So there you have it

Disclaimer: All characters and places are fictional.

No reviews yet, but here's the second installment.
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And, so the next few months, it was basically the same. I got better at work, so well that I started doing other things in the kitchen, because I hate depending on my mother to make stuff. Though, all she really did was get take-out for five days then cook a little something the other times. Going out to eat is fine, but when you have limited places to go it gets really tiring. Besides I had my friends to take me out.

I never thought learning the moods would be so tough. I still haven’t even figured out all mine, but others I can figure out a little. I guess I’m a slow learner. David said that it was ok, and that I knew enough. I began to smile more, and noticed my friend’s moods. I knew when something was wrong before, but to know even the slightest amazed me. It would help if I were someone you went to talk to, but, as everyone knows, I’m not.
Chloe and I began to hang out more, and I guess you could call us friends. Wow, my first girlfriend. She’s really not that bad. I don’t know why everyone stayed away from her. Her birthday is coming up soon, and I’m trying to work out a surprise for her. It might be her first birthday party, and it’s about damn well time. She’s met my friends and they seem to get along, so I ask everyone about it.

“Chloe’s birthday is in a couple weeks.” I look around at everyone, “What do you think about it guys?”

“I’ve heard from her that this is the first year she’s actually had friends when a birthday came around.” I could tell he was feeling a little awkward, but didn’t pay close attention to it, “I think we should throw her a party.”

“Yeah, you would think that Tom” he nudges and chuckles.

“Quit it, Adam.” Tom sighs, “I’m only thinking about her. I know I’d want to have a party with friends. She’s never had any, and now…” he pauses for a minute, “we’re her friends.”

“So, let’s do this.” He stands up with his drink, “We’ll bring her here, and get her totally wasted!”

“Not that!” Tom stands up and pushes him back down to his seat, “Bringing her here would be fine, but…” He looks at me, “What do you think?”

“I wasn’t sure what to do.” Pausing for a second thinking if I should decide to tell them what I thought, “I did think about holding it at the café shoppe, so the patrons could wish her well.”

“Then we’ll get her drunk after!” Adam chuckled again.

“Will you stop with that Adam!” Tom slaps the back of his head.

“Ouch,” rubs the back of his head, “can’t you take a joke?”

“So, you think it was a good idea?” I asked, “I’d have to talk to David about it.”

“Sam, I think it’s a good idea.” Tom touched his face like he normally does when thinking.

“We’ll have to tell the others.” Adam serious for once, “I’ll do that. This is going to be great!” He slaps Tom’s back, “Right, Tommy?”

“Oh, yeah.” Still thinking, “Great.”

“I’d like to go see her again. Tom, could I have a ride?”

“Sure, anytime.” He gets up.

Tom doesn’t normally like being called Tommy. He hate’s it actually. I knew then something was up. He was quiet all through the drive there. He’s been acting unusual for a while now. I try to tell myself it’s nothing. If he wants to tell me, he will. Instead of just dropping me off, he went in as well. It wasn’t quite closing time, but it was close enough. There was hardly anyone in there.

Tom found us a place to sit. Since I normally drift my vision out to the pond, he sat so I could, while he watched the back. “Did you come here so you didn’t have to go home yet?”

“Partly,” I started to think less of home, and how bad it was there, “I just like it here. I also get to talk to someone else other than guys.”

“You never had any problems with that before,” He looks me in the eye, “is something wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing.” I just sit there and drink for a while. He tried to talk to me a few times, but I didn’t answer. There was nothing wrong, or that’s what I thought. I do admit that it’s strange, but I’ve been changing slowly because of this place. Everyone was so kind.

Soon the place was empty except for us. We let them know that we’re going to visit with Chloe, so they could close up. Tom was still with me. I think he likes her a bit more than me, but he’s never said anything. He’s a good friend to her. It’s good that he is too, since he’s my best friend. We’ve been friends the longest, and he used to look out for me. He still does in a way, but he grew on me. I began to defend myself so he wouldn’t have to. I’m glad he’s a good friend to her, because she needs that in a friend. I may be able to protect her, but I am only a girl after all. I can’t protect her from everything, as much as I hate to admit it.

“Hi, Samantha.” She still hasn’t stopped calling me that. Everytime I say ‘Its Sam, you can call me Sam’ she says that it’s a boy’s name, and won’t call me it. “Oh,” She notices Tom, “Hi, Tom. Are you two hungry? We were about to make supper.”

“No, we already ate.”

“Actually, I wouldn’t mind more.” Tom says, “I still haven’t had desert.”

“Okay,” she smiles brightly, “I’ll make you something. Please sit, I’ll be back in a minute.”

“Not going to help?” Tom asked me.

“No, I might end up wanting something myself.” I wanted to talk, not eat.

“I’ll go tell her you want something then.” He gets up and goes before I can say anything.

David walks by with paperwork in his hands, “Left alone?”

“Chloe’s going to make something, and Tom went to tell her than I wanted something.” He started to leave, “Wait.”

“Yes?” He just stops in place, “Is there something you wanted to talk about?”

Yes, “We’re thinking of planning a party for Chloe.”

He puts the papers down as he sits, “That’s good, it’s been a while since we’ve had a birthday party for her. We haven’t had time to do anything because of the business.”

“Actually, we thought about having part of it here.” I talk more quietly, “If you wouldn’t mind, we’d have the customers in on it too.”

“That’s a good idea. Lily once thought of it.” He looks a little saddened. “Sorry, I should go.”

“I’m sorry,” he stops mid-step, “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Without looking back, “It’s ok, you didn’t know anything about it. Well, if you’ll excuse me.”

And there I was left alone, as he headed to the back. It gave me time to think of something to talk about. I know I told Tom that I just wanted to talk, but I didn’t have anything in mind. Except, I did want to thank her for what she’s done. I couldn’t say anything like that in front of him, not yet at least. I may have changed a bit over the months, but I hadn’t changed that much. There’s still more time for that.

However, there is little time left for figuring out what to talk about, because they were on their way. They were laughing when they entered. I wonder what it could be about. It certainly would give me time to think about something to bring up, while they tell me about it. They place everything down and sit ending their conversation.

"What was so funny?" I ask without hesitation.

"It was nothing." "Nothing." They said at the same time, and go quiet for a second.

They look at each other and laugh again, "Well, it's pretty funny for nothing."

“It was just a little joke.” Tom ended up saying, “Like I said, it’s nothing.”

Well there went my chance to figure out something to talk about something. Chloe ended up starting the conversation. At first it started out with me and how I was doing at work and even a little about after work. A couple nights ago both me and Chloe did things together that I would normally be embarrassed about, and it really still was, but I was okay about talking about it. I just wouldn’t go out and say anything about it.

We started to talk about my life at home. Why it was all about me, I don’t know. Everything was about me in this conversation. Although, I did notice that Chloe was getting more confident with herself. I must be rubbing off on her, if just a little. We hardly touched our food, but we were having a great time. We laughed and that’s what amazed me the most. I was laughing about things at my home. It was great though.
My life had changed. I was different now, and I liked it that way. I didn’t notice that I didn’t stop talking but the others did. “Sam, are you ok?” Tom ended up asking.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” I laughed, “I was just thinking.”

“Uh oh...” Tom leaned over to Chloe in a mock whisper, “We need to be careful. Bad things happen when she thinks that hard.”

Trying to suppress a laugh she responded the same way, “I’ve noticed that myself lately.”

“Oh very funny.” I smiled at them. “You can stop that now.”

Both ended up bursting out in laughter, “Well, I guess both of you want me out of here now. I bet you two will gossip about me behind my back.” Tom finally said.

“You’re leaving?” Chloe immediately stopped laughing, and looked a little sad.

“Yes,” Tom looked at his watch, “I need to get up early tomorrow, and it’s late now” His eyes got bigger. “It’s this late! Oh man I need to get home fast.” He got up suddenly, “I didn’t realize the time. I’m sorry guys. I’ll see you later. He ran for the door. Bye!” He waved back.

“Wow, that’s the fastest I’ve seen him move.” I said. “Just how late is it?”

“There’s a clock in the backroom.” Chloe said a little depressed, “Will you help me take these dishes back.”

“Of course,” I smiled at her, “As if you needed to ask.”

As we set down the dishes, I looked back at the clock. “It’s 3:00am!?!”

“Oh my, it really is late.” Chloe looked relieved.

“Umm... Chloe,” I said slowly, “There’s another reason he left.”

“Yes?” she looked concerned.

“I told him earlier that I wanted to talk with you.” I looked at her and quickly said, “I didn’t tell him what though. I guess when I was quiet he thought I wanted to talk to you about it. I don’t know why I’m telling it to you like this, but I just...” I pause for a second. “I just thought you should know.”

“Well, what is it?” Chloe looked even more concerned, “Is something wrong at home? Is there something wrong here? Is it with me?”

“Calm down,” I looked down. I knew this was the wrong way to say it.

“Then why did you?” Chloe asked.

“What?” I was confused only for a second. “Did I just say that aloud? I’m sorry for upsetting you, but it’s not like that.” I pause for a moment again. “I only wanted to thank you.”

She just looked at me, “I wanted to thank you for everything. It means so much to me what has happened over these last few months.” I grab hold of her and tears come out. “I’ve come to think of you as my best friend ever.”
She hugs me, “Samantha...” She was dumbfounded.

“I'm... I'm sorry." I begin to say, "I'm not normally like this."

"It's ok." She hugged me tighter. "I'm happy to be such a good friend to you. I'm even more happy that I'm your best friend."

"Please don't tell anyone about this, ok?" I pulled back and looked into her eyes.

"I promise." And it was left at that.

Over the next few days, we got everything together. It seems after that first encounter with talking about his wife he had gotten better. I guess with all the preparations to be made he completely forgot about it. Chloe did say when he was busy that he was ok. Either that or he's beginning to come to terms with the fact she's not here anymore. I could be wrong. I've never lost anyone dear to me. Of course, I've never had anyone that was dear to me not including my friends.

Some of the patrons overheard David and I talking about it, and said that they'd help bring extra stuff in to surprise her. If it wasn't for the fact that so many people were willing to help, we wouldn't be able to hide all the decorations from Chloe. David was happy for that. I was as well. Tom seemed to be the busiest of us all though. He was really into the party. I could see how much he was looking forward to it.
Adam did his part too. When it came to it, he'd be a big help to everyone, just like now. He was in his element. If door-to-door salesmen were still big now, he'd be the best. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a huge occasion lying in wait for Chloe after the part at the shop. He told me about all the people that would be there, but I suspect even more. Yes, this was going to be the biggest event Chloe has experienced, and it's all for her. This will be the best birthday ever.