So there you have it

Disclaimer: All characters and places are fictional.

So, this will be my last installment for a long time now. I've caught up to myself finally like I knew I would. I haven't had any inspiration for a while now. Plus, I wasn't able to work on it for a week because there was a fire and I had to evacuate. I left my computer knowing it would be ok, but I did want to write while I was away. Well I hope you like this one.

--------------------------------------------------------------

“Samantha! Samantha!!” Chloe was waving running towards me. “What... what are you.... doing here?” She asked without any breath.

“Oh,” I was rubbing the back of my head. “Class was canceled so I came to greet you after yours let out.”

“But what about finals?” Chloe looked scared.”

“It’s not till Thursday for this class.” I smiled at her. “I’ll be fine. He left instructions on the board.”

“Oh, that’s good.” She sighed with relief. “Tom should be getting out of class, too, right now.”

“So, how did you do?” I asked as we started to head where Tom was.

“I don’t know yet.” She said with a smile.

“That good, eh?”

“I hope so.” She said nervously, “It’s hard to believe it’s been a year already.”
I couldn’t agree more. Time had just flown by. I could swear that the talk with David was yesterday. There’s nothing to worry about. There are times when people get depressed for no reason. It’s for those around that person to help lift it. Even if it’s just being with them talking about nothing. That’s what he said, and I understand that now. He was right. Thank you, David. I don’t know what I’d do without you. I could cry. I did cry.

“Why are you crying?” Tom said when he came up to us.

“Oh it’s nothing.” I smiled bigger. “We were just talking about how fast this year as gone by.”

“It’s been a great year.” Chloe beamed.

“Completely.” I agreed.

“By the way, why are you here Sam?” Tom finally noticed I wasn’t in class.

“Canceled.” I said. “His aide wrote on the board that there were some family matters he had to take care of. He also left the review material.”

“How many more finals left for you then?” He asked.

“I’ve got two more, including that class.” I said. “One’s tomorrow. It’ll be simple though.”

“Oh, right.” Someone said behind me. “This is Ms. Historian we’re talking about here. It’s got to be easy for her... oof.”

“That’s enough Adam.” I elbowed him. “It’s not like I have a choice at being good at it. It just comes naturally.”

“Right, right.” Adam recovered quickly. “So, what’re we doing?”

“I think I remember Tom saying something about getting Chloe drunk.” I looked at Tom and winked.

“What!?! Really!” He looked surprised. “Alright!”

Tom punched him hard. “Oww... hey what was that for.”

I laughed. “Adam, you’re so easy.”

“That means you get to pay.” Tom said. “So, let’s go out now.”

“Hey, that’s not fair!” Adam complained as we headed out.

We stayed out late that night. It was wonderful. We first went to the arcade. Even though Chloe wasn’t a gamer, we got her to play ParaPara. I think she enjoyed it. I normally don’t play those types of games, but it’s fun watching. She even played some racing games. Afterwards we went to go get something to eat. I’m just glad we have a mall that has all these things. This place would be completely boring otherwise. I would hate it. I probably would turn out to be something I didn’t want to be. Not wanting it to end, we went over to Chloe’s to spend a little more time.

“Sorry guys, but I think I’ll pass.” Adam said. “I need to get up early tomorrow.”

“It’s ok.” Tom said. “See you tomorrow.”

“Sure.”

“Later.” I said while Chloe said, “Good bye.”

“So, it’s just us three.” Tom said.

“Let’s go, then.” She looked exhausted though.

Before we even got there, she had already fallen asleep. Tom, not wanting to wake her up, pick her up carefully and took her inside. “Thank you for bringing her in, Tom.” David said. “It must’ve been a busy day.”

“Sorry about bringing her back so late.” Tom apologized.

“It’s fine.” He smiled. “She’s been in this house for too long. It’s not healthy otherwise.”

“Mind if I stay here a little longer, David?” I asked him.

“You’re always welcome to stay, Samantha.” His smile didn’t fade.

“I think I’ll head home.” Tom stated. “I didn’t realize how tired I really was till now.”

“See you tomorrow, then, Tom?”

“Of course.” He waved, “Good bye, David.”

“Good bye.” He looked at me after Tom left. “So, what did you want to talk about?”

“I...” I couldn’t help hesitating. “Could we go somewhere away from Chloe? I don’t want to wake her up.”

“Sure thing.”

We stopped in the kitchen to fix some drinks and a snack. “Would you like something to drink while we talk?”

“Yes, thank you.” I knew it would help. “Did you want anything sweet to go with it?”

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt.” He smiled at me.

After sitting down at a table, we were silent for a while. “How are classes going?”
“I think they’re okay.” I looked down. “I mean, I don’t feel like they’re going bad at the least.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“I still don’t know what to make my major, though.”

“Well, it’s only been a year.” David consoled. “If I remember, you weren’t sure when you enrolled, were you?”

“No.”

“I would assume that even if a year passed you still wouldn’t.” He took a drink. “It is an important question to ask yourself. The answer you are looking for is who you will be. Who do you want to be?”

“I... I just don’t know.”

“I think most people don’t. They use what they have learned and go from there.” He looked
straight into me. “What have you learned that you want to do?”

“I...” I look down again. “All I know.... All I want to be right now. I don’t want to be like my parents. That’s all I know.”

“What are your parents?” He knows what jobs they have.

“They... demean other people.” I’m sure he’s heard from Chloe. “Actually, it’s mostly my mother. My dad ignores it. I don’t want to do either.”

“Have you?”

“What?” It was a shock to hear it so outright. “I guess a little.”

“But, was it like them?”

“No.” It was all I could say. “Never.”

“That means you already are want you want to be.” David continued. “How are you suppose to go forward when you’re already where you want to be?”

“But I’m not.” I got loud. “I don’t want to be here. I know that much.”

“What do you do then?”

“I can only search.” That’s the only thing. “I can’t do any more.” Only search. “How can I do more?”

“I think you can do more.”

“You’re right.” I finally said it. “I have something to tell you.”
He just looks at me, telling me to go on. “What you said to me earlier.” It’s for those around that person to help lift it. Even if it’s just being with them talking about nothing. “I wanted to thank you. You’re more of a father to me than my own. Thank you for being there for me.”

“I will always be here for you.” He got up suddenly. “Follow me if you want.”

I stare up at the spot he was. He had already left with his dishes. I followed his example not wanting to look rude. When I entered the kitchen he was already heading downstair. Why was he going downstairs? I put my dishes in the sink and followed him out of curiosity. It was suppose to be a storage area, but he went down there anyways.
He went through a door I’ve noticed a couple of times. I’ve always wanted to know what was in there, but it was always locked. Curiosity was my very being now. Why was he showing me this? What had brought this on? Why was I asking myself so many questions? I had to know. After I had stepped into the room, straight ahead of me was a mirror. I thought it was a mirror at least, but she wasn’t wearing what I was. It was Lily.