A/N: My school is on strike. For those of you who live in countries where such things never happen, lucky you. So, it looks like I'm home for probably the next seven months (except I get a scholarship and travel abroad). The main thing is that I'm at home and will try now better than ever to write more and upload as soon as I get internet access. Thanks for persevering.
A/N: has it actually been that long since I uploaded a chapter? I'm really sorry, but I tell you, it's not easy at all being a Law student. If you don't love it, don't go for it.
Part Eleven
Josh (contd.)
A little recap
I finished singing and bowed to the audience, ignoring the shouts of a fourth encore with a slightly throaty cough to imply how croaky my voice had become.
I bowed again before jumping down from the makeshift crowd and handing the model microphone to a waiting hand. I face Samantha and smiled shyly. She smiled back.
"Hi," I said.
"Hi." She replied.
"I didn't know you visited the arcade here," I told her. "Ben said you were always buried in your textbooks on Saturdays."
Sam smiled at me, somewhat shyly, and I smiled back as activity increased around us and the audience booed off the guy that was on the microphone. There were shouts of outrage as the next guy who climbed on was also awful. I couldn't care less though; I mean, hello, I'm having a crush here.
"Yeah, I decided to take a break today. The mall's kind of fun." She said, gesturing with her hand.
"Yeah, it is." I replied stupidly.
"I didn't know you could sing." Samantha told me.
I shrugged like it wasn't much of a big deal. "I was in a band at my former school. I played the drums."
"Yeah, really?" she sounded impressed.
I opened my mouth to respond but Ben's voice cut me short.
"Hey, Sam, is that really you?" He said, laughing.
Sam raised her hands in mock surrender, "Yeah, of course, it's me."
Damian joined in at this point, coming into the group we were forming, "I thought I was seeing things for a while there."
Ben and Damian laughed, I smiled, and Sam said sarcastically, "Yeah, yeah, Damian, very funny."
"Hello, my cute little friend, don't get your knickers in a bunch. I was just fooling around with you."
Sam reached up and gave him a rough tap on the back of his head.
"OW! That's mean, Sam." Ben said for him.
Sam mumbled something like, "he can talk for himself," just as Ben asked her what she was doing at the mall on a Saturday.
"Gave myself a break, I thought I deserved it." She said matter-of-factly.
Both of her friends nodded in agreement.
"You do. You really do," They both said at the same time.
Sam leaned in conspiratorially, "Val got a job here at the mall."
Ben's mouth dropped open, but Damian just looked around and said, "I didn't see anyone like her; at the arcade or at the jeans department."
Sam laughed, "Don't be silly, Damian, she got a job at the 'Female Variety Department'."
The guys seemed to catch to her meaning the same moment I did and all of our mouths dropped open to match Ben stance.
"What?" Ben and Damian said together again. This was getting real creepy. If they did the talk-together thing once again, I'll have to call them on it.
I had to admit though that hearing Val got a job in the 'female variety department' came as a bit of a surprise. Val seemed like the kind of girl who wasn't much into clothes and designer stuff, so no one could really blame me.
"I have to see this," Ben shouted unexpectedly, and Damian agreed.
With a "See you later" that came from both of them at the same time (for the third time), they disappeared upstairs to probably embarrass or poke fun at Val to no end.
I turned to Sam who was quietly laughing and asked her if she wanted to go sit somewhere nice, and she said yes; so we walked down to the arcade-snack bar go-between and sat on the only other couch next to a couple that was already there.
"Ok, so Sam," I started somewhat nervously, "would you like something to eat?"
She replied to fast, "Oh, no, thanks for offering."
I sat back down, "Okay, no problem."
"Cool," she said.
Was it me, or was this awkward?
Sam cleared her throat and I faced her hurriedly.
"What?" I asked with what I supposed was concern in my voice..
"Er..." she started uncertainly.
"I just wanted to say thank you for the other day."
"What other day?" I asked innocently. I remembered perfectly what she was talking about but the conversation was supposed to go on.
"The day at the cafeteria, when I choked." Sam said, looking down at her feet and blushing.
"Oh, that day," I said, feigning surprise.
"Yeah, I'm really sorry." Sam said.
"Don't be. If anything, it was hilarious watching your friends try to help."
Sam blushed again and I just smiled.
For the next few moments, we just sat there with this somewhat-awkward silence between us.
She cleared her throat and I did the same, and still we didn't say anything.
Some minutes later when it was becoming boring to just sit there and stare at all these other couples and friends, I blurted out, "Let's just go get something to eat."
"Alright." She replied.
A/N: I think I should prepare you that there will be no Josh's POV in the next chapter but he'll definitely feature or be mentioned. Sorry this is so short, I just decided not to waste this golden opportunity of borrowed internet access.
I hope you'll check out my new story and give me the support you've given me for Cheers...
thanks
annie93 xx