I keep my eyes trained onthe floor, suddenly aware that several of my classmates must havewitnessed our public display of affection, and those that hadn'teither heard about it or saw Mr.Frank go out to get us.Not thatit matters, since I'm displaying my commitment to Sam on my backwith his varsity shirt just as surely as Carl is forTucker.
I take my seat in the backof the room next to Carl and prepare for the interrogation."Um,something you want to tell me?"
I blush all over again."Ithink Sam and I are back together."
"Youthink?"
Well, yeah.We didn'treally talk about it, did we?
"On Friday I told him thatI wanted to, you know, try again with us.But he said he wanted meto think about it, to be sure.So I thought…" I gesture to thegiant tee shirt dwarfing my frame.
"You thought you'd makesome insanely romantic declaration of love?!And you didn't tellme?!"Carl is excited for me and it makes me smile.
"Well, I thought he shouldbe the first person I told…"
"Uh, wrong.Your bestfriend is the first person you tell.Thenthe boyfriend."
I don't bother correctingher, because even though Sam really is my best friend, Carl is mybest girl-friend, and she's been there for me through it all,unconditionally, and I love her for it.But I'm more focused onhaving her refer to Sam as my boyfriend.God, that sounds so damngood.
My eyes inexorably flitover to where he's sitting sideways in his seat, listening to Davetease him, but he's staring at me.I blush an even deeper shade ofred and his lips slide up into a contented half smile.
Dave punches him in thearm."Hello?I'mtalking, lover boy, pay attention."
Several people startlaughing and my gaze darts away in embarrassment.
But I don't dwell on it.I'm too busy being happy.
****
Sam and I are the talk of the school and I hear whisper afterwhisper as I sit through the hours of our senior assembly.Speechesand awards, slideshows and videos.Memories that belong to otherpeople.Sam gets several awards, unsurprisingly, but as the newgirl who just started here in February, I'm practically invisible.Well, that's if you don't account for the gossiping eyes floatingmy way time and time again.
When I come around to thestudent lot for lunch, I see Sam having a heated conversation withChelsea, who looks as if she's about to cry.I have no sympathy forher.She made her bed, and now she can go and screw Lacey Forbes init for all I care.
Eventually Sam turns hisback on her and walks over to Tuck's car, and I hear Chelsea callafter him, but he ignores her.She drives off alone minutes later,and I approach him cautiously.
Sam is telling his boysthat Chelsea betrayed him and that they're no longer friends.Nodetails.Though by the way Tucker and Dave hold their eyes, Isuspect they both know the whole story.I don't even mind.But evenwithout all the information, Sam's vague edict is enough for hisfriends, and I hear them call her a bitch and something about howshe's out of their limo for Prom.
It's there then, thewhisper of guilt, but I force it away.She doesn't deserveit.
It's then that Davenotices me, hanging back behind Sam, not wanting to interrupt theirconversation.
"Well if it isn't Cap'sgirlfriend," Dave teases.
Sam spins around, and Iwatch the frustration drain from his tense limbs.His smile isback, complete with the dimple I love, and I can't help myown.
"Rory and I are gonna goget lunch alone," he tells his friends, but his eyes ask me aquestion.
I nod.Hell yes, I want tobe alone with him.
He opens the passengerdoor for me like a perfect gentleman and we pull out of the lotwhile our friends all stare after us with wide eyes.
We end up going to hishouse to have some of his mother's leftovers.He doesn't make amove other than to kiss me.A lot.
We talk about nothing.About everything.And magically it feels as if there was no breakin our relationship.Nothing has ever felt more natural.
But then he brings up thehearing.
"I talked to your mom, youknow.I'm flying out with you guys tomorrow.I booked rooms for twonights.For all of us," he tells me.The hearing begins Wednesday,and as it's something of a mini-trial, the prosecutor suspects itwill last either two or three days."But I can extend it if we needto."
