"Babysitting the brat again?" Sean exclaimed as he put the tray down, he was clearly upset at having the evening plans changed. "What is it this time?"
Sam sighed and took her drink. Sean seemed to lose his temper pretty quickly these days. Not a good sign, but she still enjoyed his company, and he could be very sweet. She shrugged and looked apologetic.
"I know it's a pain, hun. But the O'Brian's are in a fix, they have some family emergency and they don't want Tiffany tagging along causing trouble so they asked me if I can stay the night. They pay really well hun, and with my uni grant used up I need the extra cash. Sorry about the movie though, I'll make it up to you."
"She's seventeen for fucks sake."
Sam glanced around at the coffee shop wishing Sean would control his language. Even if she agreed that it was stupid too, but Tiffany O'Brian was something of a problem for her parents.
"You know it's not really babysitting. I just have to stay there and make sure she doesn't have anyone round or go out or anything. It's more like being a prison guard, especially with the way she sulks."
Her boyfriend shook his head. "It's messed up. They should just throw her out."
She sipped on her coke a moment in thought. "They are way too nice for that, although, if you ask me, they're half the problem, they kept her so protected from everything when she was younger. No TV, no internet till last year. She's so naΓ―ve really, you know. It's no surprise she is going a bit wild at college."
Sean shrugged theatrically, clearly intent on making her feel guilty. "I guess."
Sam tucked a strand of auburn hair behind her ear, trying to think of a way to ease the tension. She smiled.
"I have an idea, why don't I tell my folks I am staying there all weekend..."
Sean grinned. "That could work."
She nodded, "and we get Saturday night and all of Sunday for ourselves."
Sean looked at her sideways. "Of course... you could sneak me in again tonight, you know like last time..."
Sam blushed. A few weeks ago she had had to look after 'The Brat' and she had let Sean in for a while one Tiffany had shut herself in the room for the night. Chatting quietly had turned to snogging, and that naturally led to fondling and groping. They had managed to just refrain from going for it on the rug, but it had been close. Sam was tempted but the look on Tiffany's face the next day had made her worried.
"I.... don't think we should Sean... I am pretty sure Tiffany knew I had someone round. If her folks found out..." She trailed off seeing Sean's expression darken. Guiltily she looked down at her cup. "well..." She acquiesced, "maybe you could come, just for a little while. I'll text you if it looks okay."
Sean's expression cleared a little and he nodded. "Cool. I'll look forwards to it."
Sam gulped down the rest of her coffee and rose from the table. "I have a class in ten minutes, I have to run babe. See you tonight maybe."
Sean's eyes followed her. "Hope so."
Sam smiled back at him and blew a kiss, while wishing he could be a little more understanding, then rushed back to the campus.
"Oh Sam, we are so grateful. It means such a lot you can do this for us." Rebecca O'Brian smiled and handed her a wad of notes. Behind her, her husband, Liam, was writing a phone number on a card.
Sam smiled. "It's no problem. I have plenty of studying to do." She glanced at the money. "Oh Mrs O'Brian, this is too much.. I can't..."
The older woman cut her off. "I won't hear of it, you are doing us a massive favour. And I have told you before, it's Liam and Rebecca. Now, we plan in being back sometime tomorrow morning,. Probably before lunch. Is that okay?"
Sam nodded. If truth be told. She quite liked staying at the O'Brians. Tiffany could be again, but she wasn't as bad as some people said. And Liam and Rebecca had a really nice house. Liam was some kind of software geek and Rebecca did illustrations for books. Between them they must have made a fair bundle. They were a very good looking couple too, Sam envied Rebecca's straight dark hair and her pale complexion and Liam was very dishy for an older guy, even with retro look pony tail.
During her babysitting nights Sam had often had sneaky peeks around the house and she had seen some photos of the O'Brians back in the day. They had been Goths once upon a time, and she noticed they both still tended to wear a lot of black.
Liam smiled as he stepped past her through the front door and put a large bag in the boot of the Audi. He glanced back, "There's plenty of food in the fridge, help yourself to a beer if you want one."
Rebecca kissed her on the cheek.
"Don't take any nonsense form her. If she steps foot out the door, ring us at once, okay?"
Sam smiled. "No problem... Rebecca."
And then they were gone, the car's lights disappearing into the autumn night. Sam closed and locked the door and headed into the lounge with her overnight bag. Tiffany was upstairs judging by the bass beat that could just be heard from the stairs.
Tiffany slipped of her coat. She had put on a little black dress before coming and, in case Sean came round, she had worn his favourite black lingerie and stockings. Not that she was going to let anything happen. She almost had herself convinced over that one.
Sam had just started outlining her essay on twentieth century poets when she heard Tiffany's feet on the stairs. Tiffany's impish face appeared around doorway.
"Hi Sam. They stuck your for zookeeper tonight huh?"
Sam smiled. "Hi Tiff, yep, it's just you and me."
Tiff slipped into the lounge. She was dressed in a short black skirt and a t-shirt with some metal band Sam had never heard of on it, complete with images of a flaming skull. She plopped herself down in an armchair.
"Don't suppose I could persuade you to let me out for a bit? No one needs to know."
Sam shook her head. "You know the drill, Tiff. You go, I call them, and you are grounded for a month. Just do your time and they'll forget all about... whatever it is you did to piss them off this time."
"It sucks. They treat me like a kid." She pouted.
"Well stop acting like one, hun." Sam sighed. "They are only trying to look after you. Some of those friends you hang around with rare not exactly A-level academics are they?"
The younger girl shrugged. "I like them, at least they don't keep secrets and they tell me the truth."
Sam wondered what that meant, but didn't want to pry. "Well that Gary Hutchinson has really bad rep. I am pretty sure he got arrested or something, we were in the same year at High school you know."
Tiffany smiled. "Yeah, he told me that. Yeah, he made a few mistakes, but he's not that bad really."
There was something about the way Tiffany spoke that was making alarm bells ring in her head. "Tiffany, you haven't... um... "
"What? Had sex?" Tiffany smirked. "Maybe... maybe not, I'm not gonna go round shouting it to you so you can tell mum and dad. Truth be told, he is not my type really."
Sam wondered what on earth Tiff's 'type' might be. Sam knew Tiff's experience with men was limited and recent, and she would hate to se her get hurt.
"Just be careful okay?"
Tiff smiled. "I always am."
Sam decided it was time for a subject change. "So, do you want to do anything? Play a game, watch a movie?"
The girl pointed at Sam's books. "Looks like you have to study."
"I should really, but I am here for you and your folks. If you want the company..."
Tiff gave her a sidelong look. "I can keep myself amused. I'll go listen to some tunes in my room and maybe play on the computer. But I'm pretty tired, I might hit the pillows early."
Sam hopes that was true, she did need to study.
"Okay, but I'm here if you need me."
"Oh, I know that, Sam." Tiff smiled. Again Sam felt slightly unsettled by the girl's tone. Tiffany grinned and the look accentuated her triangular face and slightly elfin appearance to make her look decidedly mischievous.
"So...Is Sean coming over later?"
Sam blinked. "Um... no... why would you..?"
"Well you don't exactly look like you are dressed for a night of studying. I figured you were dressed for another late night make out session. You know, like last time?"
Sam cursed inwardly. She had suspected Tiff had guessed. "I... okay, fair enough, he came over to keep me company a little. It won't happen again." Sam sighed, Sean was not going to like that.
"Oh I don't mind, I can stay out of the way."
Sam shook her head. "No, I'm sorry, it's not right really, I shouldn't have let him in last time. Your parents have to trust me. Now... I could really do with studying..."