So I know the story's just getting started, like the plots and characters and things, but if you like it or have an opinion and want to review already feel free :]

Three

Sam sat in the white, sterile room of the doctor's office with her mother, Leila, and twelve-year-old sister, Angela. Angela was looking around nervously, and even Leila looked like she didn't want to be there. Sam fidgeted uncomfortably. Hospitals had always been touchy places for them after…

~seven years earlier~

"Hey baby," Sam's father, Shane said weakly. He had seen better days. The chemo was starting to get to him. His thick dark hair, which Sam had been lucky enough to inherit, unlike her siblings, who had gotten their mother's blonde locks, was now gone.

"Hey daddy," she smiled, a tear leaking out of her eye. They both knew he didn't have much time left.

"Sammy, do you remember when I took you to that parade?"

"Of course! It's one of my favorite memories," she said, sniffling a little.

"Me too. That's where I'm gonna go now, sweetie, I know it. So don't you worry about me. Someday, a long, long time from now, when you're really old, I'll come back for you and we'll go to a parade again, okay?"

"Okay, daddy," she said squeezing his hand.

"Just promise me one thing, Sam," he said, calling her by her 'grown-up name.' "Promise me you'll do something with your life. Promise me you'll help people, give voices to those who don't have them themselves."

"I promise," she said softly.

"And don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't."

"I won't."

"Good. I love you, baby," he said, reaching up to touch her cheek.

"I love you too," she whispered, kissing his forehead.

Then the beeping started and her mother and older brother, Bryan, ran in, followed by nurses and doctors. She was shooed out, and Bryan went with her. She was only ten, and didn't entirely know what was going on, but she knew enough to know it wasn't good. Bryan was ten years older than her, and definitely knew what was going on. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. Leila came out not soon after, and the look on her face was enough to tell them that their father was gone.

Leila was changed after that. Shane had kept her light, now that he was gone, she took everything too seriously. It was finally enough for Bryan. One day Sam heard a knock on her door and Bryan walked in with a suitcase. He told her he was joining the army, and he was sorry for leaving her but he couldn't do it anymore.

Sam shed some tears, but she didn't blame him. She was twelve now, and a big girl. Bryan had moved back home to help them out, so she had come to depend on him. But he needed to live his own life.

Leila screamed and yelled when he told her he was leaving, but he wouldn't alter his decision.

"You are a coward! You're running away from your family because you can't handle being an adult!"

Sam thought that was a little harsh, Bryan had been a better parent to her than her mother had been. Her mother hadn't held her when she cried at night. But this wasn't her fight.

"I've had it with you! I can't live like this! I'm never coming home!" he screamed.

"And I'm never speaking to you again! And don't expect your sisters to either!"

"I'll do whatever I fucking want!" Sam screamed from the top of the stairs. Her mother and brother turned to stare at her. Cussing was a bad habit she had picked up from her new friends Liza and Jesse. Leila didn't approve of her new best friend, Liza, who was a year older.

"Don't fight this now, Sam," Bryan said, turning to their mother. "I'm leaving now. Goodbye."

With that he walked out, and Sam was completely alone.

The doctor walked in. He was probably in his late thirties, sandy-blonde hair graying at the edges. He introduced himself as Dr. James Reed, and proceeded to ask, "How are we doing today?"

"Obviously not fine since I'm in a freakin' doctor's office," Sam mumbled under her breath, but hushed once she got a sharp glare from her mother. If Sam thought they hadn't gotten along when she was younger, they definitely fought now that she was in a "death band," her mother's term, and wore dark clothing all the time. Her mom said Goth like it was a bad thing.

"We're great Dr. Reed," Leila said, a little over-the-top and fake. "Dr. Fisher spoke very highly of you."

Sam's pediatrician had no idea why she was so tired and sluggish all of the time.

"Ah, yes, Cassandra. How is she?" asked Dr. Reed.

Leila opened her mouth to speak, but Sam coughed.

"You must be Samantha," he said, turning to her.

"That's me, Sam," she said with a glance at her mother, "the problem child."

"Well let's see if we can't figure out what's wrong with you," the doctor said.

He did some tests and blood work, the ushered Sam and her family out of the office, telling them he would call as soon as he knew anything.

Sam took a deep breath when they stepped outside. She really hated hospitals or anything doctor-related. Her mother looked down on her and for a second Sam though her mom might actually say something kind and sympathetic. But Leila merely sighed and said, "Let's go."

The car ride was silent. Angela stared out the window the entire time, not saying much. But then again, it wasn't like she said much anyway. Finally Sam, sitting in the passenger seat, broke it. She turned to her mother. "We got second at the Battle of the Bands."

Leila was silent. Then she said, "Do you expect me to be happy for you? You know what I think about your band and friends."

Sam sighed. Liza Buchanan became her best friend after Shane died. Sam's other friends hadn't known what to do, so they sort of left her. Sam had been singing to herself softly in an empty music room when Liza came in, unnoticed. She started playing the piano along with Sam, and it was the beginning of a great friendship. Jesse Way was Liza's other best friend, and a year older, like her, but it wasn't long before the three were hanging out. Soon after, Jesse's neighbor, Cale McKnight joined in their group. Years later, when Johnny Hamilton transferred to their school, the band was completed.

Sure they had influenced Sam, but she didn't think that was a bad thing. Her mom hadn't exactly been there for her to teach her about growing up. At least she had someone, or four someones, to be there for her. And she had her music and songwriting. That helped her get through a lot when she was older.

At least her mom liked Chase, a star baseball player. Secretly Sam thought her mother didn't know what Chase saw in her daughter, but not wanting to pick another fight, she had kept that suspicion to herself.

"Well," Sam said, pushing along as if the last comment didn't sting, "we got an audition at a recording studio."

"Oh," was all Leila said.

"Fine. Liza will be coming to pick me up when I get home. We have to rehearse," Sam snapped turning to stare out the window. She could feel tears starting to leak out the corners of her eyes. Pull yourself together, she thought, don't let her win. She leaned her forehead against the pane and closed her eyes, remembering what her dad had said.

Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't.

That was what kept her going.