The Fishes Are Not Ready For The Killer Shark

Chapter 2

9 months ago! I think.

Sam

If you leave.... I won't be able to take you back.

I swallow and squeeze my fist in aggravation. I can hear Rose whispering behind the door. "She's been trapped in there for three days, Nathalie. You need to call Austin!"

I can imagine Nathalie shifting nervously. Debating if she should sacrifice her pride and call Austin. I'm too annoyed and sick to my stomach to even think about it.

I lay down and unlock my phone. Three messages from Miranda saying the same thing. "I love you" what type of shit is that? She leaves for no reason and send a stupid message like this.

I inhale through my nose and then try to exhale. I know what this is. I've been through it before. Gosh. I shut my eyes and bury myself further underneath the sheets.

It seems like forever but I hear someone at my door again. "When did she leave?" I hear someone voice. Then the knob is rattling. I turn over and ignore the sounds of someone trying to break into my room. Soon, the door is creaking open. I sigh.

"Sam."

It's Austin.

There is whispering and I can hear Nathalie protesting. "She needs me too."

"Nathalie come on." Rose jump in. "Let Austin take care of her."

The door is shut again and my TV is being turned on and loads of rattling follows. I huff annoyed and turn around. There is Austin on his hand and knees hooking up the Xbox. I roll my eyes. "I just wanna be alone." I mutter. "Can you leave me in peace?" I ask.

Austin toss me one of the joy sticks and I surprisingly catch it. He then sit next to me and say, "I won't leave."

For some reason that statement alone forces me to break down in a fit of tears and unattractive crying. Austin pulls me close and I lay my head on his shoulder and together we shoot away the monsters.

[][]

My alarm screams and I wake up in a fright. I growl annoyed. Lately, everything has been annoying the fuck out of me. Two weeks without Miranda and my attitude was worse than Rose as of late. A soft knock on my door gets my attention. "I'm up Nathalie." I scowl.

The door open and reveals Nathalie with a smile and a plate in her hand. "Good morning."

"You changed my alarm." I snap. "It almost gave me a freaking heart attack.'

"I didn't want you to be late again." Nathalie replies. "Here. Eat."

"I'm not hungry " I mumble and hurry into the bathroom before slamming the door in her face. I turn on the shower and blast my speakers to drown out her screaming. Nathalie was trying. I know. She's my best friend and she only wants to help. But, seeing her face only reminds me of Miranda. Which makes me sick to my stomach. Two weeks without hearing her voice and I was slowly going into shock.

I hurry up and dress before grabbing my earplugs and heading for the door. Nathalie jumps from the couch and tries to stop me but I ignore her and hurry into the elevator.

The day proceeds in boredom and I chew on my bottom lip seeing all the multiple 'I love you' from Miranda. I wonder where she is? How's she's doing? Is she even sleeping? I scroll through my gallery and smile at all our pictures together.

She's probably on an island somewhere. Nah. She wouldn't go there. She hates the water not that she will ever admit it. She's probably hanging out in a nice, elegant, and spacious hotel room and sleeping wonderful. I frown and lock my phone in anger.

"Can I sit here?"

"What?" I ask.

The girl standing there with a baseball cap on her head looks at me. "Can I sit here?" She repeats. "Or will that be a problem?"

"Oh." I say. "No."

"No?"

"I mean. Shit. No it's not a problem. Yes you can sit here." I say.

She chuckles and stands there. I look at her oddly and her eyes glances at the seat. "Sorry." I mutter embarrassed before moving my bag from the seat.

"Long morning?" She asks with a giggle.

"Yeah. Something like that." I respond.

The professor walks in and I try to pay attention but my mind begins to wander somewhere else. Miranda. It's hard to get her out my head.

The girl beside me raises her hand and it gets my attention and snap me back to reality. "How many questions will the exam Friday have?"

My eyes widen. Exam. I begin to flip through my notebook to find the syllabus. I chew on my bottom lip nervously. I only had two days to prepare for this exam. The girl beside me begin to pack up her things.

"Do you know what chapters is going to be on this exam?" I ask.

The girl arches her eyebrow curiously. "Chapters two through five."

I frown. Shit. I skipped two days ago so I know my personal notes was lacking. I was going to fail the first exam. "Thanks."

"No problem." She smiles. She then walk away and pause before turning around and asking, "Do you need a copy of my notes?" She ask. "I also found some old exams from a friend if you want them."

"Yes!" I stand. "Please." I rip off a piece of paper. "This is my email."

"And your number?" She ask.

"What?"

"So, I can send you pictures of the old exam. Risky sending it through the school's email." She explains.

I blush embarrassed. I then proceed to write down my personal number. I pass her the paper and she gives me a wicked smile. "Sam." She says my name and it's weird the way it falls from her lips.

"That's me." I say.

"Tessa." She smiles. "I'll see much of you now huh?"

"Sure." I say.

She chuckles. "Cause we're in the same department. I'm guessing you're architecture right?"

I shake my head. "Yep. Sorry. Long day."

She laughs again and it's sorta distracting. She has really white teeth. Now that I'm taking her in. She's tall with long black hair and pretty eyes.

"See you around." She says before she's gone.

[][]

I walk through the door. I've been really exhausted lately. I attempted studying and going through the book to prepare for the exam but I couldn't concentrate. Plus, I was more behind than I thought.

Nathalie pops her head out the kitchen and she say, "You're finally here. I was waiting....Sam?" I walk into my bedroom and slam the door.

I run the water in the shower and strip out of my clothes before sitting on the bathtub floor and letting the water fall all over me. I then pull my knees to my chest and begin to cry.

I'm in this position so long that the water becomes cold. There is a knock on the door before the door is being opened. I'm guessing Austin taught Nathalie how to break into my room. The shower curtain is swung open. "Sam." Nathalie screams in horror. She reaches over to turn off the water and shrieks. "This water is freezing." She hurries and grab the bathrobe she got me a few years ago and throws it over my body.

I stand and she fuss over me making sure I'm dry all over. "Are you listening to me?"

I snap out of my thoughts and look at Nathalie. I lean my head on her shoulder. "I just want to sleep. That's all. When I'm sleep I don't think of her."

Nathalie pulls me into at hug and she doesn't give me promises that her mom will return. She just hugs me and in that moment it's enough.

[][]

I sit on the couch and flip through the TV. One month without Miranda and I was still hurting. Luckily, this time around I wasn't failing any courses.

I barely passed my last exam but I still had some time to play catch up. I toss the remote and leave it on the food channel before flipping through my notebook. Things was going surprisingly well. I loved my major and when there were no distractions I breeze through school easily.

I close my book and look up at the TV. The woman is making some form of pasta. I laugh to myself thinking about Miranda.

[][]

"You're more of a dork than I originally thought." I laugh.

Miranda look at me in horror and her eyebrow arches. "Dork?" She questions. I'm still smiling. Because dammit. She's so fucking cute in her thick black glasses. She's wearing my sweatpants, a basic white shirt, and my spiderman socks. No one would ever see her like this and live to tell the story. I lean over and kiss her softly on the lips.

"I don't understand how appreciating the art of food is considered dorky?" She say after pulling away from my kiss.

"Seriously." I chuckle. "You're addicted to Chopped, Miranda. I'm surprised you don't squeal when you have time to watch it."

"Am not." She frown. I stare at her and then she roll her eyes. "It's competitive. I like it."

I chuckle in amusement.

She frown and grab her things to stand. "Where are you going?" I ask.

She pouts and dammit she's so fucking adorable. "I will not be made fun of."

I pull her by her thin shirt and she sits on top of me. "I'm not making fun of you." I whisper against her lips. "I love you like this and I love learning more about you."

Miranda shifts. "This doesn't change how you think of me?"

"Of course not." I kiss her softly on the lips. "Tell me what's really wrong?"

"We are actually doing this. We're together, in a stable relationship. Nathalie is fine with it and even the boys are coming around... It seems too good to be true." She roll her eyes. Miranda hated when she had to express how she was feeling. It was always endearing to watch her eyebrows draw together as she search for the right words. It was so different from the Miranda Grayson in the work field. She only showed confidence when she was outside these doors.

But, here with me. Miranda was struggling to tell me how she feel.

"You're seeing the real me." She says with a shift on my lap. "I'm not sure if the whole sneaking around thing was exciting to you and now I may be more boring than you originally thought." She roll her eyes at herself. "And maybe you only thought you loved me.."

I cut her off. "I'll always love you." I kiss her lips. "I love you in your power suits and I love you in these cute spidey socks." I run my hand underneath her shirt and trace her spine. "I wanna know everything about you."

Miranda gives me a beautiful smile and dammit does this woman understand what's she already done to me.

"Good." She say. "Because I'll kill you if you leave me."

I gasp in horror. "Miranda are you a serial killer to?"

She gives me a wicked smile and I shudder because I'm not sure if I want to know the answer.

[][]

The door shut behind me and I jump out of my thoughts. It's Nathalie and she's placing her expensive bag on the chair before taking a seat next to me. "Studying? That's good. How is it going?"

"It's going." I reply before grabbing the remote and turning off the TV. "I'm going to go and lay down."

Nathalie grab my wrist and it makes me pause. She snatches her hand away and say, "We're all going out for drinks. You should come."

"I'm not feeling it." I say. "Next time."

"That's what you said last time." Nathalie pouts. "You need some fresh air... I know you're hurting.."

"You don't know shit." I frown. "Stop pestering me."

Nathalie jumps back at the anger laced in my voice. Her face becomes sad and I curse myself mentally. Before I could apologize her emotions turn deadly, "You wanna be left alone. Fine." She spats. She walks around the couch to grab her purse "I'm sorry she left. I don't understand her decision but treating me like shit is not going to magically bring her back. You miss your girlfriend. Well I miss my fucking mom, Sam and it sucks. So, yeah. I get it."

I flinch at the realization.

Nathalie storms out the door and I flinch again when it slams. I fall back down onto the couch and turn on the TV. The food channel mocks me.

[][]

It's surreal to think that a person I saw nearly every day wasn't around anymore. Two months without Miranda and here I was sitting at a table in the corner hiding from everyone. After profusely apologizing to Nathalie I decided to work better on my attitude. It wasn't fair to her. So, I bury myself in my work and sit at this crappy table during lunch.

"You're a hard girl to find."

I look up and it's Tessa. She has a bright smile on her lips and her hair was down in wavy curls. I swallow the noodles in my mouth awkwardly to avoid choking. I haven't seen her since our first exam. I figured she move a few rows ahead of me in class. I never even thanked her for the notes. Asshole move on my part. I move things around to make room for her.

Today, she's wearing a thin white shirt with a light red jacket over it with a pair of fitted jeans. "So?" She ask taking a seat. "How did your first exam go?"

I shrug. "I did okay. I'm hoping the quizzes and extra credit can help."

Tessa stabs into her salad and begins to eat. She nod her head as I explain the ones I got wrong. She then grab her napkin before wiping the remaining dressing from her face. "Do you want to do the final project together?" She ask. "I have a few ideas."

"Sure." I reply. "That would be a lot of help."

"Great." She smiles.

Tessa then proceeds to show me her ideas and damn they are good. I open my laptop and show her a few things and give her a few ideas of what she should add. She swallow her lettuce. I wait curiously to see what she thinks. This is my first time showing other people my plans....other than Miranda.

"Sam." Miranda clicks through my files. Her fancy work glasses is perch on her nose. "These are amazing." She take off her glasses to look at me. I'm blushing all over because her opinion matters so much to me.

"You're my girlfriend, babe." I lean over to kiss her. "It's in the contract to support me."

Miranda roll my eyes at my joke. "Forget about this imaginary contract you always seem to bring up..."

"Hey!"I interrupt her with pouty lip. "The contract is real. It's just all in my head. It's called..."

Miranda wave her hand cutting me off. "Yeah. Yeah. Sam's Guide on keeping Sam Happy. I know. It's quite idiotic." Miranda say making me frown. "I try my best to follow this imaginary contract, Sam. But, I'm serious when I say this has nothing to do with me being a supportive girlfriend. You are talented."

She then kisses me on the lips.

I shut my eyes. Can I ever erase this woman from my thoughts.

"This is good." Tessa reacts and I look her way. "Really good. You're talented."

"Thank-you." I smile.

"No need to thank me." Tessa replies stabbing into her salad. "I'm just glad I found you." She finishes with a wink.

[][]

I approach the table and I'm shaking in nerves. I haven't really spoken much to anyone and Nathalie was giving me more space than I wanted. I missed her.

I can hear laughter a few paces away. My heart clenches at the familiar noise. I didn't think I missed everyone this much.

The first person to notice me is Austin. He waves and this make everyone else turn around and look at me. Rose doesn't give me much of an expression, Viv wave, and Nathalie smiles in excitement. I get closer to the table and Viv is the first to address me. "Sam. Nice to see you. Nathalie and Austin told me you've been busy with school."

"Yeah." I blush embarrassed. "Sorry."

"No problem." Viv smiles. "You were busy."

"Busy being a bitch." Rose whisper before I can get a chance to introduce the figure standing behind me.

"Rose." Nathalie hisses her name. She then look up at me and say, "Sit wherever, Sam."

Everyone at the table begin to make room. I take a seat next to Nathalie and she grins happily. Tessa then take a seat next to me.

"Who's your new friend, Sam?" Rose ask with sarcasm.

I roll my eyes her way and she smirks. "Guy's this is Tessa." I pause. "Tessa that's Austin, Viv, Rose, and my best friend Nathalie."

"You're the famous Nathalie." Tessa smiles. "I've heard so much about you."

Nathalie gushes in delight and the table awkwardness evaporates and I feel good. Not great but it's enough.

[][]

3 months without Miranda. I'm okay. I'm good. I'm enjoying life without her. I don't know if I should be scared of the realization or delighted.

I'm terrified.

"Shut-up." I laugh.

Tessa roll her eyes in a playful manner. Nathalie and Rose giggle behind us. I was happy that Tess was fitting in good. I didn't want her to feel left out. I was really close to all my friends. Viv has even stated a few times that's when she's around me, Nathalie, and Austin she can see the special bond we have that she will never understand.

I also didn't want anyone to think I was replacing Paul. Austin was taking it hard because he did lose a close friend. Tessa however, was a cool person and she helped me alot with my classes. My grades was excelling this semester. Life was good.

"I'm just saying." Tessa explains while grabbing my wrist. "I think he was into you."

Rose snorts behind us and Nathalie smacks her playfully. Nathalie was oblivious to many things but nothing ever crossed Rose without her noticing it. Tessa was touchy and she loved to express herself through words and in some cases, grabbing my hand, rubbing her finger over my wrist, or whispering too close in my ear.

"You should have swap numbers with him." She smiles.

I laugh. "I wasn't interested and I told you...

"Yeah. Yeah." Tessa frown. "You're going through a really bad breakup and you haven't gotten over this mysterious person." She pull at my shirt. "I hate you don't ever want to talk about her with me. I vote you should move on." She pushes. "Stick your toes in the water. There are so many available fishes in the sea.Including me." She winks.

Another thing about Tessa, She wasn't afraid to voice her attraction towards me. Most times it was playful and sometimes I question how serious she really is.

Rose snorts again. "Trust me when I say the fishes are not ready for the killer shark."

"Rose." Nathalie say.

"What?" Rose ask. Nathalie roll her eyes and Rose lean over to kiss her. I ignore the both of them and stick the key into the door unlocking it.

"You deserve that guy." Tessa ignores Rose. "We all can get free burgers and fries."

I chuckle. "That's all I'm worth? Burgers and Fries? I think there are better options out there."

She chuckles and the both of us walk towards my room. "There's always me." She whispers and she's closer than I need her to be. I open my bedroom door and almost trip when Tessa squeeze my hip playfully. But, before I could think about Tessa in my personal space there is Miranda standing there in my clothes. "Shit." I jump back in fright. "Miranda." I say her name and it feels weird seeing her here.

"Sam?" Tessa walk further in my room. "Are you okay?" There is a pause as she take in the other woman in the room. "Why is she in your clothes?"

I ignore Tessa question and I ignore the glare Miranda has send Tessa way. This is too much. I turn around and head for the door and Tessa follows behind me.Rose look down the hall and there is a bag of chips in her hand. "The killer shark is back."

"Rose!"