Taylor P.O.V

She wasn't in yesterday, she wasn't in today. Just where the fuck was she?

I tried calling her, trying to find out why she wasn't coming into school, but to no avail. Her phone had been switched off for the past 48 hours and it seemed with no matter how much I called, she wouldn't answer...

I hated this... I had already become accustomed to having her as a close friend. As someone I could trust and talk to. I needed her, now that she was in my life. Right now, it seemed like she was the only thing keeping me afloat and having just two days without her was extremely worrying to me.

Sitting on the edge of my bed, I stared at my phone, wanting to call Sam. But why bother? Her phone was off and she wasn't going to answer...

I felt so lonely without her. I just wanted to hear her voice, to see if she was okay... Was she avoiding me, because of that kiss?

No, she promised she'd always be there. That she wouldn't abandon me. That's why she gave me her number.

But she's not answering...

Why wasn't she answering...?

Exhaling, I bowed my head holding my phone tightly between my knees, hoping for some stupid miracle to happen.

It was then that my phone had started vibrating, playing a silly little ringtone that I had decided not to change for god knows how long. Without even thinking, I quickly answered it, shooting the phone straight to my ear.

"Sam?!" I cried, hoping to hear her voice on the other side of the phone. There was a pause, but the caller eventually answered.

"Hey, Tay..." Sam's voice muttered into the phone. I rose my eyebrows, hearing that she sounded sad.

"Sam? Sam, where have you been? Are you okay?" I wondered, concern filling my expression and voice. Sam exhaled.

"Yeah, sorry I... I've been at the hospital. Visiting my mom... Sorry I haven't had my phone on."

My eyes widened. Visiting her mother? In hospital?

"What happened?"

Another pause.

"She, uh... She's... Sick." Sam murmured, her voice shaking like she might start crying. "I think she's got Alzheimer's, Tay..." She whispered, her voice squeaking before I heard the sound of her breaking down into tears. I bit my lip in sympathy, feeling horrible for her.

"Oh my god, Sam I'm... I'm sorry..."

"It's just, I don't get why this had to happen... I thought I was a good person." She whined.

"You are a good person!"

"Then why is this happening to me?!"

I frowned. I knew what it was like to lose your mother or for her to get sick, but I felt like it was probably worse in Sam's case as she isn't exactly as dead inside as me. I was devastated when she passed, but I don't think I experienced those emotions as much as I could as I wasn't all there. I saw what it did to my father though, and it broke him.

"Do you want me to come over? You can text me the address?"

Silence...

"...I don't know, Tay... You... You already have... A lot on your plate and I don't want to have to bring you down any more."

"Don't be silly!" I exclaimed. "You've been there for me... So... I want to be there for you.... Please?"

I waited for her to reply, for her to say something. After what felt like forever, she sighed.

"Alright, fine... I have to hang up to send it to you so... Bye for now."

"I'll be right there, Sam." I said, right before I heard her end the call.

After that, I impatiently waited for her to text it to me. I kept checking my phone every few minutes and sure enough, she eventually sent it to me.

Without even a second of hesitation, I threw on one of my old blue hoodies, shoved my phone into my pocket and I raced down the stairs to be greeted by my father. I didn't exactly have a lot of time to explain, so I just told him I was going to a friend's house and he was obviously thrilled I was continuing to get out of the house.

I knew where the address was, and the moment I got out the front door I started running, trying to go as fast as I possibly could. It pained me, to imagine Sam curled up in a ball, crying and all alone.

From the beginning, I know I said it was pointless. For me to have a friend, for me to have someone to care for, with them possibly caring for me.

But I was always told that everyone was alive for some reason. We are all breathing, thinking and living people with a thought and a purpose. And I never believed that. Not once. I never had the energy to put in that extra effort, to find something or someone I needed to stick around for.

But maybe... Just maybe... I might have finally found it... Found them... Found her... And I am not leaving her side for a second while she is suffering through this pain.

Out of breath, I stopped running just a few houses away from hers. I speed walked the rest of the way, reaching her pretty modern home before knocking on the door.

There was movement inside, before I heard the door unlocking. It opened, and I saw her. Sam, with black mascara tear stains running down her pale cheeks. My eyes widened and I felt awful.

"Sam...?"

"Come in..." She croaked, stepping aside to allow me in. I nodded, stepping inside and she closed the door behind us. Before I could say anything, she started walking towards the stairs and I guessed she wanted me to follow her. So, I did just that.

Reaching her room, I sat on the edge of her bed, while she sat on her computer chair, facing me.

"I'm so sorry for the mess... I haven't cleaned my room in like, 2 weeks." Sam said, wiping away her tears with the sleeve of her black fuzzy jumper.

"It's fine, don't worry about it."

"Uh... Right..." Sam paused, looking down at the floor quietly. I nervously fiddled with my fingernails, wondering just what exactly to say. She glanced back at me, opening her mouth to speak.

"Uh, thanks... I guess... For coming to visit me..."

"Hey, it's cool. I know you would have done the same for me. I couldn't leave you on your own crying."

"Mhm..." Sam nodded, frowning as she rubbed her chest as if she was trying to comfort herself. "I just didn't want to make you more upset and... Freak you out..."

"Freak me out?" I repeated.

"Yeah... Sometimes under periods of high stress I have panic attacks..." She admitted, dropping her arm to her side.

Sam? Panic attacks? Seriously? Why didn't she tell me sooner...?

"Oh, Sam..." I frowned, reaching my arms out to give her a hug. To my surprise, she happily accepted, getting out of her chair and resting in my arms with her cheek on my shoulder. I let her cry, as I tried to reassure her that everything was going to be okay...

It felt so weird how things were the other way around this time... But I was more than happy to be her shoulder to cry on...