Chapter Two
The two had spent the rest of their meal in silence. Brooke wasn't exactly sure how to go about the situation yet, and she felt Sam needed time. She was afraid of scaring her off, and so silence was her only option. The sun was beginning to rise as Brooke pulled into her driveway. She put the car in park and gently, shook Sam, who had fallen asleep. "Sam," she whispered "time to wake up."
"Should I sleep on the couch?" The two were standing in the living room.
"Sam, I meant it when I told you that this would always be your home. Your bedroom is the same as it was the day you left. " Brooke stared into Sam's eyes, trying to figure out what went so wrong in the 3 months she had been gone, but Sam had become an expert at hiding. She stepped around Brooke, and headed for the bedroom. The only goodnight Brooke received was the door slamming shut. Brooke shook her head, and headed towards her own bedroom. Even though Sam was back in her bed, Brooke felt as alone as she had the night she left
"Are you sure you have everything you need?" Brooke had asked handing Sam her duffle bag.
"Yeah," Sam's voice seemed far away, and Brooke wondered if she really wanted all of this.
"Okay, well here's some extra money." Brooke held out a couple of 20's to the girl.
"I don't want your money," Sam shook her head, and looked out the open door as tears filled her eyes.
"Take it anyway." Brooke smiled, and Sam reluctantly grabbed the money and shoved it into her pocket. "Come here," Brooke pulled the girl in for a hug. Rubbing her back she promised, "I will always be here for you. I love you, Sam." At that, Sam had pulled away, ushered a quick goodbye, and left. Brooke began to cry as she watched the blue Toyota drive away.
The next morning Brooke awoke early. She hadn't gotten more than 4 hours of sleep, but she wanted to make sure Sam didn't sneak out. Quietly, she opened Sam's bedroom door. The teen was sound asleep. Brooke stood in the doorway and watched Sam, wondering if she'd be able to help her. She began to stir, and Brooke quietly left the room.
"Why were you watching me sleep?" Sam appeared in the living room next to the couch where Brooke sat, reading a book. Brooke smiled, there was the Sam she knew and loved.
"I was making sure you were still here. I thought maybe you'd resort to your old window."
"Nope, I'm still here." Sam said, "Is it alright if I take a shower?"
Brooke nodded, "And afterwards we can talk."
"Oh, boy." Sam muttered under her breathe, but the sarcastic remark made Brooke smiled.
Sam appeared an hour later all cleaned, and looking more like her old self. Brooke was in the kitchen, and Sam took a seat on one of the barstools. She was dreading the conversation that lay ahead of her, and Brooke could tell by her sullen expression. Brooke had been practicing what she would say to Sam, but somehow as she looked at her everything went out the window. But, she had to get to the bottom of the situation. "Sam, what happened?" It was a simple question, but she knew the answered would be complicated.
"I told you. I was with some guys who were spray painting, and the cops showed up. They wouldn't release me without a –"
"That's not what I meant, and you know it." Sam's smart aleck attitude was back, but Brooke wasn't having any of it she wanted answers. "Where's your mom?" Brooke asked, but she wasn't sure she wanted the answer. Sam shook her head, rolled her eyes, and jumped off the barstool. She didn't want to have this conversation. She headed towards her bedroom, but Brooke was quick to block her path. "Sit." She raised her eyebrow and pointed to the barstool for emphasis, but Sam was determined.
"You. Are. Not. My. Mother." Sam emphasized each word. In all honesty, she did not want to hurt Brooke, but she also didn't want to talk, and she was willing to do whatever necessary to get out of this conversation. "Now let me go." Sam tried to step around Brooke, but Brooke grabbed her arm.
Brooke knew Sam was determined to not have this conversation, but Brooke was more determined. She knew the spiteful words that came out of Sam were just a defense mechanism, and she had learned to ignore the words and listen to the emotions behind them. Right now Sam was screaming 'Help me!'.
"I know you do not want to have this conversation, but you don't always get what you want. Now sit down." Sam knew she had pushed it far enough. She grudgingly took her seat on the barstool.
"Brooke, please, just let me go." Sam pleaded with every fiber of her being.
"I can't." Brooke was blunt. "I let you leave once, and it was the worst mistake of my life, and I will not repeat that mistake." The honesty in Brooke's words was enough to push Sam over the edge. She began to sob as she had last night in the diner.
"Come here," Brooke helped Sam walked to the couch where the teenager collapsed in her arms, sobbing. Brooke didn't speak she just held her, and let her cry the tears out. Eventually, Sam lifted her head. "Feel better?" Brooke asked handing her a few tissues.
Sam nodded as she blew her nose. "I'm sorry."
"For what? You didn't do anything wrong."
"I should have never left." Sam's voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Brooke gently grabbed Sam's shoulders so they were eye to eye. "She's your mom, and I could never expect you to just forget about her because of me. I love you, Sam, and I always will. You did nothing wrong." Brooke's words were strong. She wanted Sam to understand that her love for her was unconditional. "Alright?" Brooke asked to make sure her message had seeped in. Sam nodded. "But, I do need to know what happened."
Sam's eyes quickly reverted to her hands. "Things just didn't work out." Brooke nodded, both in understanding and reassurance. "Everything was alright for a few weeks, until—" the tears began to flow again, and Brooke pulled Sam in.
"It's okay, honey. You can talk to me." She promised as she smoothed Sam's hair. "Everything is going to be alright."
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews!!! Hope you guys like this chapter!
