"Hello?"

"Hey Sam."  A deep voice answered. 

"Hi Heath!!!  I haven't seen you in a few weeks!!! I'm hoping my best friend is still the same although now he's a big star." She smiled, while taking her change and sticking it in her pocket, and grabbing her iced tea. 

"I'm still the same."  Heath laughed.

"I hope so.  Don't let stardom get to your head." 

"Yes ma'am.  How's normal life?" Heath asked. 

"Normal?" Sam questioned. 

"Well, not being chased down by reporters or anything like that." 

"All I can say is that you're living it up my man.  I'm glad the term is almost over."   Sam said, sipping her drink, walking through the parking lot toward her car. 

"Ah.  Hey guess what?" 

"What?"

"I will be in town tomorrow." 

"NO WAY."

"Way."  Heath teased, laughing at her enthusiasm. 

"For what?"

"Other than to visit you...."

"Oh my God.  Heath are you serious?"

"I am.  Don't worry.  I need to get going.  See you tomorrow Sammy." 

"Bye..... Heath Bar."  Sam giggled as she hung up her phone.  She and Heath had been best friends since grade school, when he had moved to the states from Australia, and now that she was in college and he was acting across the country, they never saw each other as much.  He had always called her Sammy.  When her phone rang again, Sam thought it was Heath calling to tell her something he forgot to before.  She opened her car door, and rested the phone on her shoulder. 

"Hey again." 

"Again?  Who were you talking to Samantha?" A stern voice asked.  Sam closed her eyes and took a deep breath, sitting in the drivers seat and closing the door behind her. 

"No one Dave.  Are you home from work yet?"  She asked, turning on her car on. 

"Yes.  Come home okay?  We need to talk." 

"Yes sir.  I'll be there in like, ten minutes."  Sam said. 

"Okay.  Bye."  Dave sighed. 

"Bye.  Love you."  Sam said, turning the phone off.  She slouched in her seat, and looked at the phone in her hand.  She shook her head and threw it on the seat next to her, and drove away. 

Fifteen minutes later

Sam opened the front door to her apartment and walked in slowly, listening to see if Dave was home, or if he was asleep.  She shucked off her sandals and walked into the kitchen, placing the rest of her drink in the refrigerator.  When she shut it, she heard a loud sigh. 

"Oh, hey Dave.  How was your day?" Sam asked without turning around to face her boyfriend. 

"Pretty bad.  But, you had a good day right?"  He asked.  Dave was tall, and had dark brown hair and intense green eyes.  Those eyes stared at her as if she knew something she wasnt supposed to, something bad. 

"Umm yes I did.  I talked to Heath today."  She smiled, remembering their conversation over the phone. 

"There's the reason for that smile.  I thought I told you to stay away from that guy Samantha."  Dave said coldly.  Sam spun around and faced him finally.  When he called her Smantha, it wasn't good. 

"Well my BAD, I didn't know I couldn't talk to my best friend.  My mistake."  She sighed, and walked into the other room.  Dave caught her arm as she walked by him and spun her to face him. 

"I said, no more talking to him." 

"Well I'm sorry okay?  What do you want me to say?"  Sam asked, getting a litle nervous as he still held her arms tightly. 

"What do you see in this Heath guy anyway?"  Dave asked, watching as she grew more mad towards him.  

"Oh wait.  I know.  He's loved by so many other girls across the world, and now you see something ELSE in him that you didn't before." 

"He is my best friend.  If I need to talk to someone, he puts aside what he's doing unlike you.  He cares about me.  About ME."  Sam stressed. 

"What are you saying that I don't?" 

"Let go of my arm."  Sam hissed, and smelled strong alcohol on his breath.  

"Tell me Sam." 

"Let GO of me and I'll tell you." She whispered, attempting to back away, for fear of another of his drunken rages.   

"You're saying I dont care about you."  Dave said without any emotion in his voice. 

"Thats right, I am."  She said slowly.  His face froze and he clenched his fist.  Sam was about to take a step back when his fist collided with her cheek, making her stagger back, holding a hand to her face.            

"How DARE you talk about me like that!!!!" Dave yelled, punching her arm, near her shoulder.  She fell to the ground and he stood over her, watching with a look of disgust on his face. 

"I take care of you!!! I loved you!!! This is what you give me??!!" He screamed, pulling his foot back and pushing it forward until it hit her stomach, slidding her back a few feet on the tiled floor. 

"Please stop." Sam begged, covering her face with her arms.  Dave picked her up off the ground and pushed her against the wall. 

"STOP IT!!!!!" Sam screamed at the top of her lungs, trying her best to get away from him.  He caught her foot and threw her on the ground, and kicked at her again.  She cried out, screaming as loud as she could.  A loud pounding at the door echoed across the apartment, making Dave kick at her legs harder this time.  Sam closed her eyes, and curled herself into a ball on the floor, and was too afraid to move. 

"You bastard."  A voice said, and Sam heard a loud crash.  She opened her eyes to see Heath slamming Dave against the doorway.  Dave was swinging his arms at him, but Heath pinned them behind his back, his other hand had a tight grip on Daves shirt.  Sam slid to one of the rooms corners and curled into a ball, hiding her face, crying into her legs.  Heath looked over at her, then back at Dave. 

"You bastard!!!"  He said louder, and threw him at the ground, making Dave hit his head on the floor with a loud thump.  Heath watched him, and when he realized he didn't move, he kicked him in the side, then he saw Sam.

"Sammy are you okay?" He asked, kneeling down beside her.  He noticed blood on her cheek and a large blue bruise starting to form.

"Oh God Sam.  Come on, you need to tell me where you hurt so I can get you some help."  Sam looked up at him with tears in her eyes and he cringed when he saw the big bruise. 

"I didn't do anything Heath."  She whispered, hugging her knees tightly to her.  He sighed, and looked over her arms and legs. 

"I'm sorry Sammy."  He said as he wrapped his arms around her, trying to give her some comfort. 

"I need to call the police.  I need to get you some help.  I'll be right back.  Watch him.  If he moves, you call me.  Okay?"  Heath asked, slowly standing.  She nodded and he left the room.  Sam watched Dave lie on the ground.  She looked into the living room and saw cans of beer and other drinks on the table.  He was drunk, she thought.  Heath walked back into the room and ran a hand through his hair.   

"They'll be here soon."  He said, sitting next to her.  Sam looked at him, then blinked a few times.

"Why are you here Heath?  And how did you get in?" 

"I called before and told you that I'd meet you tomorrow, but I wanted to surprise you so I came to visit you now.  I heard you yelling from down the hall..... and the door was open so I ran in."  He said, looking at his hands. 

"He was drunk."  Sam whispered.

"I guessed that. I don't even think he was mad at you that ass."  Heath said, watching Dave lie on the floor. 

"I'm glad you were here Heath."  Sam said, then leaned against him.  Her head began to hurt more, and she closed her eyes, and everything went black.  When she opened them again, she realized she was surrounded by white walls, and was lying down.  Sam saw that Heath was sitting next to her bed in a chair, looking out the window.  She sat up, and he turned toward her quickly.

"Hey.  How you feeling?"  He asked. 

"Not too good.  Why.......why am I in the hospital?" She asked, looking around. 

"You passed out while we were at the apartment.  They took you here to see if anything got hurt when he kicked your stomach and check for any broken bones." 

"Is.....um.... is everything okay? Sam asked, looking down at her arm that had a large purple bruise." 

"The doctors said your leg is sprained.  And you've got some bruises.  But it could be worse Sammy."  Heath said, resting his elbows on the edge of her bed.

"Where...Where is Dave?"  She asked, feeling the swollen side of her face. 

"The police have him. "

"Okay. How long do I have to stay here?"  Sam asked, worried.  She had always been afraid of hospitals all her life, and this was not helping her fear at all.  When she was younger, her father was always sick, and it wasn't until she was older that she realized he had cancer, and he was going for treatments.  The hospital smell sent a chill down her spine, making her shiver and pull the sheets closer to her.  

"They said you can go home later tonight.  I...I'm so sorry Sammy.  I should have came there sooner and-"  

"It's my fault Heath.  I'm sorry you had to see that."  She whispered.  

"He's hit you before?"  Heath asked in a loud voice, standing up.  Sam gulped and nodded, not looking him in the face.  

"How much?"  He asked.  

"Three times before."  She whispered, cringing when she heard him shove the chair away, making it topple over and hit the wall with a thud.   

"Three times?!!! Three times Sam?!!! Why didn't you TELL anyone?!!" He yelled, pacing the room. 

"I couldn't.  Heath, please stop.  You're making me dizzy."  She sighed, closing her eyes.  Heath sat next to her on the bed and sighed.  

"You should have called me Sammy."  

"I'm sorry Heath Bar."  She whispered, taking his hand in hers.  He looked at her and a small grin passed his face.  

"You know I hate that name."  

"I know."  She smiled, still holding onto his hand.  He leaned over and kissed her cheek.  

"You ever need my help Sam, you call me and I'll come save you."  

"Aw.  You're my knight in shining armor."  

"Damn right I am."  Heath smiled, puffing out his chest.  

"Please, don't make me laugh."  She giggled, watching as he stood up and looked around the room, emptying a fruit bowl and placing it on his head, and standing in front of her bed with a fist in front of him, waving an imaginary sword in front of him. 

"Fear not, fair damsel, for I shall rescue you from the evil.... um, the dragon of MALICE!!!!!!" He said with an english accent, making Sam giggle.  Heath's back was to the door so he didn't see a nurse standing in the doorway with an amused look on her face. 

"Ahem... Sir Ledger, I need to check on your friend here."  The nurse smiled at him when he spun around, the bowl falling of his head and landing to the floor with a thunk.  

".....Right.  Check away.....m'lady."  He said, bowing to her.  The nurse eyes Sam and laughed.  

"He belongs on the pyscotic ward.  Care to take him with you?"  Sam laughed, watching Heath as he frowned and placed the bowl back on the table.  

"Well Ms.Bynes, you can go home.  We'll give you some crutches, be carefull, and you should be all set.... You let us know if you need anything.  All set to go with Mr.Knight in shining armor?" The nurse laughed. 

"Yes I am.  Thanks."  Sam said as she sat up and Heath ran over to the side of her bed and lifted her off of it, holding her in his arms, much against her liking. 

"It's a sprain Heath.  I can handle walking." 

"What kind of a knight would I be then?"  Heath asked, walking her out of the hospital to his car. 

"Hm.  Not a very good one."  She smiled.  Heath kissed her nose with a smile and hugged her. 

"You know I love you Sammy."  He grinned. 

"I love you too Heath bar."  Sam laughed, and he rolled his eyes at that.