Sam was beginning to regret handing in those slips of paper he and Lucas had been given to officially sign up for the hunt.

“Lucas...since we’re pairing with a stranger, promise not to...uh...I don't wanna sound protective or anything..uhm..”

“It's okay, I get it.” Lucas held out his hand for Sam, who slapped it as hard as he could before winding his fingers around his boyfriend’s - something they'd always done, for whatever reason.

“Get what?” CJ peeked her head into Sam’s room, Red slobbering behind her.

“Oh my god the dog is drooling-” Sam began, but was cut short by Lucas’s sudden excitement.

“Sam's worried I'm gonna fall in love with whoever my partner for the scavenger hunt is.” Lucas beamed. Sam got a chill. The longer he thought about it, the more his gut was telling him that this was going to be the last time he'd ever see him. Alive, that is.

“Aw cool! You guys are doing that too? I hope whoever I end up with isn't lame.” CJ’s face lit up, showing the same excitement as Lucas did, “I'm surprised you got this dumbass to sign up, too.” The girl smirked, eyeing Sam, who glared at her.

She turned her attention to Lucas again. “So, what happens if you do fall in love with your partner?”

“I kill them or myself.” Lucas shrugged.

“LUCAS!” Sam yelped, already stressed, but his comment hadn't made it better. He slapped his shoulder - hard.

“Ow!” Lucas gave him a betrayed look, “I was joking! Baby I wouldn't do that!”

“How do I know this isn't some death trap, hm? How do I know you're not lying?”

“Baby..”

“Luc, what if you die?”

“Nobody's gonna die.”

“How do we know that?!” Sam stared at Lucas for a long time in silence.

“So...is this my cue to leave or….?” CJ mumbled after a moment.

Lucas broke their stare, getting up and following CJ as she left, with Red trailing behind her.

“Luc..?”

“Is he okay?”

It had been twenty minutes now, no sign of Sam. He'd locked himself in his room, leaving CJ and Lucas to bond over 80s movies, birds, and for some reason coffee creamer flavors, specifically seasonal ones.

Lucas had broken an awkward silence that began when CJ had mentioned how Sam once tried black coffee and basically drank the whole thing in one mouthful before realizing it was disgusting.

“I dunno. He's like that though, shifting moods so fast.”

“But he's been tense ever since we turned the slips in.”

“I can talk to him if you'd like. I'm sure I can manage to get something out of him. You know for hating me so much he cracks open for me pretty easily.”

“Mm...I dunno. I don't want to be intrusive..”

“To what? His thoughts? He practically lives for you dumbass, it's not intrusive if you're wondering why he's worried about you.”

“I guess so..”

“I'd suggest you get your ass home then, that way I can use the ‘Lucas isn't here anymore, he can't hear you’ tactic.”

“Have you used it before?!”

“No, I just came up with it.” CJ grinned proudly.

“Oh..good. Will you text me what he says?”

“Do I even have your number?”

“Uh...no. I don't think so.”

Lucas wrote it down for her on a sticky note he'd found lying around with a few scribbled notes on it already and smiled before waving goodbye and leaving quietly.

CJ waited a good hour or two before going up, but Sam came downstairs anyway.

“Hey, dipshit, your boyfriend left.”

“I know, you don't have to rub it in.”

“Why are you so worried about him? It's just a scavenger hunt-”

“Run by a maniac!” Sam yelped, “Ever since we handed in those stupid slips I've got this feeling he's going to die. And I won't be there and it'll be all over the news and all I've got will be gone.”

“...Sam, he's gonna be okay...you have to remember, he's tough. He's Lucas for god's sake, he carries the whole fucking football team.”

“But I just know he's going to die.”

“Stop telling yourself that or else he really will.”

“What, so I'm supposed to lie to my gut when it's telling me ‘Your boyfriend is going to die a painful, lonely death and you won't be there to comfort him nor will you know he's dead.’ and pretend I'm not about to resign from this stupid hunt? You know what, I bet that's why it's called a scavenger..hunt. That lunatic is trying to kill people on purpose!” His mind was all over the place. What the hell was he thinking?!

“Sam, I'm just saying, Lucas one, loves you and two, wouldn't die if he knew he had you to look forward to at the end of whatever goes on, alright?”

“Sometimes I question that first statement.” Sam admitted quietly, “What if one day someone asks him ‘Sam or everyone else you've ever cared about?’ and he cares about so many people, what's to lose one?”

“The one he cares about the most? The one he's with even though his friends disapprove of? The person anyone else would be ashamed of being seen in public with, but he flaunts around like a trophy? I hope you understand that he shows you off. He's proud to be with you.” CJ glared at her brother for a moment, “Besides, I hope you understand how obnoxious he was in P.E. at the beginning of the year.”

“When you actually gave something of a shit?”

CJ nodded, “He was...and I guess still is in my class and holy fucking shit he didn't shut up about you. Everyone clearly didn't care about you, or who you were or whatever but Lucas didn't care, he still went on and on even though he knew everyone else hated him for it.”

Sam sighed, “Maybe you're right, I'm just being stupid. No ones going to die, it's just a scavenger hunt. Besides, even if he does end up liking his partner, who cares? I'll just move to a whole new town and start over and pretend he never existed.” His voice was crackly, almost as if he were holding back tears; but he wasn't. He was just nervous. Sure, lying to yourself helps but it isn't like your mind won't know you're lying.

To cool himself off, Sam had reluctantly agreed to accompany CJ and their aunt for the nightly chores, which in reality they did at around 5-6:30 because they were too lazy to do them afterwards.

“Hold your hand out flat..” CJ turned her brother’s wrist, as he extended his fingers out so his palm was showing, “And she's not going to bite you. Because if she does..” The redhead glared at the black and white mare that stuck her nose eagerly at her, knowing she had a few treats, “I'll beat her up.” She finished, but Zippity wasn't going to bite him. She was the sweetest mare the whole barn had. At twenty six, she retired from her career in rodeo work due to constantly going lame on and off, for reasons nobody seemed to be able to determine.

“So I just…” He grabbed a treat, rolled up the sleeves of his jacket, (he'd changed into sweats, given the temperature and not wanting to get his boots dirty) and held it out under her nose. Zippity took it softly, curling her lips around the small cookie before chewing loudly on it. Sam retreated his hand, smiling to himself.

“That wasn't so bad!” CJ smirked, backhanding his shoulder lightly, as they walked towards the gate to bring the horses inside, “Also I saw that smile. I'm gonna make you ride her some day, when she isn't lame.”

“What- I agreed to give her a treat not to become a rider!”

“All you have to do is walk! Because frankly that's all she's good for now.” CJ shrugged, slipping halters on the four horses who resided in the front pen, handing Sam Zippity’s lead rope and taking the other three for herself.

As they made their way into the barn, Sam made a mental note to patch things up with Lucas tomorrow. Of course, that was the last day he might ever see him again.

“So, for the hunt thing..do you know if we're allowed to bring a bag of things?”

“Well I don't think you'll need it. Maybe that patagonia you've got with your phone and some money maybe but I don't think it'll last longer than a day. There was no end date either.”

“But that worries me too. What if it's longer than just a day?”

“Well then it's longer than a day. But I'm sure it's just one day if there's only one date.”

“But-”

“Samuel, shut up. You're gonna be fine. It's one day, maybe even just a few hours, and then you and Lucas can get back to each other and you'll be fine.”

“Is it even worth trying to explain what I'm worried about anymore?”

CJ laughed, “Not at all! Because I know you're being stupid.”

“Ugh, you're right. Fine. I'll be fine. It's all fine.”

“Exactly, no need to worry.”

(sorry it took me a while >.<)