A Change with Sam

I stared after the space that Sam occupied only moments before. I could still remember the way she smelled, just lightly of perfume and deodorant and laundry. I felt like I knew what I needed to do.

I didn't see her at school that day, though I knew she was there. Wanting me but afraid. So I waited through each of my classes, bored and sullen and expectant. I bought a soda from the cafeteria, gathered my things, and walked towards her house. With one parcel under my arm I rang her doorbell. Once, twice. She answered on the third, and tried to act surprised though I knew she could see me through the peep hole in the door. Her hair was wet from a shower, and there was a towel around her shoulders. A baggy shirt and sweats clung damply to her skin, clothes thrown on just for my sake.

"Happy birthday Sam," I said to her, holding out the pink box.

She stared at it, and then at me, her mouth opening and closing as if not finding the words that would work.

"Why Brett? I don't understand you," she said.

"It's cold. Can I come in? You should take your present," I said.

Sam nodded and weighed the moment in her mind, then took the pink box from me and left the door open. I walked in behind her, shrugged off my shoes and jacket, and shut the front door. She walked into the dining room and placed the pink box on the table, one hand on its top.

"Go ahead, it's yours," I said.

She lifted the cardboard lid of the box and stared at the object inside. A chocolate cake stared back at her.

"Hopefully better than the one from the cafeteria. And all yours," I said.

"Brett," she said, staring down at the cake and then back at me. She ran up to me, gave me a quick hug, and then stepped quickly into the kitchen. She returned with two plates, two forks, and a knife. I pulled her chair out for her, letting her sit and planted a soft kiss on the top of her head before she could stop me. I slid the knife into the cake as she said 'Thank you.' I cut her a slice, and then a small one for myself. As I expected she ate the whole large piece and asked for another.