And why was Caitlin suddenly asking about Dad? Sam was pissed at himself, because there was actually news he’d wanted to tell her. About the other day. He’d finally gotten an answer to one of his Facebook requests. It was their Dad. It was really him. He said he missed them, and wanted to see them. Finally. After all these years. Sam had already responded. They were starting to talk again. And Dad wanted to see him. See them both. Why hadn’t Sam just told her? Well, at least he could tell her now.
As Sam walked, snow crunching beneath his boots, snow falling all around him at an increasing rate, he started to feel happy again. With Caitlin around, things might even get back to normal. Maybe she’d showed up at the right time, when he was so messed up, to help snap him out of it. She always had a way of doing that. Maybe this was his shot.
As he reached into his pocket for another cigarette, he stopped himself. Maybe he could turn things around.
Sam crumpled up the pack and threw it in the grass. He didn’t need it. He was stronger than that.
He opened the door of the barn, ready to surprise Caitlin and give her a big hug. He would tell her he was sorry. She would be sorry, too, and things would be great again.
But the barn was empty.
“Hello?” Sam called out, knowing, even as he did, that no one was there.
He noticed the dying embers of a fire in the fireplace, one that must have been put out hours ago. But there were no signs of any possessions, of anything that would show they were still there. She’d left. Probably with that dude. Why couldn’t she have waited for him? Given him a chance? Even just a few hours?
Sam felt as if someone had just punched him as hard as they could in the gut. His own sister. Even she didn’t care anymore.
He had to sit down. He sat on a stack of hay, and rested his head in his hands. He could feel his headache returning. She really did it. She left. Had she gone for good? Deep down, he felt that she had.
Sam finally took a deep breath. All right.
He felt himself hardening up. He was on his own. He knew how to handle that. He didn’t need anyone, anyway.
“Hey there.”
It was a beautiful, soft, female voice.
Sam looked up, hoping for a second that it was Caitlin. But he already knew, from the second he heard it, that it was not. It was the most beautiful voice he had ever heard.
A girl stood in the entryway to the barn, leaning casually against the wall. Wow. She was stunning. She had long, wavy, red hair, bright green eyes. A perfect body. And she looked about his age, maybe a few years older. Wow. She was smoking.
Sam stood.
He could hardly believe it, but the way she stared at him, it looked like she was flirting, like she was really into him. He’d never seen a girl look at him quite like that. He couldn’t believe his luck.
“I’m Samantha,” she said sweetly, stepping forward and extending one hand.
Sam stepped forward and placed his hand in hers. Her skin was so soft.
Was he dreaming? What was this girl doing here, in the middle of nowhere? How did she even get here? He didn’t hear a car pull up, or even hear anyone walking towards the barn. And he’d just got there. He didn’t understand.
“I’m Sam,” he said.
She smiled wide, revealing perfect, white teeth. Her smile was incredible. Sam felt his knees going weak, as she looked directly at him.
“Sam, Samantha,” she said. “I like the sound of that.”
He stared back, at a loss for words.
“I saw you out here and figured you must be cold,” she said. “Want to come in?”
Sam racked his brain, but couldn’t figure out what she meant.
“In?”
“The house,” she said, smiling wider, as if that were the most obvious thing in the world. “You know, it has walls and windows?”
Sam tried to comprehend what she was saying. Invite him inside the house? The one that was for sale? Why would she invite him in?
“I just bought it,” she said, as if responding to his thoughts. “I didn’t have a chance to take down the For Sale sign yet,” she added.
Sam was shocked. “You bought that house? “
She shrugged. “I had to live somewhere. I’m going to Oakville High. Have to finish my senior year.”
Wow. So, that explained it.
So, she was at Oakville. And a senior. Maybe he’d go back to school, too. Hell, yeah. If she was there, why not?
“Yeah, sure, whatever,” he said, as casually as he could. “Why not? Love to check it out.”
They turned and walked together, back towards the house. As they did, Sam walked passed his crumpled pack of cigarettes, reached down and picked them up. With Caitlin gone, who cared?
“So, then, are you, like, new here?” Sam asked.
He knew it was a stupid question. She’d already told him that she was. But he didn’t know what else to say. He was never good at conversation.
She just smiled. “Something like that.”
“Why here?” he added. “I mean, no offense, but this town sucks.”
“Long story,” she said mysteriously.