Life Without You

15 - Sam

"And in the middle of my chaos there was you."

* * *

The car ride back to Sierra's house had been silent. Every once in a while I turned my head and glanced at her but she was always staring out the window, her body turned away from me. I was worried about Sierra. At the party when I saw her with that guy, Aaron, she was crying. I had never seen Sierra cry before but she was definitely crying then, with his hand wrapped around her wrist and his voice shouting in her ear. I can still hear him screaming at her to look at him. She looked so scared. Her face had gone pale and her legs were shaking underneath her.

    I pulled into her driveway and Sierra opened her car door before the car had even stopped. I got out too, following her up the steps to her front door. She pulled the key out from under the doormat before opening it. She walked in and even though she hadn't invited me I didn't hesitate to step inside. Sierra closed the door behind us, the same look of fear that she had at the party still lingered in her eyes. She took the key and locked the door, pulling the doorknob three times to make sure it was really locked before she shoved the key in her pocket.

Our eyes met for a moment and for a second we just stared at each other. Sierra bit down hard on her lip like she was thinking but then she shook her head and started to walk upstairs.

And I followed.

A part of me knew I should probably just leave her alone and go home but an even bigger part of me was telling me not to. I knew she wasn't okay. I could see it on her face and I knew I wouldn't be able to leave until I knew she was alright.

Sierra opened the door to the first bedroom at the top of the stairs and we both walked inside. Sierra's room was a mix of creams, grays, and pastel yellows, which didn't seem like her at all. Her bed was in the center of the room with two nightstands on either side of it. Across the room was a new looking dresser and a matching desk that hadn't looked like it had ever been used. The room reminded me of the kind of bedroom parents designed for their unborn baby. The room didn't even look like she lived in it. It didn't look like anyone lived in it. The only signs of life were the unmade bed and the open suitcase that sat on the floor.

"You haven't unpacked." I said, gesturing toward the suitcase.

Sierra shook her head but she didn't look at me when she did it instead her eyes darted to the window as if she expected someone to climb through it causing her body to visibly shake. I walked across the room and tugged on the window to make sure it was locked. I then pulled the gray curtains closed. "You should go to bed." I told her when I turned back around.

"My dad's not home."

"Where is he?"

She shrugged. "I don't know."

"Are you worried about him?"

She shook her head, no.

"Then why are you scared?" I asked as I took a step forward.

"Can you stay with me?" She ignored my question.

"Yeah, Sierra, of course." I watched as her shoulders relaxed. "Would you like me to sleep on the floor here or on the couch downstairs?" I watched as she bit down on her lip again as she thought. "I don't mind sleeping on the floor, Sierra." Again her eyes filled with relief and she nodded her agreement. She walked to her closet and pulled out two large comforters before she laid them on top of each other on the floor. I realized what she was doing and pulled one of the pillows off of her bed. Once my makeshift bed was made she climbed into her bed. I watched as she pulled the covers all the way up to her chin. I walked over and turned the light switch off and when it went dark Sierra's soft voice spoke out.

"Can you lock the door?"

"Sure." I switched the lock on the door before settling into the comforters on the floor.

"Sam?" Sierra whispered.

"Yeah."

"You'll keep me safe, right?"

"No matter what."

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