Episode 7

FOUR YEARS LATER

“Dear diary, it’s been four years since the death of my parents. I recently graduated from high school but they were not there to cheer me on as I walked down the stage to get my diploma, it’s alright though.

I had Liam, Noah and uncle Arthur there for me. Uncle Arthur had been a father figure to us over these years but it makes me miss dad more and more, the more I miss dad, the more my hunger for revenge increases.

I’ve found out the necessary information I need against Alexander, next week I will be traveling to him.

Noah insists on coming with me but he still has a semester to finish up in college and I don’t want him to jeopardize his future in the name of my vengeance, besides who will watch over Liam?

Liam, a big boy now like he claims. He just started middle school and I will miss him a lot.

I know I don’t get to write to you always so till I feel the urge to write down my feelings like my therapist always says.”

Love,

Sam.

Just as she finished penning down her thoughts into her diary, Sam heard a slight noise behind her and she quickly turned and crouched into a defense position, reaching for the little pocket knife she always had tucked into her boots.

“Jesus Sam, you have to relax. No one is out to get you.” She heard a familiar voice said as the owner of the voice stepped out from behind the bushes with one hand up in surrender while the other held a picnic basket to which she raised an eyebrow at.

“Henry, how many more times do I have to tell you to call before coming over?” She asked him while waving her phone in front of his face.

“It would have spoilt the surprise,” Henry replied while gesturing to the picnic basket he held.

“What is that?”

“I wanted some alone time with you before you travel off across the world to college.” Henry pouted and Sam scrunched up her face.

Henry has been the first one to talk to her on her first day as a freshman again in his high school.

Not that anyone had known at first that she was repeating freshman year again.

She loves Henry but sometimes he gets on her nerves with some of his cringe attitudes.

“Okay stop making that face, you know I hate it.”

“You are more masculine, I need to be more feminine to balance out this friendship.”

“Shut up!” Sam laughed as she helped him in spreading the blanket on the carpet grass.

“Finally, summer is coming to an end.”

Sam lifted her face up to soak in some sun.

“Yes Henry,” she breathed.

‘My time is slowly running out according to my plans.’

“I’m so glad you decided to stay this summer and not run off to make new friends at your college. Though I have to ask why you decided to cross the world to another part.”

“Relax Henry, it’s just a fourteen hours flight. The time zone difference is not that crazy, besides we are not dating and don’t have the crazy need to see each other often. You’ll be fine.”

Her last two statements broke his heart but he said nothing.

Henry has been crazy about Sam since sophomore year but he settled on being her friend instead of losing her at all.

Instead he moved closer to her and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and kissed her on her cheek.

“You are so cheesy Henry, I am thirsty.” Sam laughed as she brought out a little pack of orange juice and popped it open.

“Sometimes I might think that you are in love with me.”

Henry laughed awkwardly and waved it off.

“Hey Sam!”

Both teens turned to the direction where Sam’s name was called from.

Noah’s face darkened when he saw who she was with.

“Liam and I were thinking about going to the beach and were wondering if you’d like to join us?”

“That is a silly question Noah! Of course I’d love to come!” She replied her big brother figure and turned to Henry with equal excitement.

“The beach will be more fun for this picnic, are you in?”

Henry nodded with fake excitement but he was sad inwards. He just wanted some alone time with Samantha but his hope has been dashed.

“We could stay if you don’t want to go?” Samantha said softly to him like she could sense and read his thoughts.

“And miss hanging out with Liam? Hell no!” He said with much more excitement now and Sam nodded approvingly.

“Okay then.”

They both folded up the blanket and grabbed the picnic basket and walked to the front of the house while holding hands and talking quietly with little gasps of giggles here and there.

“I have to go pack a beach bag.” Sam frowned as she got to the car with Henry.

Liam was already in the backseat, playing a game on his phone.

“Liam packed a bag for you.” Noah interjected.

“He’s lying Sam, he packed the bag himself.”

Noah laughed and Sam opened the passenger door, climbing into the car.

“Perv!” She smacked his hand.

“I thought I was your older brother? I can’t pack a bag for my kid sister again?” Noah retorted mockingly and Sam rolled her eyes.

Henry watched the exchange quietly from the backseat where he sat with Liam.

Noah brought down the roof of his convertible as they drove to the beach, playing loud music and singing at the top of their voices.

Well, mostly Noah and Samantha.

Twenty minutes later, they pulled up to the beach and Sam had to go look for where to change into her beachwear.

“Hey bud.” Noah greeted Henry as he walked up to him.

“Hey man!” Henry was nervous.

Noah smiled slightly as they both watched Sam bounce away.

“Pretty girl right?”

Henry swallowed.

‘Where is he going with this?’ He thought.

“Samantha is really beautiful, anyone with a working pair of eyes could see that.”

Noah chuckled lowly this time.

“Right answer. But you know it won’t work out right?”

“That was so straightforward Noah.”

The older boy grinned.

“I know, I know it’s also harsh and a bad asshole move from me but really. Samantha has been through a lot these past few years and I wouldn’t want anything to hurt her.”

“She is moving countries from here to deal with her past, I want her to heal properly first before anything.”

“You love her too?” Henry asked bewildered.

“Yes I will always love her as a sister and a friend.”

“You know what I meant with that question.” Henry deadpanned.

Noah paused for a minute, he had never admitted to anyone about his feelings for a girl that was entrusted to him.

“Yes Henry, I am in love with her and that is why I could easily detect it in you too.”

“Gross.” Henry muttered and Noah smiled softly.

“I know.”

“Aren’t you like six years older than her?”

“Four.”

“Still no difference.”

Noah snorted.

“You think she’d rather be with you that is a year younger, I bet she sees you as Liam.”

Henry’s face turned red and he walked away towards Liam.

Noah looked ahead and saw Sam talking to an older boy, he frowned.

Was she smiling and running her hand through her hair? He subconsciously began to make his way to them.

** ** **

“Oh!” Sam squeaked as she bumped into someone.

She had been rushing from the public changing room and was not looking at where she was heading to.

She registered too late that she had splashed some of the stranger’s drink on their bodies as she collided with them.

“I’m so sorry about that,” she rushed out as she looked up to a pair of grey eyes looking at her in amusement.

“Is this when I say ‘watch where you’re going to’ orrrr?” He drawled and Sam blushed furiously.

“I’m sorry, I was just in a rush to go join my family waiting for me.”

“It’s fine really. Besides this is the most interesting thing that has happened to me on this beach today, he smirked. “My name is Xavier.”

Sam smiled and ran her hand through her hair.

“I’m Samantha.”

“You are in a rush right? Could I get your number? Maybe we can go grab some iced coffee or something later?”

Sam frowned slightly.

“I wish that could work out but I’m leaving town tomorrow, college.” She added the last bit to clarify.

“Ohhh,”

“Mhmm,”

“That’s sad. I’d be leaving this town a day after you.” Xavier said with a little laugh.

“No wonder I couldn’t place you, you are not from around here?”

“No no, my father has some business in this town and he came to sort it out. He leaves today but I still want to enjoy the peace of a small town before flying back to Europe.”

“Europe?!” She exclaimed and he winked at her, probably thinking she was impressed but she shrugged and played it cool.

“That is so cool, hey! Who knows maybe fate will make our paths cross again.”

“Maybe Samantha.”

“Call me Sam.”

“Samantha is much more beautiful.”

Sam blushes and pushed by him almost running into Noah who had approached them now.

“Sorry about your drink again!” She called over her shoulder as she gave Noah a weird look.

“I wasn’t missing or in danger you know right?”

She was a bit irritated at Noah’s overprotectiveness but she did not let the irritation deep into her voice, she kept it cool and playfully but Noah already read her.

He sighed, “I’m sorry about that Sammie.”

She shrugged and increased her pace again.

“I’m hungry, let’s go look for something to eat.”

Sam walked on while Noah turned back to the direction the boy from earlier had disappeared to.

“Why did he looked so familiar?” He thought to himself and jogged slightly to catch up with Sam, throwing her over his shoulders while she squealed.