Chapter 2
Jen sat on the toilet seat next to the bathtub as the hot water fell on her friend. Sam's head was bowed as the water hit her. Her body was shaking as she continued to choke out sobs.
Eric had left, telling Jen he would go back to the frat house to change before coming back. Jen had barely acknowledged him as she tended to her friend.
Jen decided to wait out Sam and just sat next to her, patting her shoulder in encouragement. Jen had never seen Sam like this.
Obviously it had something to do with Jake, since it was his name Sam kept sobbing. If that moron hurt her, he'd have to answer to Jen!
Finally Jen noticed that the water was getting cold.
"Do you want me to help you out of the tub, Sam?" Jen asked quietly.
"Jake," Sam barely squeaked out, her voice rough from vomiting and from all the crying she had been doing.
"What about Jake?" Jen asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"Jake," Sam sobbed again.
Jen looked up, seeing Eric back in the doorway. She nodded at him, letting him know she had seen him. Eric jerked his head towards Sam. Jen shook her head and shrugged. She still didn't know what had set all of this off.
Eric jerked his head towards the main room. Jen nodded again. He disappeared from the doorway.
"Sam, talk to me honey," Jen's voice was almost a coo.
"J-a-a-ake," Sam shivered, her teeth chattering.
"Did he hurt you?" Jen asked, her voice still low.
Sam shook her head.
"Let's get you out of that cold water," Jen said.
Sam shook her head again. She hiccupped as a new bout of sobs rolled over her.
Jen was wondering if she was going to have to call Sam's home and have someone come get her.
Jen leaned over, shutting off the water. Sam's sobs broke her heart. Not caring that her friend was naked, sitting in the bathtub soaking wet, Jen put her arms around Sam to comfort her.
Sam broke down. She wasn't sure where the renewed tears came from, but she sobbed on Jen's shoulder as her best friend rubbed her back and murmured to her like a baby.
"Please tell me what's wrong," Jen told her. "Maybe I can help."
"N-n-n-n-body can help me," Jen barely made out the words through Sam's sobs.
"You don't know that," Jen said.
Sam simply nodded. Her teeth were chattering again.
Jen turned and grabbed a couple of towels to wrap Sam in. Sam shook, her knees to her chest, her face pressed against her knees as she cried.
Jen tried towel drying Sam's wet hair, but it was difficult with Sam shaking so much, sobbing so much.
"I need to get you in bed," Jen told her friend.
Sam didn't respond. She continued to sob dryly. There was nothing left in her body.
There was nothing left in her soul. She had destroyed herself. She had destroyed Jake. She had destroyed the love that they had shared.
With a sound that made the hair stand up on the back of both Jen's and Eric's necks, Sam wailed out her misery.