The Fate of the Unknown

Chapter 60: Dinner and texts

We get back home and Caitlyn let me use her charger to plug my phone in. I’m not even sure it will work.. I haven’t even looked to see if it were broken or not yet. I stood there holding the phone until the screen lit up. Ok. Only a few cracks on the screen, thankfully I have a screen protector on it. The side of the phone case is only a little chipped, but that is it. Which made me let out a sign of relief.

I glance at the clock 4:30pm

I decide to just get started on supper. I turn the radio on and start to see what I should make.

I decide on making baked chicken breasts, cheesy scalloped potatoes, asparagus, and rolls. I got started and by 630pm, everything was done and ready to eat.

“It smells soooo good!” Caitlyn exclaims as she comes into the kitchen. She then started to help set up the table, Maverick helped carry the food to the table.

The 3 of us sat down and load up our plates.

Yum. It was silent besides the chewing.

“Wow. Alexis. Caitlyn was right. You are the best! I haven’t had chicken cooked like this in a long time! Scalloped potatoes are one of my favorites. Thank you for supper. It’s so good!” Maverick raved as he got seconds.

His comment made me chuckle, “I love to cook. It’s an outlet for me. I also love making food for friends and family. It’s a way to show love for those important to you.” I state.

After we were all done eating, I put all the leftovers away. Caitlyn and Maverick said to leave the rest of the cleanup to them. I accept, get my phone, and go into my room. I grab my book and climb into my bed. I get comfortable and flip open my book. Just as I read the first word, a text comes in. I sit the book down and pick up the phone.

A text from an unknown number..

“Hey Alexis, it’s Sam.

Leilah gave me your number, I hope that’s ok. I didn’t have your new one. Is there a way we can meet up and talk? Tonight?”

Ugh!

“I’m not sure we have anything to talk about.” I reply hoping to get the message through.

“Please.”

“Fine. Tomorrow morning.” I reply almost debating why I should waste my time.

“Ok. What time? Where?

“6am. On my porch. Please leave your groupies elsewhere.” I sent and turn the sound off and set my phone down.

I wonder what he wants or why he feels he needs to talk to me.

“Did you not see the way he was looking at you??” Nala asks amused.

“Yes. Clearly I saw how he was looking at me. He looked at me like I was just an other girl to sleep with.” I reply full of hurt.

“I doubt that.” She replies fully confident.

I shrug, “eh, I guess we’ll see.”

After that Nala retreated, and left me to read. I must of really needed that escape from reality. I finished the entire book. Geez. I looked over at the clock, 12am. Crap! I need to go to bed!!

I hurry up and go to the bathroom, then set my alarm for 530am, throw off my clothes and throw on the giant T-shirt, and climb into bed.

I toss and turn for what seemed like forever. Pretty sure it was an hour at least. I wake up to my alarm and just lay in bed staring at my ceiling. I take a deep breath in and then let out the breath. I can do this. I can do this!

“WE can do this. You are NOT alone! Whatever he needs to talk about, we need to listen. We BOTH need to work on not just assuming and judging. So get your little butt up and get showered. He’ll be here soon.” Nala demands trying to give me encouragement.

I nod.

Grab some clothes and rush off to the bathroom.

I wash my hair since it badly needed it. I throw on a sports bra, an over sized black hoodie, skinny jeans, and I will throw on my black combat boots. I didn’t want to do any makeup, so I just applied moisturizer and called it good. I quietly made coffee, I didn’t want to disturb Caitlyn or Maverick. You know before, I wasn’t so sure about him. But I really do like him. He’s a great match for Caitlyn. Especially after Caitlyn and I made up, he saw how much it hurt me to not have my sister. So he has made sure to help balance spending time with everyone.

Once the coffee was done I grab my mug and fill it up. I slip on my boots, grab my blanket, and my mug and go outside. After I quietly made it outside and shut the door quietly, I turn to the left to go to the bench and I see Sam sitting there. I am so startled I jump and spill some of my coffee on my hands and my sweater. Thankfully the sweater is black, so it won’t stain. But still, ouch!

“Sam you scared the crap out of me! I wasn’t expecting you for an other 5-10 minutes!” I state shocked and a little hurt from the coffee.

I took a sip of the coffee and then sat it on the table, then sit at the farthest end of the bench.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t sleep. I’ve been here since probably 4am.” He says with the tone of defeat and shrugs. If I couldn’t see the bags under his eyes, and how exhausted he looked, I would have thought this was just a plan to make me vulnerable and empathetic of the whole situation.

“It’s ok. Now what did you want to talk about?” I ask, both nervous and curious. I could feel my stomach turning into knots as I waited with anticipation.

“Well first I want to say I’m glad you’re back. I know it’s not a forever thing…Just a visiting thing. But I’m still thankful you’re back.” He says and pauses looking to his right. I followed the gaze and I couldn’t see anything. It’s still pretty dark out. “I do want to ask a question first. One that’s been bothering me since you left.”

“Yes?” I respond quickly and curious.

“Why did you change your number, and not even bother texting me so I could have it? Did I do something wrong?” He asks now looking at me, his eyes feel like he is seeing right through me.

“Caitlyn and I were in an accident on our way to our dad’s.. The vehicle rolled a bunch of times, and our phones were broken. When our dad gave us new phones, we didn’t have any of our old contacts. I couldn’t text the girls either. They didn’t have our numbers until yesterday.” I inform him. As I state this his expression went from hurt, to relief, to worry.

“A wreck? Did you get hurt?” He asks as he got closer and grabs my hands. Sending a wave of heat through my body. Between the heat and the way he looked so concerned, I could feel myself start to blush so I looked down.

“I was hurt a little, Caitlyn had the worst of it. But thankfully it wasn’t worse.” I say still looking down.

He took his hand and put it under my chin to make me look up at him, letting his fingers linger for a second on my jawline.

“I’m glad you weren’t hurt worse. I’m also glad to know it wasn’t something I did or didn’t do.” He responds sweetly.

I pull my hand away.

“What???” He asks hurt and confused on why i pulled my hands away. I almost forgot. I was so overwhelmed with the feelings he was making me feel, that I forgot about a few things.

“What’s up with your groupies?” I ask a little jealous and annoyed, but also confused. He never used to like attention like that, and always wanted to wait for the right one.

His expression went from one of hurt to ashamed in seconds. “Do you want to know the full truth?” He asks, still not looking at me.

“Yeah. Yeah I do. You never used to like girls crowding you or giving you all kinds of s****l attention. But that is NOT the Sam I saw the other day.” I state annoyed and not hiding it.

“Well.. I’m not going to lie. I thought you were the one.” He says and I start to blush again. I could feel butterflies in my stomach. “But when you left and then I couldn’t text or call you. I assumed you didn’t feel anything towards me. Why else would someone change their number and not give you the new number? I mean I know now, but I didn’t then.. The first month I just tried to keep busy and distracted. I even have deep cleaned your house multiple times. Hoping you’d be home soon.” He pauses. “But after a while I just started getting angry. I kept trying to find any sort of release to help with the pain I felt. So I turned to all the girls who were giving me attention. Which I honestly regret. None of it helped. The studying, sports, and girls. Nothing. And now here you are. And I’ve screwed everything up. I can see by the look on your face you are disgusted, but is there any chance we can at least spend time together while you’re here?.. Just as friends?” He asks, sounding hurt but also hopeful. Looking at me with his big brown eyes, ugh.