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the next day...
i turned into sam's neighborhood, looking around at the scenery. in front of a few houses i saw kids outside playing and some older people sat outside on their porches; a few of them even waved at me.
i noticed her neighborhood was pretty similar to mine, only difference being that the houses were a bit nicer on the outside.
i made a left turn deeper into the neighborhood and turned my gps off since her house was on this street. i slowed down even more so i could read the numbers on the mailboxes, keeping an eye out for 1441.
i spotted it in front of a tan brick house and came to a stop, parking in front of it. they had a driveway but i thought it was rude to park in someone's driveway that i didn't know.
i turned my car off and grabbed my book bag, which contained all of the stuff we needed to work on our project. i got out and clicked the lock on my keys multiple times out of habit. there was a cement walkway that led to the front door and i followed it. i paused before knocking on the door, trying to calm my nerves before i embarrassed myself.
i couldn't deny being nervous because one, i had never been to her house before. two, i was gonna have to meet her parents and i've never been good with meeting parents, or strangers in general...
i lifted my hand to knock by and just before my knuckles connected to the door, it opened to reveal sam.
"hey lani." she smiled at me and brought me into a hug, which i accepted immediately. she smelled like vanilla, per usual, and i let it engulf me entirely.
we don't hesitate anymore i realized, with a smile.
after a couple seconds i went to pull away but she squeezed me tighter, as if she didn't wanna let go.
"sam-" i started, but she shook her head in the crook of my neck, making me stop. i squeezed her back without question, though i was a bit concerned.
we hugged for a little while longer and i could feel her breathing slow down as i rubbed her back comfortingly. once it returned to normal she pulled away and i did too.
i paused before asking, "you ok?"
sam shook her head no and i frowned, about to question her some more but yelling from inside the house interrupted me.
"sam! who is that at my door?!" a deep voice sounded.
sam sighed and invited me in, putting a hand behind my waist gently to lead me inside. she closed the door behind me and i followed her to what i'm assuming is the dining area. i observed the interior and noticed the nude/brown color theme they had going on.
a brown skinned man sat at the table with a plethora of papers surrounding him. he peeped over his silver lined glasses to look at us and his eyes wandered over to me, looking me up and down and then back at sam.
"who is this?"
"it's my friend, leilani, she came over because we have a project to work on..." sam answered lowly.
"nice to meet you mr. chapman." i greeted him afterwards, but he didn't say anything.
he looked at sam and i, more so sam, with an expression i couldn't fully identify; but it seemed liked sam knew exactly what it was.
said girl scoffed lowly and shook her head. "we'll be in my room." she stated curtly and walked away.
i grinned awkwardly at mr. chapman then followed behind sam, being that i didn't know my way around her house. she led me up the steps and we made a right down the hallway, entering the first door on the left.
since sam was in front of me i couldn't see much but when she moved i couldn't help but look around, intrigued.
several photos and posters covered the walls, including some of artists, album covers, clothing sketches, and probably a hundred other things i couldn't identify. a record player was in the corner on a small shelf and i spotted some vinyls beneath it. her bed looked hella comfortable too, because of the unnecessary amount of blankets and pillows.
i heard a soft thud and looked over to see sam plopping down in a bean bag chair at the foot of her bed.
she looked over at me and gestured behind her, "you can sit on the bed, i don't mind."
i nodded and went to sit on the end of it, confirming the thought i had about it being comfortable.
i sat my bag next to me and rested my elbows on my thighs, leaning down to make eye contact with her.
"what's wrong? you don't seem like yourself." i asked.
she shook her head and rubbed her temples in frustration before answering, "nothing."
i straight faced her and she sighed.
"i, and i say this in the nicest way possible, honestly don't wanna tell you all my personal issues just yet." she said in a soft tone.
i nodded at her with genuine understanding. we've only known one another for a barely a week, so i get it.
i wouldn't tell her about my daddy issues either.
"that's fine, you don't have to tell me. i just wanted to know if you were ok...", and i really meant that.
"it's fine, thank you for being concerned." she grinned and sat up straighter. "sooo, how far have we gotten with the surveys?"
"uhhh well..." i grabbed my book bag and pulled out my folder and laptop, "i would've done the basic online surveys but i wanted to add a lil razzle dazzle to it-" i put emphasis on 'razzle dazzle' and sam chuckled.
"... so i did public interviews." i concluded.
"i've interviewed four people so far, between yesterday and today, is that enough?" i asked, pulling out my notebook.
"yea it should be, she didn't give us a specific number but considering you did public interviews i think she'll be fine with four." sam assured me and i nodded.
i had written down a short conclusion for each of the interviews on paper but the recordings were on my phone. i grabbed it from my back pocket and went to my camera roll so i could find the videos, once i did, i handed my phone to sam.
she looked down at the screen and asked, "these the interviews?"
"yea."
she took it and leaned back in the bean bag, beginning to watch the videos. i cringed at the faint sound of my own voice.
"did you watch them after you finished?" she asked, pointing at my phone in her hand.
i shook my head.
"come watch em with me...?" i couldn't tell if she was asking or telling me, but it came off more considerate, so i assumed she was asking.
"but that'll be awkward, i don't like watching myself in videos when i'm alone... now i gotta do it with you? nah", and i shook my head, answering my own question.
"girl come over here, i'm not boutta make fun of you or nothin, if that's what you think." she said softly.
i contemplated briefly and then shrugged, figuring it wouldn't hurt, "fine."
sam cheesed at me and scooted over in the bean bag so i could sit with her. i moved over to sit in the vacant space she had made for me, which wasn't much since i was thicker in the lower region, but i made it work. we were literally sitting on top of each other, but neither of us seemed to mind. sam threw her left arm over my shoulders and stretched out her right so we could both see the small screen.
she pressed play and we started watching the interviews, which were all around three minutes long.
most of the time i was overthinking about what sam might be thinking but whenever i peeped at her she was making her normal face. in the middle of the third video i heard her chuckle lightly and i gave her a questionable look.
"what's so funny?"
sam lowered her arm and looked at me. "how come you so sweet?"
my face scrunched slightly and i tilted my head.
"what you mean?"
"your mannerisms, not just in the videos, but in general. whenever i see you interacting with other people, you're always being so sweet and thoughtful, but in a subtle way, if that makes sense..." she trailed off. i nodded assuringly, letting her know i got what she was saying.
i diverted my attention to a random poster on her wall before speaking.
"i heard this quote a few years ago, i was like 14... it said 'be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody, even a nobody.' and it's kind of stuck with me ever since. i like to make people feel like they're important, like they're somebody, because i know what it feels like to be treated like a nobody, y'know?" i looked over at her to answer even though it was a rhetorical question. but she nodded her head anyways, giving me an answer.
i watched as her eyes scattered around the room before they landed back on mine.
"what you mean when you say you've been treated like a nobody?"
i shrugged, "i don't wanna tell you about my personal issues just yet either."
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i hope y'all enjoyed this chapter. i made it a bit longer since i didn't update last weekð¦¦.
in case no one has told you today, you're beautiful and i love you so much, goodnightð¤.