Best Friends Who Became Lovers

Chapter 1: The Day We Became Friends

Here I am. Years later. Married with kids. Happy. Living my life to the fullest. You'll never believe who I married. I mean, you just have to wait until the end of this story. Anyways, I am currently 32 years of age and we are out of the year 1999 and into the year 2000. I have been married to my wonderful husband for 12 years now. We got married in June. June 24th to be exact and we got married in the year 1988. A few years after we had graduated High School. Okay okay, enough about me and more about how I met my best friend. Have fun and don't cream your pants. Ha, classic.

Your first day of sophomore is supposed to be less nerve wracking than your actual first day of high school. Well, mine was going to be hell since I was in a new town, I didn't anyone, and well, I just didn't want to be here. My family packed up and shipped out to Hawkins, Indiana from Miami, Florida during the summer going into my sophomore year, so this summer. The year is 1981 and it's the end of August. My friends from Florida were the best thing to ever happen to me. They were basically family and I have missed them so much ever since I moved away. Anyways, it was the night before I started my sophomore year of high school. I was adding the final touches to my room as I listened to my Walkman. I painted the rest of the mural on my wall and I felt someone tap my shoulder and I jumped and almost knocked the paint off the paint ladder.

"Jesus, Alex. Watch out you idiot." I yelled at my older brother and he laughed at me and I wanted to punch him.

"Calm down Sam. Who shit in your cereal this morning?" Alex asked as he sat on the edge of my bed and I set my Walkman down on my dresser.

"It's Samantha. Only my friends call me Sam. And according to my book, you're not my friend. You're my brother. Anyways, what do you want?" I asked as I wiped my hands on pants and picked my brush up and began to paint again.

"Mom and dad wanted me to let you know that dinner's ready." Alex said and I turned around slowly and I stared him down.

"Are you shitting me? Get out you asshole!" I yelled at him and he ran out of my room and I slammed my door closed.

I put my headphones on and grabbed my Walkman and began to paint the rest of my mural. Writing, painting, music, and drawing were my coping mechanisms. It was a way for me to express myself and let myself go. It was also a great way for me to have fun. I was a very anti-social person and if I didn't have to talk to people I took that opportunity. Once I was done with my mural, I stood back and took a really good look at it. I took my headphones off and set my Walkman on my dresser and looked at my mural.

"Samantha JoAnn Hanson! It's time for dinner! Get down here now!" My mother yelled for me and I sighed as opened my door.

"I'm not hungry! Just eat without me!" I yelled back down and I closed my door and flopped on my back.

"Samantha! Get down here now!" My mother called for me again and I sighed and got up and opened my door and headed downstairs.

"Mom, I told you I'm not- Oh. Who are these people?" I asked as I looked at the 5 strangers standing in my dining room.

"Samantha, these are the Wheelers. Ted, Karen, their oldest Nancy, second oldest Mike, and youngest Holly." Mom said as she introduced them to me and I smiled and nodded.

"Nancy will be in your grade this year. Mike is Gracie's age. And Christine is Holly's age. Alex, unfortunately doesn't have a Wheeler that's his age. Oh well." Mom said and laughed and the Wheeler's did as well.

"Welcome to Hawkins. We live next door if you ever need anything. And please, if you need anything don't hesistate to come over and ask." Mrs. Wheeler said and I smiled and nodded.

"The Wheeler's will be joining us for dinner. So, Samantha, will you please go get some more plates." Mom said and she gave me a look and I walked to the kitchen.