Chapter 9

A couple of hours later, Samantha arrived in Tampa where she went to visit Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, Megan’s parents. She showed them pictures of her Megan and remineased about their Megan. It felt good for her to be around them again and to walk into Megan’s old bedroom where they use to have sleepovers almost ever Friday night.

A little while later, Samantha pulled up to Garden Gate Cementary and she sat there a minute. She was afraid to get out and go over to Megan’s grave, but she did. She got out, walking down the long sidewalk and found Megan’s grave. She remembered where it was after all that time.

Samantha sat on the little bench infront of Megan’s grave, looking at what it said: Megan Danielle Thompson, born November 2, 1979, died December 31, 1997. She didn’t now what to say after all, she hadn’t visited since right before she left Jake for the final time.

“Hey Meg… I’m sorry it’s been so long since I came to visit you, but well I came today because it’s your birthday. I’m sorry I missed it last year… I wasn’t really here…” said Samantha as she looked down, “I wish you were here right now.. I so need a friend… hell I’ve needed one for the almost years now… You probably don’t know, but… I messed things up with Nick. He fell in love with me and I didn’t fall in love with him.” as she looked over to see a bunch of cars and a hearst going on the other side of the cementary.

She sat there, watching them to see so many cars.

“Man, must be somebody with a lot of family and friends..” said Samantha as she sat there and crossed her legs as she looked back over to see someone get out of one of the cars.

“Aaron?” she thought as she sat there and saw Jane get out of the car, “Jane…. oh my god, what happened?” she thought as she looked down at Megan’s grave and started to walk down the little sidewalk when she saw Kevin and his new wife Kristin get out of another limo.

“Kevin… ” she thought as she looked around and didn’t see Nick anywhere when all of a sudden she spotted Howie and AJ standing over in the corner.

“Oh my god..” said Samantha as she walked up closer behind the others. She still didn’t see Nick as she started to get upset and heard his voice behind her.

“I’m alright Rok..” said Nick as he hugged him and Samantha was afraid to look back. She just stood there, frozen from the feet up, “Come on baby…” as Samantha turned her head slightly to see Nick and a girl who looked like she could be a model walk around to the front when Nick cut his eyes over at her, noticing her and stopped dead in his tracks.

They just stood there for what seemed like eternity, looking at each other when Samantha turned around and started to walk off when she heard someone come up behind her.

“Sam.. stop.” said Nick as she stopped and stood there.

“What?” asked Samantha as Nick took her arm, turning her around.

“It is you..” said Nick as he looked in shock, “What are you doing here?”

“I came to visit Megan… and I saw Aaron and your mom and Kevin and I was a.. I thought something happened to you.” said Samantha.

“No.. my grandma.” said Nick as he looked down. She could tell he was sad and was hurting.

“Nick, I’m sorry…” said Samantha.

“No don’t say that.” said Nick, snapping back at her.

“I need to leave.. sorry.. I’m sorry..” said Samantha as she started to walk back over to Megan’s grave as Nick stood there when his girlfriend walked up to him.

“Nick, who was that?” she asked as Nick didn’t even look at her.

“A old friend, that’s all Amber.” said Nick as Samantha sat back down on the bench infront of Megan’s grave and looked over at Nick as he walked off with his girlfriend. She sat there crying, not knowing what to do when she remembered what Jake said.

Follow you heart…

“I followed my heart.. I came here and Nick’s here…” Samantha thought as she looked up to see him standing over there looking at her. He turned his head when he saw her looking at him.

“Jake’s right…..” said Samantha as she looked down at Megan’s grave, “Meg.. Jake’s right for once.. he’s right. He told me to find Megan a father by following my heart and I came here, I see Nick…. it’s fate..” as she saw Nick walk off crying and his girlfriend stayed back where everybody else was.

Samantha stood up and walked over to where Nick was as she put her hand on his shoulder and he jumped.

“What?” asked Nick.

“Are you okay?” asked Samantha.

“I’m fine, you didn’t care before.” said Nick.

“I cared..” said Samantha, “But are you okay… what happened?”

“Old age Sam.. people get old and they die.” said Nick as he started to cry as Samantha looked back to see AJ and Kevin looked back over at them, smiling.

“I know..” said Samantha as she ran her fingers through his shorter haircut, “It’s gonna be okay.” as Nick looked over at her.

“Everybody leaves me..” said Nick as he looked down.

“Why do you say that?” asked Samantha.

“Nick, your grandmother couldn’t help that she had to leave..” said Samantha.

“No.. but you could.” said Nick as he looked back at her, “So.. I’m gonna… go back over there with my girlfriend.. you saw her didn’t you? Her name’s Amber. She’s a model.”

“I saw her.. she’s pretty.” said Samantha.

“Yeah..” said Nick, “I’m going back over there now.”

“Okay..” said Samantha as Nick didn’t move.

“I’m going back over there now.” said Nick as Samantha looked confused.

“Well go then.” said Samantha as Nick looked at her and walked back over to where Amber was as Samantha stood there and started to cry.

“Samantha…” said Kevin as he walked up to her, “Oh my god, come here girl.” as they hugged.

“Hey Kevin..” said Samantha as they stopped hugging.

“You look good, how are you? What are you doing here?” asked Kevin.

“Megan, my friend, is burried right over there and I came here to visit her.” said Samantha, “Then I saw you guys…”

“Damn what a coiencidense.” said Kevin as he looked over at Nick and Amber and noticed Samantha was watching them, “You know, they’ve only been together about six weeks.” as Samantha looked over at him.

“Why do I care?” asked Samantha.

“Don’t fool yourself…” said Kevin, “I think you did last time didn’t you?” as Samantha didn’t say anything, “You did.. I knew it.. why did you tell him you didn’t love him?”

“I did tell him I love him, but I just didn’t know I loved him in that way. It was so deep that I didn’t recognize it.” said Samantha.

“You hurt him really bad Sam..” said Kevin as Samantha looked away, crossing her arms when she saw Jane and Bob walk by, looking shocked when they saw her.

“They hate me…” said Samantha as she looked over at them and looked back down.

“They don’t know you.” said Kevin as Howie walked up.

“Samantha!” said Howie as they hugged.

“Hey Howie..” said Samantha.

“What are you doing here?” asked Howie.

“I came to visit Megan’s grave, Megan, my friend, her grave is right over there.” said Samantha.

“Wow, and the same time we’re here.” said Howie, “Has Nick seen you?”

“Yeah… I have..” said Nick as he walked back up to them with Amber by his side.

“Ohh..” said Howie, “Sam, how’s your Megan?”

“She’s fine. She went to stay with my parents a few days in Jacksonville.” said Samantha, “I’ve got some pictures.” as she pulled her wallet out of her purse and showed Howie and Kevin. She looked over at Nick who was wanting to look but tried not too.

“Oh she’s beautiful Samantha…” said Kevin, “Where are you staying now?”

“St. Augustine.” said Samantha.

“Can I see?” asked Nick as Howie handed Samantha her wallet back and she handed it to Nick and he looked, “She looks just like you..”

“Yeah..” said Samantha as Brian and AJ walked up.

“Samantha, oh my god, come here girl.” said AJ as they hugged, “Damn I missed ya…”

“I missed you too.” said Samantha as they hugged and Samantha looked at Brian, “Hey Rok.”

“Come here girl.” said Brian as they hugged.

“Look here’s Megan.” said Nick as he handed them her wallet as AJ and Brian looked at Nick and then back at Samantha.

“Oh my god this is Megan?” asked Brian.

“Yep.” said Samantha smiling.

“Wow.. she’s growing up.” said AJ as he looked back over at Nick who was looking dead at Samantha.

“Yep, she’ll be 3 years old in January and she’s so smart. She can sing almost everyone of Britney Spears’ songs. She’s just so smart.” said Samantha.

“Man, well I still got the same number I had before, thank you Jesus nobody found it out yet so you call me sometime okay.” said Brian.

“I will you guys have gotta see Megan, you just wouldn’t believe how much she’s grown up.” said Samantha as she hugged Howie again.

“Don’t worry we will.. you send her our love alright.” said Kevin.

“Okay.” said Samantha as she put her wallet back in her purse and looked at Nick, “Bye.”

“Bye…” said Nick as Samantha started to walk back over at Megan’s grave.

“Nick is she an old friend, how?” asked Amber.

“From middle school.” said Nick as Amber started to get in the car and he looked at Samantha sitting down on the bench infront of Megan’s grave, “Hold up a minute ok.” as he started to walk over to Megan’s grave. Samantha looked up to see him walking over towards her.

“What?” asked Samantha.

“I wanna see Megan.” said Nick as Samantha smiled.

“You do?” asked Samantha.

“Yeah..” said Nick, “Can I have your address and all incase I get some time and get there?”

“Umm sure..” said Samantha as she pulled a peice of paper and a pen out of her purse, writing down her address and phone number down, “Here you go.” as she handed it to him.

“I would like to see her.” said Nick.

“Well you’re welcome to see her if you want to.” said Samantha.

“Okay if I get time.” said Nick.

“Okay.” said Samantha as she nodded her head a little.

“Thanks.” said Nick as he stuck the peice of paper in his pocket.

“I’m really sorry about your grandmother.” said Samantha, “I know how it is losing someone you love.”

“Yeah… okay well I need to go.” said Nick.

“Bye.” said Samantha as Nick turned around and walked off. Samantha watched him as he got into his car and drove off and started to laugh.

“Oh my god.. talk about fate….. uhh… he has a girlfriend though. Damn… just Jake was right.. follow my heart and look who I found..” she thought as she started to smile, “I might have a second chance at what I wanted all along Meg… damn I gave him my number and address.. I gotta get home.. bye Megan.. I’ll be back and bring Megan the 2nd okay… love ya..” as she kissed her hand and then touched the tombstone and then ran to her car, getting in. She cranked it up when she heard “Rain” on the radio.

“Ya know.. right now I’m not turning it.. I’m going home.” she thought as she smiled and drove off.