The Missing Pieces

On The Road Again...Again

That's Sam, by the way.

Ily.

By the way, it's almost Christmas in the story, just to let y'all know.

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*Scott's POV*

Today's the day!

Mitch gets out, but I have to tell Sam goodbye.

I haven't told her that we're leaving yet.

Everyone comes to help Mitch and get everything back together for the bus, y'know...

Hospital festivities.

But I slip out for a moment to go see Sam.

I'm already struggling not to cry on the way up.

We've become so close now and I already have to leave her.

The elevator dings, signaling that I'm in the Pulmonary ward.

I step off of the elevator and find her room.

I take a deep breath before walking through the open door.

She's the only one there.

"Hey..." I say and she looks up from her phone.

"Hi Scott! What's up?" She says in her normal, cheery voice.

"Hey, Sam. Just came to talk." I say, smiling and sitting on her bed.

"What's up?" She says, sitting up.

"Um, well Mitch has been doing better and...we have to leave soon."

Her face falls. "Like, how soon?"

"Like, today..."

She looks down. "I'm gonna miss you...a lot."

"Me too..." I say and let a tear fall.

"Scott, are you...are you crying?"

I just nod. "Sam, you're one of the best persons I've ever met. You've made me happier. I'm gonna miss you a lot too."

"You...I really made you happier?" She says and I nod.

"Yeah...you've made me realize how grateful I need to be for my life. Your attitude is amazingly positive, despite how sick you are. I'm really gonna miss you."

She hugs me. "You've made me happier. I'm gonna miss you. You're like my big brother."

"That's a huge compliment." I say and she laughs. "I have an idea. Why don't we get each other's numbers and stuff so we can talk? I don't wanna just stop talking."

"Sure." She says and we switch phones.

I hand her her phone back. "Hey, when's your birthday? I wanna make sure to tell you happy birthday. And Merry Christmas."

"January 21st." She says and I write it down.

Kevin comes to the door. "Ready?"

I want to bust out crying right there.

"Bye, Sam. I love you so much and I'm gonna miss you. FaceTime me any time, okay?" I have tears on my face when I'm done.

"I will. I'll text you. Thanks for everything. Hopefully I'll see you soon at a concert." I say and kiss her on the forehead. I'm crying a lot by now.

Everyone says their goodbyes and we leave the hospital.

I'm still a mess when I get on the bus and we get situated.

We immediately put all of our stuff up and then just chill out.

It's almost 12:00, so we get some lunch before our all afternoon/overnight drive to some other place far away, apparently.

After lunch we decide to practice.

"Let's do a Christmas song!" Kirstie says and we decide on "Mary, Did You Know?"

It's coming to Mitch's high note and he looks at me nervously.

I give him a "You can do this!" look and he nods.

"...Is the Great I Am!"

He nails it.

I give him a thumbs up and we finish out the song.

"That was really good." Esther says.

"Thanks." I say.

We sing it again and then just hang out.

I get a text from Sam.

Sam: Hey! It's Sam. I miss you. Is Mitch still doing ok?

Scott: I miss you too :( Yeah Mitch is fine for now. How are you?

Sam: I'm ok. Doing chemo. Really sick. I have to go, but I'll text you later. Bye!

Scott: Bye! I'll sing to you later to make you feel better :)

I really miss her.

Like a lot.

I lay down in my bunk and decide to sleep for the overnight ride.

I put the little stuffed cat she gave me in my bed, so I won't be lonely.

Not that you can be lonely here, I mean, here's what's going on at the moment:

Mitch: "I'm hungry!"

Avi: "I wanted barbecue for lunch!"

Kevin: *From his bunk* "I'm sleeping guys be quiet!"

Kirstie: "I miss Olaf. And my boyfriend."

Mitch is probably saying something about a boyfriend.

Wait I'm his boyfriend lol.

So anyway, this is tour life.

I hope it never changes.

Except the hospital part.

I'm just glad that we're back on the road again.

Again.