Chapter 3

"She won't say what's wrong?" Eric asked quietly. He glanced towards the bed where his girlfriend's roommate curled in on herself, shaking so bad that the bed was moving.

"All she'll say is Ely's name," Jen answered. "So help me, if he's hurt her..." She broke off.

"Should I call him?" Eric wondered.

"I should call him," Jen responded. "I should call him every name in the book if he's hurt her."

Eric couldn't help the smile despite the seriousness of the situation. He knew he was in love with Jen. They had declared themselves to each other last night before spending the night in his room at the frat house. It had been wonderful, but now with Sam like this, it all seemed a blur.

"I love you," Eric whispered.

Jen smiled softly, standing straighter so she could kiss him. "I love you too."

"I had a wonderful time last night," Eric said.

"So did I," Jen kissed him again. "I need to find out what happened."

Eric nodded. "Do you want me to stay?"

"I think she'll reveal more if you're not here," Jen told him.

"Trying to get rid of me already?" Eric teased.

"Never," Jen said seriously.

Eric nodded, glad to hear her declare herself this morning.

"Call me if you need me," Eric told her, meeting her lips with his.

"I'll call you either way," Jen's mouth was soft under his.

Eric nodded again and left.

Jen sighed, remembering all that had happened between them, a soft smile on her face. Then she spied Sam still shivering in her bed and the smile disappeared. She went to sit next to Sam on the bed, her hand touching, stroking the wet hair, her friend's back.

"What happened, Sam?" Jen asked again.

Sam's bottom lip trembled. To Jen she looked almost catatonic.

"I-I-I ch-ch-cheated on J-J-J-Jake," Sam's voice was barely a whisper. Jen had to bend down to hear her.

The words shocked Jen. She had to cover her mouth with her hand so no sound escaped.

Oh my gosh! This was worse than she had thought.

"What do you mean?" Jen removed the hand over her mouth to ask.

"I-I-I ch-ch-cheated," Sam was still shaking.

"With another man?" Jen barely whispered.

Sam nodded her head.

Jen sat back in shock. This couldn't be happening. No way Sam would ever cheat on Jake. No way in the world. She loved him too much to even look at another man.

"Are you sure?" Jen asked.

Sam started blubbering Jake's name again and Jen took that to mean that she was sure. Oh dear God! Jen put a hand over her eyes trying to block out the image of her friend lying in her own vomit and now lying on her bed shaking.

"You told Jake," Jen didn't ask.

"J-J-Jake," Sam's wail tore at Jen's heart. "J-J-Ja…." Sam couldn't finish, she was sobbing and keening again.

The sound made the hairs on Jen's neck stand up again and she shivered as the goosebumps covered her skin. Jen didn't like Jake, but she knew him well enough to know he wouldn't forgive Sam for this. He must have told her so.

Jen caught a sob before it could escape. This could kill her friend. The guilt and the loss of Jake could actually kill her friend.

Jen felt at a loss. She didn't know what to do to make this go away. If she could make this go away.

This was not something that Sam was going to get over any time soon. Jen was suddenly very afraid. Very afraid for her friend's health and very very afraid for her friend's well being.