What Could Go Wrong?

Chapter 16

Sammy's POV

For the past week, I've been trying to get Savannah to open up to me, but she won't budge. In fact, I've noticed that she's getting even more closed off. She hasn't hung out with us in weeks and Lucas doesn't seem to be getting anywhere with her either, which is weird because I'm pretty sure he knows more about her than any of the rest of us. Every day her long brown hair, that used to be really neatly kept, gets more scruffy and her eyes are always tinted pink, as if she's had no sleep at all. I know something's wrong, and it has to be quite unpleasant to make her like this.

I speed down the halls, working hard to get to my next class on time, when I find Savannah through the crowd of students, books in hand, advancing towards me whilst matching my pace. As I close in on her, I decide that today is when the answers come out, wether she likes it or not. She's my best friend and shouldn't be going through whatever this is alone. Once she's within arm's length, I grab her arm, gracefully catching her books after she looses grip on them, then pull her aside. I don't care if I'm late to class, this is too important.

"Ow, what the hell?" Savannah asks with a groan, obviously sleep-deprived. It startles me, hearing her talk like that, when normally that expletive would have an annoyed undertone and be a lot louder.

"Sav, you can't keep doing this. I know something is up and I can't stand seeing you like this. Please open up to me." I request sincerely. Her body stiffens.

"Sammy, I really can't." She avers. Her demanding voice breaking through the exhausted one surprises me once again.

I sigh, knowing that she'll stay firm on her stance, and ask, "Could you at least tell me why you can't tell me?"

She looks around with shifty eyes, making sure there isn't anyone around to hear. "Okay... But me even telling you this much will end up badly..." I listen closely, recognizing the only chance I might have at helping her.

"I heard something that I shouldn't have," She whispers, "and if I tell anyone about it... my sister will end up dead."

At first, I don't believe what she's saying, brushing it off as soon as it comes out, but once I look back at her serious face, I realize the severity of the situation. My expression soon matches hers as I tell her, "Sav, you need to let me help you. If we keep it hush-hush, that person won't have to find out and we can save Serena."

"There isn't anything to save Serena from. Yet. I've been racking my brain the past few weeks, trying to figure out how to handle this on my own, and that's how I'm going to do it. Alone." She emphasizes the last word, trying to get me to stop pushing her. I really don't like having to leave her alone with this, but it seems dangerous enough.

"Plus, I really don't need you getting hurt, too. I can't lose the people I love." And with that last remark, she grabs her textbooks out of my hands and speeds off down the empty hallway towards her next class. I'm left there, standing in her dust. I sigh as the bell rings, turning around and finding a guy I've never seen before with a cold look in his eyes. He runs off down the hall and out of my sight, but my gut feeling tells me to follow him. He doesn't look exactly like a good guy. I run to where he stood just 30 seconds ago and round the corner, but he seems to have disappeared down the now-empty hallway. It rubs me the wrong way, but I decide to brush it off and go to my next class.

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Sav's POV

I can't believe I told Sammy. I might not have told her everything, but I have no idea how far Andy's willing to go with her threat. I haven't told Serena about it either; she would pay the price no matter what I do.

I walk into band, nervous because I've been avoiding Lucas since last Thursday. I know he's going to want to talk, but it's so hard for me not to tell him anything. I can't risk that. Having already put together my saxophone, I sit in first chair as usual. I'm grateful to see that Kyle is here today to sit between Lucas and me, but feel a tap on my shoulder as I realize I've been staring off into space. The sudden contact makes me jump out of my skin, but when I look in that direction, my face transitions from one of annoyance to fear. Lucas. Of course.

"Hey Sav, you haven't been answering my texts or calls. Are you okay?" He asks with concern. But as I analyze his face, I almost slip and tell him everything. That's how it's been since we've been in a relationship, and I'm just so used to it. But I can't let my sister get hurt over one stupid force of habit. My eyes start to water, but I look away before tears can fall and blink them away.

"Yes. I'm fine." I force myself to respond.

"Savannah, you can't expect me to believe-"

"I said. I'm fine." I cut him off. I don't look at him again, but I can sense that he's taken back by my abrupt interruption. My chest physically hurts from my own words, but it'll have to subside for now.

"Baby, please talk to me." He tries one more time with a solemn voice. I admire his effort, but at the same time, it pisses me off. He's just making this harder and harder, causing the pain in my chest to augment dramatically. I squeeze my eyes shut, in both anger and agony, and turn my head slightly more away from him. I know it's okay to open my eyes again when I hear him sigh deeply and walk into the instrument room.

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That Thursday...

I had begged and pleaded with Serena to not make me go to the group meeting tonight and assured her that she probably shouldn't go either, but when I realized how suspicious that sounded, I backed off. Tonight, I had to go get groceries for the house, per Mom's orders, and I would go with Serena to the meeting afterwards.

I get back to the house with 6 paper bags full of food, but am surprised to see that Serena had already left. If she isn't here to drag me to the meeting, a piece of me feels like skipping out. But I know I need to go in order to protect her from whatever could possibly happen. I unload the food into the pantry, fridge, and freezer, then head out to my mom's car and drive towards that ominous building I've hated since the very first day I saw it.

Walking down the dim-lit hallway only gets more intimidating every time I have to make the walk through it. Somehow, though, the setting is even more dark and sinister than it usually is. Maybe it's my paranoia talking, but I could've sworn that the light in the room we always meet in is brighter than what's currently shining through the door frame that's only about 20 feet away from me. I slow my pace, wondering if this is actually a good idea. But the thought of my sister keeps coming to mind and I keep plowing forward. I almost round the corner to go into the room when I doubt myself once more.

But a familiar voice breaks through to my head. Of course she knew I came.

"Come on in, Savannah. I bet you'll like what you see."

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Sorry I haven't updated in a while, I've been focusing on my new book Stay Away which is currently uploaded! Go check it out if you haven't! I'd really appreciate it 😊