WestFiction- "If You Love Something" by Mary

stories

readers

authors zone

character call form

authors

www

home

If You Love Something...> chapters 41-42

Samantha gave a last look around the house, one final time. It seemed like yesterday that she moved in here with Joshua and Daddy. Now they are putting the house up for sale. After daddy died, she and Joshua took turns, clearing up the house, painful as it was. She did part of her growing up here and the place held a lot of memories...but to her it wasn’t always home. Her flat in England wasn’t home and neither was KL. She never had a sense of belonging no matter where she went. She convinced herself that even if she walked to the ends of the earth, she would never find it…the place called home…the place where she belongs.

In her room, she stared out the window and smiled. Sometimes, she forgot why she loved this place so much. It’s quite and peaceful compared to the rat race of city life which she’s more used too. It’s easy to forget to stop and take a look around when you’re caught up in city life. She stood there admiring the view for sometime. Her smile faded as her gaze settled at the Feehily household across from her.

She wondered where Mark was now, he didn’t know she’s leaving for good. It has been sometime since they last touched base. She finally manage to settle everything so she could leave, she transferred her belongings, her flat’s up for sale, sold her Jeep, settled everything at her organization. And now the house. She’ll leave for KL this evening. Maybe she’ll send him a letter when she has settled down in KL.

Before leaving her room she took down her banner. Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained. How she lived by those words. In fact, that’s what made her make the first move with Mark. Stop it, she scolded herself before she broke down, that’s also what brought about the heartache. It’s funny how everything can remind her of him.

She got into her car and drove into town, admiring the view and storing the little details in memory. She parked her car in front of a bakery and smiled to a few kids who were playing hopscotch on the sidewalk. For a moment she wished she was one of them, with no care in the world.

She entered the bakery and greeted the owner warmly. She used to come here every weekend for the lady’s famous cakes and milkshake. Her mouth watered at the sight of the croissants and cheesecakes.

After having her lunch, she ordered some cheesecakes for take away. She was about to get into her car when she glanced at Hawkswell Theater across the street. A smile spread on her face, she’ll have a peek in there, just for old times sake. After all this place made her what she is today. Plus she had four hours to burn before a flight to KL.

~ ~ ~

Mark smiled to himself, this place sure brought back memories. Colin had rehearsals at Hawkswell’s and Mark wanted to watch him rehearse. He was a good actor, in fact, he was better than Mark ever was. The cast was rehearsing in groups, some were on stage, some were back stage.

He wandered into a room, the dressing room. Costumes and props were aligned at one side while on the opposite side, a half length mirror ran from one corner to the next. High chairs and make up table was neatly paralleled to the mirror. He ran his finger through the costumes, none caught his attention. Among the props was a guitar. He took it out of the box carefully and began plucking it.

Mark made himself comfortable in one of the chairs and began tuning the guitar. He seemed more comfortable with the guitar nowadays than the piano. He struck a few chords then began singing an old song, ”

Keep thinkin’ about the day…you stole my heart away

Keep thinkin’ about those special words we used to say

Keep thinkin’ about you girl,

And how you changed my world

And how it crumbled, when you went away

He felt it right to his bone. He couldn’t live without her. She’s the one who he lost his heart long ago. How did he ever manage to live without knowing that?

I guess we had so much love, but…yet still ain’t enough

I guess we had so much trust

But…didn’t forget the past

I know it has been so long

But the feelin’s still so strong

How I wonder…to start again”

He opened his eyes and saw Samantha looking at him through the mirror.

~ ~ ~

Credits:

Album: KRU/The Way We Jam (EMI)
Words: Babyface
Music: Babyface
~ ~ ~

CHAPTER 42

Samantha and Mark sat a few rows away from the stage watching the rehearsals. She sensed that something was wrong, Mark was not his usual self. They sat there silently and continued to watch the cast. Why did you have to be here now Mark? It would have been much easier if you hadn’t.

“Colin is really good,” Samantha told Mark, not taking her eyes of the stage.

“Wait till I tell him that. His dream is to be in one of your productions,” Mark informed her.

Her heart sped up. She contemplated on telling him that she was leaving, “Then tell him to work hard,” she said.

Mark studied Samantha, who was now engrossed in the rehearsals. She lost weight, he noticed that the minute he saw her. And she was slightly pale. And when she looked at him just now, her eyes were bleak. He had to mentally refrain himself from snatching her into his arms. And make whatever it was that was bothering her go away.

“What’s happening Sam?” he asked, concerned.

“Huh?” she looked at him in surprise.

“You haven’t spoken much. And where is that sweet smile of yours?”

“Just tired, that’s all,” she said as she tried to give a genuine smile, but failed miserably. She masked it by saying, “Ya know, just overworked.” Hesitantly she added, “Actually I’m leaving for KL in 3 hours or so.”

“Vacation? When will you be back?” he asked. Now he wondered if he could survive not being to be near her for a day.

“Four months maybe five,” she replied shifting her gaze. This was the first time she lied to him. After some moments of silence, Mark asked, “So what brings you here?”

The question was ambiguous, but she knew what he meant, “The house, it’s going up for sale,” then she asked, “What about you?”

“Just missed this place,” he replied with a shrug. Without thinking he reached out and touched her hair. It felt like silk when it fell between his fingers. Samantha jerked her head towards him questioningly.

“Ermm…” he could feel his colour rise as he desperately tried to think of an excuse, ”there’s something in your hair,” and he brushed his fingers for effect. What was that? mentally kicking himself. When Samantha accepted that, he settled back in his seat and tried to concentrate on the stage.

“No, no, no, no, no,” boomed the director throwing his script on the chair, “Emotion. I want emotion.”

“Do you remember—” they said simultaneously then broke off laughing.

“You first,” Samantha said.

“No, no. Ladies first,” he said smilingly.

“How much we hated the director?” Mark began nodding before she finished, then he added, “How Danny did his impression of the director when he was right behind him all the time?”

“He looked like he could have died that moment,” she laughingly agreed. His heart thundered just seeing her face bright up when she laughed. It felt good sharing a laugh with someone you love. And he wanted this, for the rest of his life.

“And the horrible costumes we had to wear?” he said.

“Or when your pants were suddenly too short? Only to discover it got mixed up with Danny’s?”

“Don’t even remind me of that,” he said covering his face.

“At least no one noticed,” she giggled.

“Sam, you bad liar!”

“Ok so everyone noticed.”

“Thanks a lot!”

“Well, what do you want me to say?” she burst out laughing. Say that you love me that was the first thought that entered into his mind, say that it’s not to late for us.

“Man, I miss those days. Everything was just simple,” Mark reminiscence, then he added, “What happened?”

Samantha shrugged and replied, “We grew up.”

~ ~ ~

Mark walked Samantha out of the building. There was a slight drizzle but the sun was still shining. Samantha’s flight was to leave in two hours. Mark had a notion that Samantha was hiding something from him. He studied her as she gazed at her surroundings.

“You’re not coming back, are ya?” Mark asked with a sinking feeling in his heart. He didn’t have to clarify that, he knew she understood what he was talking about. She just nodded, avoiding his gaze. Panic hit him.

“But you’ll still come back to England, right?”

“I sold my place. I’m leaving for good.”

“Why?” he whispered fiercely.

“I have nothing left here,” she replied with an indifferent shrug.

“You know that’s not true,” he began.

“Really?” she cut him off, “My dad died. I…Ashley has a new life, so does most of my friends. And I hardly even come back here lately. Tell me Mark, what do I have left here?”

Me. You have me. “What about Micah Productions?” he asked, desperate to cling onto something.

“It will still be there, I’ll be branching out in KL and make it my base,” she replied. When he didn’t respond, she added, “Joshua’s the family I have left. At least I’ll be close to him,” And pick up the pieces of my life, “And be around Christopher,” Then maybe mend this broken heart, “He’s growing up pretty fast,” Then maybe try and forget you.

Stay for me he wanted to scream out at her.

“I’ll see you around, Mark,” she said then gave him a peck on the cheek, that gesture alone made his heart leap, “And take care.” Goodbye Mark.

Mark didn’t want to let her go. In three seconds, she would cross the road. In five she would be in her car. In eight she would be out of his life. Forever.

<< previous chapters next chapters >>

If You Love Something- main page