Breaking The Routine

           Sam shifted her salad around with her fork. Her stomach demanded food but when she ate a few bites it threatened to return them. She sighed and glanced around the dinner. Everyone there was eyeing them and talking in hushed whispers. She could only imagine what they must be saying about her. God if she could only turn back time to Saturday night and stop herself from going to that club.

           Why fate and God was playing this cruel joke on her, she wondered. "Aren't you going to eat anything," David asked as he finished his lunch seemingly totally ignorant of what was going on around him. Sam narrowed her eyes at him rabid with anger and wondered how could he be so oblivious to the effect he created on her life!

           "No, I am not hungry anymore," she lied coolly refusing to look at him directly. It made her feel strange. His gaze made her shiver but her body grew hot while her heart beat would start to beat irregularly. Sam stood up smoothing her skirt nervously. "We should be headed back," she told him as she pulled out her wallet from her purse.

           "I'm paying," David told her laying down the money on the table and when she started to object he simply shook his head. "You drove using your gas so I pay. Next time we can switch," he explained giving her a playful wink. She felt a shiver run down her spine but heat filled her and her heart seemed like it wanted to break through her rib cage. Ugh, stop doing that, she commanded her body silently.

           "You're assuming there will be a next time," she shot back as she passed him with the intention of an exit dignified with any confident woman. However the snickers and whispers of the people in the diner made her cringe so she settled for just getting the hell out of there.

           "I don't assume anything Wildcat," he told her as he got in the car.

           "Stop calling me that," she snapped at him fearing what would happen if someone heard him calling her that.

           "You didn't seem to mind me calling you that Saturday night," he teased her with a large grin. She narrowed her eyes once more in response wanting to say some witty and clever comeback but she couldn't think of anything. Can this day get any worse she thought as she drove back them back to work.

            Sam entered the office building with David following right behind her. Why did he have to do that, she complained crossly, she always had hated people who walked directly behind her. Mrs. Simpson gave Sam her typical cheery greeting and as soon as she noticed David smiled a sly smile at her. Sam frowned and went straight to her desk. Her life was totally ruined!

            "You two had lunch together," Tabby asked in a hushed tone sitting on the edge of Sam's desk. Sam sighed as she sat down nodding. She tried to ignore Tabby's smug smile and the look that seem to state "go get him girl".

            "Now I recognize you...Wallflower," David said with a half smile still following Sam. Tabby gave him a playful slap on the arm.

            "Well about time, geez you really know how to damage a girl's self-esteem!" Tabby told him with mock scorn.

            "Sorry, it's just I prefer brunettes to blondes. It's Mark who goes for the blondes," he told her as justification and Tabby giggled a giggle fit for a school girl.

            "Yes I remember clearly just how much he likes blondes. Well if that's the only reason you didn't remember me then I guess I can forgive you," Tabby told him with a smile.

            "Thank God, I was really worried there for a moment," he replied with an exaggerated expression of relief. Sam frowned watching the two, just what she needed her best friend and him becoming buddies.

            "Though if you got a thing for brunettes I just happened to know a really nice one," Tabby began. Sam glared at her with her best, "shut up or I will kill you" glare.

            David's smile just got bigger as he crossed his arms. "Really, do you now," he asked sounding to interested for Sam's good.

            Tabby smile grew and she nodded. "Yes, but she is a really shy and can be very stubborn," she told him and Sam wanted to scream while she pulled at her hair. Why was Tabby going along with that man's games, Sam wondered. After everything the two had been through together, this was how Tabby was going to repay her! She could feel her face flame red again but this time not only from embarrassment.

            "She definitely sounds nice but I'd have to know more about her," David replied with a mischievous tone and Tabby got that look in her eye that Sam knew meant there was no way to stop this train wreck.

            "Then it just happens to be your lucky day. I know everything about her," Tabby confessed David's face lit up. Sam huffed feeling betrayed by her friend and wishing the earth would come and swallow her up right there.

            "God, if you hear me and care anything about me, strike me dead now!" Sam begged silently and then her father suddenly called her in his office. "Well I guess that will have to do, Thanks Big Guy," she added mutely.

            "Yes sir, right away," she called out to her father standing up and glaring at her friend. "Be quiet!" Sam snapped at her and walked off to gather the papers her father needed only to hear them pick up the conversation where they left it.

            She was grinding her teeth in anger as she entered her father's office. "Here you are sir," she said as eyed David and Tabby talking and not liking it one bit.

            "I see Tabitha sure moved in on the kill quick," her father said with clear distaste.

            "She isn't flirting with him, she's-" Sam started but realized there was no way she could honestly tell her father what Tabby was talking to David about. "Just getting to know him more, he is the new guy after all," she added.

            "Well at least she had the dignity to know his name before she sleeps with him," her father stated bitterly and Sam felt as if someone had just kicked her in the stomach realizing that was exactly what she didn't do. Sam sighed and sat in one of the chairs in front of his desk. Her father really disliked Tabby because she didn't care what anyone thought of her, she made friends with everyone from the rich to the poor, cops to thugs, and since she had no problem with a playful flirt here and there he considered her a slut. Sam would admit Tabby wasn't a saint by any means but she was definitely not a slut.

            Sam started rubbing the bridge of her nose as she could feel a really bad headache starting. "I understand you still have that childhood needed to believe in everyone but she is what she is. I really wish for you find yourself better friends," he started with a tone one would use on a child. Here we go again, she thought and really wasn't sure if she could handle this today.

            "She is no good and is going to cause you a lot of trouble one day" Well...Sam thought bitterly. Actually her father was right about that one; she had caused Sam a lot of trouble lately.

            "Look dad can you please lecture me about the company I keep another day I'm really not having a good day," she pleaded with him but her plea went ignored.

            "I can't believe I let you talk me in to allowing you to go to New York with her," he went on.

            Sam snapped her head up and felt her anger boil. "Allow me? Dad I am twenty-six, I don't exactly need your permission to take a trip with whoever I wish," she raged and he gave her a look of irritation and doubt obviously not taking her seriously....yet again

            "As long as you are a part of this family, you will need my permission! I will not have you make a fool of me Samantha with this stupid silliness you seem to always be getting yourself into," he barked. Sam felt something snap within her and suddenly years of anger carefully caged away started to escape. Her pulse raced as she started to see red, and adrenaline flooded her body as she stood up shaking.

            "You know what dad, screw you! I am tired of living on what you expect of me. I've always done everything you asked of me and much more than you could ever have asked. When other teenage girls snuck out to see their bad boy boyfriends I was at home studying so I could get good grades so maybe once you would be proud of me, which I might add you never were! I never rebelled or anything like what every other girl did and yet everything I do stupid silliness," she shouted at him. His jaw dropped in stupefaction by her outburst.

            "I may have a tendency to make a mess of things, I may be social awkward, and I may not be the daughter you'd hope to have but I am the one you have and I don't think I deserve to have you throw in my face how inept I am at life every time I screw things up," She snapped and without waiting for him to recover Sam stalked out of his office. It was just too much; all of this crap dumped on her today was just too much!

            "Where the hell do you think you're going," he called after her, but she refused to say another word. She stomped over to her desk giving both David and Tabby hateful glares letting them know that this was clearly all their fault as she snapped her pursed up from the desk. If they could have just left her alone but no they just couldn't let her live stupid little life in peace!

            "Samantha I demand you get yourself back into this office right now," her father demanded from his office door but her only answer was when lifted her hand over her head and flipped him off where everyone could see. She stomped out of the building and into the parking lot. She didn't care about the fact that everyone was staring at her with their mouths and eyes wide open. She got into her car slamming the door as hard as she could and racing out of the parking still yelling at her father in her silently till she got home.

bath tub in her home that she finally felt her racing heart slow. Her hands started to shake as she felt the adrenalin slowly leaving her system. Never in her life had she talked to anyone like that, especially not her father. Sam imagined several times of saying all those things to him

happening to her, she had never lost control before, and she could always manage her anger. She began to cry softly wanting to desperately go back to her normal life where things were much more comfortable, where she knew what to expect, and knew what would happen next. Her feelings were

to her bed and buried herself under the blankets not bothering to dry herself or put anything on other than

she had a horrible headache. She took some aspirin to ease her head and slowly ate a cereal bar for breakfast. Sam looked at her cell phone; there were several missed calls, messages, and voice mails. She couldn't help but laugh; she hardly ever got any of those things and thought several times of getting rid of her cell

          Now that she made a royal bitchy ass of herself did they want to talk to her? "Oh my God, what

the company. "Peters' Accounting, how may I help you," the cheery voice

the older woman fussed. Sam shook her head containing the laughter that tried to escape her. God was

please pass me to my father if he hasn't fired me already," Sam

you haven't then I don't want to hear whatever it is you have to say," he said harshly that made Sam cringe. Did he always have to be so stern, she

   "Yes, I wanted to apologize,

    "Yes it was..."he

"But...can you let up insulting my friend please," Sam pleaded but she could hear him scoff

   "Sorry, Sam but you should get better friends," he put

friends," she snapped back tired of him talking to her like a little girl. Sam took a deep calming breath. "Look dad, I am obviously not coming in today, I am calling in a sick day okay,"

           She let out an angry growl as grabbed her IPod, stuffed the ear buds in her ears angrily turning the music up loud and began her daily chores. What the hell did it matter to him what type of

wasn't this volatile creature she had become over the simple course of twenty four hours. How could she change herself back

A knock on her door broke her from her lamenting and she wasn't at all surprised to see it was Tabby. "Hey Tabby come on in!" She told her stepping aside so her friend

start to spin

"Oh, ha, ha, my God Tabby you're hilarious!" Sam said flatly and Tabby smiled a big bright

house. "Though I must thank you Sam! Yesterday was the best day at work ever! God I have been so wanting to someone finally stand up to that damn stiff ass for years! Of all people it was you who did

Tabby, my father is going to hold

         "Nah, he blamed the whole damn thing on me; it was me he was threatening to fire!"

Poor little Sam can't have her own thoughts and feelings that could possibly go against her honorable father! Oh no, someone must have planted them there," she snarled and sat down with her plate angrily. "And you know good and well he

            "Whoa, maybe I should call the priest or maybe you really are turning into a wildcat," Tabby joked but Sam froze. She let her fork drop down to her plate as she no longer had any desire to eat; in fact her stomach

    "God Tabby, what is happening to me? I am never like this, ever since yesterday I seem to have

Tabby insisted when she had swallowed her food. "You finally stood up for yourself yesterday and didn't let your dad walk all over you like he always does," she explained. An impish glint twinkled in her eyes then she winked at Sam. "I told you having

a mind of its own and my emotions have gone hay wire," Sam despaired. Tabby laughed so hard she started

        "You really have fallen for him huh," Tabby teased

"I haven't fallen for him!  He is the most irritating person I have ever met!

"Well that's what love will do to you," Tabby continued to tease and Sam stared at her friend in disbelief,

   "That is not even close to funny Tabby! I am not in love with him, how can you even think that," she spat feeling offended. "This isn't

had been her high school sweetheart and last boyfriend. They had been together for nearly five years. When he got accepted in a college in L.A. he broke up with her stating that long distance relationships never work and he had bluntly told her that he

more

Sam opened her mouth to argue with her friend but instead she felt a smile cross

of us actually have work to do." Sam smiled and followed her friend to the porch. "You should really give David a chance Sam. I think he really likes you," Tabby told her with a sly smile causing Sam to make her

           "Right keep telling yourself that, maybe one day you will believe it. The only thing that man likes about me is making my life a

"I think you really left an impression on him in New York," Tabby told her. She felt a smile threaten to creep upon her lips and she bit the insides of her cheeks to keep her frown

David Andrews. She wasn't sure what had gotten Tabby into thinking

think things...or be so stubborn! I will call you later," Tabby advised when Sam was quiet for a while. Tabby gave her a quick hug before walking to her car and Sam went back into the house. She gathered up the dishes washing them

          The next day Sam walked into the office with her chin held up high and determination. Mrs. Simpson smiled at her sweetly but there was something in her expression that Sam couldn't quite figure out what it was. With a mental shrug she told the

            Sam clenched her teeth together tightly. Great, just great! Now I am the town's latest piece of gossip, she grumped silently as she sat down at her desk. She turned on her computer, feeling irritated that everyone was still whispering about her. Calm down Sam, she told herself. They are just stupid boring people with no lives, they will get bored

of this, she realized. Now that she had made an idiot of herself she was sure David would now leave her alone or even get within ten feet of her. Almost laughing, Sam gathered the papers on her out box and walked over to her father's office. Her heart jumped up to her throat when she saw David enter the lobby and she quickly rushed to her father's office. Cursing herself as

she didn't speak or even see David hardly at all. When it was time for lunch Sam couldn't believe how normal things had seemed to return. Maybe in the end, things

     "What are you doing?" Sam asked with her hand on her hips and a

       "Waiting for you Linda," he replied and

         "My name isn't Linda," she

help but notice the similarities between you

    "Funny," she shot back getting in her car and wanted to scream when he got in the passenger seat. "What do you think you are doing," she demanded and he

"Going to lunch, or do you prefer to go someone where," he asked and Sam looked at him confused. What the hell did that mean exactly, she asked mutly. She took a

      "Don't you

   "Not yet, it will be here by Friday besides why use two cars to go

to be seen at the diner with someone comparable to Linda Blair or go off in bitch crazy again? Might not be a good way to

at you today, I am willing to bet you don't go off in bitch crazy very often," he said with a teasing tone. "Besides it wasn't that bad anyways. I have met some women that act like that on a daily basis," he added but that didn't make her feel any better. "You know if we keep arguing about this, we

the diner. Once more David rushed to get to the door and open it for her and Sam clenched her jaw tightly as Dottie smiled brightly at them clearly misinterpreting the gesture. She could feel the patrons watch

teased and she wanted to scream at him. "Now Samantha you're going to make me think you don't like my company," he teased again and Sam almost said she didn't like his company but that would be rude and hurtful to say, even if it was true, and her father

     "Don't call me Samantha," she

"So you prefer Wildcat," he asked with a evil smile and Sam

"Be quiet, someone might hear you," she

my father calls me Samantha," she told him grabbing the menu violently. Once more Dottie walked up to

you two today," she asked excitedly which cause Sam's insides to lurch. Sam ordered the first thing that caught her eye

he didn't see what had happened he had a pretty good idea. She wondered if he knew everyone was thinking there was something going on between them and if he knew why he wasn't putting a stop to it! Was this all part

the week continued and David always had some reason to carpool with her to the dinner. Sam was almost sure that dinner even had more people come to lunch just to watch David open the dinner door for her, and sit in front of her! When the weekend came, Sam only left the house once to do her grocery shopping and even in the supermarket she noticed