Title: Seven Days to Noon

Series: Breakthrough (Part 11)

Author: Alan Hitchen

Email: darkmere2000@yahoo.co.uk

Archive: http://www.realmoftheshadow.com/alan.htm

Disclaimer: Popular is the property of Touchstone Television.

Pairing: Sam/Nicole

Rating: PG-13

Information: Follows on from Me and Brookie McQueen

Summary: Mary Cherry makes a big splash and Nicole makes a hasty decision.

Monday.

"So, Harrison, how did it go?" asked Lily. Harrison just gave out a strangulated groan and banged his head on his locker door. "That good, huh? No one turn up?"

Harrison turned to face Lily and the others now gathered round. "It was a sell-out," he replied with a broad grin.

"We were turned away at the door," Carmen confirmed, Josh nodding in agreement. "The man at the door said something about a private party and the place being fully booked, but it looked empty to us."

"A private party. Yeah, someone booked the entire restaurant just to see me. Guess who that was?"

"Coo-ee! Joe!" Mary Cherry burst through the cordon of his friends and took Harrison into her mink-clad embrace before swiftly turning her attention to the others. "Joe and ah have a lil' ol' announcement to make," she said. Then, flashing a ring bearing a diamond as big as a sugar cube she added, "Joe... ah mean, Harrison and ah are engaged to be married." 

The wave of silence rippled down the busy corridor as everyone gawped in astonishment at the happy couple.

"Ah'm also pleased to announce that Mary Cherry Enterprises, ah subidiary of the Cherry Cherry Corporation, has signed the talented young artist formerly known as Harrison to an exclusive recording contract."

"Formerly known as?" said Lily.

"Exclusive contract?" said Carmen.

"Nice rock, Cherry," said Nicole.

"Engaged? Harrison, you love Brooke don't you, so when did you jump the shark?" said Sam, pulling him to one side as the others gathered around Mary Cherry's dazzling bling.

Harrison gave another grin. "She caught me by surprise. I was going to say no but it came out yes. I mean, why look a gift horse in the mouth? And besides, she'd already bought the ring."

"Harrison," Sam reprimanded, "you do know she's just using you to upstage her mom because she's marrying Erik Estrada?"

"Yeah, how cool is that?" Sam just glared in response. "Okay, okay, the using bit isn't cool, but it's not just that, she really does like me and I've made her so happy, is that so bad?"

"No," Sam sighed, "I suppose. But what about Emory?"

"Oh, yeah, I'll need to tell him to stand down Emma and Emily. I don't think Mary Cherry is too keen on groupies, even pretend ones."

"And...?"

A guilty expression crossed Harrison's face. "And that he's not my manager anymore."

"But he's your friend." And wanted to be more than a friend, Sam thought.

"It's called showbusiness, Sam, not showfriends," he replied, repeating the words Mary Cherry had used.

"Harrison, you are such a jerk!"

"Thanks, I love you too," he snarked back.

And with that Harrison turned back to join his fiance, who was eagerly telling the others about the 70's-style engagment party to be held at the roller-rink the following week.

Tuesday.

"And how are you today?" Poppy enquired, linking arms with her fellow cheerleader as they strolled out for practice together.

Brooke smiled, tossing her flaxen locks into the refreshing breeze. "I've re-enrolled at the eating disorder clinic and will be returning for intensive therapy sessions with Dr Muller. She assures me if I get this fixed everything else will follow."

"Good for you."

"Thanks." Brooke scanned the area, the field was empty, no other cheerleaders, or anyone else for that matter, could be seen. "Where is everyone? No, don't tell me, they have lives and we have practice."

"And the Nixon game next week."

"And the Nixon game," Brooke sighed. "They have ten cheerleaders, five yell-kings and a 'tricky dicky' mascot. Tell me again, Poppy, why do we even bother?"

Wednesday.

"So, what do you usually do in the summer?" asked Josh, joining his girlfriend on her bed.

"Go to fat camp, you?" replied Carmen.

"Go to football camp."

"Don't fancy yours much," they said together, then burst into mutual laughter.

"Mom can't afford camp, so I won't be going this year," said Josh. "Which is why I asked."

"Lucky you. It's not as if I ever wanted to go. Unlike that flute girl in 'American Pie' you never hear me say: "one time when I was in fat camp," do you."

"So, what do you want to do?"

Carmen snuggled closer. "Anything so long as I'm with you."

Thursday.

Mary Cherry, misinterpreting Brooke's demeanour, decided to offer her some useful advice.

"Don't fret, hun, there's someone out there for you. You know Stone Cold has broken up with April Tuna? Ah heah he was exhausted by her constant sexual demands. So ah think you'd be perfect for him."

Brooke glowered at the implication. "Because I'm a frigid lesbian?" she hissed.

"No, silly, because he needs to get popular again and you need a date."

"Is this a private conversation or can anyone join in?" enquired Ms Glass, wearing an unnervingly friendly smile.

"Prahvate."

"Oh, what a pity, because I was going to make you repeat it for the whole class to enjoy!"

"But..."

"Mary Cherry, do you have anything to say about the subject at hand, or, seeing as you haven't even opened your book yet, do you have any idea what it is?"

"Well, no."

"Well then, enjoy your F!"

Friday.

Alone in the Novak, Lily stared at her reflection in the mirror until, as if by magic, another face appeared behind her. "All my friends are sleeping with the enemy now. Popular, unpopular, boyfriend, girlfriend, where do I fit in, Sam?" she asked plaintively.

Sam moved closer. "Is that what this is really all about, everyone's found someone but you?"

"No... Maybe," Lily conceded and turned to her friend. "Carmen is happy with Josh, Harrison is making a fool of himself with..."

Sam interrupted. "Yeah, I'm hoping the Rohypnol is going to wear off soon."

Lily almost laughed. "Me too, but what I was going to say is... are you sure you're not being a fool as well?"

"I'm sure. I'm very sure. Nicole, the real Nicole, the one I've got to know, the one I fell in love with, she's the one for me. And there'll be someone for you, I promise."

"You sure?" said Lily, now verging on tears.

Sam hugged Lily close and kissed her on the forehead. "I'm very sure," she said.

Saturday.

Sam stopped her car outside the Julian mansion and leaned over to kiss Nicole goodnight. Afterward the strangely pensive blonde finally spoke her mind.

"I've been thinking of telling Judy about us. She's not been the best mom in the world I'll admit, but she's the only one I've got and she's always been honest with me, so I think I owe her that at least."

"O-kay," Sam said cautiously, wondering why Nicole hadn't spoken of this before. "Do you want me to come in with you?"

"No, thanks, but no. I'd best do it alone and I'll tell you what happened tomorrow. It'll be fine," she reassured, getting out of the car, "really, it will. Goodnight, Sam."

"Goodnight, Nicole," said Sam. "I love you," she added. She sat there, waiting until Nicole entered the house, then drove away in some confusion.

...

"Mom." Judy looked up from her desk in surprise. Since learning the truth about her origins Nicole had never called her that. "Mom, I have something to say to you."

"Don't hover, Nicole, you make the place look untidy," Judy snapped automatically without really meaning to.

Nicole sat down heavily, already she knew it was going wrong, but, as Sam had often said, "nothing ventured nothing gained".

"I'm a lesbian," she stated bluntly.

"Oh." Judy didn't know quite how to react. She'd noticed that Nicole had been much happier of late. She'd half-suspected drink or drugs and had done some discreet checking to rule it out, but this was straight out of left field.

"And before you ask. It isn't a fashion statement, it's who I am, it's who I've always been."

"Oh?" Judy stonewalled.

"I have a girlfriend," Nicole continued. "We've been together for some time now... I love her very much and I want to be open and honest with you about it, about her."

"Oh!" Rising alarm made Judy's heart pound in her chest as she considered the implications. Open? Honest? Out? "No!"

"What?"

"No, Nicole, this cannot be."

"But it is."

"Does anyone else know?"

"A few of my friends. I'm not looking to broadcast this. I know it could be awkward for you."

"Awkward. Awkward! That's the understatement of the year! I'm running for State Senator. I can't afford a scandal of any kind."

"But, Mom, I..."

"No buts, Nicole, I forbid you to see this... person."

"It's Sam, her name is Sam."

"Your journalist friend? The one who edits the school newspaper? It gets worse and worse! What are you thinking, Nicole? This is totally unacceptable."

"But, Mom."

"No! I forbid it."

"You can't."

Judy rose to her full height as Nicole felt herself shrink to the size of a Barbie doll. "I can and I will. Either you break off with Sam at once, or I send you to a Swiss finishing school. It's your choice, Nicole, Sam or Switzerland, what will it be?"

Sunday.

Nicole could barely look at Sam let alone say the words, but say them she did, in a tearful whisper she choked them out one by one as if they were made of broken glass.

"I'm sorry, Sam, but it's over between us."