a + b

12: sober

Amanda

I returned to school on Monday morning.

Saturday was such a crazy night.

I really wanted to talk to Christine about why she left. I hoped she and Sammy were okay. I also wanted to talk to Brian to see if he had recovered. But I guessed I'd see him at home later.

As I walked down the hall to homeroom, I spotted Sam at his locker.

After what happened last Saturday, I had to talk to him.

"Hey, Sam."

He looked across at me with dark circles under his eyes, like he hadn't slept. And his black hair which normally was combed back covered his eyebrows.

"Oh, morning" he spoke lowly, before turning away again.

I bit my lip.

"How are you?"

He balanced his backpack on his leg, and then messily shoved books inside his locker.

"I'm good."

That was a lie.

One of the books fell onto the floor, so I bent down to pick it up.

"Don't worry" he grabbed it off the floor quickly, then shoved it away.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Okay."

"Sorry Amanda, I gotta get to class." he shut his locker door.

"Wait, Sam."

Sam looked at me curiously.

"Yeah?"

"I um...I wanna talk to you about something."

He froze. "What is it?"

I bit my lip.

"Last week...At Brian's party, you told me something. But I don't know think you remember."

He raised his eyebrow. "What did I tell you?"

I stepped forward so no one else could hear what I was saying.

"Sam...you told me you were into guys."

His eyes widened.

"I did?" he said quietly.

"Yeah, you did."

He gulped.

"And for the record, I haven't told anyone, and I'm not going to. I just really wanted you to know...that I know."

Sam's eyes suddenly filled with tears.

"Oh."

"Are you okay?" I placed my hand on his arm.

He sniffed and wiped his eyes.

"I'm sorry" he whispered. "It's just...You're the first person I've told."

I smiled sympathetically.

"And I can't believe I didn't remember."

"It's okay, Sam. You don't have to apologize."

He sighed and rested his head against the locker.

"I've been wanting to tell Ethan, and Christine but I just don't know how."

"You'll figure it out, in time. There's no rush."

He wiped his hands over his face. "I can't believe I'm crying in school."