March 18, 2013

*Ring Ring*...*Ring Ring*...*Ring---

"Hello?"

"Hey, Sam!"

Samantha Gidding rose from her couch, rubbing her face from her afternoon nap, "Hey, Hannah... What's up?"

"I have something I'm dying to show you!"

"Really? What is it?"

"Come over to find out!"

Sam smirked as her best friend squealed on the other line, "Okay okay! I'm heading over now."

"YAY IM SO EXCITED!!"

The friend giggled as Hannah hung up in a hurry. What was that about, she wondered? Sam shrugged to herself and walked over to put her shoes on.

Samantha, more known as Sam, was asked to go over to Hannah Washington's house that evening. She wasn't sure why Hannah had wanted her to come to her house. Yes, Sam and Hannah are best friends and usually hung out every day, but there was something different about this invitation. Sam could feel her friend geeking out from the other side of the phone. It must be something crazy.

Sam got into her car and drove a few miles to Hannah's house. It never took long to drive to the Washingtons. Maybe it was because she did it so much that it didn't feel like a long time anymore.

Although, Sam always tried to make most of her car rides enjoyable. She would turn her car radio on, roll down the windows, and play some of her favorite tunes...

"So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself
And I didn't know I was lost"

Soon, Sam arrived at her destination. The Washingtons lived in one of the grander houses on the block. It was a three-story building with two garage doors. Clearly, the Washingtons weren't struggling financially. They even had their own estate and lodge on Blackwood Mountain. Fancy parties and family gatherings were held there in the winter.

Sam stepped out of her parked car and noticed two other vehicles were there as well. It looks like Josh is home...and Chris is here too, Sam concluded. Without knocking, Sam stepped inside the Washington house. Since she always comes over with Hannah, Mr. and Mrs. Washington said it was fine for her to just come inside.

"Hellooo, " Sam called with a lingering coo. She stepped into an empty living room. It didn't even look like a living room for how grand it was. There were no sounds around her, "Hannah?"

"I'm coming down!" Sam turned around to see Hannah barreling down the stairs. Her grin was from ear to ear with excitement.

Sam opened her arms as her friend came in with a tight embrace. Hannah pulled away, fixing her tilted glasses. "So, what was the big thing you had to show me, " Sam asked curiously.

Without a word, Hannah pulled her the right sleeve of her shirt up to reveal an image on her arm, a butterfly. Sam's eyes widened with surprise, "No. WAY!"

"Do you like it?"

"Uh, YEAH! Oh my gosh, Hannah! Why didn't you tell me you were getting a tattoo?!"

Hannah looked away nervously, "Well, it was kind of a last-minute decision." Sam stared at the tattoo in awe, taking her fingers and stroking the butterfly wings.

"Did you go get it done by yourself?"

"No. Josh drove me to the tattoo parlor over an hour ago."

"You called?" As if on command, Josh stood at the top of the staircase and behind him was Chris.

Joshua Washington was Hannah and Beth's older brother. He was a kind and loving guy who enjoyed being with people, especially with his sisters. Everyone was friends with Josh. He always had this charisma that was favored by everyone who met him.

Christopher Hartly was Josh's best friend. They have been friends since the third grade and continued to remain close. Chris was a goofball who would always come up with the funniest jokes. Some consider him to be the class clown in high school.

Sam faced Josh with her arms crossed, "How could you take Hannah to get a tattoo and not invite me?" He smirked at her, "Jealous?"

"Puh-lease! I just don't understand how Hannah's best friend is put in second compared to this nincompoop, " Sam nudged Josh slightly, looking at Hannah for an answer.

The sister shrugged, "Sorry, Sam. But he was home and I figured it wouldn't take long if we went."

Samantha playfully sighed, holding her hand to her head, "Betrayal."

Josh shook his head at her, "Girls, so dramatic."

Samantha and Hannah looked at each other and both started hitting Josh repeatedly in the arms.

"Ow ow ow! Hey, quit it!" Josh yelped with a laugh, "Chris? A little help please?"

The young man turned to see Chris was no longer standing beside him, "Chris??"

From the kitchen, Chris took another bite out of a made turkey and cheese sandwich that he had just prepped, "What did you say? Too busy eating this delicious masterpiece I just created..."

With a groan, Josh grabbed both Sam and Hannah's arms and pushed them away from him. The girls laughed and tried tackling the boy to the ground. Hannah began to tug at his arms while Sam tried lifting his feet off the ground.

Josh couldn't help but snort, "Do you guys realize how ridiculous you look?" They just ignored him with a laugh and continued pulling.

"What is going on down there?" It was Bethany Washington, Hannah's twin sister. Sam yelled from the bottom of the stairs, "We're trying to tackle Josh! Help us!"

Beth watched the event happen before her eyes and suddenly ran down the stairs in a battle cry, leaping onto Josh's back.

Before you know it, Josh lost his balance and he and Beth, along with Hannah and Sam fell to the hardwood floor. They all burst out in laughter as Chris sat on top of the counter, recording the action play out.

Josh sat up, letting out a breath, "Alright, ladies. I need food now."

So the four stood up from the ground and the three girls walked over to the kitchen table.

Beth sat next to Chris on the tabletop, "Did Hannah show you her tattoo, Chris?"

"Yeah, I really like the butterfly design, " Chris paused for a moment and then turned to Hannah, "But, I never thought you would ever get a tattoo. What made you decide to get one?"

Suddenly, Hannah and Josh glanced at each other; the boy was cheesing and the girl was turning bright crimson.

Sam noticed and raised an eyebrow, "I was wondering the same thing..."

Joshua closed the fridge and spoke, "It may be to impress some sort of jock at school..." Now Hannah was blushing profusely.

Sam immediately knew what Josh was implying, "Mike Monroe??"

Michael Monroe. He was known as the school's stereotypical jock. Mike always had to have another new girl on his arm and was quite intelligent for not putting any effort into school. Even though Mike was the biggest flirt in the senior class, he still managed to get into Sam's friend group. When that happened, Hannah began to fall head over heels for him.

Sam was the first to know when Hannah admitted to crushing on Mike. Not wanting to upset her friend's unrealistic romance, Samantha kept her mouth shut about her opinion. Let's just say Sam has known Mike for a long time to know that he is bad news when it comes to commitment.

With a sigh, Sam added on to her last question, "You didn't just get a tattoo because of a boy, did you?" Hannah held her right arm where her tattoo was and stroked it, "I mean, that was part of it. But I was hoping to try something new. I don't want to always play it safe, you know?"

Chris made eye contact with Sam, acknowledging her uneasiness, "Yeah, I get it, Hannah. Although, you don't need to change something that's already amazing."

Josh raised his can of pop, "I toast to that."

Beth winked at her sister, "I for one LOVE the tattoo, sis."

"I do too! I just wanted to make sure it was what you wanted, Han," Sam piped in, wishing she hadn't said anything.

"Thanks, guys," Hannah said with a smile.

Samantha then stood from the table, "So, who's gonna make me some avocado toast?"

She steered her eyes towards Josh who was gulping his last swig of pop. He met her gaze and shook his head, "Don't look at me like that."

"Josh..."

"Get off your lazy butt and do it yourself."

Beth got up too, walking over towards Josh, "I'll grab his feet."

Josh started to deck out towards the back door, "Ah crap!"

Sam and Beth soon ran after Josh while Chris and Hannah sat there silently.

They both looked at each other. Chris pulled out his phone, "I'll record it."

"I'll call my mom," Hannah stated, dialing the number.