Samantha Blake ^^^^^

The moment I opened my eyes I regretted it. I grab a fistful of comforter and drag over my face to try to ease the splitting headache that I woke up with. Dang! What the hell happen last night?

I rub my eyes to get rid of the lingering slumber as I sit up a groan escapes my mouth and a sharp pain pierces through my skull. The more I move, the more it hurts. I decide to not procrastinate any longer and I swing my legs over the side of my bed. I stand up holding onto one of the posts as I balance myself. A scream leaves my lips as the bathroom door swings open which is unexpected since I live alone. I grab the closest thing to me, which happens to be my bedside lamp, throwing my right leg in front of me along with my hands to stand in my assumption of an attack mode.

The most beautiful pair of hazel eyes I've ever seen are staring back at me. Wow, Is it possible for someone to look so perfect and sexy..... I just want to swim in those eyes and never leave...

Awkwardness sets in as I realise I have just been standing there staring at him. My jaw wide open as I take in the tanned God standing before me. Uh, who the hell is this? Why is he standing here in my apartment? And naked nontheless?

"Uh, listen. I don't know who you are but if you don't leave in the next 5 seconds I will call the police and have you thrown in jail." I say with mock bravery because internally I am freaking out. Is he some kind of pervert? Did I leave my appartment door unlocked last night? How the hell did I even get home? I felt my headache increase at the swirl of questions in my head.

He grabs the top of the towel that is wrapped around his waist pulling it tighter around body which brings my attention to the sharp v line present there. He rubs the back of his neck in confusion and what looks like sadness pass in his eyes.

"Uh, this is awkward." He answers with a slight chuckle. "You don't remember anything from last night, do you?" He asks.

"Uh, no! Actually I don't." Then a realization comes to me as I stare at him standing in his towel. "Oh my gosh! Did we have sex?" I say wide-eyed as I begin to hyperventilate.

"Hey, hey! Calm down! Breathe in, breathe out." He says walking towards me.

"STAY BACK!! DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!" I wave my weapon out in front of me threatening to attack him.
A chuckle left his lips at the sight of me holding my beside lamp out in front of me.

I sit on the edge of my bed and calm my breathing, I try my hardest to remember what happened last night but nothing comes to memory. I don't remember but I can feel a tug of familiarity in the back of my mind. I may have invited him here last night but I still feel the awkwardness of the situation setting in. Then, suddenly-

"Oh, I do remember. Are you the bartender? Something that starts with a D." I whisper the last part to myself, trying to remember his name.

He chuckles slightly before mumbling to himself. "Of course, she would remember Derrick."

"Yes! That's it! Derrick!" I say proudly. "So, I'm assuming you're not Derrick?"

"No, I'm not. He is my best friend and the bartender of the bar I own."

"Oh." Was all I managed to say about that. "Well, since I don't remember you. Who are you? And why are you here?

He looked up at me with hurt in his eyes. "First off nothing happened between us last night. You asked me to stay and I did but i only slept here.  I gave you a ride home nothing else. We met last night. I'm a friend of Derrick's. I apologize for scaring you and intruding. I will leave now." After dressing himself, he walks towards the front door and leaves my apartment quietly. I felt bad for staying quiet and letting him leave but I truly did not know what to say.

I can't help but feel upset at the fact of how sad he looked. I don't know anything about the man who just left but I feel like I miss having him here. It's strange and I'm not sure what to make of it? Why can't I remember anything? Deep down I feel like I just lost something precious and I might not get it back. 

After the whole morning situation, I get up and take an advil for the pain. I feel icky and gross so I hop in the shower and get dressed. I pull on a white blouse and high waisted pants with some suspenders pairing it with some ballet flats.

I walk into my kitchen looking to make some coffee. I slid open the pantry door and grab a coffee can only to find the can empty with just the crumbs left. Well, there's a Starbucks just down the street. I think to myself with excitement. Some fresh air will do me some good.

I pull my hair up in a messy bun with a few strands coming down from the sides. My wavy black hair reaches my waist when it's down so it takes some improvisation to make the bun work. I quickly apply some light makeup as well, nothing to fancy. Grabbing my keys and purse as I head out the door.

As I walk down the street, I try again to remember the events of last night. I know I went to a bar. "Hey Sam!" someone calls from behind me. I squint my eyes in the direction of whoever called my name to see my brother's best friend waving at me. I walk up to a huge warehouse which must be where he works. He is standing in front of a gated entrance smoking a cigarette with a couple of other guys. They look like they are all in the 20's.

"Hey, Timmy. How are you? It's been a while. Do you work here?" I ask as I wrap my arms around him in a tight embrace.

"Yea, I do. It's a packing warehouse for bigger items. Lots of heavy loads. That's why they hired me. They needed all this." He says pointing to his muscled arms.

"Haha, what would they do without you?" I say jokingly as I twirl the end of my hair on my finger.

"So, this is Jasper. George but we call him "G". And lastly this is Dustin. Guys, this is James's sister." He says while putting his arm around my shoulder. This small gesture is his way of telling me I don't need to be nervous, these guys are nice. "Nice to meet you." I say with a smile. "Nice to meet you too!" They all say at the same time overlapping each other's voices.

Tim and my brother James have been best friends since they were 2 years old. His mother and my mother met at the park while watching the boys play and have been friends ever since. I wasn't born till 4 years later. I was close to both of them since I was the only girl. They grew up protecting me and always getting me out of uncomfortable situations. I've always been an introvert. My parents had to force me to go outside and play with my brother and Tim. So you get it, we are pretty close.

"So where you headed to?" Tim asks.

"I decided to walk down the street to Starbucks. Needed to get some fresh air." I tell him taking a deep breath and sighing out loud.

"Hey, you okay?" He asks me while pulling me away from the others.

"Yea, kind of. Did you know Stephanie went to Europe? To live? She dropped the bomb on me yesterday. She said she didn't want to tell me sooner since it wasn't a for sure thing but the moment she found out she took off. Barely saying goodbye. She freaking texted me not even a phone call to say bye. I can't believe her!" I explain not meaning to raise my voice. I guess what she did still bothered me. Embarrassed by my actions I lower my head, looking at my feet.

"Look Sam, I don't know why she did that but you have to know there must of been a reason. She wouldn't just leave like that if she didn't need to. Don't be sad I'm sure she'll write or call soon to tell you all about it and then you'll regret ever getting mad in the first place." Tim says as he grabs my chin gently and pulls it to look at him. His brown eyes are looking into mine to find understanding. I simply nod and say that I'll see him later.

"Okay. Talk to you later." He says with both arms extended. "Did you forget something?"

I put my arms around his waist and he pulls me to him in a tight embrace. We stay like that for a minute then pull away slightly but he holds me there not letting me go completely.

"Sam. I have something to ask you." He says suddenly sounding nervous. I just look up at him waiting to hear what he wants to say. "Um, I don't know how to say this but would you like to go out with me tonight? Now that I have seen you again I'm not ready to let you go."

I watch as he pushes his brown hair that falls right over his left eye behind his ear. The sides are cut short close to his scalp. His right ear has a small dud in it -he got that when he was 15. He got it to please the ladies, those were his exact words. A smile plays on my lips as I think back on the memory. 

"Sure. We can hang out tonight. I'd love to catch up with you." I responded with a smile and a hug before heading towards the coffee shop. As I wait in line, I hear a chirp from my cellphone. 

Unknown Number: So, I forgot to ask you for your number. I asked your brother for it :-) Can I pick you up at 6?

Samantha: LOL. Okay. Sounds good. 

I respond and then add his name to the contact number. 

Timmy: See you at six. Can't wait!

Samantha: Me too! :-)

I pay for my coffee and then walk over to an empty table by the window when my cellphone starts to ring. I look at the caller ID and see  Derrick is calling. 

"Hello??"

"Hey Samantha. It's Derrick. We still on for tonight? I was thinking I can come get you around 6pm?"

"6pm? tonight?" I ask him, completely confused. 

"Uh.... yea." He chuckles, obviously hearing the confusion in my voice. "You don't remember do you? You asked me if I wanted to hang out tonight and now I'm calling you, my new cute friend, to confirm said hang out."

"Mmm, now that you mention it. I think I do remember." 

"I'm not surprised that you don't remember. You had a lot to drink last night. Not much happened before asked me to hang out. You drank. You danced. You asked me out. Then. my friend gave you a ride home."

So I guess the guy from this morning was telling the truth. I'm still not sure nothing happened though. I'll have to see if I can apologize for kicking him out of apartment this morning after he was just helping me out.

"Your right, I don't remember. Last night is still fuzzy. So, anyways. I have plans tonight with someone else since I didn't remember that I already made plans. I'm sorry. Is it ok if I bring my friend?"

"Yep. That's cool. See you later. Bye." He says and hangs up.

So, now I have to break the news to Tim. I quickly send him a text since I know he's at work.

Samantha: "Hey! So, I'm sorry but I forgot I made some plans for tonight already. But you can come if you want. Sorry again." Message sent.

A few minutes later as I'm finishing my vanilla latte with an extra shot. My phone chirps.

Timmy:"Hey no big deal. That's fine. So, who we hanging out with tonight?"

Sam:"Um.. no one you know. His name is Derrick...."

Timmy: "Your friend is a guy???"

Sam: "Yes. Why? Does it matter?"

Tim: "No just wondering. Just a little surprised is all."

Sam: "Okay. Well, I told him we would meet him so I will see you later."

Tim: "K. C u."

Well that was different. I feel a mix of nerves and excitement as I imagine how tonight will be like. It will be interesting to say the least.