The driver just laughed, "You don't scare me with your little gun baby." Sam could see the sweat on Phoebe's face and how much she was shaking in this moment while he laughed hard and suddenly pulled her to the front. Phoebe screamed in shock when she hit her head at the window and the man tried to get her gun out of her hands.
One shot came out of the gun but only into the front window. Both of them, Sam and Phoebe, screamed at the sound.
"Oh my god. Oh my god.", Sam screamed while Phoebe tried to get free of this man's hands but he was too strong and she knew that she stood no chance at all.
Luckily Sam was fast enough and got Phoebe's gun and hit him so hard at the head that he let go of Phoebe for a minute.
"Run.", Phoebe screamed at Sam and Sam went out of the car and opened the front door, so that Phoebe could come out as well. She would never leave her alone with this big man in one car. Both of them started running as fast as they could.
Sam was way faster than Phoebe but waited for her and pulled her along, "This way.", Phoebe ran into a small alley and then went into another house and knocked on the door. An old woman opened it and looked astonished at the two girls.
"Phoebe?"
But Phoebe ran past her without giving her a hug or saying hello, she ran to the window and looked down and then climbed out of it, "How often did you have to do this?", Sam asked her confused and breathed heavily.
"Jump.", Phoebe just said and did not answer the question. She had forgotten about her pain totally and just wished to escape.
"What?", Sam looked down and shook her head. There was no way she would jump out of a window or let Phoebe do this little stunt.
But it was too late. Phoebe jumped down and landed on a thick mattress. Sam looked down in fear, closed her eyes for a moment, whispered "Whatever" and then jumped. She prayed that she would not break her neck or anything else.
"This way.", Phoebe took Sam's hand and they ran further, until they were in a big field of flowers that were as big as Phoebe. Sam could tell that Phoebe was having trouble breathing again. She remembered that Brooke had told her about Phoebe's asthma but right now there was no possibility to slow down.
"Get down.", Phoebe pushed Sam down with her when she heard the footsteps in front of her, "Psst.", she told Sam who was having trouble breathing as well, not from asthma or anything like that but from her fear and all the running. It felt like she was in a movie. They laid on the floor and did not move a bit.
Sam looked at Phoebe and could tell that this was not the first time she had to run away from men and hide.
Phoebe was making no sound at all and looked from left to right with wide eyes.
"I lost that kiddo again.", the man talked into the phone.
But suddenly he was standing over them and took Phoebe at her leg, so that she was upside down and screaming and kicked him hard."Nooooo. Run Sam.", Phoebe screamed and kicked the man again, so that he let go of her for a moment. She fell hard to the floor but stood up immediately and tried to run as well but being slower the man caught her immediately again.
He hit her hard in the face and she fell to the ground and tried to crawl away. She did not even have the time to cry because of the pain. She was covered in dirt and tried to kick them. In vain.
Sam heard Phoebe's screaming and looked back. She could not just run away from there. She saw how the man carried Phoebe away while she was trying to defend herself with all her strength, "Let me go.", she screamed but he covered her mouth with his dirty hand.
Suddenly Sam took all her courage, ran back and kicked him right between his legs. The men fell to the floor and let go of Phoebe and Sam helped her up and took her hand and pulled her further. Sam was glad that men had this weak point but she was also in so much shock. What the fuck was happening? She really felt like in a western movie.
"C'mon. You have to run.", Sam took Phoebe's hand again when she realized that Phoebe was slowing down a bit and holding her chest.
After what seemed liked hours both of them fell exhausted to the ground and held their chests, which hurt like hell. They were covered in dirt and breathed heavily.
"We…must…not stop. We have…to get out of here.", Phoebe stuttered through her heavy breathing and stood up again.
Sam stopped her a moment "Let's call the police.", she suggested.
Phoebe rolled her eyes at that comment, "Like they would do anything here. Now let's keep on running."
xxxxxxxx
After another hour of running they were relieved when they saw a bus station that would take them back to safety. They felt even more relieved when they sat down in the bus and could breath again. All the other passengers looked at them because of the dirt in their faces and how sweaty they were.
"Are you okay?", Sam could tell that Phoebe was still having trouble breathing and holding her chest and winced in pain. Phoebe could just nod and tried to calm down.
"Okay, look at me Phoebe. Calm down and breath in and out.", Sam took Phoebe's hands in hers and looked deep into Phoebe's eyes. "Do you have any medicine?"
Phoebe shook her head and finally calmed down a bit and fell exhausted back into her seat, "Thank you.", she whispered to Sam, who took her arm around her.
"I cannot run any more in my life.", Sam slumped down as well and Phoebe nodded.
"Trust me. You can if you must.", Phoebe suddenly took a plastic bag and puked into it.
Sam rubbed her back. Phoebe was definitely reacting worse than she did.
"Sorry, I always get sick when I run too much.", Phoebe managed to say and started breathing normally again.
"So, are we safe?", Sam asked a bit unsure while Phoebe was looking around all the time like checking whether someone was coming after them.
"You are.", she whispered and still felt sick.
"And you?"
"Well, if I don't go back. Yeah.", Phoebe said and finally relaxed a bit.
"Are you planning on going back?", Sam asked shocked but Phoebe did not answer that question. Sam implied her answer.
The bus started and finally both of them could relax a bit and got the dirt off their clothes. Suddenly Sam started to laugh out loud. Phoebe looked confused at her. Laughing was definitely not the response she had thought of and definitely a thing she did not feel like doing.
"What?", she asked unsure and looked up at Sam. She could not believe that Sam was laughing.
"I would not have guessed that you know how to use a gun"
Phoebe poked her tongue out at Sam, "I am not proud of it"
"You saved my butt."
"Yeah, well you saved mine too.", Phoebe whispered back and started to feel real tired.
She closed her eyes when suddenly she heard Sam's mobile vibrating, "Oh shit.", Sam said and looked at it, "It's Brooke again"
"Well, she surely is looking for you everywhere.", Phoebe said and looked out of the window.
Sam rolled her eyes and then took the phone, "Hello", she hated herself that she had forgotten to call them again and knew they were probably worried sick.
"Where the hell are you now? I called you a million times Sam. I want answers and you two come back now."
"Um…I am kinda in a bus."
"To where?"
"Back to you."
"Are you really okay?"
"Yes"
"Where were you? Sam we are worried sick.", Sam looked at Phoebe who still looked out of the window and was very pale. Sam gave Phoebe the phone but Phoebe shook her head, "She still does not want to talk to you guys."
"Sam! What is happening? You surely are okay?", Sam looked at Phoebe. Her bruises, her swollen lip and the gun in her hand was not totally a state of okay but she lied.
"Yes, we are."
"When are you coming back?"
"In about five hours. We took the bus."
"From where Sam? What happened?"
"Look. It's a long story. We are okay and we tell you everything when we're back."
Brooke wanted to protest but then added, "Okay. But be safe and don't kill each others and you two are in a lot of troubles."
Sam laughed; Brooke and Julian really had no clue what the two of them had gone through the last hours.
xxxxxx
"I guess we are in a lot of troubles.", Phoebe looked at her.
"And you realize that now? But I don't think I'll go back to Tree Hill." Sam widened her eyes and stayed mute for a moment. She could see the sad look on Phoebe's face but could definitely not understand her. Was this girl always like this? Changing her mind every second? Running away from her happiness?
"Why?"
"Many reasons.", Phoebe still did not look at Sam but Sam took her hand into hers.
"Is it because of me?"
Phoebe thought for a moment, "Not any more", she said honestly with a smile and then gave her her Iphone. She could see that Brooke had tried to call her a thousand times as well, "Look at this.", Phoebe whispered and blushed a little.
Sam did as she was told and was shocked when she saw a video of Phoebe getting punched and hit with a belly by Zoey and her friend. Sam had not thought about Zoey the whole day because so much other stuff was happening. In the end the video showed some pictures of Phoebe being half naked. Sam covered her mouth and wished to kill this Zoey.
"Great right? The whole school and already 1243 people saw me like this."
Sam squeezed Phoebe's hand and then took her chin. It was another moment that showed how vulnerable Phoebe actually was and she felt like she had to protect her.
"You are not telling me that you run away from a Zoey and this pictures but would stay with gangsters, guns, drugs and alcohol?" Phoebe had to laugh at that comment but then her smile turned into a sad face again. Sam could tell that Phoebe was about to loose the fight and took her arm around her.
Phoebe immediately started crying but hid her face with her hands. She hated crying in front of others. Sam went through her hair and held her tight.
"I have an idea. You skip school the next week. I take care of that Zoey and trust me, no one in school will make fun of you. If I fail with that promise I'll help you finding a way out of Tree Hill."
Phoebe wiped away her tears and sobbed, "I don't really need anybody's help to run away. That's what I am best in."
"I know but you don't really want to leave Brooke and Julian, right?", she took Phoebe's chin into her hand and looked into those sad eyes.
"No.", Phoebe whispered after a moment thinking of Rebecca.
"See. Then don't do it. Trust me. I have a solution.", Sam said honestly and was proud when Phoebe hesitated for a moment but then nodded.
"Fine.", she said and looked out of the window again, "but still you would be there."
Sam did not know what to say at that comment but then saw how Phoebe was laughing, "You surely have a good hitting hand. That driver was knocked out immediately."
"Well, it wasn't the first time I knocked somebody out. Now let me look at this."
Phoebe looked stunned at her while Sam held her chin and touched her nose that was still bleeding a bit from then man's hit, "What? I lived on the streets too, kiddo." Phoebe nodded and was amazed by Sam.
"Owww.", Phoebe whined when Sam touched her nose but nevertheless liked someone taking care of her.
"I think it's not broken but you look horrible.", Sam gave her a cloth for her face.
"Thanks. Oooh. And what was happening between my cousin and Sam. K-I-S-S-I-N-G?", Phoebe sang and made Sam blush immediately.
"Stop that.", she slapped her playfully and looked away to hide her embarrassment.
Phoebe could not stop laughing but then pleaded, "Please don't tell anyone about my family."
Sam nodded, "If you don't want it. I won't. But I think you should tell your sister and you should start telling me why those men were after you and what the fuck happened?"
"Um…yeah. It's a long story, I don't really wanna tell you…right now. But if I go back to tree Hill I will stay with the Scotts anyways…I think."
Sam looked shocked at Phoebe. This girl was definitely a nut, "Why? Phoebe I am really not going to take anything away from you with Brooke and Julian. They love you so much…"
Phoebe burst out into laughing, "Yeah. But I want them to miss me very, very much." Sam looked confused at her and then burst out into laughing as well and went through the younger one's hair, "You are evil.", she took her arm around Phoebe who let her head rest on Sam's shoulder.
"I know. I specialize in evilness."
"I like that but I swear to god, you will tell me what happened later because it's not fair getting into so much trouble without knowing why"
"Oookay.", both of them closed their eyes. Their hearts were still beating fast but they finally fell asleep. After some hours the bus stopped and Haley, Nathan, Brooke and Julian were sitting outside and waiting for them.
xxxxxxxx
"Shit. We are in so much troubles.", Sam said and squeezed Phoebe's hand, "I cannot believe that we shiver now after almost getting killed by this big man."
"They would not have killed us." Phoebe whispered.
"Okay. Let me do the talking.", Sam said and looked at Phoebe who shook her head. "Why?"
"I am good in lying."
"And I am not or what?", Phoebe asked confused but when Sam pulled her along and outside both of them only received strong hugs from all of them.
Brooke was crying and looked totally exhausted. Like she had been crying the whole night and had not slept a second, "Owww…I cannot breath.", Phoebe complained and Brooke looked from Sam to Phoebe. Of course they saw the dirt on their faces and the bruises in Phoebe's, "What…Oh my god. What happened? Where were you?"
Sam looked at Phoebe who looked up at Sam,"Um…we got into a little fight and I kinda hit Phoebe in the face and she ran away because of it and I followed her."
Phoebe suddenly laughed at that image. All the grown ups looked at them and Julian raised an eyebrow madly, "Lying was never your strength Sam.", he said and took a look at Phoebe's face.
"Let's get you home and then I want to know every detail.", Brooke said harshly and took the girls' hands but Phoebe pulled hers away.
"Um…I am still staying with Haley and Nathan.", Phoebe said and could see that she broke her sister's heart immediately.
"No you are not. You are coming back home and I don't care whether you want it or not. It's enough with your childish behavior and I don't accept it any more", Brooke did not let go of Phoebe's hand and pulled her along without mercy. Phoebe did not know what say but this time Sam helped her.
"Brooke, she just needs some time apart. Not too long, right?", Sam looked down at Phoebe who nodded.
Brooke crossed her hands in front of her and looked shocked from Sam to Phoebe. Since when have the two become friends? Brooke tried to stay calm and looked at Haley who nodded. She could not look at Phoebe any more and went into the car with Sam and started yelling at her.
Julian looked down at Phoebe and smiled softly and took her chin "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I will be.", Phoebe whispered and then jumped into his arms and cried.
"Tell her I am sorry."
"I won't Phoebe. That is your task.", Julian went through her hair and into the car as well and looked after Phoebe who went home with Haley and Nathan hugging herself.
Phoebe hated herself in this moment. Why was she so stubborn? She looked at Sam who rolled her eyes in the car.
xxxxxxxx
After Sam had taken a long bath she went into the living room and sat down on the couch between Brooke and Julian.
She could see that Brooke was still exhausted and tried not to cry. She knew that Brooke must have been worried sick and suddenly hugged her tight.
Brooke started crying immediately.
"We are okay Brooke.", Sam whispered and Brooke nodded.
"I…you cannot just run away Sam. What if something would have happened to you? I cannot loose any of you.", Brooke squeezed her hand and Sam nodded.
"I know. And I am sorry for that."
"So, we want to know what exactly happened. Why were you together anyways?", Julian said sternly and Sam did not know what to do.
"You trust me, right?", Both of them looked confused at her. Such a question after running away for a whole night was not really fair.
"I will tell you. In time, but I made a promise and you always told be how important it is to keep a promise. So…I cannot tell you right now. But I will."
Brooke looked at Julian and suddenly started screaming, "That's not okay Sam! You cannot just run away and don't tell us anything. Why was Phoebe bruised? Where were you? Why were you covered in dirt? What the fuck happened?", Brooke stood in front of Sam and could not help but scream. Julian put his arms around her but Sam did not say anything and looked away.
"I am so sorry."
"Go to your room.", Brooke said and Sam nodded and a tear fell down her cheek.
"I am really sorry.", Sam said again and closed her door.
She laid down on the bed and closed her eyes.
"What a day" she thought and then couldn't stop thinking of Ben. A small smile appeared on her face.
xxxxxx
"How is she?", Julian talked to Nathan on the phone.
"Well, she pretends to be mute. She did not say a word and Haley was yelling at her all the time and she just stared at her."
"What happened Nathan? I don't get them any more.", Julian asked helplessly.
"We will know the truth sooner or later.", Nathan said and Julian nodded.
"I hope so. Right now I feel a bit helpless."
xxxxxxx
This night Julian and Brooke cuddled in bed while being very confused about everything.
"Julian. I don't know what to do any more. Sam lies to us. Phoebe does not want to be with us and is bruised…what…", Brooke started crying again, "I am so exhausted. I only feel like crying and so helpless."
To be honest, Julian felt the same.
"I know. I have no clue what is going on at the moment and it's like we cannot get through them but…"
"I miss her so much. And I feel like loosing Sam and Phoebe at the same moment while they share a secret they don't want to tell us. Why did they run away? Are we that horrible?", Brooke was feeling so guilty and helpless.
"I really want Phoebe back as well and I know they are hiding something big. I can feel this."
Julian went through her hair and kissed her forehead, "I think we can only give them a bit more time."
"I don't want to give them more time. I want answers Julian. I want to help and…"
Sam knocked softly at the door and then sat down on the bed and looked at Julian and Brooke.
"Okay. I know you are worried sick. And you have every right to be. I really, really promise you to solve the problem…"
"What problem Sam? What is happening? We are the grown-ups. We can help you.", Brooke immediately answered, "You don't have to deal alone with anything. That's what we're her for Sam."
"I know. And I really love you both for that but right now I have to help Phoebe…", Sam hated herself that she spit out her name.
"Phoebe? Please don't do this to us. You can trust us. Is she in any trouble? You don't need to deal with it alone"
Sam knew she had to get Phoebe's trust and did not spill the whole truth, "Kind of. But I solve it. Just do me one favor? I know you are hurt that Phoebe still lives with the Scott. In some way it's my fault…" Julian wanted to interrupt her but Sam continued, "she is…um..kinda playing games with you. She really misses you but she wants to see that you miss her too."
Brooke looked shocked at her. "She knows that we miss her."
"Yeah. But you know…"
Julian took Brooke's and Sam's hand, "I understand that. We just pretend not to miss her Brooke."
Brooke looked shocked at Julian and Sam, "Are you insane? That's mean and I cannot pretend that."
"Brooke. I promise you that after Monday you'll get to know more."
"Since when have you two become friends?", Brooke asked astonished.
Brooke hit the pillow with her head a few times when Sam left the room, "I am going crazy Julian.", she screamed.
xxxxxxx
The next morning was horrible. The family dynamic with the Scotts and Bakers had changed totally. Brooke was so hurt by Sam and Phoebe and tried in vain not to scream at Sam. Julian was somewhere in between.
Haley tried to talk to Phoebe all the time but Phoebe always avoided the grown-ups and went to Jamie or Lisa.
"So how was school?", Brooke asked Sam when she came home after school. She wished that her little sister would be at her side as well. Sometimes it was weird that Phoebe was her little sister. She thought of her more as a daughter.
"Umm...it was okay, I guess. Well, for me.", Sam said and Julian and Brooke looked confused at her.
"Did you talk to Phoebe?", Julian was missing the little one very much.
"Um...kinda.", she lied. Of course Phoebe had been skipping school.
"And was she trying to kick your ass?", Brooke patted Sam's arm and laughed softly.
She really tried to understand Sam and Phoebe but at the moment she had no clue what was happening.
"Um...no"
"Sam, what is it that you aren't telling us?"
Sam looked away. She did not know what to do but the whole YouTube attention to Phoebe's video was getting bigger and bigger. She knew that Phoebe did not want them to know but Sam felt in between. She wanted to tell them everything but she knew she would hurt Phoebe in doing so, "Okay. Look. I promised not to tell anyone. So I won't. But I promise you I tell you in time."
It was then Haley called Brooke. Obviously Phoebe hid herself in the bathroom for hours. All of them immediately went to the car and drove to the Scotts.
xxxxxxx
to be continued soon...
Thanks for taking your time!
CaseyJr.