Well, well, well look at what we have here.
Another update!
Hope you guys enjoyed the previous (long) chapter of introducing Skylar into the plot. You know, as the author, even I often question her motives for Tim, despite her knowing full well that Sam and him had a strong bond wayyy before she transferred to Malibu Uni. Skeptical, skeptical indeed.
Regardless, the story must go on!
Also, this part is sad, not gonna lie. Feel free to release your pity on Sam or whoever else you wish. She didn't deserve to endure this much pain, and for anyone who had experience in being rejected by someone with whom they liked very much, letting go is often the hardest thing to do. The next stage is usually healing, but even that is easier said than done.
Not even the worst enemy on this planet deserves to suffer as such, but this could be debated.
Have fun reading!
Disclaimer: It's been stated numerous times, come on now.
"Go dear, tell the boy how you feel about him," Sister Edith pleaded. She stroked Sam's short hair as encouragement.
"But, how am I so sure that he feels the same way about me?" Now that Sam had the nun's support, her plan to confront Tim didn't seem that great of an idea anymore.
"Crazy girl, how would you know if you remained silent? Go, go tell him how you feel."
For the past several weeks, she had seen the girl glowing with happiness. At the same time, Edith had changed her mind about Tim for a bit; that perhaps he would be the perfect guy for Sam, seeing as they shared many interests and got along quite well.
"Thank you," whispered Sam. They shared a hug and the nun watched the girl leave to profess her love.
Tim sprinted across the grass to meet with Sam. He was holding a random wildflower in his hand.
They both stopped to catch their breaths.
"Sam," Tim huffed.
"Tim," Sam couldn't stop smiling! This was it!
"I-I wanted to t-tell you something," he stammered between breaths.
"Me too," Sam chimed in.
"Can I go first?" Tim volunteered.
"Sure."
"I- I love you." God, that felt great to release!
Sam smiled widely. She knew it! She knew Tim reciprocated -
"You think she'd like that?"
A roar of thunder echoed through the sky.
"Who?" Sam barely whispered.
Tim couldn't contain his own glee. "Skylar, who else? You know, I've been meaning -"
Sam averted her friend's face in embarrassment as he rambled. She wasn't too confident at looking at him anymore. What did he mean by she, when she was standing right there?!
"Hey, look here," he directed Sam's face to his. Weirdly, his touch felt repulsive now, when it never bothered Sam in all these years.
Sam meekly stared at him. She felt exhausted from all the effort of containing her tears.
"Here we go, alright?" Tim held the flower out. "Skylar, I love you."
Another deafening rumble of thunder rolled.
"Good enough?"
Sam barely nodded her head in approval.
Tim gathered her into a bear hug.
"Ah, shit," he cursed as the first drizzle of rain poured over the Earth.
As they were soaking, Tim had one more question to ask.
"You think Skylar will say it back to me?"
"Hm? Mmhmm," Sam nodded against his chest.
He gently pulled her away, smiled, and offered up their best friend handshake.
Thanks to the rumbling thunder, Tim couldn't hear Sam's heart shattering into smithereens. Thanks to the downpour, he also couldn't discern the difference between the rain and her tears.
He happily galloped off, leaving her drenched in misery.
Sam hiccuped alone in the field. She finally understood what the expression 'felt like a slap on the face' meant. Her body felt like a huge REJECT button.
She scrunched her face, as the tears gushed out. Her chest heaved as it struggled to breathe normally through the rush of emotions.
"What just happened?" Sam knew what occurred, yet she couldn't seem to comprehend what had occurred. Her mind swam in a mix of anguish, confusion, pain, and heartbreak.
Tim and Skylar
The lovebirds met in a field of sunflowers.
Skylar brushed her hair from her face. She held onto the wire fence with Tim. At first, they had nothing much to say to each other aside from giggling like little children.
Everytime Tim looked at Skylar, gibberish primarily spoke for him. Skylar didn't mind, as she mostly comprehended the gibberish.
"Eve I lou, no, no, wait. Live I uoy, hold on," Tim held up a hand. He straightened out the dark blue Columbia sweatshirt and tousled his chocolate brown hair.
"I-I love you," his smile stretched out from ear to ear.
Skylar covered her mouth as she cracked up at Tim's cuteness. Tim offered his hug and they shared a romantic embrace.
Girls' Dorm
Sam slammed herself against the pillar.
"He never loved me back. He was my first love, yet he never loved me back," she wailed.
Sister Edith heard someone running into the dorm room, albeit, she didn't expect Sam to return so soon. The poor girl was soaking wet; her normally vibrant hair was clumped into a mess. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy.
"That damn Tim! How dare he crush her like this!" Edith mentally cursed him out. Witnessing Sam frantically grab her duffel bag, the nun folded her hands into a silent prayer.
The hiccuping girl tugged on the drawer handles, screaming when they kept getting stuck to the dresser. "I WANNA GET OUT OF HERE!" she yelled while shaking the drawer. The contents on the bureau rattled but were soon violently knocked off the surface.
"My child, please -" Sister Edith rushed to Sam's aide. In a matter of seconds, the entire dorm would be upturned and destroyed.
The nun bravely placed herself between Sam and the mirror. The girl held a Swiss Army knife targeted at her reflection. She was nearly close to stabbing the glass when Sister Edith grabbed Sam's wrist.
"What are you doing?" Sister Edith growled. The woman had her eyes wide in anger and shock that someone cool and level headed like Sam could be such a raging maniac when she was deeply upset.
"What does it look like?" Sam demanded. She faced the nun with teary eyes.
"It looks like a girl who was about to shatter her life before my very eyes, that's what," Sister Edith replied sternly.
Sam hiccuped and heavily sniffled until the knife clinked to the hardwood floor. She dropped to her knees and covered her face.
The nun stared at her in concern. If the girl desires to leave, she will get her wish fulfilled.
Grabbing a Kleenex box, Sister Edith cleaned Sam's face. She helped the girl stand up and pack her belongings into the Adidas duffle bag. Once Sam regained consciousness, she realized her bag was fully strapped and zipped.
"Sister, could I-,"
The nun let her go.
Somewhere in a distant area, Sam sat on a boulder. She shivered from the cold, or rather, her massive rejection.
"He never loved me, then. He never did. What did I do wrong?" her brain repeatedly racked for some sort of answer as to why Tim contradicted his own words of love being about friendship. He wasn't friends with Skylar. He was best buds with Sam, so wouldn't it have made sense that they would eventually become lovers?
The sleeves of her knitted olive Barbour Daffodil sweater turned soggy as salty water was absorbed by the fabric.
Her cheeks stung with the acidic liquid and the breeze sweeping over her face wasn't entirely helping, either.
Sam's bloodshot eyes darted around her surroundings. No one else would be in the same vicinity, but Sam certainly had no energy to rehash her failure. The mortification was already enough to endure, and so an explanation would result in a double whammy.
She passed through a long hallway of a historic monument containing moss growth and other vines sprouting from the ground. Unfortunately, the saying 'there's light at the end of the tunnel' was merely just a saying, nothing more. Sam wasn't even entirely sure she had an end to her own tunnel.
"Bye, Tim. Guess it was fun while it lasted," Sam whispered to no one in particular.
Girls' Dorm
Sam bent to Sister Edith's feet for her blessings. The nun wiped away the girl's tears but the poor thing rushed out the door before she could say anything else.
Train Station
"You go over there and I'll try over here," Tim instructed his partner as they went on a search hunt for Sam. He passed by the windows, calling her name.
"Sam! Sammie!"
He eventually spotted a redhead girl shedding tears.
Sam noticed her 'friend' from her peripheral vision and hastily wiped her face.
Guilt started to gnaw at his stomach but Tim was short on time. He had to speak with Sam first, no matter what; the guilt can be dealt with later.
"Excuse me," he pardoned himself through the passengers in the aisle.
"Samantha, what is this?"
"Hm? I-I need to go back," Sam replied. She didn't feel like having a discussion with anyone at the moment, much less with Tim.
"You're not going anywhere," he reached up for the blue Adidas gym bag.
"Tim, you don't understand, I have to," Sam pleaded as she tugged on her bag. "Mom sent me a letter, and I need to go. It's bit of an emergency."
He stared at Sam in disbelief. The girl had a decent amount of intelligence and was quick as a whip. This was the best excuse she could use?
"Mom sent a letter and you pack up right away?" Tim began getting frustrated. "We have finals coming up."
"Tim -"
"Come on," he tossed the gym bag over his shoulder.
"You need to listen-"
"No."
"Tim, I'm not returning back for finals," Sam stated firmly.
He dropped the bag.
"I see how it is." His eyes trailed her form from head to toe.
Sam half hoped and half didn't hope that Tim understood the root problem.
The true reason why Sam was departing.
"Listen, Tim-" he turned to the car exit, a clear indication he had no interest in what Sam had to say.
"Tim!"
"I don't care, okay?" He held up a hand.
"I'm leaving, for real!"
"Okay!"
"Tim, I'm never coming back."
"Just go!"
Skylar's eyes followed her partner walking past her. She glanced back up at the train.
Sam noticed Skylar standing on the platform.
Tim was standing near her, back facing his friend.
Sam reached to her neck. She carefully pried off the Calvin Klein black chiffon scarf and tossed it over.
Skylar caught the delicate material.
This was final.
With blurry eyes, she gazed at the girl standing at the door of the train.
This was her final farewell.
The train whistle sounded for departing.
Tim's ears perked when he heard the hiss and chug of the wheels.
"Shit," his voice cracked.
He ran past Skylar, calling out for Sam again.
He jogged with the speed of the moving train, holding on to the door handle for support.
"Sam, please don't go," he begged.
"I have to Tim. Mom needs me."
"But, I'm gonna fail!"
"Fail, then. I don't care!"
"Who will I play basketball with?"
"Those stupid girls you chase after, ask one of them."
"Hey," Tim pointed at her warningly.
"Hey," Sam pointed back.
"Man, I'm gonna miss you!"
"I'll miss you, too!"
The train picked up speed and Tim released the handle.
He raised his hand to initiate the handshake. Sam mirrored his gestures. Despite being far away, Sam had a feeling she knew Tim saw her flick her own nose.
Tim touched his nose, too.
His smile faltered when the train rounded the corner.
Sam truly broke off ties.
From behind, Skylar witnessed their break up.
She held the chiffon scarf closer, inhaling the scent of Sam's perfume.
If Tim was feeling guilty, Skylar failed to think of another word more serious than 'guilty'. That's exactly how she felt right then.
In the present day, young Sam of Tim and Skylar stood in their living room, sniffling as salty water poured from her eyes in jagged lines. It was nearly 3 am, and by far, a pretty serious birthday for someone who just turned eight years old.
Sam never called, never wrote, nothing. She completely left our lives for good.
Your father spoke about her so much. He yearned for her presence, often to the brink of madness.
Despite being married, your dad felt lonely. After all, he did say that love is friendship and with friendship, you have to love another human, otherwise, it's just nothing much.
Samantha was the first girl he ever truly loved. Perhaps he didn't realize it during college, but I definitely realized it in her.
Sam, my dear, I want you to bring her back to your father's life. I want him to live again.
Bring Sam back into his life, please.
Make your father happy again. Make him understand life is worth living. And that his friendship with her was never broken. At all.
Please, Sam.
I love you.
Your mother,
Skylar
After the last page of the letter, child Sam found a color photo of the woman mentioned all this time. The same woman whom she was named after.
The person in the photo had short red bob hair paired with a green headband. She was smiling with genuine joy. Even through the picture, one can see the radiance bouncing off her skin.
Sam glanced up at the framed photo of her own mother on the living room wall.
Bring Sam back into his life, please.
Make your father happy again.
The young girl made a silent vow to fulfill her mother's request.
- Intermission -
Good luck to both Sams on their journeys.
We can get an idea that child Sam will be on the hunt for adult Sam, but do you think adult Sam would be expecting Tim's daughter to be searching after her? Hmmm, *rubs chin in thought*. You'll only find out after the next part is live!
Until then, hugs and kisses!
Best,
Precila