Sam stormed down the quiet street, her thoughts racing faster than her feet. She didn't even know where she was going—just away from everything. It wasn't just one thing; it was the cumulative weight of feeling overwhelmed by life. Her arguments with Amber had built up all the stress she had been holding in, and when Amber had tried to make things better, Sam had snapped. The more she walked, the more she realized how she had reacted—not just out of frustration, but out of pure exhaustion. She was so tired of trying to pretend everything was okay, and it had all spilled over in the worst way.
She reached the front door of her house and slammed it behind her, locking it without a second thought. The quiet inside was stifling. She made her way up the stairs to her bedroom, where she collapsed onto her bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling that familiar weight pressing down on her chest. Her fingers reached for her sketchbook almost instinctively.
'Drawing always helps me calm down', she thought, as her pencil hovered above the page.
Without thinking, Sam began sketching. Her hand moved quickly, not paying attention to the paper as much as to the chaotic swirl of thoughts in her head. She had been holding so much in lately, and the act of drawing was her way of letting it all escape.
When she finally stopped, her hand aching slightly from the rapid movement, she looked down at the paper. The drawing was clearer now, more vivid than she'd intended. It was of her and Amber, laughing together at camp, sitting by the fire, sharing secrets.
A wave of guilt swept through her. That memory, so simple and pure, felt so distant now. She remembered how close they had been before everything had gotten so complicated—before school, stress, and a million other things had gotten in the way. She realized then that the anger she had directed at Amber was misplaced. It wasn't Amber who had done anything wrong—it was her own inability to cope with everything piling up.
What did I do? Sam thought, her chest tightening.
---
Later that evening, Sam paced in her room, her thoughts racing. The more she thought about the argument, the more she realized how unfair she had been. Amber hadn't deserved any of it. Amber had only tried to help, to bring some light into her overwhelming day, and Sam had thrown it all away with a sharp word.
I can't just let this go, Sam thought.
She couldn't leave things this way. Amber had been her best friend for years, and the last thing she wanted was for this argument to come between them.
Without another thought, Sam grabbed her jacket and rushed to her window. Sneaking out wasn't something she had to think about; it had become second nature after all these years. A quick jump down, and she was on her way.
---
Amber's house was only a short walk away, but every step felt like a small eternity. The nerves that had been brewing since the argument were still there, turning her stomach. She had no idea how Amber would react.
When Sam finally reached Amber's front door, she hesitated. What if Amber didn't want to talk to her? What if things had changed for good?
Stop overthinking, Sam told herself, shaking off the nerves. She rang the doorbell, her heart pounding.
Amber opened the door after a few seconds, looking surprised but not angry. Her expression softened when she saw Sam standing there, hands stuffed into her jacket pockets, looking as nervous as she felt.
"Sam? What are you—?" Amber started, but Sam cut her off.
"I'm sorry," Sam said quickly, her voice hoarse. "I was out of line earlier. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. You didn't do anything wrong. I was just… overwhelmed, and I took it out on you."
Amber's eyes widened slightly, but there was no anger there—just confusion and a bit of relief. After a long beat, Amber stepped aside and gestured for Sam to come in. "You want to talk about it?"
Sam nodded, stepping inside, feeling a little of the weight lift off her shoulders. Amber's house was warm and welcoming, like a safe place she could relax in.
---
Amber led her into the living room, where the smell of popcorn and something sweet hung in the air. Sam sat down on the couch, still unsure of what to say next. Amber grabbed a blanket and threw it over Sam's lap before sitting down beside her.
"You didn't deserve me snapping at you like that," Sam said, her voice quieter now. "I've been dealing with a lot, but that's no excuse. You were just trying to help, and I turned it into something ugly."
Amber was quiet for a moment, her eyes softening. "I get it, Sam. I know things have been hard for you, it's hard on me too. But it still hurt when you yelled at me. It felt like I wasn't even a person to you, just another thing you had to deal with."
Sam winced, feeling the sting of Amber's words. "I never meant to make you feel like that. It's just… sometimes it feels like everything's piling up, and I don't know how to handle it. But that's not your fault. I shouldn't have taken it out on you."
Amber's expression softened further, and she placed a hand on Sam's arm. "It's okay. I know you didn't mean it. But next time, talk to me. I'm not going to leave you alone to deal with everything on your own. You don't have to carry all that weight yourself."
Sam let out a long breath, feeling the last of her tension ease. She had expected Amber to be more upset, but Amber's words made her feel like everything would be okay.
"Okay," Sam said, her voice more confident. "I'll talk to you. And I'll try not to let it all bottle up next time."
Amber grinned. "And next time, I'll make sure to ask you before I make plans behind your back."
Sam chuckled. "Deal."
---
The next few hours flew by in a blur of comfort and laughter. The movie marathon was a mix of silly chick flicks and cheesy rom-coms—films Sam would have never picked on her own, but she found herself enjoying just because of the way Amber made everything light. They joked about ridiculous plotlines, imitated over-the-top characters, and snacked on candy.
Amber painted Sam's toenails while gossiping about school and the latest drama. For the first time all day, Sam felt herself truly relax. She had gotten so caught up in everything else that she'd forgotten how much simpler things could be with a friend who just understood.
"Next time, I'll make sure to ask you before I plan anything behind your back," Amber said, half-teasing, half-serious, as she finished painting Sam's nails a soft pink.
Sam smiled and nodded. "And I'll try not to let the little things get to me."
They both laughed, the tension from earlier completely gone.
The night ended with the two of them curled up on the couch, too tired to do anything else but stay in the easy comfort of each other's company. Sam felt lighter, like the weight on her chest had finally been lifted. She still had the pressures of her final year to face, but for the first time in a long time, she didn't feel like she was facing it all alone.
As she left Amber's house that night, Sam felt a deep sense of relief. She was still juggling a lot, but she knew that no matter what, Amber would always have her back.