They're all talking about spring break. Apparently Sam's uncle is high up in the corporate food chain at the W Hotel Group and is hooking everyone up with luxury accommodations - not standard high school spring breaker lodgings, that's for sure. I knew Sam's family was wealthy, but this is some hook-up. An image of Chelsea in a string bikini, flirting with a shirtless Sam on the beach flashes through my mind unbidden.
"I think I might have changed my mind about coming," I blurt suddenly.
And I've lost my damned mind.
Carl shrieks excitedly and Chelsea fakes a pleased smile, but Sam is the first to speak. "Really?" he asks.
I shrug. "I've been thinking about what you said. About only being a senior once." I immediately regret my sudden outburst. Especially the last part where I've just admitted, in front of Chelsea no less, that Sam tried to convince me to come, and she's irked, I can tell.Way to stay off her radar, Rory.
"Come, Ror. It'll be fun, I promise," Sam says.
"I don't know if my mom will let me," I backtrack, though itisthe truth. "And this close to break I doubt there will be any hotel rooms or flights..."
"You can stay with me and Tina. Tina will probably be staying in Andy's room anyway," Carl teases and Tina blushes and yanks Carl's ponytail in retaliation.
"I, uh, would need my own room... sleep issues," I explain with a shrug.
"Who'ssleeping?"Carl replies, "It's spring break! We're there to party, not sleep!"
I roll my eyes, but under the table, unseen by the others, Sam squeezes my knee. I meet his gaze.
"I'll take care of it," he breathes into my ear.
Sam has no way of knowing about my nightmares, but somehow he understands how important it is for me to have my own hotel room. That's if I do convince my mom to let me go, and that's only if I myself decide I really do want to go.
Carl and Tina spend the rest of lunch trying to convince me to come, while Chelsea gives detailed descriptions of the swimsuits she's purchased in what is, to me at least, a transparent attempt at stealing Sam's attention. Sam's disinterest is infinitely pleasing to me.
Out of nowhere, Chelsea asks why I don't change in the locker room for phys-ed - the one class I have with her. Sam glares at her, but I just shrug.
"I prefer to change in the bathroom. Privacy," I murmur. Carl tries to change the subject but Chelsea persists.
"But there are bathroom stalls in the locker room, of course."
I don't know what she's playing at, but it's clear she's trying to put me on the spot, likely for Sam's benefit. But if she's trying to show Sam that there's something wrong with me, the joke's on her. He already knows.
"We should get back to school," Sam says dismissively. He turns so his back to her. "I'll see you at my house for dinner, Rory?"
I nod, but I'm inwardly cringing. I know he was trying to make some point in defense of me, but what it was, I don't know. That will just have pissed Chelsea off more, and while some small part of me is satisfied by Sam making point of showing Chelsea that I'm his friend, most of me wishes he'd just let it go.
I cut phys ed and head home one period early. I make myself a snack and settle at my desk to work on my English paper. Restless, I leave a little earlier than usual to make my five thirty appointment with Dr. Schall. At five after, I sign in and, as always, wonder why they even keep a sign-in sheet when they remove it after each patient to ensure confidentiality. I'm reading on my tablet when the front door swings open, and to utter my astonishment, in walks Sam.
My mouth gapes open.What the hell is he doing here?
"Rory?" He seems as confused as I am.
Just then, the door to Dr. Schall's office opens and out walks a girl of about fifteen or sixteen, and though her hair is blonde, her unmistakable midnight blue eyes tell me immediately who she is.
"Hiya Sammy," she murmurs nonchalantly. She doesn't seem like a girl who tried to kill herself in the past year, but maybe I don't look like what I actually am either.
"Hey, Bits," he replies softly. And I understand.Bits's doctor's appointment. I swallow anxiously.
"Bits, this is- uh, Rory. My friend I told you about. Rory, this is my sister."
Bits seems confused, and maybe a little annoyed. I realize she probably thinks Sam brought me along to pick her up, and that would be a pretty egregious invasion of privacy since this is clearly a therapist's office.
"I, um, have an appointment with Dr. Schall. At five thirty," I explain nervously. This is so damn awkward. I remind myself that Sam already knows I have issues. He's seen my prescription bottle - obviously they were prescribed by a doctor. And I don't even know Bits. Anyway, she has problems of her own. Surely she wouldn't judge me.Right?
She visibly relaxes at my explanation. "Well that is some coincidence."
