“Sam?” I timidly entered his bedroom wiping away a stray tear to avoid interrogation.

Sam had been my best friend since fourth grade. He had just arrived in LA from Great Britain. Sam had tripped me during tag, thinking that he could get away with it. Let’s just say I earned his respect by gifting him a broken nose. Now, seven years later we are still best friends –nothing more, though.

“Hey, love. I didn’t hear you come in, you alright?” Sam looked up from his phone, brushing his pitch black wavy hair from his eyes.

“Hey, y-yeah. Totally. I was just saying, uh hi,” I stuttered awkwardly, not sure how to approach my situation.

“Uhm, actually I have to go. Sorry. I just remembered my sister wanted me to do this thing with-” I started to leave, too nervous to tell him what was really going on.

“Lex?”

“Yeah?” I stopped and turned around abruptly, knowing I really did want to talk to him.

“What’s going on?” He got off his bed and started walking over to me. My cheeks started to burn, and I felt the tears pooling in my eyes.

“Hey,” He said softly as he pulled me into a bear hug, one of his talents. 

“Love, talk to me.” He spoke gently, rubbing my back as I burst into uncontrollable tears.  

“Am I-“ I cut myself off with gasps for air as I cried harder into Sam’s chest.

“Lex, just breathe, ok? Are you what?”

“F-fat?” I clung to his arm trying to steady my emotions.

He abruptly stepped away, holding my shoulders at arms length.

“What?” He frowns, slightly crouching to my level, as if he truly misheard me.

“Am I f-fat?” I whisper.

“You’re joking, right?”

I look at him, my shoulders drooping slightly. I wish I were.

“Who told you that? Lex, did someone say that to you?”

I shrugged. How do you tell your best friend that your boyfriend that he already doesn’t like, said that you are huge and ugly (among other things).

“Lexi tell me who said that right now.” I had never seen Sam like this. He was livid. His pale cheeks started to flush. His icy blue eyes seemed to pierce my soul searching for answers.

I looked at my feet, which only confirmed his hunch.

“I knew it. Lex, I told you. I said that he was no good. I mean how many times did I tell you tha-. No, love. I’m sorry.”

His outburst was enough to start the tears back up again.

“I mean it’s bad enough that he s-said that, but now you have to say you t-told me s-so?”

“I know, I know. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, love.” Slowly he guided me to his bed, picked me up and leaned me against him.

“It’s ok, it’s gonna be ok.” He stroked my hair gently.

A few hours later I woke up, wrapped in a blanket. Next to me was a bag of cool ranch Doritos and sour patch kids (my favorite).

“Lex?” Sam walked into the room slipping off his shoes.

“I’m ok,” I answered. “Where’d you go?”

“Just ran an errand for my mom, sorry.”

“Ok,” weird.

“I gotta get going. My parents are gonna flip if I’m not back soon.” I started to leave, feeling uncomfortable after earlier.

“You don’t want any?” Sam pointed to the snacks. 

“Uh, no. Thanks though.” Not after that. I could tell Sam knew why, and it made him upset.

“Ok, text me when you get home.”

“K, bye.”