Hell To Pay

Knock Knock

"Who's that guy Sam?"
"Who?" After she knew that Chad knows about the breakup between her and Taylor, it becomes worse. "The pictures of you holding someone's hand. Who's that?" For this one, she can't risk Chris' name so she has to lie one more time. "No one. Just a random guy that I met at beach."
"Is it? So there's no someone else?"
"No. Just me."
"Okay. Next time this kind of things happened, you better be honest to me. I'm your brother for fuck sake. I always got your back."
"I will. I'm so..so sorry Chad. I really don't want to disappoint you. Especially when Taylor is your close friend."
"I know... It's gonna be awkward. But I'm sure it all fine. Anyway, where do you live by now? I mean if you need a place to..."
"No. That's fine. I got my own apartment downtown. And I love the place. Don't worry."
"Hey.. I'm sorry too. I wasn't there when you need me the most. I'm sure you're feeling lonely there."
"Yeah sure." She looks at Chris' happy face with Scrabble and thinking that there is no way she feels lonely with a friend as fun as Chris. "Bye Chad. We'll talk later." She hang up and then back to the game with him. "Chad knows now?" He looks at Sam, like he got some things from her conversation. "Yeah. He met Taylor there. I can no longer lie about it."
"Oh. And I hear you didn't mention my name. Because you told him about some random guy at beach."
"Yes... about that. I can let them know I went here with you. You know...things can get out of control."
"Agree...but... I feel bad, you know. That you have to lie again to protect me."
"No need to Chris. You're my friend and you helped me a lot as well. That what friends do."

••••••

"There's no one. It was a random guy at beach that she took pictures with." Chad says to both Taylor and Dave right after the call ended. "So she went there alone?" Dave wants to make sure he heard that right. "Yes."

"How's she?" Taylor can't imagine how sad Sam must be to go there alone. "She's probably kinda lonely. But she sounded strong, I'm sure she handles it very well."
"Oh. Good to hear then..." Chad notices on how Taylor looks down or away all the time. "You still care don't you?"
"Wha...."
"You. You still care about Sam. If you don't mind, why did you guys break up?"
"Umm... About it, I don't know if I can tell you that."
"That's okay if you don't want to. I get it. But I really hope we all still can be friends, you know... I mean Sam doesn't have much friends so it kinda sad to know she doesn't have her closest friend who is also her lover. Just like you."
"I hope for the same but... Maybe we can only hope."

••••••

"Wait, so you guys will having a tour next week... It means the 'making of' will be early on the same week. I almost forget."
"Yeah. So you didn't remember that all this time?"
"Yes. I mean, I really excited but not too excited because...you know why.." Chris smirks, knowing exactly what she talks about. "You'll be around Taylor for that shoot."
"Exactly."
"You'll be doing great."
"You think?"
"Absolutely! I'm here. I got your back, just like you got mine." Chris sneaks a piece into his ongoing word but Sam quickly catch what he's about to do. "I see that Shiflett! Don't try to cheat with me on Scrabble." He laughs. "Oh come on. I need some points."
"Not in this lifetime." She goes for her turn and yet get another high points.

••••••

"I can't call him." Nate says to Dave, looks frustrated. "Since 2 days ago?"
"Yeah. It's neither he didn't pick up, or he just nowhere to get the call."
"That's strange. I don't know anything about it. Chris is always contactable."
"I know. But not this time. You know we will shoot a video and have a tour later. But he's not around. Something is odd."
"What about his apartment?"
"Empty. He moved out."

Taylor is looking into his phone and then stands up. "I just remembered that I know his girlfriend's house. Maybe he's there all the time." Taylor then gives both Dave and Nate the address. "You're not going with us Taylor?" Nate see him not walking behind him or Dave. "No.. umm.. I think I want to call Sam.."
"Are you sure? You guys didn't even talk lately."
"That's the point. I really want to make a peace. I owe that for Chad, at least."
"Okay. I'll go with Nate. Take care." Dave gets his key and go with Nate. Leaving Taylor alone there. He then tries to call Sam. It's once to twice and on. But he doesn't get an answer. Not until the seventh time.

"What do you want?"
"Sam... Don't hang up. It's me."
"I know it's you. What do you want from me?"
"Nothing. I just want to be friends again. Nothing more." He could hear her sigh as he said that. "Sam?"
"I hope it was really that easy. But I can't tell anything right now. It's all cloudy."
"I get it. You can have much time as you please. I'm not gonna pushing you. You have every rights to clear your mind." 
"I appreciate that. And I will thankful if now you let me just enjoy my trip. Fair?"
"Yeah. Absolutely."

••••••

"He's not here. We broke up days ago. You don't know?" Helena is telling Dave everything from the short break to the real break up. It's all went bad so fast. "You have no idea where is he?"
"No. I mean, I know he moved to new apartment, but I don't know where it is."
"Yeah, we checked his old apartment and it's empty. It's just strange."
"I don't know that he didn't tell anything to anyone. I feel bad right now."
"No, no, it's not your fault. Maybe things just gone wrong and he needs space. We're just kinda worry about him."
"Yeah. Now, thinking about it... I kinda worry too."

••••••

"What did he say?" Chris won't stop trying to take Sam's phone as she get message from her brother. "Oh come on. You don't just jump into the bandwagon to match me into this new guy." She put her phone before he can reach it. "I'm not ready. I don't get why Chad want me to meet this guy so bad. Doesn't he know that I need the time of my life?"
"Nahh. Don't take it personally. Maybe he just wants you to go out more. See new people. He introduced you to him doesn't mean he tells you to date this guy, you know."
"No, you don't know my brother. When he acts like this, I'm pretty sure he wants me to date this guy. I know because he did the same with Taylor."
"Alright, alright. Rather than digging your own pain... Who's this guy's name again?" Chris now sit down and take a break.

"Such a complicated name." She open her phone again, but far enough from Chris to reach that. "It's Josh...Klinghoffer I guess."