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Tara watched as Sam walked into the apartment. She had been doing homework on the couch, wanting to be out in the open. She looked up to see Sam try to sneak into the apartment, a little frazzled and with a smile on her face. Tara knew Sam had her therapy session, and that sometimes Sam walked in downtrodden.
But there were moments Sam walked in a little lighter. She had a smile on her face, as she walked into the apartment. Sam stopped at the door and bit her lip. Tara frowned as she watched her sister.
Sam let out a breath, before looking up to see Tara staring back at her. Sam blinked, her cheeks turning a light pink.
“Hey, what are you doing out here?” Sam asked, looking away from Tara, as she took her taser and keys out of her pocket.
“My room got stuffy. How was therapy?” Tara asked, watching her older sister.
Sam froze, before the lightness she had disappeared. She shrugged. “It’s time to find a new one.”
Tara wished she didn’t ask. It was Sam’s third therapist. Each time they gave up, Sam would take it as something was wrong with her. She wouldn’t tell Tara what she talked about, but she knew it was big for her to have to find a new therapist.
“We can watch a movie if you want,” Tara suggested, patting the couch spot next to her.
Sam raised an eyebrow. “I thought you had homework?”
“It’s not due for another three days.”
Sam beamed and moved to sit next to Tara. She grabbed the control. Tara looked out the window, to see the guy from across the alley staring. When he noticed Tara, he quickly turned away. Tara frowned, before looking at Sam, who was just staring at the television.
Tara didn’t comment on it, but she did tuck it to the back of her mind.
The sisters were halfway through the film, when Quinn and Paul walked out of her bedroom. Sam shook her head and moved closer to Tara. The younger sibling caught a faint whiff of cologne from her sister, but didn’t say anything.
Tara looked back out the window, but the guy was not there. Sam leaned into her, and Tara smiled softly. As overprotective and annoying as Sam got, Tara was glad she was around.
Tara
You guys have noticed Sam is smiling more, right?
Mindy M.
Maybe she has a secret boyfriend
Chad M.
We are talking about Sam right? Never-goes-anywhere-
without-a-taser Sam, right?
Mindy M.
Even she needs some fun in her life.
Tara
That’s my sister you’re talking about.
Mindy M.
Your sister still has needs.
Chad M.
Ignoring my sister, why do you think Sam is happier?
Tara
I see her come in with a smile most nights. She used
to come home all sad before.
Mindy M.
Spy on Sammy?
Chad M.
We aren’t seven anymore. We can’t spy on Sam anymore.
Mindy M.
You spied on her when you were seven because you had
a crush on her.
Chad M.
I though she was cool!
Tara
And this is over. Just let me know if you notice
anything.
Tara had decided on a study group day for the group. She invited the twins, Ethan and Anika. Mindy was surfing the channels, Anika was sitting next to her, a book on her lap. Chad was on a different couch, working on an essay on his laptop. Ethan was on the floor, using the small table to write his notes as he looked through his textbook. Tara was grabbing plates for the pizza they had ordered. Quinn was out on a date, and Sam was in the shower.
“He’s staring,” Mindy whispered, a beer bottle in her hands. She was looking out the window. Tara looked back to see the guy again. She raised an eyebrow and he quickly turned away.
“How often does he do that?” Chad asked, glaring out the window.
Tara shrugged. “A few times a day? I mean, Sam does the same thing.”
“She needs to get laid,” Mindy commented, and Anika giggled next to her.
Tara scrunched up her nose. “Don’t mention that again. But she needs friends her own age.”
Just then the shower finished and Sam walked out, a towel wrapped around her upper body. She just walked to her bedroom, and Tara saw a faded red mark on Sam’s neck.
“Did you guys see that?” Anika asked, sitting up.
Mindy laughed. “She is so sleeping with him.”
Tara’s head snapped to Mindy with a glare. The other college students looked at her, waiting for a reaction. Tara looked towards the other apartment.
“It’s nice to see you so worried about her,” Chad commented, giving Tara a smile.
“I worry about her,” Tara responded, a frown on her face.
Chad shrugged, looking back to the laptop. “I just mean, she’s always worried for us, it’s nice to see you like this.”
Tara didn’t respond for a second. She looked to Sam’s closed door. “After the last one, I don’t want her to get hurt like that.”
“Hey,” Mindy whispered, getting Tara’s attention. “None of us want that to happen.”
“What happened last time?” Ethan asked, looking up from his textbook.
“Dude,” Anika muttered, shaking her head.
“Her last boyfriend was a douche. She deserves better,” Tara responded, looking at the boy across the hall. “I will hurt him if he hurts her.”
“We all will,” Chad added, just as there was a knock on the door. “And with that, Sam! Pizza is here!”
Tara watched as Sam left her bedroom, using a towel to dry her hair. She couldn’t see the hickey anymore, but she knew it was there. She saw Sam look towards the window, before looking at the college students. Chad brought in the pizza boxes, just as Quinn came in behind him with Paul.
Tara caught Sam’s eye, who just smiled at her. Tara smiled back. She didn’t bring up the guy, but knew Sam would tell her if she needed to.
Danny huffed as he placed the last box on the ground. Sam and Mindy were in the kitchen, putting the plates and silverware away. Chad was laying on the couch, still healing from his injuries. Tara had started to take Mindy's movie collection away.
The self-proclaimed Core Four and Danny had moved to a new apartment together. Tara and Sam couldn’t live in the same apartment where they were attacked, Mindy and Chad decided to move in with them. Danny made things official with Sam and the two decided for him to move with them.
It wasn’t bad, with Chad out of commission, Danny did all the heavy lifting. And Tara could keep a better eye on him. She didn’t trust him, not yet. But she could see Sam smiling more, and it was that reason she tolerated him.
Sam walked into the living room. “I’m going to get food. Anyone want to come with me?”
“The twins are tired, and I need Danny’s help with something,” Tara answered, giving Sam what she hoped was an innocent smile.
Sam looked at Tara, before looking at Danny. Tara just grinned. Sam rolled her eyes, before nodding her head. “I’ll be back then.” She grabbed her bag and walked out of the apartment. Once Sam was out, Tara and the twins turned to Danny.
“So,” Tara started, her eyes on Danny, “have a seat Cute Boy.”
Danny quickly plopped onto the couch next to Chad.
“What are your intentions with our Sam?” Chad asked, his eyes on the man next to him.
Danny looked from Chad, to Mindy, before stopping at Tara. “Not to hurt her?”
Tara stared at him. “That’s a question? Because one word and you can be gone.”
Danny signed, before looking at his hands. “My intention is to love her, and to keep her safe. I don’t want her to be hurt again.”
Tara watched him, seeing how he moved. “How much do you know about her past?”
Danny looked up at Tara. “I know she struggled growing up, with knowing who her father was. I also know she’s been hurt before. Richie hurt her, physically and emotionally. I know he was a creep dating a high schooler at the same time. I know she killed him. I’m not Richie.”
“No, you could be worse,” Mindy said, sitting on Danny’s other side. “You can hurt her worse.”
“Sam, she holds her heart on her sleeve. She feels deeply, and if you aren’t here for her, then I suggest you just go,” Chad added, glaring at the older man.
“Sam and I, we started a few months ago. It was just physical,” he started, his eyes going to the front door. “She was surrounded by people, but she still felt alone, and I was there. I never thought we’d actually become something real, but we did and I cherish every moment. She wanted to keep us a secret, and I was willing to be her secret. For however long she needed me to be. I want to hold on tightly to her, because it’s what she deserves. She deserves to know people want her, and I want to be one of those people.”
“How do we know we can trust you? We trusted Richie,” Chad asked, crossing his hands over his chest.
Danny looked at Chad. “You’ve all been betrayed before, and there is nothing I can say to make you trust me. I will just have to prove it every day.”
Mindy and Chad turned to Tara. Tara knew she had the reins of the talk. Although Mindy and Chad loved Sam as a sister, Tara was her sister. And they will be damned if they let Sam be hurt by a love interest .
Danny looked at her. “I do care for your sister, and I see myself loving her. I hope you trust me enough to do just that.”
Tara stared at him, before nodding. “If you hurt her,” Tara started, but didn’t finish.
“I know all of you will have my head. I just hope I can show you that that won’t be necessary.”
“I hope to.” And Tara did, for Sam’s sake. Her sister needed some happiness in her life, and she hoped Danny would bring just that.
Danny offered Tara a smile, which Tara returned. Chad slapped his shoulder, while Mindy nodded.
When Sam returned five minutes later she found the group just sitting on the couch, discussing a movie to put on. She placed the plates on the table and inspected the group. “Is everything okay?”
Tara looked at Danny, remembering that night at the subway, and how he didn’t hesitate to stand in front of Sam, protecting her. She turned to Sam with a small smile. “It’s all good.”