Love's Least Wanted

by: Balticbard

website; http://www.geocities.com/balticbard/index.html

Chapter 4; Love Lost. Love Found?

"How could I have been such a fool?" Sam berated herself privately as she walked arm, in arm into Kennedy with her current boyfriend, Harrison, "how could I have possibly convinced myself that I had a chance with Brooke?" the memory of her lanky step-sister's cruel words and laughter at the brunette's declaration of love, brought a stab of pain to her still wounded heart, and a slew of unshed tears to her dark eyes that the girl fought to contain, "she didn't choose me. . .she didn't choose me," Sam sighed to herself as her inner voice chanted its doomed mantra of despair.

"Why so gloomy?"

Sam looked up into her lanky lover's adoring, dark eyes, and smiled beautifully up at him, "its almost summer. School will be over soon."

"But summer is the best time," Harrison declared resolutely, and all teenagers love being out of school," he hugged his forlorn, dark lover, "I just don't get your darkness."

Sam's inner will moved quickly to the muscles of her face, and she brightened despite the hidden turmoil in her heart, "if I smile at all, Harry. . .its because of you." Her reply was a genial one, as Samantha inwardly scampered one more day to try, and somehow heal the deep wound in her broken heart from Brooke's rejection of her, "she'll never want me. Its too late anyway. She thinks that I'm nothing but dirt. I have to go on and not pine for her. I have my pride. And. . .I have Harrison. He loves me so much. I have to love him. I HAVE to love him!" Sam leaned into the familiar, masculine warmth that held her, "kiss me, babe!"

"I aim to please my lady," Harrison whispered, as he leaned down, and captured his beguiling girl's lips with his own. Harrison kissed Sam's full lips with all the passion of his soul, yet he felt a strange coldness emanate from the girl toward him, and an odd void growing in his own heart for his Samantha, "something just isn't right about this!" the boy worried inwardly, "I've dreamed of this all of my life. Of Sam being mine!" Yet his heart was discontent, "I don't feel right. Its almost as if she doesn't love me. And I think that I don't really love her either. . .that it was all a dream."

Meanwhile, not too far away, unbeknownst to the lovers, Brooke walked by slowly, arm in arm with her lover, Nicole. Brooke's alert gaze caught sight of Harrison kissing Sam, and her heart became filled with pain, anger, jealousy, "that could have been me holding Sam. That could have been me kissing her. It SHOULD be me. But its too late. I've lost my only chance to be happy. She loves Harrison now."

When their kiss ended, the lovers snapped back to reality; they were standing outside of their home room.

"Damn!"

"What is it, Sam?"

"Mary Cherry is staring at us again, Harry!"

"Where is she?"

"Over there, Harrison. . .standing on the corner. . .near the stairs."

Harrison glanced in the direction that Sam had indicated, and noticed Mary Cherry waving, then smiling brightly at him, "oh."

"Is that all you're going to say?" Samantha asked angrily, "that bitch is stalking you!"

"Well at least she really LOVES me!" Harrison snapped back.

"What the hell is that remark supposed to mean?"

"You don't love me, Sam."

"How can you even say that, Harry? I gave you my virginity for God's sake!"

"I gave you mine too, Sam. But its not enough. Something is missing in you!" Harrison turned, and started to walk away from Samantha.

"Wait!" Sam cried in desperation, "let's talk this over."

"I don't want to!" Harrison replied angrily.

"Stop being a spoiled brat, Harry!"

"Don't judge me, Sam. I'm right about us!"

"We've only been together for a month! Give us a chance!"

"We don't fit, Sam."

"What the hell do you mean, Harrison?"

"I want out!"

"Now?" Sam was horrified, "but we. . ."

"Let's just keep this last month as a wonderful memory we'll always share," Harrison concluded, "we were never meant to be a couple!"

Sam's hand came up quickly, and she slapped the boy's face, "you took advantage of me!"

"You did the same to me!" Harrison replied as he touched his burning cheek, "you used me. You love someone else!"

Sam stepped back in shock as she watched Mary Cherry rush toward Harrison, and hug him tightly.

"Did she hurtya, Joe?" the southern blond asked her dream of love.

"No," the boy replied quietly.

"Harry!" Sam exclaimed, her soul afire with anger and indignation, "don't do this!"

"I can do whatever I want, Sam. Its over between us!" Harrison declared loudly, firmly as he wrapped his arm around Mary Cherry's waist, and led her away.

Mary Cherry gave Sam one, last look of utter evil, joyous triumph as she walked away with Harrison.

Sam was so shocked, that for several seconds she could neither move nor speak. Eventually the girl recovered from her daze and was able to form thoughts again, "what the hell just happened here?" Then the school bell rang, signaling the start of the next class, and Sam's nerves almost exploded, "damn. . ." the girl was furious, "biology is next. I have both Harrison and Mary Cherry in that class. . .and. . .Brooke! I wish I could just skip bio today. I just can't stand to see Harry with that blond witch!" Sam knew that she had never been truly in love with Harrison, but she still loved him in her own way.

The two of them had belonged intimately to each other, "its not like I didn't feel anything for him! I did. I loved him. I tried so hard to fall IN love with him. . .but I just couldn't. I just can't seem to tear Brooke out of my heart no matter how hard I try!"

"Hey. . .Sam."

A quiet voice woke Sam from her turbulent thoughts. Sam looked up to see who had called her, "oh. . .hi, Emory." The girl's face brightened, and she smiled at the boy. Samantha felt a sudden sympathy at the sight of the short, blond, usually clownish boy. Sam didn't understand just why, but Emory seemed to spark something inside of her, "what's up?"

"Actually," the boy said with concern, "what matters to me is what's up with you, Sam."

"Harrison just broke up with me," Sam replied quietly.

"That was a stupid thing to do," Emory said quickly, in great disbelief, "is he a damn fool?"

"You're not on his side then?" Sam asked with a surprised smile.

"No, Sam," Emory blushed, "don't you know by now who's side I've always been on?"

"I thought that you were Harrison's buddy, Emory."

"It was all just an excuse, Sam," the boy said breathlessly, "I just wanted to be near you."

Samantha's pale forehead became creased, her dark brows furrowed as she looked strangely at Emory, "really?"

"Absolutely," Emory said firmly, "I'm always on your side no matter what, Sam. I'm YOUR buddy."

Sam was taken aback by Emory's sudden confession, and she was speechless for several seconds. At first Sam didn't know what to do or say, so she just stared at Emory, and watched him squirm and blush.

Then, as Sam looked at the boy, a strange sensation seemed to overcome her. It seemed to the beautiful brunette that she was seeing Emory for the very first time. The girl's dark eyes bored into him, noticing every detail about his person; his clothes were too big for his slender frame, his thick, stubborn hair was a mess, his freckles looked like a constant revolution in progress, his trembling, thin lips always seemed to twitch slightly due to his nervous disposition, his nose seemed out of place, his shiny eyes seemed always to be filled with anxiety. Emory was a complete mess of uneven details that didn't seem to fit right. Emory wasn't handsome or tall, and would never catch any girl's eyes. Yet with all of his imperfections, Emory had a special quality that had been hidden to Sam's eyes until that moment; something which made him inexplicably irresistible, and had now caught the girl's tender heart in its fierce spell, "what do you think of me, Emory?"

"I think that you are a queen, Sam," the boy replied quietly, with a smile going from his lips to his eyes.

Sam didn't know or would ever understand just what happened next, but she felt something burst inside of her. At that moment, Sam felt a wave of deep tenderness rise inside of her, and to her Emory seemed absolutely cute and endearing, "I'm am so going to be late for bio!"

"We're both going to be late, Sam. I'm in that class too!"

"I know you are."

"You noticed me, Sam?"

"I always do," the girl whispered softly.

"You're the only one who does," Emory said with a sigh.

"I wish I could skip bio, though," Sam replied sadly.

"Yeah," Emory said, "because you're secretly in love with Brooke, Harrison dumped you, and you hate Mary Cherry who just stole him from you!"

Sam's mouth dropped open, her eyes widened, "how did you know about. . .Brooke?"

"I watch you all of the time, Sam. I can see what's going on in your eyes."

"You sound more like a stalker to me, Emory!"

"Yeah," the boy smiled again, "a harmless, lovesick one with no hope!"

"And?"

"And I am also your friend, Sam. Let's walk into bio together!" Emory gallantly offered Samantha his arm.

"Lead on, my lord," the girl giggled as she accepted his arm, then walked down the hall with her companion toward their next class together.

Brooke sat at the table that she shared with Sam in their biology class. Most of the room was still empty because the lanky girl had arrived ten minutes too early. The blond waited eagerly, fidgeting nervously in her chair, for Sam to come sit beside her. For that one hour of the school day, Brooke would have Sam all to herself, despite the other students, and the teacher, Ms. Glass. For that one hour, Brooke would pretend that she and Sam were completely alone. In that brief time, the cheerleader would be able to touch Sam's arm casually, or take the girl's hand in her own in a friendly manner, even though inwardly it meant more to Brooke. Brooke had reluctantly accepted that Sam now belonged to Harrison, but resolutely refused to give up hope completely of the girl ever being lost to her. It hurt Brooke tremendously to see her dream girl in Harrison's arms, to see him kiss her, touch her freely.

It hurt Brooke to watch the lovers, but something compelled her to do so, and she began to notice things about them. Brooke noticed that there was a kind of void between Sam and Harrison, a coldness that she had never seen in any other couple that was supposedly in love, "maybe they really aren't in love," Brooke's heart soared with hope, "maybe she just went to him because she was despondent over my turning her down for Nic! Maybe things will work out, and Sam will be mine soon!" Brooke continued to quietly watch the lovers, and the growing void between them which both fascinated and intrigued her. Now Brooke waited breathlessly for Sam, trying to hide her amorous feelings for her brunette from her lover, Nicole, who sat at the table that was right in front of hers. Nicole turned around, and smiled at her.

"Hey, Brookie," Nicole husked intimately, then winked, and licked her lips suggestively, "how's my baby?" Brooke smiled shyly, and blushed as she once again recalled their lovemaking. Brooke was about to reply, but she looked up at the classroom entrance, and almost gagged at what she saw; Harrison walking in, arm in arm with a very pleased Mary Cherry. Brooke's hazel eyes nearly exploded from her head at the sight, which made a suddenly surprised Nicole turn around herself to see what had frightened her girlfriend.

"What is this?" Nicole got up from her chair, and confronted Harrison and Mary Cherry, "what's going on here MC? What are you doing with this. . .this. . .LOSER?"

"Don'tcha call mah man ah loooozah!" Mary Cherry blasted back at Nicole.

"You gotta be kidding!" Nicole blasted back as she pushed Mary Cherry, "the word MAN is too big on this jerk!"

"Hey!" Harrison interjected, "don't call me that!"

"Shut up!" Nicole shouted.

"Ya'lls jus jealous!" Mary Cherry pushed Nicole back.

"Pathetic bitch!" Nicole snapped as she pushed Mary Cherry back.

"Ah ain't takin no more shit from you, Nic," Mary Cherry replied, "ah gots Joe now. Ah don't care what ya'll thinks no how!"

"Figures," Nicole said with a sneer, "you always were stupid, MC!"

"Hey. . .don't talk to her that way!" Harrison exclaimed.

"Stay out of this, loser!" Nicole shot back.

"He kin say whatevah he wants!" Mary Cherry shouted at Nicole.

"Not around me!" Nicole shouted back at the graceful southern girl. Nicole and Mary Cherry pushed each other back and forth, with a shocked Harrison stuck in between the two girls, as he tried to evade their shoving motions.

Brooke was totally speechless as she watched the goings on before her, but once more she was shocked beyond thought as another impossible vision appeared before her eyes; Samantha walked into the classroom arm in arm with Emory Dick, "what the hell is going on here?"

Lilly Esposito, and Carmen Ferrara were huddled at the far end of the classroom together, talking and laughing as they cast loving glances at each other, and their touches were romantic. But the two girls ended their obvious love fest when their shocked eyes beheld Sam and Emory together. Lil and Carmen quickly left their romantic corner, then dashed to the front of the room, past an altercation already in progress between Nicole, Mary Cherry and Harrison, and confronted the newly arrived pair.

"Sam? Are you insane?" Lilly was scandalized, "what are you doing with this jerk?"

"Yeah, Sam!" Carmen added, "you can't hang around with trash!"

"I can't even believe that you two are saying that about Emory!" Sam replied energetically, "what's come over you two?"

"The only thing coming over us is common sense, Sam," Lilly said calmly, "we don't want you to hang out with Emory!"

"He's not your kind," Carmen added firmly.

"What? Am I supposed to be some kinda queen?" Sam was perplexed, "I expected this kind of prejudice from Nicole, not you guys!"

"I truly resent what you two are saying about me!" Emory interjected as he glared angrily at both Lilly and Carmen.

"Shut up!" both Lilly and Carmen said in unison to the startled boy.

"Don't talk to him that way!" Sam said passionately.

"We can talk to him anyway we please!" Carmen snapped back at Sam, "you're supposed to be on our side anyways!"

"I didn't think I would ever see the day YOU would become a damn bully, Carm!"

A confused, shocked Brooke watched the proceedings in silence, as her heart raced, wondering what was going on, "if anybody touches my Sammy. . .I am so getting involved in this huge shit!"

Meanwhile, amid Nicole and Mary Cherry's shouting match, Harrison somehow looked away. The lanky boy noticed the heated scene between his friends, Lilly, Carmen, and. . . "what is going on over there? Is that Sam with. . .Emory?" Harrison felt a primal rage flood his heated heart as he recalled the fact that he had deflowered the beguiling Samantha, and his virility kicked in along with his ancient, subconscious, bestial tendency to think that the girl was his property, "why is that son of a bitch with her anyway? Is he trying to move in on MY turf?" Harrison quickly slipped away from Mary Cherry's side, and moved to where Emory stood. Harrison exploded in a jealous rage as he shoved the shorter, more slender, and apparently more fragile Emory to the floor, "get away from Sam!"

"Hey. . .ugh!" Emory cried as he went down, his arms flailing.

Samantha turned away from her ongoing conflict with Lilly and Carmen, only to see her ex-lover, Harrison shoving Emory away from her side. Sam's maternal instincts were awakened, along with her newly discovered romantic feelings for Emory, and she quickly became his fierce protector, "HOW DARE YOU!" the girl shouted, "leave Emory alone, you. . .you BULLY!"

Before an even larger shouting match and fight developed between Harrison, Sam and the others, Ms. Glass walked into the classroom. Instantly, everyone went into silent mode, and scurried to their respective seats.

"Well. . .good evening, you miserable specimens of adolescence!" Ms. Glass exclaimed in her usual, sour mood, "class begins!"

Sam reluctantly sat down at her table, beside Brooke. The gorgeous brunette glared angrily at Harrison who now sat at the table in front of her, next to Nicole. "Asshole!" Sam whispered hoarsely at her ex-lover.

"Slut!" Harrison replied with equal vehemence in a low tone of voice.

Harrison glared back at Sam with smouldering eyes that conveyed nothing but jealous wrath, until Nicole nudged him in the ribs, thus preventing him from attracting Ms. Glass's scrutiny which was wandering suspiciously in his, and Sam's direction, "can it, loser," Nicole whispered. Harrison turned his evil glare on Nicole, who glared back, and growled dangerously, thus frightening the boy, making him shy away from the little blond.

"All right, you overt morons," Ms. Glass continued, "today we will study the mating habits of the Arctic penguins."

Samantha sat sullenly with her brow furrowed, her thoughts distant, until she felt a gentle touch upon her free hand. When Sam looked away from Ms. Glass, and down at her hand, the girl noticed that Brooke had taken possession of it. Sam looked at her step-sister in confusion, and was bombarded by the lanky girl's amorous stare.

"What?" Sam asked.

"You okay, Sam?" Brooke asked in a whisper.

"Yeah," Sam said softly. Brooke said no more as she looked away from the dark beauty beside her. The lanky cheerleader's eyes were dutifully upon the teacher's form, but her heart was with her Samantha. Brooke continued to lovingly cradle Sam's hand within her own larger one, and refused to release it during the entire class.

Finally the biology class ended, and Ms. Glass announced it in a loud voice, "it's over for today, social rejects! Now get out of my sight!" the woman shouted as she left the room.

Once the class was over, Samantha and Harrison were free to viciously go after each other's throats with such fierceness, that they startled the usually evil Nicole, and lovesick Brooke into silence.

"We just broke up this morning, Sam!" Harrison complained loudly, "and you already have a replacement. . .barf bag Emory?"

"You started this, Harrison!" the girl blasted back, "you broke up with me. . .not me with you! Its all YOUR fault. Now you went and got all touchy feely with the bride of Frankenstein!"

"You two broke up?" Brooke asked suddenly interrupting the shouting match between the angry ex-lovers, as a glorious smile lit her pretty face.

"Yeah!"

"Why are you suddenly so happy?" Nicole asked suspiciously as she eyed her tall lover, Brooke, "why does it matter so much to you?"

Meanwhile, the heated battle between Harrison and Sam continued only a few feet away.

"Don't you EVER talk to me again!" Sam shouted at the lanky boy.

"Hey that's fine with me!" Harrison yelled back at his once, beloved dream of womanhood, "I don't care!"

"I don't care either!"

"Fine!"

"Will you two losers just shut up?" Nicole yelled at the feuding couple.

"Shut up, Satan!" both Harrison and Sam yelled back in unison.

"I'm outta here!" Harrison shouted angrily, "I don't want to see you ever again!" the boy stomped out with an anxious Mary Cherry following close behind him.

"I don't care either, you. . .you FREAK LOVER!" Sam replied in a dark fervor of wrath, "good riddance!" then she walked toward the door.

Brooke gathered her books, with the intention of following her wraithlike step-sister out the door, but Nicole stepped in front of her.

"Wait a minute, Brookie. Why are you getting all goofy for Spam?"

"Um. . ." the lanky blond was nervous now, "I don't know what you mean, Nic."

"Oooohhh yes you do, B!" Nicole declared, as she put her hands on her hips.

Meanwhile, outside the classroom, out in the hall, a smiling Emory approached Samantha, who smiled in return at the boy.

"Hey Sam."

"Hey Emory."

"Thanks for defending me in bio, Sam," the boy looked down, then shyly peeked up at the girl.

"Anytime, Emory. We're buds."

"Yeah."

"Yeah," Samantha was now quite delighted with the usually clownish boy.

Suddenly, Lilly and Carmen came up to the impromptu couple, and roughly separated them, pushing Emory against the wall.

"HEY!" Samantha shouted, as she tried to shield Emory from the other two girls, "stop that! Leave him alone!"

"Are you defending him, Sam?" Lilly asked in a heated tone of voice.

"What's come over you guys?" Sam was scandalized, "why are you abusing Emory?"

"We don't like his kind, Sam!" Carmen exclaimed.

"I thought our group was fair!" Sam interjected, "we're not like Nicole!"

"Its Emory or us!" Carmen shouted, "you have to choose, Sam."

"Are you crazy, Carm? Why are you doing this?"

"Choose right now, Sam!" Lilly declared fervently.

"I. . .I can't!"

"Don't do this to her!" Emory yelled at both Lilly and Carmen, then he looked at Sam, "don't Sam. Stay with them. I'll leave right now."

"Its not fair, Emory," Sam exclaimed, "you haven't hurt anyone. You shouldn't be treated like trash!"

"You like Emory, Sam?" Lilly asked, shocked at such a possibility happening.

"He. . ." Sam hesitated for an instant, "he's my friend!"

"Just fine," Carmen interjected, "you just chose him over us, Sam. Once and for all!"

"Yeah! You don't hang out with us anymore, Sam!" Lilly snapped angrily.

"Fine with me!" Samantha replied fiercely.

Lilly and Carmen said no more, but turned their backs on Sam, and walked away arm in arm.

"What the hell is going on with those two?" Sam asked in confusion, "they were fighting two weeks ago!"

"They're lovers now," Emory replied quietly as he stood proudly at Sam's side, his chest almost exploding with joy that the gorgeous girl had chosen him over her other friends.

"What?"

"Didn't you know?"

"No. . .I didn't," Sam sighed as she watched her retreating friends, "I guess I was just lying to myself. They were never my friends. Looks like I'm a loner again."

"Just like me, Sam," Emory said softly as he smiled at the girl of his dreams.

"Yeah," Sam smiled back sweetly.

"Pals?" Emory asked as he blushed.

"Pals," the girl replied, sealing their new pact.

Meanwhile, Brooke watched Nicole and Mary Cherry who had started arguing hotly once more. But to Brooke, the words that the two girls spewed in anger went unnoticed, for her mind was on a certain brunette beauty named Sam, "she broke up with Harrison!" the girl was gushing, "she's free now. She's gonna be my girl!" And while Brooke mused upon her beguiling Samantha. . .her friends engaged in a fierce superiority fight a few feet away.

"How can you like a peniless jerk like him, Mary Cherry?"

"Ah jus do! It ain't non o yer bizness no how, Nic!"

"Oh yes it is my business," Nicole replied curtly, "I made you what you are, MC! You belong to me! I decide who you fall in love with!"

"Now ah knows why Sammy calls ya'll Satan, Nic. Yo's a bitch!"

"I demand that you dump Harrison right now, MC!"

"I won't!" Mary Cherry stomped stubbornly.

"Then you're out of our group, MC! And you can kiss the Glamazons goodbye! You are no longer a cheerleader!"

"You kaint do that!" Mary Cherry cried with tears in her eyes, "ya'll kaint!"

"I own the Glamazons!" Nicole said coldly, "my mom is their biggerst patron!"

"Brooke!" Mary Cherry cried in desperation, "please help me! Nic's a-bullyin me!"

"Brooke?" Nicole turned to look at her pretty, blond lover.

Brooke couldn't bear it any longer, and left the classroom, then rushed down the hall to where Sam stood, still talking to Emory.

"Sammy?" Brooke asked as she rushed up to her step-sibling.

"Um. . .yes?" Sam was quite surprised at seeing Brooke approach her in such a happy state.

"Did you drive to school today, Sam?" Brooke asked, deliberately ignoring Emory.

"Yeah. . .I did, Brooke."

"Can you drive me home?"

"Sure," Sam replied, looking at her sister strangely, "are you alright, Brooke?"

"What do you mean?"

"You've never wanted to have anything to do with me," Sam replied, "especially a ride home or otherwise because it would degrade your 'reputation,' as you once put it!"

"Not anymore, Sammy," the blond said sweetly, batting her eyelashes flirtatiously at her brunette, "I think it's a start. . .we can bond. . .you know?"

"Uh. . .sure," Sam said, not quite sure at all.

Nicole went in search of her lover, leaving a wailing, piteous, pathetic Mary Cherry behind in the empty biology classroom, "where the hell did she go?"

Nicole was very angry now, "BROOKE?" Nicole's wrath was quite near the surface of her patient exterior when she saw Brooke out in the school hallway, seemingly involved in an enthusiastic conversation with. . . "HER!" the her in question being the beguiling Samantha. Nicole rushed up to Brooke, and grabbed her lover by the arm, "hey!"

"Oh. . .yeah. . .Nic," Brooke blubbered.

"Why did you leave me, B?"

"Um. . ." Brooke was very nervous, "Sam is driving me home today."

"But I always drive you home, Brooke!" Nicole couldn't hide the hurt in her voice.

"Not. . .today, Nic," Brooke sputtered, as she tried to excuse herself from her fiery lover. Today she HAD to be with Sam, "I'll call you tonight!"

"But. . ." Nicole wasn't about to let Brooke off so easily.

And while Brooke tried to be slippery, and Nicole tried to trap her, Sam and Emory gazed at each other in total delight.

"Um. . .Sam?"

"Yeah, Emory."

"Would. . .you. . .um. . ." Emory felt his heart beating madly, his body trembling, his palms became sweaty, "would. . .you..."

"Yeah?" Sam looked at the boy intensely, her dark eyes boring into him.

"Would you go out with me sometime?" Emory asked breathlessly, "sometime. . .no rush. . .I mean. . .you don't have to right away. . .if its too soon for you. . .or if you don't like me that way. . .we could just hang out like buds. . .cause that would be good for me too. . .just as long as I get to be near you. . .I mean. . .if you want to be buds with me. . .I mean. . ."

"Yes."

"What?"

Samantha rolled her eyes, and smiled, "you goof. Yes. I. Will. Go. Out. With. You."

"Just as buds. . ." Emory was crestfallen.

"Romantically," Sam interjected.

"Yeah?"

"Sure," the girl said with a giggle.

"REALLY?" Emory literally squealed like an excited girl.

"Of course," Samantha laughed, her heart light with joy, for she thought her young man was absolutely precious.

Emory and Sam took to gazing at each other in silence. Then, Emory reached out, and took Sam's hand in his own thin one. The boy's fingers interlaced with the gorgeous girl's own, pale digits tenderly. Samantha tightened her grip on Emory's hand gently, and gazed into his eyes.

"Sam?"

Emory let go of Samantha's delicate hand as their shared revelry was suddenly interrupted by Brooke coming up behind the girl.

"Yeah, Brooke," Sam said as she turned away from Emory, "ready to go?"

"Absolutely," Brooke said enthusiastically as she brazenly took Sam's hand in her own, and led her away. "Bye, Emory," Sam said as she momentarily turned back to look at her new love.

"Bye, Sammy!" Emory replied with a toothy grin, as his heart raced in a maddening beat of joy.

On the way to Sam's car, Brooke put her arm around Sam, and pulled the girl to her side, "I am so glad that you got rid of Harrison!"

"Um. . .why?" Once again, Sam was quite puzzled by Brooke's sudden effervescent friendliness.

"He was a jerk," Brooke replied.

"Yeah."

"And. . ."

"And?"

"Now we can spend some more time together, Sammy."

"Oh?" Sam furrowed her brow once more, as the strangeness, the irony of the entire situation overwhelmed her again.

"I'm driving!" Brooke laughed as she swiped the key from Samantha's hand.

"Hey!"

Later, on the drive home, Sam was quiet, and Brooke was nervously watching her.

"Sam?"

"Yeah, Brooke?"

"What happened between you and Harrison?"

"I don't really know," Sam admitted truthfully.

"What does that mean?"

"I just don't understand why," Sam continued, "last night we were just fine. Then, this morning we started arguing, and he just dumped me, then walked off with Mary Cherry."

"He's a total, humongous jerk!" Brooke declared.

"Yeah," Sam laughed.

"I know why," Brooke said quietly.

"What do you mean, Brooke?"

"I know why you two broke up, Sam."

"Oh?"

"You didn't love him, and he knew it."

"What makes you say that?" Samantha stared at Brooke, her eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and pain.

"Because you're not crying, Sammy," Brooke said softly, "people who are in love cry when they break up."

"Harrison said that to me this morning. I guess he was right. He didn't love me either," Sam admonished.

"I think he was just cruel," Brooke said angrily, which surprised Sam, "you lost your virginity to him! That counts for something!"

"I know," Sam looked down at her hands, "it was nice, but we weren't meant to be. It's better this way."

"I know exactly how you feel, Sam."

"You do?"

Both girls fell silent as a feeling of understanding came over them.

"I don't love Nic," Brooke said softly.

"But she loves you so very much," Sam replied, "which is something almost miraculous, because I don't think that she has any feelings at all."

"You're defending her?" Brooke was amazed at Sam's sudden fondness for Nicole.

"I guess I do have some pity in my heart," Sam laughed, somewhat bitterly, "I guess I'm not as devious and self-serving as you think that I am."

"I should never have said that to you," Brooke said guiltily.

"You meant it," Sam said with a sad sigh.

"I was wrong. I don't mean it now," Brooke replied.

"Just forget about it, Brooke. Its all in the past anyway."

"But. . .I do think about it, Sam," Brooke said hesitantly, "I think. . .about it all the time. . .about you being in love with me."

"Don't, Brooke," Sam said in a low, warning tone.

"We. . .I want to talk to you about it, Sam."

"No. Its over with."

"I'll let you go for now," Brooke said slowly, "but we have to talk about a lot of things, Sam."

"Hhhhmmmm."

"I'm breaking up with Nic tomorrow."

"What?"

"I said. . ."

"I heard you, Brooke. Don't do it."

"Are you kidding?"

"Give her a chance, Brooke. Give her time. Love doesn't come suddenly."

"I can't stand it," Brooke complained, for her body ached for Samantha instead of Nicole, "I can't."

"Give Nicole the chance that Harrison didn't give me, Brooke."

"Oh." Brooke was deflated by Sam's seeming determination to keep her with Nicole.

"Hey. . .we're home!" Sam declared happily.

"Can we watch some TV tonight? Just you and me?"

Brooke asked with a shy smile as she parked Sam's car in the driveway of the McQueen house.

"Sure," Sam replied with a grin.

"Yeah. . .great!" Brooke exclaimed, grinning like a goofy kid.

One hour later, Brooke and Sam were siting side by side on the living room couch watching television. The front door opened, and Jane walked in, tired from her job as a real estate agent.

"Hi mom," Brooke said happily.

"Hey mom," Sam said nonchalantly.

"Girls?" Jane smiled, relieved to see that her usually combative daughters were finally getting along so well, "how was your day?"

"Wonderful," Brooke said with a grin as she looked dreamily at her companion.

"Horrible!" Sam said angrily as she recalled that she had lost Harrison to Mary Cherry.

"Oh well," Jane said, as she leaned down, and placed a brief kiss on each girl's forehead, "dinner?"

"We ordered pizza, mom," Brooke replied, "Sam and I already ate ours. There's a whole pizza for you and dad in the microwave."

"Hhhhmmm. . .how considerate of you," Jane smiled as she climbed the stairs, "I'm taking a bath."

"Later mom," Sam replied absently.

Brooke smiled goofily as she snuggled closer to Sam who looked at her strangely.

"What?" Sam was drowning in irony as she recalled how Brooke used to treat her.

"Why are you looking at me like that, Sam?"

"Why are you being so nice to me all of a sudden, Brooke?"

"I just am," Brooke said quietly, still smiling, "I just wish we had more time to spend together."

"Yeah, I guess," Sam finally admitted.

"This is nice," Brooke said huskily as she threw an arm around Sam's shoulders.

"You're acting awfully strange, Brooke."

"Oh? Whatever do you mean?"

"You're acting like a cocky male making the moves on a girl he likes!" Sam declared.

"Heh," Brooke smirked.

"Yeah!"

"I know."

Suddenly the doorbell rang.

"Girls!" Jane yelled from the upstairs hallway, "get the door!"

"Okay, mom!" Sam replied as she reluctantly got up from the sofa, and away from Brooke's alluring warmth.

"Damn!" Brooke swore angrily for her seduction of Sam had been ruined. Sam opened the door, and was surprised to see Emory standing at the doorstep with a bouquet of flowers in his hand, and a cheesy grin on his face.

"Hey Sam!" Emory held out the bouquet in his hand to Sam.

"Hey Emory," Samantha replied as she took the flowers that the boy offered her.

Brooke looked up from the television, "who's there, Sam?" But no reply came from Samantha, so that Brooke got up from the couch, and went to see what was going on. Brooke was both shocked and disheartened to see Emory on the doorstep staring goofily at Sam who seemed to be staring adoringly back at him, "oh no. . ." Brooke's heart went cold for the boy and girl looked like lovers, "oh no."

Chapter 5; Emory's True Ways

"Things have certainly changed around here," Brooke said with a sigh as she looked around the cafeteria from her usual table.

"What do you mean, B?" Nicole asked as she opened her compact to check her make-up. Brooke chased a pea around on her plate with her fork as she mentally identified the faces that were at the table with her; Sugar Daddy, Nicole, Josh and his new love, Popita, "I just miss Mary Cherry, Nic. Can't you let her come back?"

"No," Nicole replied sharply, "not as long as she's dating that stupid neanderthal!"

"Its not such a big deal, Nic!" Brooke exclaimed.

"I gave her a clear choice, Brooke," Nicole narrowed her eyes at her lover, "she picked him over us."

Brooke glanced over at the table where Sam used to sit with Lilly, Carmen, and Harrison. Samantha was no longer there, much to Brooke's chagrin, and had been cast out of her circle of friends simply because she preferred Emory's company to their own. Brooke really couldn't see what the difference was, because in her opinion Emory was just as pathetic as Harrison, and just one more barrier between Sam and herself. Now, the place where Sam used to sit was ironically filled by Mary Cherry, who was very delightedly feeding an embarrassed, blushing Harrison amid Lilly and Carmen's frenzied giggles.

"Who would've thought it," Brooke said quietly, "Harrison dumping Sam for Mary Cherry."

"Damn bunch of losers can't keep their noise down," Nicole grumbled as she glanced over at the table that Mary Cherry now sat at with her new boyfriend, "I just can't believe how ungrateful that bitch is!" Nicole continued to complain angrily, "after all I did for her!"

"Just shut up, and leave Mary Cherry alone!" Josh interjected angrily, "she isn't your personal property. She can do whatever she damn wants!"

"All of the Glamazons are mine!" Nicole replied as she glanced murderously at handsome Josh.

"Not my girl!" Josh said triumphantly as he looked at Popita.

"Is that so, Popita?" Nicole asked the girl sitting beside Josh, as she quirked her eyebrows sarcastically.

"Um. . .well. . .Josh. . .I. . ." Popita blubbered helplessly as she looked at Nicole with evident fear in her dark eyes, "Nicole is...right."

"Oh no!" Josh was deflated.

Brooke sighed sadly once more, "the same thing happened to Sam."

"What?" Nicole clicked her compact closed.

"Sam's dating Emory now," Brooke said quietly with obvious pain in her voice, " her friends kicked her out of their group just because of that dickhead! She doesn't even come to the cafeteria anymore!" Brooke complained.

"Like. . .I'm supposed to care?" Nicole huffed, "they're all just a bunch of losers anyway!"

"Sam isn't a loser," Brooke said as she looked back longingly at the table where her dream girl once sat.

"You know, Brooke," Nicole snapped, "I am just plain sick and tired of you harping on and on about Spam for the last, two months!"

Josh's eyes wandered away from his darling Popita, as he figured out what was going on between Nicole and Brooke by the evident jealousy in Nicole's angry voice.

"How can Sammy even like Emory?" Brooke pushed her plate away, "I mean. . .he's so. . .so damn ugly. . .and she's so pretty! They don't even match! But I think that Sam's in love with that jerk!"

"You're not even listening to me!" Nicole exploded.

"You're fencing me in, Nic!" Brooke countered angrily, "and I can't stand it anymore. Stop trying to own me!"

Josh's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he finally understood what was going on in front of him, "you two are a pair of dykes!"

"Yeah?" Nicole was enraged, "so what, asshole? It's none of your business!"

"Brooke left me. . .and it was ALL YOUR FAULT!" Josh screamed at Nicole, "you turned her into a damn dyke!"

"Brooke left you because you're a stupid shaft!" Nicole yelled back, "because you were a stupid, selfish asshole who couldn't get her hot in bed. . .and because she's in love with Samantha McPherson!"

"Wha. . ." Josh was trembling now, and tears rushed to his eyes. The entire cafeteria was now totally silent as Nicole's heated, angry voice echoed from every wall, and everyone held their breaths in anticipation of what came next.

Popita suddenly stood up from the table, and down angrily at Josh, "you swore to me that you didn't love her anymore! But you lied! You still love Brooke!"

"Popi. . .I. . ." Josh blubbered.

"Liar!" Popita yelled at her handsome boyfriend, "I never want to see you again!" then the girl turned, and ran out of the cafeteria in tears.

"You gotta big mouth, Nicole!" Sugar Daddy said harshly, "all you know how to do is hurt people!" The giant got up from the table as well, "c'mon Josh. . .let's get out of here!"

"Yeah!" Josh agreed as he got up, and stalked off after his best friend, Sugar Daddy.

"Thanks a lot for airing our personal business in public," Brooke exclaimed, as she too proceeded to get up from her seat, "and for destroying our group for good, Nic!"

"But its all true!" Nicole slammed her small fist with force on the table, "you are in love with that little bitch!"

"I've had enough of this," Brooke replied coldly, gravely as she left the table, and proceeded to walk away.

"Brooke?" Nicole panicked, "what are you doing?"

"Its over between us, Nic," Brooke breathed deeply, "we're finished!"

"Please. . .I'm sorry!" Nicole said in desperation, "please don't leave me. I won't do it again. I promise, Brooke!"

"You'll do it again!" Brooke replied as she kept walking away.

"Please. . .Brooke. . .I love you!" Nicole shouted after Brooke's retreating figure.

Brooke didn't turn around, but just walked out of the cafeteria, where silence reigned amid the students there. No one ventured to comfort a now weeping Nicole, and she was left to wallow in her own well deserved poison.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the cafeteria, another group watched the spectacle between Brooke and Nicole in total surprise. Lilly, Carmen, Harrison, and his new soulmate, Mary Cherry sat together, and watched Brooke leave in an angry huff.

"Serves her raight!" Mary Cherry exclaimed angrily as she glanced at Nicole.

"Are you sorry that you're not a Glamazon anymore, MC?" Harrison asked her.

"Nah," Mary Cherry smiled lovingly at her boy, "ah gots you. . ."

"Babe?" Carmen interjected with a smile, as she vaguely referred to an old song by an ancient duo once known as "Sonny and Cher."

Both Mary Cherry and Harrison glared angrily at the giggling Carmen Ferrara.

"So Brooke is in love with Sammy?" Lilly was beside herself with amazement.

"Yeah!" Carmen added, "that is so neat!"

"We have to do something to get her away from Emory!" Harrison exclaimed.

"Do ya'll still love her, Joe?" Mary Cherry asked him.

"Not as a lover," Harrison replied with a smile as he kissed the blond girl on the cheek, "I have you now, MC. But Sam is still my friend, and I would rather see her with Brooke than with that jerk, Emory!"

"Yeah," Lilly agreed, "I love Sammy. . .and I want her back with us again. I miss her."

"I miss her too," Carmen said, "we all want her back, cept MC."

"Ah guess she's okay if mah Joe don't want her back az his lovah," Mary Cherry confessed, "but why do ya'll hate Emory so much?"

"Emory is a hypocrite," Lilly replied, "he passes himself off as a sensitive guy, and then takes advantage of girls who believe in him!"

"He knocked April Tuna up," Carmen added, "then he dumped her cause she got pregnant! Now he wants to do the same thing to Sam!"

"I'll kill him!" Harrison exclaimed angrily.

"No," Lilly interjected with a smile, "I have a better idea," then she glanced toward Nicole who was still crying, and sitting alone at her table, "I have a plan."

"What, baby?" Carmen kissed her little lover, "what is that evil mind of yours up to now?"

"I know something about Nicole," Lilly replied, still smiling evilly.

"What?" Harrison asked anxiously.

"Nicole was Emory's lover once," Lilly said quietly, "he dumped her."

"Wow," Harrison said, wide-eyed with shock.

"That's perfect," Carmen said, as her eyes almost glowed with sudden inspiration, "I think that we're gonna solve this problem with Emory and Sam very, VERY soon!"

"An Brookie's gonna be very, very happy, ya'll" Mary Cherry added conspiratorially.

Another school day was gone, and Brooke sighed again, her heart heavy with sadness, as she finally drove home, and parked her car in front of her house, "well. . .this was a particularly evil day!" The girl's mind raced through the day's events, "I haven't seen Sammy all day long. My popular group is no more thanks to Nic. And Nic is my ex now!" Brooke was too tired to fetch her books, and just left them inside her car. Then the lanky girl trudged heavily into her house, only stopping for an instant when she heard her cell phone ringing. Brooke fished through her purse for the small phone, then clicked it open, and put it to her ear, "yeah, Nic?"

"Brooke. . ." Nicole's voice sounded desperate, and tearful.

"We have nothing more to talk about, Nic!" Brooke said firmly.

"Give me another chance, Brooke. . .please!"

"I can't, Nic," Brooke said calmly, "I just can't anymore."

"Sam put you up to this!" Nicole exclaimed, "she's capable of it! She wants you!"

"I wish," Brooke said with a heavy heart, "but no. Sam has nothing to do with this. And no, Nic. Sam doesn't want me. She hardly notices me anymore. And the irony of it all is, that Sam told me once never to leave you. She stuck up for you!"

"I don't care!" Nicole blasted back.

"I can't keep pretending to love you, Nic."

"Then say it, Brooke. . .and I'll leave you alone!"

"What, Nic?"

"I want to hear you say that you love her," Nicole said, her voice mingled with sobs, "say it!"

"All right," Brooke replied with finality, "I'm madly in love with Sam."

Nicole began to weep once more, "so. . .it's true. You'll never love me." Then, the little blond hung up.

Brooke was startled at first, then she felt a wave of pity for her little lover, "I'm so sorry, Nic," the girl said as she slipped her cell phone back into her purse. Brooke went inside her house, sat on the living room sofa, and hugged a small pillow that lay beside her, "I've made a mess of everything! This is all my fault!"

Jane walked into the living room from the kitchen, "hey, hun," the pretty woman smiled at her step-daughter, "how was school today?" Jane leaned down, and kissed her blond daughter on the forehead.

"It was absolutely awful, mom!" the girl replied, "my group split up for good!"

"You'll make a new group soon," Jane said soothingly, as she stroked the girl's hair tenderly.

"Thanks, mom," Brooke cooed in delight, for she adored herstep-mother, "um. . .where's Sammy?" the girl asked anxiously, for she had ached all day for school to end so that she could see her beautiful sibling once more.

"Sam went to the library with Emory," Jane said nonchalantly as she turned to walk back into the kitchen to finish dinner.

"DAMN IT!" Brooke screamed angrily as she threw the pillow in her hands at the TV set that was just a few feet away.

"Brooke. . .what's wrong?" Jane asked, shocked at the girl's sudden display of anger.

"First it was that stupid Harrison," Brooke raged, "now its Emory! Emory for breakfast! Emory for lunch! Emory for dinner! Emory. . .Emory. . .Emory. He's always here, and I'm sick of it already!"

"I think its sweet," Jane smiled, "he's in love with Sam. They look so cute together. I think that they're dating."

"I hope not!" Brooke exclaimed as she crossed her arms, as her heart drowned in its own, venomous jealousy.

"I don't understand why you're so angry, Brooke?" Jane was confused, "what is so wrong about it?"

"He's constantly with Sam," Brooke complained bitterly, "he never leaves her alone, mom! He's always around. Always, always, ALWAYS!"

"That's how it's supposed to be, Brooke. Emory is Sam's boyfriend. You should understand. You were the same way with Josh. What's come over you lately?"

"Because. . ." Brooke's voice started to crack as she began to tremble, "I hardly see her anymore. She's always with. . .HIM! She doesn't even talk to me at all. She ignores me!"

"But. . ."

"He acts like he owns Sam, mom. . .like she's his personal property!"

"Boyfriends are all like that, Brooke," Jane replied calmly.

"It's just not fair!" Brooke ranted as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Jane couldn't quite get over Brooke's attitude, "but. . .Brooke. . .that's how it works. I thought that you'd be glad to have Sam out of your hair. The two of you are always at war!"

"I don't care!" Brooke snapped angrily, looking more and more like a spoiled brat, "I want to spend time with Sammy! I have rights too!"

"Uh. . .oh," Jane's mind almost exploded as she finally understood why Brooke was so angry about Sam and Emory, why the girl complained,

"Brooke has a crush on Sam!" the woman said to herself, "it's so obvious." Jane sat beside Brooke on the sofa, "Brooke. . .why do you hate Emory so much?"

"He has Sam!" Brooke said, a bit calmer now.

"And?" Jane was on the edge of her patience now, "you. . .want Sam for yourself?" Suddenly, Jane was very nervous.

"Yes. I do," Brooke whispered, for she was tired of hiding her feelings.

"You're. . ."

"I'm in love with Sammy, mom. I'm a lesbian."

"Oh," Jane replied in a sudden daze.

"Do you hate me, mom?" Brooke asked sheepishly as she noticed her step-mom's sudden silence.

"No, baby," Jane hugged Brooke, "you're my daughter. This is all so sudden."

"I know," Brooke replied, "I can't help it, mom. I love her."

"But Sam doesn't love you back. . .right, Brooke?"

"She did love me once, mom. Sammy was in love with me, but I turned her down, and chose Nic instead!"

"You and Nicole Julian are lovers?" Jane's eyes almost exploded in their sockets, for this was even more shocking than Brooke loving Sam because Nicole was not welcome in the McQueen residence.

"Yeah, mom. But I don't love her. It was all a mistake."

"You slept with Nicole, Brooke?"

"Yes," Brooke reluctantly admitted as a wave of shame overtook her.

"Are you insane, Brooke?" Jane was horrified, "that girl is a delinquent, the school slut! She might even be carrying a sexually transmitted decease!"

Brooke was crying harder now, not noticing what Jane was saying, just fixated on her obsessive love for her dark beauty, "now Sammy doesn't want me, and I don't know what to do!"

"This is all a mess," Jane was beside herself, "you and Nicole?"

"I broke up with her, mom. I broke her heart. But I can't be with her anymore. I don't love her."

"You love Sam."

"Yes, mom. I love Sammy."

"But. . .Sam seems to like boys," Jane pondered hopefully.

"Sam is bisexual, mom!"

"What?"

"Sam slept with Harrison just because I rejected her," Brooke confessed, "she didn't really love him. But I think that she's in love with Emory, and I'm scared, mom. I'm so scared that I'll never have a chance with her!"

Jane's nerves were about to implode, "this is all too much for me to bear!"

"Oh please don't tell dad, mom. . .please."

"But, Brooke. . .this is all. . ."

"Please, mom. . .are you against me for being gay?"

"I'm not homophobic, Brooke."

"Would it really be so awful if Sammy and I were a couple? Would you be against it, mom?" Brooke asked, a pleading look in her hazel eyes, a hopeful tone in her voice.

Jane hesitated for an instant, then replied, "no. . .I wouldn't."

Brooke burst into tears again, and hugged Jane tightly, "thank you so much, mom!"

"Hey. . .wait a minute, Brooke. Sam likes Emory. Remember?"

"I'm going to fight for her, mom. I'm going to take Sammy away from that jerk!"

"This I have to see," Jane replied, her head swimming in irony.

Brooke was about to say something, but the sounds of laughter, and muffled voices coming from outside the front door of the house momentarily interrupted her. Brooke instantly recognized the now mingled, hushed voices, and quickly stood up from the sofa, then rushed to the front door in a flurry of adrenaline, "Sammy's home!" Brooke felt her heart beat madly, and on the verge of exploding with joy.

"Brooke, wait!" Jane cautioned, "don't open the door yet!"

Jane's abrupt warning was lost on Brooke, who was too far gone into her dream of owning Samantha's heart, too preoccupied with the bothersome thought that at that precise moment Emory might actually touching, or kissing the girl of her dreams. Brooke bounded toward the front door like a whirlwind of furious energy, and quickly threw it open, "SAM!" The door would surely have come off its hinges if Brooke had been of superhuman strength, such was the energy with which she opened it, thus startling the lovers, Emory and Samantha, who were at that moment poised for a tender kiss.

"Brooke!" Jane yelled again, aware that her step-daughter was acting irrationally.

But Jane's voice once again failed to quell the raging need in the blond teen's heart for her beautiful sister. Brooke descended on Emory and Sam like a heavenly wrath. Then, Brooke proceeded to roughly push Emory away from Samantha, causing the boy to fall on the doorstep, "stay away from her!" Brooke growled menacingly as she towered over the now fearful boy.

"Hey!" Sam exclaimed angrily as she faced off with a disgruntled Brooke, "you can't do that to him!"

"I don't want him TOUCHING YOU!" an enraged, primal Brooke yelled back at Sam.

"That is none of your business, McQueen!" Sam shouted as she stood on her toes to glare angrily, directly into the taller Brooke's hazel eyes.

"Oh yes it is!" Brooke countered loudly.

"You're not my CAVEMAN, Brooke! HE is!" Sam replied vigorously as she pointed at the downtrodden Emory.

"Same as usual, McPherson!" Brooke snapped back, "you're so damn pigheaded, that you've gone STUPID! This JERK. . ." the lanky girl pointed at Emory, who squirmed to get back up on his feet, "is just a substitute like Harrison was! Its ME you love!"

Sam's scowl was so awful, that it seemed to have swallowed her entire face, "you are SO full of yourself, McQueen!" the girl said slowly, yet full of dangerous venom.

"Oh brother!" Jane said quietly as she rolled her eyes. "CUT IT OUT YOU TWO!" the pretty mother yelled at her two, bickering daughters.

"Emory just asked me to marry him!" Sam blasted back with determination, "and I said YES!"

"What?" Brooke's wrath fizzled out, and she suddenly went deathly pale, "no. . .you can't do that, Sam!"

"Oh yes I can and will!" Sam countered loudly.

"Oh no you WON'T!" Jane exclaimed at the top of her voice, stepping in between Sam and Brooke, "you are STILL a minor, Samantha. . .you will not do such a thing!"

"Mrs. McQueen," Emory interjected gently, "Sam and I love each other. I will make her happy."

"I put up with Sam dating right now, Emory," Jane said firmly, angrily, "but her getting married right now is out of the question! I won't permit you to ruin her life!"

"But. . .Mrs. McQueen. . ." Emory blubbered.

"Go home right now, Emory!" Jane exclaimed.

"Mom, don't!" Sam whined complainingly.

"That is ENOUGH, Sam!" Jane snapped angrily at her daughter, "its bad enough that I just found out that you slept with Harrison like a common SLUT!"

Sam turned, and glared viciously at Brooke, who stood behind her, "you told her, didn't you?"

"Yes she did!" Jane snapped again, "and I am putting a stop to this foolishness of yours with Emory RIGHT NOW!"

"Please. . .Mrs. McQueen!" Emory cried in desperation, "please don't separate us!"

"I love Emory, mom!" Sam cried despairingly.

Meanwhile, Brooke stood by, and wept silently at the sound of Sam's declaration of love for Emory, which made her nauseous.

Samantha reached out, and her pale, delicate hands clutched Emory's waiting, anxious hands which she gripped with passion and desperation, "I love you, Emory. . .I'm in love with you!" The words spilled truthfully, joyously from Sam's heart, for it was absolutely true; Emory had pushed Brooke out of her heart.

"I love you too, Sam," Emory replied tenderly.

"No," Brooke whispered as her tears fell thickly, sliding down her face, "no."

Suddenly the magic moment between the lovers was shattered as a car screeched to a halt in front of the McQueen residence, and all four of its doors flew open at once; a stream of familiar people filed out and shouted in unison; "SAM!"

Sam was so shocked to see her old friends running up the walk of the house, "what the hell are you guys doing here?" her eyes fell on Lilly, Carmen, Harrison with Mary Cherry in tow.

Carmen and Lilly were the first to arrive at Sam's side.

"Sam!" Lilly cried, practically out of breath, "you can't be with Emory!"

"Yeah, Sam!" Carmen added loudly, "he's a jerk!"

"SHUT UP!" Sam yelled violently at the two girls.

Harrison and Mary Cherry came quickly, catching up with Lilly and Carmen.

"Sam!" Harrison exclaimed quickly, "you have to stop seeing Emory!"

"What are YOU doing here, Harrison?" Sam growled in apparent rage, "and you brought. . .HER!" Sam pointed at Mary Cherry, as the angry, dark scowl marked her beautiful face once more, overwhelming her features.

"You've got to listen to me, Sam!" Harrison cried in desperation, "no matter what happened between us. I'm still your friend. I only want what's best for you!"

"Like I would EVER believe anything that YOU say," Sam said with obvious contempt.

"Please, Sam. . .don't be angry with us," Lilly pleaded, "we all love you. We only want what's best for you!"

"Yeah, Sam," Carmen added, "you have to believe us. Emory will ruin your life!"

"What's wrong with you people?" Sam's exasperation was growing, "you're all preaching trust and believing. But all I can see is that you're trying to take away the best thing that's ever happened to me. I finally found someone to love who loves me back. Why can't you guys just leave me alone?"

"Sam. . ." Carmen interjected gently, "Emory is a sexual predator! He romances a girl, gets her to fall in love with him, gets her pregnant, then abandons her. That's why we never want him around!"

"What?" Samantha suddenly went deathly pale.

"Hey!" Emory shouted, "they're lying, Sam. Don't believe anything they say!"

"Sam. . .have Carmen or I ever lied to you?" Lilly gently asked the girl.

"No," Sam reluctantly admitted.

"Then you have to believe us," Lilly said firmly, "Emory is setting you up!"

"Emory?" Sam turned to her lover for support.

"I love you, Sam," Emory declared fervently, "you're the only girl that I have ever loved, and I want to spend my entire life making you happy!"

"Oh. . .Emory," Sam said huskily, her voice laden with emotion.

"You said the same exact words to me six months ago, Emory. Have you forgotten already?"

The unexpected new voice with its ominous words made everyone turn around to see its owner; tall, redheaded April Tuna, once lanky, now very pregnant, had just stepped out of the car that had carried Lilly, Carmen, Harrison and Mary Cherry there.

"Get out of here, April!" Emory said slowly, angrily in a low, bestial growl, as his face changed from its former gentleness to a now, more sinister mask.

Sam watched the abrupt transformation on her lover's face and voice, and face, and felt a sudden chill run up her slender body, which caused her to step back away from Emory, and bump unexpectedly into someone behind her. Suddenly, two, slender arms wrapped themselves tightly around a very startled Samantha, who looked up to see that she was now caught in Brooke's embrace.

Emory was transforming before everyone's shocked eyes. His usually placid demeanor started to crack, falling away like glass shards to reveal the young man's true nature which was that of a dark, manipulative genius who enjoyed ruining the lives of unsuspecting, young girls. Emory's eyes, now seeming more like evil, smouldering orbs, fell upon Brooke, and the way that she held Sam in a possessive, even territorial embrace, "let. . .her. . .go," Emory growled at the lanky cheerleader, "she's. . .MINE," he added in a sinister tone.

"NO!" Jane shouted suddenly, as she flung herself into the dark, sinister drama unfolding before her eyes. She. . .SHE was the adult here, and had to take firm, solid charge of the situation. "Brooke!" Jane exclaimed loudly, "don't let go of Sam under any circumstance!" Jane commanded. Then, Jane turned to April, "keep talking. I want to know everything about Emory!"

"Mom!" Sam cried as she squirmed vigorously in Brooke's vice-like embrace.

"Hush, Sammy," Brooke whispered lovingly into her girl's ear, and tried to steady her. At that very instant, Brooke was praying to God to give her Samantha's love, for without it she would be miserable for the rest of her life.

"I was almost raped by some guys I thought were my friends," April began tearfully, "I was so traumatized that I didn't want to talk to anyone! I almost committed suicide! But Emory became my friend. He was there for me, comforting me, reassuring me. He saved my life. We became close friends, then lovers. He said that he loved me, and wanted to marry me. When I told Emory that I was pregnant with his baby, he dumped me!"

"Is that true, Emory?" Jane turned, and asked the young man.

"She's lying!" Emory hissed in the most vicious fashion, "that THING that she's carrying isn't mine. She's a SLUT!"

"I gave you my virginity, Emory!" April exclaimed angrily, "you know that I'm telling the truth! You're the father of my baby!"

"Don't believe her, Sam!" Emory cried, trying desperately to keep his hold on the girl's heart, "she's lying! You're my only girl!"

"Emory!" Samantha cried out, as she began to sob, and thick tears streamed down her face, "I believe you!"

"No, Sammy!" Brooke exclaimed as she pulled the girl deeper into herself, "please don't! He's lying!"

"Let go of me, Brooke!" Sam snapped, "why do you care so much anyway? You never wanted me!"

"Yes I do, Sammy!" Brooke cried in desperation, as she kissed her brunette's tear stained cheek, "I love you with all of my heart! I want you, Sam! I'm in love with you!"

"You can't take her away from me, Brooke!" Emory cried vehemently, "she's mine!"

"No, Emory," Jane declared firmly, "but I can take her away from you. I happen to believe everything that April said about you. I will make sure that you NEVER see Sam again!"

"Mom! DON'T!" Sam cried in desperation, for she was an addict, and Emory was the drug that gave her life.

"It doesn't matter what you do," Emory said to Jane, "you can't keep Sam away from me. I'll find her no matter what you do!" Then Emory looked over at Sam, "I love you, Sam!"

"Don't believe him, Sam!" April said as she fixed her dark eyes on Sam's face, "he said the same, exact words to me. He'll ruin your life the way he did mine!"

"I don't believe you!" Sam shouted, "I only believe Emory!"

"April is telling the truth, Sam!"

The firm, loud voice came unexpectedly like thunder, and seemed to shatter the present drama like brittle glass to only reveal the start of a new one. Everyone turned to see an unexcepted newcomer getting out of a newly parked Jaguar; Nicole Julian.

"I'll certainly never believe YOU, Satan!" Sam rasped angrily.

"Emory did the same thing to me!" Nicole admitted.

"What?" Sam gasped in utter disbelief, "you?"

"A year ago I was in the midst of a deep depression," Nicole said quietly, "Emory befriended me. At first I was suspicious of him. But somehow he won me over. Emory became my constant friend and companion. I needed him then. He sweet-talked me into bed, and we became lovers. I almost fell in love with the idiot. When I told him that I was pregnant, he just dumped me!"

"Emory?" Sam was growing weaker in her convictions.

Nicole continued speaking, thus preventing Emory from responding, "I got an abortion which the doctor botched up. As a result of it I am now sterile!"

Everyone gasped in total surprise at Nicole's sudden confession.

"And if you think that's bad," Nicole continued, "he did the same thing to a friend of mine that went to another school. But she didn't survive his abandonment. She committed suicide!"

"Oh no," Samantha said softly, as she fainted in Brooke's arms.

"Sammy?" Brooke went crazy, wailing as she shook her girl, "Sammy? Please. . ." Brooke kneeled down on the ground, and cradled Sam in her arms, as she kept wailing in fear.

"She's only fainted," Jane comforted Brooke gently.

"You. . .meddling bitch!" Emory growled as his hate-filled, burning eyes remained fixed on Nicole.

"I aim to please," Nicole replied haughtily, "she won't fall under your spell again!"

"There's no way that you can guarantee that!" Emory exclaimed, "she was mine once. . .she'll be mine again!"

"Not under any circumstances will you ever have access to my daughter again!" Jane said angrily as she confronted a seething Emory.

"There are many others!" Emory replied with an evil grin, "she's not the only one. . .although I would have kept her for much longer than I usually do."

"You won't be hurting anymore girls for a while," Nicole said coldly.

"You can't stop me!" Emory shouted.

"Yes I can," Nicole replied as she mimicked Emory's evil grin, "I've put your picture on the internet. I've taken out ads in the local papers. I have friends of mine spreading the word about you through the underground, and it will reach ever school in the entire state!"

"No!"

"You're finished, Emory!" Nicole exclaimed gleefully.

"No! NO!"

Suddenly there was a flash of light, and Emory vanished completely, leaving only his clothes and shoes behind in a neat pile on the ground.

"What happened?" Harrison asked as he blinked his eyes open, and held onto Mary Cherry.

"Where did Emory go?" Carmen asked, bewildered by the impossibility of what her eyes had seen.

"Is he really gone?" Lilly was terrified, for in Emory she had seen Satan himself. Brooke buried her face in Sam's thick, wild hair, and held the girl tightly against her. Then Brooke felt Sam stir, and moan, "Sammy?" Brooke was relieved for her girl seemed to be fine.

"What happened?" Sam asked groggily.

"Yes," Jane was confused, "where is Emory?"

"He's gone," Nicole mused, "or maybe he was never really here. But Sam is safe now."

"Thank you, Nicole," Jane said gratefully, "you saved my daughter. But why did you do it?"

"I will always love Brooke, Mrs. McQueen," Nicole replied softly, "I want her to be happy even if its not with me." Then Nicole turned, and walked toward her car.

"Thanks, Nic," Brooke whispered to the retreating figure that didn't hear her.

"Its all over," Lilly said quietly, "let's all go home."

"Yeah," Mary Cherry agreed as she leaned against Harrison.

"Thank you. . .all of you," Jane said to the group of friends.

"We all love Sam," Carmen replied, "just remind her to come back to us."

Lilly, Carmen, Harrison and Mary Cherry with April Tuna in tow all piled themselves into Harrison's car, and left as they waved goodbye to Jane.

"Are you all right, Sam?" Jane asked gently as she leaned down to run her hands through the girl's hair, who still lay in Brooke's anxious arms.

"I'm so tired, mom," Sam replied with a sigh, "it's like I've been sleeping for a very long time." Then Sam noticed in whose arms she was in, and was very surprised, "Brooke?"

"Yeah, Sammy?" Brooke asked, her voice still shaking from so much crying.

"Why are you holding me?"

"You had a dizzy spell. . .then you fainted, Sam. I caught you before you fell."

"Oh."

"Is it all right if I keep holding you, Sammy?" Brooke asked shyly.

"Sure," Sam replied in a sluggish voice.

"Brooke. . .take Sam upstairs. . .put her to bed," Jane said quietly.

"Yeah, mom," Brooke said eagerly, "come on, Sammy," she said gently as she got up, then helped Sam stand up, "you okay?"

"I think so. . .I just have this thing that I'm trying to remember. . .it's as if I lost something," Sam almost mumbled as Brooke helped her stand up, "almost as if I lost. . .someone I loved. . .is that so?"

"You. . ." Brooke began.

"No," Jane interjected quickly.

"Mom?" Sam asked as she looked at her mother strangely.

"It's all in your mind, Sam," Jane replied, "you've just been under a lot of stress lately with trying to bring your grades up! That's what's wrong. . .why you fainted." Jane glanced at Brooke with a look that clearly said that it was best that Sam forgot Emory for good.

"Um. . ." Brooke hesitated, for she had always hated the idea of lying to Sam, "yeah, Sammy. Mom is right. She's been after you for weeks to lighten up!"

"I guess I will," Sam replied softly.

"Let's go in, girls," Jane said to her daughters, as she turned, then walked into the house.

"Come on, Sam," Brooke whispered as she helped Samantha lean against her, then the two girls walked slowly into the house. Jane held the front door open for Sam and Brooke, and then watched the lanky blond help her shorter, more delicate step-sister into the house, then up the stairs to their rooms.

Jane shut the door behind her, then paused to watch the girls, "I guess I just can't deny it. Those two really do belong together."