Free Remembering You by Sandi Lynn Page B

over to his place, and I got in the shower. I stood and let the hot water run down my body as I thought about my episode from last night. I found it odd that as soon as Sam turned on Coldplay, the headache started. I must have been listening to that song, because what I saw was a glimpse of a memory, I know it was. But who was driving the car and singing with me? So many questions and so few answers; actually, no answers. I opened my eyes when I heard a door shut.
    “Sam ,” I called.
    “Yeah, it’s just me. I brought the coffee. I’ll start a pot.”
    I reached over for the shampoo, but I forgot to put anything in the shower. No soap, shampoo, razor, nothing. SHIT. Reluctantly, I called for Sam.
    “Sam.”
    “Yeah,” he yelled.
    “Can you please go in my small bag and grab my shampoo, conditioner, body soap , and razor?”
    I heard him laugh. “Sure.”
    He knocked on the bathroom door , which was half open, and I was humiliated.
    “Umm, here?”
    “Just set it down on the ledge there,” I said.
    I could feel him smiling. He walked out and, after I was done with my shower, I wrapped myself in a towel and looked around the bathroom. For fuck’s sake, I didn’t bring any clothes in with me.
    “Sam, could you please turn around ? I need to get some clothes.”
    He laughed. “Okay , I’m not looking.”
    I stepped out of the bathroom and looked down the hall to make sure Sam wasn’t looking. I ran to my bedroom and shut the door. I got dressed and, as I brushed my wet hair, the buzzer to my apartment rang.
    “I got it, Claire.” Sam yelled.
    When I stepped out of the bedroom, I saw tw o burly guys bringing in the boxes of things I’d bought. The coffee was done brewing and I took two cups from the cupboard and filled them to the top. I looked at Sam as I handed him a cup.
    “I hope you like it black because I didn’t go to the grocery store and I don’t have any cream or sugar.”
    He smiled lightly. “B lack is fine.” He held his coffee cup up, brought it to mine, and lightly clanked them together.
    “H ere’s to your new move to Seattle. I hope you’ll like it here.”
    I smiled. I’ll like it here as long as he lives across the hall , I thought to myself.
    “Claire, I know you don’t want to talk about it , but I really think you should see a doctor about those headaches.”
    Here we go again. H e won’t give up, will he?
    “Sam, I’ve seen doctors, many doctors, and they don’t know what’s wrong. As long as I have my pills, I’ll be fine.
    “No, you won’t be fine. I’ve never seen anyone in pain like that before.”
    “It’s not that bad ,” I lied.
    “The hell it isn’t,” he said with irritation. “Last night was the second time I saw you like that and, to be honest, it scared the fuck out of me.”
    “I’m sorry , Sam, but if we’re going to continue to be friends, then you’ll have to get used to it and stop asking me questions because I’m not going to give you any answers,” I snapped.
    There, I said it. I made it perfectly clear that I was not opening up my life to him. His face looked pained and it hurt my heart to see him standing there like that. He put his coffee cup down on the counter.
    “ I’ve got to go home and shower. I have class in a couple of hours. I’ll see you around, Claire.”
    I didn’t say a word as he walked out of my apartment , shutting the door behind him. Tears started to sting my eyes. I hurt him on a deeper level. I could tell, but I couldn’t let him get close to me. He deserved more and better than me. I tried to forget about our conversation and spent the day putting everything away and getting organized for the delivery of my furniture tomorrow. Since I needed to fill my refrigerator, I stepped out of the apartment and walked down the street to a small grocery shop that sat on the corner. I grabbed a basket and picked up a few items. I could only buy enough that I could carry back.
    When I was finished and , as I walked out of