Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sam had taken Colby to the oak tree to get him out of the house, as the blonde had sensed that his didn't feel comfortable there. When they reached the tree, Sam climbed up first before reaching out and pulling Colby up - even though Colby could get up there himself, Sam just liked to help him.

Colby had stopped crying already, and was more calm, but the bruise on his cheek was becoming more visible and his eyes were still red from the tears. The boy lent his head against a branch and looked at his feet.

"Hey, Colby. Did your dad do that to your face?"

Colby looked up quickly, slightly shocked that Sam knew, but then he remembered 'it's Sam, he notices everything' and his gaze softened. Colby just nodded.

Sam huffed, "I'm actually gonna bash his skull in if he ain't careful."

Colby raised an eyebrow, "Isn't that a tad extreme?"

"It's not extreme at all! He such a bum." Sam rolled his eyes, "Why have kids if you're not gonna be a good parent? Stupid."

Colby just nodded again. A small wave of understanding passed between them at that statement - both could relate to it.

"If he ever lays a hand on you again, you get straight out of that house and find me okay? If he's done it once, I don't trust him not to do it again. I know he's your da' and you can't exactly just up and leave, but if you're not safe we'll figure something out alright?"

Sam rested a gentle hand on Colby's ankle, "I don't want you to get hurt and stuff." Colby smiled. He smiled wider than he had since Gilbert fell off a roof in front of all the girls. Sam looked away embarrassed, and scratched the back of his neck - this only made Colby smile even more, and then for some reason he was laughing.

Sam looked up confusedly, "Wha-?" Colby laughed even harder.

"I d-don't HA even- k-knowhaHAH!" Sam started to laugh too and eventually they were laughing so hard that-

"OH FU-" Sam fell right off his branch and tumbled roughly to the forest floor. Thankfully, he hadn't been too high up in the tree so he didn't look too mangled.

"Oh my God- Sam?! Are you okay??" Colby scrambled out of the tree, almost falling out himself due to his urgency to reach the boy. He crouched down next to Sam and shook his shoulder, "Hey! Hey! Sam?" The blonde didn't move. He was lying face down in the dirt, his arm at an odd angle.

"Oh God- oh-" Colby had really started to panic. He rolled the boy over onto his back and frantically grabbed his wrist to checked his pulse. Before he felt a beat, he heard a little snort and saw that Sam's mouth was pulled into a tight smirk, like he was holding back laughter.

Colby let out a massive breath he hadn't even known he was holding. Then he slapped Sam on the forehead and the boy opened his eyes. Immediately he was bursting out laughing again whilst Colby scalded him and went on about how he had almost had a heart attack and died, therefore meaning Sam had attempted murder and should go to jail.

"Did you actually hurt yourself at all?? That was rather a large fall." Colby chewed his lip, eyes scanning over Sam.

"Nah not really, just a few bruises here and there. I'm fineeee." Sam patted Colby on the shoulder.

After a brief moment of silence Colby remembered his previous question, "Why were you at my door in the first place?"

Sam brightened, "Oh yeah!" He grabbed Colby's hand and started dragging him in the direction of the schoolhouse. He glanced at the sun and nodded to himself, "We should be just in time to see!"

"See what? Why are we going to school? It's Sunday!"

"Just trust me!"

They kept walking until they reached the back of the schoolhouse. Sam held a finger up to Colby's lips and gestured for him to crouch down low. They crept around the back of the building until they reached a window that wasn't fully covered.

Sam pointed at the window and grinned, "Mr Phillips has been meeting a mystery lady here." He whispered. Colby's eyes widened.

"Why? Why here?"

"I don't know, but I think it might be because they're both hiding from everyone! I've not been able to see who the lady is yet, I only saw him follow her in here twice, but I couldn't stay and snoop 'cuz I had work to do!"

Colby stared in shock at his crazy friend. "You are unbelieva-" Sam quickly slapped his hand back over Colby's mouth.

"Shh, they're coming!"

Through the small gap in the curtains, the two boys could see a man walk in holding the hand of a lady in a light purple dress. They couldn't see either of their faces but they could tell immediately by the signature suit that the man was their teacher. The lady looked considerably shorter than him and had long light brown hair. His hands met the lady's waist and they got closer until-

Colby gasped, "Sam! We should go! They're kissing!" Sam just smirked and then picked up a small rock from the floor. Colby frowned for a second before he saw him move his hand backwards and before he could stop him, Sam had thrown the pebble at the window, causing the two inside to break apart immediately and Mr Phillips to whip around in their direction.
Sam grabbed Colby's hand and they scrambled up from the floor, running as fast as they could around the side and away down the the forest from the school. Behind them they heard a distant shout, but they were too far to be spotted.

"SAM!" Colby exclaimed.

"That was amazing!" The blonde laughed delightedly and rubbed the bruises on his leg gingerly. Colby rolled his eyes fondly and elbowed his friend.

"You are so ridiculous."

"But you love me!"

"I suppose I do."