ONE SUMMER [A Before You Exit Fanfiction] | ✓

Chapter 18

Sam's POV

I exit the office with swollen eyes. I've been crying but I can't let my friends know I'm crying. I don't want them to see me so vulnerable. I was a strong and cheerful girl in their eyes. They would never think I would actually cry. I don't want them to see me cry, not now, not ever.

I walked towards the direction of the lake. The best place I could at least let it all out. A place I could be alone and relax. No one goes there at all. It was only me and then my friends. And by now my team mates are at the mess hall enjoying their delicious food.

I took a seat on the bench not far from the lake water. I stared at the calm water while trying to formulate everything that Angie has told me. I looked up hoping that when I do it will make all my sorrow go away. But it didn't work. Then turned to look back to the calm water and tried my very best to get it out. But it failed me again.

Why could possibly help me get through this, knowing that I'm far from her?

"Sam, think of something that makes you happy." I said to myself. I thought of those things that made me happy. There are a lot of things that make me happy.

Sky. Alex. Connor. Riley. Toby. Braiden. Thomas. Matt. Dad. Nando's. And Mom. Mom makes me happy. She makes me happy all the time. Every minute of my life was spent with Mom. All the smiles and laughter I had before were shared with my beloved Mother.

I can't hold the tears back any longer, I lifted my foot on the bench, pulled my knees towards my chest, I let my head rest on my knees and just started crying. I never felt this sad in my whole entire life. I was never this sad when I found out my father has his own family. Not even the fact that his wife hates me a lot.

Uncontrollably sobbing and holding my legs really tight, I felt a cold hand touch my bare arm. I flinched at the cold hand's touch but didn't bother to look that person. I continued sobbing not thinking that this could be one of my friends. Once that thought hit me, I placed my legs down and wiped all those tears.

"Are you ok?" the person asked. I was looking down and my vision was still kind of blurry because of the tears to see to whom that voice is. "Are you crying?" that person might have noticed my tear stains.

"I'm ok. And I'm not crying." I faintly said.

"Don't you lie, Sam." The person uttered. "I know something is up."

"Well, you don't really have to ask that when you can obviously see that I'm not ok and I'm totally crying." I uttered. Knowing that my vision was getting clearer, I looked up and saw a blonde guy standing in front of me. His blue eyes were mesmerizing and I quite reminded me of my mom's blue ones.

"Sorry." He apologized. "What's the matter, Sam?"

Should I tell him? I don't know if he would understand. Maybe he would, since he knows that I really love my mum.

"What is it Sam? You could tell me." he stated. I kept my head down and I kept quite. I honestly don't want to tell him. "Or let me guess, it's about your mum."

My head shoot up to look at him. How did he know it's about my mum? Was he mind reader or something? That can't be possible, he can't read minds.

As if he could read my mind again, he spoke. "I saw you walk pass the mess hall and I noticed your eyes were red. I know you've been crying. I went to Ms. Angie's office and ask her what happened. She was debating whether to tell me or not, but I assure her I won't tell anyone about it. And I told her I could help you in any way." He explained. "So, she had no other choice but to tell me, since I wasn't leaving until she speaks. I never thought that would happen. I'm sorry about what happen." He took a seat beside me as he finished explaining.

"Don't be sorry Connor. It wasn't your fault."

He placed an arm around me and pulled me close to him. Feeling comfortable being near him, I placed my head on his shoulder as I stare at the lake.

"What could I do to make you feel better, even just for a short time?" he whispered to me.

"I don't know. All I wanted right now is to cry and cry until no tears are falling from my eyes."

"Just do that. I'll be here for you, Sam."

"Thanks, Connor." I whispered as my tears slowly fell down my cheeks.

"You know what?" I said. I pull away from his grip and stood in front of him. I wiped away the tears from my eyes. I tried to pull off a real and genuine smile, trying to cover up the sadness within me.

"What Sam?"

"Let's forget about everything and have fun." I uttered.

"You really wanna do that?" he questioned.

"To be honest, no." My so called real and genuine smile turned upside down. "I totally don't know what to do now that I don't have a mother." I sat down.

"Just look on the bright side, Sam. Your mum is now somewhere safe. No one will be giving any trouble or problem. She'll be happy up there."

"If she's happy up there, do you think I'm happy down here?"

"You could at least try. If your mum finds out that you are unhappy, I bet she'll also be unhappy. Just be happy."

"Ok fine."

"But at the moment, if you want to mourn, just do it." he said and everything around us was quite.

The tears - that I didn't know I was holding back until I notice it fall - fell down my cheeks. I stare blankly at the lake water. What am I gonna do after camp when I'll be back home and my mum isn't there to welcome me back home?

I'll never ever gonna see her again. She's gone. She's gone for good and she's never coming back.

Yes, my mum died, all of a sudden. She died of an accident not because she was in a severe illness. I know my mum by heart; she's really a healthy person. She never had any sickness, as far as I know. While I, on the other hand, is a sickly person; I could easily get sick. But right now it's not about me, it's about my mum. My mum was found died inside the car she was driving to the studio. She had 20 stub wounds all over her body. She had multiple stabs on her chest and abdomen. She wasn't able to survive the stabs because two stabs reached her heart and bore a hole in it.

Who could have done this to my mother?

Who could do a very horrible thing to her?

She was a really good person. She's so generous that sometimes she puts herself in danger. She likes giving food to street people, and sometimes she gets into trouble for doing such. As far as I know my mum doesn't have enemies. She's too kind to have one.

"Sam, just let it all out." Connor whispered to my ear and it gives me shivers. Something about this very moment makes me forget about what just happened.

"I can't believe this happened to her? I have no idea who could have done such an awful thing to my mum. She's one kind person; she doesn't deserve to be killed by some unknown person..." I went on and on. And Connor never bothered to stop me from murmuring. All he did was hold me tight near him.

As he holds me close, I can't help but feel comfortable and secure around his hold. It seems like he doesn't want to let me go. But I ain't complaining. As I said, I totally feel safe and secure.

"Thank you."

"For what?" he asked.

"For being here with me."

"No worries." He said. "We better get back to the cabin."

"Can we stay here longer? I don't want to go back yet."

"Ok. I'll be here with you." He said. Then it was silent again, except that I could hear myself sob.

I'm quite thankful to have Connor beside me while I go through this. I'm glad he is here.

[Update from 2018 Kelly: I have reorganized the chapters, meaning I'm making the part 1 and part 2, two completely different chapters. Don't be confused about it. It's the same content, just different chapter header. -Kelly]