The Trouble With Love Is
Chapter 2
Samantha stared intently at the buildings she was now passing. Almost every single one held a childhood memory that she treasured dearly. She was finally back in Champagne. It had taken her five hours but she was there. When she had left the previous fall she hadn’t realized she would miss the small town so much. Samantha wasn’t even sure that it was the town she had been longing for while she was in alone in her dorm room at Madison University. The longing was more for the familiarity and the friendships that she had left in Champagne.
“It is so good to be home.” Samantha said to herself. Suddenly her cell phone rang.
“Hello?” Samantha answered once she had fished the phone out of her bag.
“Hey girl! Where are you? Everybody’s here but you.” Jessica informed her.
“I’m in town now. I’ll be home in like 5 minutes at the most.” Samantha replied.
“Okie dokie, but you better hurry because there is a young man here who is about to have a heart attack waiting for you..” Jessica said with a giggle. Samantha could hear Josh yell something to Jessica about keeping her mouth shut.
“Jess you shouldn’t tease him the way you do.” Samantha told Jessica.
“Aw…why don’t you two just get it over with!” Jessica replied slightly annoyed.
“For the thousandth time, we are just friends. Okay? We aren’t like you and Joey. We don’t feel that way about each other. I’m gonna go now…I’ll be there in like 2 seconds.” Samantha explained.
“Okay but just so you know nobody’s buying the ‘just friends’ routine anymore. Open your eyes Sam. Bye.” Jessica told Samantha.
“AAARRRRGG!” Samantha screamed. Some how Jessica always knew how to get under her skin. Granted she usually did the same thing. Insinuate that Samantha and Josh were in love. Why was it so hard for everyone to believe that guys and girls could be friends without going beyond that?
“Guys she’s almost here!!! It’s gonna be so great having the gang back together again!” Jessica squealed. Josh rolled his eyes at her girlish behavior.
“Okay what was that?” Jessica asked, not forgetting to add a headshake for extra attitude.
“Nothing….nothing at all.” Josh replied with a sigh. Josh and Jessica’s relationship was quite interesting. When they are together the only thing they manage to do is fight with one another, and neither would have it any other way.
“Ya know ‘Joshua’ you can be pretty damn annoying. I’m sure Sam thinks the same thing. I know I would if I were her. If a guy kept me waiting for 18 years I’d definitely have a bone to pick with him.” Jessica informed Josh.
““Listen Jess, did you ever think that maybe I didn’t keep her waiting? Remember on graduation night you couldn’t find me and Sam for hours and we told you some lame ass excuse? We were really shackin up in the bed of my truck.” Josh replied with a devious grin.
“Oh yeah I believe that Josh. And I’ll bet Sam will love that you are telling people that story.” Jessica told Josh. Suddenly his eyes grew wide.
“Please Jess promise me you won’t tell her! That night we made a packed that we would never tell anyone! Please Jess!” Josh begged. As much as Jessica liked to seem him squirm she couldn’t tell Sam on the off chance he wasn’t lying.
“I’m not going to geez. This doesn’t mean I believe you though. I still think you are full of bull.” Jessica explained.
Suddenly nobody felt like talking.Jessica and Joey were trying to decide if there was any truth to Josh’s story. Josh was reveling in the fact that they had taken him seriously. Not a word was spoken until
Sam’s hunter green explorer pulled into her driveway, a few minutes later. As soon as her car came to a stop Samantha swung her car door open and jumped out. She ran into Joshua’s outstretched arms.
“I missed you so much! You look soo good Josh. Jess! Look at you!!!!! Have you lost weight? I think so!! And Joey….poor perverted disgusting Joey! I missed you!” Samantha went down the line giving hugs. Suddenly all the anticipation and anxiety she had that morning left her. Now she was just relaxed being with the three best friends she knew she would ever have.
“Okay I gotta ask. What are you doin? That’s a pink shirt. And those are pink shoes. Have you gone crazy? What happened to the Sam I know and love?” Jessica questioned with a laugh. Sam rolled her eyes.
“I guess a year at college changed our little girl!” Joey exclaimed. Sam slapped him playfully on the arm.
“I don’t think so….It’s so good to be home.” Samantha told her friends.
‘He’ was watching from other house next door to Samantha’s. His moment had finally come. All of his friends were here, and he was about to let them know he had returned.
“Justin are you going to go say hello or are ya going to spy on them for the rest of the day?” his mother, Lynn inquired. He turned around and flashed her his million-dollar smile.
“I’m gonna go surprise them!” Justin replied. He then bolted for the door. The group was too caught up in their conversation to notice he had stepped outside.
“Guys, welcome home..it sure is good to see you…….Don’t I get a hug?” Justin addressed the group while approaching them. They turned around to face him, obviously not recognizing him.
“Excuse me, who are you?” Samantha questioned. The tone of her voice let Justin know she was annoyed by his presence.
“You obviously don’t recognize me. Guys its Me. Justin….Timberlake. Remember your best friend?” Justin explained.
Chapter 3
