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Night Shift
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Pairings: Sam Carpenter x fem!reader. Sam x reporter!reader
Summary: Sam blamed you for the 2022 attacks, she blamed you for everything. But guilt drives people into blindness, and Sam eventually finds herself seeking your comfort.
AN: this is the longest fic Iâve ever written, so I apologize if at times it seems redundant. Based off of this request!
Warnings: angst, slight cursing, mentions of past drug addiction, small part of canon typical Scream violence, mentions of childhood trauma, mentions of alcoholism, Tara is a little shit. Let me know if I missed anything!
My Masterlist
Word Count: 18.0K
Nothing. Thatâs all you could think about as you listened to the sound of Taraâs heartbeat monitor. This was your fault. You were the reason Tara was now in the hospital with multiple stab wounds and a broken leg. If only you had gotten to her house sooner, she wouldnât be in this position. All your friends tried to tell you it wasnât your fault, that you had no idea some dipshit in a mask was going to attack her, but you knew better.
You were only nine when it happened, but you could still feel the sharp pain of Jill Robertsâ knife plunging deep inside of your abdomen. Sometimes, you swore you could still hear her black combat boots sneaking around on the wooden floor, and the only thing that would play throughout your mind was the sweet release of not having to look over your shoulder at every sound.
The sound of Taraâs heartbeat motioning increasing in speed pulled you out of your thoughts. âHey, Tara. Itâs alright,â you whispered to the sleeping girl, but you got no response. Her heartbeat motioning began peeping so rapidly, that your own heartbeat began thumping in your ears, and it eventually blocked out Taraâs.
Your heartbeat echoed throughout your ears as it continued its rapid pace of 150 beats per minute. You had no idea why you were anxious, but then your surroundings suddenly changed. You were no longer in the monotone gray walls of a hospital, but you now found yourself in Taraâs kitchen. The smaller girl was no longer in her hospital gown; she now wore a pink long sleeve shirt and jeans, and you instantly knew where this was going.
You tried to scream, but no sound left your throat as you watched Tara answer that dreaded phone call. The pounding in your ears continued as you began to sweat and frantically tried to move, but your feet were glued to the floor; no matter how hard you tried to move, you simply could not compel your body to move. You watched as Tara fought against Ghostface, and just like every night, you watched as Ghostface plunged his knife deep into Taraâs stomach. Over and over again.
But unlike the real events that conspired, you couldnât save Tara. In this version, you watched as Tara bled out onto the floor, her crimson red blood staining the nicely wooded flooring. Her screams were the only thing that drowned out your heartbeat, and you begged it to stop.
âY/N! Y/N, help me!â Tara cried out in a broken voice as blood now began to seep from her mouth as she tried to crawl toward you, but Ghostface stopped her. In a single motion, he leaned down to Tara and pulled her up by her hair, and slit her throat. When he stood up, you were met with those haunting hollowed out eyes, and when you blinked, the mask was gone.
Jill Roberts stood before you with murderous eyes as she slowly started to advance toward you. You tried to walk backward, but your feet wouldnât move. Jill was not an arms length away, and you noticed the beautiful glint of light that reflected off the blood as she brought it down in a single motion.
Before the knife could sink into your chest, you were being shaken away. âY/N. Get up; youâre having a nightmare,â the rough voice of Sam Carpenter stated as she awoke you from your nightmare.
Your eyes instantly shot up as you leaned up from the couch, checking your surroundings. âOh, thank you,â you weakly replied as Sam let go of your shoulders and walked away from you, not giving you a response. Sam noticed the sweat that lined your forehead and caused some of your hair to stick to her face, but she didnât care. Why would she care about someone that ruined her life?
Technically, it wasnât your fault, but it was easier for Sam to blame you for what happened and she liked having it that way. It was her own fucked up way of keeping you at arms length while also always keeping an eye on you.
You checked your surroundings again and you were grateful that you were in your home and not that dreaded house that Tara used to live in. You had fallen asleep at some point on the couch and you left the TV running while your homework was spread out on the coffee table in front of you. You had gained a terrible habit of staying up until ungodly hours while trying to cram in information for your exams.
You groaned while standing up from the couch and you checked the time, 11:30 pm. If Sam was still here, that meant the rest of the girls were here as well, and you dreaded the thought of being around them. That was the worst part about living with Anika; you were constantly around the people that despised you. âPeopleâ as in just Sam, but you liked to make it plural for the dramatic effect.
With a sigh, you grudgingly left the living room and went into the backyard, where a fire was going with the group huddled around it while sitting on hay bales. âGood morning, Y/N,â Tara teased with a gentle smile while scooting over on her hay bale, inviting you to sit next to her. âYeah right,â you mumbled as you sat down next to the girl, ignoring the glance Sam threw at you, âWhat are you guys doing out here? Itâs starting to get cold.â
âWe were talking shit about you, but now we canât do that with you out here,â Mindy joked as she rested her head on Anikaâs shoulder. You and Mindy had a special âsituationshipâ going on for a while, but you two ended on good terms and occasionally picked on each other. âI hope it was good then,â you replied with a smile and Mindy nodded her head.
The conversation around the fire was an ideal one as you caught up with the group about any gossip you might have missed while you were asleep. Nothing sparked your interest too much, not until Tara mentioned Sam having a boyfriend.
âHeâs not my boyfriend,â Sam dryly stated as she stared down her younger sister, âWeâre just friends, thatâs all.â
âYou have been saying that for months, Sam! All you two do is check each other out but you never talk! You have to give this guy a chance!â Tara exclaimed and you felt an unwarranted feeling of jealousy shoot throughout your chest. âWhat guy are you guys talking about?â You asked, starting to get more involved with the current conversion.
âThis guy that has been after Samâs heart ever since we moved here,â Tara casually remarked as she grabbed a stick and poked around the fire; the little shit had a thing for a fire.
You could feel Samâs eyes burning into the side of your head as you racked Taraâs words around in your head. Sure, Sam was old enough to make decisions for herself, but the thought of her actually being with someone other than you makes you sick to your stomach. And just like the masochist you were, you had to ask Sam about it. âSo why donât you talk to him?â
Sam huffed, clearly annoyed by the fact that you, of all people, would ask her about her love life. âWhy? So you can go and tell Gale about it? No thanks,â she dryly stated with a roll of her eyes.
âHey, you little shit, that wasnât Y/N! Iâve told you that before,â Tara defended as she comfortably put a hand on your knee, âAnd even if she did, I support her wrongs.â
âTara, youâre not helping,â you whispered with a small, awkward laugh. A small groan left Samâs lips as she stood up from the fire, âIâm going inside,â she said while walking toward the door to the house.
Once she was inside, Tara broke the tension, âIâm sorry sheâs like that, Y/N. She doesnât want to accept the truth.â The comfort from Tara was nice, it actually made you feel like someone at least cared for you that had the last name of Carpenter.
âItâs okay, no need to apologize on her behalf. I get it,â you said with a weak smile as you hid your pain. It was a stupid feeling: pain. You owed San nothing, but you still couldnât help but feel a sense of guilt run through your body every time you saw the woman.
âSo, Y/N, whatâs it like fumbling an amazing woman like me?â Mindy playfully asked, her own way of trying to lighten the tense mood that had settled around the fire, âI need Anika to know how special I am.â
It was a shitty attempt, but it still put a smile on your face. âMindy once got in a revolving door,â you said with a laugh, âshe was in it for a solid 5 minutes.â
âBlasphemy!â Mindy shouted as she quickly stood up from her hay bale, âIt was a one minute and you didnât help at all! And you let Tara record it!â
âOh my god, I need to find that video,â Tara butted in as she pulled out her phone, quickly trying to find the video while Mindy tried to steal the phone from her.
It was small moments like these that you enjoyed with the group; moments were everyone was happy and they could forgot about their fucked up pasts. Those moments were rare, but you cherished them like they were your life support.
As time dragged on and the night got colder, everyone outside called it quits. Well, at least on being outside.
âHurry up, Gizmo, Iâm freezing,â Mindy joked as she walked behind Tara, almost stepping on the girlâs shoes. âDonât call me a gremlin,â the shorter girl shot back with a glare as she approached the back door to your house, âapologize and Iâll open it.â
âFuck you,â Mindy retorted as she made a move for the door, bud Tara was quick to react as she kicked one of Mindyâs shins.
âApologize.â
âNo.â
Several beats of silence pass by as you and Anika watch a stare down between the two friends before Mindy inevitably sighs with defeat. âAlright fine, Iâm sorry I called Gizmo. You arenât a gremlin, more like a fun sized Lord Farquaad,â Mindy said, trailing off toward the end of her sentence.
âHey, hey! Stop it!â You exclaimed, quickly catching Taraâs fist that was inches away from connecting Mindyâs face.
You were too busy trying to keep Tara from ripping into Mindy that you didnât notice Sam opening up the door until she spoke. âWhat the hell are you doing to my sister?â
The position you found yourself in was an uncomfortable one, to say the least. You were holding Tara from behind, with your arms holding the smaller girlâs ones back.
âMind your business, Sam,â Tara stated in a strained voice, trying to get hold out of your tight hold, âthis is between me and Mindy.â
Her sisterâs words didnât seem to phase Sam at all, as the older sister couldnât seem to take her eyes off of you. The way you had your hands on her sister made her blood boil. Deep down she knew that you would never hurt Tara, but that didnât stop the over growing feeling of protectiveness come through.
In a single motion, Sam stopped out of the house and gripped your bicep with her right left hand. When you looked down, you could see her veins in her hands as her grip tightened, and if you didnât know any better, you would say that was trying to flex as well.
âLet her go,â Sam demanded, leaving zero room for arguing. So, you shrugged your shoulders and let go, not caring to warn Sam about the can of whoopass her sister was about to unleash on Mindy.
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âShe was like a tiger! A short-legged one with asthma, but a Tiger!â Mindy cried into her phone, telling her brother about her vicious fight with Tara. Honestly, it was impressive how quickly Tara moved to latch onto Mindy, but even more impressive how surprisingly strong she was. The wounds that Mindy sustained werenât anything terrible; a small cut on her cheek and a busted lip, but nothing was hurt more than her ego.
âYou asked for it,â Anika commented, but then gave Mindy a quick kiss for the look she received. You chuckled at the small encounter as you excused yourself from Tara, who had a smug smile on her lips. She knew where you were going, and she didnât think about warning you that Sam was also there; it was like her own way of playing matchmakerâa shitty matchmaker, but still one nonetheless.
The kitchen was a weird place you found solace in; nothing was special about it. It was where you went when you needed a step back from reality. Another odd thing: Sam also found the same comfort in the kitchen. Maybe it was the quiet nature, or the dim lights that brought comfort, or even perhaps the shitty decorations that littered the walls, but whatever it was, there was a soft comfort.
âHey,â you said upon entering the kitchen. Sam was leaning against the countertop, arms crossed over her chest as her eyes refused to leave the floor. To anyone else, it would have gone unnoticed, but not with you, not with it involved Sam. You noticed her slightly heavy breathing and the barely visible sweat that glistened her forehead. And when her eyes finally left the floor, you could see nothing but black in her irises.
It took not even a second before Sam finally snapped out of whatever trance she had found herself in and returned to her usual self. Well, about as normal as Sam could be. She quickly wiped the sweat off her forehead and recrossed her arms as she looked at you. âWhat are you doing in here?â She all but demanded; her eyes seemed never to leave you as she stared you down.
The question was a weird one, as this was your home, but you just chalked it up to Sam's bizarre way of asking, âWhy are you here with me and not my sister?â
âHanging out in the kitchen; itâs where I belong,â you said with a smile, and to your surprise, you managed to pull a chuckle from the Latina. It was a quick laugh, but it sounded like angels were singing in your ears, and you would go through hell and back with nothing but the Hamilton soundtrack to keep you busy if it meant hearing that laugh again.
Sam smiled faintly as she spoke, âYeah, well, Iâve tried your spaghetti before; you donât belong anywhere near the kitchen. Iâm sure they would have sent you into the army and made your husband stay at home.â
âOkay, wow, that one hurt!â You exclaimed with a joking smile as you placed a hand over your heart, pretending to be hurt, âThat one dug deep, but bold of you to assume I would have a husband.â
âBold of you to assume I would care.â
A tense silence filled the air after Sam spoke, but it was a silence you were starting to grow comfortable with. And for the first time in her life, Sam felt terrible for what she said to you. She wanted to apologize for saying she didnât care about you, but she couldnât muster up the pride to admit she was wrong. So all she did was look at you sadly and hope you would pick up on it.
âYou know, I seriously thought we were having a moment,â you halfheartedly joked in an attempt to lighten the mood.
It took several seconds before Sam replied, just as you walked out of the kitchen, âYeahâŚI donât really think the whole âhusbandâ thing would work out for me either.â
This comment certainly caught you off guard. âWhy is that?â You asked while returning back to the kitchen, clearly interested in what Sam had to say, âNot much of a marriage person?â
Sam shuffled awkwardly on her feet as she uncrossed her arms, gripped the counter behind her, and looked down at the floor. âNo, itâs not the marriage part. Itâs the man part,â she admitted while slowly looking up at you with the most vulnerable eyes ever. The look she gave you said a thousand words: this was something not even Tara knew about.
Sure, the Carpenter sisters shared everything, but Sam wouldnât share this. Her attraction toward women was something that further ruined the bond between her and her mother, and she sure as hell wasnât going to let it ruin her relationship with her only family left. Of course, Sam knew about Taraâs relationship with women, especially once she found out about Tara and Amber, but she still couldnât help the feeling of being afraid to disappoint Tara.
But before you could comfort Sam, before you could tell her that her fears meant nothing and that Tara would still love her, you got interrupted. âSam! Y/N! Get your asses in here!â Mindy yelled from the living room, âWe want to watch this movie with you two!â
Sam quickly got rid of the vulnerability on her face when she heard Mindyâs voice, not wanting to show that kind of weakness to anyone.
âSam-â you started, but the woman quickly brushed past you, subtly wiping a tear from her eye as she walked into the living room.
Following behind her, you entered the living room and sat at the only open spot on the couch, which was conveniently next to Tara, who had Sam on her other side. âThank god, I was starting to think you two were fucking in there or something,â Mindy remarked as she grabbed the tv remote, âLet me introduce you guys to the scariest movie on the planet: The Cat in The Hat Live Action!â
The rest of the night was filled with laughter and playful teasing as the hours slowly seeped into the early morning hours. The small banter between Mindy and Tara kept things interesting; Mindy compared Tara to the Things, as Anika tried to keep it peaceful. The stolen glances you shared with Sam had their conversations, and when you went to bed that night, you would consider this night a step in the right direction at changing your relationship with Sam.
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One thing Sam hated about working a 9-5 was how inconsiderate most of society can be. It was already a busy day at the cafe, more alive than average, and her nerves were already shot for the next and a half. From people complaining about not getting orders in a short time to people demanding to have their drinks remade, it was a rough day for the older Carpenter.
She had half a mind to tell the next person who complained about their coffee not being proper that it was just coffee; if they wanted it right, they should buy a Keurig and make it themselves. Although that would be funny, it would also end in Sam getting fired, so she just bit her tongue and continued working.
As if her day couldnât get any worse, you always had a habit of catching Sam at her worst. âAre you stalking me now?â Sam questioned once she saw you approach the front counter.
âOh yeah. You know me, I canât get enough of the Carpenter girls,â you said with a smirk as you quickly checked San up and down, frowning when you saw a faded coffee stain on her apron. It wasnât hard to notice the looks Sam got in public, so you could imagine how customers would treat her. If the universe would allow it, you would put Sam in your back pocket and protect her from the rest of the world; God knows that the woman deserves some peace in her life for once.
âFor whatever reason, Tara canât seem to leave you alone,â Sam mumbled as she pulled out a pen and notepad, âWhat can I get you?â
âJust a small cappuccino, please,â you replied as Sam wrote down your order and took your payment. She liked writing things down, which helped her remember the important stuff. And maybe, in the distant future, she might want to buy you a coffee sometime.
Once you ordered, you went and sat down at a booth by yourself and took in the place: it had indeed calmed down from earlier; only a couple of people remained from the rush hour. You enjoyed the calmness, as it gave you time to observe people. Not in a weird or stalkerish way, but in a way to think about other peopleâs lives, how these werenât just random people who had no life. These were people who had dreams, who had family and friends; you enjoyed watching the way the world works around you.
You watched as a man wore stress lines on his forehead as he eagerly typed away on his laptop, mouthing every word he typed. How sweat lined his hairline, you could have had a deadline for work that he pushed off until the last minute. You then turned your attention to the girl at the opposite end of the cafe, a book in hand as she wore black headphones over her ears, entranced into the world of fantasy without a care in the world while sporting a soft smile. The world amazed you in ways like that: two completely different people who somehow ended up at the same place at the same time, with different things going on in their lives. Maybe it was fate that brought these two strangers together, and you smiled when you saw them bump into each other before leaving, both wearing a smile and talking about the book she was reading. Maybe thatâs what you wished had happened between you and Sam: an accidental meeting somewhere where a good relationship was possible and not this borderline hostile friendship.
A couple of minutes passed before Sam brought over your drink to you. âHow late are you working?â You asked once she handed you your drink. The questioning look she gave you was a funny one, but not that it mattered.
âIâm here till 5. Why?â
âDamn, you got a 9 to 5? It looks like Iâll take the night shift,â you joked, but Sam didnât laugh, only giving you a questioning glare, âLucy Dacus? No? Youâre boring.â
âIâm sorry, Iâm not obsessed with three grown women who refer to themselves as âboys,ââ Sam remarked. She had no desire to learn anything about Boygenius, especially after listening to her sister talk for an hour about all of the unholy things she would let Julien Baker do to her. If Sam was being honest, half of the stuff Tara said deserved at least a ten-year prison sentence.
âBut you know who they are,â you said teasingly as you stood up from the booth, âDonât worry, Sam. Youâll soon grow to appreciate Boygenius. Iâll have Tara fix that.â
âMhmmm, Iâm sure about that,â she mumbled as she returned to the counter, bidding you farewell with a slight nod, not caring to return your toothy smile or wave.
If Sam drove home after her long shift listening to Julien Baker, that was no oneâs business but hers.
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When Sam got home, she only wanted a nice, hot shower and go to bed. She didnât even bother to eat dinner, as she didnât have the energy or care to do so. As she opened the door to her apartment, which seemed heavier than usual, she kicked off her shoes with a sigh as she made her way into her bedroom, utterly oblivious to the voices in the living room.
âWhatâs wrong with her?â You asked Tara once the taller Carpenter had shut her bedroom door. âI donât know; probably work stuff. Do you have five of spade?â Tara asked, more intrigued with the game she was playing than her sister.
âNo, go fish,â you replied while looking at Samâs door; something was telling you to go check on the girl to make sure she was alright, but you didnât want to overstep any boundaries.
âOhhhh my god, you hate me,â the younger Carpenter dramatically stated, dragging out the words as she threw herself backward onto the couch.
âIf I hated you, I wouldnât have done your entire English paper, would I?â You questioned while shooting a glance at the pouting girl, but when your comment earned you a middle finger, you placed your cards down as you stood up from the couch, âI'll be right back.â
Tara scoffed at you as she leaned up on her elbows. âHave you learned nothing from the Meeks family? I hope you donât come back,â she mouthed off as she started looking at your cards, âyou fucking asshole! You did have that card!â
âI never said I didnât,â you replied with a smirk as you walked toward Samâs door, ducking out of the way of a flying shoe courtesy of your best friend Tara.
A soft rasping of knuckles pulled Sam away from her almost meltdown. She had felt a constant pressure on her all day, and it started to lift briefly, but it suddenly came back by the end of her shift. Sam was used to the constant pressure and needed to be the best version of herself now that she was providing for her sister, but it all started to get too much for her.
âSam, you okay?â Great, not only did she have this overwhelming feeling about to take over, but she was also about to have a high speed come apart in front of the person she didnât want to see her weak.
âIâm good, Y/N. Go back to Tara,â she called out as she backed herself against a wall, slowly sliding down to sit on the floor.
âAre you sure? You didnât seem too happy when you got home,â you replied, hoping to get somewhere with the older woman. âIâm fine. Please, leave me alone,â Sam pleaded, but the way her voice broke off toward the end of her sentence told you that she didnât need to be left alone right now.
Several seconds passed, the sound of Samâs bedroom clock ticking away, slowly counting down the seconds until Sam couldnât bear the deafening silence. She felt like she had somehow found herself in her version of âThe Tell-Tale Heart,â at any moment, she would succumb to the voices that were guilting her. For what guilt, she did not know; guilty of her origins, guilty of neglecting her baby sister for five years, guilty of torturing her body for years on end, putting any substance into her body to help calm her mind? Sam didnât know what was causing this constant guilt that followed her anxiety and pressure, but she would do anything to make it stop. And she did make it stop.
âFuck it,â she mumbled as she pushed herself up from the floor and walked to her door, grabbing the handle but making no motion to open the door. If she opened that door, it would be an invitation to open herself up to you; she only opened up to one person in her life, and look what he did to her. This constant fear of having to look over her shoulder, as if the shadows were going to transform into physical beings and take her life, or even worse, take Taraâs life. Sam wears scars, both physical and mental, from him, and she would lay down her own life if it meant protecting her sister. But when she looked at you, with your innocent eyes that beamed when you looked at her, Sam knew you could never hurt anyone. But Sam was never one to make accurate judgments.
The creaking sound of Sam opening up her door pulled you from your thoughts. Thoughts that werenât any special; who you would have in your ideal Hunger Games lineup. You knew for a fact that the president would be Cersei Lannister and the game maker would be Jigsaw. However, you still have yet to determine who the twenty-four tributes would be: the only tributes you had so far were Santa Barbara Ellie, Pioneer Kim Kardashian, Regina George, and Chanel Oberlin. It's not the best list, but it's a solid start.
âHey,â you said quietly, eyes darting over Samâs bloodshot eyes with dark bags underneath. Even at her worst, she always somehow managed to captivate you like she was a siren, slowly bringing you into your inevitable demise. Still, you could never seem to pull yourself away from the beauty that was Sam Carpenter.
Sam scoffed at your weak greeting while ignoring the feeling of her stomach turning at how you looked at her. She knew she looked like a hot mess, and she believed it was your way of silently making fun of her. But the way your lips were slightly parted and your eyes seemed a bit too dilated, refused to leave her own, told her that you werenât judging or making fun of her. No, you were admiring her, which sent a slight shock of guilt throughout her; Guilt, that was Samantha Carpenterâs best friend.
Samâs eyes drifted down to the floor, as she couldnât handle the feeling of your eyes burning into her skull. âWhoâs shoe is that?â She asked, motioning down to the floor, where Taraâs shoe landed.
âWell, if you look closely, you can see that itâs a size three for babies,â you remarked teasingly.
âKill yourself!â Tara shouted from the living room, not caring enough to storm out into the hallway and show you how vicious she can be.
âCharming, isnât she?â You stated as Sam looked back up and made eye contact with you. Her face told you that she didnât want to talk, but her eyes were silently begging you to stay. It was a dilemma that you stumbled upon, but you were always someone who loved conflicts. âIs everything alright?â
Sam sighed as she leaned against her doorframe, crossing her arms over her chest. âIs that what you wanted? To ask me if things are okay?â
âUm, yes and no?â You trailed off, not wanting to make things more awkward than they were, âHold on.â You quickly moved from Samâs door into the living room, and Sam ignored the hushed threats being spoken; her sister was an angel, after all.
âHere ya go,â you said with an embarrassingly large smile once you returned to Samâs door. In your hand, you held a small brown lunch bag. Sam had to fight off any instincts to punch you in the throat.
âI donât like gifts,â she said instead of resorting to violence. Truth be told, Sam loved gifts; she just hated receiving them, as it made her feel like she was in someoneâs debt.
âWell, good thing itâs not a gift,â you replied, smiling, pushing the gift bag toward Sam, who gave you a questioning look before accepting it. The bag itself was featherlight, almost as if nothing was in there. Sam gave you one last questioning look before opening the bag and looking inside.
In the bag were several containers, all hosting different kinds of cookies and brownies, and to Samâs surprise, they were all her favorites. There was something much more prominent at the bottom, but she couldnât tell what it was as the rest of the cookies sat atop. Sam gave you a small smile as she walked over to her chest of drawers and began taking out the items, ignoring how you were now peering into her room as you leaned against the door frame.
âThank you, Y/N,â Sam genuinely said in a weak, almost fragile voice as she slowly got to the bottom of the bag, âI appreciate this. it has been-â The rest of her words died on the tip of her tongue as she stared into the bag, as silence filled the room. Those silent seconds dragged on into a quiet minute, neither of you saying anything. You knew it might have been too bold or maybe even wrong, but you wanted to let Sam know that you were proud of her.
âGoodnight, Sam,â you quietly whispered, gaining Samâs attention. Your heart broke once her eyes met yours, tears glossing in her doe eyes as her lip quivered. She gave you a slight nod of recognition before turning her attention back to the bag as a single tear ran down her cheek, grateful that you had already left by the time it broke from her eye.
With a dry chuckle, Sam reached into the bag, pulled out a 10-inch cookie, and sat it down on her chest of drawers. She stared at it for several moments before her lips pulled into a smile as a new feeling shot throughout her heart, one that she hadnât felt in a long time: hope. But that feeling of hope wasnât for her; no, it was a hopeful feeling about you.
Sam smiled down at the cookie one last time before she went into the kitchen and grabbed a knife and plate, thankful that Tara had gone off to her room so she could enjoy her treat by herself.
Once she returned to her room, she pulled the lid off the container and cut a small piece out of the cookie. Making sure not to ruin the words that said, âHappy three years of sobriety.â
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The minutes seemed endless as you stared up at the ceiling of your bedroom. You didnât know why you were waiting, but you just were. Your mind was telling you to get up, to do something productive, but your heart and soul were seemingly forcing you to stay put, like something important was going to happen anytime, and if you were just a fraction of a second too late, you would miss it.
It was a stupid feeling, but you couldnât compel yourself to move; it was as if your mind was in a trance, stuck in some faraway land, and you could do nothing to pull yourself back into your body. You were on the verge of losing your mind when you knew exactly what you were waiting for, and when you finally accepted why, it happened.
Your phone dinged on your nightstand, and you immediately smiled; you didnât have to look at it to know who it was. In a swift motion, you quickly got up from your bed and grabbed your phone as you read the text message. It wasnât a long one, or even a special one, to be honest, but the smile on your face was almost comical, and your heart soared. The text read, âI donât know how you found out about the date, nor do I even want to. But thank you, Y/N, I needed that today.â
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âI will never understand the hype for âHamilton,ââ Mindy stated with a look of distaste as she flopped down onto the Carpenterâs couch. It wasnât movie night but more of a girlâs night. Since it was Taraâs idea to have a girlâs night, she got to pick the movie. But it wasnât for her, no, it was for Sam.
The older Carpenter sister would never admit to liking such things, but she did have a soft spot for musicals. She didnât know where this love for them came from, but ever since she was young, she had loved the idea of singing.
Before Sam had discovered her motherâs journal, which had ultimately led to the destruction of her family, she used to sing in her churchâs choir. It was the first thing her mother didnât force her into doing, and she loved singing in front of people; it made her feel like nothing in the world could touch her.
Singing was the only thing Christina Carpenter told Sam she was good at and the last thing she ever took away from Sam.
Once Mr. Carpenter left, Christina stopped taking the kids to church, which caused Sam to be pulled from the choir. It still didnât stop Sam; she saved up enough money to buy a guitar and write songs while practicing the guitar in her room. When Sam started to dabble around in drugs and alcohol, she slowly started to lose herself. She lost who she really was, but she never lost her voice.
Only when it was the day of Samâs 18th birthday did Christina finally ruin the last good thing Sam liked about herself, âYour real father had the voice of an angel.â
Sam left that night, and she hadnât sung since.
But now, five years later, Sam still loves everything to do with music. She was glad that Tara had taken one for the team and turned on Hamilton because Mindy would never let Sam hear the end of it.
ââHamiltonâ is okay, but not Lin-Manuel Mirandaâs best work,â you stated as you stood in the kitchen, making a bag of popcorn for yourself. Sam was also in the kitchen with you, which has become a common meeting place. She was making herself a sandwich as she quietly listened to the banter between you and Mindy.
âI donât believe you. What is his best work?â Tara challenged as she shifted on the couch, throwing an arm over the side as she looked into the kitchen to glare at you.
âHis best work is easily âIn the Heights,ââ you declared with too much emphasis on the movie title.
âNo!â Tara yelled, âYou only say that because the lead actress looks like Sam, and you said she was hot!â
âI did not say that!â You lied as heat rushed up your neck and flooded your cheeks. It wasnât embarrassing because Tara called you out; you were embarrassed because you were in the kitchen with Sam. It didnât help that you could hear Sam snickering as you were defending yourself.
âYes, you did. Do you want me to pull up the screenshots from the long chain of text messages you sent me?â Tara asked, even though it wasnât a question, as she pulled out her phone. âExample one: âOh my god, Tara. Iâm watching this movie, and this woman looks just like Sam.ââ
You quickly threw your bag of popcorn down onto the counter as you sprinted into the living room. You simply couldnât live with the idea that Sam knows just how you yearned for her.
âExample two: âThis is Sam, just in another universe.â Example three, in all caps: âOh my god, Tara! I am not joking when I say that-ââ You quickly snatched the phone from the younger Carpenter sister before she could say possibly the horniest text message you had ever sent.
âYou are no fun,â Tara whined as you deleted the messages from her phone. âYouâre evil,â you retorted before handing Tara back her phone, who was quick to grab it. You walked back into the kitchen to grab your popcorn and became embarrassed when you saw Sam.
She was wearing one of her light-colored long-sleeve muscle shirts again with a pair of gray sweatpants. In simple words, she looked amazing. Usually, when Sam wore some variation of the muscle shirt combo, you could act ânormal.â But now that Tara had practically outed your attraction to Sam, you just wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
Thankfully, she just gave you a small smile as she watched you grab your bag before heading back into the living room, no doubt about to be the subject of constant teasing from Tara and Mindy.
âSo,â Mindy started once you sat down on the couch next to her, âAre we going to talk about those thirst messages-â âStart the damn movie, Tara.â
By the time the movie started, Sam had entered the living room, but not without earning a cat call whistle from Mindy, no doubt a jab at you. She opted to sit by herself in the loveseat as she kicked her feet up on the opposite end. She sent you a smile when no one was looking, and you could have sworn both hearts started beating as one.
Throughout the movie, you had to deal with Tara rapping and Mindy ranting about the musical, but overall, it was a fun night. Sam was slowly starting to warm up to the idea of having you around more often, and you slowly felt yourself catching feelings for her.
Of course, there was this natural attraction to Sam, she was simply beautiful, but her protective personality mixed with her stand-off, almost bitchy, personality was merely perfect. But with her bitchiness, she was the sweetest, most caring person you had ever met. Her laugh was so angelic, and the way her eyes crinkled when she did laugh was so heartwarming. Sam Carpenter was perfect in your eyes.
To say that this attraction was one-sided wouldnât be fair. After you had dropped off her cookie, Sam started to act differently around you. She would smile more, and only at you most of the time. It seemed like she had begun to reserve that confident smile just for you. She started to see you more as an individual with feelings and plans for the future rather than a simple 2-dimensional person who was only in her life to make it hell. Sam had actually started to care for you even though she still tried her best to despise you.
So when the movie finished and Mindy went home, you grabbed your coat to follow suit soon.
âThank you for coming, Y/N,â Tara said as she hugged you while you were standing next to the front door, âYou know I love you, right?â
You quickly reciprocated the hug, pulling the girl into a warm, soft embrace. âI know you do, and I also love you too. Even though you can be a shit sometimes.â
âYeah, but you love it!â She happily exclaimed while pulling back from the hug to pinch your left cheek, âDrive safe, okay?â
âI will, Ms. Carpenter, I will,â you replied, smiling as you opened the door, and Tara disappeared into her room. You had gone halfway out of the door when someone spoke.
âYouâre just going to leave without saying goodbye?â You didnât need to turn around to know who it was; you could pick that soft voice from anywhere. Granted, she was the only one left in the apartment, but you still have yourself the credit for knowing it was her.
âI didnât think you would want to say goodbye,â you replied as you entered the apartment and shut the door, âI didnât want to overstep any boundaries with you.â
That was the thing about you: you were so damn respectful. Sometimes, Sam wanted to slam you against a wall to beat the hell out of you. Other times, she wanted to slam you against a wall with her tongue down your throat. Sam had a weird way of showing her attraction to you.
âYou didnât think you were overstepping boundaries when you brought me that cookie?â Sam questioned with a faint smile on her lips. She would never tell you this, but she loved teasing you, as it was the only way she could see the more embarrassed side of you.
âI figured I was, but I thought the gesture of it would be nice enough,â you replied in a weak voice as you rubbed the back of your neck with your hand and shuffled from one foot to the other. âIâm sorry if it was rude of me to do that without asking first. I just wanted it to be a surprise.â
The older woman laughed a bit as she walked closer to you and opened the door, ���At least let me walk you out,â she offered. You gave her a smile with a nod as you followed her out of the apartment, making sure to close the door behind you.
âSo, what do you think of musicals?â You asked as you walked down the stairs with her. âWhy? You wanna ask me out on a date?â Sam joked with the slightest hint of flirtation in her voice, and you almost felt your knees give out.
âHa, you wish,â you replied as you matched her tone of voice, which earned you a playful smirk to get sent your way. If you figured your one way to win Samâs trust was to flirt with her occasionally, you would go out giving it your all.
You two reached the floor level of the apartment building, and you held the door open for Sam as you walked outside. âBut seriously, though, what do you think of them?â You asked as Sam followed you to your car.
âI enjoy them well enough. Why?â Sam responded as she eyed you suspiciously.
âBecause the âAladdinâ musical is going to be here soon,â you stated before you continued with your proposal, âAnd I was wondering if you would want to go with me?â
The offer was a genuine one from you; you wanted to spend more quality time with Sam, but you also have been dying to see the musical. It was a win-win situation all around.
âY/n,â Sam started with a beaming smile that matched her chocolate eyes, âI would love to go with you. When and how much do I owe you?â
You quickly picked up Samâs hand and held it between yours, âYou donât owe me anything. Consider it payment for letting me terrorize your sister.â
Sam glanced down at your hands before looking back up at you. Her beautiful eyes held so much darkness in them that they couldnât help but draw you in. When you looked into Samâs eyes at just the right moments, you didnât see the gorgeous woman; no, you would see her father. And it made you yearn for her even more. Sam had never experienced actual love, but when you looked into her eyes, it made you wonder why thieves bothered to steal pieces of art; you knew you were in love with her.
In a swift moment, before Sam had time to think about her actions, she leaned in. She had meant to kiss your cheek, but in a sudden and indescribable moment, Sam slightly turned her head to kiss the corner of your lips, millimeters away from your lips.
âThank you, Y/N,â she whispered with a small smile as she said goodbye. You were too busy hoping she left a lipstick mark to respond.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The seconds seemed to drag on endlessly as you tapped your foot against the floor. Your stomach was wrapped up in knots you could barely remember to breathe; the only thing you could think about was the constant nervousness that was rattling you to your core. You were early, half an hour earlier, to be exact, but you would rather be early and have to wait rather than be late.
You were sitting on the bottom stairs of Samâs apartment building, impatiently waiting until it would be an acceptable time to go to the Carpenterâs apartment. It was the night of the musical, and you were wearing a simple yet elegant suit as you pulled at the collar of your shirt as if it was slightly choking you.
âNervousâ wasnât the correct word to describe your feelings. Petrified would be a better word for it. You were terrified that you would somehow mess up this night, had somehow overdone it, or that Sam wouldnât have fun. Self-doubt was your greatest friend, after all.
You picked up the bouquet of roses from beside you and stared at them. âMaybe it's too much,â you thought out loud as you turned them over in your hand. Neither of you had explicitly said it was a date, but the way Sam kissed your cheek was something you would never forget. Even though you wanted to consider an actual kiss, since it was so close to your lips, you couldnât bring yourself to do it. Samatha Carpenter is a strong woman who takes what she wants in this world, and if she wanted to kiss your lips, she would have done so.
Your phone vibrated with a text message, pulling you away from self-doubt. It was from Sam, telling you that you can come up whenever you would like.
Like an idiot, you wanted to run up the stairs as fast as you could to get to Sam quicker, but you forced yourself to play it cool, to not look like a loser. So, ever so slowly, you began your journey up the six flights of stairs.
Within a few minutes, you were standing outside Samâs door. You had arrived quicker than you wanted, but the excitement was too much. Then, your mind slowly started to get the better of you as you stared down at your fancy dress-up shoes. You hoped you werenât overdressed, but if you were, you could easily change into the clothes you kept in Taraâs room. But then what if you were underdressed? How would you fix that? You wouldnât have enough time to go home and change into something more congenial, and you certainly werenât going to make Sam change. What if Sam wasnât even dressing up at all? What if this was just a friendly outing, and you completely fucked it up? What if-
Before you dive further into the scenarios that could play out, the door opened, and all of the air within your lungs left.
âWhat the fuck are wearing?â You asked with slight irritation in your voice, bewilderment written all over your face.
âWhat? You donât like it?â Tara questioned as she spun around in a circle for you. The younger Carpenter sister was wearing a yellow shirt with a pineapple that had on a thong; underneath the fruit was the word âslut.â She was wearing a pair of gray sweatpants, and when she turned around for you, you saw âbaby girlâ embroidered on the butt.
âClearly Itâs referring to the pineapple, not you,â you said with a smile before it fully registered what was on the girlâs pants, âHey, turn back around!â Tara did as you demanded, âIf I would have known you were wanting to check on my ass, I would have done some squats first,â she teased with a smirk.
When you reread the word âbaby girl,â you scoffed at the more petite girl, âWhy are you wearing those?â
âBecause it's funny! Itâs called having a sense of humor!â Tara shot back before an evil smirk appeared, âWhy? Do you want me to take them off? I donât think Sam would like that too much; she gets territorial over you.â
The comment certainly surprised you, and Tara quickly noticed her mistake. âI didnât mean that,â she tried to explain, but it was too late.
âWhat do you mean she âgets territorialâ over me?â You questioned, completely forgetting about why you were talking to Tara in the first place as the thought of Sam ran rapidly throughout your mind.
âI donât know what youâre talking about,â Tara replied with a nervous laugh as her eyes darted around the room. She wasnât supposed to tell anyone this, and Sam made her swear not to tell anyone. Now, she has broken that promise to the one person who wasnât supposed to know.
Now, it was a simple mistake that led to Tara finding out about the flirtatious relationship between you and Sam. It was the night Sam kissed your cheek; Tara saw that bright smile on Samâs lips and how her eyes held so much admiration. She had never seen that look on her sisterâs face, and she knew something had happened.
So, like any good sister, she interrogated and terrorized Sam until she finally caved.
Sam only told Tara the bare minimum; you two were going out later in the week to watch a musical together and that you had gotten her a gift a week ago. She didnât plan on telling Tara that the gift in question was her sobriety treat basket, but when Tara went to grab a water bottle from Samâs mini fridge, she saw a small box of brownies with your handwriting on a sticky note. âI believe in you :)â was written on it, so Tara asked Sam about it.
Sam told her sister about the gift, but Tara didnât seem bothered by it. âOh, yeah. I figured something fruity was going on between you and the biggest homo of the century. But why the fuck did you keep this from me?!â Tara shouted, moving the box around in the air.
âI didnât think you would want any,â Sam defended with a weak sigh, but she knew it wouldnât help.
âI would give a strip show to the old peopleâs home just for a brownie from this place, and you didnât think I would want any?â She questioned in a slightly more demanding voice before huffing and leaving Samâs room with the box in hand.
But now, in the current moment, Tara wished she hadnât opened Samâs fridge. That annoyingly hopeful smile on your lips drove her insane, not to mention that lovesick look in your eye.
âStop it, youâre freaking me out,â Tara stated as she made a disgusted face at you. âNo. Tell me why you said that,â you pressed on, hoping to get an answer from the younger sister.
âY/N, what are you hounding her about?â A soft, angelic voice questioned, and your attention immediately shot to Sam. She was wearing a black dress that clutched her curves and somehow made her look even more beautiful if that was even possible. The dress had a plunging neckline, and you had to force your eyes away from her cleavage, earning you a smile of approval from Sam, but an elbow followed by a look of distaste from Tara.
âYou look amazing,â you stated breathlessly as your eyes wandered down Samâs body, admiring the leg slit that showed off her left leg. You prayed for nights when that leg would be wrapped around your head.
âThank you. You look not so bad either,â Sam replied with a soft smile as she picked up her black clutch bag and walked toward you.
âHave fun on your date,â Tara sneered as she entered her room. Truth be told, she couldnât have been happier for her sister, but she would rather die than let you know that.
âYeah, yeah,â you mumbled under your breath as your eyes followed Tara before they shot back to the goddess before you. âAre you ready?â You asked, and she gave a curt nod before walking to the door. When you got to the car, you opened the passenger door for Sam, and she thanked you with a soft smile that made your heart explode and your knees weak.
The car ride to the theater was a peaceful one filled with pleasant conversation as you asked Sam about her day and her about yours. Sometimes, you would catch her looking over her shoulder with those soft doe eyes, and you had to fight off any urges to kiss her soft lips.
âHere we are,â you stated as you pulled into the back parking lot of the theater. As you parked the car, Sam observed people leaving their cars, dressed in all kinds of formal clothing, as they made their way into the theater. It took several seconds for it to click in her mind; this was a date.
Of course, she had assumed it might be considered one whenever you asked her, but as she watched the couples get out of their cars and link hands while they all wore fancy clothing, she knew that this was a date. Sam also knew that if she asked you if this was officially a date, she knew that you would deny it. So when you both stepped out of the car and started walking toward the entrance together, she reached out to interlace your fingers with hers.
It was a simple gesture, but the warmth of her hand in yours was enough to warm your cheeks and set your heart afire. You looked at her, only to find that Sam had already been staring at you.
âWhat?â You asked with a slight smile and a hint of nervousness in your voice. Sam bumped her shoulder into yours, âNothing, it's just you look beautiful tonight.â
As if your face couldnât get any redder, you laughed nervously as you looked down at the ground. The compliment threw you off, but you still accepted it nonetheless. âThank you. And you look beautiful as well, Sam,â you stated.
âI know; you said that earlier,â she teased as she squeezed your hand, âCome on,â she continued as you two walked into the building.
You held open the door for her as you two entered, and then she patiently waited while you got the tickets.
âMy lady,â you said as you returned to Sam, sticking out your elbow. âYou are such a dork,â she replied, smiling as she locked her elbow around yours and followed your lead. Sam kept quiet as you led her past row after row, but her surprise never stopped until you led her to the third row up front. âCome on,â you stated as you led her down the row toward the middle, âthese are our seats.â
âY/N. How much did these cost?â Sam questioned as she hesitatingly sat down next to you. âDonât worry about the price. Money doesnât mean anything when it comes to memories,â you eagerly replied, which was the truth. You didnât care about the ticket price; the only thing you cared about was making Sam happy. Sam was someone who found happiness hard to come by, so you devoted your time to try and make her life better, even if that meant putting a massive dent in your credit score.
âI will stab you in the neck with a knife if you donât tell me how much you spent on these seats,â Sam demanded with a soulless look in her eyes. It was meant to be threatening, maybe it was, but the only thing you could feel toward those dark eyes was a sense of attraction.
âShhh, it's getting ready to start,â you silenced her, and soon enough, the lights began to dim as the crowd quickly stopped their chatter and turned their focus to the stage. Sam scoffed at you and turned her attention away from you. She wanted to be angry with you for not telling her how much you spent, but she knew that doing that would only ruin this night, which was something she knew you had been looking forward to for longer than you had been leading on.
So, when the curtains opened, she quickly glanced at you. She noticed how your eyes seemed entirely dedicated to the actors on stage and how your lips were curved up in the slightest of a smile. Sam thought you looked the most beautiful woman in the entire world.
Sam moved her hand from her lap to place it in your lap. She turned her hand so that her palm was facing up, and you didnât have to ask what she wanted; you interlaced your fingers with hers and pulled them further into your lap.
If Sam noticed the way your hands started to sweat, she didnât say anything. She was too busy focusing on how your thumb was featherlight stroking her hand to concentrate on anything. No one had ever touched her with such softness; she wanted to cry.
When the play finished, and you took her back to her apartment, she couldnât help but give you a goodnight kiss as a thank you.
Maybe one day you could bask in the sweet taste of her lips on yours. But for now, you would live with her lipstick stain on your cheek, and you would wear it with honor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Things had changed between the two of you. They were highly subtle at first: Samâs eyes looking for you in a crowded room, her fingertips lingering on your hand whenever she handed you your coffee, and she even gave you another rare kiss on the cheek when you brought a very drunk Tara home late one night. Then things started to pick up; she would text you and ask you to pick something up for her and Tara, and when you would drop them off, Sam would ask you to stay for a while. She would always say Tara asked you to stay, but you knew better, even though you never questioned her.
It was one of those nights at the Carpenterâs apartment, movie night with just the three of you. Of course, typical movie nights with the core four plus Anika and you were on Fridays, but the sisters liked having you over just by yourself, as you werenât nearly as much trouble as the twins. Tara wanted to refer to you as a plant; check in occasionally to make sure you werenât dead and give you some stuff to keep you from dying.
âTara, I am not watching âThe Babadook,ââ you stated as you sat on the couch alone. Tara was doing her dad's stance while flipping through movies to watch while Sam was in the kitchen making popcorn.
âWho?â She asked, not even caring to look back at you. âWhat-â you started to say before the shorter Carpenter cut you off, âAsked?â
âWhy do I even hang out with you? All you do is insult me,â you joked as Tara moved to sit beside you. Well, on you. She threw an arm around your shoulder as she got comfortable on your lap. âBecause you love me, obviously,â she remarked, still looking for the perfect movie.
Sam knew it was spiritual love, but she couldnât help the feeling of jealousy grow throughout her chest. Especially over her sister! With a slight shake, Sam tried to fight off that feeling as she grabbed the popcorn bags, along with some bowls, and made her way into the living room.
âJust two bags?â Tara questioned once Sam entered the living room. âYeah, I figured you and Y/n would share. Why; is there a problem?â The older sister questioned with a raised eyebrow as she set the bowls on the coffee table.
âNo, it's fine. But I am getting an entire bag for myself,â Tara stated as she left your lap to grab a bag from Sam before moving to the opposite end of the couch. âLooks like you two will have to share,â she added with a sly smile.
You shared a look with Sam, who had slight irritation on her face. She handed you the bag as she spoke, âIâll go make more.â When Sam moved to head into the kitchen, you quickly grabbed her wrist, stopping her from getting further.
âNo, Iâm alright with sharing. Only if you are, though,â you said quietly, ignoring the snickering coming from the end of the couch. Sam gave you a small smile as she nodded, sitting beside you on the sofa.
A small laugh left your lips as you looked at Samâs outfit. âWhat?â She questioned.
âWe are matching,â you responded with a smile as you looked up at Sam, who was already looking at you before she looked at your outfit. It was true; both of you were accidentally wearing practically the same outfit: blue plaid pajama pants with solid black shirts.
âYeah, I guess we are,â Sam said with a smile as her eyes met yours. It was a small moment between the two of you, but it was quickly ruined when the sound of gagging pulled you two from it.
âPlease, no homosexual activities in front of my popcorn. I donât want it forced down my throat,â Tara complained as if she wasnât someone who also suffered from those homosexual tendencies as well.
Sam cleared her throat as she grabbed one of the bowls and opened the bag of popcorn, pulling all of it into the bowl. âWhat movie did you pick?â You asked as you kicked your feet onto the coffee table, earning yourself a slight glare from Sam. She wouldnât classify herself as a neat freak, but she hated it when people put their feet on furniture not used for sitting.
ââIt puts the lotion on its skin, or it gets the hose again,ââ Tara quoted while throwing a piece of popcorn into the air and catching it with her mouth.
âI love that movie so much,â you commented while grabbing a blanket from the back of the couch, covering up your legs as you got comfortable.
âWhat movie?â Sam questioned as Tara hit play. ââThe Silence of the Lambs.â It's one of my favorite movies,â you replied with a smile, leaning over to give Tara a quick fist bump for the choice.
âIs this the one with Jodie Foster?â
âYep,â you and Tara replied simultaneously, earning a small groan from Sam, but she didnât protest.
Once the movie began, Sam pulled at your blanket and placed some over her lap. You thought nothing of it until you felt Samâs thigh brush against yours. You guessed it was an accident, but she didnât move her leg; you relaxed your body and pushed your thigh against hers. You felt your chest flutter at the slight smile on Samâs face at the contact.
As the movie progressed, the distance between you and Sam slowly became nonexistent. Your shoulders were now touching each other as you shared one blanket. In a moment of braveness, with a little bit of stupidity, you moved your hand underneath the blanket, which was where Sam had been keeping her own. Slowly, your hand inched toward Samâs, hoping to reach the desired location without Sam pulling her hand away.
When your hand gently grazed Samâs, the Latina made no effort to pull away, so you took it as a sign to continue. You linked your pinkie with hers and waited. I waited for her to finally realize what you were doing and pull away or glare at you and then ridicule you for such actions. So when Sam did pull her pinkie out of the lock with yours, you tried not to show your disappointment on your face.
But before you could get too comfortable with your sadness, Sam interlaced her fingers with yours, giving your hand a gentle yet firm squeeze. It was a small gesture. Some people might even call it friendly, but how your heartbeat quickened at the contact was embarrassing. You only hoped that your fast heart rate and nervousness would cause your palms to sweat. If they did sweat, though, Sam didnât say anything about it, which you were grateful for.
As the end credits rolled, you let go of Samâs hand, much to the older womanâs disappointment. You helped Sam clean up the mess made during the movie while you two let Tara sleep peacefully on the couch.
âI can clean those,â you said while walking into the kitchen. Sam was at the sink washing the bowl that you two had used.
âNo, itâs okay. I got it,â she replied as she looked over her shoulder at you. âThank you for staying tonight. I know Tara can be a little shit sometimes.â
You laughed at Samâs words as you walked over to her, leaning against the counter. âItâs no problem; I love hanging out with you guys,â you genuinely replied, smiling, âThank you for letting me stay over. I know we havenât always had the best past.â
At the mention of the one-sided distaste that was formerly between you two, Sam stopped cleaning the bowl. A frown appeared on her lips as she looked down, refusing to meet your piercing gaze.
She took a deep breath before she spoke, âIâve been an asshole to you, I know. I thought you were only getting close to us so you could tell Gale, but I know better than that now. Iâve been soâŚclosed off to people that my judgment blinded me. Iâm sorry, is what Iâm trying to say.â
To say that Samâs apology took you aback would be an understatement. You had just assumed that Sam would never own up to how she treated you in the past, opting just to pretend nothing ever happened. But you could tell that she had been working on this apology for a long time, so you appreciated it while you could.
âThank you, Sam, for apologizing. I won't try to play it down, but it does mean a lot to me,â you said with a soft smile as you looked at the vulnerable woman before you, âbut I have to ask. What changed?â
A sigh left Samâs lips as she turned on the sink, washing out all the soap. She then began drying it off to think about her response. It wasnât a difficult thing to explain. Well, the logical reasoning for her change of mind about you. But what she was trying to avoid was telling you that she also had a change of heart. Sam had started to enjoy your presence and hated being without you; she yearned for your soft, gentle touches that followed your caring words. She wanted to tell you that she still hates you but cares deeply for you.
Sam dried her hands off as she leaned against the counter, crossing her arms over her chest. âI honestly donât know entirely,â she began, âI know my opinion started to change after you brought me that cookie. But I feel like things changed before that, you know?â
âNo, I donât,â you said with a soft laugh, âI think Iâve just gotten so used to you being a dickhead to me that I kind of donât associate anything else with the way you treat me.â
Sam had to pretend your words didnât split her heart down the middle; she had to pretend your words didnât pierce her heart like an ice-cold dagger. She knew she had no business to be hurt by your honesty, but still, she hated being reminded of how things were.
âI am sorry about that. You were there to protect Tara when I wasnât, and for that, you will always have my gratitude,â Sam stated as she took several moments to decide on what to say next, âTara told me that while I was gone for those five years, that you took care of her. Is that true?â
âYeah,â was all you said in a quiet voice, almost as if you were preparing yourself for when Sam started to ask more questions but silently prayed she wouldnât.
âHow bad was it?â The older Carpenter asked with a voice filled with regret. You didnât have to ask to clarify what she was asking about; you could tell by how her left fist started to clench as she brought her right arm to rub over the median cubital vein in her left arm. She wasnât asking about how bad the attack was. No, she was asking about how bad Taraâs home life was when she was too high to do anything about it.
âI made sure she wasnât left home alone,â you admitted. It was the half-truth, and you hoped Sam would accept it, but you knew better. âWhat was it like when Christina was there?â Sam pressed on.
âThings were okay; nothing was too bad,â you replied, trying your best to sugarcoat the truth.
An awkward, dry chuckle came from Sam as she shook her head, âDonât lie to me; tell me the truth.â
You debated whether you should spare Sam the details or try to lie to her about how ugly it got sometimes. But fuck it, Sam had been making your life hell for almost a year now, so it's time she found out what you dealt with for five years.
âChristinaâs a drunk; everyone knows that. But it got ugly once you left, especially once you left. It was like, maybe three weeks since you had left, and Christina had drank herself into a coma. The only problem was that it was in some European country, and no one back home knew about it. Christina was only supposed to be gone for the weekend and return home by late Sunday. Only, that weekend turned into a week, which then turned into a month.â
You gave Sam several moments to digest everything you told her, waiting for her to object. But when all she did was nod, you continued. âTara didnât tell anyone about her mom not coming back, and she only just told me why she didnât tell anyone about it: she didnât want people to view her as some monster because her entire family had left her.â
A soft sob came from Sam, and that was when you noticed she had been silently crying. When you moved to comfort her, Sam smacked your hand away from her body. âKeep talking,â she demanded. And you followed your orders.
âI didnât notice anything different until I heard her stomach growl during lunch. She had been rationing her lunch for weeks, trying to make every piece last as long as possible. School food isnât the best, but you would have thought Gordon Ramsey had made it how she cherished every bite. By the end of the school day, I finally got Tara to tell me what had happened, and I forced her to stay at my house. I told my mom that she would stay with us for a while, and she didnât bat an eye; it was like she already knew what had happened but didnât want to find out. That night, my mom had cooked lasagna; Tara had three full plates of it.â
âShe hates lasagna,â Sam said in a choked-up voice. âI know,â you responded with a small laugh, âAfter that night, I made sure Tara always had something to eat and that she was never alone. But the one time I wasnât there,â you had trailed off, not being able to finish your sentence without a tear forming in your eye.
Sam knew what you were talking about: the first Ghostface attack. Instead of pushing you away, she reached her arms and grabbed you, pulling you into a hug. It was the first hug you two had ever shared, but it was still the best. The grief you two shared could be felt by each other in that warm embrace, and you both found comfort in each otherâs arms, which was something no one had ever made Sam feel.
You two hold on to one another as you both quietly cry over the past, hoping to be free of it with every tear that falls down your face. It was a bonding moment, but it was something you both needed; you two needed to be vulnerable together and for the other one to pick the other up.
After a few minutes, Sam pulled back from. She wiped the remaining tears off your face as she tucked your hair behind your ear and did something unexpected but not unwelcome. Sam leaned forward and placed a small, lingering kiss on your forehead as she quietly muttered, âThank you.â
Once Sam pulled back, she gently squeezed your shoulders as she left the kitchen. You followed after her, only stopping to watch as Sam picked up a still-sleeping Tara from the couch and returned the gremlin to her bed. While Sam dealt with Tara, you grabbed the blanket you shared with Sam and some pillows to make your âbedâ for the night. The couch was comfortable, and you preferred it over sleeping with Tara. As small as she was, she always took up the entire bed.
After you deemed your sleeping quarters right, you went into the bathroom to brush your teeth. Props to being over so much; you had your toothbrush. It was a small gesture from Tara, but it gave you unlimited bragging rights. As you brushed your teeth, you could hear Sam talking to someone. With your curiosity getting the better of you, you peeked into the hallway to see the woman talking to someone on the phone.
âThank you for inviting me. I had fun going out with you, but I donât want this to go any further than friendship,â she quietly said into the phone as she paced back and forth. Deciding to give her some space, you stepped back into the bathroom and closed the door before spitting out the toothpaste and then rinsing your mouth with water. You wiped your mouth off with a towel before opening the door and leaving, finding Sam still talking on the phone with a mysterious love interest.
As she continued to talk to the person, you got situated on the couch, but before you could get too comfortable, Sam started to snap her fingers at you.
âWhat?â You hissed out, staring at the woman growing slightly more agitated as her phone call continued. You noted that Sam had already changed into her pajamas for the night: a loose band t-shirt with a pair of shorts.
âHave a good night; I'll talk to you later,â she abruptly said as she ended the phone call, âAre you seriously sleeping on the couch?â
âUm, yeah? Where else would I sleep? And besides, the couch is comfortable,â you replied as you gave Sam a questioning look. If she was insinuating that you sleep with her in her bed, well, that warranted some questions. But not that you would reject her offer.
âAre you alright with that? I know you usually sleep with Tara, but she might try to fight you if you go in there while sheâs already asleep,â Sam said, trying to hide that she wanted to ask you to sleep with her. She found comfort in holding your hand earlier, and she surprisingly enjoyed the depressing conversation you two shared in the kitchen. Sam hated to admit it, but she found herself seeking you out for comfort. Not only the comfort but the fact that you warmed her heart as well; she had started to fall for you most unexpectedly.
âYeah, Iâll be fine. And besides, she usually ends up taking up the whole bed anyway. Iâll have more space out here than I will with her,â you responded, and Sam couldnât help but nod at your words. âYeah, sheâs small, but donât doubt how much space she can take up,â she said in agreement, âBut would you like my bed?â
Now, that offer caught you off guard. You hadnât even considered that Sam might provide you with her entire bed so she could sleep on the couch. As considerate as it might be, you were either sleeping on the sofa or in Samâs bed with her, no in-betweens.
âNo, I canât take that from you and leave you on the couch. Iâm honestly fine on it; donât even worry about it,â you stated honestly, but Sam only shook her head. âNo, I wouldnât be a good host if I let you sleep out here.â
Neither of you wanted to be the one to offer it up, but you refused even to suggest the idea of sharing a bed. Nope, that was going to have to be something that Sam does, and you would happily wallow around in her swollen pride.
Just as you predicted, Sam swallowed her pride and offered the best solution if it did come with a backhanded offer. âSince you enjoy being difficult and making me feel like a horrible person, would you want to share my bed with me? Just this once?â
When she said the sentence, it didnât sound as rude as the first one; it sounded a lot nicer, like she was hopeful that it wouldnât be just this once, that this night would turn into another night, and maybe even the rest of the nights you could share.
âOnly if thatâs alright with you,â you said in a calm, normal tone as you tried to convince Sam that you werenât mentally bouncing off the walls. âSounds good to me. Come on,â she replied as she pulled you up from the couch and led you to her room. Sam dared not let go of your arm the entire walk there.
Once you entered her room, she only dropped your hand as she walked over to her side of the bed. She pulled back the covers as she got in bed, stopping to stare at you. You stood uncomfortably in the middle of the doorway as you looked around Samâs room.
You felt like you saw a new side of Sam as you admired her room; the walls had old types of vinyl, and a single guitar was hanging from the wall. Along with the guitar, there were some framed movie posters, one being âKill Billâ that was signed. There was a singular bookshelf that didnât have a single open spot. A record player was also sitting atop her desk in the corner of her room. How you missed all of these small details when you dropped off the cookies, you had no idea.
âWhat are you doing?â Sam questioned, pulling you out of your mind. âSorry; I was just looking at your stuff,â you admitted with embarrassment as you walked over to the bed. You halted before getting in as if you were waiting for Sam to change her mind and kick you out suddenly.
âIs something wrong?â Sam asks as she leans up in bed, her doe eyes shimmering under the dimly lit light. âNo, no. Itâs justâŚ,â you faltered on an excuse. You didnât want to admit that you were nervous about sharing a bed with that goddess of a woman, but you also didnât want her to think you were disgusted by the thought of sharing a bed with her. âDo you want me to sleep in my street clothes? I have New York on me, and I doubt you want that in your bed.â
With a sigh, Sam exits her warm, comfortable bed to grab you a pair of fresh clothes. She didnât even bother to ask if you happened to have a spare set here-which you did; she started rifling through her closet.
âHere,â she stated as she handed you a faded shirt before walking to her chest of drawers. Sam opened her top drawer and grabbed a pair of shorts for you.
âThank you,â you said softly while grabbing the shorts from her, âIâll change in your bathroom real quick.â
Sam hummed in response as she quickly got back into bed, missing the warmth of it.
After you had changed out of your dirty clothes, you decided to put them in Samâs hamperâa subtle move at her being able to keep your clothes without offering them.
As you left the bathroom, you were still slightly pulling down your shirt, only showing off the lower portion of your stomach. The skin was only visible briefly, but it caught Samâs full attention.
The scars that littered your abdomen were scattered, but she could recognize a stab wound from anywhere. The story about Jill Roberts haunted you night and day, so you never told Sam about that nightmare. The only one who had some faint idea about it was Mindy, as she had seen you naked on a few occasions. She never asked about the scars; she felt that asking would have been more intimate and personal than the sex was.
But things were different with Sam; you wanted that intimacy with her. And she liked that intimacy with you. Sam wanted to be able to share every nasty, dark part of her past with you, just as much as she wanted you to tell her your dark past. It was opening up with your pasts that allowed you two to share a possible bright future.
So, she asked you about it. âWhat happened?â
It was a stupid question, but Sam wanted to know your side. Of course, she was aware of the fact you were involved with the 2011 Ghostface killings, but she wanted to know why you were targeted.
You softly sighed as you climbed into bed next to Sam, who was fully sitting up with her legs crossed as she stared at you, silently encouraging you to trust her. If there was going to be anyone to judge you for your past, it certainly wasnât going to be Samantha Carpenter.
âWell, I was nine when it happened,â you began, âand I suppose it all boils down to being at the wrong place at the wrong time.â
You waited several seconds, debating whether you wanted to share this information. It wasnât a secret; it was out there for the entire world to read about, courtesy of Gale Weathers, an author who turned a tragic story into a multi-million dollar yearly profit.
âJill was my babysitter. It was after the first few attacks, and she was still babysitting me. She was always nice to me, well, about as nice as she could be. I had been messing around in her room, and I found this camera, so of course, I started to watch what was on it. On it were videos of all of the recent attacks, ruthless shit. Instead of telling her I found it, I hid it in my backpack, and I had planned to bring it to Judy Hicks. Well, Jill finds out that itâs missing and goes ape shit.â
You shifted around in bed as you got more comfortable, opting to fully lay down on your back as Sam propped herself up onto her elbow to engage herself in your traumatizing story fully.
âAnyways, she starts ripping the house apart, turning it inside out and upside down. Of course, she eventually finds it in my backpack, and I donât even defend myself. I just stood there like a deer caught in headlights. The scariest part about it was that she didnât even hesitate. One moment, she had my backpack in hand, then the next, she had a knife,â you finished, not wanting to recall the gruesome experience.
Sam was silent momentarily as she thought over what to say to you. She wanted to comfort you, but she didnât know how. In a way, she felt like your attack had been her fault. Logically, it couldnât have been, but she felt guilty about it, guilty about her father.
âIâm so sorry you had to go through that, especially at such a young age,â Sam stated. She truly did feel heartbroken for you, but she couldnât seem to express her sorrow adequately. The only emotion she was good at convening was her anger, a trait she inherited from both her mother and father.
âIt is what it is,â you replied with a soft sigh, âWho were you talking to earlier?â
The older Carpenter sister let out a small groan as she fell onto her back, running her hands down her face to add dramatic effect. âIt was Danny,â she replied as she interlaced her fingers and placed them on her stomach.
âOh yeah?â You asked with a teasing tone. Now it was your turn to prop up onto your elbow. âWhat did he want?â
âHe just wanted to go on another date,â Sam responded, to which you huffed. This slight noise got her attention; she turned her head to the side to look at you as if she were studying your facial expressions to try and guess what you were thinking. âWhy do you ask?â
You shrugged your shoulders, âJust curious. You seemed annoyed, and you hung up pretty quickly. Just thought you were having a sneaky link I didnât know about.â
âOh, please. If I wanted a sneaky link, I certainly wouldnât let my family know about it,â she joked softly, and your heart erupted. Samâs smile was rare, even more rare around you. It was as if the angles had parted the sky, and you could catch a glimpse into heaven. It was the most beautiful sight you had ever seen, but the most teasing one.
âOkay, but be honest: what happened?â You pressed on while clarifying that you respected Samâs boundaries if she didnât want to tell you.
âWe went on a date. Danny kissed me because he felt something; I didnât feel anything. He called to ask me on another date; I said no. Simple as that,â she replied with a monotone voice, but you knew there was more to the story.
âSam,â you said with a soft voice.
âMhm?â
âI will throw myself out of your window if you donât tell me the truth.â
âOh my god, what the hell is wrong with you?â Sam questioned with a voice full of laughter as she smiled from ear to ear.
âTell me, or Iâll paint the sidewalk red,â you joked with a smile that matched hers.
âI told him no because I donât want to be with him,â she replied honestly as she stared at you with those dark, doe eyes. You swore you could get lost in that void. âNow, will you leave me alone so I can sleep?â
You scoffed at her but entirely laid down nonetheless. âI guess so,â you grumbled as you rolled onto your side, facing away from Sam.
Sam only laughed at your shitty attempt to pout as she got out of bed to turn off the overhead light. Once she was back in bed, she rolled onto her side to face your back.
Slowly and very hesitantly, she wiggled closer to you, wrapping a loving arm around your waist. Sam didnât have to wait long before she felt your hand atop hers, pulling her closer to you. Soon enough, her entire front was pressed against your back, and you couldnât have been happy. Your heart seemed to only beat for Sam, as your entire body started to feel like it was catching on fire.
âYou know,â Sam whispered into the dark room, âI listened to Julien Baker the other day.â
âThatâs not the one I was talking about,â you responded, not missing a beat.
She scoffed at your weak response, âThereâs too many.â
âGirl, there are only three!â
âWhatever,â she mumbled while she pulled you closer into her body as if she couldnât get enough of you. Sam placed a chaste kiss on your head before slowly drifting off to sleep, with you in her arms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The picture frames hung on the walls rattled as the loud, booming sound of music filled the air. Against your will, the twins plus Tara dragged you to a frat party. Drunken college students mixed with obnoxious music was not your cup of tea, but you did enjoy the theme: early 2000s club. From Lady Gaga to Timbaland, even to BeyoncĂŠ, it was the first time a party had gotten the music right! Thereâs nothing wrong with todayâs music; they donât make them like they used to.
âCan I get you anything to drink?â Tara offered. Even though she forced you to go out tonight, she still wanted you to have fun without pressuring you to do too much. She could be a little asshole sometimes, but she had her soft moments.
âNo, Iâm good, thanks,â you replied softly. The two of you were sitting together on the only couch that didn't have people either passed out or making out, even though Tara suggested doing either with you.
âTara, I think you are wonderful and completely captivating, but I do not want your tongue down my throat,â you joked with a soft laugh. The younger Carpenter whined in response as she kicked her feet up into your lap.
âOh yeah, I forgot. Itâs the other Carpenterâs tongue you want,â she teased with a wink as she made a V with her middle and pointer finger, bringing it to her lips while sticking out her tongue.
âWhat is wrong with you?â You questioned while politely shoving the more petite girl, forcing her to stop. âOh yeah, how come I found you two wrapped up in each otherâs arms then? Mmm?â She pressed.
It was a simple question but an entirely challenging one as well. You needed a place to sleep, so Sam offered to share her bed with you, as it was better than the couch. That part you could explain, but you couldnât explain why or how you woke to Samâs face pressed against your chest. It was the first time you had ever felt so loved, so seen. It wasnât just you who had found so much comfort that night. Sam loved falling asleep to your heartbeat; the drumming sound soon became a lullaby.
âShe tried to kill me and forced me to share her bed for warmth,â you stated, but Tara didnât believe you for a second. âYou know, if you would have told me that four months ago, I would have believed you. But now that you have stolen my sister from me and somehow tricked her into falling for you, I donât believe you.â
Your ears perked up at the mention of Sam falling for you, and your cheeks started to get warm at the thought of Sam recouping your feelings. âShe likes me?â You asked with a love-sick smile on your lips.
Tara rolled her eyes at your question and pushed herself off your lap. âI donât know how you did it, but Sam cares about you. I think she started to go soft on you when you took her to that musical,â she stated as she stuck out her right arm to you. You grabbed onto her hand and allowed the more petite girl to pull you off of the couch, then you followed her into the kitchen.
âI didnât even know that Sam likes musicals,â you commented as you grabbed a Seagram from the bucket full of ice on the kitchen island. âShe loves them more than me. I fully believe Sam would sell me for some âSixâ tickets,â Tara remarked as she grabbed a beer.
You laughed at the younger Carpenter comment. Sadly, she wasnât being dramatic; you now knew the extent of Samâs love for musicals, and you hated that you agreed with Tara.
âYeah, I hate that you believe you on that one,â you replied as you followed Tara into the backyard. The two of you sat down together on a swing, drinking in silence as you two silently judged the drunks amongst you.
All in all, it was a nice night to socialize; exams were finished up for the week, and you two needed a break from all of it. It was nice to get out occasionally with friends, even though you preferred drinking the safety net of your own home. It wasnât because you didnât trust people. It was that you hated being around drunk people, and you were a homebody. But just when you started relaxing at the party, the universe had to ruin it for you.
It wasnât anything terrible at first; Tara had left to grab some more beers for the two of you. She was back within a minute, and as she walked toward you, a man grabbed her arm and pulled her into him.
You couldnât hear what was being said, but you could tell from the anger in Taraâs eyes that it wasnât anything good. Sometimes, you wondered if the Loomis genes were airborne, due to how quickly Tara got angry and violent.
Before you had any time to react, Tara had taken the beer bottle in her right hand and smashed it against the manâs head, causing him to fall to the ground. You quickly sprang up from your comfortable seat as you rushed over to Tara, now held back by two of your friends from college. You checked over her hands to ensure no glass had gotten in them, and when you deemed her safe, you took her from friends, who then went to check on the man, who was still on the ground.
âCome on,â you mumbled as you dragged Tara from the backyard and into the front yard.
When you two entered the front yard, she shook herself from your grasp and dramatically flung herself onto the ground, sighing in defeat. The air was full of tension as you stared down at the more petite girl, who held her head in shame.
âWhat happened?â You questioned as you sat down next to her. With a sigh, she wrapped her arm around yours and rested her head on your shoulder. âHeâs from my theoretical film studies class. The other day, we had argued about the Harry Potter movies. And-do not fucking laugh at that!â She exclaimed as she playfully smacked your arm once you started to laugh at her.
âIâm sorry, but you two argued over Harry Potter?â You asked with laughter in your voice, âThatâs insane!â
âShut up, no, it's not. Anyways, before I was so rudely interrupted,â she replied with attitude, âthe argument was over who was the real bad guy: Dumbledore or Snape. We disagreed, but we didnât have enough time to discuss it before class ended. Tonight, he stopped me to tell me I was wrong and that he was right, and I kinda got a little angry.â
ââA little angry?â You smashed a bottle against his head,â you exclaimed with a look of bewilderment.
âIâm little; my anger fills up my entire body, and sometimes it gets the best of me,â she shrugged as she stood up and held out a hand, âCome on, let's go home.â
You accepted her hand as you followed her home. You didnât need to ask what she meant by home; you both knew it was the Carpenterâs apartment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
âYou did what?!â Sam shouted as she stared down you and Tara. The two of you were sitting down on the couch together, sharing shame as you listened to Sam ridicule you. âI let you go out for one night and I promised not to text you the entire time, and you do this? And you,â she then turned her attention toward you, âI canât believe you let this happen.â
âSam, I'm so sorry. It happened so quick and I-â you tried to defend but she interrupted you. âYou had one job, Y/n. One!â
Sam paced back and forth as she rubbed her temples. This was supposed to be a night of relaxing; she had already had two glasses of wine and ate a little bit too much pasta that was acceptable. Sam even had plans to ask you to stay the night again, thatâs why she had the wine; she needed that liquid courage to taste your lips for the first time.
But now, as she went over the possible outcomes of her sister assaulting one of her classmates, all she wanted to do was go to sleep. With a sigh, she dropped her hands and stopped pacing. âAlright,â Sam said in a defeated voice, âI will let it slide, but just this once. Go take your shower, but then you are going to bed.â
Tara was out of the room as soon as Sam said it was okay, not wanting to waste a second as she feared that her sister might change her mind. Tara also wanted to give her sister some alone time with you; she noticed the wine glass on the living room table and she was praying that tonight would be the night the two of you stopped pussyfooting around.
âSam?â Your voice pulled her out of her thoughts and her eyes automatically snapped to you. âWhatâs up?â She asked.
You stood up from the couch as you approached her. âIâm sorry about tonight. If I would have known that was going to happen, I would have stopped her,â you apologized but Sam was already shaking her head.
âNo, it's okay,â she replied as she grabbed her wine glass and finished it off as she walked into the kitchen, with you a few paces behind her.
âAre you sure?â You quietly asked as you awkwardly looked around. âYeah. Why do you ask?â She questioned as she placed her glass on the counter and looked at you. You could feel her eyes burning into your skin, and you couldnât help the words that soon poured out of your mouth.
âI donât know, Iâm just worried that you are actually really upset with me but you donât want to tell me that because you donât want to upset me. Iâm worried that things are different between us now, and I donât know why I feel that. Iâm just terrified I fucked up somehow, and I really really like you, Sam. Iâve worked so hard to gain your trust and now Iâm scared I lost it. So, I am so sorry-â she cut off your rambling by cupping your cheeks and pressing her lips against yours.
Your heart automatically started beating quicker as your hands found home on her hips, pulling her closer into you. When you kissed her back, you could have sworn she let out the slightest moan, and it drove your mind insane.
You couldnât recall her walking toward you, but the only thing that was running through your mind was how soft her lips were; how sweet they tasted mixed with the wine.
The wine.
You quickly pulled away from Samâs lips. âIâm sorry, but I donât want to do anything while youâve been drinking,â you apologized, but your eyes darted between Samâs own eyes and her lips.
With a soft laugh, Sam leaned forward and kissed your cheek, something she had found out she loved doing. âItâs okay, Y/N. I really really like you too, and I hope that we could possibly go on another date again soon?â Sam asked with a look of hopefulness, and you had to fight the urge to lean back in.
âYouâre also considering the musical a date too?â You questioned with red cheeks. Sam nodded her head with a smile that matched hers, and oh how your heart beat for the woman in front of you. You swore you were love drunk off those lips that youâve only tasted once, but now that youâve tasted them, youâre sure that nothing was as sweet.
âY/N, would you like to stay the night?â Sam asked, âWith me?â
âAre you trying to get in my pants?â You teased as you playfully pushed her shoulders, to which she grabbed your hand and pulled you into her.
Sam reached up with her right hand to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear, then ran her fingers down the side of your jaw as she admired your features. âIâve been an asshole to you, I know that,â she admitted as her thumb stroked your jawline, âBut I hope over time I can make it up to you fully. Iâve blamed you for things that werenât your fault and Iâm sorry I was that dense. I know you are just following Galeâs writing as a way to forge your own career, and I shouldnât have blamed you for the book she wrote.â
Sam took a deep breath as she tried to collect her thoughts. âWhat Iâm trying to say is that Iâm sorry for how much of a dick Iâve been to you, and I would like to make it up to you,â her voice got quieter as her eyes refused to meet yours, âBy hopefully being your girlfriend?â
Your heart skipped a beat as you tried to wrap your mind around what Sam just asked. When her eyes did meet yours, they were holding so much love and hope that you felt your heart explode. Tears welded in your eyes as you cupped her cheeks and pulled her into a loving kiss, forgetting about the alcohol in her system.
âI would love to be your girlfriend,â you mumbled against her lips as you quickly pecked them, âBut how much have you had to drink tonight?â
The older Carpenter sister laughed at your comment as she grabbed your hand, pulling you toward her room. âIâm fine, Y/N. Iâm sure you and the demon child have had more than me. Besides, I only needed a few drinks to actually make a move on you,â Sam admitted as she opened her bedroom door and dropped your hand, to your disappointment, âBut how much have you had?â
You shrugged your shoulders as you walked over to the vinyl set in Samâs room and began flipping through them. âIâm fine; a little buzzed but nothing too bad,â you replied.
âMhm, yeah, youâre not as awkward as you usually are. I donât like it,â Sam stated as she handed you a clean pair of clothes to change into you. You noticed they were her clothes, and an embarrassing large smile over took your lips as you finally realized that Sam Carpenter was your girlfriend.
You leaned to kiss her, but Sam placed her hands on your shoulders, preventing you from doing so. You gave her a little pout, so to make you feel just a little bit better, she sighed and gave your cheek a kiss. âGo change and get ready for bed,â she quietly commanded you and you did as told.
The clothes fit you perfectly, as if Sam had bought them just for you. There was a toothbrush laying on the sink, still in its packaging, and you knew that Sam had gone out shopping for you tonight.
Walking into the bedroom, you climbed into bed with the older Carpenter, who was sitting upright with her back against the headboard of her bed, reading a book. âDid you buy me a toothbrush today?â You asked as you laid down and scooted closer to Sam, wrapping your arm around her waist.
âI donât know what youâre talking about,â she replied as placed her bookmark in the book and set it down on the nightstand, âWhy do you ask?â
âOh, I donât know. Maybe because there was a toothbrush that hadnât been opened yet, and these clothes fit a little bit too nice,â you commented as you watched Sam turn off the bedside lamp and lay down next to you.
âYeah, I donât know what youâre talking about,â she denied as she pulled you into her body. Sam brought her hand up to the back of your neck and brought your head close to her chest. You sighed in comfort as you nozzled your head, hoping to get as close as you can to her breasts without making Sam uncomfortable.
Sam placed a kiss on your head as she tightly hugged you, âGoodnight Y/N.â
âGoodnight, my lovely girlfriend who used to hate me,â you cheekily replied, earning a laugh from Sam.
âWhen will you ever let that go?â Sam asked with a slight annoyance in her voice, but you knew she was joking.
âI donât know, until Iâve deemed that enough time has passed for me to be able to move on,â you replied, âBut a goodnight kiss would help.â
The Latina chuckled at your words as the hand that was your head was now cupping your cheeks, pulling you into a loving kiss. Her lips were soft and warm, and you knew that you could never leave them. So when Sam pulled away, you chased after her lips, hoping to taste them for just a second longer.
But she stopped you, much to your disappointment. âIn the morning you will give you all of the special treatment you want. But for now, letâs go to bed,â Sam stated in a loving voice, and all you did was nod your agreement. You placed your head back on your chest as you two allowed sleep to overtake you.
When the morning came, you awoke before Sam, greeting her with kisses all over her face and sweet nothings about how much you cherished her as your girlfriend.
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Taglist: @elduster @silentwolfsstuff @maskthedwarf @canvascoloredin
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âwhat about⌠my ending?â âhere it comes.â
scream (2022 film)
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the hunger games (2012) // catching fire (2013)
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WE NEED FANFICS
LOVE HOW ALL OF MY ORIGINAL POSTS ON TUMBLR ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW THERE'S LITTLE AMOUNT OR NO AMOUNT OF FANFICS ABOUT A CERTAIN CHARACTER
REALLY LAUGHING AT MYSELF RN
#fanfics#ao3#au#imagines#we need fanfics#we must get fanfics#wlw#i love women#i love middle aged women#please make effie trinket fanfics#please make more cruella fanfics#please make more delphine x cosima fanfics#please give us more fanfics#i want fanfics#i love fanfics#give me effie trinket topping me#thank u#wattpad
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WHERE ARE THEM
WHERE ARE THE EFFIE TRINKET X FEM!READER FANFICS??????????????????????????????????????????????? COME ON LESBIANS DO YOUR JOB
#effie trinket#the hunger games#hunger games#effie x reader#effie trinket x reader#effie trinket x fem!reader#COME ON LESBIANS#PLEASE MAKE IT SO I CAN READ IT AND BE HAPPY ONCE#I NEED FANFICS
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đ×đ˛đ
âĄđŻ: can you keep a secret?đ×ŰŞďž
â Öş.âŞđlike or reblog⨞Ëđ×ďŹpsd by: @opulenceps
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âŹâŹâŹâŹâŹâŹ BARBIE & RAQUELLEđ ( request )
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¤ reblog / like if you save or use.
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¤ credits to @editsbyhestia on twitter.
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â°*ŕł barbie & raquelle matching icons
â
 like or reblog if you save ⥠ credits to @payneonxd {on twitter} if you use â
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And Sylvie ones too? Thank you
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Sylvie Laufeydottir in âLokiâ icons
like or reblog if you save/use
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Day 8 - Cabaret BurlesqueÂ
Jâai fait des icons sur des artistes de Rupaul Drag Race, Rupaul, Sasha Velour, Valentina, Manila Luzon, Violet Chachki et Trixie Mattel. On mâa fait dĂŠcouvrir lâunivers de Rupaul ( & je remercie la personne si elle passe par lĂ ).
 Les ĂŠpisodes de Rupaul sont des moments ou mon cerveau en off et on dĂŠcouvre ses artistes incroyable. Des histoires, des parcours de folie mais aussi du drama because you know bitch.Â
Ils sont simple ses icons mais jâavais envie de reprĂŠsenter ce thème ainsi et pour finir : If you canât love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else ?
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trixie and katya matching icons; like/reblog âĄ
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STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH (EPISODE III) OBI-WAN KENOBI: PART VI
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The devil works hard but fanfic writers work harder
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Ps. Yâall are amazing and the most creative writers â¤ď¸. keep up the amazing work âŠ
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