∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆Sammie's POV∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

Angela hit the ground hard, landing in a senseless heap. Sammie ran her side and fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face.

Oh god, oh god, oh god, she fucking knew this would happen!

"Angela!" Her voice shaky. Her arms reaching for her, but she stopped mid-air. Angela was face down, and almost looked like she just face planted on the ground. Almost. All she felt was fear to move Angela just in case Sammie hurt her more. Blood slowly escaped a cut on the side of her head. Pink goop! That should help, right?

She fumbled threw her pockets and brought it over to Angela. She wiped as much as she could on her cut. The cut was a big, at least to Sammie it was. How big was too big though?

Sammie started pacing, running her fingers threw her black wavy hair. Was Angela just unconscious?

She took a deep breath, started to called 911, but hung up. What would they say? What if it was obviously some wrong with her? What if cops figured she did it to Angela on purpose? What would Samuel think?

Sammie lowered her head. Wait... I'll call Tyler! Tyler is Alex and her neighbor. He's a doctor, and maybe he wouldn't ask to many questions about what happened.

She took one hand from the wound and fumbled for her phone. Freaking out though, she forgot Tyler's number. She started calling Alex instead.

"Yeah?" His voice quiet and deeper than usual. Was he sleeping? Past noon? Ugh, never mind that!

"Alex!" She cried, tried not to yell, but her panic was making her breathe kind of funny. "Angela's hurt! I can't believe- I mean I can't remember Tyler's number, so you got to- can you-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Alex interrupted. "Slow down, you're rambling. What happened?"

"I hit her, I hit her way too hard! I didn't mean to, I swear! S-she needs a doctor, and I dont have Tyler's number. I know he just got there when I left.."

"Okay," he said. "I'm out the door to get him! You want me to stay on with you?"

"No, please hurry."

She let the phone fall from between her ear and shoulder. She noticed the goop had dried up so she put more. Anything as long as she didn't feel useless. The goop on her hands started to clump and dry. Absentmindedly, she wiped it on her shirt. She was starting to feel her chest closing in.

She couldn't lose Angela now, after their parents have been gone. What would Sammie do without her? She couldn't live without her sister, that much she knew.

After the longest twenty minutes of her life, she heard running footsteps by the garage.

She felt very relieved when she saw Tyler running her way, his medic bag slung over one shoulder. Alex wasn't far behind him.

"Alright sweety," Tyler said softly, gently pushing her out of the way. "What is this?"

"Er- it's antibiotic cream. I didn't want her cut to get an infection."

He simply nodded. While he looked Angela over, Alex reached over touching Sammie's arm. She jumped at his touch.

"Hey," He whispered, "You okay?"

Sammie pulled her gaze away from Angela and Tyler. "I don't know how...It happened so fast."

"I know, I know. She'll be fine, relax."

She looked over to Tyler treating the cut on the side of Angela's head. She wiped her face, not caring about the goop on her hands. Who cares when her sister was still unconscious and hurt? Alex pulled her into a tight hug.

"I could have killed her!" she clung to him, her tears getting into his hoodie. Really, now brain? Now you make me feel worse? "Oh my god, I really could have killed her!"

Alex stroked her back, murmuring while she cried. "It's okay now," he said. "It's okay. He's gonna help her, okay? She'll be fine."

"What if she's not?" Why didn't she say she was sick? What kind of idiot knocks her sister unconscious? "I'm s-so stupid!"

"No, you're not," he said, his voice serious. His hazel eyes focused on her. All she felt was guilt. Just like every damn day since she went out that night with Samuel.

All she could think of was stupid things, like what if she stayed home and faked sick? What if she never meant Samuel? What if mommy and daddy were still alive? Suddenly, she realized.

"Oh, no," Sammie muttered, pulling away from Alex. "I'm g-getting your hoodie dirty from all the goop."

"I don't care about the stupid hoodie!" He pulled back, gripping her shoulders. His face was serious as he looked into her eyes. "I care about you Samantha! Alright, what happened?"

"We were sparring," she meekly said, her voice shaky. "I kicked too high."

"Wow," Alex said, sounding distracted. "And that?" He pointed at the torn up dummy by the yard wall.

"A few fridays ago," she hiccupped miserably.

After a long pause, he added, quietly, "And your arm?"

"I got careless," she lied, looking back to Angela. She should have known that he saw.

Alex frowned, but said nothing. Sammie shrugged. Guilt and fear turning into numbness. This was just too tiring to keep up much longer. Wait, where was Samuel? He popped up, made her lose focus, and left. The fuck was that about?

Alex hummed thoughtfully, hopefully not putting two and two together. She tried hard not to flinch at him humming. It was too much like Samuel. Too much like the monster that forced her to 'train' nightly.

"So," he said, "what about those late night jogs? What's all that about?"

"Nothing, just insomnia." She muttered.

He nodded, either believing it or unsure of how to call her out any more.

Not that she was lying. Not really. She really can't sleep at night knowing Samuel was willing to anything for her to keep quiet. Hurt her, or her loved ones.

"Well, if you need anyone to talk to-." Alex started but was cut off when Tyler touched Sammie's shoulder. She looked over to him, worry returning.

"The cut itself is not so bad and I can't seem to find any other cuts or anything broken," Tyler said, not unkindly. "Help me get her inside, so we can let her body lay evenly until she comes to. I've never been the strongest of guys."

Tyler flexes, though it's impressively for his thin frame, he isn't the buffest guy. He adjusts his glasses, and laughs. Sammie smiled at him. He seemed to want to take her mind off Angela, who was still out cold.

Careful to support her head, she helped Tyler carry her back into Angela's room. She was surprisingly heavy, but then again she was very tall. She wondered why Alex wasn't helping, but it seemed he was opening the doors for them. Once Angela was on the bed, Sammie backed up.

She could feel the Tyler's eyes watching her as she removed Angela's shoes then pull one of the blankets over her. She felt much calmer seeing her laying in bed. As if she was sleeping, not unconscious from a kick to the face.

"Thank you for coming so quickly," she said, looking at Tyler's face. He seemed unfazed by it all. "Anything we should do for her now?"

"She wasn't as bad as you think she was, but we won't find out the extent of what's wrong till she wakes up, and goes into the clinic." he said, his voice sounding very calm.

Sammie frowned. "Is there a chance she has a concussion?"

Tyler laughed, a throaty kind of laugh. Sammie found that she really liked it.

"Oh, she most likely fine," he said. "as long as she checks into the clinic as soon as possible," he added.

"Actually, what I'm curious about is," he said, he rubbed his fingers together then peered up at Sammie. "You said it a antibiotic cream, right? Do you remember where you bought it?"

Sammie was unable to met Tyler's eyes. "Um," she said. "I'm sorry, but I don't remember."

"That's all right, Sam." Tyler scratched his chin, his eyes looking over Angela. "I came across this stuff once before. Very helpful."

"Really? How cool," Sammie was already grateful to him for helping Angela, but now she was curious on where the goop came from. It's not like Samuel would ever tell her.

Tyler nodded. "It was out of the country though, so I'm not sure how you got some of it. It's very unusual. You sure you don't remember where you got it?"

She shook her head no. She really didn't know, so that wasn't a lie.

He shrugged, and gave her a knowing look. She gulped. Did he know-?

This was the part where he would started asking questions she couldn't answer, and she would have to deflect and lie. Just like the garbage person she has become.

Tyler sighed, and much to her surprise, turned away to line up some of the medicines and supplies from his bag.

"Well then, go wash up. You seem to have the antibiotic cream all over your arms, and shirt."

Sammie heard Alex rummaging through the kitchen cupboards. He gave her a weak smile when she walked into the kitchen.

"Hey, you know your way around this kitchen right? Where does she keep her coffee?"

"Cabinet on the right of the fridge," she said, turning on the tap and letting the water warm up.

"Thanks... Ah! There it is." he grabbed the tin and set it on the counter. He already had the kettle on; it was ticking softly on the burner as the water heated. "Mugs?"

Sammie held her hands under the warm water, hoping for the hardened goop to soften up. "Cupboard above the sink."

Alex nodded, he seemed to sense the fog her mind was in, and was sweet enough to not try to pull her out of it. He truly was a nice guy.

The goop came off eventually, even with soap. Her finger felt wrinkly. She wanted nothing more than to go home, and hide under her fluffy blanket. She looked out the kitchen window, seeing the training dummy. Is all I feel lately just guilt?

"Wait, what?" Alex laughed, looking at the coffee tin cover. "Premium? I wouldn't have pegged Angela for the coffee hipster type."

Sammie dried her hands and looked over at the coffee. "Maybe it's her girlfriend's coffee? I know that Melissa just loves herself some coffee every morning."

"Huh. Go figure," Alex fixed himself a cup. "Whoa, nice tea set. Aren't we a fancypant?" He glanced at Sammie, but didn't comment on the total lack of reaction.

He wrapped his left arm around Sammie, and handed her her cell phone.

"Thank you," she smiled at him.

The coffee helped, a little. Alex had put way too much sugar in it, but Sammie finished it off quickly. He always put too much sugar in everything.

The three of them sat around Angela's kitchen table, Alex and Tyler carrying on a light conversation, Sammie had her head laid on the table. She wanted to sleep for weeks but she had work tomorrow. Great.

"You should take her home," Tyler said quietly to Alex. "Make her rest."

Sammie raised her head up. This was the second time today people were talking about her, and she really didn't need that.

"I can stay here," she said. She didn't want to move until she could see that Angela was okay, and also could apologize to her.

"There's nothing more you can do here." Tyler calmly said, and took a swig from his mug, his wedding ring clicking against the ceramic. Sammie wondered why he even wore it if he was divorced.

"Trust me, she'll be embarrassed enough when she comes around without you here making sad eyes at her. You just leave it to me. It's not like I'm a stranger or whatever."

Oh, that's right they were highschool friend. Well as close as people with a year apart can be in highschool.

Alex stood up quickly, picking up his and Sammie's empty mugs, and carried them to the sink. "You heard the man. He's practically your guys cousin; he doesn't mind."

Tyler spoke clearly, even though he was drinking his coffee. "I don't mind. Besides, my cables off. Lucky me, I can watch my rom-com here," he said, chuckling.

"And," Tyler sighed. "I can get her to go to the clinic when she's awake."

There was no sense arguing with both of them. Sighing, she got up and walked to Alex.

After a yet another reassurance from Tyler, she let Alex take hold of her hand. Letting their fingers intertwine, she smiles softly.

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She barely remembered the ride back to their apartment, or the walk up the elevator.

She went to shower, letting the hot water relax her. Suddenly too hot, she scrambles to the side, and falling through the shower curtains. She lands naked out of the tub.

Sighing, she dries off and changes into her pajamas. Finally, she thinks, and collapses into her bed.

She let sleep take her, at least in her dreams she's safe.

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