How To Save a Life

Chapter 5

"Deanna." Sam shakes my shoulder and I roll over to face him.

"What?" I ask, my eyes sleepily closing without my control.

"Um you know Cassie is in the spare bedroom right?"

"Yeah duh. Look Sammy I'll explain but long story short, she's going to be here for a while okay?" He nods back at me and scurries out of the room.

I roll over again and end up falling asleep.

I wake up later, realizing I fell asleep in just underwear and a tank top, which is what I usually wear anyways, but I don't think I should wear that around the house with a guest. I throw on some gray joggers and a fluffy blanket. It's Saturday so I get to take control of the Netflix. I don't realize when Cas sits beside me until she wraps her pinky around mine.

I look up and smile warmly, still feeling tired. "Sleep okay?" I ask and return to scrolling through the movies and shows.

"Yeah pretty well, thank you. Words cannot describe how grateful I am."

"Really, that's not necessary. I would do anything for you, Cas." I gave a small smile and clicked the Xbox controller.

"Ooo! Let's watch Sherlock. I used to watch it." Cas stretches out her hand and taps the button for me.

We accidentally spend a long time watching S1.

"Now for the real question. Do you ship Johnlock?"

"Of course! Are you kidding me? They're in love no questions asked. Gay ships are yay ships!" I smile widely.

Cas rolls her eyes and smiles.

Sammy walks in and sits on the floor. "Are you two a couple yet?" He mumbles through a mouth full of Cheetos.

"Wait what?" I sputter. How does he know?

"You are acting different around each other than you were five days ago, De. I know you better than anyone." Sam grabs his DS and flips it open. I hear the Pokemon song drift out.

"I thought you were too old for Pokemon?" I smirk.

"Well uh... I don't want them to uh... Die." He stutters, folding it tightly in his arms.

"Um okay... How about you go check on Garth!" I suggest. That's a stray dog that we've hid in the shed. He's very sweet but dad would never approve of us having a dog. So after dinner, Sammy and I always clean off our scraps, throw them in a cooler and three times a day, we feed Garth. We usually sneak him out and play when Dad's away on a trip.

"Tv rots your brain anyways."

"Says the one who sat inside all day watching Sherlock with your girlfriend!" Sam teased and ran out the door.

"Who's Garth?" Cas asks, raising her eye brows.

"Our dog." I say and stand up, picking up old dishes and Sam's DS.

"OOOO! Can I go see it! I love animals." Cas' face lights up and she jumps off the couch, staring to follow Sam.

"Yeah I'm coming!" I set the stuff in the sink and run after her. Dad is away so Sam has the brown border collie casing an old tennis ball.

Garth ignores the ball and runs up to Cas, his tongue lolling to the side.

"Hey there." I hear her say in a high pitched voice. "You're such a cutie!"

"Yeah until he barks in the middle of the night!" I smile and kneel on the ground.

"How long have you had him?"

"A month right De?" Sam calls, jogging over. "He's only like 7 months old."

"Yeah Sam is right. He's still a puppy but pretty well behaved. He has toys in there and we let him out when Dad is gone or he starts barking. He whines when he needs to pee." I laugh, scruffing the fluffy dogs' ears.

I'm the next few weeks Dad didn't come home. I had to sit down with Sam and let him know that Dad might be gone for good this time. He just sits and looks back at me.

"We can leave this dump, Sammy, start new. I can ditch college and get a job." I tell him. Cas is sitting beside him, one hand touching his.

Sam nods. "Okay De... When are we leaving?"

"As soon as we can. We will take the money Dad left us for emergencies and get away."

"We'll take Garth right?" Sam sniffles.

"Yes of course Sammy. Come here." He hops off the bed and into my arms. I'm the closest he has to a parent right now and if I make him feel loved and wanted, my job is complete. I kiss his forehead, tears welling up. I just can't let anything happen to him.

"Go get your stuff together Sam." I squeeze him once more before sending him off.

"You have your bag packed already right?" Cas asks me. Her bag in sitting on our bed.

"Yeah.." Barely able to get the word out.

"Now you come here." Cas says and I fall into her arms, wrapping my arms around her waist.

"I- I jus-"

"Shhh you're okay. We are leaving soon come on." Cas takes my hand and kisses my lips. She carries both the duffle bags to the car and comes back in to help Sam finish packing.

I just sit in my room, looking around. My eyes rest on an old picture. It's color is faded and one of the corners is ripped.

I smile but a silent tear travels down my face. I pick up the picture, running my finger over a lady with blonde hair, my mom, and then my dad, before he went to alcohol as a solution to all his problems. There was a 2 month old Sammy and then me, three and a half at the time. I grasp the picture like its a life line.

Then I deal it into my pocket and walk to the Impala, ready to go.