Sam P.O.V

I still cried and cried, feeling utterly terrible about just everything. It was like my whole world had just been turned over in an instant. Like everything I had ever known was gone.

Oh god damn it... I hated getting like this, getting stressed and upset. I liked to be the one to make people happy, to be able to comfort them in their time of need... But instead it was the other way around.

I felt my breathing get heavy, and it was then that I realized I was probably about to go into another panic attack. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to go to my happy place.

Taylor seemed to notice me tensing up, as I felt her arms wrap tighter around me.

"It's okay, Sam... I'm here. Just breathe..." She whispered reassuringly, and I tried to do exactly as she said while trying to focus on what I could sense around me.

I could hear Taylor's voice, her heartbeat and her breathing. I could feel her arms around me, parts of her long brown hair brushing up against my cheek, and I could feel the sheets on the matress that we were sitting on.

Opening my eyes, I finally started to calm as I focused on the things around me. Eventually, my breathing slowed and I wasn't so much of a sobbing mess anymore. I leaned away from Taylor, sitting on my knees on my bedroom floor as I sniffled and exhaled, once again using my sleeve to wipe away the tears.

"You okay...?" She murmured. I slowly nodded, taking out my phone.

"Yeah, sorry about that..." I replied, pausing to look at my face in the front camera of my phone. I laughed a little, seeing just how bad I looked with large amounts of mascara and eyeliner running down my face.

"God, I look like a clown!" I giggled, causing her to grin a little in response. Picking myself up off the floor, I put my phone away and headed to the bathroom.

"One sec, just gotta wash my face!" I called, stepping out of the room.

Reaching the bathroom, I turned on the hot sink tap and attempted to clean all the makeup off my face. When I had finally finished, you could just see my pale face. No black eyeliner around my green eyes. With all that crying, I looked terrible.

Turning the tap off, I went back to my room to find Taylor sort of spacing out. I cleared my throat, getting her attention and she turned to look at me, her eyes widening and her mouth hanging agape. I rose my eyebrows.

"What?"

"N-Nothing..." She stammered as I walked back over to my computer chair and sat down lazily.

"You just... Look pretty without makeup." She nervously admitted. "T-Though, not that you don't look good with makeup! I think you look really amazing!"

"Wow... Uh, thanks..." I managed a smile, before my face faded back to looking sullen and miserable as I glanced around my bedroom.

"I hope my mom is okay in hospital... I hate not having her at home." I sighed. Taylor said nothing. "I'm just... I'm worried something will happen to her... And then I'll be all alone..."

"...Hey, Sam... You won't be alone." Taylor said. "You'll have me... L-Like I have you. We'll have each other, basically..."

I smiled, reaching out my hand for hers. She hesitated, but then happily took it, holding on tightly as if our lives depended on it.

"Thank you, Taylor... You're such a good friend..."

"...And you are too, Sam...." She paused. "Though, Sam... Can I... Can I talk to you about something...?"

"Sure." I said. "What's up?"

"How do you see me...?" She questioned. I gave her a look of confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"Because of... Because of what happened... Am I just your best friend or...?"

Because of what happened...?

Oh, right. The kiss... How could I have forgotten? Well, I did have a lot on my mind and I hadn't really thought much of it for awhile. I let go of Taylor's hand, scratching the back of my head in thought.

"To tell the truth, Tay... I... I don't really know." I confessed.

I had never been into a girl before, neither had I ever kissed one until that day. And it was weird, because I didn't fight to end it. I let it continue, and the only reason I stopped it from happening was because I was scared of us being seen together.

I didn't want Taylor getting picked on more than she already does by that bitch Mackenzie, and I didn't fancy becoming known for it on my first few weeks of school - not that it's something to be ashamed of, but you know what people at school are like.

But did I like Taylor? I don't know... I mean, sure, she's pretty, a good friend, kind and caring... To tell the truth, I actually..  Wanted to like her. When she told me the truth, I wanted to like her in return... I guess that's why I kissed back...

"I understand if you just see me as your best friend, Sam... I mean, we've only known each other for a few weeks so it's not like I'd expect you to--"

"Taylor." I interrupted her, getting out my seat and putting my hands on her shoulders. I paused, staring into her eyes, seriously. She stared back, frowning.

"Yeah...?" She muttered.

I wanted to like her...

Leaning forward, I hesitantly put my lips close to hers. She froze, not moving. But, slowly, she moved her head forward, kissing me in return.

I pulled away for a moment, a small smile spreading across my face, as she also giggled. This time, without even hesitating, our lips brushed up against one another, moving together in a kiss. I closed my eyes, taking in the moment as Taylor's hand gently went around the back of my neck.

To my surprise, it didn't feel weird at all... Like, I wasn't weirded out and I wasn't uncomfortable with this scenario.

Bumping our foreheads together after pulling away, I grinned.

"Is that a good enough answer?"

"I guess so..." She blushed, bringing both her arms to hang over my shoulders. "Thank you so much, Sam... You have no idea how happy I am to have met someone like you..."

"And you too, Tay... I'm so happy I met you..."