He realized that she really was desperate for forgiveness. That feeling of hard worn triumph was beginning to turn against him. But he was not ready to fold. He sighed, 'At this point I'm afraid it's impossible, Samantha.' He looked at Simon's table and saw him wearing a smile of contentment. 'You made me feel worthless, as if I was a disgrace to everyone. You absolutely have no idea how much pain you have caused me, personally. I'm sorry but I don't think you deserve my forgiveness.'
'I know sorry doesn't begin to count for the heartache I've caused you both. Its just that when my brother disappeared, I tried to find a way to forget about him…'
'And insulting two innocent boys seemed to be the best way, right? How pathetic is that? You should have known what you were doing was wrong not wait for someone to tell you.'
'I know I don't deserve your forgiveness but at least just try to understand. I may come from a rich family but I do know that I'm far from perfect. I just want to find a way to escape all this.'
Brendan now knew that Samantha was not evil. She only tormented him and Simon to make herself feel better. Now Brendan hated himself. He hated himself for even allowing her to sit there with him. He was angry for not following Simon to another table. If he had then maybe he would have avoided this conversation and his stupid emotions that actually felt sympathy for her.
All those years she had made fun of him for being an orphan, a decision that had not been his to begin with. He remembered every insult she had used against him and the merciless tones that rode on those insults to open wounds in his chest he had been trying so hard to close. Stitch upon stitch, blood and needles, but whenever he came close to completely dressing the wound, Samantha was always there to open it up again.
He remembered every single day of torment he suffered from her vicious and God-cursed tongue, the expression on her face when she said it, the weather, the audience…and oooh how they laughed! All of it had been hell and Brendan had to call upon all those memories now to have them give him every reason why she was beyond salvation.
But he remembered the words in Howard's suicide note; "Return evil with good".
She stood up and turned to leave but he called her back. She turned her head towards him.
'I know that you don't deserve my forgiveness, but..,' he shrugged, 'I'll try my best to consider your apology.' His stupid emotions had won.
She smiled, tears still in her eyes, 'And Simon?' she asked him, wiping her eye.
'Let's try one miracle at a time. I'll try to convince him too but I don't think he'll be as understanding as I am.'
Simon had not been hearing their conversation but the tears in Samantha's eyes spoke for themselves.
'Thanks, Brendan.' She sniffled and walked away.
Simon went back to sit in front of Brendan. 'So, what did the wicked witch want exactly?'
'Forgiveness.'
'Forgiveness! Her? She should know better than to make people laugh like that.' He seemed dumbfounded by what Brendan had just told him.
'I don't know about you but I'm willing to give it a try. She seemed sorry enough.'
' "Sorry"? She should be tormented for all those years she dragged us through hell in Bradwield High. The fun hasn't even started.'
'Come on, Simon..,' he attempted to reason with him, 'after all this "fun" what do we benefit?'
'Revenge,' he licked his lips, developing a smirk on his face.
'Then what?' he asked him again.
Simon sat silent. His smirk though was still visible.
'You see? Man is to err but to forgive is divine. We all make mistakes.'
'I don't care what you think but I'm not forgiving that brat,' he remained fixed to his decision.