An Angel Straight from Hell

Chapter 10

For a few seconds right after he woke up, Sam did not remember any of the events from the previous day. Unfortunately, he had a bad habit of grabbing his phone from the bedside table first thing in the morning. Thirteen missed calls reminded him of the emotional roller coaster he had been on the previous night. He was now feeling something he could not explain with words. It was bad but nothing he had ever experienced before. It was not sadness or guilt or pity. It was not anger anymore either.

He had been to the hospital to make sure that she was okay but not because he cared about her. He was there because he believed that the fact that she was on that highway, which eventually led to the crash, was his fault and he couldn't live not knowing whether or not she had survived it. He had been to the hospital not because of her but because of him. His own selfishness had caused him nothing but headaches.

He got up and out of bed determined not to think of her ever again. If he intended not to commit, he had to learn to let go. He would get on that plane and leave everything that had happened in California, exactly where it belonged: in California.

Once at the airport, he realized he was already feeling better. That weird feeling in his chest was staying behind too.

"Hey Sam! Sammy!"

He heard a few people calling his name and saw a group of fans that had gathered near the departure gate. As he scanned the small crowd, he spotted someone waving a Solo cup. He decided to ignore it and keep on walking but Chloe quickly caught up to him and handed him the plastic cup. He noticed there was something written on it and took it. There was a huge 'sorry' right next to the red shape of her lips. He shook his head and gave it back.

"Come on! You can't just ignore me."

"I can." Sam was surprised at how loud his words had come out. Maybe he was a bit angry after all. He lowered his voice in an attempt to seem less angry and more indifferent, but also so the rest of the fans wouldn't listen. "Why do you even care? It's not like this was a love story or anything." He knew full well that there was not supposed to be love or anything remotely close to that between them but the fact that Chloe had been the one to say it had hurt him somewhat. It was selfish but he couldn't help it.

"It wasn't! You know that!"

"You're right. That's not even the point. The thing is you already got what you wanted so, why are you here?" What had started as a whisper ended up being a heated hiss.

For the first time since she had met Sam, Chloe felt a pinch of guilt.  She didn't know what to say but she couldn't just stay silent. That would mean admitting her mistake. "I.. I'm here as a... fan."

"Fine. Gimme." Sam extended his arm reaching for the cup.

Chloe gave it to him and smiled mischievously as she watched him scribbling something on it. When she got it back, she hurried to read what he had to tell her. Much to her surprise, there was a signature, just like the one every other fan at the airport was getting.

"Just an autograph?" she asked bitterly.

"Oh, you're right. I'm so sorry."

Sam took the Solo cup back in his hand. Chloe was confused but seeing him actually write something this time gave her hope. Once again, Sam gave her the cup, looked her in the eye and smiled warmly before disappearing through the gate. She did not know what he had written but it had to be something nice. She looked down with a smile of triumph, which vanished as soon as she read the words on the cup.

Thank you for recycling.

Sam was, beyond a shadow of a doubt, a man of his word.