Notorious Bad Boy — Chapter 24

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Samantha's POV

After talking with Blake last night I went inside and waited up for Kiefer. As soon as he got home I pounded him for details about Trent. He told me Trent had a broken nose and a black eye, the guilt I felt inside doubled. I was going to talk to Trent right after that but I was too busy trying to keep Kiefer from going over to Blake's place.

As soon as I woke up the next morning I called Trent and apologized repeatedly. He told me that it wasn't my fault and to not worry about it. He was sweet; little did he know that it was my fault. Trent said I could make it up to him by going on a date with him tomorrow night, and of course I agreed.

I was planning on staying inside all day when an unexpected visitor turned up at my door.

"Hey sam, I was wondering if I could take you out to lunch?" Alex asked as I stood at the front door in shock.

"Uhm, listen if this is about Blake I don't want to hear it." I said.

"No don't worry; it's just a friend wanting to take out another friend." He said with a smile, that I couldn't say no too.

After I got dressed, Alex took me to a pizzeria in the town.

"So Sam how are you doing?" Alex asked as we waited for our pizza.

"Just dandy." I said sarcastically. Alex looked at me puzzled, waiting for me to go on.

"Don't act like you don't know. Your brothers making my life a living hell and if he told you to try and get something out of me then you're just wasting your time." I said.

"He doesn't even know im here with you. The last time we talked I thought we got pretty close."

"Yeah but then your brother came in and ruined it all." I said remembering the ache in my heart.

"Listen Sam you don't have to tell me anything, but I want to let you know if you decide to talk about it, it's only between you and me, Blake won't know anything."

"He's your brother Alex. You expect me to believe that you won't go back and tell him."

"Samantha my brother was a douche to you that night, and to be honest he doesn't deserve to know anything." He said.

I don't know what made me decide to believe him, but I did. I could tell he was telling me the truth, and was just trying to be a friend.

"I decided to take a risk and tell him I love him, and then he breaks my heart. I still can't help but love him, but I just don't think I could forget what he did." I said

"This is the type of situation where the 'forgive but don't forget' saying comes into play"

"I don't even know if I could forgive him." I said.

"I don't blame you Sam."

"And it's not like I could just try and get over him, because I see him everywhere I go. I don't even know what to do anymore." I said.

"Samantha things must seem really hard right now, but that will change. Eventually you'll realize what the best thing is for you, and you'll take action. It all works out in the end, and if things aren't worked out then it's not the end."

I couldn't help but smile at what he said.

"Thanks Alex."

"No problem Samantha, If you ever need to talk, here's my number." Alex said as he grabbed my phone and put his number in.

When I got home, all I could think about was what Alex said. I knew how I felt about Blake; I just didn't know how to handle this situation. Maybe by going out with Trent, things will be clear.

The next day at school I did my best to ignore Blake; I wasn't going to let him ruin my life.

"He wants to take you on a date? Does this dude have a death wish?" Adam said as we both moved down the lunch line, putting food on out trays.

"I guess so. I want to go but I don't want to put Trent in that type of position ever again." I said.

"The position where you use him to make Blake insanely jealous and get him beat up." Adam said nonchalantly.

"Hey! I didn't think he was going to go crazy like that. And I wasn't using him; I did want to kiss him...I just ya know... Killed two birds with one stone." I said with a smile as I paid for my lunch.

"Samantha what am I going to do with you?" Adam asked as we made our way to our lunch table.

I just chuckled in response.

"Seriously Sam, you know you really want to be with Blake." Adam said.

I knew it was true, but I still didn't know if that was ever possible

"Doesn't matter Adam, Trent's the better and safer choice to go with. I can't deal with Blake and all his secrets." I said.

"I don't know Sam..." Adam said.

"Well I do. I'm going on the date with Trent and that's iinal." I said.

It was hard to avoid Blake's stare.

I could feel his glare burning holes through me. I didn't think I was going to be able to avoid him, so when I left school without talking to Blake the whole day, I felt accomplished.

"I'm not completely comfortable with you going out on a date with Trent." Kiefer said as he pulled to a stop in front of the house.

"Oh wow that sucks because I was so worried about how you were going to feel." I said sarcastically as I made my way to the door.

"No need for the sarcasm." Kiefer said as he followed me inside.

"Ma?" Kiefer called out as soon as we stepped inside

"Yeah?" I heard Kiesha call from the kitchen.

"Guess who Sam's going on a date with tonight?" Kiefer said. I shot him angry glares to which he responded with a simple shrug

"Samantha has a date?" Kiesha said as we walked into the kitchen.

"Yup." Kiefer said, popping the p I just shook my head

"With who?" Kiesha asked, I could the sense the amusement in her voice.

"Trent." Kiefer responded back.

"I knew you liked him, when I saw you all cozied up to him the other night." Kiesha said.

"Not that this chat about my love life isn't fun or anything but I think Im going go upstairs and get ready.“ I said as I rolled my eyes and went upstairs.

For some strange reason I didn't have a good feeling about going on this date. I knew if I went out with Trent then Blake and I, were really over.

After 2 hours of going through my closet and making a mess of my room, I finally found something to wear. I wore a grey V-neck knit sweater that came down mid-thigh, with a pair of leggings and grey knit ugg boots.

I curled my long dark brown hair, and put a little makeup on. When I heard the bell ring I quickly made my way down stairs, because I knew if Kiefer answered the door he would find some way to embarrass me.

But I was too late. I saw Kiefer standing there talking to Trent in the living room.

"You're my friend and all, but if you hurt her I'll hunt you down." I heard Kiefer say as I walked through the living room.

"Can't go a day without embarrassing me?" I asked Kiefer annoyed.

"Nope" He said with a smirk.

When I looked towards Trent, I had to bite my lip to hold back a gasp.

His left eye was purple and swollen shut. He had a bandage over his nose, and I could see he had a small cut on his lip.

"Oh my god, Trent." I said as I gently caressed his cheek with my hand.

"It looks worse than it feels." He said.

"Im so sorry, it's all my fault." I said as tears of guilt filled my eyes.

"Listen Samantha I told you before it's not your fault, and I don't blame you. Im just glad that your letting me take you out." He said with a smile.

He was amazing. Any other guy would blame me and stay away from me, but he's doing the exact opposite.

He took me to dinner at an Italian restaurant. We talked about everything, from his job to school, even about my mom. He told me he also lost his dad, and he understood how hard it was. We laughed about little things, and people would look over to our table annoyed.

Even though I was having a good time and enjoying Trent's company, I couldn't help but to think about Blake.

I knew Trent really liked me, and I didn't think it was fair that I couldn't return the feelings. I knew I liked him but I knew I had stronger feelings for another guy.

After dinner we got ice-cream, and ate it as we walked along in the park. It was nice out. The dark sky was lit with the bright full moon. There was a nice breeze in the air that wasn't too cold.

"So Samantha, I really had fun with you tonight." He said as we walked in the park.

"Me too." I said taking another lick of my ice-cream, my attention elsewhere.

"I really like you Sam, but I also know you don't feel the same way." He said which caused me to look over at him in shock.

"I like you Trent." I began.

"You might like me but you love Blake." He said.

I didn't know how to respond to that. Trent didn't even sound angry, he was truly amazing.

"Im sorry..." I said.

"It's okay Sam, can't help who you fall in love with." He said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"You're an amazing guy Trent and any girl would be lucky to be with you." I said.

"Thanks." He said.

"I hope we could still be friends" I said as we reached the exit of the park.

"Of course." He said with a smile.

Trent was driving me home. We sat in silence which I expected to be awkward, but it wasn't. It was a comfortable silence.

We hit a street that was backed up with traffic, it didn't look like I was going to be home any time soon.

Ambulances sped down the street, through the traffic.

"There must have been an accident." Trent said.

"Must be a big one, with all this traffic."

Trent turned the radio channel to a news station.

"...accident on Sycamore street, downtown. A pickup truck was speeding down the road with a motorcycle following behind. Both vehicles ran a red light and crashed into a van that was coming down one of the streets. Passengers in the truck and motorcycle are in critical condition, the passenger in the van is in stable condition. This accident caused a traffic jam downtown. I am Diane Silver and this is your PWS traffic report..."

The traffic was moving slowly. After a while we came in sight of the accident. It was blocked off, oflicers standing by the totaled cars. The pickup truck was upside down, the front of the white van was totaled. I glanced around for the motorcycle but I couldn’t find it.

Until I looked further away, and spotted the bike.

My heart stopped in my chest.

If you never saw the bike before you would barely be able to recognize it, but I did.

It was Blake's bike...