The American Dream

Chapter 1

"Where's Paulina?" I asked Star, who was busy sipping some exotic drink in a stem glass at the bar on the deck, where the wind was still blowing unyielding.

She was picture perfect in a sundress almost similar to mine, only in green instead, with flip flops and her long blond hair down and curly, her almost-turquoise eyes twinkling.

She turned with a mischievous grin and told me, "She's with that cute redhead we just met inside."

Oh. Of course. Leave it to Paulina to work fast.

"Five bucks says it'll be just us rooming together tonight," she said casually.

"Really? No Paulina?" I asked, already anticipating her answer and trying to hide my amused laughter. Apparently, Paulina had worked really fast.

"Yeah," she nodded, still grinning. "She's got him good. It's just as well, you know. I can never stand her snoring. I mean, seriously, it gets crowded when it's all three of us. It's probably about time we kicked her out."

"You know, she'll kill us if she hears that," I told her as I sat down on the bar stool next to her. "And, anyway, chances are that she'll find a room. You know, with that redhead."

She giggled before turning her gaze back at me. "Oh, speaking of finding another room—wow, you look hot, Manson. Looks like you're out hunting another roomie too." She raised her eyebrows suggestively at my light blue sundress—the one Paulina had insisted I wear today.

"Oh, I will kill you before I go anywhere," I warned her threateningly; which was a little hard to do since I was laughing.

She laughed heartily and continued sipping from her glass.

"Weren't you just seasick an hour ago?" I questioned her, gesturing towards the drink in her hand. I'd been around boats my whole life, with my mother's over-sophisticated partying addiction, but Star had been dizzy the minute she set foot on this boat.

"Oh," she perked up. "This totally helps the seasickness. Brandon just gave it to me—oh, wait, you have got to meet Brandon-" Star turned back to the bartender with love-struck wide eyes. "Brandon? Brandon?"

He turned around towards us, and I had to admit that he was seriously handsome with that brown, slightly sun-bleached hair and impeccably green eyes. He smiled widely at me then, and I could see why Star couldn't take her eyes off him. That was one nice smile.

"Well, hello there," he said, smiling warmly at me.

"Um, hey," I smiled back politely, keeping in mind that Star had already staked her claim by batting her eyelashes and fawning over him. "I'm Sam Manson."

"Brandon Parker," he introduced himself with another smile. "I was just telling Star here about the little party we're all having later in the evening. Care to join us?" Was that a lilt of flirty in his tone?

Uh-oh. Retreat, Sam, retreat.

"Oh, yeah, will you?" Star looked at me with a hopeful expression. That's funny. Normally she wouldn't ask, she freaking drag me to the parties with or without my consent. And now she was being hopeful?

Oh. Oh.

I understood then, that she was being hopeful for another reason.

"Oh, I'll be there," I said carefully. "I'll probably come later on with Paulina." And most probably her new redhead. "I'll see you guys there."

I didn't miss the utterly victorious look on Star's face as I politely declined the invitation. Well, why wouldn't she be? I'd just secured her a date with McHottie, by saving it from becoming a group-thing.

"Oh, well," Brandon shrugged. "See you there." He smiled again before turning away to serve a couple of other guys a few stools away.

I nodded graciously and stood up after a subtle wink at Star, who looked like she was on cloud nine.

"I think I might go check up on Paulina," I threw over my shoulder as I began walking across the deck.

She seemed to snap out of her daydreaming for a moment as she called out behind me, "Hey! Cover your eyes, okay? Her affairs are never PG!"

That seemed to attract a lot of attention from the few Casper University freshmen sitting under umbrella tables on the deck, and I laughed as Star ducked down in embarrassment.

I walked slowly, strolling along to the edge of the huge boat and stopped to watch the water below, with my elbows leaning on the rail, or whatever it was supposed to be.

I'd just recently moved back to my parents' mansion from living with my grandmother in California to attend college in Amity—which was apparently the best college there is.

I'd made friends with Paulina and Star easily—their mothers were close friends with mine. I'd found something fun in Paulina's bold and exciting personality, and something adorable in Star's quirky and mischievous one. Whether it was going out shopping or simply pigging out in front of the TV, we'd started to do everything together.

So when Paulina had suggested a fun summer relaxing resort which was being offered for all us soon-to-be-college-freshmen, we'd all started packing the next day. Expensive as this trip was, my mother wanted me out of the house as much I wanted to get out.

But then again, she always does say that the more expensive my desires, the better. And she was happy enough that I'd decided to come back home California, and that I actually dressed different now. I'd grown out of my little goth phase, much to the delight of my mother, who was more than pleased that she could actually go shopping with me now that I was normal.

Gee, thanks, mom.

This boat ride was to take all us freshmen to Fell Island, where the resort was located, and then our two months long little vacation would begin.

Was I excited? Ha, that was an understatement. The boat was alone an indication of how awesome everything would probably be. We'd gotten on it a few hours ago, and settled inside in our room by placing all our luggage inside. There were multiple rooms inside, side by side, and our instructor, Tyler, had told us that they called the inside part of the boat The Dorm. Judging by how friends had to room together and the vast number of rooms, that seemed very appropriate. The front deck was full of tables and chairs, with a sight pointing right into the current sunset. The back of the boat was huge; where I'd heard tonight's party was going to be held.

I sighed and brushed my long dark hair back from my eyes, gazing at the sunset in the horizon. How was life going to be? Would I like college here? Or was I better off in California?

I guess I'll find out soon enough, I told myself quietly as I thought about all the other nineteen freshmen on this boat, excluding me. Not counting Paulina and Star, it was seventeen. Which was still a lot. Maybe I should start mingling; getting to know the people I was going to be spending my college years with?

Maybe later, I decided. The boat was full of way too many horny guys who wouldn't stop staring at what I'd been wearing to even talk to me properly. Paulina had never seemed to mind whenever guys couldn't be bothered to look her in the face because they were too busy staring at her chest, but me? I'd always been uncomfortable having that kind of attention.

But maybe it was me. Maybe I shouldn't have dressed so boldly on the first day? My dress was sleeveless and almost knee-length.

I dismissed that thought as soon as it came to me. Next to Paulina, I still looked like a freaking nun.

I kept my gaze at the rippling water a few feet down below, thinking about how much I'd changed over the years. Back in high school, when I just a kid going though a goth phase, I probably would've hated being friends with someone like Paulina and Star, because I always had this image of those kinds of cutesy girls, who I automatically never liked. And now I was one of them—something I didn't mind all that much because as soon as I got to know them, I knew how good-hearted they were, and that won me over in a second.

"Whoa," a male voice pulled me out of her thoughts.

I turned my head sideways to see a guy, probably a freshmen like me. He was shirtless, with a towel draped over his shoulder, wearing nothing but a pair of black shorts and—oh my God, he was so handsome. His dark hair was tousled in the billowing wind and his eyes—oh, those eyes—were so incredibly blue. I tried to tear her eyes away from him; that cut of his jaw, that unbelievably good-looking face, his pretty eyes…

Wow. I'd already forgotten about Brandon what's-his-face.

I snapped out of my little trance and shook my head. I had been staring shamelessly at him for God knows how long—way to make an impression, Sam.

Kill me now, I begged fate. Please. This is too embarrassing.

But he didn't seem to notice. Actually, he was busy staring at me.

"Whoa," he said again, after shaking his head, focusing his eyes. I raised my eyebrows expectantly at him, waiting for whatever remark he was surely going to make.

He held a hand up sheepishly and began awkwardly. "Before you think that I'm hitting on you or something, and you probably get this a lot but, uh, I just want to say that, um, you're really beautiful. Uh, yeah. Okay. Um, I'll go now."

He walked away hurriedly away from me and went towards the bedrooms inside, leaving me stunned behind him.

What just happened? I wondered to myself for a second, blinking. Then, as suddenly as it all had happened, I was angry. No, furious. A guy comes over like that, says the cheesiest line I've ever heard and I just stand here, completely dumbstruck.

I did not like this guy at all.

Except for the part about him being so incredibly freaking good-looking, of course.

..~*~..

..~*~..

Danny:

I did nothing wrong, okay? Nothing at all, I told myself silently, with Valerie's image guiltily burned in to my mind. I was just walking back to my room after taking a shower and I happened to see the prettiest girl I'd ever seen. And I complimented her. That was it.

Since Tucker wouldn't haul his ass out of the bathroom in our room, claiming he was showering first since he had to 'meet and greet the ladies,' I'd went ahead and showered in the extra rooms in the back.

And then, heading back to my own room, I'd taken the longer route by going out the back and walking across the deck. And then I saw her. I saw the dark, straight hair blowing behind her; fanning out in front of her, the little blue dress, the silver bracelet she wore on her wrist, that silk-like creamy skin. Her strange amethyst eyes—unique and beautiful—were focused on the water below. She seemed to be thinking deeply, not knowing I'd been staring like a complete idiot.

And the thing was, as she tilted her head to the side and I turned my gaze to her face entirely, I tried to keep the quick pounding of my heart down a notch. I couldn't even name one freaking flaw on her.

Wow. What had I done to deserve this? I'd simply been walking back to my room and was assaulted by every hot-blooded guy's true American dream. And I had a girlfriend. I shouldn't be thinking about a stranger's 'prettiness'. Oh, God.

To avoid just standing there like a psycho-stalker, I opened my mouth to say something, anything to make her aware of my presence. And accidentally said the first thing that popped into my head. "Whoa."

Crap. The plan was to avoid being a psycho-stalker, not just come clean with it. Jesus, I haven't even really talked to the girl and my brain's already fried.

God, help me.

She looked at me with a surprised expression, as if she hadn't expected to find anyone here.

How can someone be so pretty? I wondered to myself quietly in bewilderment. I could probably never get tired of staring at her.

Ah, what the hell. And I told her. That she was beautiful, I mean. Not the part about me staring at her. Because that would be, you know, creepy. And way too weird to say to someone I don't even know.

I walked away then, stammering some unfathomable nonsense about leaving.

And it was not wrong, I told myself as I neared my room in The Dorm of the boat. I was simply walking back, saw a pretty girl, told her she was stunning and went my separate way.

It wasn't wrong or anything.

Then why'd I feel so bad? I wondered.

I sighed knowing I had the answer. I already had a girlfriend. And Valerie was pretty. So I shouldn't go on telling strangers that they were pretty too, because, really. Who does that?

Me. Because I'm an idiot.

Though, as I opened the door to my room and stepped inside, a small corner of my mind wondered whether she'd really been checking me out.

..~*~..

..~*~..

Sam:

"There you are!" Paulina exclaimed as she spotted me making my way down the steps to the back, where the party was going on at full swing a few hours later.

It was nine PM, so it was already dark out. The back of the boat had been draped with lights, the music was blaring from the speakers and the bar on the side was crowded with people. It was official—I was legitimately at a freshmen college party.

I elbowed my way through the thick crowd of people toward her, seeing her grab Star from the side and come over to me. "Where the hell were you?" She demanded. "This is a huge boat! I didn't know if you decided to swim in the freaking lake or something. You should really leave a note or something before you go wandering on your own on one of your deeply reflective little quests, okay?"

Say what you want about Paulina, but she was truly the mother hen of the group.

I nodded solemnly before bursting out laughing. "Okay."

Star joined in before asking. "So where were you anyway?"

"The deck," I shrugged. "You guys?"

"Well, remember the cutest redhead we saw when we came on the boat?" Paulina didn't pause for an answer. "I've gotten to know him a lot more personally."

"Like make-out personally, or really personally?" Star wondered out loud with curiosity.

Paulina chortled slightly guiltily. "Somewhere in between?"

"Ew," I said bluntly as we hopped onto the bar stools. "That's what you did all day long?"

"No," she scrunched her nose in distaste. "I was in the lounging chairs right here in the back somewhere around seven, and I met the most revolting woman. I hate her. And may I point out that I have a thing for cute redheads? Though despite that little factor, we have absolutely nothing to talk about, so help me out there, will you?"

I thought hard. Hobbies, maybe? But first things first, "Okay. What's his name?"

She pursed her lips. "Good question."

Star burst out in a fit of hysterical giggles. "Maybe you could start there." She said in between gasps of breath.

"Okay, then. Good idea. Thanks, guys." Paulina nodded decidedly. Doing God knows what with a guy who's name she didn't even know? That was so her.

If the situation wasn't so utterly hilarious, I would've actually nodded back instead of laughing like a lunatic with Star.

"Isn't this crazy?" Star inquired animatedly, gesturing at everything around us. "If this is how wild college parties are going to be, I am so down with it."

I nodded in agreement. Though it was a little loud for my liking, it did seem fun.

"Where's your Brandon, anyway?" Paulina questioned Star, who seemed just as surprised to see that he wasn't around, as she looked around for him.

"He did say something about going to the bathroom, so I guess that's where he is." She answered with a shrug.

And then I saw it.

"What are you wearing?" I asked Paulina, who looked down at her barely existing red dress. Whereas Star and I were still wearing our sundresses from earlier, Paulina had foregone all formalities and wore a dress that ended about four inches above her knees with a plunging neckline. Her hair was down and wavy as usual, but she'd added long, dangly gold earrings as well. Oh, my God. I did not want to be labeled on my first day with my peers, and honestly, I doubted she did too.

Star snorted, "I wasn't aware she owned clothing at all, so I'm surprised she still wore what she did."

"Hey." Paulina cried out touchily. "I'm right here." Before I could voice out my last thought, I was halted by Star who held out a hand to silence us.

"Whoa," she said, her eyes focused on something in the midst of the crowd. "Will you just look at that?"

I turned around, trying to spot what she was talking about, but honestly, I couldn't see anything except for the crowd of people in the whole area.

"Oh. My. God." Paulina murmured, completely starstruck, having finally seen what Star was looking at. "Now that. That is lovely."

"What are you guys even talking about?" I pressed, unable to locate the lovely object.

Paulina grabbed me by the shoulders, pivoting me around in such a way that my gaze fell to… McHottie.

No. Not Brandon.

The guy who'd told me that I looked beautiful.

Which, I reminded myself again before I got carried away, was still the cheesiest thing ever. Because, the word beautiful was a pretty strong word—and even if my heart fluttered at the word—really, who even says that to a complete stranger?

He must say that to everyone, I decided, coming to a conclusion about his behavior. Because, seriously, I don't even know him.

Oh, and he was lovely. My heart thudded in my chest and I think I forgot to breathe for a moment. How was he so cute?

He wore a red T-shirt and black shorts—an ordinary enough outfit, but he seemed to look like a male model in them. He stood next to a dark skinned guy in a beret, and another with blond hair and blue eyes—though, still not as blue as him. All of them had drinks in their hands and were standing in the corner, just talking and laughing.

And I remembered his cheesy line again, and if that wasn't enough to turn me off, I don't know what was.

I huffed as I turned back to the bar and ordered some colorful concoction before saying to Paulina and Star, "Whatever."

They turned to me with stunned expressions.

"Are you telling me," Paulina started disbelievingly, "that this absolutely gorgeous man-specimen who is giving off serious McDreamy vibes is not of your type?"

Ah, yes. That suited him better than McHottie. McDreamy.

Yep, I shall call you McDreamy.

"He's actually really cute," Star added, her eyes still glued to him, as if she simply couldn't look away.

And just then, while I'd merely been glancing at him—yes, my eyes had coincidentally landed on him—he smiled. Right at me. And, God, if I'd thought Brandon's smile was nice, then this was amazing.

Hey, don't get me wrong—I don't just believe in looks. I'm not that shallow. But when someone as cute as that, despite being ever-so-cheesy, and smiles like that—hey, I'm just human.

"Dude, I think someone's got a crush on you already," Paulina told me giddily. When I gave her a blank look, sighed tiredly. "Tell me you're not happy. He is such hunk, and he's practically giving you the googly eyes. I mean, seriously. Just tell me you're not happy."

Star nodded excitedly in agreement with Paulina's speech.

"I'm not," I said sullenly, still gazing into my drink. "He's a cliché." I informed them sullenly.

Truth was, as much as I didn't want to admit it, he was very good-looking, though that much was fairly obvious. And on top of our first meeting, he was now smiling at me from across the boat.

He didn't have to have come off as such a—ugh, I don't even have a word for someone who can be so blunt with random girls. It all only ended up building a womanizing, sure-of-himself image of him in my mind, even when I didn't even know him yet.

Yep. He's probably one of those guys, I decided to myself, disliking him even more.

Star raised her eyebrows at my reaction. "I'm sensing you've met?"

Oh, boy. Have we ever. I nodded impatiently.

"Well, you know what? I'm going to go mingle." Paulina announced suddenly. "And we'll talk about Sam's new friend in detail tonight."

I bit my lip. Crap. I was in for it.

"So you mean you're actually coming back to our room tonight?" Star asked her with a hint of smile.

"Well," Paulina flipped her long hair over her shoulder. "You two may have to wait up a couple hours or something."

I shook my head in disbelief and Star laughed at her as she disappeared into the crowd.

Star turned to the bartender and asked for a drink before beginning to me, "It's not fair. You always get the cute ones."

"What?" I asked her, confused.

"You always get the cute ones, silly." She repeated with a giggle. "Or haven't you noticed?"

I stayed quiet, mulling over it. Star and Paulina were both so pretty in different ways, and never really had problems getting guys—though, honestly, Paulina and I'd secretly suspected that Star seemed to be a little insecure about herself, but never to the point of comparing us to her. So was what was wrong? Why'd she say that?

"It has to be your hair. Long and straight, you know? Or your body. Both are pretty awesome, really. You've got the whole Jessica Biel thing going on, you know? Only, you're, like, shorter. Personally, I think your eyes and lips are your best features. If we don't count your hair, of course. Or body. Oh, my God. Who am I kidding? You're, like, pretty everywhere." Star sighed despairingly.

I sat in awkward silence, not knowing what to say. I'd had my share of dates, but I wasn't aware Star thought this way; that I was stealing the spotlight. Really. I mean, I'm not even that boy-crazy, like Paulina.

Wait. Was this about McDreamy? Well, she could have him for all I care. I mean, it's not like I like him or anything. Huh.

"You really think that?" I asked her quietly. "I mean, do you really this guy?" I gestured at McDreamy discreetly, who was now talking to his friends.

"What?" She frowned, confused. "No. I didn't mean him of course, he's so yours." Mine? Ha. No, thanks. I growled at that part before she continued. "I was being more general. I mean, remember? It even happened this morning with Brandon." Earlier today, when he was being a little too friendly to me? Oh. Oh.

Wait. Where was he, anyway?

She went on, "I mean, he liked you more than he liked me. But don't take me wrong, I don't blame you."

"Hey," I put in quickly. "Star, guys are idiots. Okay? Especially that Brandon, because, look around you; he's not here. Dates or guys don't matter, as long as you know you've got good best friends who love you, alright? Now go, and wow some other guy with your charm and leave me to deal with that stupid Brandon, okay?"

She didn't seem all that convinced, but smiled genuinely at me. "Hoes over bros?"

I looked her in the eyes, and smiled wholeheartedly. Because in the few weeks that we'd all known each other, I'd managed to fall in love with two of these amazing best friends of mine. And if they were having a hard time, I'd be there for them, because they were there for me a month ago when I was new and not all that happy to be back in Amity after five whole years of being away. "Hoes over bros." I confirmed confidently.

She smiled widely at me, and reached over to pull me in a hug. Though I was still surprised by abruptness, I hugged her back.

"Thank you,' she whispered happily in gratitude.

I nodded as we pulled away and urged her encouragingly, "So are you going or what?"

"And you? What are you going to do?" She seemed doubtful. "Well, other than be stared at by McDreamy."

I turned automatically to him then, and found how right she was.

And that wasn't it. While he kept smiling, he raised a hand and waved slightly. Right in my direction.

There was no mistaking it. He was waving at me now. Oh, God.

I did the only thing I could possibly do in this situation.

I turned around and ordered another one of these cocktails while drowning out Star's infinite laughter and ignoring my burning cheeks—what do they even put in these things? Because they taste fantastic.

..~*~..

So... my first chapter. I hope you liked it. I'll put my cast up in a few days on my profile, do check it out.

The story's mostly going to be in Sam's POV, but occasional Danny POVs will be there. Obviously, these were just the first impressions of each other.

Like it? Any favorite part? Should I continue?

Let me know in review. :)

Thanks for reading.

-Lexy.