Sweet Twenty-first's

The day had finally come. It was December nineteenth and it was Sami’s twenty-first birthday and she was out for her first legal drink with her brother, Mark, who she was scarily close with, and his friend, Kevin. After a few drinks Sami realized just how much her brother’s friend had matured. He was no longer the scrawny little boy that his brother had befriended years ago. He was tall, muscular, and handsome. Of course that was probably just the liquor talking. She wasn’t used to drinking and she didn't know the effects that it would have.

Sami decided after a few drinks that she wanted to dance. She had never been out clubbing, and it was her birthday after all. She decided that she deserved to have a little bit of fun. Thinking it would be weird to dance with her brother she asked Kevin. Of course he said yes. He didn’t want anyone else to dance with her. He had a strange feeling of possession towards her. she's like my baby sister, I just don't want her to get hurt he thought to himself. No, it's more than that.

Sami made her way onto the dance-floor pulling a reluctant Kevin with her. He watched her walk and sway her body back and forth in the pounding music pulling him closer. He definitely didn't think of her as a sister. She turned her back to him and pushed her body against his, grinding her self against his rugged body. His body stiffened as she moved closer. She may have initiated the contact, but he was still afraid of mark kicking his ass. She wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol making her so brave or not but she loved it. She could tell he was tense, but she continued anyway. She pointed to mark, showing Kevin that he wasn't paying any attention to them. His hands moved to her hips as he got into the song and lost the fears of her brother kicking his ass. They danced through several songs when Sami turned to face him. She studied his features. He really was no longer the scrawny little boy that her brother was friends with. He was rugged and hard with chiseled features that screamed masculinity. She craved his touch again as soon as they stopped dancing.

Kevin looked at Sami and realized that she was no longer the little girl that followed Mark around in admiration. She had grown up and become a beautiful woman. And she had the figure to prove it.

A blush made its way across Sami’s face as she realized that they were staring at each other, and she looked down hoping that Kevin wouldn’t notice. As the music continued, and the people in the crowd moved around bumping into them; they stood there in silence.

It was then that Sami decided she needed some fresh air. She leaned in closer to Kevin to explain, when he took a deep breath wanting to simply breath her in. Lavender. Sami backed away into the crowded bar and Kevin watched her go with a frown on his face. He wanted to follow her, to be close to her, and to hold her. He knew it was wrong to want her. He was his best friends little sister for crying out loud. She was twenty-one and he was twenty-six. That alone was a major problem in his book. He had been with both older and younger women, but it was never anything serious. And if he was going to have something with Sami, it was going to be serious.

Noticing the disappointed look on his friends face and watching his sister struggle to push her way through the crowd he turned to his friend, he automatically assumed the worst about the situation. He couldn’t help it. He was quite protective of his little sister. She had been thrown around by other men before, and he wasn't going to let it happen again.

“What did you say to her,” Mark asked his friend in an accusing tone.

“I didn’t say anything. She just looked at me kind of funny and said she needed some air. I think it might just be the drinking combined with all of the dancing."

“Well you better keep an eye on her. This is her first time really drinking. She isn’t like us. She didn’t get shit-faced when she was sixteen,” he responded with a chuckle, although he was still worried about her

Kevin thought for a moment yeah, I noticed. I always liked that about her. So innocent, pure, and beautiful. Wait… Shut up Kevin, she’s off limits. Kevin's protective instincts had kicked in when he realized that several minutes had passed without Sami's return.

“I’ll go and check on her,” he said out loud after a moment. He turned and started walking towards the door. Nothing could have prepared him for what happened next.

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Sami pushed the door open and felt the crisp winter air hit her face. She let out the breath that she had been holding and saw a white cloud appear before her face. Damn. It’s cold out tonight… Well no shit it is the middle of December… oh shut up, she silently argued with herself. She leaned against the wall of the bar and closed her eyes. Why did she have to start noticing Kevin now? She was trying to block all thoughts of him from her mind. Trying to pay attention to her surroundings but not wanting to open her eyes Sami heard the gravel crunch. Just by listening, she could tell it was only person and he was getting closer. probably just another middle aged man coming to drink when he should be at home with his family Sami thought to herself. She could hear the footsteps growing louder and faster as they got closer. She wasn't too worried after all, she was standing right next to the door.

Suddenly right in front of her the footsteps stopped. Expecting to hear the door open Sami opened her eyes. She was getting rather cold, and was ready to go back in. In front of her stood a man who must have been over six foot three inches and weighing more than two hundred pounds, and he was holding a knife that reflected the neon signs of the bar. Knowing that he was a foe rather than a friend Sami tried to scream and opened her mouth to nothing. No sound came out.

His hand quickly went to her neck and closed around it. He easily held her still and quiet with one hand. Sami desperately gasped for breath as he snaked his other hand around her body and pushed the knife against her back. Sami sucked in a deep breath as the cold metal pressed against her skin. She pushed herself forward, trying to put more distance between her and the knife. He pressed his lips down against hers as the door burst open.

Sami’s attacker jumped and the knife slid into her back. Sami's eyes opened wide as silent tears rolled down her cheeks. Turning to run, he pulled the knife back out again.

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Kevin pushed open the door and saw Sami pressed against the wall by a stranger. He knew he should have come out sooner.

“Hey, get the fuck off of her,” Kevin yelled.

The man turned to run and Kevin moved over to Sami to hold her as she began to fall. She must be in shock, he thought to himself.

“Are you okay? Did he do anything to you?” Kevin frantically asked.

Sami didn’t answer as a tear ran down her cheek and the door opened once more.

Mark pushed open the door to see his little sister in Kevin’s arm.

“What the fuck is going on? I ask you to come out and get her, and you make a move when I’m not look--”

“SHUT UP! There was some guy all over her. I don’t know what happened he had a knife, but I don’t know if he got to do anything,” Kevin tried to explain. Kevin looked at Sami, wondering why she wasn't confirming what he was saying

Mark turned to his sister, “Sami, are you okay?” He noticed how pale she was as she fainted in Kevin’s arms.

“Fuck,” Kevin exclaimed. Kevin shifted her in his arms in order to support her limp body when his hands felt something warm and sticky. His face drained of color as he turned to look at his friend.

“You might want to call an ambulance,” Kevin said pressing one hand onto the wound, applying pressure to try and stop the bleeding, and pulling the other one away showing Mark the girl’s blood on his hand.