It was a pity and something he deeply regretted. He’d explained to Joshua what had happened that night and the other boy appeared to accept the explanation but he knew that something had changed between them. He’d ruined the only opportunity he probably would to have a male friend.
Now, watching as the other teenagers enjoyed each other’s company, only made him feel worse. He was different. He was an outcast and always would be one.
As usual, his eyes were drawn to Aimi, watching enviously as she effortlessly interacted with the others. She was at the centre of things as usual, with the other boys — including Joshua — all vying for her attention. Sam kept a firm handle on his emotions; he certainly didn’t want a repeat performance of his appalling behaviour months earlier.
Aimi looked stunning. Radiant, her physical presence acting as a magnet on him. Her sixteenth birthday was only a month away and already Sam was wracking his brains for something to buy her. Not that he had any money but he was sure Hikari would provide him with some funds if he told him what it was for.
It made him think of his birthday celebrations two weeks earlier. The date of his birth was unknown so Hikari had made an educated guess and stuck with it all his life. He was eighteen now apparently, which made him feel a little depressed. In his eighteen years, he didn’t really feel like he’d done much. Sure, he was probably one of the most highly trained fighters in the world, but it didn’t really give him as much satisfaction as it once did.
Aimi, on the other hand, had accomplished a great deal. She still excelled academically and at sport so when the time came, she would have her pick of colleges. They’d even been talk of scholarships.
Somehow, they never discussed the fact that there was a very real possibility that Aimi would never get to college. According to Hikari and Father Rainey, the Rapture was close. If that was the case, Sam had to wonder what the point of all her hard work was. Why strive for something that you’d never see to its conclusion? Sam knew it was a negative thought but couldn’t help himself. He was just in that frame of mind.
He suspected that Aimi and Hikari carried on like normal for his sake. They didn’t want to remind him that they were shortly going to be gone from his life. Besides, he knew that Aimi just liked excelling for its own sake. It gave her pleasure and that’s just the way she was. Just as he had a tendency to be more negative.
His love for her had grown to an extraordinary extent. Now he couldn’t bear to be away from her. When she was at school, he always eagerly awaited her return although tried not to show it. Unlike her, he didn’t wear his heart on his sleeve. She appeared to feel the same way but Sam was never sure, always feeling slightly insecure and reluctant to express exactly how he felt. Some days, he felt so miserable he wondered what the point of it all was. Why was he involving himself emotionally in a woman he could never be with? He wondered if she felt the same.
It was a constant source of surprise to him that she had never gone out with another boy, not even on a date and, as far as he knew, not even been kissed. It did make him feel more relaxed, just as the thought of her kissing someone else inflamed him with jealous rage. He supposed he couldn’t blame her if she did — but he wouldn’t like to be the other guy.
She was quite something, though. Generous, loving and affectionate. She would often hug him and kiss him on the cheek and he was never quite sure how to respond. For his birthday she had painstakingly stained and re-lacquered the sheaths of his swords, presenting them with a shy smile and a quick peck on the lips. He had been astonished. It was the first time she had ever kissed him there.
He wondered what Hikari made of all this. He seemed to give his approval and Sam had caught him smiling as he watched them interact with each other. Hikari viewed and treated him as a son, but Sam knew he didn’t think of his relationship with his daughter as inappropriate. If a relationship was what they had …
From below, another wave of laughter rolled over him. It was Aimi’s, as usual, the sound delighting him. She was laughing at the antics of one of the boys. Sam recognized him. He thought his name was Jake.
Jake was currently larking about. He was at the foot of another stone column near to where Sam hid. As the others laughed, Jake starting climbing it, getting egged on by the rest. The column was about fifteen feet high and eventually, with much scrambling, Jake reached the top. Nearby and unseen, Sam watched as the boy proceeded to dance on top of it. It was a silly thing to do; the fall could easily kill him. Below him, he could now hear the others trying to coax the boy back down, but he wasn’t hearing any of it, continuing to show off.
Sam tensed and stood up, expecting the worse.
Jake continued to jiggle about, laughing to himself. Suddenly, he lost his footing. Flailing his arms and yelling in abject terror, he began to topple backwards off the column. Sam didn’t think, didn’t hesitate. The gap between the two columns was easily ten feet wide. He darted forward and leapt, not sure that even he could make it without a run-up. The thought only occurred to him when he was flying through the air at twenty feet. Then he was down, crouching, one arm hooking onto the side of the column while the other snaked out, grabbing the other boy by the ankle.
Jake’s eyes were wide, his shock at his sudden rescue competing with his fear. He fell backwards but Sam was ready for the weight and braced himself. Jake was left dangling headfirst, ten feet above the ground.
Releasing his grip on the rock, Sam hoisted the boy up with both arms. He set him down next to him. Jake stared at him, his mouth open but unable to speak.
“I think you better get down,” Sam told him.
Jake nodded mutely and began to climb down slowly and nervously. Sam looked over the edge. The other teenagers were standing around in stunned silence. His eyes sought out Aimi’s.
She smiled at him and his heart soared.
Later, the others gone, Aimi waited for him at the foot of the column. Her friends hadn’t stayed for long after Jake’s brush with death, and even though Sam had saved Jake’s life, most of them cast fearful looks in his direction where he still perched amongst the shadows. They urged her to come with them but she assured them she would be alright.
Sam didn’t bother climbing down; he simply jumped, landing right in front of her, his legs bent. He straightened up and she rushed at him, embracing him tightly. Her head nestled into the crook of his neck and he felt a rush of emotion and excitement.
“Thank you,” she said. “I know Jake didn’t say it, but I’m sure he wanted to.”
Sam said nothing, content just to hold her.
“It was a brave thing to do. I couldn’t believe it when I saw you leap across that gap. I don’t think anyone else could’ve done it.” She looked up and placed the palm of her hand gently on his cheek. “You are a good man, Sam. You didn’t even think about your own safety but I wouldn’t have expected anything less from you. That’s why I love you so much.”
With that, she stretched up on her toes and kissed him full on the lips. At first, Sam didn’t respond but when the pressure became more eager, he kissed her back. Time seemed to fold up upon itself. It seemed to go on for ever and Sam wished it would never end. Of their own volition, his arms snaked around her back. He lifted her off the ground as they continued to kiss. He had never been so happy. Finally, he knew without a doubt that Aimi loved him.
Eventually, their lips parted. He set her down on the ground but held on to her, unwilling to let her go. She rested her head against his chest.