Puppets on a string

WHEN YOU'RE GONE

After Christmas and new year, it was time for me to go back to college. My family was back to normal and noone ever mentioned Samuel. Everyone thought that we had broken up. Today, I will be able to meet him after 15 days. I missed him, his smile, his laugh, his face, his harmless flirting, even his jealousy, like basically everything about him.

I woke up before my alarm clock as I was really excited to meet him. I picked up my phone and saw his text.

" Good morning baby. I can't wait to see you. Will reach college by 9. Love you "

'I can't wait to see you too Sam', I thought and smiled to myself. I freshened up quickly and went downstairs. I saw my parents sitting in dining room. I hid all my excitement quickly and relaxed myself. I can't be too enthusiastic in front of them.

"Good morning meow" I heard my dad and mom's voice together.

"Good morning" I greeted them back with a little smile.

After I had my breakfast, I was about to get up when my father spoke.

"Remember what I told you Ash, stay away from him" He said making me freeze in guilt.

I just nodded my head in a yes without looking at them, picked up my bag and made my way out of the door. I am sorry Dad.

After 15 minutes, I reached college. I called Sam and he told me that he will be there in 5 minutes. As I entered the college, I bumped into one of my classmates, Daniel. We were just talking about our vacation, when Samuel arrived. I didn't even see him when he approached us as I was busy talking to Daniel.

"Hey baby" I heard Samuel's voice from my left.

I quickly turned towards him while he was standing there with a huge smile on his face. My smile matched his.

"Hey" As soon as the words left my mouth, he quickly pulled me in a bone crushing hug, with his arms wrapped around my waist and mine wrapped around his neck.

"I missed you so much love" I heard him say as he snuggled into me more inhaling my scent.

"I missed you too baby" I said back still hugging him.

Both of us didn't want to let go. We hugged each other for a few seconds, then I pulled away a little. Samuel didn't waste a second and kissed me on my lips.

"Ahem.." Daniel cleared his throat making both of us pull away. Sh*t! I forgot he was standing there.

I gave him an apologetic look, too embarrassed to say anything.

"I guess, I will see you in the class" Daniel said.

"Yeah" I replied with an awkward smile and he left.

We still had 15 minutes left for out first class, so Sam suggested us to spend some time together which I agreed.

As soon as we entered an empty classroom, Sam again pulled me in a tight hug and I hugged him back with the same intensity.

"I am never letting you stay away from me for this long again. Weekends are hard enough already " He said making me giggle. I pecked his cheek still hugging him.

"You should kiss your boyfriend on lips sweetheart" He said pulling away from hug and slamming his lips on mine. The kiss was sweet yet passionate. After a few seconds, he pulled away.

"Never say that you want to breakup. I was so scared when I read your text. I can't imagine my life without you. I just love you so much" He said with voice full of pain making my heart warm.

"I will never leave you Sam. I love you too much to let you go" I replied back guilty.

"I know it now " He said again pulling me in a hug as I laid my head on his chest.

After a few minutes, we were just sitting in each other's embrace with a comfortable silence between us. Then he broke the silence.

"You know, I meant what I said "

I looked at him confused. Then he saw my expressions and smiled a little.

"I meant it when I said that I will marry you one day" my heart skipped a beat when I heard those words from his mouth. Isn't it too early to talk about marriage?

"Sam, we are too young to talk about marriage. Don't say things in the heat of the moment." I sighed cupping his cheeks. He shook his head.

"No Ash, I really mean it. I love you so much and I am never letting you go. I couldn't bear the thought of you away from me. I am not asking you to marry me now. I just want to promise you that when the time is right, I will make you my wife" He said and kissed my forehead. I nodded my head in yes just feeling the love he gave me.

" And don't talk to Daniel too. I don't like it when you talk to boys. You are mine" Sam said pouting a little making me chuckle.

"Are you Jealous Mr. Stark?" I said smirking at him.

"No... Ah!Okay yes. I am jealous. You are only mine"

"And you made that clear to him when you kissed me in front of him" I said still chuckling and he blushed. He is so cute.

"Babe don't tease me please" He said hugging me again.

"It's almost time for class baby, we need to go" I said pulling away and he sighed and pouted again.

10 Days Later, Thursday

Everything was going perfect in both college and home. Today after college, I was talking to Samuel on call, obviously after locking the door of my room, but Samuel sounded upset about something.

"What happened Sam? you sound upset" I asked him worriedly.

"I just had an argument with my dad. Can I please call you later?"

"Sure. Just know that I am always here if you want to talk about anything"

"I know baby. I am just not feeling well right now. I want to sleep. I will tell you everything tomorrow in college." He said with a low voice.

"Okay. Have some rest and take care of yourself. Good night."

"Good night" He said before hanging up the call.

What happened that he sounded so upset? I hope everything is fine.

Next morning, Friday

I woke up and didn't recieve any text from Samuel as I do every morning. I can also greet him first right.

"Good morning love " I sent the message but it was left unread even after I took the shower. I was worried because he always reply to my texts immediately. So, I decided to call him

The number you are trying to reach is currently switched off

I heard the computer voice making me worried. Why did he switch off his phone? What argument did he have with his father that he had to switch off his phone? I guess I will find out in college. I sighed and left my home.

I reached college just before my chemistry class begin. I tried calling him again after the class but his phone was still off. I asked his other friends and they all told me that they didn't see Samuel today. He didn't attend his Physics class too. Now, I was really worried. Sam never skipped classes unless he was with me. I tried his number numerous time, but it was same as before. I was so tensed and everyone could see that. So my friends forced me to go to the nearby restaurant for lunch. I went out with them but my mind was still stuck on Samuel. I wish he is okay. My friends tried to cheer me up but I was still tensed. There was no way that I could contact him. I don't know his address, and I don't have contact numbers of his family members. None of our friends had his family's number.

Then I remembered something, Niall, Samuel's childhood bestfriend and neighbour. He visited our college once and Samuel introduced me to him. We also shared our numbers. Niall asked for my number because he wanted to make Samuel jealous, which he obviously succeeded in. Samuel doesn't even let me shake hands with boys now. 'You are only mine to touch, even if it's only your hands' He says.

I quickly pulled myself out of my thoughts and dialed Niall's number.

"Hey Ashley, What a surprise? How are you doing?" He asked.

"Hey Niall, I am doing great. How are you?"

"Same old."

"I need your help Niall. It's Sam"

"What happened? Is everything alright?" He asked worriedly.

"I don't know..." and I narrated what happened yesterday to him.

"Don't worry, we are neighbors. I will go to his house now and will call you then"

"Okay, thankyou so much Niall" I said and hung up the call.

I was on my way back to my home when I recieved a call from Niall. I quickly picked up the call.

"Hello"

"Hey Ash. I talked to Sam. He is fine but he broke his phone. He said that he won't be able to talk to you for 2 days. He will come to college on Monday " Niall said.

"But what happened that he didn't come to college today?" I asked him

"It's something that only Sam can tell you" He replied and hung up the call.

What did he mean by that? But the good thing is Sam is fine.

I spent the whole weekend crying my eyes out because I was missing him so much. I was worried about him? What the hell happened? I was confused and scared too. What if it was something bad? I quickly shook the negative thoughts out of my head.

Monday

Today I reached college at 8 a.m even when my class starts at 9. I was just too worried about him. I won't feel fine until I see him with my own eyes. I stood at college entrance for almost 40 minutes but there was no sign of Samuel, which made me more worried. He usually comes by 8:30. What if he doesn't come to college today also? As my mind again started filling with negative thoughts, my phone rang. Stephen

"Hello"

"Hey Ash. Where are you?" He asked making me confused.

"Umm.. at college entrance. Why?"

"Samuel is here on the third floor. He has been standing here since 8 a.m waiting for you " He said making me almost run towards the third floor.

"I will be there in a minute " I said and hung up the call but my legs didn't stop. I was climbing up the stairs at such a fast pace almost running. When I was on the last stair, I saw him, standing there, in the corridor, laughing at something Stephen said while some of our other friends were also there. Then his eyes met mine, as if feeling my presence.

"Hey love" He said and as soon as he said those words, the anger and worry I had locked inside me since last 3 days came out.

"You f*cking a**hole. Don't Hey baby me. Where the f*ck have you been since 3 days?" I shouted at him and go near him with angry pace. He really looked scared and backed away a little. Tears made their way in my eyes, I cry when I am angry.

"Please don't kill me. Listen to me first please" He backed away with a scared look on his face which he tried to hide with a smile. But everyone around us could see the fear in his eyes making them all laugh.

"Omg! They are so cute."

"He really looks like he is about to get killed"

"Aww. She cares for him so much"

I heard my friends voice and tried to calm myself down. I don't want to do something in front of others. I took a huge breath and my body relaxed. Samuel saw it and he relaxed too and slowly approached me with small steps.

We pulled each other in a tight hug as soon as we were in each other's reach. That was the moment when tears made their way down my eyes. Samuel realized that I was crying.

He quickly took some steps towards the nearest classroom still hugging me. He knows that I hate it when people see me cry.

"Baby don't cry. Look I am absolutely fine"

He said wiping away my tears with his thumb.

"I was so worried. I thought something happened to you" I said still sobbing.

"Nothing happened baby." He said hugging me again.

"You didn't even call me. You could have texted me once. I was so scared"

"I know baby" He said still hugging me.

When I calmed down, I pulled away from the hug. Then I saw something like brown bruise on his neck which was hidden just near his collar bone. I went a little closer to see what it was?

Sam realized what I was doing and quickly tried to straighten his shirt when I held his hand.

"What the f*ck is this Samuel Stark?" I yelled at him with my eyes full of pain and anger.