Chapter 25
Sam interviewed both Eric and Jen. Both were impressed at Sam's professionalism. It seemed to both of them that their friend Sam was gone and in her place was a reporter.
Sam had a recorder, plus she took notes. A couple of times, she had to shut off the recorder so she could get a grip on her emotions.
"It's so weird to interview someone when you're one of the victims," Sam wiped her eyes.
Both Eric and Jen murmured to her, telling her what a great job she was doing. Sam smiled and continued with the interview.
When she felt she had all she could get from Jen and Eric, she told them she was going to go to the campus police, then the main police station in Davis. Jen asked if she needed company. Sam shook her head.
"No," Sam looked so sad to Jen. "I'll be okay."
"Where are you staying tonight?" Jen asked.
"Hotel room," Sam answered. "The paper pays for it."
"You can stay here," Jen offered.
Sam shook her head. "I appreciate it, but I need some alone time to take all of this in."
"It's got to be hard," Eric murmured.
"Very hard," Sam nodded. "I've finally forgiven myself." Her voice caught. "It doesn't mean I don't miss him. I miss him an awful lot."
Eric gave her a sad look and Sam sighed, evading his eyes. She couldn't take anyone's pity right now.
Eric wondered if anyone, including Jen, would ever love him that much. He also wondered if Jen saw what he was seeing in Sam.
She stood up and gathered her things.
"How long will you be here?" Jen asked, as both she and Eric stood up too.
"As long as it takes," Sam shrugged. "I'd say at least a couple of days. Most everything is done by computer now."
"I have class tomorrow, but call me when you can," Jen hugged her friend.
"I will," Sam hugged her back, before hugging Eric too. Then she flung her pink My Little Pony backpack over her shoulder and left the dorm.
"My gosh, she looks horrible," Eric murmured when Sam had gone.
"She's living with a broken heart," Jen told him. "She told me she was going to spend the rest of her live alone, wishing she had Jake."
Eric grimaced. "She won't live long like that."
Jen looked at him sharply.
"You see it too," she murmured.
"Hard not to," Eric said.
"She won't kill herself," Jen was adamant.
"She won't have to," Eric countered. "She'll die of a broken heart, making it easier on herself."
"Don't say that," Jen hissed.
"It's the truth, babe," Eric looked down on her. "You know it is. One way or another, she'll still be dead. She might not do the deed herself, but she won't stop mourning my cousin until she dies from it."
"Don't say it," Jen whispered. It scared her that Eric had seen the same thing she had.
"Okay, I won't say it," Eric hugged his girl. "Can I make you feel better?"
He raised his eyebrows at her.
"You can always make me feel better," Jen leaned into him her mouth meeting his.
"You can make me feel better too," Eric's mouth moved over Jen's.
They tumbled onto Jen's bed.