But something's forcing me to stay

 It had turned cold. Honestly, Sammy wasn't used to the snow. She was from California. Of course, it was nothing to Gabe. She knew he was having a good laugh.

"But I don't want you to freeze," he thought they should see if they could find a deal on a coat. She needed to be ready for this kind of weather. They'd been putting it off far too long. They went shopping on Black Friday and found some deals on sweaters and winter coats. She said she had plenty of long dresses and leggings. 

It was a delight. Watching what the other might pick for each other. It was good to see how much they liked that was alike. She knew it was silly and there was so much she should have been serious about, but it was a laugh just spending the day together.

Later, she was worried about Pan.

"Have you talked to him?" She asked.

"Oh, he's not going to say anything," Gabe reminded her how disgruntled he was by the plate of Thanksgiving food they brought him. "He doesn't even like turkey."

They'd visited Cam's and also went to Gabe's mother's house to have an evening meal. She asked about him too. He wouldn't take her calls or anything. She sounded as if she blamed herself for everything.

"He's just stubborn, Mom," Gabe told her. 

"I just hope he's not sick," she'd said then and Sammy remembered.

"We should check on him," she said. Naturally, she went to the kitchen and made potato soup and put together some sandwiches. She packed it all up to send Gabe on his way.

"I'm not going alone," Gabe shook his head, no. "He'll be angry with me."

"Fine." She didn't believe that. Perhaps it was the only way his brother knew how to cope. "Maybe Roxann will be there."

But she wasn't. Pan looked as if he hadn't changed in days. He smelled of rancid socks. The place was a mess.

Sammy went to wash dishes and pick up the laundry to wash. Yet, the bathroom was the worst. She knew Rox never saw it anymore. The main bathroom Rox used was pleasant and neat. This was the side of the apartment where Pan lived that needed care. 

"Just leave it," Gabe didn't want her doing anymore chores. 

"Pan, what's wrong with you?" Gabe scolded him. "You need to stop feeling sorry for yourself."