Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Bree sat in a packed movie theater next to Sam, wishing the movie wasn't so long. It was only their second date, but she would've much rather spent the time talking to him than watching other people talk on screen.

His fingertips brushed hers in the popcorn bucket, and she had to assume it was on purpose. Sam was a great guy. Nice, funny, and a wonderful musician. Why she'd never noticed before that night in the student lounge a few weeks ago, she wasn't sure. They'd talked for hours and ended up having a jam session that brought out a lot of other students to listen. Since that day, the two of them had been together every spare minute.

On screen, the actor and actress were talking about how much they loved each other, but they just weren't meant to be together. It brought tears to Bree's eyes, but she fought them off. That's how it was with her and Trent. It didn't matter that she'd invested so many years in thinking about him, or that that kiss in the snow was the most perfect moment of her life. They just weren't meant to be.

"You okay?" Sam whispered in her ear.

"Yep. Just… sad." She nodded at the screen so he'd assume she meant she was sad for the actors. He gave her a reassuring smile and put his arm around her, and she moved against him. He smelled like leather from his guitar strap and Old Spice. It wasn't the same as Trent, but it wasn't unpleasant. Sam was a good guy, and Bree liked him. She could make this work.

She'd found out a few days after she'd thought she'd sent that text to Trent that his number had changed. When she'd talked to Christy about everything that happened at the cabin, her friend had asked if she'd spoken to him, and she said she'd sent him a text, and he pretended like he didn't know who she was. So, at least that wasn't the case. But she hadn't tried again since she'd gotten his new number. If he wanted to call her, he would. Her number hadn't changed in over a year, and she was pretty sure he had it.

They weren't friends on social media anymore, though. With his last girlfriend, she'd unfriended him. She just couldn't see pictures of the two of them together. If he ever asked, she'd say she had no idea what had happened, but he hadn't sent her a friend request either.

Sam's arm around her felt good. It felt right. It wasn't perfect. It didn't make her weak in the knees or giddy, but it was better than what most people got out of this life. Besides, they had a lot in common. Sam was going to be a professional musician, too. They had even talked about gigging together. Most importantly, he was here--and he wanted to spend time with her, unlike Trent.

When the movie was over, Sam took her hand and led her out with the rest of the people leaving the movie theater. "What did you think? Did you like your chick flick?"

"My chick flick?" Bree asked, tipping her head to the side to study him. "You picked it, not me."

"Yeah, but I thought you'd want to see it."

Bree giggled. "I prefer action adventure or horror movies, Sam. But it wasn't bad."

"Seriously? We just sat through that for no reason?" He tossed his head back and laughed. "Do you want to go get some ice cream?"

"Do you want to go get some ice cream, or are you just asking because you think I want to go get some?" She smiled at him, hoping he knew she was just joking around.

"I love ice cream. I am an ice cream fiend. But if you'd rather not…."

"Ice cream would be awesome."

Sam slipped his arm around her waist and led her to the door, and Bree walked alongside him, glad to have such a nice guy with her. It might not be perfect, but it was easy, and she could get used to a guy like Sam.

The rest of the semester flew by in a blur of classes and weekend gigs. By the end of the school year, Bree and Sam were practically inseparable. They were even discussing the possibility of getting an apartment together when school started in the fall. Bree didn't know how to tell Lilly, though. They'd been roommates for three years, and she couldn't imagine leaving her their senior year.

The last day of school, Bree was in their room, packing up to go home for the summer when Lilly came in, an odd look on her face. "Hey, are you okay?" Bree asked, dropping a paperback book into a box. She'd already taken a few loads home the last few weekends, but this was the last day, so she'd have to take everything else. Sam had already gone home for the summer. He lived in Michigan, so they wouldn't see each other for a few months, which would be hard.

"Uh… yeah, I’m okay,” Lilly replied. “But I need to tell you something." Lilly sat down on the edge of the naked mattress that had been her bed the last two semesters.

"What is it? Is everything all right?"

"Don't be mad…." Lilly said, gritting her teeth.

Concerned, Bree sat down on the edge of her own bed. "What is it?" she asked again.

"So… I've made a decision. It hasn't been an easy one, but it's made. I'm… not coming back in the fall."

"What?" Bree could hardly believe her ears. "Why not? I thought you loved your program, and you're almost done."

"I do. It's just… Monica really loves her new school. And you know how close I am to my sister. So… I decided to go to school there. That's all. I'm sorry. I'm sure you'll get another roommate that you'll love."

"No, it's okay." Bree ran a hand through her hair. "Sam and I have been talking about getting a place together. Maybe this is a sign that we should do that."

"Oh, you should totally do that. Sam's great. Maybe it is fate. Just don't be mad at me, okay? Monica and I have always been so close. It's been crazy not being with her these past few years."

"I understand." Bree stood and hugged her roommate—soon-to-be former roommate. She'd had friends that were close enough to be siblings, though she'd never had a sister, so she understood.

"We'll still talk every day," Lilly said, and Bree nodded. She knew that wasn't true. She'd said that to the same friends she considered sisters, and it just didn't happen. It wasn't anyone's fault. They just grew apart, and she and Lilly would likely do the same.

"I've gotta finish packing." Bree let her go, and Lilly went about tossing the last of her things into a box while Bree did the same. It seemed like everything in her life was changing. Bree just hoped it was for the better.

She wasn't even going to her hometown. Her parents had moved a few months ago. They didn't live in Shelbyville anymore, having moved to her mother's childhood home in Highview to take care of her aging grandmother. Her mother had always loved the large antebellum home, so when Grandma Ann got sick with cancer back in January and offered to give her mom the house when she passed away if they'd move in now to help her with her treatments, her parents had agreed. Her dad had taken early retirement from the postal service, and her mom was already retired from teaching. It seemed like a smart thing to do from their point of view, but for Bree, it was odd to think she wouldn't be driving to the house she'd grown up in, and her summer plans to see her high school friends would be thwarted again.

It was probably just as well. She didn't want to see Trent. Sam and Bree had agreed that they could date other people during the summer if they wanted to--just for fun, nothing intimate--because they'd be apart for so many months, but there was no sense in getting her hopes up about Trent anymore. Besides, with her luck, he would be dating someone anyway.

Bree put the last of her things in a box and looked around the dorm room. "Is that everything?" Lilly asked.

"I think so."

She came over to Bree and hugged her again. "I really will miss you. And someday, when I get married, you're going to sing at my wedding. I've been telling everyone I know how beautiful a voice you have for so long. You're going to be famous one day."

Bree laughed. "I don't know about that. I'll just be happy if I can make a living teaching other people music and performing on the side. If I'm destined to be a wedding singer, so be it. You know I'll sing at your wedding." She kissed her friend on the cheek and took a deep breath before heading out the door. It was the end of an era, but with each ending came new beginnings, and that's what Bree would concentrate on now.