Chapter XXII
Just after the end of the day I quickly went to grab some books from my locker, telling Sam that I’d meet him in the parking lot. Switching the books between my purse and the locker, just as I went to shut it, someone poked my sides and made me squeal in surprise, for a second thinking it was Sam.
Only when I turned around I was met with the grin of Austin, who I hadn’t seen or spoken to in weeks. Sure I felt slightly disappointed that it hadn’t been Sam, then again he wasn’t into PDA at all, and even holding hands when people were around wasn’t his thing.
It made him uncomfortable and I respected that, I was curious as to why he was. This was also completely different to the guys that people expected me to date so I was adjusting to the change. For example Austin enjoyed all kinds of PDA.
”What are you doing at my school?” I asked, looking around and hoping that no one would see us together then take it the wrong way. After all the bitching my classmates had been doing about me lately, this would only fuel the fire.
He grinned at me, ”You haven’t been answering my calls so I decided to drop by.”
Turning to shut the locker, I held my folders against my chest nervously, ”You can’t just casually drop by a school that you don’t go to.”
He shrugged, barely giving it a second thought, ”The secretary didn’t have a problem with me visiting my ‘little sister’.” he said making quotation marks in the air. Before I could say a word he asked, ”So what’s up with the cold shoulder Elle?”
”It’s not a cold shoulder, I have a boyfriend now and I kind of got distracted.” I said, trying not to feel as awkward as I did right now. Had he really not taken the hint?
His grin fell flat, “Oh, right. Do I know him?” this was clearly not what he’d expected to hear. I’m thinking that he’d assumed I’d finally stop playing hard to get and start whatever we’d had, again with him.
“No you don’t, he’s actually waiting for me so I should go…” I said, edging towards the direction of the parking lot. This was weird enough already.
“Ok, maybe I should have thought this through. I mean look at you, how could I have expected you not to be taken after a month and a half?” he seemed to be talking to himself.
I didn’t know what else to say, so I just looked at him. He noticed and said, “Well I guess we really can be friends this time if you still want to. Just call me later.” then with a kiss to my cheek he left.
I noticed some of the females still hanging around giving him the eye; I just went to meet Sam, telling him about Austin as soon as I got into the car. The last thing I wanted was for him to find out from someone else.
He listened silently, and then he asked casually about my previous relationship with Austin, his tone not pushing me for answers at all. Once I was done he sounded normal as he drove, “I guess I’ll have to get used to that.”
”Get used to what?” I asked, relieved that he wasn’t taking the whole encounter the wrong way.
”Other guys looking at you. It doesn’t bother me as much, you’re a beautiful girl, it’s just when they stare at your body, especially your chest. Now that bothers me a lot.” he said, turning into the driveway of a relatively small brick house. There were flower pots beside the door and in the hedges grew bright yellow flowers and immediately made the house look welcoming.
As far as our houses compared, we were completely different as well. I lived in a huge house that was secluded and it had its own road before you could even reach the driveway. However he lived in a small neighborhood, I could see an old man walking his dog, a woman jogging with her iPod in and the sounds of small kids playing.
I’d never see or hear any of this where I lived and it kind of felt like I’d been missing out on something, we didn’t even have neighbors close enough to go and ask for sugar. Getting out of the car I met him at the front of it, placing my hand on his arm, “Are you jealous?” I teased.
He pulled a face, making me laugh, “Yes, it has nothing to do with the fact that I love every part of you, even your sarcasm and mocking, and they are just interested in the physical.”
He was such a romantic, although he wouldn’t agree with me if I pointed it out. Pulling him into a hug I ran my fingers through his soft hair and rested briefly against his soft body. “You are such a master of words, my mother told me to be careful around boys like you.” I whispered in his ear then moved back to catch his expression.
He was looking down at me with those perfect blue eyes of his, amusement lining them, I could just sense that he was about to come out with something that would bring a smile to my face.
He didn’t disappoint.
“Like I said before Princess, you really shouldn’t trust me.” Then taking my hand and leading me towards his house. Once inside I looked around, it looked just as cozy as I’d predicted.
“I want you to meet my mom.” he said, waiting to hear what I’d say. Meeting mother’s was always a scary thing but I felt ready and let him know.
We went into the kitchen, which was small too with just the basics and a small table in the corner. “Hi mom, did you have a good day?” he said to a tall woman, kissing her cheek.
“Yes I did Samuel, I only had to pull one tooth out today.” She pulled a face that scarily resembled the one Sam just had, wiping her hands on the apron around her body, “so you are the Ellie I’ve heard so much about?” she asked as she looked beyond her son.
Her facial features were similar to his, and so was the brown color of her hair, only hers was curly. She looked like a mother, very friendly and welcoming and although I adored my own, she could pass for my older sister rather than a mother.
I smiled at her, even more so when she hugged me briefly, “Yes I am, I didn’t know that he’d told you about me.” I said to her, looking over her shoulder at Sam who just shook his head with disbelief.
“Oh trust me, he has told me a lot about you.” she said once she’d let go, holding me at arm’s length to take a good look at me. Thankfully all I saw was approval, he saw it too and his shoulders relaxed.
“Are you staying for dinner Ellie?” she asked, stirring a bowl of what looked like cake mixture.
“Um…yes, that would be great.” I answered with a blink of surprise.
She smiled back warmly, “If you change your mind then it is fine, I just want you to know that you are welcome here anytime.”
Sam took my hand, “Thanks mom, shout if you need any help.” he said, she gave him a loving squeeze then insisted that we could go.
“Your mom is so nice.” I said to him whilst climbing the stairs up to his bedroom. It was plain and neat, just what I’d expected, he had a few posters hung up but other than that he liked simplistic.
“She really likes you which is a relief. How did you tell your mom about me?” he asked, sitting on his neatly made bed.
I joined, mulling the question over first, “Well I started with something like…Mom I’m dating a genius.”
“Hm, I’m not sure if I would have started with that.” he pondered, while he did I completely changed the subject but only because I knew that I’d forget if I didn’t ask it now.
”Why don’t you like kissing me in front of people?”
Clearly he was taken aback at the question at first, whilst thinking he brought a warm hand to my cheek, his thumb sweeping lightly across it, ”To me, a kiss is something private between just us, and the thought of people watching such a private moment makes me uncomfortable. I know it’s a little old fashioned and lame but it’s how I feel.”
My hand flew up to my chest, wondering how I’d landed myself such a boyfriend, “Oh Sammy, that’s really sweet.”
His brow rose, a tiny smile playing on his lips, “Oh no, I heard that when a girl calls a guy sweet, it’s supposed to mean something bad.”
I thought back to what Lucas and Tom had been saying, and it wasn’t shocking that they’d say something like that, “Don’t listen to them, I’m a girl and I’m telling you it’s a good thing.”
“They also told me that girls will say that, but in their heads they’ll be thinking the complete opposite.”
“Whoever told you all of this doesn’t know much about girls. I’m your girlfriend and I’m saying that it’s really cute how you think that a kiss is so special. No other guy I know would ever say that.” I told him, reaching into my purse to pull out my camera.
I’d brought it to school with me and stashed it in my locker as it wasn’t exactly portable, well not easily in a small purse anyway. It was one of those big professional ones and it took such amazing pictures which was why it was perfect for my newest project.
Slowly but surely I was getting over the betrayal by Louis and Sam had been a big help with that. He’d been flicking through the pictures on my camera one day and landed on the ones from Paris, thankfully I’d deleted any trace of Louis from them before he saw. He’d definitely been impressed with the ones he did see, “These are breath taking pictures Elle, you can’t just leave them on here.” He’d told me.
At first I’d been unsure but with a little more convincing I had finally had the pictures from France printed. Dad had fallen in love with a bunch of them, a couple were already displayed in his office and mom had done the same. Sam had found a picture I hadn’t seen before in the stack, a picture of me staring up at the Eiffel tower with the deepest, most awestruck expression on my face.
Clearly Louis had taken it and even knowing this, he’d loved it anyway, asking, “Can I have this one?”
I was thrilled to see it displayed in a frame on his desk so he’d always think of me as he studied. Recently Sam had been helping me find all my skills and talents, he’d encouraged me to focus on something that I loved so that all the other problems in my life would momentarily disappear as I worked on my project.
This project I’d kept a surprise from him, I’d been hoping to show him once it was finished, but I knew that he’d want to know why I wanted to take pictures of him. My fingers ran up the side of his neck, tracing the small dark red hickey that I’d left there, hidden by his collar which I’d moved aside.
”Has your mom seen it?” I asked, curling my body around his after kicking my ballet slippers off. He wrapped an arm across my tiny body, pulling me against his chest as we settled onto the middle of the bed; I uncapped the lens cover and put it on the correct setting for indoors.
”I don’t think so; if she has then she hasn’t mentioned a thing.”
”Smile.” I said, pointing the camera at us.
”I hate pictures,” he grumbled, only I was focused on other things such as taking the picture.
”I want a picture with my beautiful boyfriend, smile.” I insisted, my camera at arm’s length ready to take the picture.
Once it was taken I took a look and sighed when I saw it, ”Sam you look like you’re in pain. Please, I just want one of us together.”
”Why all the pictures? I saw you taking some of your friends too.” he asked with curiosity. Before I’d stopped speaking to them, I’d started taking their portraits. They hadn’t objected at all, after all they loved having their pictures taken.
”That gallery you took me to inspired me to start taking pictures; I’m taking portraits of the people I care about like that photographer so hopefully I can build a portfolio with them.” Sure I wanted to become a fashion photographer but I wanted to show my different skills too, I’d also make one of landscape and monuments photographs I’d taken over the years.
“Those were all pictures of them alone, you’ve taken one with both of us in it.” he pointed out, that brain of his two steps ahead.
“I want one of you alone, that one was just for fun.” I explained, going through each photo that I’d taken so he could see them.
”From what I’ve seen it’s working great but are you sure you want me as part of your portfolio?” he said in an attempt to wriggle out of it. For his comment he got a sharp poke in the side from me.
”Why wouldn’t I? You’re definitely photogenic and take such pretty pictures Sammy.”
”I’m not sure whether pretty is a compliment or not−ah!” I cut him off by poking him whilst also pushing him down onto the bed.
Sitting on him as he lay on his back I used my fingers to continue my poking attack, ”Why are you being so difficult today?” I shouted with a fierce and frustrated expression on my face.
At first Sam tried holding it back but he couldn’t manage it and laughed which left him in a weaker position when I poked harder. No doubt the chemistry we had was definitely blossoming the more time we spent together.
”Quit being annoying and I’ll stop.” I compromised, he seemed unable to stop by this point and just continued laughing. I couldn’t remember a time where he’d been this care free and relaxed before,
”Sam!” I repeated my jabbing must have begun to hurt so his wordless response was to grab my wrists, using them to pull me down to lay on top of him meanwhile still recovering from laughing so much.
The fierce expression flew off my face and my mouth opened slightly, noticing too that the position we were in was compromising if anyone was to walk in. Or if his mom was to walk past as the door was still open. My small hands planted on his chest with my baby blue eyes fixed on his own darker ones, whilst Sam’s own hands found the curve of my waist.
It wasn’t long before I felt the pressure of his soft lips on mine, the now familiar scent of him and causing me to melt into him all the more. Even though deep inside I knew that we’d both stop soon, not wanting things to get out of hand until we were both ready, it wasn’t right now.
However that didn’t stop me from wishing that there wasn’t that pressure to go all the way. It was something almost every teen talked or thought about doing, and I knew that me not being a virgin kind of increased that pressure for Sam.
In an attempt to relieve some of that pressure I pulled away from the kiss first, this had literally never happened before and I sat up, this time on the bed. From the look on his face he’d never expected me to do that either, the look quickly became a groan when I said, “Ok, let’s try the picture again, this time smile Sammy.”
His answer was to bury his face in his pillow, continuing to groan into it while my shoulders shook with a giggle that wanted to escape.
