Sugar and Alcohol *Solby

Chapter 7

SAM

I thudded down the stairs, hoping Colby could hear me. I found myself in the kitchen, glaring at the pristine white tablecloth and flowers with a burning anger. It was too calm in here, there was too much order for the house that was being torn apart. I yelled in frustration and grabbed the flower vase, storming towards the door. I threw it outside, watching it shatter.

I was the case now, finally cracking under the pressure and stress. The vase didn't deserve to be broken, but it had to be to finally realize that its house was crumbling around it. The flowers inside were no longer confined, they'd been robbed of their safe space. The clean water I'd put in was splattered across the pavement, no longer nourishing the plants and leaving them to wither and die.

I drooped looking at the scene, walking towards the flowers. They didn't deserve to be hurt. I picked them up out of the shards of porcelain, cradling them even as the sharp bits dug into my skin. I brought them inside, found a new vase in the cupboards, and placed them back on the table.

I ignored the pricks of pain as I grasped the doorknob, letting the glass drive seeping into my hands. I let myself enjoy it, knowing Colby was in worse pain. Pain that he didn't even realize was there.

I drove to the cafe. My shift was long, and I was unusually stoic and monotonous. Occasionally a customer would look at me a little offended at my inability to reciprocate their bubbly conversation, but I couldn't help it. The day seemed to drone on and on.

I threw away my gloves, dreading the thought of home. As I was exiting the cafe to drive home after my shift, someone called out behind me.

"Hey Sam, wait!"

I turned around, confused. Jess was getting up from her seat to walk over to me.

"Hey, Jess... what is it?" I asked, a little interested in why she would suddenly talk to me.

"You seem stressed. Are you alright?"

I was a little shocked that she had noticed, but also a little pleased that someone had. "I suppose so, depends on the definition of alright," I answered truthfully.

Her eyes traveled down to my hands, a small gasp escaping her. "What happened to your hands?"

I looked at them myself, suddenly noticing the mixture of fresh and dried blood clotted in the creases of my hands. "Long story."

She placed a careful hand on my shoulder. "Do you need to talk? I know I'm not necessarily your friend, but I doubt that I'm a stranger to you."

I glanced at her, suddenly calmed by her comforting dark blue gaze. I exhaled slowly. "Yeah, I guess I kinda need to let out some steam before I get home."

She gave me a half smile and we walked outside the cafe, sitting at a table.

"So, why do you care to talk to me today if all days?" I asked suddenly.

"I don't know, it just really looked like you needed a friend today. I guess I've always wanted the courage to actually say hi as well..." she trailed off, looking a little sheepish.

"Well, I didn't think I was that scary!" I chuckled.

"You're not, I'm just pretty shy. I'm kinda shocked that I'm talking to you right now."

"Well don't be nervous, I'm just another human."

"Okay," she grinned. She glanced at my hands again, her smile dropping a bit. "So... what happened."

I sighed. "It's my... boyfriend. Colby." I watched her face, waiting for the shock that was sure to come.

She blinked a little, raising her eyebrows a tad before nodding, urging me on.