I'm the one willing to give

 Sammie felt numb after she got off the phone with her mom. It seemed her mom was going to D.C without her. Really, she was fine with that. She was. The fact remained she felt stuck.

She knew her brother didn't want her here. It wouldn't be long until school was out. Then what?

Yes, she'd been thrilled to be with Gabe, but it felt kind of like a false alarm now. It wasn't like he was always texting back. She wasn't sure what the hang-up might be. She wouldn't ask. Maybe it was her.

Of course, she did her best to stay focused on her own world. Some nights she could stay up til morning just painting. She felt drunk on her own imagination. Maybe she didn't really need Gabe. But when he text she felt as if she lit up, wanting more. 

But was it actually, anything? Really? She wanted to figure this out, but there was school and of course, that other sister who really wasn't her sister only her brother's sister. 

Sammie kept going. Just like she walked to school. Although, Rico (Mario's little brother that wasn't her brother) offered a ride every day. She told him no. She didn't really need to know him, did she?

"I need the exercise," she would say. Of course, with Gabe heavy on her heart, she didn't feel the need to eat and sometimes, she would be sluggish. Almost felt faint, but somehow, she believed it made her stronger. Somehow she would suffice, even if she didn't know how.

Naturally, Mario was no help. Really, Rico was much more of a brother than any of them, and they weren't even related, were they?

There was Liv, so watchful of him. Honestly, she envied Rico the most. He had a real dad. Yes, Rico's dad was Mario's dad too. Still, she didn't have that. She never remembered having anyone, like they did.

She focused on her art. Hoping Gabe might come back to her. Although, she knew she couldn't ask a lot of him. With summer coming on, what was she to do? It felt as if she was in the wrong place at the right time, or was it the other way around.

Yes, she could see she was in the way. Why was life so hectic? It felt as if everyone was moving but her. She was in STILL LIFE perhaps. It seemed everyone knew what to do, but her.

Then like magic, Gabe would appear. It was fascinating how he could flutter around her like a butterfly. Making promises she knew he'd never keep.

"You have a secret," she said one night when they were together in the great outdoors. "Can't you tell me what it is?"

Of course, he smiled, but he would not say. He kissed her as if she would take him somewhere else, but not here. She knew she adored his embrace. They could make each other happy. 

"Maybe..maybe we could go away somewhere," she'd said. but of course, she didn't think he was listening. He stroked her hair. She didn't know why she was letting him in, because it felt as if was only bits of her life that were going nowhere.