My favorite publisher... Little Black Dress. It's books are just awesome! In the near future, I will be one of the author of the books of Little Black Dress. Watch me!

Chapter 7

December 2008

After a night on the train, everyone was exhausted. Either they stayed up the entire night on the train so they did not have enough sleep, or it was just way too hard to fall asleep on the train. It was shaky and hot. They spent the afternoon visiting the famous Terracotta Army, and had a so not tasty dinner, they were sent to the hotel to rest.

Serena was the first to shower; she said her good night to Jasmine and called it a night. She was exhausted. Not that she did not get any sleep on the train, but it was no a peaceful one anyway.

Serena was walking along the hallway of the hotel, and there was a little slope connected to the other side of the building. When she was walking along the slope, someone patted on her shoulder. Serena didn’t turn around at first but after several times of patting, she finally turned around, she looked at Sam and said, “I can’t have you talked to me all of a sudden and then pull a one eighty on me, I don’t know how to handle that!”

Sam said something that shocked Serena, “I never want to talk to you, and I don’t plan to.” Sam’s eyes were filled with hatred and anger. Serena looked at him, she was so scared of that look; Serena has never seen Sam wearing that look before. At that time, Serena could feel the anger and hatred when Sam said those things.

“Serena Pleasure! Listen to me, for the one last time. I HAVE NEVER FALLED IN LOVE WITH YOU, YOU GOT EVERYTHING WRONG!” Sam yelled as he turned and started to walk away. Serena stepped forward and grabbed his arm.

“Nonono! You told me yourself! Why are you saying this? Where did that all come from!?” Serena cried, not letting Sam go.

Sam shook her hands off, “I’m just playing you, don’t you see that? Now that I’m finished with you, so, you better disappear. I don’t want to see you again. Now stay the fuck away from me!” Sam shouted at Serena once again and walked away. Serena stood stony still, tears ran down her eyes like razor blades.

Serena woke panting and sweaty. Tears leaked down her cheeks as the vivid memory of the dream stuck with her. Serena turned to Jasmine but saw that she was still asleep. Apparently, Serena’s nightmare had not woken Jasmine from her sleep. She swung her feet off the bed and found her way to the chair through the darkness and put on her sweater. Quietly, she left the room.

Sam shouting at her, saying that he did not love her, not at all, all those heartbreaking things, they were just so vivid and images still flowing around in Serena’s head. She knew that it was all nothing but a stupid dream, but still her heart bled. She felt horrible. She slide down against the door; and had her face buried in her knees.

Sam woke up with a start. The pale early morning light allowing him to find this way to the bathroom, he stepped in, and his hands rested on the sink, turning on the tap he splashed water on his face. He wondered what had woken him; he was exhausted from the trip and should have slept through but he swore he heard sobbing, a girl’s sobbing. He flicked the light off and closed the bathroom door behind him and had the corridor light on instead. Sam then walked to Joanna’s bed but obviously she was sleeping soundly.

Who’s it if it’s not Joanna? Sam wondered.

Sam went to his bed, picked up the jacket and put it on. He grabbed the key card from the table and went out of the room to get some fresh air. This time he thought he was just hallucinating but when Sam opened the door, he was stunned. Serena was softly crying and rocking to and fro in front of her door. When seeing this, a chill was sent up to Sam’s spine. He rushed to Serena.

“Serena, what’s happened?” he asked, shaking Serena’s shoulder gently. He took Serena’s chin and lifted her face up; tears were streaming down her face, making Sam sick to his stomach.

Serena brought her hands up to her face and swiped the tears away. “I’m fine.” Serena said, pulling herself up from the floor.

“Quit saying you’re fine, Serena. Apparently you are not. Tell me what happened! Why will you sit here at 4 a.m. in the morning?” Sam asked his voice thick with concerned.

“Just…leave me alone.” Serena put her hands out in front of her warding Sam off, and then she turned and walked away. Sam caught her arm and wheeled her around to face him. Serena turned away and dropped her gazed to the floor.

“I can’t have you talked to me all of a sudden and then pull a one eighty on me, I don’t know how to handle that!” Serena whispered; she was shocked the very moment she said them, that was the exact words that she used in her dream. Serena was so scared that her dream was coming true. She prayed that Sam would not say those heartbreaking things.

Sam stood in stony silence, and then he let go of Serena.

“You’re right, I’m sorry.” Sam replied, his eyes tight with deep sadness, but he tried to mask the hurt he felt. Serena exhaled heavily and was relief that it was just a coincidence; her dream was not coming true. She faked a smile and turned to walk away, she really needed some time alone to clear her mind, and she honestly did not know what she had been doing.

A sudden hug from behind made Serena jumped. “Let me give you a Christmas present, please?” Sam whispered in her ear. Serena’s body relaxed and tears went down from her cheek. She lowered her head, biting her lower lip trying in vain to choke back tears. Sam released the hug and spun her round to face him.

Serena tried to look away, but Sam held her chin so that her gaze could not escape his. Serena’s red rimmed eyes seeking Sam’s; none of them said a word for a few seconds. Sam’s hand reached up to cradle Serena’s face. He bent his head toward hers and he pressed his lips on hers. Sam began the kiss.

“Sam….” Serena whispered; her heart started bumping faster than before. A hand slide down Serena’s back, pressing her harder to Sam’s chest.

“Shh...not now.” Sam replied as he pressed his lips again to Serena’s to stop her from talking. He pulled Serena’s lips back to his. His lips were so gentle, moving with hers. Sam’s mouth found Serena’s, the tip of his tongue pressed against hers and making its way into her mouth. The whisper of their lips moving in rhythm had them both cried silently. They kissed back for a few minutes before Serena struggled with Sam as gently as she could, holding him away just enough to lock eyes with him.

Serena whispered, “Sam….” freshed tears brimmed at her eyes.

Sam sighed heavily and said, “I’m sorry. I...uh… shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.” he looked away, his lips chewed.

“I should go back.” Serena said tears finally spilling over and running down her cheeks; this kiss made her head spin round; she turned and walked away without looking back. Sam stood there at the hallway, a single tear falling down his nose and he wiped it at once. He turned around and walked to his room.

Serena broke in a run and rushed back to her room. She entered the room as quiet as she could and was glad to see that Jasmine was still sleeping during her absent. If Jasmine found out that she was not in the room and had been with Sam, she would be annoyed with all the questions-and-answers right away. Serena took off the sweater and climbed into her bed. Her head was spinning, too much had happened and she just did not have the energy to deal with any of them. Serena sighed and stared at the ceiling, there was no way in the world she could go back to sleep. She did not understand why Sam would kiss her all of a sudden, she thought they were over but apparently they were not. Both of them still loved each other, but it was just weird that they could not be together, Serena so not understand.

From the very beginning, it was really fine to be together, was it because of Nancy? Or was it just simply about the two of them but not others? Serena thought.

In the other room, Sam was blaming himself for once again giving Serena hope. He shouldn’t have kissed her; he should just let her go when she wanted to be left alone! He had broken Serena’s heart again. Everything he did, they just scar for life to Serena. No way in hell Serena could be healed when Sam kept doing this to her. Sam was just stupid enough to let his temptation got another over on him. And Sam would never be the one to pay the price, but Serena would be.