Fandom: Popular

Series: Scenes From an Italian Restaurant

Title: Fork in the Road

Rating: PG

Disclaimers: My initials continue to be CMF as opposed to RM therefor it's safe to say that the characters are not mine but the story line is.

Archive: The Realm is the depository of choice for my fevered ramblings. http://www.realmoftheshadow.com/carla.htm

Feedback: Welcome and appreciated, onlist or off at cmfloresfd@yahoo.com

Author's Note: This is a missing scene from early in the SFAIR universe. It takes place before the events chronicled in First Noel and Bus Stop Diner.

Enjoy

“What’s that you’ve got there, Carmen?” Samantha McPherson asked as she slid into the seat next to her friend, Carmen Ferrara, who quickly folded the piece of paper she was looking at, tucking it into the breast pocket of her shirt.

“Nothing, some notes for a history test later today.”

Sam panicked, “Test what test, I forgot about a test.” They had the same European History class but Sam couldn’t recall the teacher saying anything about a test recently. “Why didn’t you say something earlier, shit, when did she spring this on us, probably the day I skipped out after third period?”

“Relax Sam, it’s for government, you’re not taking that one this semester, remember.”

“Phew. Don’t scare me like that there’s a history of early heart attack in my family you know. If I died right now it would be your fault.”

“Yeah, yeah I know.”

“So what are you doing after school?”

“Work.” She’d been working at the Bus Stop Diner for three weeks now. By her calculations she would need to work for another six or seven weeks to save enough money to get a room somewhere and get out of her mother’s house.

"After work?"

"Home, I get off late." There was no need to mention that Nicole would drive her home or that they would spend an hour or more sitting in the blonde's car just talking and watching the sky.

“Oh…umm okay well then….” Sam’s voice drifted off. Reaching into her backpack she pulled out an apple and desultorily began to polish it against her the front of her shirt. “Maybe some other time then,” she muttered.

“What’s up, something bothering you?”

“No not really. It’s just…I…I just,” words left her when Carmen gently placed a hand on her arm.

“I miss you too, Sam. I’ve just been really busy working. That and I’ve got some stuff going on at home.”

“You okay?”

“Nothing I can’t handle,” Carmen smiled wanly.

“You sure?”

Out of the corner of her eye Carmen spotted Lily and Harrison heading their way, lunch trays in hand. “Really Sam, I’m fine. Hey guys how’s it going?”

~~~~~~

“Hey”

Sam slammed her locker shut and turned, sincerely hoping she didn’t have that stupid grin she’d noticed on her face lately whenever she saw Carmen. “Hey there yourself.”

“Did you understand the math assignment?”

“Well I arrived at some answers but whether or not they’re the right ones is another story altogether.”

“Want to compare,” Carmen proffered her answer sheet.

“Umm…sure, I have to get something from the office we could go there.”

“Sure”

They walked in silence to the Zapruder’s office. Sam unlocked the door holding it open for Carmen with a little bow. After you my lady, Sam said in her head wishing she had the nerve to say it out loud.

“Sam”

Carmen’s voice snapped the brunette journalist out of her reverie. “Sorry, what was that?”

“Are you going to join me?” Carmen nudged the chair next to her with her foot in invitation.

“Um, yeah, just let me get this file I need for next period.” Sam crossed the room to her desk making sure to hide her embarrassingly red cheeks from the other girl. “Here we go,” Sam said, dropping her math notebook on the table, as she pulled the chair next to Carmen out a little more and sat down.

Carmen gave Sam a questioning look then shook her head as if silently deciding not to ask her question after all. As they compared answers Sam surreptitiously glanced at Carmen. She was hyper aware of every accidental brushing of hands, the slow even rise of the other girl’s chest, the way her hair lay on her shoulder, everything.

“Sam…Sam,” Carmen threw her pen down on the table with a frustrated sigh. “Sam what is going on with you, you’re really starting to worry me.”

“Wha…nothing I’m fine.”

“Are you sure,” Carmen covered Sam’s hand with her own. “You’ve been zoning out a lot, you’re going to give me a complex if you keep this up.” She stroked the back of Sam’s trembling hand with her fingertips in what she hoped was a soothing motion. Sam’s breath hitched and then slowly, hesitantly, she turned her hand over.

“What was it like, kissing Lily,” Sam whispered.

“It was a kiss,” Carmen answered quietly. She looked down at their hands then gently, so gently the pressure was almost negligible, began to trace the lines of Sam’s palm with a fingertip. “It was…sweet.”

Sam’s fingers curled upward stilling Carmen’s lazy exploration of her palm before twining with the other girl’s. “Is this…is this okay?”

“Yes”

They sat quietly together, close but not touching except for their hands on the table, until the bell signaling the beginning of the school day rang out. Sam swallowed steeling herself to take the plunge. It was now or never, the first class of the day would begin in ten minutes.

“Sam…”

Sam caught Carmen’s gaze, “I think….” Sam’s mouth suddenly went dry and she closed her eyes.

Carmen gave Sam’s hand an encouraging squeeze, “Whatever it is it’ll be okay Sam.”

“I like you.” Sam felt Carmen stiffen reflexively and her hold on Carmen’s hand tightened slightly. Fearful of seeing disgust on the other girl’s face she opened her eyes and found only gentle compassion. “A lot.”

“I know,” Carmen looked away, gently pulling her hand from Sam’s as she continued speaking. “I’ve thought you might for a long time now.”

“But, I sense a ‘but’.” Sam folded her arms on her chest tucking her hands into her armpits in a classic defensive posture.

“Oh Sam, I’m flattered, but….”

“You’re not gay.”

“I…I just…I don’t think of you that way.”

“But you think about it,” Sam bit out, “About girls.”

“Sam, c’mon be fair, that’s not what I said.”

“So then it’s me.”

“No, it’s me,” Carmen sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Look, I…Sam it’s me okay it’s not you. You are amazing and you’re pretty. You’re pretty amazing. It’s me okay.”

Sam sat back in her chair and said nothing.

“Sam I’m serious any girl would be crazy to…you’re a great catch. A great catch.”

The second bell rang indicating they had two minutes to get to class.

“We should get going,” Sam stood.

“You have Claw right?”

“Unfortunately. You?”

“Wozniak.” Carmen stood. She opened her arms to Sam. “Hug?”

“No,” Sam took a half step back, “I’d rather not.”

“Sam…we’re okay right?”

“Yeah…I just…I need some time.”

“I understand.”

Carmen waited while Sam locked the door. She had a vague sense she was being watched and looked over her shoulder to see Nicole at her locker talking to Brooke and Mary Cherry. Nicole! Her heart leapt into her throat, her chest constricted. It isn’t you Sam. It’s me.

Sam followed Carmen’s line of sight with a frown. “You’re not going to sell me out to Satan are you?”

“My lips are sealed.”

“Pity that.”