1 Arrivals

Watching the rain come across her windshield, she sighed silently to herself. Driving in the rain wasn't the problem, but driving in a city she wasn't familiar with did worry her. After two days of driving the stretch from Texas to Indiana, her body was sore, but she had finally made it to her new home. It was dark, so a city was a city until light, and all she wanted right now was a warm bed. Her mom and her lover were ahead of her in their car and were leading the way. Shaking her head, she still couldn't even believe she was here with her mother, after having not talked with her for a year, but here she was. Her mother had suddenly left her in their Texas home a year ago, running off with her internet lover. Thus, leaving her holding the bag like always. Samantha shook her head. She wasn't going to confront those issues tonight. If ever, her heart was still so sore.

They pulled slowly in front of a cottage style house, and Samantha slowly pulled in behind them, grateful she didn't have to parallel park. Getting out quickly, her moms ran up to the door and promptly inside. Samantha sighed and grudgingly started grabbing what she had brought, which wasn't much, and hurried in after them. The rest could wait tomorrow, if it wasn't stolen first, she thought. Indiana in the summer was the opposite of Texas. It was wet and humid, and by the time she made it in the house was soaked beyond compared. She smiled, however, as it was just the change she was hoping for. Being here, she said she would go home by the summer, or so she thought....

Two months later,

Samantha almost didn't recognize herself when she walked into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Her face was haunted and lean, not at all the tan she was usually used to this time of year. Tear tracks still covered her face. Her heart was still hurting just as bad as when she left Texas. This wasn't how she was raised, to cry over a man. But Jordan had been her first love. They were supposed to be the high school sweethearts that lived happier ever after, but that in no way was happening. She fell for him hard, but the pain of her parents' divorce and later, their rejection was just too much for him. She sighed to herself. How could she blame him for running? She had to start getting out there. Her mothers were pestering her to update her look and today seemed like the day. Her hair was in desperate need to be cut, and why not. He always loved it long. But not too short, Samantha thought out loud. Chipmunk cheeks wasn't a nickname she wanted back. She tossed her towel in the hamper, walked out, and announced to her mother she was ready. Her mother smiled and hustled her out the door into her red Grand Prix.

Ok, it's not bad, Samantha said to herself, looking into the mirror. Her mother smiled while on the phone. Kristie suddenly slammed the phone, excitedly, "babe, I hope you don't mind, but you are going to hang out with my friend's daughter!" "Oh," Samantha replied. She hoped she was lovely. She had heard so much from her mom's partner, and she looked forward to it. Her mom explained there was a local festival, and non-other than chubby checkers was playing there. Samantha smiled. That was the one record she listened to her grandpa's, so she was well aware of who he was. "Ok, sounds great," Samantha replied. Before she knew it, a green firebird pulled up, and a girl with the most amount of blonde hair she had ever seen popped out.

The girl literally had it everywhere and reminded Samantha of rapunzel. She smiled brightly and, in a tone like she had known her all her life, asked her if she was ready to go. Samantha nodded her head and slipped into a car with a girl who she barely knew. Lindsey smiled at her and said they were picking up a friend. Samantha grew nervous. Meeting people was not something she was comfortable with all the time. Now here she would be with two strangers who knew each other. Lindsey sensing her discomfort, explained he was a bit of a shut-in so that it would be fine. "You will be lucky if he talks to you at all," Lindsey laughed. Samantha laughed nervously back at her as they pulled up to the most storybook looking house she had ever seen. The house was two-story red brick with shutters. A small path cut into flowers and lead to the house's front door. A small enclosed sunroom and trees all around looked as if it was cut from a postcard. Lindsey asked if Samantha would sit in the back as her friend was quite tall, and so she slipped from the front seat, looking at the house. As she did, the door open and he slipped out of the house. Samantha just stared, gulping to herself, realizing this boy would be trouble.