Chapter 12

Samantha took the entire week off from school. She even missed Megan’s funeral, she didn’t feel like she could go. Since the day Jake had come over, she felt like she couldn’t talk to him, that he would just get mad at her when she mentioned going to the concert. So she tried her best to avoid him, making her mom tell him she was asleep when he called. She knew she had to go back though, she couldn’t hide at home forever.

She talked to Nick everyday that week, for hours at a time. He seemed to be the only thing that could cheer her up. He was practically her lifeline right now. He had even gotten her to laugh a few times. By that weekend, she was starting to feel a bit better, and went out with Jake to lunch.

He was trying his very best to cheer her up, and it was working. It felt good to get out of the house. He took her to her favorite restaurant, and they had a nice time. It was the first time all week she hadn’t thought about Megan, except for when Nick was telling her one of his whack ass stories. It was the first day she had felt semi-normal since the accident.

Jake picked Samantha up the next morning so they could go to school together. She was thankful for his support, she knew she couldn’t walk into school alone. He was very supportive all day, sticking by her side when everyone would come up and tell her how sorry they were about Megan. She only had a slight breakdown once, during lunch when she went into the bathroom and cried. Thankfully, Jake found her there soon after, damning the consequences and going in there after her.

Samantha stared out the window as Jake drove her home after school that day. He grabbed her hand and gave it a little squeeze, and she turned around to give him a smile. She realized then that Jake was all she had left now that Megan was gone. Sure, Nick was her best friend, but he was always gone on the road. Jake was there with her now. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, thankful he had helped get her through the day.

“What was that for, not that I’m complaining,” Jake said, smiling.

“For being you, for helping me today,” she said.

“You’re going to get through this, we all will. Hell, I miss her too,” Jake said.

“I know, it’s just hard going to school and she’s not there,” Samantha said.

Jake pulled up to Samantha’s house and turned the engine off. “I’m going to help you get through this. It’s just going to take some time is all,” he said.

“Thanks, I’ll see you later,” she said, as she opened the car door and got out, waving goodbye to him.

Over the next month and a half, Samantha was able to get back to real life, but it was little by little. She missed Megan terribly, and was reminded of her everyday. She was able to get through it with Nick’s help, and of course Jake, who stuck by her side at school like glue so she didn’t feel alone. As time went by, her and Jake were becoming closer and closer. What started out as just dating, had grown into a more serious relationship, and Samantha knew they were falling for each other.

For Valentine’s day, Jake took Samantha to the beach for an evening picnic. He went all out, with candles, food, a boom box with music, the whole works. He had even shown up at the door with a dozen roses when he picked her up. Samantha had grown to depend on him in her daily life, especially since Megan’s accident. Things were going very well with their relationship, and between that and striving in school, Samantha’s time was kept busy.

Nick and Samantha were still the very best of friends, talking to each other all of the time. She didn’t understand how they could talk every single night for hours and still have things left to say, but somehow they always did. Nick was about to come home for a short break, before the guys geared up for their first huge summer tour in the U.S. He and the guys were very excited, and Samantha was excited for him.

“So girl, don’t think I’m going to forget about that hot date you promised me, things been a little lonely out here on the road,” Nick said, as he started laughing.

“Oh, you mean lunch at the Pizza Hut? Wow Nick, you really know how to treat a girl. No wonder your social calendar is so full,” she joked back.

“Well ha ha. So, what are we going to do? Any ideas?” Nick asked.

“Man, I don’t care, I’m looking forward to just hanging out, seeing you and all. How about the beach, or the movies? You know, normal stuff. I don’t know how to live the life of a rock star,” Samantha said.

“Rock star? Please! We can barely get them to play our video on MTV or our song on the radio. We are a long way from being stars,” Nick said, as she laughed.

“I don’t think so, it’s coming, I can feel it,” Samantha replied. “Will you still remember little ole me when you’re a super huge star, driving around in your fancy limos?”

“Like I’m going to forget my best friend………” Nick said.

“Uh huh, sure. Some hot little chickie comes walking by, I know how it is,” she said, teasing him.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Nick said, as he started giggling.

“Hey!” Sam yelled into the phone.

“So Sammy, how’s Jake-e-pooh?” Nick asked.

“Who?” Samantha said, as she started to laugh. “Oh, you know, wonderful, dreamy, romantic……..” she said, as Nick made gagging noises on the line.

“You’re making me sick,” Nick said, as Samantha laughed at him.

“Well you know, it’s no date at the grand Pizza Hut, but…….” Samantha said, as Nick interrupted.

“If I have to hear the damn picnic on the beach story again, I swear I will kick your ass time I get there,” Nick said, as Samantha cracked up.

“Fine fine, I know you’re just jealous,” Samantha said.

Samantha sat on the line as she heard Nick fumble with the phone and cover up the speaker so she couldn’t hear.

“Hello?” she finally heard Nick say.

“What are you doing over there, keeping secrets from me?” she asked.

“Nah, Rok’s just major bitching that we are being too loud, so I better go, before he keeps going on and on with his lecture on how I need to stop talking and rest my voice….He’s really becoming annoying in his old age,” Nick said, as Samantha heard a thud, and she knew Brian had smacked him upside the head.

“Okay, you tell him to stop hitting my boy with his pillow, okay? Might detach what little brain you have in there,” Samantha said, as Nick laughed at her.

“I’ll ignore that remark, but I’m SO insulted,” Nick said, trying to sound mad.

“Oh please, you know I love ya, even though you are a dumbass,” Samantha said, as she giggled.

“Thanks, I think,” Nick said, “and I love ya too. We’re going to be super busy the next few days, so I’ll talk o you when I get home okay?”

“Okay, sounds good,” Samantha said, “Goodnight.”

“Bye,” Nick said, as they both hung up.

Samantha lied back in her bed, settling in to fall asleep. She smiled as she thought about how great things were going with Jake, and now Nick was going to be home in a few days. “Life would be perfect if Megan were here,” she thought, as she turned over to look at the picture of her and Megan on her nightstand. She grabbed the picture, and hugged it to her chest, sighing. A few minutes later, she had fallen asleep.

As soon as the bell rang, Samantha bolted out of her chair since Nick was coming to pick her up there after school. She had a long talk with Jake at lunch that day, since she wanted to make sure he would be okay with her spending the week with Nick. Nick was on a hectic schedule, and she wanted to make sure they spent some quality time before he would go out on the road all summer. Jake assured her that it wasn’t a problem as long as when he was gone, she came back to him. She knew he had nothing to worry about, and told him just that. Her and Nick were friends only. Period. Nothing more. She made sure to spell that out loud and clear. So with Jake’s blessing, Samantha ran up to Nick’s truck and hopped in.

“Ah, you scared the shit out of me!” he yelled as she laughed at him.

“Well hey to you too,” she said, as they hugged each other hello.

“We ready to blow this Popsicle stand?” Nick asked, as he started the engine.

“I’ve been craving a big ass sausage and pepperoni pizza all day,” she said, as she looked over at him and smiled.

“Let’s go,” he said, as they drove out of the parking lot.

Nick and Sam spent the afternoon laughing so hard, that by the time he drove her home, her sides were hurting. They ate pizza, and then went to the mall and people watched. Just basically hung out, doing things that they never were really able to do before.

For the rest of that week, Nick picked her up after school and they would spend their afternoons together hanging on the beach, going to the movies, renting videos, playing basketball, just whatever. Sam was working hard to juggle giving her attention to Jake during school, and then spending after school with Nick, and thankfully everything was going well.

Sam tripped over her feet as she lunged for the phone in her bedroom. “Ouch, fuck, Hello?” she said into the phone, as she rubbed her knees that had skinned on the carpet.

“Lovely way to answer the phone,” Nick said, as he was cracking up and Samantha smiled.