Flipped

Chapter 12- The Luck I've Had

A/N: This song^^^ came to my mind repeatedly while writing this chapter, during various emotional scenes, but it would probably be most appropriate played at the end. First at the end of Rose's last part, then at the end of Sam's.

I apologize in advance.

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Rose

"I can't believe this. I told her to come straight home after school," Mom grumbles for the third time, peeking through the blinds and scanning the front yard for Sam. He's nowhere to be found, which is extremely worrying since school let out an hour ago, and I've been home for about as long. I sit at the dining room table and try to focus on my math homework, but my palms are sweating and I keep glancing at the door, hoping and praying for Sam to walk in.

"You better hope nothing's happened to her, George," Mom says suddenly, stepping away from the window. "I can't believe you let her walk home alone, and after everything your father and I talked to you about last night! Letting her go off with some strange boy to 'the library', and now this. You're her brother, for goodness' sake! It's your job to protect her when we're not there."

I put my head in my hands, thinking: Is it, though? Is it really my job? "I'm sure Sam's just avoiding coming home right away because she's in trouble," I assure my mother, while also trying to assure myself. "She can't stay away forever."

As if on cue, the front door slams.

"Sammie, is that you?" Mom calls. Sure enough, he emerges from around the corner following the front entrance, his hair down and hanging in front of his face like a curtain. "Where were you?"

"Walking," he responds. His voice is shaky, cracking on the last syllable, and the cold feeling already residing in my chest grows colder. That voice....something is wrong. Way, way more wrong than usual.

"Well I told you to come straight home, and you directly disobeyed me. If you don't think you'll be facing consequences for this— excuse me! Where do you think you're going?"

Sam had unabashedly turned away from our mother and began stomping up the stairs. "I have homework."

"Young lady, you come back down here or I swear—"

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!"

Both Mom and I jump at his menacing scream, but at the words themselves more than anything. Shortly after, another door slams.

Mom shakes her head in astonishment. "Unbelievable. She is going to get it when her father gets home."

Shaking, I gather up my homework. "I think I'm going to finish this upstairs."

"George, I don't think that's—"

"I won't talk to her," I lie. "I know she probably needs space right now. I just....it's just that...." I don't know if I can trust him alone right now.

"Fine." Mom throws up her hands. "And hey, if you can work out what the hell is wrong with her, that'd be great. Because I don't even know how to talk to that girl anymore." She goes back into the kitchen.

I practically run up the stairs and to our room, and find Sam lying curled up on his bed in the dark. The curtains are drawn, and I think of turning on the light but don't want to piss him off. Not before I find out what's going on. "Sam?" I start off gently.

"The fuck do you want?"

Christ. Too late to try not to piss him off, apparently. "Sam, talk to me. What happened?"