Give and Take

Samantha and I lay on the pillows ready to sleep the stress away. I have figured out a plan and hopefully, it doesn't involve me getting another broken leg.

I'll sneak out once Samantha falls asleep and go talk to Willow. There has to be something I can do to help both sides. It'll take some patience, but I can do it. Even if it means being sent to a lab to be tested on.

Samantha rolls over on her side to face me while I stare up at the ceiling. 'What are you thinking about?" She asks. Her warm breath rolls over my skin like a warm summer's breeze.

I can't tell her my plan of escape, because Samantha would shut that down real quick. I can't say anything, because that's complete bullshit and she wouldn't believe that crap for one second.

"I'm thinking about how lucky I am to have an amazing girlfriend like you," I say, doing my best to flatter the girl.

Samantha clicks her tongue. "Funny, I was just thinking the same thing."

"Oh, were you now?" I respond with some cheekiness.

Samantha answers my question with a gentle kiss on the cheek and covers most of my body with her hand. "Yep, now let's go to bed. I plan on taking you on a picnic tomorrow."

I keep the smile on my face so I can hide the pain and guilt I now feel for leaving Samantha behind. If all goes well then I won't have to leave, but if it doesn't, I might end up halfway across the country.

"Goodnight, babe, I love you," Samantha says before closing her eyes.

"Goodnight."

"See you in the morning."

That last line before Samantha shuts her mouth for good is a stinger in the chest for me, but I wait for her to quietly fall asleep.

Once the calm and soft breathing touches my hair, I make my move.

Crawling out from under Samantha's hand, I lay on my stomach and slowly climb down the side of the bed until the blankets end. My body dangles for a second before I let go and land against the hardwood floor.

I cross the room to the door and crawl under it. There's no need for me to worry about the dangers lurking around this house because there are none. All the maids and butlers have gone home except for say Julie. That woman is the best.

Okay, second best because no one can beat Samantha.

I lightly jog down the hall to the spiral stare case where the treacherous journey down begins. A deep inhale and heavy exhale shows how excited I am to begin.

I'm doing this for Samantha. I'm doing this for Samantha. I'm doing this for Samantha. Why? Because I love her and nothing is going to change that. That is why I am doing this.

"What do you think you're doing?"

I turn around to see Samantha looking over me, a hand on her hip and an eyebrow raised. My soul has now left my body. I've been caught red-handed.

"Well?" Samantha asks now tapping her foot impatiently.

"Nothing. I'm sightseeing."

The brown eyes narrow. That was the wrong answer. "You're lying."

I bite my bottom lip and look away in shame, giving in to the girl with ease."Yes,"

Samantha's heavy sigh weighs down on my shoulders. She takes a seat on the steps next to me and does her best to find my eyes. "You were going down to talk to Mom weren't you."

I nod slightly. "Yeah, I was."

A finger forces me to look at her. Behind the mask of disappointment is a sad expression.

"What were you thinking?" Samantha asks with sorrow.

"I was going to try and convince your mom to take me into testing," I say.

"Without telling me? You were going to leave me without saying goodbye?"

I feel more ashamed now than before. I can't look at the saddened brown eyes anymore and pull away. "I wasn't... I didn't mean to hurt you."

Samantha pinches her nose and sighs again."Do you ever think these things through?"

I don't answer. Since this isn't my first time doing something stupid, I shouldn't have to because Samantha already knows.

"Do you have an explanation?"

I shake my head again, muttering, "No,"

At first, I thought Samantha would lose her patience with me since these last few days have been stressful for both of us. Instead, Samantha takes a calming breath and speaks.

"I can't get mad at you though," Samantha says like she's reminding herself. "I know you're trying to do good, Caesar. But you have to tell me. You need to tell me these things."

I scoff and take a seat finally. "So you can stop me?"

Samantha bites her lip. "No, so I can help you."

Her words make my brows rise. I turn my gaze upward. Samantha's hand rests by my side, ready for me to climb onto.

That answer catches me off guard. She's changed over the months since her mom has come home. Samantha would be livid with me if I snuck out and she found me wandering around like a mouse looking for food. It's a major rule that's been stapled to me since my arrival. I'm not one to follow rules though.

"What made you change your mind?" I ask while crawling onto the open palm.

Samantha lifts me up and begins her descent down the steps. "It would be best if you talked to Mom since I'm not the most level headed when talking to her."

I give Samantha a mixed look of sympathy and 'yeah, you're not'. She's a teenager, of course, she's going to get angry.

I can't say much either because I'm the same age and I am definitely not the most level headed person.

Samantha and I face the doors to Willow's office once again. It's under the same circumstances, but a different person is representing the cause.

"Ready?" Samantha murmurs the question.

I shrug. "I guess,"

"Good answer."

Samantha slides open the door to see Willow sitting at her desk the same way she was this morning. It's like she hasn't moved from that at all.

"If you've come here to keep demanding me of something I can't give you then you should save your breath." Willow starts without looking up from her work.

The tension strikes Samantha. She wants to bite back with a snarky remark, but she swallows her pride and walks up to Willow's large desk.

"Caesar would like to speak to you," Samantha says with some hesitation.

Willow looks up from her work, somewhat surprised. "Oh, she does?"

Samantha nods slowly before letting her hand rest against the desk so I can walk off. Her fingers twitch out of fear of losing me again. She knows that Willow wouldn't hurt me, but she's still cautious.

Willow stares me down with caution. She looks up. "She isn't going to relay the same message that you have?"

Samantha snaps back. "No, she isn't."

"Samantha, please, I'll talk to her," I say, then add, "alone."

Samantha objects though, but my gaze shoots her down. She presses her lips into a thin line before walking out in a calm manner.

With the door closed and Samantha gone, Willow and I can talk without the worry of being interrupted or shot down with brutal and cold anger. That doesn't mean the talk will go without any bumps in the road, but it makes the ride smoother and easier to bear.

"So," Says Willow now that the dust has settled and her daughter gone. Samantha is most likely standing right behind the door, listening in on the conversation as we speak. "What is it you'd want to talk about, Caesar?"

I know Willow will not harm me in any way, but that still doesn't stop the hairs on my body from standing up. The woman is incredibly powerful and that makes her dangerous.

"First off I'd like to apologize for the way Samantha treated you this morning. We didn't step off on the right foot." I start. Hopefully, this can calm the odd coriums between us.

"Oh, how humble of you," Willow responds as she rests her elbows on the desk and laces her fingers together. "Now, what do you want?"

"I'm wondering if you can take me into testing." I flat out tell the scientist. The look on Willow's face says it all and she's not in the mood to explain why again.

"I've already said no to my daughter, how is this going to be any different for you?" Willow asks with genuine curiosity.

I'm not one to beg and plead to get what I want and believe me I want this, but I'm not about to drop on my knees and cry over it.

"Because it'll make Sam happy," I say, hoping to break through a little to Willow. "This isn't just something that I want, but Sam wants this too. We've-"

Willow uses the tip of her finger to silence me. "Caesar, before you go on a whole rant about making Samantha happy, I'm still going to have to say no," Willow responds with a hint of remorse. She pulls her hand along with the digit, allowing me to speak. "I understand that you want to make my daughter happy, but my team and I have no idea what the effects are on a human subject. You could die, do you understand?"

I bite my bottom lip, trying to fine a good counter-argument. Nothing is coming to mind though.

"I'm not trying to be cruel. I'm only letting you two know the truth and the circumstances of what I'm dealing with right now. There's no need to-" Willow is cut off by a muffled jingle in her pants pocket. She fishes her phone and holds up a finger, telling me to wait while she answers the call. "What is it Ryze."

The muffled excitement on the other side of the phone causes Willow to sigh while rubbing her temple. She's more annoyed than interested in what the man on the other side has to say.

"We've already tried that so I'm not surprised about the reaction."

To be honest, I feel really awkward listening in on this conversation. It's most likely top-secret science stuff that I won't understand anyway. That doesn't change the fact that I'm being a bother.

"Hurry up and spit it out, I don't have time to waste," Willow demands in a stern tone.

A horrible shout of excitement rang out from the other side of the phone. That excitement doesn't sink into Willow though. She seems to be taking the information in, instead of enjoying whatever the amazing discovery is.

"I'll be over right away. Don't touch anything and don't go anywhere until I'm there." Willow states before hanging up and gathering important things for her trip to the lab.

"W-wait! What about-" I'm cut off when the shadow of a hand envelopes me and I'm taken off the desk.

"You'll be coming with me," Willow says as she slips me into a small breast pocket of her lab coat which is used to hold pens. "But this does not mean you will be tested on."

Willow opens the door to her office and heads straight to the garage. Samantha follows behind her mother with a quick pace that matches Willow's.

"Where are you going?" Samantha demands.

Willow swings around to face Samantha. "I had a call pop up from work. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Where's Caesar?!"

I poke my head out of the pocket, waving my arm around while the other holds onto the pocket. "Here!"

Samantha's face screws up in anger and confusion. "What's going on?"

Willow frowns out of remorse. "I don't have time to explain. I'm sorry, darling. I love you." The woman walks away, this time Samantha doesn't follow. "And don't worry about your girlfriend, she'll be back soon."

What have I gotten myself into now?