The Night We Met by Ruero

Chapter 23: Surprise

I couldn't breathe. Laurine's voice on the phone kept replaying in my head, panicked and shaky. She wasn't someone who got scared easily. So, if she sounded like that, something terrible had to have happened. My stomach twisted in knots as I ran, feet pounding against the pavement, my heart feeling like it was going to explode from my chest. What the hell had happened to Sam?

Every horrible possibility flashed through my mind. Was he hurt? Sick? Did he do something to himself? The wind whipped against my face, sharp and cold, but I barely felt it. I couldn't think straight—my brain was racing, running through every worst-case scenario. The last time I saw Sam, he seemed fine, right? But what if something changed? What if I wasn't paying enough attention?

Finally, I reached his house, gasping for breath, my legs burning. The door was unlocked. A wave of pure dread surged through me. Who leaves their door unlocked? Something was definitely wrong. My hands shook as I pushed the door open, my heart hammering so hard it made my head spin. Darkness swallowed me as I stepped inside.

"Sam? Laurine?" My voice came out strangled, barely above a whisper, but there was no response. Silence. It was so still, it felt like the walls themselves were holding their breath. I could hear my own breathing—shallow, rapid. My fingers fumbled against the wall, desperate to find the light switch. My hands were shaking so badly that I couldn't feel it at first. What if Sam was lying somewhere unconscious? Or worse...

When I finally found the switch, my thumb hovered over it for a split second, and I hesitated. I wasn't ready for whatever I was about to see. I wasn't ready for—

I flipped the switch.

"Surprise!"

A scream exploded in the room as lights burst on, nearly blinding me. I jumped so hard I smacked my shoulder against the doorframe. My mind went blank. All I saw were Laurine and Sam standing in the middle of the room with the dumbest grins on their faces, a massive gift box sitting in front of them. For a second, I couldn't even process what was happening. My chest was still heaving, trying to calm my racing heart, but my brain was scrambling to catch up.

"What the f—what the hell, guys?"

They casually strolled over to me like they hadn't just shaved ten years off my life. Sam had the nerve to laugh and ask, "Why do you look so scared?"

"Why do I look scared?!" My voice cracked as I practically yelled. "Laurine called me like she was about to cry! I thought you were dead or something!" My voice was still shaking, but they were both laughing like they had just pulled off the greatest prank in the world.

Laurine was still giggling. "It's so easy to trick you, that's so cute," she teased, lightly tapping my cheek like I was some kid.

"Shut up, you guys! It wasn't funny!" My anger flared, but mostly because I was still trying to slow down my heartbeat. They had really freaked me out.

"At least we know you still care about your friend," Sam added, nudging me playfully.

I couldn't help but punch him lightly in the stomach, still trying to catch my breath. "Of course, I care about you, idiot!"

Laurine handed me a glass of water, probably noticing how frazzled I still was. "Relax, Ethan. We're sorry. It was just a dumb joke."

I glared at them both, still not fully over it, but, as usual, their stupid smiles started to disarm me. I couldn't stay mad at them for long—annoyed, yes, but not mad.

"Okay, okay," I muttered, "What the hell is this?" I pointed toward the giant box sitting in the middle of the room. "And who's it for?"

Sam gave me that typical lopsided grin of his. "It's for you, dumbass. Don't you wanna open it?"