And So It Goes... - Act Two // Book Two

Chapter Nine

Samantha just about slammed Mia's doors off her hinges as she flew into the apartment and made a beeline for her bedroom.  Mia looked up from her crossword puzzle, a look of complete bewilderment on her face, as she watched her best friend frantically run through the room with tears streaming down her face.

Mia scrambled up from the couch, kicking the blanket off her feet, she chased after Samantha.  Mia reached out to stop Samantha's bedroom door from closing.  Her eyes widened when she saw Samantha sitting on her bed, head in her hands, as she sobbed,

"What the hell...are you alright?"

Samantha didn't answer, just sobbed as her head shook back and forth slowly.  Mia took another step into the room.  Samantha had left for Gwen's birthday party a little under an hour ago and while she'd explained to Mia there was a possibility of a run-in with Harry, this seemed like hardly the reaction Mia expected.

"What happened?"  She asked.

Samantha took her hands away from her mouth as she looked up.  She focused on the wall in front of her but still didn't answer.

Mia took another step into the room,

"Was he there?"

Samantha nodded,

"Yes."

"What'd he say?"

"Nothing."

Mia pulled her eyebrows together in confusion,

"Nothing?"  She asked, "He saw you for the first time in four days and he said nothing?"
Samantha shot up off the bed,

"He said nothing because I didn't give him a chance."

Mia's eyes widened even bigger,

"What?"

Samantha paced back and forth as if she was disgusted with herself,

"I saw him...sitting there with Gwen in her lap...and I just...I ran away."

"You ran away?"  Mia felt stupid for asking questions but the shock at hearing this information didn't allow her any other reaction.

Samantha sighed as she turned to finally focus on her best friend,

"I saw him...and I ran.  I turned and I ran out the front door."  Samantha leaned against the desk behind her as the realization set in for what she'd done, "He ran out after me.  He called out my name.  And I didn't stop.  I got into the car and I left."

Mia wasn't sure how to respond.  On the one hand, she understood.  But on the other, was anger.  Anger at Samantha for being so careless and so afraid.  Anger that shocked her. 

Mia's eyes flashed as she looked at Samantha,

"What the hell are you doing?"

Samantha looked up at her,

"What?"

Mia felt herself lose her control on her irritation,

"You ran from him...are you insane?"

"I didn't know what to do...I just...I wasn't read-"

"Christ Sam he's your boyfriend.  Your amazing boyfriend who paid for my damn shop and pulled himself out of a black hole and spends his days fighting against the darkness that almost took him down for you...and you run from him?  That's how you're gonna fix this?"

"I told you...I can't fix this.  I broke his heart."

"You are the only one who can fix this...and you're running-"  Mia suddenly stopped.