Sweet Summer
Rating: 13+
Character Pairing: Original Characters
Status: Ongoing
Summary: When Mindy Lee came home for the summer, she really didn't expect to be running into Samson again, but then, where would he have gone? Even when they were kids, all that boy ever did was run around half naked, making fun of girls and flirt his way out of trouble. Now that all the girls from the neighborhood were gone, she was stuck to handle his crap, but how was she to know that he had grown to be devilishly handsome?
Character Pairing: Original Characters
Status: Ongoing
Summary: When Mindy Lee came home for the summer, she really didn't expect to be running into Samson again, but then, where would he have gone? Even when they were kids, all that boy ever did was run around half naked, making fun of girls and flirt his way out of trouble. Now that all the girls from the neighborhood were gone, she was stuck to handle his crap, but how was she to know that he had grown to be devilishly handsome?
Prologue: Mindy Lee
Did I meet him before?
Somehow the awkwardly-shaped single dimple on his face reminds me of the boy next door who used to shoot me with a water gun when I have tea parties in the garden. Not to mention the pitiful way he tried to tame his flaming red piece of work he called hair. Yea, that prick. I hope he doesn’t go to the same college. It was already a nightmare living next to him for the first five years of my life. Having to move back next to him makes it even worse.
“Mindy Lee, is that you? My, my, if it weren’t for that sweet little ass I wouldn't have recognized ya!” The voice had some lazy in it. Definitely some asshole too. Yep, it’s him alright.
I inhaled deeply, closing my eyes before putting on the sweetest smile and responding: “Have you always been such a perv, Samson?”
“When did you move back? My mom and your mom can catch up,” With a softer voice, he moved closer to me and whispered: “And you and I, well, we can do a little something-something.”
“No thanks,” I replied dryly, pushing him away. “I need to unpack.”
“I can help. Seems like you and your mom need a little manpower at the moment.”
“Sorry, Samson. You’re just not man enough for us,” I retorted. Yep, always gotta bring that burn with this one.
“That hurts, right here,” he pouted mockingly, bringing his hand to pat his oh-so-hurting heart.
“Might wanna get that heart checked out, Samson, could be all that cholesterol you’re injesting everyday,” I offered sweetly. “Go on, now.”
“That’s so sweet of you, Mindy Lee.” He smiled, bringing out that gawd-dang dimple again before continuing: “I gotta go now. I’ll chat you up again sometime, sweetheart.”
“See ya.”
Yep, that’s us. Mindy Lee and Samson. BFF’s right? Well, that’s what our moms thought.
Somehow the awkwardly-shaped single dimple on his face reminds me of the boy next door who used to shoot me with a water gun when I have tea parties in the garden. Not to mention the pitiful way he tried to tame his flaming red piece of work he called hair. Yea, that prick. I hope he doesn’t go to the same college. It was already a nightmare living next to him for the first five years of my life. Having to move back next to him makes it even worse.
“Mindy Lee, is that you? My, my, if it weren’t for that sweet little ass I wouldn't have recognized ya!” The voice had some lazy in it. Definitely some asshole too. Yep, it’s him alright.
I inhaled deeply, closing my eyes before putting on the sweetest smile and responding: “Have you always been such a perv, Samson?”
“When did you move back? My mom and your mom can catch up,” With a softer voice, he moved closer to me and whispered: “And you and I, well, we can do a little something-something.”
“No thanks,” I replied dryly, pushing him away. “I need to unpack.”
“I can help. Seems like you and your mom need a little manpower at the moment.”
“Sorry, Samson. You’re just not man enough for us,” I retorted. Yep, always gotta bring that burn with this one.
“That hurts, right here,” he pouted mockingly, bringing his hand to pat his oh-so-hurting heart.
“Might wanna get that heart checked out, Samson, could be all that cholesterol you’re injesting everyday,” I offered sweetly. “Go on, now.”
“That’s so sweet of you, Mindy Lee.” He smiled, bringing out that gawd-dang dimple again before continuing: “I gotta go now. I’ll chat you up again sometime, sweetheart.”
“See ya.”
Yep, that’s us. Mindy Lee and Samson. BFF’s right? Well, that’s what our moms thought.
Day One: Beginning
“Bring it all to hell, Jamie Anderson, is that you?” Jessica screamed upon opening the door. She didn’t believe her son when he ran into the house telling her the Andersons came back. “My, my, that damn son of mine didn’t lie after all.”
“Well, gotta give Samson a little credit sometimes,” Jamie responded. “Bring em in, Mindy Lee!”
Mindy Lee entered the familiar house with a plate of brownies, made especially with her own secret recipe. She only learned this recipe after discovering Samson’s allergic reaction to almonds. After that, he never touched her brownies again, allowing her to share them with her stuffed animal friends during her tea party. Of course, now and then, she would make a spare brownie, void of any almonds, just for him if he decided to beg her to let him into her tea party.
“SAMSON! Get your ass in here and set the table!”
“COMING!”
Heavy footsteps pounded upstairs before they clapped their way down the steps, revealing a shirtless Samson in his cargo shorts. Mindy Lee swallowed; when did he grow up to look like this?
“My, my, if it isn't Mindy Lee, that dress is doing you some justice.”
Sighing inwardly, she sent a dull glare his way before carrying the plate of brownies past him. If only he didn't open his mouth. Samson was always pleasant company when he was quiet or asleep.
“Shut yer trap, boy,” Jessica grunted, hitting her son playfully upside the head. “Mindy Lee doesn't come over often, you'll get it if you drive her away.”
Jamie laughed, responding: “Oh, Jess, don't worry about the boy. The kids gotta catch up. Now let me tell you about Auntie Emma.”
The two older ladies entered into the kitchen after Mindy Lee, leaving Samson following behind, shaking his head. He was going to have a good summer after all.
“Well, gotta give Samson a little credit sometimes,” Jamie responded. “Bring em in, Mindy Lee!”
Mindy Lee entered the familiar house with a plate of brownies, made especially with her own secret recipe. She only learned this recipe after discovering Samson’s allergic reaction to almonds. After that, he never touched her brownies again, allowing her to share them with her stuffed animal friends during her tea party. Of course, now and then, she would make a spare brownie, void of any almonds, just for him if he decided to beg her to let him into her tea party.
“SAMSON! Get your ass in here and set the table!”
“COMING!”
Heavy footsteps pounded upstairs before they clapped their way down the steps, revealing a shirtless Samson in his cargo shorts. Mindy Lee swallowed; when did he grow up to look like this?
“My, my, if it isn't Mindy Lee, that dress is doing you some justice.”
Sighing inwardly, she sent a dull glare his way before carrying the plate of brownies past him. If only he didn't open his mouth. Samson was always pleasant company when he was quiet or asleep.
“Shut yer trap, boy,” Jessica grunted, hitting her son playfully upside the head. “Mindy Lee doesn't come over often, you'll get it if you drive her away.”
Jamie laughed, responding: “Oh, Jess, don't worry about the boy. The kids gotta catch up. Now let me tell you about Auntie Emma.”
The two older ladies entered into the kitchen after Mindy Lee, leaving Samson following behind, shaking his head. He was going to have a good summer after all.
Day Two: Samson
She was beautiful.
Er, no, hot I mean. Beautiful wouldn’t quite describe the girl lazin’ around in a friggin' green bikini on her front porch. But hell, time sure did her some justice, Baby Mindy Lee has gotten everything goin’ for her after comin’ back from New York. Either she was pretendin’ to be asleep or she was really knocked out while lying on that hammock.
Well, either way, I had to find out for myself.
“SAMSON CHESTER! I HATE YOU!” she screamed, clutchin’ her ears tightly when I blew into the whistle. Ol’ Mrs. Johnson peered over at us from her garden, wonderin’ why Mindy Lee was screamin’.
It wasn’t easy pretendin’ that I didn’t know what was goin’ on when she threw me that death glare. All I could do was pet Freddie, the beagle looked innocently at both of us, as if tryin’ to figure out what was goin’ on. If looks could kill, I’ll bet Mindy Lee was some secret assassin. Hah! What a sweetie! You’d think the girl got a little nicer when she decided to come back, but I’ll never get tired of pissin’ her off.
“What’s wrong, Mindy Lee?” I smiled, tryin’ to grin as hard as I could to get the dimples to show up. I know she loves ‘em. “Did my whistlin’ hurt ya?”
With sarcasm drippin’ from every single word, she said: “Of course not! Nothing’s wrong, Samson, until YOU came along!”
I feigned emotional injury, feelin’ the déjà vu of the other day come back: “Why, Mindy Lee. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think that you hate me!”
Er, no, hot I mean. Beautiful wouldn’t quite describe the girl lazin’ around in a friggin' green bikini on her front porch. But hell, time sure did her some justice, Baby Mindy Lee has gotten everything goin’ for her after comin’ back from New York. Either she was pretendin’ to be asleep or she was really knocked out while lying on that hammock.
Well, either way, I had to find out for myself.
“SAMSON CHESTER! I HATE YOU!” she screamed, clutchin’ her ears tightly when I blew into the whistle. Ol’ Mrs. Johnson peered over at us from her garden, wonderin’ why Mindy Lee was screamin’.
It wasn’t easy pretendin’ that I didn’t know what was goin’ on when she threw me that death glare. All I could do was pet Freddie, the beagle looked innocently at both of us, as if tryin’ to figure out what was goin’ on. If looks could kill, I’ll bet Mindy Lee was some secret assassin. Hah! What a sweetie! You’d think the girl got a little nicer when she decided to come back, but I’ll never get tired of pissin’ her off.
“What’s wrong, Mindy Lee?” I smiled, tryin’ to grin as hard as I could to get the dimples to show up. I know she loves ‘em. “Did my whistlin’ hurt ya?”
With sarcasm drippin’ from every single word, she said: “Of course not! Nothing’s wrong, Samson, until YOU came along!”
I feigned emotional injury, feelin’ the déjà vu of the other day come back: “Why, Mindy Lee. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think that you hate me!”
Day Three: Mindy Lee
“Shut up,” I muttered into the phone, hearing the scandalous news about Julie’s pregnancy, or rather, abortion. The person on the other line confirmed it again, for the ninth time. “Looks like you were right after all, Natalie. Guess who I’ll be steering clear of when I come back.”
I turned my head from the back of my chair once more, making sure the coast is still clear, no doubt that little maniac will come out any moment, ready to attack with that water-breathing hose of his. His dragon, he claimed. Hah. “Hey Mindy Lee!”
I bolted upright, glancing about to find him. Samson waved at me in his tan glory from across the fence. He wasn’t wearing a shirt! He was shaving the bushes in his backyard. The dimple was showing again. Oh dear. “What are you doing, Samson Chester?” Yep, atta girl. Greet him with his last name too, show some distance. That boy won’t get near ya.
“Shavin’ my bushes,” he grinned in a perverted manner. Hell, who were I kidding? The kid was shameless. “Wanna help?”
I rolled my eyes, laying back on the chair with my book. The Church of Dead Girls was finally getting interesting after three hundred pages and I was intent on enjoying it. I could have started the book with the three girls missing without having to build up so much boring suspense. Unfortunately, it was Texas. As it always was and always would be, the neighbors liked to be nosy, especially Samson. “Whatcha readin’ there, Mindy Lee?”
I responded, not taking my eyes off the words. Samson chuckled loudly, as though he found out some deep dark secret of mine. After a while, I didn’t hear anymore of him, and foolishly I assumed that he had left. Absentmindedly, I reached for the spot where I had placed my ice cold glass of lemonade. Well, where I had supposedly placed it. When I couldn’t find it, I left the confinements of my book to find Samson sitting next to me, drinking lemonade as if I had invited him into my house!
“Samson Chester! What do you think you’re doing!?” I exclaimed, throwing my book aside to make a grab for my lemonade.
“What am I doin’? I’m drinkin’ lemonade, duh.” He moved aside in a timely manner, as if making fun of me for being unable to catch the glass. “The Church of Dead Girls, huh? You’ve gotten pretty morbid, haven’t you?”
“What I read is none of your business,” I responded, trying not to make it evident that I’ve given up on acquiring that glass of lemonade. Without another word, I returned to the book, silently distraught that I’ve lost my place yet again.
“Hey, read to me, won’t ya?” The dimple deepened. Despite that I did not want him next to me, Samson had somehow kicked and pushed his way onto my lounging chair, pleased that he has finally conquered enough room to rest his back. “Mama doesn’t read to me anymore, and since you’re back, hell, why not?”
“I will not read to you!” Needless to say, I ended up reading to him. The boy crudely threatened to shove his bushy armpits into my face if I did not do as instructed. All the while, he even had the audacity to grin about it! Well, I don’t know what was up with him, but soon after I started reading, he got quiet. When I got to the good part, I commented: “My, finally! It’s here! The murderer is about to get caught!”
Next to me emitted a soft snore. I looked over to see Samson fast asleep, his chin resting awkwardly around his own shoulders while his arms were folded behind the back of his head. I scrunched my face in disgust when the stench hit me fully. Without warning, I dumped the glass of lemonade on his pants, right where his family jewel rested.
I turned my head from the back of my chair once more, making sure the coast is still clear, no doubt that little maniac will come out any moment, ready to attack with that water-breathing hose of his. His dragon, he claimed. Hah. “Hey Mindy Lee!”
I bolted upright, glancing about to find him. Samson waved at me in his tan glory from across the fence. He wasn’t wearing a shirt! He was shaving the bushes in his backyard. The dimple was showing again. Oh dear. “What are you doing, Samson Chester?” Yep, atta girl. Greet him with his last name too, show some distance. That boy won’t get near ya.
“Shavin’ my bushes,” he grinned in a perverted manner. Hell, who were I kidding? The kid was shameless. “Wanna help?”
I rolled my eyes, laying back on the chair with my book. The Church of Dead Girls was finally getting interesting after three hundred pages and I was intent on enjoying it. I could have started the book with the three girls missing without having to build up so much boring suspense. Unfortunately, it was Texas. As it always was and always would be, the neighbors liked to be nosy, especially Samson. “Whatcha readin’ there, Mindy Lee?”
I responded, not taking my eyes off the words. Samson chuckled loudly, as though he found out some deep dark secret of mine. After a while, I didn’t hear anymore of him, and foolishly I assumed that he had left. Absentmindedly, I reached for the spot where I had placed my ice cold glass of lemonade. Well, where I had supposedly placed it. When I couldn’t find it, I left the confinements of my book to find Samson sitting next to me, drinking lemonade as if I had invited him into my house!
“Samson Chester! What do you think you’re doing!?” I exclaimed, throwing my book aside to make a grab for my lemonade.
“What am I doin’? I’m drinkin’ lemonade, duh.” He moved aside in a timely manner, as if making fun of me for being unable to catch the glass. “The Church of Dead Girls, huh? You’ve gotten pretty morbid, haven’t you?”
“What I read is none of your business,” I responded, trying not to make it evident that I’ve given up on acquiring that glass of lemonade. Without another word, I returned to the book, silently distraught that I’ve lost my place yet again.
“Hey, read to me, won’t ya?” The dimple deepened. Despite that I did not want him next to me, Samson had somehow kicked and pushed his way onto my lounging chair, pleased that he has finally conquered enough room to rest his back. “Mama doesn’t read to me anymore, and since you’re back, hell, why not?”
“I will not read to you!” Needless to say, I ended up reading to him. The boy crudely threatened to shove his bushy armpits into my face if I did not do as instructed. All the while, he even had the audacity to grin about it! Well, I don’t know what was up with him, but soon after I started reading, he got quiet. When I got to the good part, I commented: “My, finally! It’s here! The murderer is about to get caught!”
Next to me emitted a soft snore. I looked over to see Samson fast asleep, his chin resting awkwardly around his own shoulders while his arms were folded behind the back of his head. I scrunched my face in disgust when the stench hit me fully. Without warning, I dumped the glass of lemonade on his pants, right where his family jewel rested.
Day Four: Sweet Revenge
“Is that so? My, if I didn’t know any better, I thought she got a boyfriend. Her little behind’s gotten a lot prettier over the years, hasn’t she?” Jessica grinned, “Still think my boy’s got a chance?”
“I bet he does. Samson Chester is the sweetest boy I know!” Jamie remarked, placing the plate of cookies on the table. “Send him over to my house a little more and I bet Mindy Lee will be all over him in no time.”
They looked outside at the garden, watching Samson sprinkle a jet stream at the sleeping girl who apparently didn’t learn her lesson from the day before. Jamie chuckled to her friend when the girl bolted away and somehow in the midst of all the noise indoors, Mindy Lee’s scream of terror that had been directed towards the grinning Samson went lost to their ears.
“SAMSON CHESTER, I WILL KICK YOUR ASS!” If either of the two older women had been listening, that would have been what hit their ears. Unfortunately, they hadn’t. Desperate Housewives was on and neither of them was going to miss finding out what would happen to poor Eddie after he murdered his mom.
Instead, when they turned their heads away from the commercials that interrupted the sweet drama, this was what they heard: “Mindy Lee, you’re hot when you’re angry!”
“Haha, you grew a little sweet-talker, didn’t you?” Jamie laughed quite loudly. “Next thing you know, he’ll be walking around breaking hearts like he’s breathing!”
“Yea, well, I raise him to be a good boy. Not an idiot like his dad,” Jessica chuckled. “Look, Susan’s about to say something to Gabriella.”
Without another word, they both turned back to the television. Outside, Mindy Lee was throwing every possible combination of items that could be used to kill another person, namely Samson, of course. Instead of trembling in the midst of this waking terror, Samson couldn’t hold back his giggles. He was determined to go down laughing.
“I bet he does. Samson Chester is the sweetest boy I know!” Jamie remarked, placing the plate of cookies on the table. “Send him over to my house a little more and I bet Mindy Lee will be all over him in no time.”
They looked outside at the garden, watching Samson sprinkle a jet stream at the sleeping girl who apparently didn’t learn her lesson from the day before. Jamie chuckled to her friend when the girl bolted away and somehow in the midst of all the noise indoors, Mindy Lee’s scream of terror that had been directed towards the grinning Samson went lost to their ears.
“SAMSON CHESTER, I WILL KICK YOUR ASS!” If either of the two older women had been listening, that would have been what hit their ears. Unfortunately, they hadn’t. Desperate Housewives was on and neither of them was going to miss finding out what would happen to poor Eddie after he murdered his mom.
Instead, when they turned their heads away from the commercials that interrupted the sweet drama, this was what they heard: “Mindy Lee, you’re hot when you’re angry!”
“Haha, you grew a little sweet-talker, didn’t you?” Jamie laughed quite loudly. “Next thing you know, he’ll be walking around breaking hearts like he’s breathing!”
“Yea, well, I raise him to be a good boy. Not an idiot like his dad,” Jessica chuckled. “Look, Susan’s about to say something to Gabriella.”
Without another word, they both turned back to the television. Outside, Mindy Lee was throwing every possible combination of items that could be used to kill another person, namely Samson, of course. Instead of trembling in the midst of this waking terror, Samson couldn’t hold back his giggles. He was determined to go down laughing.
Day Five: Samson
So here was what happened this morning. I was callin’ Mindy Lee early this mornin’ because her mom “accidentally” gave us her cell phone number in case any emergencies happened while my mama and she go off to Shreveport. I couldn’t complain, literally. Mama said she’d skin me if I said somethin’ to papa, so I didn’t.
“Mindy baby,” I grinned into the phone.
“…what the hell? How did you get my number?” I held the phone at a good distance away, chuckling at how audible her voice was at such a distance, “What are you doing? Samson Chester, don’t you hold the phone away from your ear. Haven’t your mama ever tell you that it’s disrespectful to hold your phone away while somebody’s talking?”
“Make me some breakfast, Mindy Lee!!” I whined, pettin’ my yet-to-be-growling stomach.
“In your dreams! Who do you think I am? Your maid? I’m not some babysitter who—“
“Your mom said I could call this number whenever I needed something,” I spoke, feignin’ innocence, “I hadn’t a clue that this was your number…”
“Your lies make me sick,” she grimaced.
I coughed, feelin’ quite proud at how genuine it sounded to my ears. “You’re a mean one, ain’t ya? Denyin’ a sick man his breakfast. Now I guess I’ll just lay in bed and wait for my sad endin’!”
“Quit your whining already!” she grumbled. A few seconds later, when I thought that she was sleepin’ again, I began to talk. Well, talkin’ probably wasn’t the right word for what I was doin’. Even my mama called my narrations about my school life an annoyance, you can guess what Mindy Lee called it. “Ugh, Samson Chester, you owe me so badly.”
“I’ll let you do to me what I did to you… yesterday,” I suggested, my smirk widening at the sound of her breathin’ getting’ deeper from anger.
And so here we were, sittin’ across each other eatin’ lunch after breakfast: mini sandwiches. I could only grin widely at the glare she was throwin’ me every now and then.
Oh sweet Mindy Lee, you’ll be the death of me! Hah!
“Mindy baby,” I grinned into the phone.
“…what the hell? How did you get my number?” I held the phone at a good distance away, chuckling at how audible her voice was at such a distance, “What are you doing? Samson Chester, don’t you hold the phone away from your ear. Haven’t your mama ever tell you that it’s disrespectful to hold your phone away while somebody’s talking?”
“Make me some breakfast, Mindy Lee!!” I whined, pettin’ my yet-to-be-growling stomach.
“In your dreams! Who do you think I am? Your maid? I’m not some babysitter who—“
“Your mom said I could call this number whenever I needed something,” I spoke, feignin’ innocence, “I hadn’t a clue that this was your number…”
“Your lies make me sick,” she grimaced.
I coughed, feelin’ quite proud at how genuine it sounded to my ears. “You’re a mean one, ain’t ya? Denyin’ a sick man his breakfast. Now I guess I’ll just lay in bed and wait for my sad endin’!”
“Quit your whining already!” she grumbled. A few seconds later, when I thought that she was sleepin’ again, I began to talk. Well, talkin’ probably wasn’t the right word for what I was doin’. Even my mama called my narrations about my school life an annoyance, you can guess what Mindy Lee called it. “Ugh, Samson Chester, you owe me so badly.”
“I’ll let you do to me what I did to you… yesterday,” I suggested, my smirk widening at the sound of her breathin’ getting’ deeper from anger.
And so here we were, sittin’ across each other eatin’ lunch after breakfast: mini sandwiches. I could only grin widely at the glare she was throwin’ me every now and then.
Oh sweet Mindy Lee, you’ll be the death of me! Hah!
Day Six: Mindy Lee
Well, oh my, lookie here. We have a Yorkie in Texas. I smiled at the blond who walked by with his dog and waved from the last page of my book. He waved back and when he heard my lack-of-accented greeting, the boy stopped by. “Visiting?”
“Yea, my mom wanted to see some of her old friends and relatives,” I explained. “You?”
“My parents want to travel around the states,” he rolled his eyes and held his hand out: “Elliot Thomas.”
Dear god, he’s gay. Smiling anyway, I shook his hand, “Mindy Lee Anderson. How do you like Texas so far?”
Elliot shrugged, “Not much. It’s hot and there’s not much to do around here.” He bent down a little to pet his dog, chuckling at the way it was sticking its tongue out to the heat, “Evan doesn’t like it either.”
“Well, you want a drink or something?” I offered.
“Would I? Why, thank you, Mindy Lee!” I inhaled deeply at the familiar sonorous voice. Here we go… “You’re so nice to me, especially with my mom gone and all.”
“What’s that, Samson? You already have drinks at home?” Go away, Samson! He could be bisexual! I could still have a chance! It was too late. Elliot heard his voice already and was already looking around.
I counted silently in my head. Three… two… one… “I’d like some Sprite,” Samson greeted us, jumping down like a monkey on a winter’s day from the treehouse that was still intact after so many years. By the way, the tree was right next to where I was, you can imagine how much of a scare Elliot and Evan got. The small Pomeranian yelped before jumping behind his master. “Well, hello there! What’s your name?”
Elliot looked him up and down, no doubt drooling on the inside at the way the boy was half-naked on MY lawn. I was pretty sure that Samson addressed the dog, but Elliot answered anyways: “Elliot Thomas. You live here?”
Samson grinned widely, “Samson Chester. Mindy Lee’s my girlfriend.” The idiot didn’t even blink! I could only gape as he wrapped his arms around my shoulder.
“Oh… I see…” Elliot looked disappointed and it definitely wasn’t because I was taken. “Well… Mindy Lee, how about that drink?”
I laughed, beckoning him towards my hammock, “It’s pretty hot out here… uh, why don’t you guys hang out on my porch for a while?”
At around six when Elliot trotted off with his Pomeranian, I rested against the hammock, sighing in disappointment. Samson leaned against the railing, drinking his Sprite rather contently as he waved the boy off. After a while, he looked at me, catching said disappointment, and asked: “What’sa matter?”
“Nothing~” I closed my eyes. “He was cute though.”
“Well, he’s a city boy. Looks like a wimp,” Samson grunted. “Won’t be able to protect you if someone like me was pickin’ on you. Did you see the way he was ogling you?” More like he was ogling you, dear Samson. “Looks like some kind of pervert or somethin’.”
“Yea, well, can’t blame him,” I answered absentmindedly.
Samson frowned, “What? You like being looked at that way? I do that all the time and all you do is hit me.”
“No, Samson, you’ll understand it someday,” I told him. Needless to say, it would be quite a while before Samson would understand what I was talking about.
“Yea, my mom wanted to see some of her old friends and relatives,” I explained. “You?”
“My parents want to travel around the states,” he rolled his eyes and held his hand out: “Elliot Thomas.”
Dear god, he’s gay. Smiling anyway, I shook his hand, “Mindy Lee Anderson. How do you like Texas so far?”
Elliot shrugged, “Not much. It’s hot and there’s not much to do around here.” He bent down a little to pet his dog, chuckling at the way it was sticking its tongue out to the heat, “Evan doesn’t like it either.”
“Well, you want a drink or something?” I offered.
“Would I? Why, thank you, Mindy Lee!” I inhaled deeply at the familiar sonorous voice. Here we go… “You’re so nice to me, especially with my mom gone and all.”
“What’s that, Samson? You already have drinks at home?” Go away, Samson! He could be bisexual! I could still have a chance! It was too late. Elliot heard his voice already and was already looking around.
I counted silently in my head. Three… two… one… “I’d like some Sprite,” Samson greeted us, jumping down like a monkey on a winter’s day from the treehouse that was still intact after so many years. By the way, the tree was right next to where I was, you can imagine how much of a scare Elliot and Evan got. The small Pomeranian yelped before jumping behind his master. “Well, hello there! What’s your name?”
Elliot looked him up and down, no doubt drooling on the inside at the way the boy was half-naked on MY lawn. I was pretty sure that Samson addressed the dog, but Elliot answered anyways: “Elliot Thomas. You live here?”
Samson grinned widely, “Samson Chester. Mindy Lee’s my girlfriend.” The idiot didn’t even blink! I could only gape as he wrapped his arms around my shoulder.
“Oh… I see…” Elliot looked disappointed and it definitely wasn’t because I was taken. “Well… Mindy Lee, how about that drink?”
I laughed, beckoning him towards my hammock, “It’s pretty hot out here… uh, why don’t you guys hang out on my porch for a while?”
At around six when Elliot trotted off with his Pomeranian, I rested against the hammock, sighing in disappointment. Samson leaned against the railing, drinking his Sprite rather contently as he waved the boy off. After a while, he looked at me, catching said disappointment, and asked: “What’sa matter?”
“Nothing~” I closed my eyes. “He was cute though.”
“Well, he’s a city boy. Looks like a wimp,” Samson grunted. “Won’t be able to protect you if someone like me was pickin’ on you. Did you see the way he was ogling you?” More like he was ogling you, dear Samson. “Looks like some kind of pervert or somethin’.”
“Yea, well, can’t blame him,” I answered absentmindedly.
Samson frowned, “What? You like being looked at that way? I do that all the time and all you do is hit me.”
“No, Samson, you’ll understand it someday,” I told him. Needless to say, it would be quite a while before Samson would understand what I was talking about.
Day Seven: Scary Movie
“What do you want, Samson?” Mindy Lee asked rather coldly, flipping the channels for any scary delights. After a long silence, her thumb left the remote control, “What’s that, you say? You have ALL six movies of Saw? Well, why didn’t you say so sooner? OF COURSE I’ll help you watch them!”
Within five minutes, she was already plopping on the couch with a bowl full of popcorn. Samson eyed her casual position with unease, unable to understand how she could be able to relax under such circumstances. Quietly, he scooted closer to her with another attempt to relax against his couch. “I heard it’s scarier than Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” he remarked. He couldn’t sleep for a week after watching something like that. If that monster were real, he was living in the SAME state as it was!
“I guess,” she shrugged, “I think this has more plot, but not as scary, I guess.” Scary movies such as these have plots? Jeez, Samson wished he could see through all the gore and blood to understand the plots. Usually, he’d be out like a lighter before there would be any revelation of a plot. Partially because he would scream himself exhausted. “So what brought this movie-watching escapade up?”
Mindy Lee didn’t seem to remember what happened the last time they watched a scary movie together. She definitely didn’t seem to have a hint as to why he wouldn’t sneak into friggin’ The Ring with her when they were in fifth grade. Sighing, Samson could only answer ever so regretfully: “My friends dared me to do so. You can be my witness that I’ve watched these movies, all six in a row.”
“Well, if anything happens—oh look, the movie’s coming on.” Without another word, Mindy Lee diverted her eyes to the screen, completely forgetting about poor Samson who was already screaming in his head ‘WHAT IF ANYTHING HAPPENS?!’ He tried everything he could think of: paying attention to the cracking of popcorn between her teeth, noticing the way she tucks her bangs behind her ears every now and then because they’re too short to stay tucked and too long for her comfort, and even eating some of the popcorn for himself! Needless to say, none of those worked.
Mindy Lee would stop chewing when her supernatural senses picked up his eyeing her. She would then proceed to glare at him and ask what his problem was, to which Samson would shake his head and try to turn his head back to the movie. Soon enough, the rhythmic sound of her chewing would repeat the entire process again. Soon enough, he looked at her hair. There were some BROWN highlights in her BROWN hair. If they weren’t a shade lighter, he would have laughed at her, but no doubt, sweet ol’ Mindy Lee would get violent and make fun of his red hair. It wasn’t his fault that his ancestors of Irish descents chose to move to Texas instead of New York. Finally when Samson decided that he’d make a move on the popcorn—perhaps to distract himself from all the screaming that made the girl laugh—he couldn’t! The moment he lowered his hand into the popcorn bowl, Mindy Lee jumped, staring wide-eyed at him as though he had just molested her.
“You pervert!” she gasped.
His jaw dropped: “What?! I just wanted some—“
“Some what? Trying to take advantage of me in broad daylight?” Note that the sun was already setting, as she had soulfully reminded him that the best time to see gore was when one cannot see anything else. “Seriously, Samson? You sank into a new low!”
“No! Popcorn!” Before she could open her mouth to say anything back, the sound of guts splattering on the big screen in front of him sent Samson almost three feet into the air, gasping for air as though he had barely survived a heart attack, “Holy cow, what the hell was that?”
“He just cut his leg off, Samson,” she explained carefully, with a blooming smile on her face. Samson would have said something about it if he could. While the man was screaming for his life, Samson had passed out in a heartbeat.
Within five minutes, she was already plopping on the couch with a bowl full of popcorn. Samson eyed her casual position with unease, unable to understand how she could be able to relax under such circumstances. Quietly, he scooted closer to her with another attempt to relax against his couch. “I heard it’s scarier than Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” he remarked. He couldn’t sleep for a week after watching something like that. If that monster were real, he was living in the SAME state as it was!
“I guess,” she shrugged, “I think this has more plot, but not as scary, I guess.” Scary movies such as these have plots? Jeez, Samson wished he could see through all the gore and blood to understand the plots. Usually, he’d be out like a lighter before there would be any revelation of a plot. Partially because he would scream himself exhausted. “So what brought this movie-watching escapade up?”
Mindy Lee didn’t seem to remember what happened the last time they watched a scary movie together. She definitely didn’t seem to have a hint as to why he wouldn’t sneak into friggin’ The Ring with her when they were in fifth grade. Sighing, Samson could only answer ever so regretfully: “My friends dared me to do so. You can be my witness that I’ve watched these movies, all six in a row.”
“Well, if anything happens—oh look, the movie’s coming on.” Without another word, Mindy Lee diverted her eyes to the screen, completely forgetting about poor Samson who was already screaming in his head ‘WHAT IF ANYTHING HAPPENS?!’ He tried everything he could think of: paying attention to the cracking of popcorn between her teeth, noticing the way she tucks her bangs behind her ears every now and then because they’re too short to stay tucked and too long for her comfort, and even eating some of the popcorn for himself! Needless to say, none of those worked.
Mindy Lee would stop chewing when her supernatural senses picked up his eyeing her. She would then proceed to glare at him and ask what his problem was, to which Samson would shake his head and try to turn his head back to the movie. Soon enough, the rhythmic sound of her chewing would repeat the entire process again. Soon enough, he looked at her hair. There were some BROWN highlights in her BROWN hair. If they weren’t a shade lighter, he would have laughed at her, but no doubt, sweet ol’ Mindy Lee would get violent and make fun of his red hair. It wasn’t his fault that his ancestors of Irish descents chose to move to Texas instead of New York. Finally when Samson decided that he’d make a move on the popcorn—perhaps to distract himself from all the screaming that made the girl laugh—he couldn’t! The moment he lowered his hand into the popcorn bowl, Mindy Lee jumped, staring wide-eyed at him as though he had just molested her.
“You pervert!” she gasped.
His jaw dropped: “What?! I just wanted some—“
“Some what? Trying to take advantage of me in broad daylight?” Note that the sun was already setting, as she had soulfully reminded him that the best time to see gore was when one cannot see anything else. “Seriously, Samson? You sank into a new low!”
“No! Popcorn!” Before she could open her mouth to say anything back, the sound of guts splattering on the big screen in front of him sent Samson almost three feet into the air, gasping for air as though he had barely survived a heart attack, “Holy cow, what the hell was that?”
“He just cut his leg off, Samson,” she explained carefully, with a blooming smile on her face. Samson would have said something about it if he could. While the man was screaming for his life, Samson had passed out in a heartbeat.
Day Eight: Samson
I grinned at Mindy Lee from the backyard, tryin’ as hard as I can to pop the dimple into its place, including my chest. She seemed to like lookin’ at my chest from time to time. That was why I don’t wear shirts during the day anymore! She waved absentmindedly at me before returnin’ to her book. Some new book she said made her cry like a baby. The Kite Runner or something. She wasn’t layin’ in the backyard chair today and if mama didn’t make our backyard so big, I wouldn’t be able to see her lyin’ on the hammock.
In any case, sweet ol’ Mindy Lee was warming up to me!
“You want some lemonade?” My ears perked up, hearin’ her voice ask the question. Before I could answer, she continued: “You look awfully sunburned, Elliot.”
That twit again? Decidin’ to, once again, take matters into my own hands, I responded in his place, “I want some lemonade. Dayum, standin’ out in the sun all day’s got me thirsty.”
Mindy Lee’s smile dropped when she saw me and she rolled her eyes, “Fine, fine, I’ll get you a cup as well, Samson.” See what I mean about warmin’ up to me?
When she went inside, Elliot started talkin’ to me: “So how are you today, Samson?”
I shrugged, respondin’ nonchalantly, “Waterin’ my bushes. Hangin’ out with Mindy Lee.”
Elliot nodded, shiftin’ his feet like some nervous newcomer, “Well… ah… how long have you guys been… together?” He wasn’t lookin’ at me in the eye. His stare was averted downward, for SOME reason. Whatever he was doin’, he was creepin’ me out.
I counted the days since Mindy Lee moved back for the summer and responded: “A week or so.” With a grin, I added, “She wants me.”
“Samson Chester, won’t you run somewhere and put a shirt on?”
Before I could reply with a smartass comment, Elliot muttered, “No, Mindy Lee, it’s quite alright—“
“I thought you liked my chest, baby!”
In any case, sweet ol’ Mindy Lee was warming up to me!
“You want some lemonade?” My ears perked up, hearin’ her voice ask the question. Before I could answer, she continued: “You look awfully sunburned, Elliot.”
That twit again? Decidin’ to, once again, take matters into my own hands, I responded in his place, “I want some lemonade. Dayum, standin’ out in the sun all day’s got me thirsty.”
Mindy Lee’s smile dropped when she saw me and she rolled her eyes, “Fine, fine, I’ll get you a cup as well, Samson.” See what I mean about warmin’ up to me?
When she went inside, Elliot started talkin’ to me: “So how are you today, Samson?”
I shrugged, respondin’ nonchalantly, “Waterin’ my bushes. Hangin’ out with Mindy Lee.”
Elliot nodded, shiftin’ his feet like some nervous newcomer, “Well… ah… how long have you guys been… together?” He wasn’t lookin’ at me in the eye. His stare was averted downward, for SOME reason. Whatever he was doin’, he was creepin’ me out.
I counted the days since Mindy Lee moved back for the summer and responded: “A week or so.” With a grin, I added, “She wants me.”
“Samson Chester, won’t you run somewhere and put a shirt on?”
Before I could reply with a smartass comment, Elliot muttered, “No, Mindy Lee, it’s quite alright—“
“I thought you liked my chest, baby!”
Day Nine: Mindy Lee
Oh dear, this was incredibly annoying. The situation turned out entirely… different from what I imagined. He wasn’t supposed to be this nice. Staring at the boy standing in the kitchen through the corner of my eyes, I groaned in disgust. Now I owe him, great. “Mindy Lee, you alright there, sweetheart?”
SWEETHEART?! If only he wasn’t so… I don’t know. I really wanted to say something about that, but all I ended up muttering was “Never better. You didn’t need to stay, Samson.”
“Well, it was my fault after all.” Damn right it was your fault. “If I didn’t fall, then the ladder wouldn’t have collapsed on you. Let me look at that your ankle.” What was with all this gentleman speech?
If it weren’t the worst possible time to admire his looks… time has been kind to Samson Chester. He looked, if I could remember correctly, just like his father. I wonder how Mrs. Chester could deal with living with the boy who was a splitting image of the man who walked out on her. Chiseled look, probably. He still looked like a boy, no matter from what angle. The roguish grin on his stubbed face (because he was too lazy to shave every day) made him look like some kid who did something stupid but refused to look the part.
“Like what you see?” The roguish grin appeared on his face, and I had no idea what he was saying. When I asked him what grazed his idiotic mind, he simply responded, “Anyone would know that you’re checkin’ me out, Mindy Lee.”
“Well, I—“
“DAMN IT TO HELL, JESSICA CHESTER! WE SHOULD HAVE BEAT THAT GUY UP!” Samson jumped up about three feet at the sound of the voice.
“Calm your horses, Jamie. He was talkin’ smack, but I bet his wife is beatin’ him up at home after she caught him with that hooker,” Samson’s mom walked in. “We still got the cash though.”
“Two thousand ain’t so bad. Here’s your share.” I groaned inwardly. I bet they robbed a bank or something.
“Well, I better get on home now. It was fun with you, sweetie. I better go check on poor Samson,” Jessica grinned. “Looks like I get to go shoppin’ this weekend. I better take the boy with me so he can carry my bags.”
“There’s no need,” my mom grinned just as widely. “Hi kids.”
“Mama, it’s nice of you to come home without telling me that you were going to leave in the first place,” I remarked dryly.
“Oh shut up, girl. I got shopping money.” Mom held up the wad of cash, “We can go shopping for bikinis this weekend. What happened to your leg?”
“Tripped,” I responded, “Shopping money? Well, mama, I might just forgive you.”
“Come on kiddo,” Jessica beckoned her son, “We better get home so I can make the supper. Be sure to come by later tonight, sweetheart.”
SWEETHEART?! If only he wasn’t so… I don’t know. I really wanted to say something about that, but all I ended up muttering was “Never better. You didn’t need to stay, Samson.”
“Well, it was my fault after all.” Damn right it was your fault. “If I didn’t fall, then the ladder wouldn’t have collapsed on you. Let me look at that your ankle.” What was with all this gentleman speech?
If it weren’t the worst possible time to admire his looks… time has been kind to Samson Chester. He looked, if I could remember correctly, just like his father. I wonder how Mrs. Chester could deal with living with the boy who was a splitting image of the man who walked out on her. Chiseled look, probably. He still looked like a boy, no matter from what angle. The roguish grin on his stubbed face (because he was too lazy to shave every day) made him look like some kid who did something stupid but refused to look the part.
“Like what you see?” The roguish grin appeared on his face, and I had no idea what he was saying. When I asked him what grazed his idiotic mind, he simply responded, “Anyone would know that you’re checkin’ me out, Mindy Lee.”
“Well, I—“
“DAMN IT TO HELL, JESSICA CHESTER! WE SHOULD HAVE BEAT THAT GUY UP!” Samson jumped up about three feet at the sound of the voice.
“Calm your horses, Jamie. He was talkin’ smack, but I bet his wife is beatin’ him up at home after she caught him with that hooker,” Samson’s mom walked in. “We still got the cash though.”
“Two thousand ain’t so bad. Here’s your share.” I groaned inwardly. I bet they robbed a bank or something.
“Well, I better get on home now. It was fun with you, sweetie. I better go check on poor Samson,” Jessica grinned. “Looks like I get to go shoppin’ this weekend. I better take the boy with me so he can carry my bags.”
“There’s no need,” my mom grinned just as widely. “Hi kids.”
“Mama, it’s nice of you to come home without telling me that you were going to leave in the first place,” I remarked dryly.
“Oh shut up, girl. I got shopping money.” Mom held up the wad of cash, “We can go shopping for bikinis this weekend. What happened to your leg?”
“Tripped,” I responded, “Shopping money? Well, mama, I might just forgive you.”
“Come on kiddo,” Jessica beckoned her son, “We better get home so I can make the supper. Be sure to come by later tonight, sweetheart.”
Day Ten: Misunderstanding
Samson was well on his merry little way to Mindy Lee's house until Mrs. Anderson waved at him and told him that the girl was out. With some cute guy. Samson narrowed his eyes. No doubt it was Elliot. Him and his little pomeranian walking around the neighborhood wooing girls like Mindy Lee who had a soft spot for dogs. Then again, if he didn't remember correctly, Mindy Lee was allergic to kittens, at least that was what she told him before she ran home that one Christmas Eve.
He went back home, dropping comfortably on his couch so he can sulk. He suddenly didn't feel so merry anymore.
“You think he'll like these chocolate kisses?” Mindy Lee folded her arms across her chest, examining the bag of white chocolate chips intently. Elliot furrowed his eyebrows at her lack of response and sighed, putting them back on the shelf, “You gotta help me, Mindy Lee. Stephen's birthday is in a month and I have NO IDEA what to get for him.”
As an effort to be consoling, she uttered, “I'm sure he'll like anything you get him, Elliot.”
“But you don't understand! I want him to really like it!” the boy pouted. “Maybe Samson would know...” Mindy Lee fought the urge to feel wounded, because she couldn't offer any good advice. When Elliot caught the look on her face, he remarked apologetically, “I'm sorry, Mindy Lee. I didn't mean it that way. Let's go look at something else and then we can get a pedicure after this.”
Smiling, although strained, Mindy Lee hooked her arms onto his and said, “Alright, so tell me about this Stephen guy...”
When his ears picked up her voice, Samson bolted to the window, seeing her smiling so happily with that guy THAT GUY! He narrowed his gaze at Elliot and the bag in his hand. They went shopping together and now he was holding a bag for her. From some swim suit store too! He wondered if she tried it on for him and at the thought of it, Samson's blood boiled in anger. He almost didn't hear the doorbell.
He opened the door just went Mindy Lee passed and before he could call out to her, two arms wrapped around his neck and two legs around his torso. Samson only realized what was happening by the look on Mindy Lee's face. Disturbed? Angry? Dare he thought... jealousy? “Nicky!”
“Samson!” The pixie-haired girl grinned at him. “How ya doin', cousin?”
There! Nicky called him cousin! Maybe if Mindy Lee heard it, she wouldn't be so mad! Samson peered over the twelve-year-old's shoulder to find that Elliot was passing through again with no Mindy Lee, glaring at him quite intently. The sixteen-year-old scowled back, quite angry himself. Jerking his chin upward and his eyes straight on the road as he walked home.
He went back home, dropping comfortably on his couch so he can sulk. He suddenly didn't feel so merry anymore.
“You think he'll like these chocolate kisses?” Mindy Lee folded her arms across her chest, examining the bag of white chocolate chips intently. Elliot furrowed his eyebrows at her lack of response and sighed, putting them back on the shelf, “You gotta help me, Mindy Lee. Stephen's birthday is in a month and I have NO IDEA what to get for him.”
As an effort to be consoling, she uttered, “I'm sure he'll like anything you get him, Elliot.”
“But you don't understand! I want him to really like it!” the boy pouted. “Maybe Samson would know...” Mindy Lee fought the urge to feel wounded, because she couldn't offer any good advice. When Elliot caught the look on her face, he remarked apologetically, “I'm sorry, Mindy Lee. I didn't mean it that way. Let's go look at something else and then we can get a pedicure after this.”
Smiling, although strained, Mindy Lee hooked her arms onto his and said, “Alright, so tell me about this Stephen guy...”
When his ears picked up her voice, Samson bolted to the window, seeing her smiling so happily with that guy THAT GUY! He narrowed his gaze at Elliot and the bag in his hand. They went shopping together and now he was holding a bag for her. From some swim suit store too! He wondered if she tried it on for him and at the thought of it, Samson's blood boiled in anger. He almost didn't hear the doorbell.
He opened the door just went Mindy Lee passed and before he could call out to her, two arms wrapped around his neck and two legs around his torso. Samson only realized what was happening by the look on Mindy Lee's face. Disturbed? Angry? Dare he thought... jealousy? “Nicky!”
“Samson!” The pixie-haired girl grinned at him. “How ya doin', cousin?”
There! Nicky called him cousin! Maybe if Mindy Lee heard it, she wouldn't be so mad! Samson peered over the twelve-year-old's shoulder to find that Elliot was passing through again with no Mindy Lee, glaring at him quite intently. The sixteen-year-old scowled back, quite angry himself. Jerking his chin upward and his eyes straight on the road as he walked home.
Day Eleven: Samson
I touched my chin absentmindedly, hopin' that I wasn't droolin' like mama said I was. Then again, bein' where I was, who wouldn't? For a gay guy, this would be the place to hang out with his girlfriend. For a straight guy like myself, this was heaven. Girls walkin' around in bathing suits and laughin', gigglin' with their girlfriends was one dream I never knew I had!
And not to mention, an added bonus too!
Mindy Lee's auburn ponytail bobbed back and forth as she checked herself out in the mirror, completely unaware of my standin' there while her mama and my mama were chatterin' away like a couple of chipmunks. Maybe she did know I was there and was just ignorin' me. Nicky's loud voice was loud enough to attract the attention of everyone in the storm. “Get away from me, Nicky,” I scowled, tryin' to push her away. Can't give Mindy Lee any wrong ideas now. Wait, did I just think what I thought I did?
“Come help me find a suit, cousin! Auntie is takin' us to the beach next week!” she pouted.
“Go find one yourself!” She was a twelve-year-old for god's sakes! What in the world did she want with me?! “Mama! Nicky's botherin' me!”
Nicky pouted and pulled away, leavin' me completely free to wander into Mindy Lee's territory. Oh she saw me alright. Her green eyes flared like they were some kind of alarm whenever I was near. Hah! “What do you want, Samson Chester?” she demanded quite fiercely after she turned around back to the mirrors.
“Purple's not your color,” I grinned, glancing at her backside, “Try green.”
“Oh yea? What do you know about bathing suits?” she glared, “And stop staring at my butt!”
“It brings out your eyes.” My grin was probably connected by the ears by now, but it didn't matter. Mindy Lee was smilin' too! The corner of her lips twitched and I continued, “You comin’ to the beach with us?”
“Probably,” she answered, “I already have a green suit.”
“So try another shade,” I smirked, “Want me to find you one?”
Mindy Lee rolled her eyes, “I’m not going to trust you with something important like that.” Important! Hah! “Besides, aren’t you supposed to be hanging out with little Nicky?” Is that jealousy I’m hearin’? Whooo-wee! Mindy Lee Anderson is jealous of a twelve-year-old! Over me!
“Naw, mama’s gonna watch her.” Then I suddenly remembered something. Narrowin’ my eyes, I asked, “Didn’t you already buy one?”
“Say what?” She knitted her eyebrows together in confusion. Okay… confused? Me too. “What are you on, Samson Chester?”
“Nothin’.” Maybe I was imagining things. “Not hangin’ out with ol’ Elliot today?”
“He has a birthday party to go to,” she said, walkin’ into the changin’ room. I hadn’t been realizing that I was followin’ her around the store until she glared at me just outside of the room, “Going somewhere?”
“What?” I blinked and instead of droppin’ jaw and glowin’ red, I grinned, “You sure you don’t need any help?”
“Nice try, pal,” she rolled her eyes and pushed at my chest. “Be a good boy and go help your mommy.”
And not to mention, an added bonus too!
Mindy Lee's auburn ponytail bobbed back and forth as she checked herself out in the mirror, completely unaware of my standin' there while her mama and my mama were chatterin' away like a couple of chipmunks. Maybe she did know I was there and was just ignorin' me. Nicky's loud voice was loud enough to attract the attention of everyone in the storm. “Get away from me, Nicky,” I scowled, tryin' to push her away. Can't give Mindy Lee any wrong ideas now. Wait, did I just think what I thought I did?
“Come help me find a suit, cousin! Auntie is takin' us to the beach next week!” she pouted.
“Go find one yourself!” She was a twelve-year-old for god's sakes! What in the world did she want with me?! “Mama! Nicky's botherin' me!”
Nicky pouted and pulled away, leavin' me completely free to wander into Mindy Lee's territory. Oh she saw me alright. Her green eyes flared like they were some kind of alarm whenever I was near. Hah! “What do you want, Samson Chester?” she demanded quite fiercely after she turned around back to the mirrors.
“Purple's not your color,” I grinned, glancing at her backside, “Try green.”
“Oh yea? What do you know about bathing suits?” she glared, “And stop staring at my butt!”
“It brings out your eyes.” My grin was probably connected by the ears by now, but it didn't matter. Mindy Lee was smilin' too! The corner of her lips twitched and I continued, “You comin’ to the beach with us?”
“Probably,” she answered, “I already have a green suit.”
“So try another shade,” I smirked, “Want me to find you one?”
Mindy Lee rolled her eyes, “I’m not going to trust you with something important like that.” Important! Hah! “Besides, aren’t you supposed to be hanging out with little Nicky?” Is that jealousy I’m hearin’? Whooo-wee! Mindy Lee Anderson is jealous of a twelve-year-old! Over me!
“Naw, mama’s gonna watch her.” Then I suddenly remembered something. Narrowin’ my eyes, I asked, “Didn’t you already buy one?”
“Say what?” She knitted her eyebrows together in confusion. Okay… confused? Me too. “What are you on, Samson Chester?”
“Nothin’.” Maybe I was imagining things. “Not hangin’ out with ol’ Elliot today?”
“He has a birthday party to go to,” she said, walkin’ into the changin’ room. I hadn’t been realizing that I was followin’ her around the store until she glared at me just outside of the room, “Going somewhere?”
“What?” I blinked and instead of droppin’ jaw and glowin’ red, I grinned, “You sure you don’t need any help?”
“Nice try, pal,” she rolled her eyes and pushed at my chest. “Be a good boy and go help your mommy.”
Day Twelve: Mindy Lee
Oh lovely sun, I don’t understand why we must meet under these circumstances. Me, you and Samson. Why bother anymore? No matter how much of your rays get absorbed by our atmosphere, you will never give me a tan as long as Samson has me rolling around trying to avoid him. What an annoying little boy, flashing his dimple whenever he felt like doing so. Oh dear, my Samson senses were tingling. “Mindy Lee, why don’t you let me put some lotion on you?”
Before I could even say no, his hands were already on my bare back, slathering yet another layer of my coconut lime lotion on my skin. “I didn’t say you could do that,” I snapped, trying to sound angry. My lips were twitching again. I bet he’ll think I was smiling or something. “Stop it. Shoo, shoo."
Three hours from Garland to Galveston and the boy couldn’t stop talking. I bet if his mama weren’t in the car, he’d be acting like a pervert too. Samson smiled cheekily, as though he felt too generous to stop spreading lotion on my back. He responded dramatically, “Oh Mindy Lee. We wore diapers together. It’s only right that I prevent you from gettin’ skin cancer. Aren’t I nice?”
I sighed when his hands went to my shoulders, kneading and kneading… and kneading. I had to admit, he had good hands. Tan, dark, and big… and warm. “If I didn’t know any better, Samson Chester, I’d think you were trying to seduce me. What do you want?” See? I wasn’t putty in his hands.
Suddenly his hands left my shoulders and a breeze brought a shiver to my lips. When I sat up, Samson was holding his hand to his chest and was looking incredibly wounded, as if I had accused him of some treacherous crime that he would never commit. “Why, Mindy Lee! The diapers, the diapers!” I raised an eyebrow, daring him to start on the baths, “Alright, alright, I need you to do somethin’ about my cousin.”
I glanced over at the girl kneeling in the sand, making her colossal empire, no doubt imagining that Samson and she were the rulers of. “Nicky? What about her?” Damn. Couldn’t keep the tone out of my voice even if my life depended on it.
Samson smirked, “She’s twelve, Mindy Lee. Take your claws out of my back.” He burst out laughing quite heartily until I folded my arms across my chest. “Well,” he cleared his throat, “There seems to be a bit of misunderstandin’. You see, we’re first cousins and Nicky’s idolized me a lot… and apparently, she ran away from home—“
“Home?”
“Collegestation.” Clearing his throat again, “Would you stop interruptin’ me? Anyway, apparently her grandma and she had some kind of fight and the first place she thought of comin’ to was here, so my mama’s hopin’ to send her back. I bet she’ll either come runnin’ back or worse, somewhere else. So I need your help convincin’ her to go back home for good.”
Something was fishy about this… “Anyway, I got a plan.” Samson was sounding strange now. There was something in his voice—“If you pretend that we’re datin’—“
Before I could even say no, his hands were already on my bare back, slathering yet another layer of my coconut lime lotion on my skin. “I didn’t say you could do that,” I snapped, trying to sound angry. My lips were twitching again. I bet he’ll think I was smiling or something. “Stop it. Shoo, shoo."
Three hours from Garland to Galveston and the boy couldn’t stop talking. I bet if his mama weren’t in the car, he’d be acting like a pervert too. Samson smiled cheekily, as though he felt too generous to stop spreading lotion on my back. He responded dramatically, “Oh Mindy Lee. We wore diapers together. It’s only right that I prevent you from gettin’ skin cancer. Aren’t I nice?”
I sighed when his hands went to my shoulders, kneading and kneading… and kneading. I had to admit, he had good hands. Tan, dark, and big… and warm. “If I didn’t know any better, Samson Chester, I’d think you were trying to seduce me. What do you want?” See? I wasn’t putty in his hands.
Suddenly his hands left my shoulders and a breeze brought a shiver to my lips. When I sat up, Samson was holding his hand to his chest and was looking incredibly wounded, as if I had accused him of some treacherous crime that he would never commit. “Why, Mindy Lee! The diapers, the diapers!” I raised an eyebrow, daring him to start on the baths, “Alright, alright, I need you to do somethin’ about my cousin.”
I glanced over at the girl kneeling in the sand, making her colossal empire, no doubt imagining that Samson and she were the rulers of. “Nicky? What about her?” Damn. Couldn’t keep the tone out of my voice even if my life depended on it.
Samson smirked, “She’s twelve, Mindy Lee. Take your claws out of my back.” He burst out laughing quite heartily until I folded my arms across my chest. “Well,” he cleared his throat, “There seems to be a bit of misunderstandin’. You see, we’re first cousins and Nicky’s idolized me a lot… and apparently, she ran away from home—“
“Home?”
“Collegestation.” Clearing his throat again, “Would you stop interruptin’ me? Anyway, apparently her grandma and she had some kind of fight and the first place she thought of comin’ to was here, so my mama’s hopin’ to send her back. I bet she’ll either come runnin’ back or worse, somewhere else. So I need your help convincin’ her to go back home for good.”
Something was fishy about this… “Anyway, I got a plan.” Samson was sounding strange now. There was something in his voice—“If you pretend that we’re datin’—“
Day Thirteen: Strange Dealings
“Nicky, you should really consider goin' home,” Samson remarked as he threw out the line. The wind breezed through his hair, reminding him how nice it was to relax at the beach once in a while, even if it was with his troublesome cousin. “Your parents are probably worried about you.”
“Unlikely,” she responded, throwing out her own line. Samson's chest swelled in pride for a second, after all, he had taught her how to hold a fishing rod at the age of six. “Daddy's being dumb and that lady stayin' around isn't helpin' him at all.”
“Well, if you're goin' to stay around, you know you gotta help out around here.” Something was tugging at the line. Samson stood up immediately and started reeling his line in, “If you need to talk about somethin', you know I'm here for you.”
“I know, you big ape,” Nicky laughed, “So what's with that Mindy girl?”
“Mindy Lee lives next door.” With one jerking motion, Samson pulled the fish out of the water. He didn't really want tuna, but for now it would do, “We go way back.”
“I can tell,” the younger girl snickered, “You like her.”
“Oh yea? What's it to you?” Samson narrowed his blue eye, “Why are we talkin' about this right now? I was talkin' about you and your situation at home.”
“I'm talkin' about this because she's standin' over there glarin' at me like I'm some monster!” the younger girl exclaimed, “I wanna say something!” Nicky glared at her older cousin because of his reaction to the new, “You big ape, why are you standin' there grinnin' for? You like it when I get glared at by girls like her?”
“Girls like her?” Samson smiled idiotically, “You sure she's glarin' at you, Nicky?”
Nicky looked over her shoulder again to see Mindy Lee standing by her hotel door with her hands on her hips. Even though she wasn't looking at the girl directly, Nicky could see the way her eyes darted towards the two of them every now and then. “Yes, Samson,” she gritted, “She IS glarin' at me. Now get over there and say something before she pokes a hole in the back of my head!”
“Comin'!” her cousin responded in a sing-song manner, perching his fishing rod on the dock and darting off. “Hey Mindy Lee!”
Nicky sighed, shaking her head as she returned to her fishing.
“Unlikely,” she responded, throwing out her own line. Samson's chest swelled in pride for a second, after all, he had taught her how to hold a fishing rod at the age of six. “Daddy's being dumb and that lady stayin' around isn't helpin' him at all.”
“Well, if you're goin' to stay around, you know you gotta help out around here.” Something was tugging at the line. Samson stood up immediately and started reeling his line in, “If you need to talk about somethin', you know I'm here for you.”
“I know, you big ape,” Nicky laughed, “So what's with that Mindy girl?”
“Mindy Lee lives next door.” With one jerking motion, Samson pulled the fish out of the water. He didn't really want tuna, but for now it would do, “We go way back.”
“I can tell,” the younger girl snickered, “You like her.”
“Oh yea? What's it to you?” Samson narrowed his blue eye, “Why are we talkin' about this right now? I was talkin' about you and your situation at home.”
“I'm talkin' about this because she's standin' over there glarin' at me like I'm some monster!” the younger girl exclaimed, “I wanna say something!” Nicky glared at her older cousin because of his reaction to the new, “You big ape, why are you standin' there grinnin' for? You like it when I get glared at by girls like her?”
“Girls like her?” Samson smiled idiotically, “You sure she's glarin' at you, Nicky?”
Nicky looked over her shoulder again to see Mindy Lee standing by her hotel door with her hands on her hips. Even though she wasn't looking at the girl directly, Nicky could see the way her eyes darted towards the two of them every now and then. “Yes, Samson,” she gritted, “She IS glarin' at me. Now get over there and say something before she pokes a hole in the back of my head!”
“Comin'!” her cousin responded in a sing-song manner, perching his fishing rod on the dock and darting off. “Hey Mindy Lee!”
Nicky sighed, shaking her head as she returned to her fishing.
Day Fourteen: Samson
"Mornin' Mindy Lee," I grinned like a fool, wincin' inwardly at the achin' pain from smilin' for too long.
Mindy Lee blinked, starin' at me like she didn't even know me. The silence was unbearable! She just stood there and stared until she probably decided that she was too tired to stay up anymore and closed the door on me. Behind the door, her raspy remark grumbled, "Damnit, can't leave nobody asleep in the morning, can't you?"
I blinked this time, droppin' the strained smile to think about the semantics of her sentence for a while until I decided that it was all my imagination anyway. "Wait! Mindy Lee! Don't you wanna see the sunrise?"
Well, the sunrise wasn't comin' around for another two or so hours, but anythin' to keep away from stealthy ears, especially Nicky's. I care for my cousin, swear and cross my heart.
"No, go away so decent people like ourselves could get decent sleep," she responded on the other side of the door.
I feigned pain in my voice. "But Mindy Lee, are you really leavin' this poor lonely boy to fend for himself in the dark skies?"
Sadly, the girl didn't even come close to fallin’ for it. "Do you want the truth or the lie?"
Well, might as well take it all the way. "Lie to me, Mindy baby!"
"Ugh, what will it take for you to stop bothering me, Samson Chester?" Not much. If someone came out to kick my ass for standin’ outside and shoutin’ to some random girl in the hotel room next to his, I'd probably curl over and sleep like a log.
"Just go out with the damn boy so I can get some sleep," Mindy Lee's mother's voice grumbled.
"Mama!" I grinned at the pouty tone. After a while, Mindy Lee let out a string of incoherent curses, followed by Mrs. Anderson's threats about the girl's language before steps scramblin’ about. Mindy Lee opened the doors seconds later, glarin’ at me with sleepy eyes and unkempt hair tied in a ponytail. If one must know, I was entirely satisfied with what she was wearin': a thin hoody over her t-shirt and shorts. She was so sexy. "Well?”
“Mindy Lee,” I grinned, “You didn’t have to pinch me that hard the other day.”
The bitterness was apparent on her face. Obviously, I wasn’t goin’ to get an apology from her anytime soon. She retorted sharply, “You woke me up to get an apology or something?” Damn, never mess with a girl early in the morning. “Do your nipples miss my nails?”
“Hey!” I covered my bare chest when her eyes drooped, “They’re sensitive.”
“Maybe you should wear a shirt or something, Samson. What do you want?” she finally asked.
“Alright, follow me,” I chirped. Yea, I chirped, mama always told me that was how you get somebody to wake up in the morning. Mindy Lee trudged behind me, swearin’ under her breath about how cold it was gettin’. “You want an extra jacket?”
“No, I want to go back to bed,” she whined.
“Alright, I’ll get it over with. Why don’t you talk to Nicky about going home or something?” I answered to her impatience, “Since we’re leaving tomorrow, I figured we can talk her into going home so we can just drop her off, you know?” When her mouth opened, I knew what she was thinkin’, “Drop her off without the risk of her runnin’ off again. We gotta crush her adventurous spirit, Mindy Lee.”
“Like hell.” She rolled her eyes, “That girl probably knows her way around the country. Hell if I care why she comes to your house.”
“Are you jealous?” Was she? Why was I getting’ so excited?
Mindy Lee’s annoyed expression seemed to generate so much satisfaction for me. “No, what’s up with you being all curious all the time?”
“I’m not curious, Mindy baby, I’m just observant.” Yep, she wanted me all right. “Fine, I’ll talk to her with you.”
“Samson Chester, no deal! It’s none of my business!” she exclaimed, turning around.
“But Mindy Lee! You promised to help me!” I was already puttin’ on my best whiny voice and Mindy Lee was still trottin’ back to the hotel, “Don’t you want to see the sunrise with me?”
Damnit, I cursed as she closed the door. Another time then.
Mindy Lee blinked, starin' at me like she didn't even know me. The silence was unbearable! She just stood there and stared until she probably decided that she was too tired to stay up anymore and closed the door on me. Behind the door, her raspy remark grumbled, "Damnit, can't leave nobody asleep in the morning, can't you?"
I blinked this time, droppin' the strained smile to think about the semantics of her sentence for a while until I decided that it was all my imagination anyway. "Wait! Mindy Lee! Don't you wanna see the sunrise?"
Well, the sunrise wasn't comin' around for another two or so hours, but anythin' to keep away from stealthy ears, especially Nicky's. I care for my cousin, swear and cross my heart.
"No, go away so decent people like ourselves could get decent sleep," she responded on the other side of the door.
I feigned pain in my voice. "But Mindy Lee, are you really leavin' this poor lonely boy to fend for himself in the dark skies?"
Sadly, the girl didn't even come close to fallin’ for it. "Do you want the truth or the lie?"
Well, might as well take it all the way. "Lie to me, Mindy baby!"
"Ugh, what will it take for you to stop bothering me, Samson Chester?" Not much. If someone came out to kick my ass for standin’ outside and shoutin’ to some random girl in the hotel room next to his, I'd probably curl over and sleep like a log.
"Just go out with the damn boy so I can get some sleep," Mindy Lee's mother's voice grumbled.
"Mama!" I grinned at the pouty tone. After a while, Mindy Lee let out a string of incoherent curses, followed by Mrs. Anderson's threats about the girl's language before steps scramblin’ about. Mindy Lee opened the doors seconds later, glarin’ at me with sleepy eyes and unkempt hair tied in a ponytail. If one must know, I was entirely satisfied with what she was wearin': a thin hoody over her t-shirt and shorts. She was so sexy. "Well?”
“Mindy Lee,” I grinned, “You didn’t have to pinch me that hard the other day.”
The bitterness was apparent on her face. Obviously, I wasn’t goin’ to get an apology from her anytime soon. She retorted sharply, “You woke me up to get an apology or something?” Damn, never mess with a girl early in the morning. “Do your nipples miss my nails?”
“Hey!” I covered my bare chest when her eyes drooped, “They’re sensitive.”
“Maybe you should wear a shirt or something, Samson. What do you want?” she finally asked.
“Alright, follow me,” I chirped. Yea, I chirped, mama always told me that was how you get somebody to wake up in the morning. Mindy Lee trudged behind me, swearin’ under her breath about how cold it was gettin’. “You want an extra jacket?”
“No, I want to go back to bed,” she whined.
“Alright, I’ll get it over with. Why don’t you talk to Nicky about going home or something?” I answered to her impatience, “Since we’re leaving tomorrow, I figured we can talk her into going home so we can just drop her off, you know?” When her mouth opened, I knew what she was thinkin’, “Drop her off without the risk of her runnin’ off again. We gotta crush her adventurous spirit, Mindy Lee.”
“Like hell.” She rolled her eyes, “That girl probably knows her way around the country. Hell if I care why she comes to your house.”
“Are you jealous?” Was she? Why was I getting’ so excited?
Mindy Lee’s annoyed expression seemed to generate so much satisfaction for me. “No, what’s up with you being all curious all the time?”
“I’m not curious, Mindy baby, I’m just observant.” Yep, she wanted me all right. “Fine, I’ll talk to her with you.”
“Samson Chester, no deal! It’s none of my business!” she exclaimed, turning around.
“But Mindy Lee! You promised to help me!” I was already puttin’ on my best whiny voice and Mindy Lee was still trottin’ back to the hotel, “Don’t you want to see the sunrise with me?”
Damnit, I cursed as she closed the door. Another time then.
Day Fifteen: Mindy Lee
Gawd, why did I have to be trapped between these two? Samson was snoring like a rock the minute he got into the car. There must have been something in that lobster. Good thing I didn’t eat any. Then there was Nicky. Whenever she wasn’t glaring at me, she was staring out the windows. It was starting to get on my nerves.
Damn, might as well. “So what’s up?” The two old ladies in the front were so loud that I doubt they could even hear me try to use my awkward conversation-starting skills. I doubted Nicky could hear me either. Instead of responding with words, she merely shrugged. Samson’s head dropped on my shoulder and despite the pain that came with it (for me), he didn’t even wince. His snore filled my ears, but that didn’t matter. Duty over deafness any day. “So how’d you like Galveston?”
“Been here too many times.” Ah.
“The seafood isn’t too bad,” I commented, “Hah, good thing we didn’t eat any of that lobster that put Samson to sleep, right?”
“He always sleeps in the car,” she retorted. Way to make me feel clueless about the guy sitting next to me. “He was just hyper the first time around.”
“Ah.” How to start, how to start, how to start--
“Don’t even bother.”
“What?”
“Don’t try to get me home. I heard Samson and you talking yesterday.” Well, at least I didn’t have to think of a way to start this topic.
“He worries for you…” I cringed inwardly at how awkward that sounded coming out of my mouth. It was hard to admit that Samson actually cared for something. “What happened anyway? They grounded you? Is that it?”
“Shut up, it’s none of your business,” she glared at me and I returned it immediately. I wasn’t scared of her and her twelve-year-old body.
“Oh yea? Did I hit a nerve? Don’t you think you’re being immature? Dragging other people into your problems just because you’re too scared to solve it yourself?” Damn right I hit a nerve. From that look on her face, I was probably right on the friggin’ nail. “Cat got your tongue?” Alright Mindy Lee, you probably went a little too far there.
“Restroom break!” Mrs. Chester announced. Just in time too. The girl looked like she was getting ready to stab me. I woke Samson up, without much success, before I hurried towards the stalls.
I was preparing to sleep as soon as I got into the car, but Nicky suddenly asked, “Auntie, can you drop me off at home?”
Samson bolted awake, echoing my “What?” and earning an annoyed expression from Nicky herself.
“I’m tired of hangin’ around here. It’s so borin’ here,” she muttered. “Are you happy, Samson? I’m goin’ home.”
“Whatever floats your boat, cousin,” he mumbled.
Soon, Samson was back to sleep again, leaving me sitting there in yet another awkward silence with Nicky. So I started talking again: “So…”
“My mom and dad are gettin’ a divorce,” she said quietly.
“I’m sorry…” I said. In truth, I understood exactly what she said. “Not long after my parents got a divorce, I didn’t have time to even adjust to their separation before my dad died from lung cancer.”
“Yea, well,” she laughed wryly, “None of my parents are in danger of any terminal illness. It’s just annoyin’ that they can be so selfish sometimes. Can’t compromise or anythin’.”
“I can imagine so, so what made you want to go home anyways?”
“Gonna talk some sense into them, that’s what. Even if I’m a twelve-year-old, at least I’m gonna get a say in where I’m goin’ to stay for the next six years before I go off to college or somethin’,” she grumbled. “Ain’t no one goin’ to boss me around.”
“Well, good for you,” I said. Soon began our conversation back to Nicky’s house. After she left, Samson was still snoring right beside me rather loudly. His red locks were (and would have been) blocking my vision until I laid my head down on the top of his head.
He woke up soon after, shifting so that I had to sit up straight while he mumbled incoherently, “What? Damn, Mindy Lee, why didn’t you say somethin’?” before pulling me down towards his own shoulders. Thus our journey home, a slumber party in the car while two old ladies chatted it up at the front.
Like hell I was going to admit that my feelings for Samson started then.
Damn, might as well. “So what’s up?” The two old ladies in the front were so loud that I doubt they could even hear me try to use my awkward conversation-starting skills. I doubted Nicky could hear me either. Instead of responding with words, she merely shrugged. Samson’s head dropped on my shoulder and despite the pain that came with it (for me), he didn’t even wince. His snore filled my ears, but that didn’t matter. Duty over deafness any day. “So how’d you like Galveston?”
“Been here too many times.” Ah.
“The seafood isn’t too bad,” I commented, “Hah, good thing we didn’t eat any of that lobster that put Samson to sleep, right?”
“He always sleeps in the car,” she retorted. Way to make me feel clueless about the guy sitting next to me. “He was just hyper the first time around.”
“Ah.” How to start, how to start, how to start--
“Don’t even bother.”
“What?”
“Don’t try to get me home. I heard Samson and you talking yesterday.” Well, at least I didn’t have to think of a way to start this topic.
“He worries for you…” I cringed inwardly at how awkward that sounded coming out of my mouth. It was hard to admit that Samson actually cared for something. “What happened anyway? They grounded you? Is that it?”
“Shut up, it’s none of your business,” she glared at me and I returned it immediately. I wasn’t scared of her and her twelve-year-old body.
“Oh yea? Did I hit a nerve? Don’t you think you’re being immature? Dragging other people into your problems just because you’re too scared to solve it yourself?” Damn right I hit a nerve. From that look on her face, I was probably right on the friggin’ nail. “Cat got your tongue?” Alright Mindy Lee, you probably went a little too far there.
“Restroom break!” Mrs. Chester announced. Just in time too. The girl looked like she was getting ready to stab me. I woke Samson up, without much success, before I hurried towards the stalls.
I was preparing to sleep as soon as I got into the car, but Nicky suddenly asked, “Auntie, can you drop me off at home?”
Samson bolted awake, echoing my “What?” and earning an annoyed expression from Nicky herself.
“I’m tired of hangin’ around here. It’s so borin’ here,” she muttered. “Are you happy, Samson? I’m goin’ home.”
“Whatever floats your boat, cousin,” he mumbled.
Soon, Samson was back to sleep again, leaving me sitting there in yet another awkward silence with Nicky. So I started talking again: “So…”
“My mom and dad are gettin’ a divorce,” she said quietly.
“I’m sorry…” I said. In truth, I understood exactly what she said. “Not long after my parents got a divorce, I didn’t have time to even adjust to their separation before my dad died from lung cancer.”
“Yea, well,” she laughed wryly, “None of my parents are in danger of any terminal illness. It’s just annoyin’ that they can be so selfish sometimes. Can’t compromise or anythin’.”
“I can imagine so, so what made you want to go home anyways?”
“Gonna talk some sense into them, that’s what. Even if I’m a twelve-year-old, at least I’m gonna get a say in where I’m goin’ to stay for the next six years before I go off to college or somethin’,” she grumbled. “Ain’t no one goin’ to boss me around.”
“Well, good for you,” I said. Soon began our conversation back to Nicky’s house. After she left, Samson was still snoring right beside me rather loudly. His red locks were (and would have been) blocking my vision until I laid my head down on the top of his head.
He woke up soon after, shifting so that I had to sit up straight while he mumbled incoherently, “What? Damn, Mindy Lee, why didn’t you say somethin’?” before pulling me down towards his own shoulders. Thus our journey home, a slumber party in the car while two old ladies chatted it up at the front.
Like hell I was going to admit that my feelings for Samson started then.
Day Sixteen: Insane Sanity
“I don’t know what to think anymore, Elliot!” Mindy Lee burst into the room, nearing tears. The boy, closing the door after her frantic entry, eyed her with pity. When he got her phone call yesterday after she got home, he expected her arrival soon. Despite his short time of knowing her, he did not think Mindy Lee Anderson to be the teary type of girl. Calm and calculating (with a bit of quirky admiration for horror films and books), perhaps, but nothing like this.
This thing standing in front of him, he realized, was Mindy Lee in love.
“Now, now, sweetie,” he said, ushering his Pomeranian onto his lap. Mindy Lee looked at him expectantly until he added quickly, “I meant you, of course. Sit down and start from the beginning again. I didn’t hear a thing you said yesterday.”
“I-I-I don’t know where to begin, Elliot. Where did I start yesterday?” She stared at him, quite flustered and disturbingly un-Mindy-Lee-like.
“Something about Galveston,” he murmured.
“Oh! Right, he was staring at me in my bikini and I wanted to hide in the dressing rooms! Then he started following me. Oh, and there was his cousin Nicky. You remember her? That girl we saw at his door that time we went to buy your bathing suit, oh how was your vacation?” She didn’t even give him time to respond before she continued, “She kept following around at Galveston. Then the first day we were there, Samson tried to put lotion on my back and ask me for a favor. He wanted me to talk her into going home, but I refused and pinched his nipples—“
“You what?” Now he didn’t hear about this yesterday.
“I refused to help him?”
“No, after that.”
“Pinched his nipples?” Her face pinkened at the word nipple.
“Now why in the world would you do that?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Such a typical Mindy Lee question. “Samson was being Samson.”
“What if he doesn’t like you anymore because you violated his manhood?”
Her eyes widened at the possibility, “Violated his manhood? I did that?”
“Well, of course, as you may have learned in biology, nipples, whether male or female, are one of the more sensitive spots on a human body,” Elliot explained. “Performing such harsh treatment couldn’t have been a more eloquent way to say that you weren’t interested. What if he goes off looking for someone else?”
“But we were fine the next day!” she exclaimed, “Though he didn’t really make a move on me… even the day after when he called me out in the morning. He was asleep the entire time when we were in the car! Elliot!” Oh, there, the tears! “What if you’re right?!”
“What do you mean, what if? Of course I’m right. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”
“I… don’t know.” A look of puzzlement washed over her panicked look, “I mean, I think I do… or I thought I did…”
“So you like him,” he flatly spelled it out.
“Promise you won’t steal him,” she muttered.
Elliot feigned injury, “Why, Mindy Lee Anderson. Shame on you for thinking such a thing!”
“I didn’t mean it that way!”
“I still love you, of course,” he rolled his eyes. “Now, girl, let me tell you about what happened this weekend…”
This thing standing in front of him, he realized, was Mindy Lee in love.
“Now, now, sweetie,” he said, ushering his Pomeranian onto his lap. Mindy Lee looked at him expectantly until he added quickly, “I meant you, of course. Sit down and start from the beginning again. I didn’t hear a thing you said yesterday.”
“I-I-I don’t know where to begin, Elliot. Where did I start yesterday?” She stared at him, quite flustered and disturbingly un-Mindy-Lee-like.
“Something about Galveston,” he murmured.
“Oh! Right, he was staring at me in my bikini and I wanted to hide in the dressing rooms! Then he started following me. Oh, and there was his cousin Nicky. You remember her? That girl we saw at his door that time we went to buy your bathing suit, oh how was your vacation?” She didn’t even give him time to respond before she continued, “She kept following around at Galveston. Then the first day we were there, Samson tried to put lotion on my back and ask me for a favor. He wanted me to talk her into going home, but I refused and pinched his nipples—“
“You what?” Now he didn’t hear about this yesterday.
“I refused to help him?”
“No, after that.”
“Pinched his nipples?” Her face pinkened at the word nipple.
“Now why in the world would you do that?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Such a typical Mindy Lee question. “Samson was being Samson.”
“What if he doesn’t like you anymore because you violated his manhood?”
Her eyes widened at the possibility, “Violated his manhood? I did that?”
“Well, of course, as you may have learned in biology, nipples, whether male or female, are one of the more sensitive spots on a human body,” Elliot explained. “Performing such harsh treatment couldn’t have been a more eloquent way to say that you weren’t interested. What if he goes off looking for someone else?”
“But we were fine the next day!” she exclaimed, “Though he didn’t really make a move on me… even the day after when he called me out in the morning. He was asleep the entire time when we were in the car! Elliot!” Oh, there, the tears! “What if you’re right?!”
“What do you mean, what if? Of course I’m right. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”
“I… don’t know.” A look of puzzlement washed over her panicked look, “I mean, I think I do… or I thought I did…”
“So you like him,” he flatly spelled it out.
“Promise you won’t steal him,” she muttered.
Elliot feigned injury, “Why, Mindy Lee Anderson. Shame on you for thinking such a thing!”
“I didn’t mean it that way!”
“I still love you, of course,” he rolled his eyes. “Now, girl, let me tell you about what happened this weekend…”
Day Seventeen: Samson
The strangest thin’ happened today! Man, I damn near peed in my pants from happiness when Mindy Lee offered me cookies. Without almonds! Such a sweet gal. Of course, the thought did cross my mind that she was playin’ me like a fiddle, but hey, if I get a cookie out of it, I’m happy. Actually, a plate. Mindy Lee brought over a plate of cookies before she said she had to run some errands. Of course, I offered to come along, but mama said I had to trim the bushes.
Now that I did (not that there was much to do anyways), I can’t do anythin’ but wait for her to come home. “Mama, why you gotta go and make me stay home?” I pouted.
The woman deadpanned, “’Cause you scarin’ her, boy.”
“What are you talkin’ about? Mindy Lee isn’t scared of me!” Is she?
“I see you bulldozin’ around her all the time. It’s a miracle that the girl didn’t already move back to New York.” Mama raised her butcher knife and slammed it down on the head of the fish, “Your daddy was like that at one point.”
“Didn’t you like the attention?”
“Of course I did, so did all the other girls,” she frowned, “I nearly ripped his ears off whenever he grins at some lady at the restaurant. Why do you think we always eat at home?”
“You said the food sucks there,” I countered. “What’s Mindy Lee got to do with this?”
“Jamie said Mindy Lee dated some bad boy back in New York. If you keep tailin’ her, she’ll probably go followin’ that Elliot boy before you know it,” she said pointedly. “Then again, he’s gay anyways.”
“Gay? What are you talkin’ about? He’s just a pretty boy.”
“He’s a gay pretty boy.”
“Whatever, mama,” I brushed it off when I heard the car park into the garage.
Before I could take a step towards the door, the knife slammed onto the fish again as mama said, “Don’t you take a step over there, boy. Ain’t no kid of mine is gonna be easy.”
Now that I did (not that there was much to do anyways), I can’t do anythin’ but wait for her to come home. “Mama, why you gotta go and make me stay home?” I pouted.
The woman deadpanned, “’Cause you scarin’ her, boy.”
“What are you talkin’ about? Mindy Lee isn’t scared of me!” Is she?
“I see you bulldozin’ around her all the time. It’s a miracle that the girl didn’t already move back to New York.” Mama raised her butcher knife and slammed it down on the head of the fish, “Your daddy was like that at one point.”
“Didn’t you like the attention?”
“Of course I did, so did all the other girls,” she frowned, “I nearly ripped his ears off whenever he grins at some lady at the restaurant. Why do you think we always eat at home?”
“You said the food sucks there,” I countered. “What’s Mindy Lee got to do with this?”
“Jamie said Mindy Lee dated some bad boy back in New York. If you keep tailin’ her, she’ll probably go followin’ that Elliot boy before you know it,” she said pointedly. “Then again, he’s gay anyways.”
“Gay? What are you talkin’ about? He’s just a pretty boy.”
“He’s a gay pretty boy.”
“Whatever, mama,” I brushed it off when I heard the car park into the garage.
Before I could take a step towards the door, the knife slammed onto the fish again as mama said, “Don’t you take a step over there, boy. Ain’t no kid of mine is gonna be easy.”
Day Eighteen: Mindy Lee
Alright, I admit it. So maybe I should have told Samson that Elliot was gay before taking both of them out for coffee. Next thing you know, I was standing between them while Samson engages in a glaring contest that Elliot was in no way a part of. The boy was too busy petting his Pomeranian. Speaking of which, why did the thing always need brushing anyway?
“Aren’t you going to order something, Samson?” I asked, ignoring Elliot as he poked me on the shoulder.
“Probably,” Samson shrugged, eyeing Elliot as he walked off towards the lingerie store, “Don’t tell me you’re goin’ in there with him.”
“There’s nothing wrong with Victoria Secret,” I said, “Hurry up and order something.”
He shook his head furiously. Samson refusing a free bra and underwear show? That was something new. “I’m not goin’ in there.”
“Alright, your loss,” I shrugged, trotting off, hoping that he would somehow follow too.
Surely enough Samson stood outside while Elliot lingered inside the store in a section I never knew existed: Victor’s Secret. What? My nose would rush like a waterfall if I had walked in the section that Elliot has yabbered about for the past few hours. Sexy briefs and revealing boxers, gay men’s paradise. I peeked outside to see Samson leaning against the window, sipping his coffee with an expression on his face that didn’t even come close to amusing.
“Aren’t you going inside?” I stepped outside.
“For what? So I can watch you and your little boyfriend flirt?” he glared at me. Honestly! I was hurt!
“Boyfriend?” Well, I suppose I should tell him now. “Samson… Elliot’s… not my boyfriend.”
“Sure he’s not,” he rolled his eyes.
How should I tell him? “Believe it or not, boy, he’s not.”
“Oh yea? Pretty boy isn’t good enough for you?”
“Not quite… more like I’m not good enough for him.” I shrugged, surely Samson understood the underlying message there. I hope. The flash of understanding on Samson’s face nearly made me cry out in happiness.
“…Mindy Lee, did Elliot say somethin’ mean to you?” The moment that sympathetic look appeared on his face, I knew that I failed.
“No! You idiot! He’s not interested in girls!” Well, I suppose that did the trick.
“Aren’t you going to order something, Samson?” I asked, ignoring Elliot as he poked me on the shoulder.
“Probably,” Samson shrugged, eyeing Elliot as he walked off towards the lingerie store, “Don’t tell me you’re goin’ in there with him.”
“There’s nothing wrong with Victoria Secret,” I said, “Hurry up and order something.”
He shook his head furiously. Samson refusing a free bra and underwear show? That was something new. “I’m not goin’ in there.”
“Alright, your loss,” I shrugged, trotting off, hoping that he would somehow follow too.
Surely enough Samson stood outside while Elliot lingered inside the store in a section I never knew existed: Victor’s Secret. What? My nose would rush like a waterfall if I had walked in the section that Elliot has yabbered about for the past few hours. Sexy briefs and revealing boxers, gay men’s paradise. I peeked outside to see Samson leaning against the window, sipping his coffee with an expression on his face that didn’t even come close to amusing.
“Aren’t you going inside?” I stepped outside.
“For what? So I can watch you and your little boyfriend flirt?” he glared at me. Honestly! I was hurt!
“Boyfriend?” Well, I suppose I should tell him now. “Samson… Elliot’s… not my boyfriend.”
“Sure he’s not,” he rolled his eyes.
How should I tell him? “Believe it or not, boy, he’s not.”
“Oh yea? Pretty boy isn’t good enough for you?”
“Not quite… more like I’m not good enough for him.” I shrugged, surely Samson understood the underlying message there. I hope. The flash of understanding on Samson’s face nearly made me cry out in happiness.
“…Mindy Lee, did Elliot say somethin’ mean to you?” The moment that sympathetic look appeared on his face, I knew that I failed.
“No! You idiot! He’s not interested in girls!” Well, I suppose that did the trick.
Day Nineteen: Awkward Meeting
Samson scratched his head clumsily while moving the hose to the next part of the lawn. For some reason, today, he didn't really feel like watering the bushes today. It had something to do with what Mindy Lee told him yesterday. Elliot wasn't interested in girls? Did that mean he was gay or something? He certainly didn't act like it, since the boy always hung out with her.
Then again, Samson scratched his head, that could be a definite indication.
“Hey Samson.” Samson snapped his head over to the boy standing on Mindy Lee's lawn. “Is Mindy Lee at home?”
Probably not, Samson noted, she went somewhere to do errands for her mom. “How should I know?” He glared at the ground; somehow he was afraid to look at Elliot and he had no idea why the pretty boy and his pomeranian scared the hell out of him.
“Well, alright then, tell Mindy Lee that I came by, if you don't mind.” Without another word, Elliot began to walk off. Samson sighed in relief and his relief came to an abrupt end when the boy stopped walking. “Oh yea, How've you been?”
“What?” He didn't really comprehend the question. He also didn't really hear it. Samson was struck by the way the boy walked, which was, oddly enough, very similar to the way Mindy Lee walked. Sure, he teased her for waddling like a penguin early in the morning, but that girl came back with something she learned from New York. Her hips swayed when she was walking, like she was trying to seduce somebody or something.
“I said, how've you been?” Elliot raised an eyebrow at him, picking up the now panting pomeranian.
“...what?” Samson shook his head. NO WAY! So that was what Mindy Lee meant by Elliot not being interested in girls!
“Oh never mind,” Elliot rolled his eyes before waving in a feminine manner, “Just tell her I came by. Au revoir.”
When the pretty boy finally left, Samson stood there, hose in hand and utterly confused. He couldn't believe that he was at all confused about Elliot's sexuality, and all this time he kept accusing Mindy Lee of being romantically related to the boy. No wonder why she was always pissed at him. And what the hell did 'au revoir' even mean anyways?
Then again, Samson scratched his head, that could be a definite indication.
“Hey Samson.” Samson snapped his head over to the boy standing on Mindy Lee's lawn. “Is Mindy Lee at home?”
Probably not, Samson noted, she went somewhere to do errands for her mom. “How should I know?” He glared at the ground; somehow he was afraid to look at Elliot and he had no idea why the pretty boy and his pomeranian scared the hell out of him.
“Well, alright then, tell Mindy Lee that I came by, if you don't mind.” Without another word, Elliot began to walk off. Samson sighed in relief and his relief came to an abrupt end when the boy stopped walking. “Oh yea, How've you been?”
“What?” He didn't really comprehend the question. He also didn't really hear it. Samson was struck by the way the boy walked, which was, oddly enough, very similar to the way Mindy Lee walked. Sure, he teased her for waddling like a penguin early in the morning, but that girl came back with something she learned from New York. Her hips swayed when she was walking, like she was trying to seduce somebody or something.
“I said, how've you been?” Elliot raised an eyebrow at him, picking up the now panting pomeranian.
“...what?” Samson shook his head. NO WAY! So that was what Mindy Lee meant by Elliot not being interested in girls!
“Oh never mind,” Elliot rolled his eyes before waving in a feminine manner, “Just tell her I came by. Au revoir.”
When the pretty boy finally left, Samson stood there, hose in hand and utterly confused. He couldn't believe that he was at all confused about Elliot's sexuality, and all this time he kept accusing Mindy Lee of being romantically related to the boy. No wonder why she was always pissed at him. And what the hell did 'au revoir' even mean anyways?