∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆Sammie's POV∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

Sammie rolled over in Alex's bed, her head swimming. For as long as she could remember, Sammie was as healthy as Alex was not. Alex always had a weak immune system even as a child. She, on the other hand, almost never got sick. Even if she went out to catch frogs in the rain.

She couldn't manage this though. Her first-ever hangover was apparently making up for lost time (with her back injury acting as its eager accomplice), keeping her too nauseated to eat and in too much pain to focus on anything other than holding herself in whatever position hurt the least.

Wasn't it supposed to get better as the day went on? She felt worse.

How did Alex put up with it? Sammie supposed he was simply more accustomed to being ill; he made it look almost effortless.

If nothing else, she at least needed a bit more rest before nightfall. Alex kept all sorts of medicines in his room, but borrowing any of it felt inappropriate. Besides, knowing her luck she would take the wrong pill and make herself sicker. She'd have to go out and buy something for herself.

Misaburn wasn't the largest of towns; nevertheless the walk to the general store was entirely too long. All the way at the western side of town, it was the last building before the bridge leading into the forest road to Saint's Leina. Normally, Sammie wouldn't be so slow, but just maintaining the slow walking pace was difficult. Each step sent a bolt of pain up her spine.

She paused at the T-intersection near the huge apartment complex in the center of town. Felt like most of the town lived in there.

She stopped with the realization that she would have to pass the complex, where Martin and Ben live, to reach the store just the next few blocks over. The thought nearly sent her back home. Shaking her head at how ridiculous she was acting, she forced herself to keep moving.

A small eternity later, when she'd finally made it all the way down the road to her destination, Sammie faltered for a moment in front of the huge complex. Crossing her arms, she gazed up at the fourth-floor windows, wondering whether Alex had a room that looked out onto the road or one that faced back away.

...Not that he was the type to stare forlornly out of windows. Even if he were, she'd probably be the last person he'd want to see hanging around outside. With a small shake of her head, she continued on into the store.

The general store always smelled of fresh baked bread, and it was always kept toasty warm. Along with the soft lighting, it made for a cozy, calming atmosphere. The shopkeeper was doing something facing away from the door.

"Excuse me, miss?" Sammie said, she reached out to gently tap her shoulder.

"Oh, hiya!" She said, jumping at seeing Sammie. She had a smile plastered on her face.

"Sorry to startle you, miss." Sammie said.

The shopkeeper laughed, waving her off. "'Miss!' Well, bless your little heart!" She took a moment to fix her blue cap. "What can I get for you, sweetie?"

"Just pain reliever, if you have it." Sammie flinched at 'sweetie'.

"Sure do! Only five bucks." While the shopkeeper skimmed over the shelves behind her, Sammie set a few crumpled dollars on the counter. "I thought you looked a little pale. You sick?"

Sammie made a vague, affirmative sound, thankful that the lighting was dim enough to mask a lot of the scuffs on her face. After a brief search, the shopkeeper turned back to her and pressed a small bottle of pills into her hands.

"And remember," the shopkeeper said, writing out a receipt, "it works best if you drink a full glass of water with it." She smiled. "You probably know that, but then you buy medicine so rarely."

Her name tag said Emilia Locke, that was a lovely name. She must be related to Ben, Martin's husband.

"Thank you for the reminder." She pocketed the receipt and did her best to smile back despite her splitting headache.

The shopkeeper scooped the dollars into her lockbox. Her soft blue eyes then settled on Sammie's face.

"Poor thing," she said, looking at Sammie with motherly pity. "I guess even you must catch colds sometimes."

"I guess so," She said. No need to correct her. Her motherly look made Sammie's heart hurt. It's not something she was ever used to. She wondered what her own mother would have done if she was sick.

"Well, try your best to rest up."

Nodding, Sammie turned to leave. A cough from the shopkeeper made her pause.

"It's not my business, of course," Emilia said, looking at her, "but my brother was awfully concerned to see your boyfriend at the his place this morning. He is your boyfriend, right?" She fidgeted with the clutter on the sales counter. Sammie said nothing, just nodding along. She must mean Alex.

"He seemed real upset, and Ben found it odd that he was staying the night, considering you two live a few blocks down." She frowned. "Not to pry, but is everything alright? It's just that my brother worries about folks, you know, as if all their kids ain't enough. He's got to be everybody's momma."

Everything was not alright. Everything was about as far as possible from alright.

"Yes," Sammie lied. "We had a disagreement, that's all."

"Oh," the shopkeeper said, perking up. "Say no more! My hubby and I butt heads all the time, but it always blows over. Love always wins, ya know?" She smiled reassuringly. "Once he's cooled off I'm sure you two will patch things right up, and be right as rain. I mean you've been together since you were kids, even."

Stupid kids who thought they were destined to marry each other. Sammie knew better now, but she didn't need anyone else's concern.

"Thank you," She said, forcing a grin through every kind of pain. "I'm sure you're right."

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

It was late the next day when Alex finally returned home. Sammie heard the front door somehow over her headphones, but stayed at her desk.

Jack's let's play video of Until Dawn was more important at the moment. Not really, but still better than hurting herself to talk to him. She listened as he shuffled down the hallway and seemed to pause for a moment outside her bedroom. Sammie kept still and quiet, the moment passed, and he moved on to his own room, shutting the door behind him.

Throughout the evening the pair avoided each other, staying holed up in their respective bedrooms. She wanted to go to him, but she knew it would only hurt them both more in the end.

When the time came to leave, Sammie walked quietly into the living room. Alex wasn't there, she sighed. She grabbed her shoes, ready for the night of fun that awaited her.

"I kinda figured." Alex said, making her jump.

She looked up to see Alex leaned against the kitchen entry, watching her pull her shoes on. She looked back down, ignoring him was her best bet. It will only hurt more to try to be nice.

"I'm not going to waste my time trying to stop you," he said. "And I won't follow you."

"Thanks," Sammie said, trying not to sound too bitter. She failed.

Sighing, she looking up at him again. "I appreciate that, truly."

She hadn't expected him to give up so easily, despite everything that had transpired the other morning. Was he retreating from this one specific battle, or was he withdrawing entirely? And either way, should she feel relieved or worried?

She had no clue..

"Don't sneak out like that again." Alex's face was impossible to read, closed off and flat. "If you insist on doing this, you can be an adult about it and let me know where you're going and when you'll be back."

...And look Alex in the eye as she did so, presumably until her guilt caught up to her and she relented.

Either stopping or finally breaking down and telling him everything. Sammie frowned. That tactic wouldn't work, and it would only upset Alex more to have her breeze right past him every night.

Would he really just let her go? Did he assume she was hiding a boyfriend? How was she supposed to keep Alex safe from her own soul-draining melancholy and Samuel at the same time?!

"There's a clearing three miles to the northwest," Sammie said. "The teenagers haven't claimed it as their kick back spot yet. I'll be back no later than six."

Roughly half of that statement had been true. More than half, if she counted the 'north' minus the 'west'.

Alex gave her a long look. Sammie calmly held her gaze until, grudgingly, Alex nodded his acceptance.

Letting herself out into the night, she relaxed, scowling openly in self-disgust. She had to stay strong. There was no other way. Better that he was unhappy, so long as he was kept safe.

It was better to beg forgiveness than ask permission..

She didn't care if they were unhappy, as long as they stayed safely away..

It was pointless to play the hero if being the opposites reaped so much more rewards..

It bothered her how easily it had been for her to become the very person she'd normally hated in her stories. The ones that everyone wishes for their downfall.

And for the briefest moment, she didn't care about being the bad guy of her own story.

☆☆☆☆☆Sammie's POV☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

As much as Sammie hated to admit it, the nightly practices were helping. Samuel was a outstanding teacher, and being subjected to his training without any time to recover was taking a toll on her physically, especially since Samuel now only healed her with the pink goop on an as-needed basis. Magically, though, Sammie was slowly regaining control.

And she loved it.

Having an outlet for her energy was probably part of the explanation, but it was more than that. Constant use of her attacks without mishap was rebuilding her confidence. If anything, she was twitchier than ever, but the magic that roiled below the surface was easier to hold down.

Just as she'd become adept at spotting the slightest change in Samuel's moods, she was learning to recognize when her own emotional state was beginning to shift, giving her a chance to subdue her anxiety before it got the better of her.

The familiar feeling of self-mastery was coming back, at last. The confidence person she was, and had been since she was a small child was back. Sammie was back.

She had missed feeling like herself. She missed the carefree feeling of not having to worry about hurting anyone. Her relief at seeing some progress helped her through the long nights.

Samuel pushed her harder than ever, and Sammie threw her whole self into each new challenge. As long as she kept improving, nothing was beyond her endurance. She had never felt so amazing, so powerful.

So beautiful.

Even Samuel's tantrums held less horror now, and the off-putting conversations at the end of each night were more bearable. To be in control of her magic again was worth anything Samuel threw at her.

Without realizing it, she started to actually even looked forward to the training, though she'd never tell anyone that. Much less Samuel.

As they went on, that dizzy, stuttering feeling came back, sometimes more than once in a night. She would catch a side glance at Samuel, who would look like he was glowing grey. Though anytime she would focus it'd be gone. Every time she noticed that happening, she'd feel her magic more hollow. It was worrisome, but far from the most pressing issue in her mind. She shrugged it off. It wasn't important.

On the tenth night, Sammie finally made a breakthrough.

She jumped around as she squealed, excitedly. Running, she jumped and hugged Samuel. She suddenly stopped, fearful.

Instead of punishment for touching him without permission, he scooped her up bridal style in his arms. He spun around with her in his arms, his head thrown back. He was laughing, and it sounded so genuine that she laughed, too.

They- she finally did it!

☆☆☆☆☆☆Sammie's POV☆☆☆☆☆☆

She ran the whole way back to the apartment. She was tired and sore and elated. She felt so powerful, so damn majestic, and it was all thanks to Samuel!

Samuel was pleased with her, so much so that he'd been given the next few nights off as a reward. That on its own was nearly as exciting as what she'd just had been able to do. She had to show Alex.

"Alex!" She pounded on his bedroom door. "Alex, I can do it now! Get up!"

The sounds of shuffling and confused muttering filtered through the door. She didn't care, she was still hopping around.

"Sammie..?" There was a creak of the floorboards behind the door. "It's five in the morning."

"You might as well get up, then," Sammie laughed, her laughter sounded eerily similar to Samuel's. She shook that thought off.

She was practically bouncing off the walls, failing her attempt to keep still. Her face ached from grinning. "Come see what I can do! I can do it on purpose now!"

The door swung open, and Alex, in his pajama bottoms and hoodie, eyed her. He looked...good. She shook her head, still smiling.

"Do what on purpose?" He asked, yawning.

Sleep roughened his voice. He leaned against the door frame as though he might doze off again standing up. She felt so happy to see him.

Sammie smiled giddy, and fought the urge to shake him into full wakefulness. "Take a guess!"

After a moment, Alex straightened. "Wait," he said, eyes widening. "You mean you can-"

"Yes, yes!" Sammie said, too excited to let him finish. Grabbing his hand, she pulled him toward the livingroom. "Come and see it!"

Alex stumbled along in Sammie's wake for a few steps, then dug his heels in.

She stopped when he felt resistance, narrowly avoiding dragging him off his feet, despite the size difference. She looked back at him.

"What's the matter?" She asked, giddiness tainted with a now-familiar uneasy feeling.

They hadn't been getting along well since that all-nighter. Things had been...chilly. Their home was now a frozen land. Sammie spent most of her time struggling through mending dresses. Alex seemed to do not much of anything in particular, barely even going to work. She was grateful that he, at least, went to work.

She had apologized numerous times, but with nothing to back up the words, they were merely words. For the most part, they gave each other a wide berth, speaking little when their paths did cross. More correctly: Sammie spoke little, and Alex responded with stony silence.

In her excitement, Sammie had forgotten, slipping back into the habit of seeking encouragement and validation from the most reliable source she knew. Alex was eyed her still smiling face. Though she felt her smile wore thin.

She let his hand drop, ready for him to disappear back into his room, and leave her behind. She deserved as much.

"You sure you don't want to rest first?" He asked.

She blinked in surprise. Not what she expected.

For the first time in a week, Alex was looking at her without a trace of guardedness or disappointment in his expression. Just concern. "You're looking pretty rough, babe."

Babe. He called her babe again!

"Not important," Sammie said, shaking her head. Her soul lighter than it had been in what felt like forever. She tugged his hand insistently. Like a child dragging their mother to a toy they wanted.

With a doubting sigh, Alex started moving.

They went to the clearing Alex had shown her not too long ago. In one sense, it felt as though no time at all had passed since he had led her to this very spot; in another, it might as well have been years ago.

Directing Alex to stand next to her, just in case, she took a moment to calm the butterflies in her stomach. She'd made a huge leap tonight, but she still needed a lot more practice with this attack. Which she knew was next on Samuel's agenda. She couldn't wait.

Slow. Steady. She was in control.

Raising her hand, Sammie let her magic curl around her fingers, pulling it together into her palm. Making sure to grip it loosely, a focus point and a catalyst for what followed.

She was tired from the night's training session, but she turned her attention inward and gathered her will. She'd done this successfully now dozen times now, and each time it had taken more energy, more concentration. This time, for some reason, it felt almost natural. Silently, Sammie called out, not in rage or fear but, in calm invitation.

Stay with me..

Her magic drifted outward, a slow flame growing that felt gentle as a sigh now. Her sigh. She was momentarily aware of Alex's soul at her side, a bright spark at the back of her consciousness. She felt five other souls sing to her. They weren't so close to her, though.

As the huge bird took form above her, Sammie centered her thoughts on whispering internally, stay with me.

Who knew how much it could be directed this way, if it even could, but the action alone made her feel better, steadier.

"Whoa," Alex said, as the attack settled into existence. "Hi, Rosey." He didn't so much as flinch, but his voice wavered.

"I told you, I'm not calling it that." Sammie fought down a smile. Alex could call the magic whatever he wished if it meant they were on speaking terms again.

The green flaming bird looked over to him. Alex facepalmed. "It figures that you're the green guy."

Sammie giggled, as Rosey hung in the air, thrumming with potential. Twinkling out through sightless eye sockets, making it appear alert and alive. It really was her souls true form. It was her.

"So, this is what you've been doing at night?" Alex said, not fearful but far from enthusiastic.

She nodded. "Mostly," she said, still giddy.

That much was true. Samuel had become obsessed with the thought of magic animals at first sight, and made it clear that neither of them would rest until she mastered it.

Alex played with the strings of his hoodie. "You figured it out pretty fast," he said, quietly. "Guess you didn't even need my help."

"That's not true," Sammie said. "I can summon it and keep it from attacking until I want it to, but that's about the extent of it. And I just got a handle on that a few hours ago."

If anything, the progress she had made gave her a better appreciation of Alex's control of his own magic. He could do more while stumbling drunk and half asleep than she could do sober and with undivided attention. It was enviable, given that she was still making up lost ground with her magic.

Alex must have practiced daily. Even then. Wait, di-did he know Samuel?

Alex shrugged. "That's the most important thing," he said. "Can you make it move at all?"

"A little. Just enough to aim it." She focused on a treetop some forty yards away, it took a while though.

Alex grunted in acknowledgment. "Good."

Sammie looked down at him. This was the most they had said to each other, the longest they'd even been in one another's presence, in a week. "Are you...are you still angry with me?"

It was a stupid question. She was a stupid person, after all. Samuel told her that often. If the grimace pulling at his mouth was any indication, Alex agreed with Samuel. She really was stupid.

"What do you think?" He snorted.

Another useless apology was caught behind her teeth. She swallowed it back down. It was pointless.

"How many times have you summoned that thing tonight?" Alex asked, after a long, icy silence.

Rosey was almost a comfort, something else for her to pin her attention on.

"This makes seven," she muttered. The previous six times, she'd sent it to attack. It was a wonder she could still muster up any attacks at all.

Princess Aurora had the right idea, she could sleep for a hundred years after this. Screw the prince that woke her up, she'd slug him if he tried. Alex crossed his arms, frowning.

"You should probably scatter it, then. Especially," he said, "if you're going to bring this up again. You're already getting distracted."

"Oh," She said, wilting. What he was saying was perfectly sensible, of course. Ros-Er the attack was dangerous.

She looked up at it, a lump rising in her throat. With a flick of her wrist, she tore it up. Spent magic drifted down like snow.

She always loved snow..

Alex started walking back to home.

"I was hoping," Sammie blurted out, watching with her heart in her mouth as he paused. "I was hoping..."

Hope was already fading as Alex turned to face her again, his hazel eyes even colder than his magic.

She couldn't finish what she wanted to say. But she had to try..

"What?" Alex jammed his hands in his pockets. "You don't have to worry about Rosey popping up when you don't want it to. Good job."

He shrugged, as though he couldn't possibly have anything more to say. She felt her heart sinking.

"I was hoping," she started again, feeling stuck, "that maybe you could, um... That you could help me, like you offered earlier."

The idea seemed so stupid now, but it was already out there. As if Alex would still want to help her with anything. Stupid. Samuel was right, she truly is an idiot.

Instead of getting angry or even laughing at her like Sammie half-expected, Alex just stared at her.

"And what happens if I do that?" he said, his eyes still cold.

That wasn't any of the responses Sammie had braced for. "W-what? I...What do you mean?"

"If I agree to work with you on the whole magic deal," he said, "what happens? We just go back to the act? Pretend everything's alright?"

He searched Sammie's face for something she knew he wouldn't find. Whatever happiness she felt this morning was long gone.

She should have just gone to Angela's to watch movies.

She should have chatted up Melissa.

She should have hung out with Ross.

She should have gone on a date with her laptop, watching her favorite let's players.

....But she missed Alex.

Sammie stared back for as long as she could. Stupid. Why had she thought- Why? She sighed and wrapped her arms around her chest. She flinched when Alex finally spoke again.

"Hey, you know that thing where I 'help' pull you to your feet, but you're just standing up on your own? You know, because I'm not actually strong enough?"

She looked up suddenly, her tears threatening to fall down her face. "Yes."

"When did we start doing that?" Alex asked. He had a tightness at the corners of his mouth now. "Was that one of my things, or was it something you came up with? And which one of us was being played?"

Thinking back, Sammie found that she couldn't recall when or how that little ritual had started. It was just something they did now and again. They'd done it since they were kids. Since forever ago. Those memories felt so long ago. Alex was always so frail. She shook his head.

"I don't know," she said, her voice cracking like her heart. It's her own damn fault. "Maybe we both were."

"Heh," Alex chuckled. "Yeah, maybe we were."

The stiff smile flattened out and drooped. She felt like a tiny bug. Was he saying their friendship was based of nothing?

"Samantha," he said, "have we just been humoring each other all this time?"

"I don't know what you...?" She shook her head again, swallowing around the lump in her throat and dread weighing on her chest. "What do you mean?"

What did that mean? No, of course not.

Alex dropped his gaze to his feet. She wanted to hug him, but didn't. How is it she hugged Samuel more recently than she has Alex?

She didn't take a single step closer, as much as she wished to close the distance between them. How could she try to offer comfort when she was the reason he even looked that way to begin with? She had no right.

"I mean, it's... Whatever. Yeah, I'd love to 'help,'" he said, twitching air quotes with his fingers. "I get to feel like I'm doing something as long as I don't ask the wrong questions, right? Let's throw poor ol' Alex a bone." he laughed, a short huff of cold air.

"I just," Sammie said, cringing on how desperate her voice sounded. "I just miss you, that's all."

Alex turned away from her, she felt her soul shatter, it was all her fault. Pressing one hand to his eyes, Alex sighed, tense and shallow.

"God help me," he said, turning back to her. Tears escaped from under his hand, tracing the contour of his cheekbone. "I can't keep going like this. I can't. I can't do it. Just..." He lowered his hand, giving Sammie a bleak grin. "Stop fucking with me, will ya?"

This time when Alex turned to go, she didn't try to stop him. She wanted to. She wanted to give him a hug. She wanted to ask to be read to. She wanted to promise to stay home at night, and then keep that promise. But it was already too late for that.

It was too late.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Several long, silent days later, Sammie put the finishing touches on the dresses.

A beep woke her from her thought. Melissa?

Hey! I got Angela's report but I'm working late -_-
Maybe you can take it to her for me?
('-')/

She texted back that she would. It'd be nice to see Angela. After that, she can take the dresses to Miss Soya.

The walk to the clinic where Melissa worked was long since she worked on the other side of the town. The walk would do here well though. It was early morning now, but she doubted she'd be home before nightfall.

Sammie had always disliked hospitals. Even this clinic was freezing, as usual. It felt even colder with the quietness that filled it. The guy at the counter buzzed for 'Dr. Turner'. They still waited for ten minutes. The cold it was sapping her patience.

Sammie always wondered why this clinic was named after Eleni, the girl of the black fire. Unless she was missing something. She wanted to ask Melissa but she didn't wanna be rude.

Maybe she could ask Alex about it later.

...Oh.

...Or not.

The guy tried the intercom again. "Dr. Turner?"

"I'm coming!" Melissa hurried over from down the hall.

"Is this a bad time? I'm not interrupting you, am I?" Sammie asked, Melissa may well have been doing some important doctor things when Sammie had shown up to spoil her concentration.

"Not at all! Sorry, um... Here, let me just get them for you. There on my cars trunk." Melissa lead the way to her car outside. She popped the truck and looked for the files. Her trunk was full of Gothic magazines, manga and a stuffed pink bear.

"Darn-it, I know I set it down right here! Sorry," she said. "It's in here somewhere."

Sammie shifted her weight from foot to foot, eager to be on her way but not wanting to seem rude "Would you like me to help you look?"

She fakes a smile for Melissa. Its sad that she has gotten so good at doing it.

"No, you don't have to do that," Melissa said. "It'll be just a second." A manga with the name Ouran Host Club fell out. "So, how have you been?"

"Fine," Sammie said. She wanted to chat and yet, didn't want to chat. She picked up the manga, and put in in the trunk.

Melissa paused, turning to give her a once-over with her eyes. "That's good," she said. "I was just wondering since you look scratched up."

Sammie sighed. "I know, and before you freak out. It was an accident."

"If you want, I'd be happy to run some diagnostics for you. Would you like to?" Melissa gave Sammie her dazzling smile.

Sammie shook her head. "It's fine. I slipped on a rough patch during a jog, nothing exciting."

Melissa stopped her search, and actually glared at her. "That's not very convincing, you know."

Sammie almost took a step back. She hadn't been expecting that. Admittedly, she didn't know Melissa all that well yet, but so far she'd only expressed real opinions when it came to the movies she watched. Everything else she'd seemed content to go along with. A side effect of her niceness that Sammie had been taking advantage of.

"That's what happened," she said, shrugging. "That...issue is a lot better now, anyway. I'm fine."

As a doctor, it was only fitting that Melissa was really good at looking skeptical.

"Really?" she said, peering over the top of her glasses at his face. "What caused your condition to improve?"

"...Practice?" She smiled. "Angela always said practice makes perfect."

It wasn't a lie. Not really.

Melissa rubbed her chin. Her doctor side was showing.

"Angela said that when she was at your house, you and your roommate Alex were being very evasive about your injuries." She frowned. "It's really been bothering her, and me, too."

Angela and Melissa were both better to her than she deserved. Feeling queasy, Sammie laid a hand over her stomach. "Well, you don't have to worry anymore, its alright now"

With a hesitant nod, Melissa returned to her search, picking up a box of shoes. It looks like she found it. "So, you won't be hurt every time we see you from now on, right?"

Sammie let out a weak chuckle. Anything else was too much for her to muster up.

"Er, no promises! I'm a little clumsy," Sammie said shrugging.

She jumped when Melissa's slammed the trunk shut, much harder than she should have.

"No," Melissa shouted. "I know clumsy. You're not clumsy, in fact you're very graceful."

Sammie looked away. "Graceful?"

"It's something that you and Ang have in common, among other traits." Melissa turned to Sammie, pulling the stack of files to her own chest. "I assume it's the training on Fridays, which I know aren't happening anymore."

Sammie eyed the files. She needed to leave, before this conversation went even more wrong. Sammie reached for the files. Only to find that Melissa wasn't letting go.

"Mel?" Sammie questioned, giving the files a gentle tug. Melissa only gripped tighter. "Thank you, but I really do need to go."

"I don't have a lot of friends," Melissa said, looking down.

"I'm sorry?" Sammie honestly didn't know how to properly respond to that. She stopped pulling.

"I'm wasn't born here like everyone else. I'm not easy to like, I don't even like me very much. But you're always so nice to me," Melissa said, looking straight into Sammie's eyes. "You put up with me rambling about shows, and you'll even agree with me about stuff you probably don't know or care about, just to make me happy."

What was she saying? Sammie couldn't imagine why such a brilliant, successful doctor would think about herself that way.

"I'm not just putting up with you," Sammie said, relaxing her hold on the files. "We're friends. I like you."

"I know." Melissa's shoulders slumped. "I don't know why you like me. You don't have to just because I'm with your sister."

Sammie glared. Despite all of her own problems, this was simply unacceptable. She refused to let her feel this way about herself.

"Because you're great!" Sammie snapped. How dare she think otherwise! "You're smart, nice, and you're a strange in the best possible way."

Melissa's shoulders dipped even lower at that, for some reason. But Sammie continued. "And you're always there when I need to talk, even in the middle of the night. Why wouldn't I like you? Who wouldn't like a friend like you?"

Sammie let go of the binder entirely, and Melissa clutched it close to her chest, shielding herself.

"I'm not a good person," Melissa said, eyes downcast. She tensed her hands, raking her black nails over the plastic of the binder. "Most people only talk to me when they need something, and I don't really blame them. But," she said, "if I have Angela, and you as a friend, then I'll be okay."

Oh, it was too early in the day to be crying. She cleared her throat, aware that she looked very uncool at the moment.

"If there's, uh, anything I can do. Anything. Even if you just need to talk" Melissa shifted her weight to the other foot. "Or if you need me to keep a secret? I'm really good at keeping secrets, even bad ones."

Melissa smiled, and it was such a sad, sad smile. A smile that hit Sammie deep, but had no time to get emotional like this. Sammie wiped at her eyes.

"That's very kind of you. Now," Sammie said, quietly. "I really should be on my way." She held out her hand for the files.

Instead of handing it over, Melissa set the files down on the truck of her car. Her green eyes focused on Sammie's.

"Listen," Melissa said. "Can I ask you something? I promise I won't tell anyone else."

No.

"That depends on the question," Sammie found herself saying, to her disbelief. She ought to just reach out, pick up the files, and excuse herself. That was what she ought to do.

She wasn't doing it.

"Don't be mad at me, please," Melissa seriously said. "But when you get hurt, are those all really accidents, or is someone else doing this to you?"

The instant the question was spoken, Melissa closed her eyes. She stood there, breath held, waiting for an answer. Or maybe she was waiting for Sammie to yell at her.

Sammie held her breath too. The world seemed frozen in place, one endless second trailing her question. She couldn't answer that. She ought to put up a fuss, take offense, make her regret asking and make sure she never asked again. Melissa was so kind to her; Sammie couldn't be selfish and put the both of them at risk. She couldn't answer.

Melissa looked up at her, chewing her lip and radiating anxiety.

She wanted to answer.

God, everything hurt. Sammie dried her eyes, her gaze darting around at the car ports walls that felt so much closer now despite how large and airy the room was.

Sammie snatched up Melissa's hands in her, making Melissa flinch back.

"Can I trust you?" Samme squeezed her hands to stop her own from trembling, searching her face for any sign of uncertainty.

"Can I trust you with this?"

What was she doing? What was she doing?! Better keep your mouth shut.

Melissa hesitated, seriously considering the question. Sammie needed to be sure.

"Yes," Melissa said, nodding. She swallowed, and gripped Sammie's hands, squeezing back. "You can trust me."

This was a terrible idea. This was practically a murder-suicide. But Melissa was smart, and she'd put it together on her own regardless. And she was so tired. So alone.

Sammie spoke, just above a whisper, hating herself for how selfish and weak she was being. All this effort to keep them safe wasted.

"Ask me again." Sammie whispered.

Melissa blinked, and without seeming to notice she was doing it, lowered her voice to match Sammie's own.

"Samantha, is someone doing this to you?"

Sammie was all alone, and she was so damned sick of it. She took a deep breath, steadying herself, ignoring the inner voice screaming at her to stop, to do the right thing. Slowly, she nodded.

Melissa gasped quietly. Pulling one hand free, she covered her mouth. Sammie tightened her hold on her other hand. Tears fell down Melissa's face.

"Don't cry," Sammie whispered, tilting her head.

"I'm sorry." Melissa dabbed at the tears with the sleeve of her coat. "Who is it?"

Sammie shook her head. "I really, really can't tell you. Don't ever ask me that, and don't try to find out. I'm serious."

"I don't understand."

"Please," Sammie hissed, stepping in closer. "I already regret this."

Now that the temporary insanity was lifting, she was sickened by what she'd just done. How could she do this? Selfish. Stupid.

"Don't tell anyone else. Not anyone. Don't talk about it, even to yourself, and don't write anything down."

Melissa's eyes go wide. "I want to help," she said, sniffling. "There must be something I can-"

"You already help me so much," Sammie said, cutting her off. "Just by talking to me. Please believe that."

Melissa's eyes teared up again. She nodded as if she knew how that felt. To have no one to talk to.

"I know I'm asking a lot, but I need you to keep this secret. I can't tell you why. Please, trust me that it's important." Sammie may have just doomed her; there was no way to take back what she had just shared.

Still sniffling, Melissa nodded. "I w-won't tell anyone," she said. "I swear."

Sammie let go of her hand, and she moved to retrieve the files. "Thank you," she said, pushing as much sincerity into the words as she could.

"You're welcome." Melissa grinned, though she still had a solemn expression on her face. "Thank you for trusting me."

Sammie went out of the indoor car port and walked off to Angela's. She was glad no one was on the street as she wiped her tears away.

Could Melissa really keep the secret?