{set on their Utah trip}
Snow was falling gently; so, so gently. It was calming. The tiny flakes of frozen water were falling from the big grey clouds coating the sky and landing elegantly on the thick blanket of snow that had already covered the earth. It was Winter in Utah. The temperature was below freezing; icicles were forming and water was turning to thick ice. The forests looked like a winter-wonderland; like those scenes in all those movies. The snow was settling on the forest floor; icicles hanging down from leafless branches. The forest was peaceful; calming. The only sound that could be heard was the rustling of branches in the gentle breeze, and the sound of little animals prancing around looking for food on this cold winters evening. And also, if you listened close enough; you could faintly hear the soft, tired breaths passing through tainted blue lips.
Sam didn't know how long he'd been there; huddled on the floor of the forest. All he knew was that he was cold. He was so, so cold. The snow was settling around him; and on him. He'd stoped trying to wipe it off ages ago. His skin was numb. It had stung for a while; the icy drops of snow burning into his skin like fire. But then his limbs just went numb. He could still feeling them; sort off. He could move them, slowly. He couldn't see himself; but he was sure his lips were tinted blue. He could see snow flakes that had caught up in his eyelashes. They were heavy; weighing down on his eyes until he gave up and let them flutter closed. The blonde had stopped shouting for his friends a long time ago. He didn't know how he lost them; he didn't know where they were, and he didn't know how to get out of this damned forest. He'd searched for what felt like hours; desperately trying to find a way out, but nothing. And then when the forest had become engulfed in darkness and the moon had appeared above him, he knew there was no hope. He could barely see anything; his phone having died hours ago, so he could no longer use that as a torch. He had no water, no food, nothing to use to call for help. His voice was hoarse; his throat scratchy like sandpaper. He could feel snow in his hair, pressing down onto his scalp. He didn't know when his hood had fallen down, but he couldn't be bothered to re-adjust it. So the blonde boy sat, in the middle of a snowy forest, his skin numb and his lips blue. Snowflakes dotted on his legs, his arms, his hair. He was cold; so so cold. He wanted to sleep, wake up in the morning and have this all be a horrible nightmare. So, Sam closed his eyes.
"Sam!"
The blondes eyelids fluttered open; being met with the dark, snowy forest he was still sitting in. He glanced around; and it took so much effort. Even his eyes seemed to be tired. But he'd heard something. He knew he'd heard something.
"Sam!"
Again. Sam used all of his remaining strength to sit up straighter. The tree he was leaning against was rough; uncomfortably digging into his back whenever he shifted his body.
"Sam! Where are you!"
The blonde stared. He knew that voice. He knew it. It was Elton. Elton was here. Elton was gonna rescue him. Sam was going to be ok.
"E-elton!" Sam tried to yell back. His voice was still scratchy, but there was some volume there. He could hear the crunch of snow beneath somebodies feet. It was getting closer.
"E-elton... I-I'm h-here!"
Closer. Closer.
"Colby! Corey! I got him!"
Sam looked up, to be met with the bearded man that he'd never been so happy to see before; staring down at him.
"Holy shit Sam..." Elton gasped, dropping down to his knees next to the blonde. Sam could hear more footsteps, and suddenly, Corey appeared from behind the trees- followed by Colby. Colby was quick to dart over, dropping down next to the blonde on the other side of him. Corey just stared, mouth wide open.
"Sam..." colby whispered. Elton suddenly started wiping the snow off of Sams body; the action making Sam jump, but he soon calmed down and let elton wipe the flakes of coldness of his clothes. He felt something being wrapped around his shoulders; and he turned to see colby gently draping his thick jacket around the blondes shoulders. Sam relaxed into it. It smelled like his best friend; that familiar scent that could always calm Sam down.
"Sam, Sam can you move?" Elton asked. The blonde nodded, giving his fingers and toes an experimental wiggle. The movements were slow and laboured, but they were there.
"We need to get him to the car," Elton told colby. The brunette nodded, and he took a glance at Sam. He reached out, pressing the somehow warm skin of his hand to Sams cheek, and the blonde let a relieved sigh pass through his lips.
"Colby, now," Elton continued. The older man had stood up, and he was standing by Corey.
"Hey..." colby whispered to Sam.
"Can you stand?"
In all honestly, Sam didn't know, but he tried. He tried to stand; but his legs felt like jelly, and a weird pins and needles sensation was spreading through all his limbs.
"Come here.." colby whispered suddenly. And before the blonde could process what was happening, he was being held securely in the arms of his best friend. Sam tried to protest, but Colby didn't seem like he was putting him down any time soon; so the blonde stayed quiet. Instead, he let his head drop onto his best friends shoulder, as he was carried bridal style through the forest. Snow was still falling; and the temperate was still freezing. But if he closed his eyes and focused on the warmth coming from the brunette, then things seemed a whole lot warmer.
They'd gotten back to the car, Elton climbing into the drivers seat and Corey in the passenger seat. And Colby had sat Sam down in the back, and then settled next to him.
"Does he need a hospital?" Corey asked warily, looking back at the pale blonde slumped in the backseat.
"No..." Sam muttered, wrapping his arms around his shivering body.
"Let's just get him warmed up, and see how he is then," Elton decided, pressing some buttons on their rental car, and then heat was suddenly brushing against sams skin. The car buzzed to life, heat being blasted into the small space, immediately warming the blonde to a degree. Sam wanted to lay down; close his eyes and sleep in this new found warmth. He was slumped in his seat, his chin bobbing around by his chest. Suddenly, without warning, the blonde was pulled into the warmest, softest embrace he'd ever felt. His nose was filled with the familiar scent of his best friend, and he sighed.
"Here, just lean on me," colby told him; and Sam did just that. He dropped his head to his best friends shoulder, and Colby just held him; running his soothing hands up and down sams back; up and down his arms; the back of his neck. One hand went to sams freezing hair; brushing out the remaining snow flakes which were melting slowly due to the gentle heat of the car. Colby was so gentle, so warm, so perfect.
"Warmer?" Colby whispered into Sams ear, hugging the blonde tighter to himself, and making sure his jacket was secure around the blondes shoulders. Sam nodded his head, pressing further into his best friend and letting a quiet sigh of relief slip past his lips. They were silent for the rest of the car ride; and when they pulled up to the hotel; Sam was significantly warmer. He was still shaking; the damp clothes he was wearing not helping the situation at all. But he could walk by himself; slowly of course. They made it to the room; and Sam immediately sat down on one of the beds, lying down and closing his eyes. The blonde faintly heard the sound of taps running, and Elton and Colby muttering between themselves. Sam laid there for a while; probably getting the bed soaked, but he didn't care. And then, after what felt like minutes later, Colby was gently shaking his shoulder; causing his eyes to flutter open.
"Hey... Elton ran you a bath. A warm one," colby smiled. Sam looked back up at Colby, and began to sit up. All he really wanted to do was sleep; but he was still shivering. He knew that a nice warm bath would help. He went into the bathroom; gathering some dry clothes and a towel in his arms beforehand. And Sam must admit; the warm water against his skin was so, so soothing. And afterwards, when he emerged from the bathroom in his comfy pyjamas and a hoodie; his hair damp from the water; Sam was very, very glad Elton had ran one to start with. He still wasn't 100% warm; but he was better. Without hesitation; the blonde climbed into bed; burying his face into a pillow and letting the duvet covers engulf him. Elton and Corey were sharing a bed during the trip, and Sam was sharing one with colby. So when he felt the brunette climb into the bed beside him, he wasn't shocked. But what did shock him, was a arm wrapping around his waist, and a chest pressing against his back.
"What are you-"
"Go to sleep," colby whispered; closing his eyes. Sam was tense in Colbys hold to start with; undoubtedly finding this situation a little odd. But, the brunette was warm, and after a few minutes, he found himself relaxing into the hold, letting his eyes flutter shut once again as he finally let sleep engulf him; and his freezing cold night became nothing but a memory.
Seeing what's going on in the world at the moment feels so, so surreal. It's scary, but also it's nice to see everyone coming together like this. For everyone who is protesting; thank you, but please stay safe!!! I love you all :)) 💗
