Changes

Nathan had taken her home and asked what she was doing that had her all jumpy. SO she blurted out the first thing she could think of, which while a lie, she had done before. "Going to a drag show with my moms," she huffed in a hurry. Nathan just stared at her, before she left. However, he grabbed her hand. "I had a great day with you," he said, smiling. Samantha felt guilty and sighed. "I am not going to a drag show," she said, "I am going to counseling." She looked away. She didn't like people knowing she was weak. Not really because she wanted to seem like some great and strong woman, but because she was picked on so much for being weak in the past.

Nathan looked at her and asked her if she felt ashamed for going to counseling. She heard the bitterness in his voice when he said it. She quickly shook her head and replied no. She explained a little why, which seemed to appease him—just a little thought. Nathan, having never let go of her hand, simply looked at her. He said, "just be honest to them and me, do not lie." She thanked him and pulled her hand out of his, and went into the house. She went upstairs to get ready when her mom came in. "Make sure you remember what you talk about so we can discuss it when you get home," Samantha's mother said. But Samantha shook her head, "you know I can't do that, mom, it's confidential." Her mom took back off down the stairs while Samantha finished getting ready and hustled out the door. She could feel her mother fighting for control. Luckily she was not driving Samantha to her appointment. Samantha stopped in front of her mom's downstairs, handing them an envelope. "Here's two months of a car payment. I sold some of my stuff while I try to find a job." Samantha didn't even notice the color draining from her mom's face as she went out the door.'

The counselor was nice enough. She honestly gave Samantha a feeling of comfort as she left. But Samantha wasn't a hundred percent sure she trusted her. Something bothered her about all the help her mom kept wanting to give her. She just felt off, so she wasn't sure if she could even trust the counselor. Samantha decided going back would not happen and maybe only seek someone else on her own. Sure they were not supposed to spill secrets but, who knows about that. Samantha went home where her moms were watching a movie and sat with them. They laughed and talked about anything that popped into their mind. When a laul was in the conversation, Samantha spoke to them about working in town. Her mom told her just to wait. They would help with the car, but just get settled and not to worry. Samantha smiled. She had never not been forced to work before and was going to take advantage of it. Besides, it wasn't very often she got this chance.

A knock at the door had both her moms looking at her sharply. She simply shrugged her shoulders and felt herself go wide eye. She didn't know who it was. Her mom opened the door, and Nathan was looking a little sheepishly. He smiled and said, "hello, is Samantha home? May I see her?" Her mom opened the door wide, welcoming him in. Nathan smiled at Samantha and walked over to her, and asked if he could talk to her. Samantha got up and followed him into their kitchen. He turned around and grabbed her, pulling her into a hug. She was shocked, not knowing where this was coming from. She pulled back to look in his face. He slowly said, "come out with me. Ashley invited us to her house to hang out. Will you go?" Samantha pulled away confused and walked a few feet, and she needed space. His Kenneth Cole cologne had her head swimming.

"Sure, but I need to get ready," she replied. He lit up and almost bounced with excitement. Samantha hustled upstairs to get dress. As she was getting dressed, she had slowly noticed her style of clothing had started to change. Gone were her clothes from Texas. She dressed now in sleek dark pants, shirts from the mall. She stopped in looked in the mirror, when she had come here she wanted the change. Now she got it. She found the more she talked to Nathan and hung around Nathan, the more she morphed. She shook her head and headed downstairs. Nathan smiled, and out the door, they went.

Driving through the country, it was dark, and after a few times of getting lost, they found their way. There was a small crowd but not too many people. They waked up the drive in the dark, and Samantha's anxiety was pounding. It didn't help in the fact that Nathan's was as well. He stopped and looked at her, just looking a little lost, like a kid unsure. Samantha didn't know what possed her, but she wrapped her arms around him and just held him. She just wanted to protect him at that exact moment. She just wanted to be there for him. What he did next froze her at the moment forever. His hand ran up her back to pull her in, and she found herself lifting her head to his gaze. He smiled the same old smile. His hand drifting gently up to her cheek and leaned down. As if she would break, he laid a simple kiss on her lips. She couldn't even move her lips to reciprocate, and she was just frozen. At the moment he almost stopped, she pushed back at him, and in the heart of it, both his hands were now holding her face. Nathan stepped them out of the path into the shadows. The kiss remained simple and not rushed. Finally, both breathing hard, they pulled back from the kiss. Nathan dropped his hands slowly from her face before grabbing her hand and pulling her onto the path and towards the music.