1Pairings: Odd and Sam
Rating: Eh...none really. Just a blah kinda chapter.
Warnings: Still the cold meds which make me sleepy (even though they're non-drowsy). Otherwise, can't think of any...
Author's Note: Another chapter! Woot! I'm on a roll! Two days, two chapters! Go sickness go!
The doorbell rang and she walked down the hall, toweling off her hair. Her parents had left, returned to work after making sure she knew the rules. No one in the house. No talking to the authorities. No...
She opened the door and froze. "Odd." He looked at her and she swallowed, shifting slightly at the look on his face. "Do you want to come in?"
He entered the house silently and she closed the door, leading him into the living room. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Better, must've been overheated or something. Can I get you something?" she asked, clutching the towel in her hands.
"Is everything okay?"
She jerked, looking at him. "Everything's fine," she replied, smiling. It was forced, they both could tell.
"Sam, I promised that I'd never lie to you, don't you think you could return the same courtesy?" She looked away and he reached out, touching her shoulder. "I just want to make sure that your okay."
She shook her head, scrunching up on the end of the sofa. She bit her lip and he watched as she began to tremble, crying quietly. "Sammie?"
"Just been fighting with my parents, that's all," she mumbled. "Nothing major. Don't worry Odd, I'm okay."
He nodded, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her against him. "I want to be able to worry about you. I like to worry about you." He heard her laugh a bit and smiled.
"I'm fine. I think we need to talk Samantha."
She stiffened and he regretted using her full name. She sat down stiffly on the sofa and he sat next to her. "About what?" she asked crisply.
"You. Yumi told me what the doctor's said." She paled visibly at his words, back stiffening and tightening her arms around her legs. "Want to explain it?"
"I don't see how it's any of your business," she snapped, eyes burning.. He paused, staring at her.
"Sam, what's going on? You used to tell me everything," he whispered. He touched her shoulder, looking at her intently. She closed her eyes, hunching over. "Sammie?"
"I'm sorry Odd. I'm sorry for everything, but I think...I think you should go," she whispered hoarsely. "Please?"
"No Sam. Not until you explain what's going on," he replied.
She stood suddenly, pacing the room, wringing the towel in her hands. "What do you want me to say Odd? Tell me!"
"I want you to tell me the truth. About the bruises. The cuts. Why your always sneaking around, or you never let me stay when your parents get here. I want you to be honest with me. It's the least you can do after..."
"After what? After I 'ripped your heart out and stomped on it'? I think that's what Ulrich said to me. Or maybe after I 'completely used and abused you,' as Yumi said. Or is after you caught me dancing with someone else. Doing nothing but dancing!" He started to interrupt but she shook her head. "I'm sorry Odd. Sorry that I danced with that guy. I didn't think you'd mind that much. I'm sorry things turned out the way they did. But if you expect me to just...I don't know, beg for forgiveness, I won't. And I won't go crying on anyone's shoulder either."
"Sam!" he yelled, grabbing her. She stopped, looking at him. "It was a mistake. A stupid mistake on both our parts. I don't care about that now. It's the past, what I care about is you, and what's happened to you."
The phone was ringing and he reached over, grabbing it. "Hello?"
"Odd. I'm...Can I...Can I stay in the dorm tonight?"
"Sam, what time is it? Where are you?"
"I'm outside the gates. I just. I need to see you. Please?"
"Alright, want me to come down to you?"
"No. Just leave the door unlocked."
"Ok..." he stopped when he heard the dial tone. Wordlessly, he got up, unlocking the door for her and went to the closet to get extra bedding. Ulrich sat up as he rifled through the sheets and pillowcases.
"What's going on?"
"Sam needs a place to crash. She said she'd be up here in a few."
"Are you sure about this Odd? You can get in serious trouble for this. Detention, Suspension, maybe even Expelled. Anyway, what's up with her. She always turns up when she's in trouble, what'd she do this time?"
"Shut up Ulrich," he snapped. He made a makeshift bed on the floor for himself and stood when the door opened. She ran in, closing the door behind her and threw her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder. "It's okay, your okay," he whispered, rubbing her back.
"Yeah...yeah..." She pulled back and he bit his tongue so as not to say anything. Instead he gently touched the side of her face, careful of the bloody lip and black eye. "I don't want to talk about it," she whispered and he nodded, letting it go.
He grabbed her arm, shoving up the sleeve to expose her wrist and arm. Small burns covered her skin and faint white lines spiraled up her wrist. "Why?" he asked quietly, tracing the scars with his index finger.
"I just...I just want to feel. I want to know that I'm still here..." she whispered, blinking back tears.
"Of course your still here!" he exclaimed, then stopped, looking at the burns. "They...your parents...they do this to you. Don't they?" he asked quietly.
She fell silent, biting her lip. "I really think you should go now," she murmured, pulling her arm back.
"No. Not until I get my answers. What do they do to you?"
She looked away, at the window, then the clock, then him. "They hit me. Or whatever they feel like," she replied, shrugging. "Usually when they're drunk or angry." He stared at her and she shook her head. "Don't look at me like that. Stop it. If I'd wanted pity, I would've told the world. I don't. So if your gonna keep looking like that then leave, alright? Leave!"
She spun out of his grip, retreating to her room and slamming the door shut behind her. "Sam!" he called, exasperated. He hit his head against the door frame and looked down the hall to her room. "Sam?"
"Go away."
"Come on Sammie. I'm sorry, but...it's shocking. Would you rather I not react at all?"
The door opened and she stood there looking at him. "I guess your reaction is normal," she muttered after a moment. He smiled a bit, going over to her and hugging her. "Just no pity and no charity. Please Odd. Just...anything but that..."
Author's Note: Kinda short, kinda long. More in-between. Trying to make them long for you guys but I'm exhausted. Please review to get a new chapter!