Chapter Five

 "Sammy, come on! Hurry it up!" We were running through the halls of nurses in colored scrubs and doctors in long white robes with pockets and stethoscopes around their necks. Thoughts were racing through my head; Are we going to be too late? Are they okay? What can we do to help? I couldn't think straight at all. I just kept running and running after dad, trying to locate them.

 "I'm trying!" I called out in response. I was turning my head left and right, looking into every room as I passed. Not there. Not there either. Nope. I guess dad couldn't keep looking for them any longer because I skidded right into him as he halted at a nurse who had long auburn hair, light brown eyes, and a little chubby face. I giggled a little. Dad turned around, facing me. His eyes had an anguished expression. I instantly felt horrible for laughing. I stepped back slowly and dad turned back around, facing the nurse again.

"May I help you sir?" She asked politely. Dad took a deep breath before answering as if he was preparing for the answer to his response.

"Yes, I need to know where Karen and Claire Parker are." Dad sounded desperate to know and I couldn't blame him.

"Um, they should be right down the hall. Room to the left I suppose?" She said, sounding quite unsure of herself. Dad didn't even bother to say anything else in return. He just darted, running so fast that I couldn't even catch up.

 

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 The door creaked as I pushed it open. I stepped into the house and tossed my backpack onto the worn out arm chair. Dad wasn't on the couch which was unusual because he always is whenever I get home from school. "Dad?!" I called out. No answer. I sprang into the kitchen and there he was; standing with his back turned towards me, obvisously busy with something. I twitched my eyebrows together in confusion. "Dad?" I asked quietly.

 "Hi," He turned around, grinning at me. His hair was combed, he actually smelt pleasant, and he had shaved. He looked like a completely different person. I couldn't believe it. What had made him change his mind? I was so stunned, I didn't realize my mouth was hanging open like a fish out of water as he was repeating my name. How could he still remember my name? "Sam?" I blinked hard.

"Oh," That's all I managed to get out. He shook his head and turned back around to whatever he was doing before.

 "I'm making dinner. You can go wait and I'll tell you when it's done." I nodded and trailed upstairs to my room. I wanted to inform someone, but who? I couldn't just tell Peyton or Spencer. They'll be furious at me. I inhaled a deep breath and picked up my cell phone. I clicked onto a contact. It began to rang which seemed like forever. He finally answered.

"I need to talk to you." I blurted out.

"Woa, what's wrong Sam?" He asked, concerned.

"It's my dad."

 "What about him?" I couldn't believe I was going to tell him about what just happened. Spencer had no idea what happened to my mom and sister. He didn't even know they existed. The story I told him was that I had no idea who my mom was because she left me with my dad when I was three months old, but that was a lie. An immense lie.

"He-Spencer, I need to tell you the truth."

"What truth, Sam? I'm confused." The tears slither down my cheeks. "Are you okay? Come over."

 "No! I'm fine. Just...let me get a hold of myself, okay?" I wiped my damp cheeks and took another deep breath. I was ready. I was going to tell Spencer. I couldn't take hiding this secret from him and Peyton any longer. I had to do it sometime. "The truth about my past, Spencer. I lied to you about my mom."

"What do you mean? What?"

"You need to understand and promise not to get mad, okay?"

"Okay, it's okay."

"My mom didn't leave me with my dad when I was three months old. That was a lie and I'm so sorry for lying to you. I just couldn't get the nerves up to tell you the truth, but now I need to tell you. I can't take this secret buried inside me anymore, Spencer." I sobbed.

"It's okay, Sam. I'm here. Don't cry." I felt a tad comforted by his words.

"I knew my mom. I also had a little sister named Claire."

"Oh,"

"They..." I couldn't get the words out; the tragic words of what happened to them.

"It'll be better if you come over." Spencer ended the call. Maybe it would be if better I did.

 

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 I yanked on my thick coat and a black beanie hat that covered my ears which easily got cold. I ran down the stairs. As I passed by the kitchen, I glanced in and dad was still there. Before he could ask me where I was going, I darted out the front door and started to run all the way to Spencer's house. The cold air was entering my mouth, going down my throat. It hurt so bad, but I kept on running. My nose started to trickle. I kept sniffing in the mucus, but that did no good. I probably looked like a zombie. I didn't care though.

Once I arrived at Spencer's house, I knocked brutally. He immediately swung opened the door and pulled me into his arms.

"Sam," He muttered into my neck. "I'm here."

"I know." I mumbled back. He pulled back. Spencer's facial expression was heartbreaking. He draped his arm around my shoulders and lead me into the house.

"Hey, swe-" Blake stopped himself once he saw me and his eyebrows formed into a worried expression just like Spencer's. "What happened?"

 "Screw off." Spencer snapped, guiding me up to his room. Once we got to his room, he shut the door behind him, then sat down with me on his bed. I was still crying. He pulled me into his arms once again. When we stopped hugging, I looked around his room. I saw two steaming mugs on his bedside table. Spencer followed my gaze to the mugs. "Oh, I forgot." He grasped them and handed one to me. "It's hot chocolate. I knew you'd be freezing. Here." I extracted it by the handle and took a small sip.

"Wow, thanks." He gave me a sympathetic smile.

 "It's no problem." I nodded. I knew what he was waiting for. An explanation. "So, just want to relax?" He asked. I nodded again unable to find my voice. "Okay, you can lay down if you want to." I did. My head sank into the soft pillow beneath me. I sealed my eyes shut. The space near me sunk in. I opened my eyes and saw that Spencer was laying down next to me. He smiled and twisted his head, looking into my eyes. After a few minutes of silence, I spoke.

"Music?"

"Sure," He chuckled, getting up and strolling over to his CD player. He put on New Day by Hollywood Undead. He lay down next to me again. We let the music fill our ears. It wasn't awkward; it was comforting. Dad changing was a huge deal for me. Mainly because he finally came out of his depression and talked to me for once. He only talked to me sometimes, like asking me if dinner was ready or what time it was. I wasn't sure if I was happy or upset about all of this. That's why I needed someone.

"I'm sure you want to hear it, Spencer." I whispered.

"Hear what?"

"What I came here to tell you." He sat up and looked at me.

"Not if you don't want to tell me. I understand." I wanted to tell him.

 "They died." I blurted out, tears forming in my eyes again. I let them spill out, running down my face and onto his pillow. Spencer stared at me for a minute and reached his arms out to hold me. I cried into his shoulder. "They are dead."

"Hey," He pulled back and lifted my chin up to look him in the eyes. "It's okay. I'm here." Spencer assured.

"They died." I repeated. Spencer stood up and turned down the music, then handed me my hot chocolate. "Here, drink this and just relax." I nodded, taking my cup from him. I took a sip and laid down.

"Thank you." I mumbled.

"Yeah,"

"I should go soon."

"Why?"

 "My dad might be worrying. I kind of just left in the middle of him making supper." I wasn't sure if dad was really worrying. Why would he? He didn't worry before, why would he now? Right when I said that, my cell phone rang. I looked at the number. "Crap," I muttered.

"Who is it?"

"I gotta go." I got up and darted out the door just like I did earlier.