The Old Song

Part XII

"Hey what are you doing in here?" Wally said looking at the curled up y/n sitting in the small storage closet.
"This is my hideout ya know."
"Yeah.."
He sat down across from her.
"Are you hiding from Susie?"
"Kinda.."
"Sammy?"
"I don't know.. I mean not really.. I know he's not mad at me or anything. He's been really busy and stressed lately and I don't wanna add to it.."
"Makes sense. You do know it's eight o'clock right?"
"Not exactly.. Is Sammy looking for me?"
"No. He's been in his office talking to Susie. Hell knows what they're talking 'bout but it's been a while. If I didn't know any better-" he stopped himself, realizing that he was talking to y/n.
"Anyways- how's you and Sammy doin'?"
"Not bad. I guess we both had a few insecurities, and last night we talked it over, and then.. some other things happened.."
Just thinking about the night before made her start to blush.
"That's good I guess. Sammy sure snagged a beauty. I wish I was as lucky. "
His complement made her smile, and he flicked his hat up and blushed a little in response.
"So how much of that cake did you eat the other day?"
"Wait what?! How'd you know about that?"
"You had icing all over your face. It was hilarious to be honest."
He started looking around nervously.
"Joey didn't see it did he?"
"Not that I know. Sammy did though. He was the one who pointed it out to me."
"Aw man. I was really hopin' no one noticed."
"Well the owner of the cake didn't notice."
"Who's was it?"
"I think it was Susie. She kept complaining that Allison took a slice of her expensive chocolate cake."
"Now I feel bad."
"You shouldn't. She deserved it. Sure it may be a bit harsh to say that, and chocolate is really expensive.. But she can be an annoying brat sometimes."
"True."
They both looked over when they heard the office door squeak open.
Y/n scooted back into the closet and against the wall, hoping not to be seen.
"Gosh, that Bertrum guy is more of an ass than I thought. Just make sure you warn y/n about him. I don't want him staring at her like he did to me. It's really creepy and unnerving."
"It should be fine. I've already informed her about him."
"Yeah. Well see ya tomorrow, Sammy."
"Night."
She walked right passed the closet, oblivious to y/n hiding inside.
"So that's where you were hiding."
"Oh, um, hi Sammy. How'd you know I was in here?"
"Well, while I was walking to my office and dealing with Susie's blabbing, I did a little search of every room. When I didn't see any sign of you anywhere else I guessed you might be in there, though I doubted it until now. Also it seemed a little weird that Wally was talking to the closet. " He said looking over at Wally.
"I presume it was you she got the idea of hiding in the closet from."
Wally scratched his head and laughed nervously. "Well, I mean no one thinks to check the closets. Just please don't tell Joey or I'm outta here!"
"I have a mind not to fire you myself."
"Sammy, there's no need for that. Wally does good at his job, when he feels like doin' it."
He rolled his eyes and held out his hand to help y/n to her feet.
"Come on, it's getting late." He was still holding her hand.
"Night Wally!" she said waving.
"See ya tomorrow, toots!"
After they had walked up the stairs, Sammy turned and whispered in her ear, "Well your standards have dropped dramatically."
"What are you talking about?"
"You and Wally, huh?" he said sarcastically.
"What no! I'm allowed to have friends ya know."
"I know, I'm just kidding. "
"I outta kick you for that."
Y/n thought for a moment.
"Well I could say your standards have dropped too."
"How so?"
"Well you and Susie aren't an ideal couple."
"Oh god no! I would never like that narcissistic moron! Plus why would I? I have the most beautiful girl in the world holding my hand right now. Sure she may be an idiot sometimes, but she's my little sheep."
"I hate you sometimes."
"Well that's not what you said last night."
"Asshole!" She said pulling her hand out of his and punching him. She then covered her face with her hands.
"We don't talk about what happened last night."
"Well if you enjoyed it, then we could do it again tonight if you want."
"No! Not happening!"
"That almost sounds like an insult."
"Sammyyy! You want my honest stand on that? I did enjoy last night, I would just rather not talk about it."
"Makes sense. Sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable.."
"It's fine.. And I would like to do it again sometime.."
His face turned slightly red, and he bit his lip thinking about seeing all of her again.
She grabbed his hand and held it tightly.
"Hey, y/n?"
"Hm?"
"Sorry if I start to act a bit defensive with you around other guys.. I just kinda feel like now that we did have sex means no one else is allowed to have you because your mine and only mine."
"I can understand that. Deep down I'm scared of you finding someone whose absolutely perfect and you'll love them more than me, and then you'll leave.."
She could feel his arms picking her up.
She buried her face in his chest, feeling tears threatening to come out.
He then kissed her forehead.
"I promise you, doing something like that, or even just seeing you cry, hurts me more than it would hurt you."
"Are you kidding? If you ever left me, I'd probably kill myself."
"please don't talk like that.." He said in a very quiet monotone voice.
"I couldn't live with myself if I ever hurt you. I still blame myself for that one time I slapped you.. It haunts the back of my mind anytime I don't have you in my arms."
"Please don't blame yourself, Sammy. It was an accident.. I'll love you no matter what you do."
He set her down, but they still walked home fingers intertwined.

✒️

"You sure about this Joey?"
"I assure you everything will be perfectly fine. There will be a few mistakes here and there, but love requires sacrifice."
Y/n looked around at her surroundings, her vision was slightly blurry, but the longer she stared, the more she could make out the faces of Joey and Bertrum.
She tried to speak but nothing could come out.
"So you just gonna run a few experiments on her? What a waste. She's absolutely beautiful, like an angel sent from above." He ran his fingers through her hair.
"I would have loved to make her an Alice, but she's not got the voice. Looks can only take you so far, Bertrum. She's just a simple pianist, easy to replace."
"Doesn't that Sammy Lawrence spend a lot of time with her? Surely he would notice her disappearance."
"Possibly. But like I said before, sacrifices must be made, and risks taken. Besides if he notices we can just 'fire' him. It'd be difficult to replace him but no one can get in my- I mean our way."
"I hope you know the anesthesia has worn off. She's awake."
"Good. We need her to be awake for this to work. Go ahead and put her in the machine."
She could feel and see Bertrum picking her up, but she couldn't move.
His grasp was cold and neglectful, nothing like Sammy's warm and loving embrace.
"W-w..here's S-am-mmy."
"Oh you'll see him sooner or later. Well, that depends if Joey knows what he's doing. What a waste of such a lovely face." He caressed her face but she turned away, hatred burning in her eyes.
"I w-want Sammy.."
"Ugh. You really are useless. I was going to spare you, but it appears your just a tasteless slug. What could you possibly see in him? He's a lowbrow music writer."
"At least he has a heart.."
He gasped and gave her a look of disgust.
"Have fun dying, rat. "
Fear shot through her heart. She tried to escape his grasp, but it was too late, for he dropped her into the inky abyss.
Once she hit the ink, she tried to swim up, but the ink was to thick for her to move.
"Is this really how I die?" was all y/n could think as she watched herself sink deeper into the darkness.
She could feel her soul get pulled out of her body as she struggled not to breathe, and felt her lungs gave out as she gasped for air, making the ink fill her empty lungs.
It was the most painful thing she ever felt, and the last thing she could do was think, "Sammy, I'm so sorry I never got to say goodbye."