seattle ; monday afternoon

[necroslacker]

Sam had gotten roped into taking Haley out shopping today. His mom had asked him and Sam really couldn't say no to his mom when she put her mind to it. Besides, he hadn't spent a lot of time with Haley and she did need some new things for school.

Right now, Sam was sitting on a bench in the shoe section of some store while Haley modeled different pairs of sneakers for him.

"The first time it rains and you step in a mud puddle, those are ruined," Sam said of a the pair of white sneakers she had on today.

"I'd just avoid mud puddles," Haley told him smartly.

Sam shook his head. "No, you wouldn't. Or maybe you'd try to avoid it but no one avoids every mud puddle. No one's that good."

"I am," Haley said and stuck a hand on her hip. Sam chuckled and crossed his arms.

"Then, they look fine," he said, nodding. "Very good for not stepping in mud puddles."

"They'll go in the maybe pile," Haley said before skipping away down another aisle. Sam laughed and closed his eyes before sitting up immediately.

"Wait, you have piles? Haley, we can't stay here forever!"

Haley didn't answer. Just laughed. Sam sighed and got more comfortable. He was gonna be there awhile.

[NFB but open for phone calls/texts]

Comments

[whenshewasnice]

Even Natalie made questionable choices sometimes. This – picking up her phone and calling the one number she really shouldn't have – was one of them.

She'd had a ridiculous nghtmare last night. About him. That was her excuse.

[necroslacker]

Sam wasn't really expecting any phone calls so when his phone rang, he didn't even open his eyes to answer it. He figured it could only be one person.

"We'll be home in a few hours, Mom," he said automatically. "Haley's trying on the whole store."

Little did he know it wasn't his mom on the other end of the line.

[whenshewasnice]

Yeah. This was already a really bad idea. You know how Natalie knew? Because she'd been expecting to hear him angry, or not have him pick up at all.

She hadn't expected to feel so sad at hearing him sound so normal. Even if it wasn't really meant for her.

It took a little too long for her to reply.

"It's not her."

[necroslacker]

Well, that voice had Sam opening his eyes. His hand tightened around his phone.

"Yeah. I guess it's not," he said after some time getting his throat working again.

[whenshewasnice]

Bad idea.

She didn't know what she'd been thinking. Her voice sounded uncertain. "Say hi to Haley for me."

That was inane.

[necroslacker]

"Yeah, maybe when she comes back," Sam told her, shaking his head. "Why are you calling me?"

[whenshewasnice]

"Because I wanted to know how you are."

There. That was honest, and she managed to force her voice back into its usual mildness. Result!

[necroslacker]

"Oh, dandy," he said sarcastically. "Just absolutely fantastic."

Well, he didn't think she could forget his sarcasm just yet.

"I'm fine."

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie swallowed, and hoped it didn't make a sound. "Well, you can talk and shop, so I kind of guessed so."

[necroslacker]

"I'm not shopping. I took Haley to get some school stuff," Sam told her. "I'm just the escort. How are you?"

[whenshewasnice]

"Fine." What else was she supposed to say? A pause, and she hazarded, "Been better."

[necroslacker]

"And you thought calling me would make you feel better?" Sam asked. "Really?"

Really?

[whenshewasnice]

"No." She hadn't said that, and she hadn't meant that, either. "I already told you why I called."

[necroslacker]

"Because you wanted to see how I was," Sam recalled. "Right. You just randomly decided to find out how I was today?"

[whenshewasnice]

"Last time you were beaten to pulp within a week," natalie reminded him, just a little dryly. "Should almost be a surprise I didn't check in sooner."

[necroslacker]

"Is that really your problem anymore?" Sam had to wonder. "To check up on me?"

[whenshewasnice]

"I still care."

That was really all she had to say to that. She hadn't stopped caring – in fact, she knew she would've been feeling a lot better if she had.

[necroslacker]

"Uh huh."

He didn't sound entirely convinced or maybe he didn't want her to hear how that made him feel.

[Have to step out for just a bit! Brb!]

[whenshewasnice]

"I know you're probably not inclined to believe that." And he had every right not to. "Doesn't make it any less true."

[necroslacker]

"Who's on the phone, Sam?" Haley said after coming over with another pair of shoes she wanted him to see.

Sam put a hand over the receiver to muffle Haley and his voices. "Not important. Those shoes are too big."

"I'll grow into them!" Haley argued.

"Try a smaller pair," Sam said and Haley made a face before going back to the shoe search.

"Breaking up with me but still keeping tabs on me because you care doesn't make a lot of sense," Sam said to her, trying to keep up his steely facade.

[whenshewasnice]

"Why not?"

It made sense to her. She would've rather it didn't.

[necroslacker]

"You broke up with me," Sam reminded her. "Most of the time, that implies you don't wanna be around me anymore. That I don't really matter."

There was still a lot of hurt there, yep.

[whenshewasnice]

"That's not how it is." He could cling to his steely facade all he wanted. Hers was showing some cracks. "I'm not expecting you to get that."

They had differing views on the whole thing.

[necroslacker]

"How is it, then?" Sam asked. "If I'm off base, why don't you tell me how it is with us now."

[whenshewasnice]

"You matter," Natalie said, pushing the usual neutral tone back to the front again. "And I care. But I can't be in a relationship with you."