Kidnapped by Of Mice & Men

Chapter 11: Aftermath

one year later

*Alan*

My phone rang as the guys and I were winding down after playing our set at Warped Tour. Beads of sweat dripped from the tips of my hair as I stared down at the I phone in my hands. I smiled at the caller ID.

"Hey, Morgan." I greeted my high school best friend.

Morgan Meyers was a diamond in the rough and one of the sweetest people I'd ever spoken to. She married her long time high school boyfriend, Ryan, and had planned to start a big family. Until her doctor discovered that she was infertile. Morgan and Ryan were crushed, being people who wanted nothing more than children and happiness. And it seemed as though most of their happiness would come from children. Things seemed so hopeless.

Or so we thought.

"Hey, Ash-butt." She said back. "How's Warped?"

I shook my head, smiling at the old nickname. "It's hot. Exhausting. But fucking great, as always." I heard her giggle from the other line. "How are you guys doing?"

"Ryan's doing pretty good. He just got a promotion so we're gonna take Sammie to dinner and tell her." She said.

"Any news on wether or not she can come this year?" I asked, sounding hopeful. I missed that kid like crazy and I only got to see her every few months.

"Alan, I'm not sure. Summer school's a huge priority right now, she's got a huge biology exam coming up, and I'm just not sure if we can swing it this year."

My heart fell a bit. "Shit. That sucks. How's she holding up?"

Morgan sighed. "It's a lot of pressure on her. I mean, she's a genius and I'm not worried about her GPA, but she just expects so much of herself and it hurts her sometimes, you know?"

"Yeah. I feel that." I bit a piece of a nail of my thumb. "Can you put her on the phone?"

"Just for a bit, okay?"Morgan said.

I put my hand over the speaker of the phone. "Guys! Get over here!" I called out. Everyone shuffled over, looking beaten down.

"What is it, dude?" Tino asked, rubbing his eyes.

I put the phone back up to my ear, just in time to hear one of my favorite voices in the world say, "Hello?" I put the phone on speaker.

"Hey, Sammie!" I said back, a broad smile on my face.

"Hey, Alan!" She said back, her voice cheery and upbeat.

"Sammie!" Austin yelled, sounding excited. "It's so great to hear your voice again, kiddo!"

"Hey, Austin!" She said back.

"Hey, kid!" Phil shouted from behind me. "I want you to tell me who this is without any help from anyone!"

"Hmm..." Sammie mumbled, pretending to be deep in thought. "It's obviously Tino." Phil's face fell as the rest of us choked down laughter. "I know it's you, Phil, calm your tits."

"Atta girl!" Phil chuckled.

"Sammie, we're super bummed we can't see you this year." Aaron moaned.

"Don't be so sure." She teased. I looked at the others in confusion.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

I heard laughing from the other line.

"Step outside."

The five of us bolted out the door as fast as we could.

And there she was, standing in the glow of the afternoon sun. She was bathed in the natural light and her mousy brown hair had a small halo of frizz around it. She had the very same smile I'd seen a year ago. Though this time it was all genuine.

I bolted over to her, taking her in my grasp. I used one arm to pull her close and the other one to stroke her hair back with my hand. I quickly got pushed to the side by Austin, who lifted Sammie off the ground in a hug and spin her in circles.

"You've grown so much!" Aaron laughed. "I mean, you're still short, but you know." Sammie rolled her eyes.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to see Morgan and Ryan, smiling at me.

"Hey, stranger." Morgan smiled as I gave her a friendly hug.

"Hey, Al." Greeted Ryan, wearing a big smile.

"I thought you were busy!" I exclaimed.

"Well, we just couldn't keep her away from you. She misses you guys, like, a lot." Morgan said, tucking strands of hair behind her ear.

"God, we miss her too." I laughed.

Ryan shook his head, staring at Sammie and the guys catching up. "Has it really been a year since all of this?"

I shrugged. "Doesn't seem like it."

Morgan held her hands in front of her, smiling shyly. "Alan, Sammie's been the biggest blessing to us. We were so worried once you told us her situation that she would be angry and hard to deal with, but she is the light of our lives."

I looked over at Sammie, smiling. I thought back to that day, all those years ago. How scared she was, how quiet. And how easily we could've lost her.

Morgan sighed happily. "I realize that this would be a very different day without you."

I shook my head and put my hands in my pockets. "I just wish I could've done more to help her."

Morgan put a hand on my shoulder. "Our family is a family, because of you, Alan."

I hugged Ryan and Morgan one last time before making my way back over to Sammie.

It was hard to believe that all of her relatives had refused to take her in. She was like the outcast of the family or something. Like she didn't really belong.

And though she wasn't Morgan's biological daughter, I knew that she was the perfect daughter for the two of them. The love they all had for each other was infinite. And the day she was no longer Sammie Solfronk, a name that weighed her down like a heavy weight, but instead Sammie Meyers, was one of the greatest miracles of life I've ever gotten to experience firsthand. Her burden was eased as she was welcomed with open arms.

And though I haven't gotten to see her as much as I would like, I know that we'd never really forget each other. Not a day goes by where Sammie doesn't cross my mind. Even still, I have dreams about those first few days of fear and survival. But I can rest easy, knowing she no longer has to live in fear.

Her eyes look up and meet mine, and I smile down at her.

"Hi, Sammie."

•••

And that's the end, folks!

Another story has come to an end. It's been a blast guys!

I want to thank you all for reading, voting, commenting and everything you did to make this story possible. I hope you guys have enjoyed this as much as I have.

The song I'm choosing to wrap this all up is Obstacles by Syd Matters. If you read my other story, You're Not Alone, you know about my recent obsession with this song.

Be sure to check out my other stories, You're Not Alone, Kidnapped by Pierce the Veil and I'll Be the Only Light. Why not drop a follow as well? I've got something in store for all of you Twenty One Pilots fans!

Thank you all for everything. It's been great.

-Gracie