke another punch on the shoulder.
Samantha laughed at this and said. “It is not like he needs either of you two to judge anyone who he wants to be friends with. A gentleman such as Locke can act the way a proper man should, when need be while you two, and your middle school pranks, probably don’t even know how to approach a girl let alone talk to her in a civilized manner.”
The brown shaven haired boy snorted. “The girls I bring home, babe, don’t want to be civil.” He laughed at his joke as he buckled his seatbelt and started staring out the window.
Samantha scoffed and just rolled her eyes. “Whatever your choice in women is, please refrain from putting me down to their level, and now would you also let your best-friend drive in piece.”
The blond hair boy made a chocking sound as he held back a laugh at his friend. The brown haired boy just shrugged, and moved down in the car seat to rest his head on the door to sleep.
Locke was smiling as he turned around to pull out from the parking spot. Before facing forward he gave Samantha a sly little wink as she watched him drive. This made her blush and that made Locke laugh out loud this time. He flipped on the radio but turned it down to a nice level for everyone. A little bit of rock and roll music played and Samantha tapped on her knees the beat of some of the songs she knew.
The blond boy made sounds like he wanted to talk but then remembered Samantha was in the car and quickly tried to silence any noise he made.
“I hate to act like someone’s mother, but I will give you both permission to speak; if you believe we can have a civilized conversation?” Samantha said after the fifth time he made the weird muffled sounds.
The blond in the back cleared his throat rather awkwardly and spoke in a hushed tone that matched hers.
“My name is Austin, and my jerk brother, who is sleeping back here, is Charlie. It is nice to meet you outside of the prank we pulled.” Austin finished and brushed his dusty blond hair out of his face.
Samantha turned in her seat to get a good look at him. “It is very nice to meet you as well, Austin.” Samantha smiled and held out her hand as best she could, being turned in her seat like that.
They shook hands rather awkwardly as wall and then Samantha turned back around to stare out her window again.
“I can’t say either way if I was upset about your little prank or not. I believe it was just out of shock from the cold water I reacted the way that I did.” Samantha continued. “It was refreshing though. Plus it was just water.” She laughed politely.
“I guess I get it.” Austin chuckled back. “I mean, it was not like you were wearing a white shirt and no bra. Or something like that.
“Yes, I would have to agree that I would be pretty mad if that were the case.” Samantha said dryly continuing to stare out of the window at the stars.
Locke, who was driving with cruise on the highway, looked over to see if that remark had bothered her. She looked content just staring out her window and thinking to herself. It put him at ease to learn that she really wasn’t upset about their, “prank”.
He was also a little thankful for what Austin had said about Samantha and a white shirt. A small blush started creeping up his cheeks as he turned back to watch the road. He glanced over at her again to notice she still hadn’t moved. He let his eyes wonder while still trying to keep his eyes on the road. He noticed, in the dim lights from the dashboard, that her dress was a nice green color that matched her eyes.
The way Samantha was sitting with one arm holding her head up and the other laying gently across her lap, her dress seemed to pucker in the front and Locke could see what looked like a bit of her bra.
He snapped his head forward as his blushing deepened. He noticed that this was the first time he had thought of her chest, or any part of her body for that matter. He wasn’t normally like that with girls. Along with his friends they mainly ogled a girl’s body first and then the face but it felt as though Samantha changed the way his mind worked. And from what he could tell, it was for the better too, which made him smile. He was happy for the change and would gladly give up his old ways for her.
Staring at the road ahead his thoughts changed to his real intentions for the night. He was serious about just taking her home but then he kept beating himself up for even giving her that option in the first place. But his mind changed and he thought, he was changing for her, and for the better. “Anything to make her happy.” He thought. ‘As long as she is happy’, he mouthed silently to himself which made him smile.
Pulling into town, the rest of the ride went as well as before. Locke stopped in front of a house applying a bit too much speed to the brake. He threw an arm out to catch Samantha but the two on the back were awoken from the sudden stop of the car. Samantha giggled as they both climbed out of the car mumbling.
Samantha rolled down her window as the two staggered to close their doors and get into the house. As they reached the sidewalk next to the car Samantha called. “Good night Charlie and Austin!” Charlie was the first to react.
“Oh… yeah.” He shook his head to wake himself up. “Good night. Uh…..” Austin elbowed him in him ribs. “Her name is Samantha.” He hissed at his brother. “Right, night Samantha. Take good care of Percy for us.” He laughed his ordered to her.
“Percy?” she asked out loud. Locke laughed. “Percy Locke Cooper, at your service ma’am. I just don’t particularly like my first name much” She turned towards him to see his sly wink which made her blush. She turned back to look out the window to see Austin jogging back down the path. He came back to the car and stuck his head through the window and looked over at Locke.
“Dude. You really need to keep this one. I like her for once.” And just as he jogged back to the car he was jogging back to the house. Locke smiled and shook his head though he was already planning to do just that.
Samantha looked around and noticed that this was the street her father lived on.
She stretched her arm over her head as Locke slowly pulled the car away from the curb. He moved his right arm over and snatched one of her delicate hands in his.
“My dad’s house isn’t very far. I’ve glad I live on the same street as those two, I’m tired.” She yawned looking over all the different houses to find her father’s. Locke glanced past her and out the open window to smile at a house.
Locke slowed the car down to a crawl so that she could get a better look in the dark at all the identical looking houses. She perked up and pointed enthusiastically when she found the right number and house on the corner.
He stopped the car abruptly at the stop sign and just looked at her with amazement. “Your kidding right?” He asked laughing.
“What?” Samantha gasped, looking around her. “What’s wrong?” She asked a little worried at his reaction.
“Oh, nothing.” He said taking back his hand so that he can make the right hand turn onto the other street her father’s corner house sat on.
She pointed and said, “You can come down this ally and park in back, my father normally parks in the street anyways so you can use the carport back behind the house.”
Locke did as he was told and turned the car again to the right to drive slowly down the alley.
“Alright then, just pull in here and….” She stated and pointed at one of the identical empty car ports behind each house. “Locke, you missed my father’s. The house is the one on the corner.” She looked around confused again.
Locke just smiled to himself some more as he then pulled into the carport next to where her father’s house was. Samantha looked to this house and looked to her father’s. Nothing looked too different except the decorations in the yards.
Locke parked the car and shut it off. Stepping out his side and coming over to the passenger side to help Samantha out. She just sat confused and played along. He opened her door and gently held a hand out to her and a big smile on his face. She took his hand and returned his smile but she was not as enthusiastic as he is acting.
After she was out of the car he gently closed the door and while still holding her hand, motioned to the back door of the neighboring house.
Samantha chuckled. “But this isn’t my father’s house.”
“Oh, I know.” Locke retorted in a matter of fact tone. “It’s mine.”
Chapter 3
Samantha jumped up, almost smacking Locke in the face. “Father!” She started to blush from embarrassment. “I…...uhhh….it’s….just….Oh man…..Forgive me Father.”
A Man only a couple of heads taller than Samantha walked over with his arm around a giggly girl with a body that did not match her older looking face. He took in a deep breath.
“What’s with that father shit?!” He Laughed a hardy laugh. “Now, what did I tell you?” Samantha look at her father surprised like he hadn’t even seen the near kiss.
“Uhhh…. Oh! yes dad.” Samantha managed to spit out.
“That’s my girl!” Her father spurted patting her on the head. Lock stood up and straitened his shoulders to make himself look stronger than.
Samantha’s dad dropped his arm from the girl and walked over to Locke, looking him up and down. He looked like he was judging him to see if he was fit for his daughter.
“Mr. Wilks, I can assure you that Sammy……” Locke was cut off by the little man’s hand that flashed in front of his face to silence him.
Samantha’s father held his hand there for a bit to make sure Locke wouldn’t speak, and then he moved his hand down to chest level for a handshake. Locke smiled and shook the smiling man’s hand with force.
“Trust me by the way I saw you with my Samantha, I knew you’re alright boy.” Her father said with a hint of laughter in his voice. Samantha gasped.
“You’ve been watching us?!” She almost screams at her father. The man just laughs.
“Of course I was watching you, Sam-man. After I saw the boys with the water guns, I knew you were in for a long day, but, oh what was your name, Locke again? Well, I could just tell that he would keep an eye on you.” He gives a little wink to her. Locke cleared his throat.
“Sir, I never told you my name.” Locke stated as politely as he could. The stumpy man just shoots him a smile and wagged a finger.
“Didn’t have to, my boy. I have ears like a hawk.” Samantha made a small grunting noise.
“The term is eyes like a hawk, dad.” She said softly.
“You don’t say?” The man said scratching his red hair.
Locke noticed that it was dulling with age but his hair might have been as red as Samantha’s when he was younger.
“On a more serious note, here are the keys Sam-man, to the house. You know how to get back, I trust.” Samantha nodded her head.
“Good girl. Now, Jessica and I are staying out all night with friends. I don’t care who comes back with you, just clean up the house before we get back at noon tomorrow.” The man came over and hugged his daughter tightly.
“See you two tomorrow!” He said walking away with his arm around his girlfriend again.
Samantha and Locke watched them disappear into the crowd before turning to each other again. Locke took a deep breath.
“Daddy’s little girl huh?” He asked. “Sam-man?”
Samantha looked up at Locke embarrassed.
“He has this joke that he wanted a boy not a girl so, Sam-man got started.” Samantha said with a shrug.
Locke could tell the change in attitude she had. He slowly reached up and placed both hands on either shoulder, reassuring her.
“You have no idea how lucky you are to have a dad like that!” Locke told her, cheering her up.
“It’s only fair that he teases you like that, really.” Samantha gave him a shy smile before taking a step forward and resting her head on his chest.
Lock was taken back at first but then he wrapped his arms softly around her shoulders in a hug. Still gripping onto her Locke laughed.
“So, I get to see your place huh?”
At this Samantha made a little chocking noise and buried her face further into his chest. Locke laughed and gave her a bear hug before lifting her chin up with a gentle hand and kissed her. Samantha seemed to melt into him with his kiss. He wrapped his arms around her again to hold her up, as her knees buckled from under her. After the kiss, Lock looked into her eyes and smiled his famous crooked smile that seemed to burn its way into Samantha’s memories, though she didn’t have a problem with that.
Something seemed to hit Samantha like a train wreck in her head because she jumped at a sudden idea. She grabbed Locke’s hand and stared walking fast back the way they had come a while before. The sun was now starting to set, and as they moved in and out of booths and people, music started to play for the fireworks show. Samantha quickened her pace as the music started until they came to a little clearing on a hill in the middle of the park. Samantha let go of Locke’s hand and walked a little ways down the steep hill until she picks a spot in the cool grass and seems to fall down. Lying sprawled out on the grassy hill looking up at the sky.
Seeing her fall, Locke panics a bit and quickens his pace to catch up to her. He walks over to her and sits down to her right. The speakers placed around in bushes were announcing that the “sky lights” show will begin momentarily. Samantha snorted a laugh.
“Shy lights?” She chucked along with Locke this time. “They might as well throw lit Christmas trees into the air.” She says nervously, trying hard to make a joke.
Locke chuckles politely, looking sweetly into his eyes. Still not getting used his looks, Samantha blushes and turns away looking to the sky again. “I’m sorry…..It wasn’t really that funny.”
Locke slid down in the grass so that he was laying on his side, his left elbow propping him up as he continued to stare at her. Even in the dimming light of the sun he could see the pink high across her cheeks. The brightly lit pathway lamps, stated to flicker off one by one as the sky grew a dark purple color. The music stopped and there was a loud PUUFFFTT……in the distance. Samantha opened her mouth to say something when there was a loud crack like thunder. The sky being lit by a gigantic ball of fireworks. Samantha screamed at the loud noise that startled her and she seemed to roll over into Locke’s arms for comfort. Locke laughed, but he was unheard as a second big ball erupted over their heads.
Despite the loud noises that shook you to the bone, Locke simply took his free hand and stroked Samantha’s hair. He knew if he tried to talk to her she wouldn’t hear so he let his actions talk. Locke slowly took Samantha’s chin in his hand and tried to pull it up. But she quickly covered her face with her hands and seemed to sink into the ground. Worried, He placed his hand now on her shoulders. He felt her shaking. Panicked he brushed her hair from her face and forcefully pushed her up so he could see her crying face. But instead he looks into the face of a beaming young, red headed girl who was covering her mouth to stop from laughing, which caused her to shake. Locke sighed in relief which in turn caused Samantha to bust up laughing.
He could barely make out her high laugh over another crack of the fireworks. He chuckled along with her but not because she was laughing, but because he fell for her crying act. He instantly reached over and started tickling her around her slender waist. This caused Samantha to laugh harder as she tried to scrape his hands away from her sides. They struggled for a bit, play fighting with each other in the grass while the fireworks show still boomed overhead. Locke finally stopped and rested his hands around her waist and looking into her eyes longingly, his mood completely changing.
Samantha calmed down almost instantly, like Locke’s calming mood flowing from his hands and into her body. She blushed again and placed her hands on his chest as he pulled her closer into him. They laid there in the grass of a theme park staring into each other’s eyes, and instead of the bright exploding balls in the sky. Samantha looked down and made a motion like she was giggling. Locke pulled her into a big hug then let her go. Samantha sprawled out again in the grass, her hands behind her head this time.
Locke just looked over at her, still not once looking at the sky. Samantha pointed to a dark green ball and started talking. He watched her slender pink lips moving and yet, being this close he still couldn’t hear her. This made him smile. He kept watching her as she laid there looking up to the sky. She just kept on talking to herself now. He could tell she knew he couldn’t hear her, which to him made it cuter for some unknown reason. She stopped talking and looked over at him again. Looking into his eyes her face seemed to draw a blank like normal when she looked at him. Her mouth fell open as she seemed to lose control of her actions.
Locke smoothly moved his hand up to her face until his fingers lightly shut her mouth. Then he cupped her face and brought it over to his. His eyes closing just barely as they kissed. He could feel her heart pounding threw his fingertips, which made him blush a bit himself. After holding the kiss for a while Samantha parted her lips and her tongue ventured inside of Locke’s mouth. He wrapped his arms around her more and pulled her a bit closer. He matched her curiosity as he playfully moved his tongue around hers.
Samantha wrapped her arms around Locke’s neck as she broke away from the kiss. She was blushing even more than before. Locke smiled and noticed the red covering her face was probably as red as her hair. As they lay there in each others’ arms, the booming light war raged on far over their heads. Samantha finally pried herself from Lock’s arms and sat up, smoothing out her skirt with her hands. Locke sat up also and looked up to the sky, smiling. He noticed that this was the first time he even looked up at the sky since the show started. He glanced over at Samantha again who never took her eyes from the sky, as if she had been watching the fireworks the whole time. Locke blushed and looked up again.
“My Sammy-girl.” He said out loud to himself. He smiled his cheeky sideways grin. He loved the sound of that. “Maybe she will too.”
Chapter 2
Samantha sat at a wooden picnic table gripping a paper coke cup in her left hand. Her right hand lay her palm up in the table close to her. “Just a handshake?….. Why just a simple handshake?!” She thought to herself. She wrapped her fingers into a fist on the table and then took another long sip of her coke. “Is it so hard?” Locke smiled his big crooked smile down on her.
“Drinking the pop I promised you. Is it really that hard?” Locke asked while watching her concentrated face.
Samantha slowly put her hand in her lap as she looked up at Locke, who was sitting across the table.
“No,” she answered quietly. “It is actually quite nice, to have a friend here. It’s no fun all alone. Trust me.” she said even quieter looking down at her coke cup.
Samantha then smiled sadly, swirling the drink in cup.
“My dad brought me along with his new girlfriend for some family bonding, but right as we came through the gate they left me to ‘have fun.’” Samantha let out a dry, hurt laugh. “I’m used to being alone.” She added at the end talking more to herself not than to Locke. She turned her head to look up at the Farris Wheel.
Locke looked down at her frowning, then an idea hit him and he smiled “Wanna ride?” he asked calmly almost teasing her.
Samantha’s head turned to him. “Excuse me?” she asked coldly. Locke looked at her in surprised and he put his hands up to defend himself. “The Ferris Wheel I just wanted to see if you wanted to ride.” he asked again rather nervously.
“Ohhhh….” she gave him a sweet smile. “Yeah, alright.” she said. “I did come here to have fun, right?” She asked looking over at him for reassurance. Locke let out a sigh then smirked, “Yeah, of course.” He said happily standing up from the table.
Getting up they threw their drinks away as they left the cool, shaded picnic area. Both waited in line for their turn to get into one of the shaded colored baskets. The two didn’t talk much at all in line. Little glances are caught here and there between them, followed by slight hints of blushing from both. They also kept bumping into each other clumsily. It didn’t really feel like hanging out with a friend, to Samantha. She wanted it to be more, and she could swear he liked her.
“But, why is he acting all shy? He wasn’t like this before. Does he not like me now? Why is he still trying to hang out with me then?” She thought looking back over at him while he nudged a rock with the tow of his high top sneakers. She took this time to look him up and down. His tight grey shirt held the name of a band that she has never heard of, though she made a mental note to look them up later. His tan shorts looked a little big being held up by a belt and they fell around his knees, and then of course his converse shoes. She smiled to herself and looked down at her own wardrobe. She was grateful to her father’s girlfriend for picking out her best sun dress to wear. She was brought back to reality when Locke nudged her arm with his. He was already up a step and into the basket. He turned around and held out a hand to her and smiled a huge, yet sweet smile.
Samantha stepped up to get into the swinging red basket holding onto Locke’s hand for dear life once the basket started rocking. The little door closed behind them and the little bucket was a full circle for seating. Samantha scooted to the middle of the circle bench and watched Lock slide in after her after letting go of her hand once she was seated. He was looking far out into the distance and he was wringing his hands together nervously. He was acting really jittery, tapping his foot to some music she guessed he was playing in his mind.
She smiled at this. “He was just all chivalrous two seconds before and now that we are alone he gets scared again.” His eyes closed now and his head starts rocking to the music even more as he starts playing, what looks to be an air bass guitar to her. Samantha giggled a bit and then reached out and touched his arm lightly.
“What song are you playing?” She asked qualitatively.
Locke jumped lightly and turned to her as the basket swayed when the big metal beast started turning and grinding away.
“Oh,...uh.....yeah I’m fine. It's nothing really. Just a song.” He said with a big gulp of air.
He looked down at her hand still touching his arm and some color returned to his face.
“I’m just a little afraid of heights.” He chuckled nervously to make it sound like a joke.
Samantha smiled gently and reassuringly, moving closer to him, with her hand still on his arm. She never took her eyes off of him, even when he was nervously looking around. She was close enough to him that their hips were almost touching. She gently ran her thumb over the side of his arm snapping him out of his fear. Locke looked back at her hand and then back at her, amazed.
He smiled and then moved closer to her as well. Hips touching, they sat there looking at each other awkwardly until Samantha forced herself to look away out at the park. Samantha’s mind wandered at she stared at other rides they could ride together. They were halfway up around the circle when they came to a stop.
Locke, still looking at her, blushed and he too looked out over the park and became stiff bringing him back to reality of how high they were. He tried to forget about the ride and focus on the girl sitting close to him. Samantha continued to look out at the horizon, but felt him freeze up. A squeeze of her hand on his arm gave Locke a sudden chill. Samantha then took her hand away from Locke’s arm and she gently placed her head on his shoulder, sighing.
“I know you’re afraid of heights but isn’t that pretty?” She asked him calmly. Locke, gaining control of himself, smiled and, stealing the moment said, “Why yes…..yes you are.” He said smirking down at the locks of bright red hair on his shoulder. Samantha laughed but didn’t move away from him like he thought she would. He thought to himself this time. “She is stronger than I thought. This is going to be a fun day.” Instead she shifted around wrapped her arm under his and slipped her hand into his.
“Thank you.” She said sweetly. And he couldn’t see but he could just tell that her cheeks were as red as her hair.
Locke moved his left hand to cover hers so that small, delicate hand was in his strong bigger palms. He could tell the differences in their body sizes. He was around the same height as every other boy in his class but she was so small. Leaning her head on his shoulder was almost too perfect from their differences. He hoped it didn’t bother her. The ferries wheel gave a jerk and started moving again, this time without stopping. There was a breeze from the moving ride that made Locke shudder, though with such warm air, he didn’t really understand why.
He looked down again at the top of Samantha’s head, and bright, shinning hair stared up at him. He spent this time fighting with himself to kiss her. “Just a peck on her head, that’s not that bad right? Yeah but what if you move to fast.” He thought. “Just do it!” He yelled at himself. Locke slowly moved down, just as Samantha turned around,
“Hey, Locke? Do you…….” She gasped as she turned into his kiss. He ended up planting a small kiss on her forehead right above her right eye. He gasped at this and pulled away faster than he should have and almost pulled away completely. Samantha gripped his arm so he couldn’t move too far away from her. Samantha beamed up at him.
“You missed.” She giggled and sat up more to look into his eyes. Locke blushed from embarrassment and stuttered.
“What d….do you mean?” he asks nervously. Samantha smiles bigger.
“You missed.” she stated before leaning up and kissing him gently on the lips. They held the kiss without moving for a few seconds. Then Samantha quickly pulled away and turned away from Locke. They both looked the opposite from each other looking out of the big metal basket. He moved his left hand off of hers to scratch the back of his head and she used her free hand with those slender fingers to touch her mouth.
Locke sat there looking out at the park and then he turned to look at the back of her head for a bit, before gently draping his right arm protectively over her shoulders. Samantha laughed and leaned into him, resting her head on his broad chest. She took in a deep breath threw her nose and noticed his cologne drifting through the air. It was a mixture of spice and a strong musky smell. She guessed was from him and not the body spray. Whatever it was, she couldn’t get enough of it. It must have been the spray to drag girls in like some of the commercials for say.
Samantha started humming lazily as she looked out at the other colors of the park. Their basket was at the very top now when the ride came to a sudden stop and then they started rocking. Locke gripped onto Samantha’s arm, like he was helping her not to fall out. But she could tell it was for himself. Locke stiffened his body again and Samantha giggled a bit and rested her left hand on his right one gripping her arm. “It’s alright.” She reassured, stroking his hand and pushing herself gently, yet harder into his chest. “I’m right here. We’ll be down in a bit.” She said sweetly giving his hand a squeeze before taking his hand and locking her fingers in between his.
Locke seemed to calm down just from her touch. He didn’t really understand his feelings to this girl he just met earlier that day. She was defiantly different than other girls he’d been with. She was shy when she needed to be without turning him away. And then like with the kiss, she was strong. He really liked the fact that she was so small compared to his size. He liked being able to tower over most people. Plus to him it added to her cuteness she had about her. She turned around and smiled up at him.
“So Locke?” She continued with her question from before.
“Yes, Sammy?” he said sweetly, blushing only a little bit. Her mouth dropped as she lost her words again.
“Do…. you…think we’re friends now?” She asked after fishing in her mind to make a question.
Locke looked at her and then laughed his hardy laugh that sent fuzzy chills up Samantha’s spine.
“Yes, Sammy girl. I believe we’re friends. If not more from that kiss, eh?” He said a little too seductively as he threw a slow wink along with it.
This caused Samantha to gasp and turn away from him again. She had a tingly feeling that started at her knees and crept up threw her to her belly. She noticed he had a very strong effect on that area of her. She blushed even more when she realized what her bodies intentions were. She shook her head to get the thoughts to go away.
“Why do you call me Sammy?” She asked to change the subject to save her mind.
Locke chuckled, “Well, I still hold by the first thought that you are way too cute for just Sam. And I didn’t know if your name was Samantha or just Sam like you said so…Sammy.” Locke smiled again and gave Samantha a squeeze, a sideways hug. Samantha chucked politely along with him.
“Fair enough.” She blushed.
Their basket started moving again and Locke jumped but didn’t react half as bad as before. He let out a long, winded breath on the back of Samantha’s neck which made her shudder. She let go of his hand and pulled away, sitting just enough, like when they first got in. Disappointment crossed Locke’s face and Samantha noted to make up for it. Their basket finally reached the bottom of the ride. Locke got up and stepped out of the ride first, then helped Samantha by holding her hand gently.
The two walked around the banner littered path for a while. Neither could find anything they both wanted to do. They could go on more rides. Or play the carnival style games for prizes. But still, neither wanted to do anything but walk. After a while Samantha suggested they take a break from walking, having passed the same whack-a-mole booth 4 times.
“How many times did we walk around the entire park?” Samantha asked stretching and then plopping herself onto a nearby bench. Locke looked around and chuckled.
“I don’t know but doesn’t this place look familiar?” He said sitting down next to her, rather closely. He gestured with his hand a nearby water fountain. Samantha blushed a bit.
“It’s where we met.” She answered with a dreamy voice. She laughed at her own joke which made him chuckle too.
“Thank you again. For what happened before.” she said looking down at the ground.
Locke smiled looking over at her bright red hair shining with the same power as the sun itself. He looked her up and down. Something he had done many times before, but there is always something new he missed before. He noticed her messing with her wristband for that night. He took in a deep breath threw his nose. A faint smell of flowers wafted over to him from Samantha. He never really liked the way girls smelled, either flowery or fruity. But this was different; the smell seemed to draw him in even more. “It must be the heat or something.” He thought to himself looking at her hair again.
Samantha checked her watch now and again to make sure it was still working. The same little clock face ticked back at her. 4:45, the small hands read.
“Has it really been that long?” Samantha said out loud. Locke looked down at her watch and then back up at her.
“How long?” He asked confused. “Since when?” He continues to question. She looked up at him and smiled.
“Since we first met.” They both laugh a sweet, flirting laugh. They sat there looking into each others’ eyes, neither dared to look away. They both lean in to each other, ready for another kiss. Just as there lips brushed together, there was a shrill wolf whistle thrown in their direction. “SAMANTHA WILKS!”
Chapter 1
The sun shone brightly, high in the hot, June sky. Samantha shaded her eyes with the back of her right hand.
“Too bright,” She said out loud to no one in particular, “I can’t even tell where the sun is to tell the time. "Ehhh……I’d say around noon.” She guessed, pulling her left hand up, she read her watch. “1:23. Well that could’ve gone better.” she sighed and stood there staring at her watch.
Watching the second hand of her bright green watch tick away, she felt the need to move again. The heat made her restless. The faded red door to the gift shop swung open with a ding of the service bell, forcing cold air to swiftly leave the air conditioned building and outside.
The cold air clashed with the muggy, still air outside. The difference in temperatures formed a small gust of wind. This caused Samantha’s sun dress to billow out around her knees. She dropped her arms down to her sides and took a deep breath of the hot, stillness around her.
“I still have all day here by myself,” She groaned. “Fun.”
Samantha didn’t feel the need to hurry anywhere since she has all day at the theme park. She looked around and saw a brightly painted sign which held the park maps.
“Might as well.” She said aloud again as she walked slowly over to the map stand. “I can’t have fun if I get lost here.” She sarcastically smiled at the thought of an adventure she could have just simply getting lost. She was thinking about an elaborate scene when she almost forgot about the maps altogether until she was under the shade of the tall map stand itself.
Once Samantha got to the stand, she heard a commotion around the water fountains. She turned to see what was going on; she saw three boys huddled around the fountains, one of the boys head perked up awkwardly and turned around towards her direction at the same time she was looking at him.
She locked eyes with the tall, black haired boy, about a couple years older, if any, than her she guessed. Samantha stood there staring at the boy, something about the way he was looking at her made her uneasy and yet, she couldn’t help but love his dark grey eyes.
Even at the distance she can see his eyes, which is part of what made her uneasy. Samantha’s mind came to and she shook her head from any further thoughts and quickly grabbed a brightly colored map. She briskly walked over to a bench not too far away and sat down.
Samantha flipped to a random page in the map booklet. She starred at the pages pretending to read, but in her mind was the boy’s well rounded face. His black hair was spiked up with some of the bangs falling gently on his forehead, perhaps because of the heat. He was wearing a plain dark grey shirt that was tight fitting around his body. She sighed.
Samantha snapped out of her daydreaming and focused more on the booklet again. Skimming over some pictures of party balloons and fireworks. That reminded her of the fireworks show that was that night.
“That would be something nice to stay and see.” she thought to herself, for fear of that boy overhearing her.
She wondered if he was still looking at her, but for some reason she dared not look up again. She tried to keep her mind off of him by reading at the top of the page.
Illuminations Around the World theme park would like to invite you to stay after the normal park hours for our very special Illumination Fireworks Display! For your safety, we ask that everyone who is planning on staying after hours must purchase an armband showing your admittance. We hope you stay with us after hours, and we also like to enjoy the rest of your stay in Illuminations theme park!
Low on money, Samantha wondered how she would be able to find her father to bum more for the arm band. She neatly folded the booklet and slid it into the right pocket of her sundress. Looking around she remembered the boy that she saw. Her cheeks flushed an even darker shade of pink, that wasn’t from the sun. She slowly checked her surroundings again, but he was too far away with his friends for him to notice her again. She sighed and put a hand up to her cheek, noticed her face was growing hot. Then her eyes fell onto the drinking fountains.
Samantha smiled and stood up slowly and walked even slower towards the water fountain with both hands at her sides. She thought to herself as she walked. “It’s really not like me to get sidetracked like that. I thought I always had good control of my thoughts.” She looked to her left where the boys were squirting a tree with toy water guns.
“They must have won those at one of the booths nearby.” She said aloud to herself.
She caught sight of that boy again and almost ran straight into one of the lower fountains jetting out from the brick wall. Samantha laughed nervously and looked around to make sure no one saw her. “I really have lost my mind today.” She thought again. “It must be the heat. Yeah….that must be it.” She just stood there staring at the dull silver bowl.
“Why is he even making me feel like this?” She thought to herself. "It’s not like anyone would feel that way looking at me." The fire left her cheeks as she thought of school and all of the drama she has been put through. She held her bright red hair from her face as she bent over the small drinking fountain.
Samantha was roughly five foot, two, with red hair that glistened in the sunlight. Her hair fell gently in tussles down to her waist. She has big green eyes that added a coolness about her features that helped balance her wild hair. Being only 18, she looked and sometimes acted a lot older than she really was. At least, that is what she liked to think. She is shy and soft spoken, but speaks her mind often, only to herself.
Just as she started to take slow sips or the cool crisp water, she heard voices, three male voices to be exact. Samantha panicked and tried to fix how her hair looked while she was pretending to drink more water. The boys’ voices became hushed and after some time one of them cleared his throat to get her attention. She lifted herself away from the steady stream of water until she was standing erect. Samantha smiled sheepishly and tucked her hands behind her back. She looked from one boy to the other. One of them had dusty blond hair that covered most of his eyes. The second had dark brown hair almost shaven off his head. The third boy, the boy she saw earlier, wasn’t even looking at her now. He was filling up his water gun awkwardly with the little stream from the drinking fountains. Samantha shifted her weight from one foot to the next.
As she cleared her throat, she opened her mouth to introduce herself, trying to fill the awkwardness that hung in the heat. Right as she did the second boy with blond hair pulled up a two handed water gun and sprayed her right in the face. Samantha squealed loudly and threw her hands up to protect herself. The boy filling up the other water gun looked up at her yelling. Reacting with a flash the boy dropped the water gun he was filling and shoved the other boy into the wall by the fountain. As he shoved the blond boy, the gun dropped still in mid spray, causing the front of Samantha’s bright, green sun dress to get soaked.
“Dude!! What the hell is wrong with you?!” The black haired boy yelled, pushing him harder into the brick wall.
“Chill out Locke, we’re only havin’ some fun with your stalker girl.” The last boy said calmly.
Samantha stood there, wet from her head to the middle of her dress. A slight warm breeze blew past her and a few people walked by. She shivered as the freezing water was casing her dress to cling to her warm body. The boy named Locke turned to Samantha now, the rage melting from his face as he looked the shivering and panicked girl. He gave her a sympathetic smile. Samantha whimpered and looked down at her dress. The light green and blue dress looked almost black with the water seeping farther threw the fibers. She continued looking at the ground embarrassed, slowly wiping water from her face and neck.
“Listen," said a calm, reassuring voice, “I didn’t tell them to do this to you.” He paused for an answer before continuing. “Those guys are assholes, and I came to apologize for them, because I know they wouldn’t come talk to a pretty girl like you.”
Samantha never looked up but she could tell that he was smiling while he talked. His voice was gruff but sweet too. He had a bit of a southern drawl, but that didn’t bother her. She herself was born in Georgia.
Samantha took in a deep breath and sighed, gathering enough courage to lift her deep face up to the dark haired boy. “I…it’s alright.” She gulped in another small mouthful of air. “I mean it is just water, freezing water, but water. It will dry.” She said quietly and kept trying to reassure him that she was fine by herself. But the boy, Locke, stayed put. She slowly moved her head to focus on the brick wall next to them. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine, really.” She said looking back to him.
“Locke, ditch your girlfriend and let’s go!” One of the boys said. The other boy piped up. “Yeah let her go stalk someone else now.” He said under his breath, yet Samantha still heard.
She looked over again to see Locke turned around threatening the other two with a silent promise. Locke turned around to see Samantha staring at him again. He smiled, a little bit of worry crossing his face.
“I’m really sorry about them. I guess no one has taught them any manors quite yet.” He said more to himself and not her.
He took in a deep breath and then sighed. “Well, I have some change. Would you wanna come with me to get a soda. You know to make up for all of this?” Lock said nervously.
Samantha couldn’t believe her ears. She got the wrong intention of the boy as her hands clenched into fists and she starts to walk away from him. A look of confusion and anger crossed her face as she smiled an angry, grimace of a smile. Locke panics and grabs for her arm, but stops himself whenever he looked to her face and saw the angry and hurt smile.
He lets her walk away but throws a deadly glare to the other two boys he was with as she walked past them. Samantha wasn’t all that mad, she was confused and just wanted to get away. She walked over and went into to the girls’ restroom, just around the corner of the brick building. As she pushed open the bathroom door, a blast of cold air smacked her in the face.
She kept walking until she came to the sinks. She looked up into the tall, wall sized mirror in front of her. What little makeup she was wearing around her eyes was smudged and smeared down her face. She turned on the cool water in the sink and wiped the rest of the makeup off. After she was done, she dried her face with the scratchy paper towels and, checking herself only one in the mirror, left the bathroom.
“Hopefully if anyone saw that they’d be gone by now.” She said aloud to herself as she pulled the door open.
As she stepped out into the muggy, hot air, she looked around and she saw the black haired boy leaning on a lamp post, alone. He stood up straight when he saw her and waved her over. She sighed and started walking slowly. “He was only trying to help,” She thought. “He could be really nice if he’d stop flirting too much.” She smiled sheepishly again.
“They’re not here.” He said to her when she was within earshot. Samantha sighed and relief crossed her face.
She smiled at him and said. “I’m sorry about before. I shouldn’t have run off like that.” Samantha said shyly.
He walked closer to her, “What the hell are you sorry for?” he gave her a puzzling look. “We were the ones who were jerks to you.” He gave her a sweet yet flirty smirk.
She looked away, blushing just a bit. “Yeah, but…I….” she was stopped by his hand in front of her face. “No, ‘buts’.” He commanded with a smirk. He continued, “At least let me buy you a coke or something?” He asked rather smoothly.
The boy continued when he did not get an answer. “The name is Locke.” He outstretched his hand to her. “Very nice to meet you.”
Samantha slowly moved her red hair out of her face with a brush of her hand and then reached out to shake his.
“Nice to meet you too.” She says timidly. “My name is Sam.” She adds. He continues to smile but gives her a puzzled look.
“Sam? You’re way too cute for Sam.” He looks her up and down. “Sammy it is then!” He states smirking again.
Samantha begins to blush and looks down at their hands, still clasped together. He laughs and gives her hand a playful squeeze. She whimpers and pulls her hand away, while looking at the ground.
Locke chuckled to himself. “I’m not lying, you are cute.” He said, while his cheeks tinted pink. “Oh yeah!” he seemed to smack himself for not remembering something sooner.
He reached into his shorts' pocket and pulled out two green armbands. “I thought you might want to stay with me and watch the firework thing.” He asked nervously. “I was planning on staying anyways, and you had to buy them in pairs for the cheaper price.” Samantha looked up just in time to see him wink at her. She smiled back at him and reached out for an armband.
“That sounds great.” Samantha said rather boldly as she strapped the band on using her teeth, rather swiftly. She smiled up at him again hoping he saw, but he was too busy trying to get his own on.
Locke struggled with one hand trying to strap his band on. Samantha gently reached out and took his hand and fastened the arm band for him. She looked up and smiled at him. He smiled back, blushing. Seeing the pink on his face made her face flush that same, rosy color. She looked down and noticed she was still holding onto Locks hand. She dropped both hands quickly and looked away. After a while she looked back up at him.
“So, where is my coke?!” She said, laughing nervously.
End
