Some Things Never Change

Chapter 9

Sam awoke disorientated and tried to open her eyes, they were sore and felt gritty from all of the crying, she staggered out of the bed and went to the bathroom to wash her face. She splashed the water over her face and neck and had the urge to scream when she looked into the mirror.

What was she supposed to do now? She could just pack up and leave but what would be the point? Mia would tell Dom about Nicky and he would come looking for her. But oh crap, how was she going to tell him?

Sam thought briefly about asking Mia to tell him but she couldn’t see that going down any better. With a weary sigh she pushed away from the sink and made it back to the bedroom and dragged some clothes on.

Sam walked back to the track and towards doom. Well that was what she felt like, seeing the camper van come into view Sam felt fear claw at her. Ignoring it she knocked on the door and waited.

Vince opened it and gave her a big smile as he stood aside.

“So didn’t just dream you last night, you were here.” Vince chuckled as Sam stepped up into the caravan.

“Is Dom here?” Sam asked carefully keeping her voice flat.

Vince chuckled again.

“You two gonna hit that shit again?” he asked shaking his head.

“It’s not like that Vince.” Sam snapped, but he just smiled anyway.

“He’s out partying like always; probably find him near the track or wherever the music is the loudest.” Vince informed her, like she couldn’t have guessed.

Sam followed the loudest music and spotted Dom pretty quickly, he stood in the middle laughing and joking with these people.

She felt a stab at her heart, he didn’t look at her like that anymore and after tonight she doubted if he would ever speak to her again.

She sat down on the ground where she was and just watched him. She wasn’t that out of place, a bonfire burned and there were people scattered over the ground everywhere.

She wondered vaguely if this was what the end of the world felt like. How in Gods name was she supposed to slide the fact that she had hidden his son from him into the conversation?

She fumbled quickly at the back pocket of her jeans, checking that the picture of Nicholas was still there. In one of her more crazy moments she had imagined slapping the picture onto his chest and telling him that he had a son.

Sam suppressed a manic giggle that threatened to burst out of her mouth. The thought of Dom reacting pleasant was a distant dream, unreal but nice to imagine.

Dragging her mind back to reality, deciding it was time to bite the bullet; Sam glanced up to where Dom was standing only to find that he was gone. She quickly scanned the area, but he was gone.

Letting out a big sigh, Sam stood and brushed the dirt off of her jeans, she turned and headed back to the camper van, maybe she could talk to Mia and get some ideas on how to approach this.

She reached the site in no time and saw that Leon and Vince were sitting outside, a few girls and guys sat with them, they chatted happily and Sam was tempted to sit down, crack open a beer and just move to denial, but Mia had made it clear that that wasn’t an option so she raised her hand and knocked on the door for the second time that night.

Mia swung open the door and smiled shyly at her; she stepped back and gestured for Sam to enter. Sam took the step up and into the van; she stood frozen for a second when she saw Dom standing over the small counter that ran along on of the walls.

She looked at Mia, for help for absolution, for anything other than what she wanted but Mia just tilted her head towards Dom. Sam took a huge breath and exhaled as softly as she could.

“You feel like slumming it again?” Dom spoke before she could and Sam wanted to slap the smirk off of his face. She couldn’t see his face because he hadn’t bothered to turn around but she knew that the smirk was there.

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Sam asked in what she hoped was a neutral voice.

“I got about as much time for you now as you had for me this morning.” Dom answered harshly and still he hadn’t turned around.

Sam could feel her teeth grinding together and her fists clenching at her side.

“What the fuck is your problem?” she exploded. The stress of the situation sat heavily in her chest and it just bubbled up and out of her mouth.

Dom laughed bitterly and turned to face her now.

“My problem? What about you? You think that you’re so much better than us now? Is that it? You got a fancy job and money to burn; you think you can look down your nose at us?” Dom exploded back.

Neither of them noticed Leon or Vince come barrelling into the van.

“Oh man I knew it.” Vince grumbled and leant back against one of the walls, ready to watch the show.

“Look down… what are you talking about?” Sam demanded, it may have just been her but she didn’t have a clue where Dom was going with this.

“Well you fucking left didn’t you, your family finally gets its way and stop you hanging out with the grease monkeys? And look at you now.” Dom gestured at her body with his hands.

“What makes you think that you grew up any better than the rest of us?” He demanded loudly.

Sam shoved her hand into her back pocket and ripped the photograph out. She stamped the remaining space between them and slapped it down on the counter.

“Because I had something to grow up for.” She ground out before storming out of the van and slammed the door behind her.