Reunion (9 page)

“What was that? Tyler looks really upset. He just walked over to Sam and yelled something at him and pointed this way. Sav maybe you should recoil a bit. Sam doesn’t look too happy.”

“Screw him Maddy. I don’t owe him a thing My words were beginning to slur.

“Yes you do Savannah. You owe him an explanation as to why you never returned his calls and why you changed your number, e-mail and apartment to get away from him and a whole lot more. You do owe him.” She said sadly.

“Maddy don’t, don’t even. I’m having fun. Why don’t you try it. Its been a while.”

“Sav. Watch it.” Maddy said angerly. Jack had just brought back my double shot of Tequila.

“Hey is that Christa Archer on the dance floor with Sam? I didn’t know they were together.”

“Apparently so.” I said and threw back my double shot and slammed my glass on the table. “ Jack would you like to dance again?”

“Absolutely. Lead the way.” I took him by the hand and lead him to the dance floor. I looked back at my girlfriends watching from the table. They just shook their heads and I saw Maddy mouth “I can’t watch this.” I stumbled a little and Jack caught me. He took me in his arms and we were just a few couples away from Sam and Christa. As we started to sway to the music my hands went up Jack’s chest and around his neck. He stroked my arms downward as he began to put his hands around my waist. Our bodies grew closer at the intensity of the song. I felt his breath in my ear. What I didn’t realize was that I had a gorgeous, blue eyed, nice as pie doctor embracing me on this dance floor and you know what I felt? Absolutely nothing. I peered around his arm and saw Sam and Christa dancing almost the same way. Our eyes met and I gave him a toothless, smart ass smile and he snapped Christa away so she was in my sights now. The plan was working. Victory was almost mine. My inner monologue gave a maniacal laugh. I saw Georgia and Tyler next to me and Sam and Christa very close to them. Then I saw

Sam’s hand on Christa’s ass. What the hell! That bastard! Georgia leaned into Sam.

“Nice butt grab ass-hat.” Then she turned away. I saw Sam shake his head and laugh. The song ended and we stood there when Missy Hodges got on the mic.

“Ok Brooklawn Class of 2002 its time for our 10 year reunion awards! “ Everyone cheered. It was something my high school did at every reunion. It was like in our year book. Most improved, best looking, and etc etc…Stupid if you ask me. The girls met me on the dance floor and we all waited to hear the results.

“Ok people. He we go!” Missy said more than enthusiastically. “First up Biggest come back and I mean this in more ways than one. She’s a fighter and a survivor. You all know and love her. Ladies and gentleman Madison Merkins!” It was Maddy! Our Maddy! We started cheering and jumping up and down and crying. Maddy made her way to the stage. They handed her flowers. She looked beautiful up on that stage. The realization came to me that Maddy was a survivor and we were blessed enough to have her here with us. They announced a few more and we clapped for our former classmates.

“Next up is a good one kids. This one is an award we created tonight after seeing her for the first time in 5 years! It’s called the Hot For Teacher award. Ladies and gentleman the award goes to Miss Savannah Garrett!”

Ugh! Are you kidding me. I was so heavily buzzed from the tequila that I couldn’t even see the stage in focus. The girls hugged and cheered for me and Jack gave me a small kiss on the cheek. I made my way up to the stage. Barley. Especially in those damn stilettos. I moved right by Sam and Christa and my leg grazed his fingers by accident. Shivers were instantly sent through my body. It was intense and it made my legs even weaker. Not the shivers! Please! Snap out of it Savannah. I glanced at him and he looked at me briefly. I made it up the stage. I curtsied and accepted my flowers. I stood next to Maddy and hugged her.

“The last award is a pretty hot one. The hottest couple award. These Brooklawn Alumni walked into the room tonight and the walls almost melted.” Missy pretended to fan herself. “ Let’s here it for Sam Reynolds and Christa Archer!”

My knees buckled and Maddy caught me before I fell. Sam and Christa made their way onto the stage. Christa was hardly wearing clothes and Sam looked like something out of G fucking Q. They accepted their awards and Christa got her flowers. People clapped and cheered and then it happened. Christa grabbed Sam’s face to hers and planted a big, huge, wet kiss on his lips. It seemed to go on forever and I turned my head. Vomit rose in my throat and tears threatened to spill out of my eyes.

The place erupted in hooting and hollering. Then one by one people began to leave the stage. I was frozen and just staring out on the dance floor. I have no idea what I was looking at. The alcohol got the best of me. I walked over to the D.J. I turned and whispered in his ear the name of a song and he shook his head yes and I asked him for the microphone. Maddy had my elbow in her hand.

“Let’s go Sav .” I didn’t budge. I couldn’t make my legs work. My eyes traveled down to where Sam had led Christa off the stage. They had kissed. In front of me. How was I going to be able to deal with this for the rest of the night? The alcohol I consumed was making my judgment something that I couldn’t control. I felt trapped. I couldn’t breathe. I stood there and Georgia came to the front of the stage.

“Sav what the hell are you doing? Get off the stage and let’s go have some fun.”

I bent down in her ear. “ I am having fun but I’m just getting warmed up.” I winked at her and raised the mic to my mouth.

“Ok Brooklawn class of 2002. I need all the ladies in the house to listen to me. How many girls out there fell for a jerk at one time or another?” I saw a show of hands and heard a few people call out some Hell Yes’s. “ How many of you fell for a stupid high school boy who promised you the world only to crush you like a bug under his shoe?” The yes’s continued. “ How many of you had a guy tell you you weren’t enough and that they needed to find out what else is out there?” I cupped my ear to listen to the responses. “ How many of you felt better about yourselves when you saw your ex with some skank and you realized how much better you are without him?” I slurred my words on that last statement. I wasn’t even sure I was coherent. Sam stood in front of the stage and yelled above the crowd.

“Savannah that’s enough. You made your point. Get off the stage NOW!.” The intensity in his eyes made it known that he meant business.

“Oh Sam I have only BEGUN to make my point!” I yelled in his face. I began to sing the song which empowered all women hurt by an asshole at one time or another. Oh that Alanis can write some lyrics. The cheers were deafening. I stood there and continued to sing. I swayed my hips and made all kinds of provocative moves. Anything to get Sam away from standing in front of me while I sang .

I looked directly down at Sam as I sang out some of the lyrics. “ And when I’m scratching my nails down someone else’s back I hope you feel, can you feel it!”

“Whatever Savannah.” Sam yelled to me and stormed off. I threw the microphone and stumbled down the steps to the dance floor towards him.

“Don’t you walk away from me Sam Reynolds. How dare you!” He turned to me and yelled in my face “How dare I Savannah? Me? You’re drunk and acting like some cheap whore and rubbing up against Jack fucking Becker!”

I slapped his face. Hard. The collision with his face stung my hand. He looked up to me. “Nice Savannah. ” And he walked out the banquet room doors. It felt like I stood there forever. Christa came and stood in front of me laughing.

“Well you really did it this time Savannah. Didn’t you? You let him walk away again.” I turned in her direction.

“Whatever Christa. He’s all yours. You can have him.” She focused on my face.

“No I can’t have him cause he doesn’t want me. This whole show tonight between me and Sam was all an act. The hand holding, the ass grabbing. Me kissing him. It was all an act. He pushed me off of him when I kissed him on stage tonight but I’m guessing you didn’t see that. The other night at Roy’s it was all make believe. When Sam and I sat down at that table at Roy’s the other night he asked me if I would do him a favor. He asked if he could pretend to be interested in me to make you jealous. I was reluctant at first because truthfully I’ve always had a thing for Sam. I’m sure its no surprise to you ever since that night you saw me coming out of the bedroom of his old apartment. “ I turned and looked at her in disgust.

“Oh yes I remember that night all too well. It was one of the worst nights of my life..” I felt the sick feeling in my stomach as I thought about her exiting his bedroom half naked.

“Wow! You really are clueless Savannah and if you would of done your research and had given Sam a chance to explain what happened you would of known that nothing DID happen between us. I went in his room to seduce him and he kicked me out. He told me he was flattered but wasn’t interested. I took off my bra to try and change his mind and he told me to get out and tossed me one of his shirts. You just happen to be standing there outside the door when I came out. I hated the fact that he loved you and wanted you. I had wanted him since the 11
^th
grade. I tried breaking you two up before that’s why I said what I said to you outside his door.” I looked at her confused.

“Then why were you even there in the first place?”

“I was with Tyler. We were in bed all day and night together. Sam wasn’t even home all day. Tyler said he was running errands.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose and shook my head. I didn’t understand .

“You were with Tyler? He never told me.” She smiled and said “ I asked him not to tell . I didn’t really want Tyler. I wanted Sam and I didn’t want to jeopardize my chances of trying to get him. Tyler went out to pick up food for us that night and that’s when I slipped into Sam’s room. “

“But Sam never tried to contact me until I was back in Boston. Didn’t he hear our conversation outside his door?”

“No he only heard voices and he didn’t know who it was until you left and I tried to slip into his room again. He asked me who I was talking to and I told him it was you and you wanted me to tell him that it was over. You didn’t want him back. You didn’t love him. I thought that it would change his mind about me.”

The next thing I knew I bound up my fist and knocked Christa Archer right out of her red heels. She landed on the floor with a thump and held her mouth in her hands.

Georgia ran up to me and grabbed my arms. Jack stood beside her and people just stared down at Christa on the floor.

“That’s for trying to ruin my life you bitch.” Christa got up from the floor. She wiped blood off her lip and proceeded to walk out the door.

Ella came over with a glass of water for me and made me take a long drink. Jack grabbed my hand and helped me over to one of the tables. I took another sip of water and looked at him.

“Jack I’m so sorry. My behavior is unacceptable. What’s more unacceptable is that I knew from the time I saw you and danced and flirted with you that that was as far as it was going to go between us. I’m so sorry.”

He looked at me and smiled. He grabbed my hand and patted it.

“Savannah I understand. True love is hard to find. I know it’s a cliché but it’s the truth. What are you going to do?”

“I honestly don’t know. What I do know is someday some lucky girl is going to land herself a smart, handsome, understanding doctor. Thanks so much Jack. For everything.”

“No need to thank me but Savannah. Fight for what’s yours and what you want. Don’t go on in life with the fear of not knowing.”

Jack Becker wasn’t a douche bag like Tyler said. He was smart. He made me think. He was a good guy.

I gave Jack a kiss on the cheek and stood up. Maddy came behind me.

“Sav. Are you ok?” I turned around to see the girls standing there behind me.

“I think I am girls. I can’t talk right now. I’ll explain later but for now I have to find Sam.”

“Tyler said he last saw him leaving to hail a cab home. You better run Savannah.” Georgia pushed me towards the exit.

“Sav be careful.” Lil said with a smile. We group hugged and I ran out the double doors towards the parking lot. I was going to get Sam back and I was never going to let him go again.

CHAPTER 7

FORREST GUMP AND I HAVE

A LOT IN COMMON

When I passed through the double doors I stumbled and realized that running in Stiletto’s wasn’t the best idea. I’d break my neck before I even got to tell Sam how I felt. I took off my shoes and ran down towards the door that led to the parking lot. I bust open the doors and looked around the parking lot frantically. “Sam?” I yelled. I heard nothing back. I ran down one section of cars and yelled his name out again. There was no response. I kept walking around the lot amongst the sea of automobiles. I looked for any cabs that may have been waiting in the lot. My pulse quickened and panic sent my heart into overdrive. Tears began to flow down my cheeks and I continued to yell his name. “ SAAAMMMMM. Please Sam Please . SAAAMMMM!” I put my face in my hands and leaned up against a car. My emotions took over and I sobbed at the thought that I did it again. I let him go.

“Sav? “ I heard someone call my name. I looked up wiping away my tears. It was Tyler.

“What do you want Tyler?” I sobbed wiping the tears from my eyes

“The girls said you came out here looking for Sam. They told me what happened with Christa. Sorry I missed it. They also told me about the conversation you had with her. Sav I had no idea she sabotaged you and Sam getting back together and how she used me. I mean I’ve been used before and I’m not upset about that. I’m upset that you didn’t fight for Sam. You just took off with no explanation.”