"Lara? Laaaara..."
My head snapped up to see a hand waving in front of my face. I slowly spun my chair around to find Sam standing in front of me.

"I said, do you want anything from the store? I'm about to go get some stuff. Or you could come with, unless you wanna continue sleeping in your books of course," she chuckled.

"Shut up, I was tired," I smiled and raised my arms up to stretch, exhaling deeply.

"Hey, at least I know I'm not the only one who is put to sleep by your books."

I stuck my tongue out at her in reply and she giggled and winked at me. God, why did she have to wink at me like that? Every time she did, I got butterflies and felt my cheeks inevitably redden. There was next to no doubt that she had realised this and I had started to think that she did it purposely. She was known to be a tease, as many guys she had met in the clubs she dragged me along to would tell you.

"Yeah I'll come with," I told her, "could probably do with some fresh air."

We both know that I didn't join her out of a need for fresh air. Before Yamatai we were close, as best friends are. Afterwards we were...unusually close. Despite the fact that we had been completely safe for a few months now, I still felt uncomfortable when separated from her for too long. Since I woke up with nightmares about Sam being taken away on that very first night on our way home, we started sharing a bed. At the time I was amazed by how much easier I could sleep if I was holding her. Then I noticed how it wasn't just that, holding her made everything feel better.

As we walked to the store, which was only a few blocks away, Sam happily went on about some new camera feature while I blushed and looked at the ground as it reminded me of her journal entry that said how good I looked on camera. Her hand was in mine and I could feel the leather from her jacket against my bare arm. I kicked a small rock and watched it skip along the ground before falling into the gutter to try and distract myself from thinking about her soft skin under the jacket.

It was dark by the time we returned.

"If I cook us dinner tonight and clean up afterwards, can I pick what we watch on TV?" Sam asked as she unpacked the grocery bags.

I sit up on the bench and let my legs dangle.
"Well this is clearly a trick, you hate doing the dishes. You're not fooling me, Samantha Nishimura."
She gave a sad pout and I gave in within seconds.

"Oh okay fine, but only because I'm curious as to what you're up to."

I felt like telling her that wasn't all I was curious about, but instead I retreated to the couch like a coward. Huh, that's funny. After everything that's happened I wouldn't have thought I would describe myself as cowardly, not anymore. I guess she had a way of bringing things out of me I didn't know existed. The thought made me smile.

"Okay, prepare to feast!" Sam sang herself a little intro as she brought our food in.

I gazed at the two cups she was holding.

"Seriously, Sam?" I laughed as I saw the 'feast' consisted of two minute noodles.

"Oh you're impressed now? You just wait."
She placed the cups on the coffee table only to exit the room, bringing back two beers with her.

"Wow, you've really gone all out," I told her as she plonked down next to me, "It certainly beats the toast you made last week."
She scrunched up her face in response to my teasing in a way I found adorable.

"So now you've revealed the first part of your evil plan, what's next?"

"Okay, since I have lovingly gone to the effort of making us a wonderful meal, you have agreed to give me full control of the TV...which means...we're watching a movie! And you have to sit through it. I don't wanna catch you reading a book."

"Yeah I'm going to need more beer for this," I said half jokingly.

Sam jumped up and returned with two six packs, one missing the two we had already taken.

"I came prepared of course."
"Of course you did."

Not long later we both had a belly full of noodles and a few drinks in there too. I was starting to feel tipsy and I realised that I had no hope on actually concentrating on the movie that we were about halfway through. I noticed the empty noodle cups sitting on the coffee table.

"I thought you were meant to clean up? Wasn't that the deal?"
"Oh picky, picky."
Sam quickly finished her drink and reluctantly got up to dispose of the cups, taking the empty bottles with her. Before she returned I lay down on the couch, using a cushion as a pillow.

"Oh I see, get me to leave the room so you can steal the couch. Nope, not going to work I'm afraid sweetie," Sam said as she re-entered the room.

She walked up to me and gently prodded at my stomach and I took it as my cue to make room for her. I shuffled back as much as possible as she took off her leather jacket. Once she was in my arms I happily clung to her, enjoying the feeling of her bare skin against my own and I felt myself blush at the realisation.

Later, the movie had finished and Sam's rambling on about how it's great for all these reasons, and I was nodding my head along trying to pretend I had any idea what she was going on about. I suspected she saw right through me, but continued anyway. It wasn't exactly late, but we didn't have much to do, so we decided to go to bed early. Lying in bed with Sam was bliss. I don't know if it was the alcohol or the fact that having her arms wrapped around me drove me crazy, but I felt like I had to do something, anything.
"Is this normal?" I asked her.

"Is what normal?" Sam replied innocently, but I know that she knows exactly what I'm referring to.

"You know...this. Us."

Her face was buried in my neck and for this I was glad, I had a bit more confidence than usual but I don't think I could have looked her in the eye.

"Do you want it to be?" Sam giggled as she kissed my neck, ever so lightly.

At least, I thought she did. My heart was pounding unbelievably hard and I'm sure she could feel it. As if she read my mind, she did it again, but harder. This time it definitely happened. I froze, unsure of what to do.

"I'm sorry, that was stupid," she started to pull away.

"No, do it again," was all I could manage to get out, still feeling frozen.

The moment or two before her lips returned to my neck seemed to take forever, but it was worth the wait. I pulled Sam away from my neck and held her face in my hands, bringing it close to mine. It was Sam who leaned into it though, our lips finally touching. They were so soft and she tasted so good; I could feel her smiling. I broke the kiss, only to climb on top of her.

"What are you doing?" Sam asked with a grin.

"Something I've wanted to do for a while."

"Well it's about time," she smirked.

I swooped my head back down and continued kissing her before she could say anything else.