Title: The First Step

Author: Alan Hitchen

Email: darkmere2000@yahoo.co.uk

Disclaimer: Popular is the property of Touchstone Television

Pairing: None as such

Rating: PG-13

Information: Follows on from Friend or Foe?

Summary: Things start to look up for Nicole

Proverb: Confess that you were wrong yesterday; it will show that you are wise today

Brooke laughed heartily at Mary Cherry's feeble joke in the vain hope that she might catch Josh's attention. But, as she could see from the corner of her eye, he and Carmen were too busy billing and cooing at each other like a pair of lovebirds to even notice, let alone look her way. As she continued to smile and nod at whatever Mary Cherry was babbling on about she inwardly groaned. It wasn't that she didn't want Josh to be happy, but that he was supposed to be happy with her.

Looking back, Brooke realised just how badly she had treated Josh. Dating a girl with what seemed to be permanent PMS must have been a strain, but he'd stuck with her, right up to the moment she'd dropped him like a used tissue. He'd wanted to get back with her, and she let him think that he had, then dropped him again.

Seeing how happy Carmen made him only rubbed salt into this self-inflicted wound. But it could have been worse. Sam had turned him down, and for that she was thankful, but what if he had chosen Nicole... She shot a quick glance behind her. There she was, all alone... with Sam!

Sam smiled at Nicole. "Okay, I'll be you friend, but there are some conditions, I don't want to lose my real friends over this, Brooke will have to wait for the moment, but you can apologise to the others now."

Nicole looked like she'd just been asked to wear Gap instead of Gucci. "Apologise for what?!"

Sam stood up to go. "Have it your way. Enjoy your meal."

"No! Please. I'll do it," Nicole said with a note of panic in her voice, "I'll do anything you want."

Sam sat down again with a sigh. "I don't want you to do it because I say so. I want you to do it because it's the right thing to do. Look, think it over, what do you want? To be friendless and popular, or to have friends and not be so popular?" She stood up again. "The choice is yours, let me know what you decide."

Sam returned to her table, fielding an angry glare from Brooke as she did so. Everyone looked at her questioningly as she took her place. "What?" she asked.

"Why did you go sit with Nicole? She's Satan, the Devil incarnate, or so you've told us often enough, though I for one need no convincing of that fact," Carmen said with feeling.

"I've always thought she was kinda cute... in a devilish sort of way," Josh quickly added.

Carmen poked him not so gently in the ribs. "Shut up, Josh, you've slept with her so your opinion doesn't count. Harrison, what do you say?"

"Errr, ummm."

"Lily?"

"I hate her heinous ass."

"So it's agreed then, we all hate Nicole Julian. We thought you did too. So what's going on?"

"Nothing," Sam replied innocently, and took a bite from her apple. The others rolled their eyes at that statement as they realised yet another stage of the Sam/Brooke war had begun.

Later that day, back at the Palace, Brooke was steamed. "Do you do it deliberately? I say one thing then you do another? And don't try to deny it. I saw you at lunch, making kissy faces at Nicole."

"I was so not making kissy faces at Nicole," Sam protested.

"Well, whatever you were doing, you were doing it to annoy me weren't you?"

"Given that everything I do annoys you, then I guess the answer would be yes."

"So you admit it!"

"I admit nothing. Not everything I do is about you, Brooke. Nicole came to me for help. I'm giving it to her. I'd do the same for you. And to prove it I'll give you some advice as well. Josh is happy with Carmen, he's moved on, why don't you do the same?" In response Brooke simply glowered at Sam, snatched up her books and left the room in a hurry. "Strike two," Sam said to herself with a shrug.

The next day, Nicole nervously approached Sam and her friends who were gathered at the lockers. "Sam, Carmen, Josh, Lily, Harrison." Having gained their attention, she took a deep breath before continuing. "I'm sorry for all I've said and done to you. I wish I could take it all back but I can't. I'm sorry."

"Is Prada doing a sale on sackcloth and ashes?" Carmen asked dryly, noting the sombre outfit that had been chosen to match Nicole's mood.

"Not sorry enough," was Lily's observation before turning back to her locker to retrieve her books.

Harrison and Josh looked at each other with a 'What's going on?' expression.

Only Sam stepped forward to accept Nicole's apology, and did so with a hug. "Thanks, Nic." She then turned to the others. "C'mon guys, Nicole's making an effort here, can't you meet her halfway?"

"No," said Carmen, dragging Josh away with her.

"No," Lily agreed, doing the same with Harrison.

"I knew this wouldn't work," Nicole said in a dull tone, but was then surprised to find a hand slipping into hers. "I'm still here, Nic," said Sam. "You've taken the first step. I'm proud of you."

I'm proud of you. Nicole had never heard these words before, they gave her a warm feeling inside. Perhaps this wasn't going to be so bad after all.