Repercussions

Trauma

I have no doubt this prank wasn't staged and that Sam was in fact 100% victim to it. I accept it's a controversial topic and everyone has their own opinions. That's just mine.

This story wouldn't have been completed without @HoneymoonAlexandria ❤

Enjoy!

Sam cherished every moment with Colby, ever since the Sam Pepper prank. Initially, he would cancel plans if Colby opted out of joining, just to make sure he was close to the brunette. He had stopped doing that as soon as Colby started asking questions about it. Sam figured it wouldn't hurt to check in on his best friend whenever Colby went out, like with Brennen, via texts just to make sure the brunette was alright.

He tried not to make it blatantly obvious that he had been severely affected by that prank. From what he could tell, he was successful. It was obvious whenever Colby was concerned about someone, and Colby wasn't displaying those signs when it came to Sam.

That was exactly how Sam wanted it. He didn't want Colby to feel badly if he saw how traumatized Sam still was from the whole thing, even though quite some time has passed.

Sam had gotten a handle on the initial panic at the thought of Colby going out at night by himself, or if anything at all seemed to be about to happen to the younger male, whether that was during their exploration videos or pranks targeted at Colby.

He couldn't seem to prevent the immediate surge of anxiety or the adrenaline rush whenever Colby put himself in harm's way. Sometimes even the fake shouts of pain or fear got Sam's heart racing before he realized it was just Colby goofing off.

*.*.*

Sam was in the middle of editing a video when he heard a series of thuds tumble down the stairs. He disregarded it until he heard Colby's shouts shortly after.

Sam froze for a second before the sound of Katrina calling his name got him up and moving quickly from his room. Rushing down the stairs Sam worried about what he would see.

The sight of blood surrounding Colby's head on the floor and his best friend's still body had Sam's chest tighten and limbs began to shake.

"Colby! Oh my God!" Sam rushed to his side, but Katrina kept pulling him away.

Sam pushed her off him and returned to Colby's side, shaking him and calling out to him. When he saw Colby move a bit and heard him groan, Sam felt the tightness in his chest loosen just slightly. He ran upstairs to get his phone to call 911. When he got back to Colby's side, he told Katrina he was gonna call for an ambulance.

To Sam's shock, as soon as he said that, Colby looked over at him and grinned before getting up. Sam watched him, dumbfounded.

"Is...this was a prank?" Sam asked through suddenly numb lips. He still sat on his knees where Colby had just been laying. He looked down at the fake blood on the floor. He could hear Katrina and Colby laughing and talking but they sounded muffled and far away.

Sam stood, noting with minimal interest that Colby had a camera aimed on him and he was still speaking in that muffled, distant voice. Sam looked over at the front door before he walked towards it, grabbed his car keys and left the house.

He just shut his car door and got the car running when Katrina rushed over and opened the passenger door. Sam was still deaf to her words and ignored her as she sat down in the passenger seat and shut the door. Pulling out of the driveway, Sam drove, sitting quietly. The pounding of his heart throbbed in his ears, accompanied by the sound of Colby's shouts just moments ago, and the memory of the muffled crying Colby had done on the rooftop.