Because You're Different ✔

85. Home

Sam

A pop song played on the radio. Hayley was singing along, and although she couldn't keep a tune for shit, it was cute, and I had to hide a grin behind my palm. My eyes were focused on the end of the street, almost hurting from concentrating so hard. Every so often, I'd reread the text Nathan sent me, just to be sure I'd understood it right.

Bro: On my way home. You back in Pomona already? Planning on visiting you real soon. Got something important to tell you.

Hayley and I had been sitting here for ages now, on a real cop stake-out, and it was a lot more boring than in the movies. Shit, if he wouldn't get here soon, it'd be really late when I'd arrive back in my dorm. I sighed, glancing at the dashboard clock again. Come on, come on...

Then, right at that moment, a car pulled up around the corner, and there was no mistake —

"Hayley! Down, down, down!"

"What?"

"Get down!"

Finally, she listened to me, and at the same time, we ducked, her head crashing into mine hard — shit. Why did that always happen with us two? She groaned, rubbing her temple. My seatbelt cut into my neck — I should've taken it off. Too late now.

"Did you see them?" she whispered, her blue eyes large, and I had to stop her from trying to peer out the window.

"Stay down! I don't know yet. I just saw it was his car."

"Well, go check," she said, poking my arm.

Extremely carefully, I looked up, remaining as low as possible. Nathan had parked the car in the driveway and was now jumping out, his face turned away from me. For some reason, my heart was racing like I'd just ran for my life.

"It's him."

Immediately, Hayley shot forward, forcing herself between me and the steering wheel, her face almost touching mine. Again, my heartbeat sped up, though this time, it was entirely her fault. "He's walking towards the passenger's side," she said, slapping my knee in excitement, and only then I remembered what we were doing.

She was right. He opened the door and held out his hand — and there, taking it and emerging from the car, was June. She was laughing at him, closing the door behind her with her back. And then, before I could prepare myself, she grabbed a fistful of his shirt, and he leaned down, kissing her like the world was gonna end or something.

Mm. Weird. I'd figured I'd puke if I actually saw this happen again, only seeing their wide, goofy smiles, I felt kind of... content. Obviously, they were grossly happy with each other.

Hayley tugged on my shirt, shaking me violently. "They're kissing!" she squealed, and it was a miracle those two didn't hear her. Well, I guess they were... busy.

"I can see that."

That got me an eye-roll. It was kind of soothing, in a way. "He did it, Sam. He actually did it. Can you believe it?"

I didn't answer, just watched June opening up the trunk and Nathan grabbing something from it — a suitcase he put by the front door. She added two bags to it, Nathan another suitcase, and all at once, it felt like I was breaking in on a very private moment.

"O my gosh... She's moving in?!"

It didn't really surprise me as much as it did her. Man, they'd already kind of lived together before, they knew it worked. Looking back on it, they were freakishly good at it, like they were in sync or something. And June's alternative was a one-bedroom flat with a baby and two cousins, no wonder she preferred this.

"Should we go say hi?" She was practically bouncing in her seat, and I knew if I'd say 'yes' she'd be over there in a millisecond.

"Nah," I said, "we should probably let them."

I didn't wanna barge in on them a second time. Once was enough.

"You're right. They probably want to be alone."

Nathan was laughing loudly at something she'd said, almost bent double, then took her in his arms again. Shit, that dude really couldn't keep his hands off her. I'd never seen him like this before, although it might also be because he had no idea I was spying on him. They moved her stuff inside, June of course tripping over a backpack, and then the front door closed, and they were gone from view.

I looked at Hayley. "Well, it worked."

She tilted her head. "You okay, or do you want to punch him in the face?"

"I think it was kinda obvious June really wants this too. I don't really have a good reason to punch him."

"But do you want to?"

I considered it for a moment, inspecting the house, the curtains closed, the solar panels glinting in the sun. "Nah. Got better things to do. Like driving you to your dorm."

Her blue eyes widened. "Sam, that's an hour away. And isn't Pomona the other way?"

"Yeah, but I don't mind a long ride."

"That's really sweet of you, but—"

"Oh, shut up."

She smiled at me, and I started the car. Both of us glanced back one more time before rounding the corner, but I didn't regret leaving. I knew I'd probably have the rest of my life to visit them.

"Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"Will you come to see me sometime?"

I fidgeted in my seat. On the one hand, I really did want to come and see her, many, many times — I'd even help her plant more trees, if that was what she wanted. On the other hand, though... I swallowed, then blurted out: "Err... like... as a friend?"

That made her snort. "Have you been stalking my Insta?" she asked, and I nodded, figuring there wasn't really a point in denying it. Luckily, she laughed. "I'm bi. Or pan. Not really sure yet."

A pressure I hadn't realized was even there lifted off my chest, and I found myself grinning. She did like guys. "Cool. If you wanna talk about it, you know, I'm here to listen." That was what June always did, and it seemed to work out for her most of the time.

"That's really sweet. I'd love that."

"Okay, I'll come to see you sometime, and we can talk."

"That sounds great."

It was quiet for a while. I wished she would've kept on saying stuff, because I wanted her to know I meant it, and it didn't scare me. Okay, the idea that I'd have to compete with all the cute girls in the world, on top of the guys, was terrifying, but maybe I could get a headstart: "Are you free next weekend?"

She turned to me and giggled. "Are you serious?"

"Never been more serious in my life."

I held my breath — don't turn me down, don't turn me down... The next hour would be very awkward if she said 'no'. Why did I have to ask now? I was ready to take it back, make a joke out of it, when she leaned towards me and planted a kiss on my cheek. "Yes," she said, "I'm free."

My toes tingled, and I had to grip the wheel tighter. Next weekend, I would tell her I liked her, if the timing was right. Yeah. Deal. Just thinking about it made me grin. Everything seemed to be working out, finally.

We passed by our old school, and I could almost see a young June and me running towards a Mercedes, wacky grins stretching our faces. How weird that one spur-of-the-moment decision to help out a bullied girl ended us up here, in this very good place. I'd never, ever, made a better choice than that.

June and Nathan would probably agree.