Watching as Sabrina began to pick at her fingernails, Sam bit her lip before shaking her head. “Hey, don’t do that.” She said, reaching out to gently touch Sabrina’s hand. It sucked that all of this was making Sabrina anxious– she didn’t like putting this kind of extra stress on her. But, it seemed the situation was just one big ball of stress, weighing down on both of them. Sam knew that she’d been going a bit too hard at the gym, working out even when she was wiped, just so that she could get out of her head a bit. It wasn’t great, but that was how she dealt with things.
Sam let Sabrina take her time mulling over what she’d said. It was a tough call and she would respect Sabrina’s decision no matter what happened. But, she wasn’t sure how long she could keep this sort of thing under wraps. It would have been one thing if Sabrina had just been a big spender who Sam would never see again. The fact that she was managing their band, that she saw her every day and had to pretend that there was nothing between them, that they’d never had a history? That made it so much worse.
But, she couldn’t deny the sense of relief that washed over her when Sabrina agreed. Sam quirked her lips into a small smile and shrugged, “I don’t know if I’m ready, but… I need to be honest with them. It’s just, I don’t like keeping things from them. God forbid anything happens, but, uh… I’d just rather them know from me than anyone else.”
Blinking in surprise at Sabrina’s quietly vulnerable comment, Sam couldn’t help the sinking feeling in her stomach. She hadn’t even thought about that. “They’d never do that. We all know how much pressure you’re under and everything that you do for us, they’ll get it.” She said, though she really wasn’t sure. Rachel might be more understanding, but it had taken Sam long enough to reassure Kitty when she’d first started at the club. Maybe telling Rachel would be the first small step forward…
Sam shrugged, “I don’t know. Maybe we could do more stuff like this? Like, actual talking, without worrying about people catching on.” Running a hand through her hair, Sam sighed, “I just feel like, when we’re out there, with the band and everyone, you’re different. And I’m just not sure how to talk to you. Cuz no one’s supposed to know about us, but we’ve got history, and then you’re acting one way, so does that mean that I’ve gotta act some kinda way?” Sam babbled, her words getting away from her.
“Thanks,” she mumbled, referring to the nails. Sabrina knew better, but something about Sam had a way of making her more nervous and restless than she’d ever like to admit. She liked to think it just had to do with the unknown. The not knowing where they stood. Not knowing how to move on or if she was supposed to move on. It was a lot. Sabrina, for once didn’t at all feel in control and she hated it.
Sabrina almost could believe the words, only because they were coming from Sam, but only almost. “People are judgmental. And I’m supposed to be the put together one, so it’d only make sense for them to feel some type of way about it,” Sabrina was stoic, because she was ready for it, ready for the surprised reactions and possible recoil from her previous decisions. Decisions she wouldn’t take back even if given the chance.
She sat on what Sam had said for a second. Maybe two seconds. “If you want to tell people, then tell them, all of it.” She got it, and as much as Sam didn’t like how it was in front of other people, Sabrina felt the same. “You don’t have to feel like you’re being anything but yourself and I don’t want to make you feel that way either. It’s not fair...” she paused and looked up at Sam, “I shouldn’t have ever made it like this, I’m sorry.” And she was. Sorry. Probably sincerely for one of few times in her life, because Sam never deserved to be a secret. Nor did Jackie. Or anything Sabrina was paid to keep. They were all making her feel heavy, so she couldn’t imagine how heavy Sam may feel, too. “Just... there are consequences to everything. Keeping or telling secrets, Sam, so be careful, okay?” She meant to add in that there’s only so much she could protect Sam from, but it seemed like too much. And it felt like too much.