Sam acknowledges that college has changed her in a lot of ways. She was honest enough with herself to admit that back in high school she was an easily excitable ball of chaos that threatened to burst at the seams. Her passionate nature rose and ebbed with the tides, and if Sam didn't know any better she'd swear she was manic.
The summer before college could not be considered as anything but the most heinous of torture because a) it was hot; b) Brooke McQueen refused to wear anything that went down to her knees or covered her shoulders; and c) Sam could not stop staring. Reorder reasons a) and b).
It took Sam six months in college to conclude that she was gay for her stepsister, a year to make peace with it, and an additional two years to try to get over Brooke McQueen. She tried her damndest to move on from blond hair and hazel eyes, but eventually it became too exhausting to fight it.
When Sam arrived at LAX after graduation, her heart swelled at the sight of Brooke, who stood there with a shy little smile that Sam wished she could wake up to every morning. It was in that instant that Sam realized, yes, she was indeed fucked and there was no other choice than to unrequitedly love her stepsister and pray that time will take care of the pain.