I hope that everyone is ready for a new story. This one I hope is better than the last. I won't be updating it as regulary as the rest, at least I don't plan on doing it, but if that is what happens then that is what happens. Please review and let me know what you think.


Sam groaned as she sat down at their usual table at the Nasty Burger, her amethyst eyes scanning the masses of patrons around her. Where could those two be? Shrugging she pulled out her test from earlier as well as her report card. Today was the last day of school and Sam had passed with flying colors. She was just glad to be out of the school of her worse nightmares. Not that it was all bad, no; having her best friend had been awesome. That was what had made it so bearable. As she shoved the test and her report card back into her purple spider bag and pulled out a book entitled, "Death, Life, and Everything In between." She had found it at her Goth store that was also the place where she went to read poetry and listen to others that were like her in some respect or another. Danny and Tucker were not aware of her readings or the fact that she liked to sing, but those were things that she kept to herself since she felt that they wouldn't understand. Sighing again she re-read the same line over for what felt like the hundredth time. Closing the paperback with an audible thump she shoved it back into her bag just as Tucker appeared before her, his PDA in hand as it usually was.

"Hey, Sam, where's Danny?" the dark-skinned techno-geek inquired as he sat down across from her in the spacious booth. It was farther from the crowds then the others and since most people wanted to a part of the noise that was society they were the only ones that used the booth. Sam shrugged.

"I thought he was with you," the Goth stated as she turned and looked around the room again, her eyes failing to find the halfa in the room full of teens, children, and adults alike. "He's not here," she stated before getting up and heading to the counter to make their regular order. After placing their order she headed back to the table with said food, hers and Danny's in two bags while she placed Tucker's before the hungry male.

"Thanks," the geek said as he began to dig into his large Nasty Burger Deluxe. "Where are you going?" he inquired, some of his food from his full mouth spitting onto her arm. With a smile and a grimace mix she wiped it off.

"I am heading home. I need to finish packing for my trip," she said as she headed for the door. "I will see you tomorrow morning before heading out." Heading out the door she failed to notice Danny walking proudly into the Nasty Burger, his eyes dazed as he headed for their table. Sitting down he sighed as Tucker looked over at his friend.

"What is up with you man?" the techno-geek inquired as he took another full-size mouthful of his food, most of the sauce and innards dripping onto his tray. "You were supposed to be here like thirty minutes ago." Danny nodded as he continued spacing out. That was when Tucker noticed the lipstick mark on Danny's left cheek. What the hell? Tucker dropped his food and leaned closer to the halfa, his finger reaching out to touch the mark. The halfa in question leaned back, his eyes looking at Tucker's finger like it was a snake about to strike.

"Seriously, why are you so negative? I got a little sidetracked." Tucker looked at his friend in shock. What was up with this defensiveness? Danny was never like that.

"Well, I hope it was worth it as Sam was kind of disappointed that you failed to show up for today's lunch date." At this the halfa's eyes grew wide. Sam! Damn he had forgotten. "She said that she would see me tomorrow. I think that you hurt her feelings." Danny scoffed. Sam hurt? She was more pissed and he was sure about that. Sam never got all weepy like most girls which made her more like a buddy than a girl in their eyes, but when you pissed her off you had better watch your back for the rest of the day.

"You know that Sam is not like other girls in that respect, Tucker. She gets mad and gets retaliation." Tucker shook his head as he returned to his food. The boy would never learn. Sam really liked him and he was an idiot for not seeing that. Looking up he saw Paulina walk in the door, her teal eyes scanning the crowd and when she saw them she waved, Danny waving like some love-sick fool while Tucker just nodded. He had learned unlike the halfa next to him. Of course he had seen how Paulina treated a few of the other students and how spoiled she was. One day he had seen Paulina kick another kid down off the sidewalk and into the street where a car was coming. The bigger thing that was who the teen had been. Of course he was sworn to secrecy by said teen. He had wanted to tell her no, but she had done so much for him and he hadn't done nearly enough for them. He could still remember the day. Sam had been lucky that the car had missed her, but from that day forward Tucker had avoided the girl like the plague so when she headed their way with her tray of food he took his half eaten hamburger and stood up.

"I am not all that hungry right now. I guess I will see you later," the techno-geek said as he headed for the door, but not before throwing his food in the trash on the way. Danny watched his friend go with as much care as one was when walking. He didn't seem to care, but at the same time he was rather curious about the dark-skinned male's attitude. Paulina sat down next to him, her smile huge as she touched his knee.


So? How do you like it?