Chapter 176

• Screaming at the top of my lungs, I was able to get them to stop. I'll never forget the shocked look on their faces as though I'd completely lost my mind and then how they all just turned their backs. I was left alone and, although it took some time, the dog slowly warmed up to me and allowed me to pet it. The poor thing was shaking. That was when Sam, a quiet boy in my class, came over with a water bottle and his lunch box. I didn't know Sam well. He was a distant family relative from his Mom's side, but I vividly remembered how his Dad had come by the ranch once. He'd been drunk and mean, and my Dad had been so angry with him. Because of that experience, I'd always kept my distance around Sam Uley. Up until that moment.
• Together we fed the dog and gave it some much needed affection. When the bell rang we reluctantly went to class, constantly staring out the window to see if the dog was still there, counting down the hours, minutes and seconds for our lunch break. When the bell finally rang we both hurried out and when I offered to share some of my lunch with Sam since he'd given away his entire lunch earlier, he shook his head, saying that the dog needed it more than him. I remember feeling my heart burst at his display of kindness and I felt as though I'd finally found a kindred spirit, somehow. We spent our entire lunch break together and when the school day ended, the dog was still waiting for us.
• "I can ask my brother if we can take him," Sam had said, almost nervously as though he was worried that perhaps I wanted to take the dog with me as well.