Samantha Routledge is a fellow Pogue, and the younger sister of John B. Granted John B is only 10 months older; they are both the children of Big John Routledge but have different mothers. Sam's mother lives next door to Luke Maybank and JJ, so Sam...
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JJS POV
Something is wrong.
Something is really wrong. John B speeds along the roads towards Sam and mines street, but my attention doesn't leave the distressed girl in the front seat. She stays zoned out, trapped in her own head as she taps her foot anxiously. I want to wrap her in a hug and reassure her that everything is going to be okay, but I can't. Thankfully JB lays his hand on her knee, making her relax a little. As soon as we arrive out the front, Sam turns to face the group with a serious expression.
"Wait here, okay? Don't come inside, please." She desperately begs, the way her bottom lip slightly shakes shows us that she really doesn't want us inside. Sam turns and quickly jumps out of the van as we follow suit. The five of us wait outside as she disappears into the house.
My heart drops the second I hear her mothers screams and stuff smashing. I use all my strength to hold myself back from running inside after my girl. Turning my attention to her brother who's standing almost as tense and nervous as me. Pope and Kie stand in between John B and I as we all wait gut wrenchingly quiet.
I push off the van and start to storm towards the house the second I hear Sam scream. John B and Pope are quick to stop me. They hold me back from moving any further as I fight against their hold. The horrid noises don't stop coming from inside making me fight them harder.
"Move." I grit, as John B holds my collar. He stands tall in front of me, as a weak attempt to keep me away from Sam. "I can't believe you're the one stopping me right now. She needs someone to help her!" Shouting in his face as his jaw tightens.
"You know I want to help her more than anyone, but she doesn't want us in there. She wouldn't forgive us if we intervened with her and her mother." I know he's right, but I don't care, she doesn't deserve this. I push him off me making him slam harshly into Pope.
"JJ, her uncle is in there, he wouldn't let her get hurt. We should be here for her the way she wants us to be. She doesn't want us to see this part of her life and we have to respect that." Sam is in there right now dealing with stuff she should never have to deal with, and they want to just stand around and pretend it's not happening. I don't care if Sam would never forgive me, if it means she's safe.
Before I can fight against them Sam storms out of the house, her uncle close behind. She looks angry, her hands tremble in tight fist as she storms towards us and away from the house. The group stands there watching the scene between uncle and niece unfold in front of us.
"I have stuff to do. Look, it's not that hard, I've dealt with this before. That doors too heavy for her to break so all you have to do is stay here and slide a sandwich under the door later. She can drink out of the tap, and I'll be home tonight." Sam explains to her uncle as he stands there looking unpleased. She doesn't want to deal with it right now, she wants a distraction, and I would happily be that for her.
"Shouldn't we call an ambulance. She should be hospitalised." She laughs loudly at his words, but her voice breaks halfway through. My chest grips with pain as I watch her eyes swell with tears. I know she hates it when people see her sad, she thinks it makes her look weak. She is hating every second of this.
"I can't afford that. I'm already working two jobs to pay for bills and her meds. Which apparently, she wasn't even taking." Her strained and tired voice breaks as she screams in his face. "Please, just look after her for a couple hours and then I'll be back to take over."
When her uncle agrees to stay, she jumps into the car. The group and I stand outside the twinkie not knowing what to do. Our hesitant and uncomfortable behaviour just makes her more irritated. She huffs at our stupid looks before yelling at us.
"What?!" We all hope into the car at her annoyed scream, Pope and John B jumping into the front. We don't move our eyes all fall back onto her. I can't stop my emotions from coming to the surface when I see the bruises around her neck and the blood dripping from a fresh on her red cheek. I lean forward and lightly touch her purple bruises. I don't care what the other think about my attention towards her, I just want her to be okay.
"Sam, what happened?" My voice accidently breaks as I look over her injuries. Sammy looks me in the eyes lets out a quiet sob. A sound that instantly shatters my heart into a million pieces. I cup her face in my hands and look over her cuts as Kie comforts her silently.
"What did he mean by hospitalised? Is your mum injured?" Pope interrupts making me shoot him a glare. John B and I am the only ones who know about her mother's schizophrenia. Growing up next door we learnt everything about each other, especially our shit home lives.
"No, no. She is fine, Pope." I drop my hands from her face so she can look at him. She clears her throat nervously as her hand unknowingly grabs mine. I give it an encouraging squeeze as she goes to explain the nightmare that goes on in her house. "You know my mum can get violent when she drinks, right?" Pope doesn't have to answer before she goes to continue. "I can usually handle that, but it gets worse when she's manic."
"Manic?" It's Kies turn to question her. I continue to hold Sams hand, letting her know I'm here for her.
"My mother has schizophrenia. The meds normally work but when she stops taking them, she gets really paranoid, believes everyone is out to kill her." Her hand begins to shake in mine. "She is not a bad person, she's just really sick." She whispers, more to herself then us.
"I'm so sorry Sam, I had no idea." Kie wraps her in a hug making her let go of my hand. I instantly miss the feeling of her warm touch. The groups sombre mood remains as we watch the interaction between the two girls.
Sam doesn't want pity; she hates when people feel bad for her, and she does not want any of us to think of her differently. My suspension is confirmed when she brushes Kiaras arms off her and shrugs nonchalantly.
"It's not a big deal, don't smother me over it." She jokes wanting to move on, but it fails to lighten the mood. "Bro, it's character building, I wouldn't be this funny without the childhood trauma." Her words finally get a small laugh out of the group. "Plus, mummy and daddy issues make you better in bed." She sends a wink in Kies as her brother gags loudly.
"Gross." He says overdramatically acting as if her words caused him physical pain. If only he knew. Lets finally get this drone in the water, huh?" John B encourages as we drive away from the nightmare behind us. The rest of the group fall into conversation, too distracted to notice my hand into Sams.
Thank you so much for reading! Please vote if you enjoyed. Love you all <3
