Eleven
Sam knew what she had to do. She had to tell the band. But only them. She didn't think she could face Liza's family too. She loved them, so much, but she just wasn't ready for that yet.
"Hey, Cale, it's me. Can you tell everyone I need you all to meet me at my house after school?"
She knew Cale would be worried, but this wasn't a conversation you had over the phone. It was one you needed to be there in person for.
Sam thought the time would pass slowly, but there was a knock on her door before she knew it. This is it, she thought as she opened it and ushered her bandmates in.
They were all sitting on couches and chairs, and looking at her expectantly.
Here it goes, Sam thought. "Well, you guys know I've been sort of out of it and sick lately." They all nodded. "Well, we, uh, figured it out. I have cancer." It was easier to say the second time.
The expressions ranged from pure sadness to confusion to shock. Liza stood up and ran over to her. She grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "There's no way! Your dad had cancer. Surely two people in the same family can't have it! That's just fucking horrible!"
"Is it the same kind as your dad?" Cale asked quietly.
"Yeah," Sam confirmed.
"Shit," he breathed, so quietly Sam wasn't sure she heard it.
Johnny and Jesse had been silent. But then they both got up and came over and gave her a hug. Liza joined in, followed by Cale.
"Thanks guys," Sam said, finding she was tearing up again. Everyone else was too, though, so it was okay. "This doesn't change anything, you know. We're still going to go to the audition, and we're still going to make an album."
They decided to still have practice because the audition was so close, but Sam said she was going to wait to hear from Leila, who would be at the doctor. The rest of the band understood.
"Just come when you can," Jesse told her.
"I'll be there by five," Sam promised.
They had only been gone around ten minutes when there was another knock at the door. Doesn't anyone ring the doorbell, Sam thought. She opened it and found Chase standing there.
"I, uh, I," he started. "Can I come in?"
"Sure," Sam said. "What's wrong? I thought you had a game."
"I do, and I have to be back, so I won't sit down." He paused and looked around. He was wringing his hands. "God, I feel awful."
Sam was confused. He looked so nervous. "Chase just spit it out!"
"I can't do this anymore! I just can't deal with it. There's so much drama. The guys give me crap all the time. We're just, we're…we're not meant for each other. I mean look at us! Everyone was right. We're not compatible. I'm a star baseball player and you're in an emo, or Goth, or punk or whatever you want to call it band! There's no way we would work out."
Sam was shocked. "Are you breaking up with me?"
"Well, aw jeez you make it sound so bad. You make me seem like an evil person."
"Chase yes or no, are you breaking up with me?"
"Shit, Sam, I-"
"Answer the freakin' question, Chase."
"Look, I really think you're great, it's just-"
"Oh, save me the bullshit breakup lines. After everything I've gone through I don't deserve those, I deserve the truth."
"I'm sorry," Chase said, looking at his feet, "but I don't want to do this anymore. It's too hard for me, especially now on top of...everything. Yes, I'm breaking up with you." And with that he walked out on her.
Sam was shocked. That was not what she had been expecting. Suddenly it all became too much to bear. He was such a douche. He couldn't handle it? How did he think she felt? She just found out she had fucking cancer! That was drama.
She stormed up to her room, slammed the door and collapsed on her bed, burying her face in the pillows. The tears she had been holding in began to flow out now. Sam didn't try to restrain them. She found she was sobbing and shaking uncontrollably, but she didn't care. Chase had been her first love. And now he was gone.
