Wednesday was like an asteroid hurtling towards us that we just couldn't escape. Sam and I snuggled each day we could in the library, with her terrified and me doing my best to assure her that me and my mom would protect her. I must have said happy birthday to her a dozen times, but with the threat of Dave hanging over her head, it most certainly wasn't happy. When you're the target, there is only so much that any assurances can do. It didn't help that her cousins were acting like total bitches the entire week, constantly dropping comments about baby names and weddings.
I really wanted to punch them.
"So, Melissa, I'm confused. You both know that Sam hates Dave, and yet you seem to think she's going to have babies with him? Why would she ever want to do that?" I asked her during PE.
"Who says she wants to?" she scoffed.
"Exactly, so if she doesn't want to, why would she?" I continued, hoping she'd say something stupid.
"Dave always gets what he wants." Maggie said sweetly with an evil smirk.
"Ahh. So, rape is the plan? And you're okay with that?" I confirmed.
"It isn't rape. He is her fiancé. He can have sex with her any time he wants!" Maggie growled.
"You probably need to look up the definition of consent. Because if he tries something, fiancé or not, he'll be arrested," I assured them.
"He's never been arrested before!" Melissa pointed out.
"There is a first time for everything," Sam countered. "I'll rip his nuts right out of that little sack of his. Since you guys like them so much, I'll give one to each of you."
"Her dad must really be paying you well for you to be so hateful towards Sam. I truly hope that Karma fucks you both up the ass with a weed whacker," I said a sweetly as Maggie had. "What if he told you two you needed to get married to each other in order to help out the business?"
"Eww! That's gross!" exclaimed Maggie. "She's my sister!"
"So? He's making Sam do something she doesn't want to, why wouldn't you do it? What's the difference?" I wondered.
"But she should want to! He's dreamy!" Melissa retorted.
"Well, there are people that think you two are beautiful, so you should be happy together. Still the same thing." I argued.
"Fuck you, Abby. She's going to marry him and that is all that matters." Maggie spat at me. Sam was covering her mouth, trying not to laugh at her cousins to no avail.
Unfortunately, our stimulating conversation was cut short by the bell.
The last half of our library time that day was excruciating. I sat on the floor, leaning against the wall with Sam curling up in my lap while trembling in fear. As much as I was squeezing her it didn't seem to matter. Nothing would make her feel better till the night was over and she was safe.
"I'm going to be with my mom in the car, okay? We'll follow you, and she'll go into the restaurant since he won't know her. I'll stay outside in case he tries to do anything, and Steven will stay nearby for backup," I reassured her while rubbing circles on her back.
"I know, you guys will protect me. I just hate that it even comes to this," she sniffled into my neck. "If my dad wasn't an asshole, I'd be at your house tonight snuggling up and watching movies, not fearing for my life."
"That sounds like a much better plan to me! I love you Sammy, I'm never going to let him hurt you. I will ruin him if he tries anything at all!" I promised her, looking into her eyes to make sure she knew how serious I was.
"Just kidnap me, please? Don't let me go tonight!" Sam clutched at my back, and it broke my heart.
"Let's see what my mom thinks after tonight, okay? Maybe you really should move in with us, and we'll come up with a better plan for Janine," I suggested. "In the meantime, I'm going to make sure tonight is safe, and Dave will be roadkill if he tries anything." I kissed her lightly on the cheek, getting a brief smile in response.
Her eyes suddenly lit up. "Hey, can I call you from the restaurant? Like go to the bathroom, call you and then put you on speaker so you can listen? Then if I call for help you can come and get me?"
"Of course! That's a great idea! I'll be the super spy coming to the rescue!" I giggled. "Oh, and text me when you know where he's taking you for dinner!"
The bell rang a short time later, and we untangled ourselves to get going. I gave her one more big hug to get her through the next few hours, and then she went off to drive home with her bitchy cousins, while I went to my car to drive back to my place. I had pulled out and was sitting in the long line of cars trying to leave the senior lot, when I spotted Dave hanging out with the two guys that had been with him the day that he'd tried to warn me off Sam. He looked in much too good a mood and was making a lot of over exaggerated pelvic moves and giving them high fives. I didn't like the look of that at all. I was already beyond tense, but there was nothing I could do to alleviate that until I got Sam back safe.
"Mom, you home?" I called out when I stormed through the front door.
"Yep, we're both here." She replied, coming in from the deck with Steve.
"Good. Everyone was acting really sketchy today, and I'm really worried now. Dave is a pig, and he's going to be all over Sam tonight if he can be," I whined, pacing back in forth while wringing my hands.
"We're all going to be there, don't worry honey. We'll keep her safe," she reassured me. It felt like I was getting secondhand reassurance now, and I detested it. I should be taking care of Sam, and instead I was the one frantic. I'm sure she was too, and I hated not being able to be there for her.
I grabbed a quick banana, knowing I needed some food, but sure I wouldn't be able to eat an actual meal until Sam was safe. I couldn't relax, and just walked in circles around the yard, just trying to make the day over.
My phone buzzed, and I checked it quick.
Sammy – He's on his way, going to Chili's
Me – We'll head there now. Be safe!
Sammy – I will be, have a special outfit for him in case he tries anything.
Me – When we get you back to my place I'm going to want to get you out of that!
Sammy – omg, tease!
Me – a promise!
Sammy – I'm going to hold you to that!
I ran back inside, yelling for my mom. "Mom, we have to go to Chili's! He's on his way!"
"We can sit at the bar there," suggested Steve. "We should be able to see most of the restaurant."
"I don't want to wait in the car, I want to sit right next to them," I complained. I didn't even care if I scared Dave off, it was more important to keep Sam safe.
"Honey, stay in the car. Don't argue, okay? This is our job, and we'll keep her safe." My mom had her bag already packed and we headed out to her cruiser while Steve took his unmarked SUV. The drive seemed to take forever, and I was terrified that Dave had already set his plan in motion. I could see the Chili's sign ahead on the road when my phone rang. Sammy's adorable face graced my screen as I saw her contact pop up.
"Hey Sammy, are you safe?"
"Yep. As soon as the waiter brought the water, I bailed for the bathroom to call. I'll leave it on speaker when I go back," she assured me. "My seat is in the same isle as the bathroom, so I can run in here if I need to."
"Okay, we're almost there, so take your time. My mom and Steve will be at the bar, and I'll be in the car in the parking lot, so call out for help if you need anything," I explained our plan.
"Good, that will help. I have a lot of tough to get off clothing, including a body suit and a leotard under my jeans, so he is never getting through all this," she chuckled. "I even used a padlock on an old belt to keep it on. It will probably take me an hour to get into pajamas tonight!"
My mom parked the car and gave me a quick wave while going to meet Steve at the bar. I sighed and leaned my head back on the seat. "Okay, mom just went into the bar. Hopefully the night goes quick, I want you back at my place for snuggles!"
"That sounds like a much better night than what I'm in for," Sam complained. "I love you so much Abby. Thanks for being here."
"Hell, if it was up to me, I'd be sitting right next to you to punch him if he tried anything," I stated. "But mom didn't want him to see me."
"No, you stay safe. I'll be fine, I promise."
"And you'll keep the call open on speaker? I'll mute my end, so nothing comes through." My heart was racing now that I knew she was going to head back to the table.
"Yep, I'll call for help if I need anything," she reminded me.
"Alright, I love you!" I called out before pressing the mute button.
"I love you too!" she whispered.
It was weird listening in on her phone as she walked. I could hear snippets of other tables talking, and I was having fun trying to guess what was happening around her. Or it was until I heard Dave's slimy voice.
"Welcome back babe!" I could visualize his leer through the phone. It just made my skin crawl.
"I'm not your babe, and I never will be," Sam shot back.
"Oh, come on! You know this is inevitable!" Dave pleaded.
"Why on earth would you want to marry someone who thinks your scum and will never like you? Does that really sound like the kind of relationship you want?" Sam asked.
"You'll come around; you know I'll grow on you." Ugh, he was every cringeworthy cliché possible rolled into one fetid human burrito.
"Would that be more like a fungus or a genital wart?" Sam asked sweetly. "Seriously, there are so many girls in school that would marry you. Why go after me, also knowing I'm a lesbian?"
"Fine. I want to be your first," Dave admitted. "Everyone knows that you're untouchable at school, so I want to be the one to take it."
I was shocked at the balls on this asshole, but I was even more shocked to hear Sam laughing. "Dave, you're chasing a lost cause then. I lost that two years ago, before the M&Ms were ever around!" I snickered, hoping Dave would back off after that. Sam told me she'd try to make herself look like less of a trophy.
Dave chuckled right back. "Yeah, but I bet it was a chick, and I'll be your first dick!"
"Well, you are a dick, you have that right. And it was a nice rhyme, you should use that poem in English class. Now can we just call this bullshit off now? I'm never going to willingly be with you, and if you try anything with me, I'm going to go to the cops. I know you've never been caught before, but I'll ruin you if you try anything."
"Whatever. Have your dinner and then I'll take you home. But you're still going to be stuck marrying me. Sooner or later, you're going to give in. Your dad already promised," Dave pointed out in a low growl.
"My dad made a mistake. Your parents will be happy to get the company for a dollar, but you're never getting me," Sam assured him.
Dave just grunted in reply, leading to several minutes of eating something crunchy before ordering their food. I realized it must have been chips and salsa, since they were at Chili's. I could hear Sam order a burger so she was playing it safe, not a bad option.
But a few minutes later, I heard Sam groan softly. "Damnit Dave, spiking the water? Really?" She whispered into the phone. "Help!"
The last thing I heard from the phone was Dave's chuckle before his cold voice. "I told you I'd be your first dick!"