Episode 2 ^4/4: Don’t clean up someone else’s mess.

“Clean up his mess all you want, but don’t ever step in on mine.” Sam was walking away with that single, softly spoken warning.

A glance at the others showed that they were absorbed in the fight. He hesitated to follow, not wanting to leave them alone. And yet, this was Sam. He mattered to Ty. And, whether Sam liked it or not, he was family now.

His mind made-up, Tanner moved quickly. He was able to catch up outside, “Sam.”

“Not interested,” Sam replied without turning around.

Tanner had Sam’s arm at the elbow. A move he wouldn’t have thought twice about with any of the others. But it was a move that he quickly regretted when Sam flinched hard. His head whipped around to look at the offending touch. Fear clearly shone in dancing eyes and stole Sam’s breath.

Peyton’s warning came to mind; Sam didn’t like to be touched. Slowly, Tanner released his hand keeping it out in a show of calm surrender. Sam didn’t run.

Carefully he broached a potentially dangerous subject, “I’m not asking why, but are you afraid for him or of him?”

The snarl was defensive, “you going to defend him?”

He would take his note from Sam’s only friend and kept his tone light, “you’ve already made up your mind.”

Sam’s eyes snapped to him, “if you really want to help, tell your friend to drop me. I’m not interested in any of this.”

He considered Sam’s words but shook his head knowing that, “he’s already made up his mind.”

Sam wouldn’t look at him, “he can change it.”

“But he won’t.”

Sam held the elbow of his left arm protectively, “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, Tanner. But I can’t.”

He watched as Sam walked away. This time, he didn’t try to stop him. A heavy heart kept him there watching Sam for a moment. It seemed a blanket statement, I can’t.

His feet took him back inside to where the fight had come to an end. Bouncers were in the mix, and Ty was grudgingly shaking the hand of the person who’d punched Sam. Seemed a truce had been called to keep both parties in the bar. Peyton, with a laugh, was defending himself to them.

“Just do what you’re supposed to do and play music,” one of the bouncers told him. With the fight broken up and the parties dispersing, they went back to their posts.

Tanner walked over to them. Ty barely saw him. He was looking for Sam,” where is he?”

“How attached are you?” Court was laughing at Ty because he didn’t know.

Eyes were suddenly on him. He shook his head, “gone, and he’s not coming back.”

He placed a hand on Ty’s shoulder, stopping him from running off. But it was a comment from Peyton that had them turning around, “shit, I’m an idiot!”

Court pursed his lips as slowly the question came out, “wwwhy?”

“Because Sam doesn’t like violence,” he was shaking his head at himself in reprimand.

Confused glances were exchanged.

Peyton waved at their table, “let’s talk.”

“I need to find him,” Ty wasn’t interested.

“And if you do, you’re in for a fight you will lose,” Peyton told him bluntly.

Ty bristled at the challenge.

“Friend,” Peyton stressed the word with a hand touching his chest and a glimmer of a grin. Then he pointed at Ty, “boyfriend. I’m aware of the difference. But if you’re going to try and date him, there’s some things you need to understand about him.”

“You’re talking like an ex who’s still in love,” Court cast a speculative look.

“Let’s try not to get my ass kicked,” Peyton gestured at Ty but looked at Court. “We didn’t. But you see anyone else sticking around him?”

“It’s a good point, but we don’t really know Sam. Maybe he does have someone,” Tanner still had a hand on Ty’s shoulder.

“He doesn’t,” Peyton nodded again towards their table. It took Geo’s influence to get Ty to reluctantly agree to listen.

“Sam not going to be mad at you for that?” Tanner had to ask as they sat back down.

A smile sprang up, “he’s gonna be no matter what. That’s Sam. But, whatever his reasons, he was trying to let you in until we fucked it up. You should have an idea of what you’re in for.”

Those last lines had been said while Peyton held Ty’s gaze.

Ty glared, “what do you mean we fucked it up?”

Peyton was shaking his head, “not you, weirdly. Us, as in the bar.”

“Explain that,” Tanner prompted.

Peyton massaged his right hand, “like me, Sam isn’t someone who makes emotional connections. We’re never in one place long enough to make them. But school is going to take time to complete. I’m sure he’s thought of it, but I don’t think he thought it through really well. Taking the work here gave him meals and money, two things we don’t take for granted. But it also means that he’s making connections here. Probably a thing most people don’t really think too much about. Seeing Sam as something like a friend, people around here naturally want to bug him when they see him being social for the first time. They want to encourage.”

Tanner understood, “but it freaked him out.”

“And then I stupidly started a fight,” Peyton grimaced.

“So,” Court was lost because to him this wasn’t a big deal.

“One thing you need to know about Sam is that he can’t fight worth shit,” Peyton told them.

“You’re kidding,” Geo leaned an elbow on the table.

“He seriously can’t. He puts on a good front for it, but Sam doesn’t do well with violence. When he hit that guy for you, Ty, I damned near dropped my guitar! Problem is, I forgot that for a moment tonight. But I know better than to put Sam in the middle of a fight. He won’t be there when I turn around.”

“Sounds like maybe you have made an emotional connection,” Tanner wouldn’t resist pointing out.

“Woah, we are not psychoanalyzing me,” Peyton raised his hands to ward them off. His careless laugh hid any real emotion, “I’m just here to sell out my friend.”

“Peyton, it’s time,” he was called over to the stage.

He waved to acknowledge the request.

“I’ll give you guys this one for free,” Peyton hadn’t yet moved. “Sam and I both rebuilt our worlds to give us what we want. Sam prioritizes anonymity. He doesn’t want to be seen. Even planning his routes to class, which he always changes so that he doesn’t run into the same people regularly. He doesn’t have a cell, he doesn’t go on a computer, and forget about posting his picture.”

“He’s hiding,” Tanner put it together.

“From what?” Court was lost.

All Peyton could do was shrug, “you’d have to ask him, but good luck. Sam doesn’t ever talk about his past. What I do know for sure, is that he’s made an art out of running away. Down to an emergency bag.”

Questioning glances hit Peyton.

He gestured slightly with his head, “you’ll never see him without that art bag because it’s the only thing Sam won’t leave behind. Everything else, he can figure out on the run.”

“But run from what?” Court voiced their question.

“The most dangerous thing you can do is confront an abuser,” Tanner speculated thoughtfully.

“Maybe,” Peyton shrugged. His light and easy tone had come back.

“He must not have done it with you if you’re still together,” Court said before knocking back more of his drink.

“Watch your phrasing,” Ty cautioned. He hadn’t meant for it to be funny, but it got laughs out of the others.

“Oh, he’s tried twice,” Peyton let them know with a laugh. “But I’m damned good at what I do. Even without a bank account or a cell, I found him. Just give him a moment to breathe through whatever it is he needs to breathe through. If he feels like he can run, he’ll feel better.”

Peyton couldn’t know how much he was asking of Ty with that advice. The three of them knew, and they looked at him now with worry.

“Sam’s my friend,” Peyton carried on as he stood up. “I don’t know what he went through. What I know is that because of him, I’m in university. I think even if he knew the truth, he would still support me. So, he deserves the same support. Plus, he’s one hell of an artist and I don’t want to see him throw that away.”

Peyton nodded his head towards the dance floor. They all looked. With the house lights dimmed and the blacklights on, the truth was there for them to see. It washed over them as they stared in awe. The dancefloor, walls, and even the ceiling was alive with the artwork that transformed the entire bar!

Ty breathed, “my future boyfriend is so hot!”

With a laugh, Peyton remarked, “you’re gonna need that confidence because he lacks it. I don’t know what it is about you, but he lets you get close. Make sure you take care of him.”

“Hey Pey,” Court got his attention before he left. “So do you know how old Sam really is?”

“Sam’s never said. But, my level of talent, there’s almost nothing I can’t find out,” there was a coy grin. His hand upon the table bore the weight of him leaning. Slowly, the thumb slid under to be hidden, “twenty-two.”

Confusion washed over Court as he counted backwards, “eighteen?”

“Subtlety is lost on you, I see,” he laughed. With a wave, he left them.

Amused, Tanner glanced at his phone when a strange ringtone sounded out. It was the classic horror film suspense music of a knife poised to plunge into an unsuspecting back. It was Court that lifted his cell.

At the curious stares, he explained with a grin, “it’s Todd. He loves thrillers.”

Geo rolled his eyes around a suppressed grin. Ty had the look of someone that was ready to leave, so Geo pulled out his keys with a nod. They would go looking for Sam despite Peyton’s advice to give him time.

“Woah, slow down kid,” there was concern darkening Court’s features. “What’s going on?”

It got their attention, and even Ty waited for a development.

“What the hell are you talking about? You gotta pause between sentences.”

Silence fell where they could only catch the cadence of Todd’s voice over the phone. Court glanced sharply at Ty. It was enough. They all got up from the table.

Side Story

Todd walked slowly up the street with his hands in his pockets looking like a dejected puppy. Why was Court still ignoring him? What had changed from high school when Court used to have the time for him? They’d spent so much time hanging out in high school and were closer than anyone else in that whole school!

Was it only that university held greater pressure? Court would have to work hard to be seen both academically and on the field. That certainly had to be some of it.

But he knew that it couldn’t be all of it. Court was changing. It had to be the influence of the people he called family. Court hadn’t ever talked about any of them in high school. It was only after he’d started university that he would talk about them whenever Todd called. Suddenly, everything was about them. It should be a good thing, but when the people closest were the ones encouraging fights and drinking, then it was no longer good.

…right?

A message came through on his phone. Overhead, thunder rumbled as the first drops of rain were beginning to fall. The sound of an umbrella opening followed his thumb pressing the button. It moved overhead as he looked at the message. He deleted it right after reading it.