SAM's POV

After the little chit-chat with Diggy, I drove straight home to work on some homework. Luckily, since it's a new semester, we don't have too much work just yet. Usually, I'd be procrastinating,  but I figured there's nothing else to do. It's my last semester of high school... can you believe it? 

I can't believe it. I remember when I was a little freshman walking the halls of Wesley High and the only friend I knew was Diggy. And then I met Becca because she was on the cheer team and we'd see her whenever we had basketball practice and games. And then Khalil. And Jake. The whole crew.

*DING DONG* 

I wonder who that is? Mama G and Antonio aren't home yet... and we're not expecting anyone. I exhale and get up to answer the door. When I open it, Jake's grinning face greets me at the door.

"Hello...?"

"Hey. Can I come in?"

"Uh... sure." I let him in and he walks into the kitchen, setting his bag on the floor. I close the door and follow him, curious about why he came to visit. "So, what's up? You could've called or something."

"I wanted to surprise you," he simply says.

"Okay. What's up?" I cross my arms and eye his suspicious smirk.

"Well... how was the talk with Diggy?"

"Ugh, stupid. He asked me about some rumors about Julie and if I had anything to do with them." I sit on a stool at the kitchen table.

"Oh, he asked me about those, too. I told him I didn't know anything." He shrugs.

"I don't know why he's worried about it so much -- I mean, they involve him but if they're not dating anymore, why does it matter? People gon' talk regardless and there's nothing he can really do about it."

"True. If he's really concerned, he should tell a guidance counselor or something because it could be considered cyberbullying."

"Yeah, well... I have nothing to do with it, so. I'm over it," I reply with a shrug.

Jake nods his head. Then, he grins at me. "So... what are you doing?" 

"I was studying... until you came."

"Oh. Well... we can study together." He steps closer to me, grabs my chin, and pulls me close to kiss my lips. Mmm, his lips are so soft! After a few more seconds in what felt like heaven, I pull away.

"I really need to study. Seriously. I don't need any distractions," I say, wiping the corners of my mouth.

"Is that right?" He smirks and rubs my arm, which I can't help but give in to.

"Yes, Jake."

"I really need to study, too..." He licks his lips; his eyes are so mesmerizing.

"Okay. Then let's study," I reply in an energetic voice, grabbing his arm and attempting to pull him towards the dining room table where my textbook is laying open. But he pulls me back and wraps his arms around my waist. 

"I need to study you..." he says, before kissing me again, more passionately than the last time. I give in, again, sucking on his juicy lips while rubbing his neck. I feel Jake's big hands slide down my back and rest on the curve of my hips, then he slides them further down and grabs my booty, massaging it. It feels so goooood! The air between us and around us feels warm and hot. My heart is pounding in my chest as my hormones rage. Mmm... I don't want it to stop!

"Well, hello!"

Me and Jake jump off of each other and fix ourselves as we stare into the deathly eyes of my mother.

"M-Mrs. Goode, we were just--" Jake stutters.

"Hello, Jake. You were just what? Huh? Cat got ya tongue?" My mom puts her hands on her hips and glares at us.

Jake licks his lips and glances at me, rubbing his hands nervously. I've never seen him this nervous. I clear my throat and try to act like nothing happened.

"Hey, mom. Mama G. Mama Bear. We were... um, just studying!" I flash an innocent smile.

"Oh, really... what class? Sex Ed?!"

I force a laugh and reply, "Hahaha! You're so silly! Well, we're just gonna study in my room, okay? Bye!"  I grab my textbook and backpack, and pull Jake with me towards the stairs but, Mama G ain't having it.

She steps in front of us. "Unh, unh, unh! Hold it. Jake, it was nice seeing you, but I'm afraid you'll have to leave. We have some family plans tonight."

"We do?" I ask while frowning.

She glares at me. "Yes, we do." She turns to Jake with a smiling face. "It was nice seeing you again. Go home."

Jake nods his head. "Oh, uh, yeah... you too. Okay. Bye, Sam."

"Bye, Jake..."

He practically runs out of the house. I groan.

"Mom! What the heck?"

She shakes her head and hangs up her car keys. "Don't what the heck me. Teenagers and their hormones, I tell ya..."

"Don't act like you weren't a teenager once, too. Even though that was, like, 50 years ago."

My mama scoffs. "Girl, please. We were more responsible back in my days."

"Who said we're not responsible?"

"Just forget it. How was your day?" She gets a tissue and blows her nose.

"Okay... why are you home so early?"

"I wasn't feeling too good, so I left early. Antonio is gonna pick up some dinner when he gets off today," she says.

"Whatever..." I throw my backpack over my shoulder.

"I'm gonna need you to wash your clothes today and put the dishes in the dishwasher."

"I have homework." I start walking to my room with my things.

"After homework, please and thank you!"

~2 hours later~

My mom called me down to eat dinner; I assumed Antonio was home by now. While I was in my room, Jake and I were texting each other and talking about random things. He was talking about taking me out some time on a proper date... I ain't mad at that. We've only been dating for two weeks now and we haven't actually had a "date". We're not too serious or anything - we usually just chill when we hang together - but it'll be a nice change to maybe dress up and go out.

As I walk downstairs to the kitchen, I see the table crowded with a pan of spaghetti, garlic bread, a big bowl of salad, a bowl of mixed fruit, and meatballs on the side. My mom smiles when she sees me.

"Hey, hun. Antonio got Olive Garden."

"I see..."

"Grab a plate. You can eat as much as you want." She pours two glasses of wine, making my eyebrows lift in shock.

"Are y'all expecting us to eat this for the whole week? It's a lot of food..." I say as I scoop some spaghetti onto a paper plate.

"Maybe for the next two days," Antonio speaks up.

"What's the occasion?" I ask.

"Since your mother and I will be staying late for work tomorrow and Friday, we figured this should hold you until then," Antonio informs me.

I nod my head and sigh. "Oh. Cool."

Ma and Antonio make their plates as I sit at the dining table, opening a can of soda. I waited until they got their food and sat at the table so we could do our regular ritual of saying grace before we ate. After saying grace, we began eating. It's still weird having dinner at the table with Antonio here... but mama insists on acting like a family. I can't lie, Antonio ain't as bad as I made him out to be, but he ain't my dad.

"So, Samantha, how was school?" Antonio asks while sipping some wine.

"It was good..."

He nods. "Anything interesting happen?"

"Nope. Same ole, same ole." I stuff a meatball into my mouth and chew.

"I remember those high school days... my brother and I were really close. He played basketball and I played football."

I nod, "Cool. Were you any good?"

Antonio grins and says, "I was the top player in my class. I played varsity my freshman year and even thought about going pro."

"Why didn't you?"

"I had this bad injury that put me out of the game for good. I had planned on going to UCLA for football, but that was out of the question."

"So, how did you end up working at JCPenney's?" I ask this unintentionally judgmental, which makes him chuckle.

"Well, after I had that injury, I thought that somehow moving and going to school in New York would help me find myself and trigger different interests I never knew I had, and I discovered business. I majored in Business Management at NYU, graduated, then I came to JCPenney's which I don't regret one bit." Antonio smiles while looking at my mother as she blushes.

"How sweet..." I cringe.

"Baby, where did you say your brother lived?" Mom asks him.

"I think he moved here last year."

"You're gonna invite his family to the wedding, right? I can't wait to meet your family."

"Yes, I'd love for them to come. I actually haven't talked to him in a while, but I'm sure he'll be thrilled to know his brother is getting married," Antonio says with a smile.

"Ohhh, I can't wait!" Mama smiles and continues eating.

After a brief silence, Antonio gears his attention back to me.

"So... what are your plans after high school, Samantha? Your mother told me you're going to UCLA?"

"Yeah. Um, hopefully, I'll get a scholarship for basketball at UCLA and just play college ball."

"That sounds great. And I'm sure you'll figure out your other interests as you get through school," Antonio says, sounding super sure of himself. I wish I was that confident about my future.

I nod my head and continue eating. The rest of dinner was just random small talk which I wasn't very interested in, mostly pertaining to my mother's upcoming wedding.