It was summer. The warm air permiated the streets, causing every window to be thrust wide open, in the vein hopes of tempting a cooling breeze into the homes of the sweating, hot residents of Prosper Lane. The summer brought on many joys, from enjoying the outdoors to school holidays. The long summer months would be spent in the outdoors or at home for most children. The exception to prove this rule sat in her math class, sighing in discontent at the lateness of the school term.

Long blonde hair was lazily brushed out of sparkling blue eyes as Samantha Carter tried not to mentally correct her teacher again. He would go on and on, and more often than not, he would be slightly wrong. And this annoyed Sam, almost as much as the school holidays did.

Sam loved school. She loved it with a passion to rival all others. In all mornings, she would be the first to the gate, welcomed by many teachers, loathed by the rest. At the end of the day, she would be the last to leave, finding every excuse she could to stay and learn even more.

Even at fifteen, she loved everything to do with school. Music lessons, English, science, P.E.. All except for math. Sam hated math. She could do it. Oh she could do it with a blindfold and her hands tied behind her back. She was the best in the top group, she had even taught some of the teachers a thing or two...or three. But that was the very reason she hated the subject. It was too simple. Everything made total and perfect sense. It was unlike anything in life itself. She had asked to be upgraded a year, many many times, but she was now in the highest possible math group in the entire school, and as her father liked to move around a lot, she couldn't qualify for a university tuition.

But the one thing she hated more than math, was summer breaks. The breaks from school were always hard, but the three month summer vacation was by far the worst. Her father would often be away, and her elder brother always insisted on taking her fishing, a boring waste of time. Mark had just said it helps 'stimulate the relaxive response', which Sam knew was total bull.

However, this particular summers day, Mark had gone with his girlfriend and had left Sam on her own. This suited the teen perfectly, as this left her time to study.

She was reading a book on 'Advanced Physics' when a truck pulled up next door. The old brick house with the untameable lawn hadn't been lived in for as long as Sam could remember. And as her grandparents lived in this neighbourhood, she had been coming here all her life.

There were stories about the house being haunted, and how the ghosts would come out on rainy nights and eat those that were around, and could only be defeated by the light of the stars.

The truck that had pulled up to the 'haunted' house came equipped with movers that were now carrying oversized boxes into the old house. On each box, a name was printed, 'O'Neill'.

'That's funny,' she thought to herself, momentarily loosing interest in her book, 'I'm sure Mark's friend was spelt with only one L.' And then, with that thought, Sam went back to reading her book.

-- -- -- --

The next morning Sam was heading to the library to return her book, and check out the one on 'Temporal Mechanics' when she saw him. His long brown hair blowing in the slight breeze was flapping in and out of melted chocolate brown eyes, his long bony fingers were lazily tossing an oversized ball for a golden labradour to retrieve. Long legs were folded benieth him as he was sat upon the front step to the old 'haunted' house. When he heard foot steps, curiosity got the better of him and he looked up.

Sam's first impression of the guy was 'Cute, but obviously no brains'.

"Hi," He muttered with a gentle smile, causing Sam to reflexively smile in return. "My name's Jack. You live there?" He asked politely, motioning towards the house Sam had just emerged from.

"Yeah. I'm Sam. Cute dog. Yours?" Sam asked, moving closer to the animal. Judging by it's size and energy, she would've guessed the dog to be no more than a pup.

Jack nodded proudly, stroking his pet. "Yup. Name's Sirius."

"The dog star?" Sam laughed at the irony. "Do you like astronomy?" She asked, surprised to see him nod. 'Maybe he does have brains after all' She thought to herself, smiling a little brighter.

"So where are you off to?" Jack made a pitiful attempt at starting a conversation.

"Library." She said simply. "Looking up 'Geek' stuff. Wanna come?"

Jack grimaced at the use of the word, but nodded anyway. "Sure. We can walk Sirius there. He can wait outside."

Sam nodded and they were on their way.