Breaking The Routine

            The airport terminal was really packed but Sam guessed that was normal considering it was near Christmas and all that. She chewed her lip nervously as she and Robert exited the plane and into the airport. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea," she said nervously taking a few steps back and feeling a sense of panic wash over her. Robert gave her a "don't be silly look" as he draped his arm over her shoulders and guided her towards the baggage claim.

            "Chill, just take deep breaths Samantha," Robert told her and grabbed her luggage handing it to her. "You know many times we work up our fears in our head so much that they are usually larger than life. If we gather up the courage to actually face them more times than not we realize that that what we fear really wasn't worth the fear in the first place," he explained and grabbed his own.

            "I hope you're right because I feel I just stepped in to the lion's den," Sam admitted honestly with a frown and he mussed her hair playfully. "Great, just great, I am a nervous wreck and now look a mess, thanks a lot! You're doing a great job in making me feel much better," she told him with mocked anger giving him a push smiling. However it faded when she saw Mark was with Tabby. He was frowning looking very unhappy to be there. Why did he have to come, he hates me, she thought darkly. Tabby rushed up to her and gave her a bear hug squealing Sam deaf but she didn't care was just as happy to see her friend.

            "How I have missed you girl," Tabby squealed giving Sam a once over smiling then eyeing Robert over. "So this is your friend?"She asked putting special emphasis on the word friend with a sly smile at the end.

            "Yes this is my friend, Robert; Robert this is Tabby and that is Mark" She said and Robert held out his hand smiling. "Nice to meet the ever famous Tabby, Samantha talks about you non-stop," he said shaking Tabby's hand and just nodded to Mark with a cool expression which Mark seemed very happy to return.

            "Aw really, you talk about me." Tabby said clasping her hands together.

            "Of course, you're my best friend. How am I not going to talk about you," Sam told her and she could almost able to see the blonde's ego grow. Tabby snagged her arm around Robert's and Sam's. Mark's frown grew colder, Sam noticed.

            "So tell me Robert, how did you meet my dear Sam and how the hell did you get her to let you call her Samantha? She has always hated her full name," Tabby asked as they walked out of the airport

            "Oh I know she told me several times how much she hated it but I just ignored her and kept calling her Samantha till she gave up telling me how she hated it," Robert told her with a evil smile.

            Tabby nearly doubled over with laughter. "Oh I like you," Tabby told him and he grinned at her.

            "You're not so bad yourself," Robert replied with a smile. "Samantha and I met when I helped her find her classes. I teach philosophy, the business and the philosophy departments are pretty close so I knew where all her classes were since she obviously didn't pay much attention to the orientation," he explained giving Sam a light disapproving look and she  shrugged with a smile as Robert went on relating their first meeting.

            "So you guys want to come to the apartment first or leave your things at your hotel first?" Tabby asked and Sam stiffened wanting to avoid Mark's apartment at all costs. If she was there David could pop up in any minute. Sam swore she would avoid any place that David might be as if it has the plague.

            "I think we should stop at the hotel first then how about we meet somewhere for lunch?" Robert suggested smoothly and Mark seemed as relieved as Sam felt. Tabby pouted a little but agreed that they would meet in their hotel lobby in an hour.

            When Robert and Sam got in the taxi she waved to her friend from the window and sat down with a sigh of relief. "Thanks coming up the lunch idea. Their apartment is not at all neutral territory," she said looking out the window at the big city starting to think she didn't like it as much as she did Indianapolis.

            "No problem Samantha that is why I am here," he said patting her on the shoulder.

            "Plus I don't think Mark seconded that invitation at all," Sam replied.

            "So that was stick in his ass Mark," Robert asked with an evil grin and Sam smiled slightly and nodded. "I see I got his name right then," he added looking positively impish and Sam could help a burst of laughter escape and she slapped him on the shoulder.

            "Now that wasn't very nice," Sam scolded him.

       "No but its

don't think he liked that you and Tabby got along so well," she told him but it was clear Robert didn't give a

traffic. Sam definitely didn't like New York as much as she did Indianapolis. By time they checked in, got

       She washed her face in the bathroom trying to calm her nerves and telling herself that Robert was right that she was making a big deal of nothing. "Don't be a drama queen, Sam," she scolded herself then changed into fresh clothes actually feeling little calmer. She

arrived and explained that Mark had other plans already and couldn't meet them with lunch. Sam knew it was

          "Good because I am starving!" Robert declared rubbing his

          "You are always hungry Robert," she replied poking him in the

         "So what if I am, being incredibly charming and intelligent takes a lot of fuel," he told

           The restaurant looked nice, which didn't surprise Sam any, Tabby, always had good taste. They sat at the table the waiter lead them too. Tabby and Robert chatted away, they seemed to get along very well but Sam wasn't listening. She was lost in her own thoughts while looking out the window of the restaurant remembering that fateful weekend

worried and guilt ridden Sam who wasn't sure if she could remember what being happy was like any more.

       "Huh...oh um yeah I am great," she said with a smile

"You Sam are anything

     "I have to agree with her

  "I know you're not going to like what I am going to say but I think you should really talk with David while you're here," Tabby said looking at her with a serious stare and

         "Why does everyone keep saying that? It wouldn't fix anything Tabby!" Sam angrily stabbed a piece of chicken on her plate she had ignored till then even though she really wasn't hungry

         "Samantha," Robert started with his professor voice, "it would absolutely fix everything. If he is still upset by

the bell and say "hey it's me and I just wanted to say sorry" and then poof, all the crappy things I did will just

believe it do you a lot of good. So stop being a coward and face the music woman!" Tabby told

       "A coward, she just called me a coward! Are you going to let her talk to your friend

"If the shoe fits," was his answer with an impish expression on his

So let's say hypothetically I agreed and I stress hypothetically. I can't exactly show up on his door step and say hey surprise I am in New York. Let's chat," Sam said pointing her fork now at Tabby before stabbing another piece of

           "Well first it's not a surprise. He knows you're here," Tabby said as if she was commenting on the weather and Sam choked on her food. After turning a nice shade of blue the

She asked her voice starting to rise. Robert draped his arm over her shoulders telling her

am sorry Sam, but he overheard me while I was talking with Mark. I didn't know you

            "This is horrible, absolutely horrible! See Robert, this

told her reassuringly and she noticed some people turned and was staring

I was talking hypothetically only! I have no intention what so ever in being in the same building as David much less having a conversation with him! You know he probably hates me and I would

getting in the middle. You want to

          "Oh so now you decide to shut up, it's a little late for that one don't you think?" Sam snapped acidly knowing she was being rude and unreasonable with her friend but she had to make them understand. "Listen up the both of you and make sure you both understand this really well! I am not going to meet up with David, got it! I am not going to do it.

and Tabby appeared to want to push the David topic but knew better. When they said good-byes to Tabby Robert insisted they go visit one of the many museums and then some site seeing so that Sam could relax. The museum was alright but Sam really didn't get into art as much as Robert did but she managed to enjoy herself. She enjoyed the site seeing a lot

She sighed as she slipped into the steaming hot water feeling what was left of