Sam stayed on the beach for a while after her conversation with Baird. She was more stunned than anything else. She was still trying to process what he had said to her. It was pretty obvious to Sam what he meant, but she thought that maybe she had it all wrong.

"No. I haven't got it wrong. If Baird was jealous of my feelings for Dom, then that must mean he has some kind of feelings for me. That's the only explanation. Unless of course, Baird was in love with Dom" Sam laughed to herself at that unlikely thought. She sat staring out at the ocean, trying to figure out what, if anything, she felt for Baird. She had to admit, that she had grown fond of this nicer version of Baird. She didn't know how long that would last though. Maybe after a few months he would be back to his usual sarcastic self. It wasn't like he was completely different though. He still had his sarcastic side, especially around people he didn't know well. But around the people closer to him, especially her, he was like a different person. A person that Sam was beginning to really care for, and she was just starting to realise just how much.

As Baird walked back to the hotel, he couldn't help think about what he'd said to Sam

"Why did I have to open my stupid mouth. Maybe she won't figure it out. Who am I kidding of course she will. She's not stupid"

He hoped that maybe he could talk to Sam, explain that it's not what she thinks. "What does she think? I don't even know. Maybe I'll just avoid her until she forgets about it all. Or maybe I could just go back to the way I was and stop being nice to her altogether" But Baird cared for Sam and didn't want to upset her or hurt her in anyway. He honestly didn't know what to do. As he approached the hotel he realised that he better get something to eat, even though he wasn't really that hungry. After dropping off the tools in his room that he was sharing with Cole, he made his way back down to the food hall to get some breakfast. He was hoping to be alone until he heard Cole's cheery voice call him over to the table where he was sitting with Carmine and Jace.

"Can't a guy get 5 minutes peace around here"

"Hey, was wondering where you got to. Didn't see you this morning" Cole said.

"I um had some work to do" He replied being unspecific.

"As early as that Baird?"

"Yes. As early as that" he replied in a tone that said, get off my back.

Cole noticed his mood was a bit off, but decided not to say anything. He just continued his conversation with Jace and Carmine. Baird completely zoned out, he had no idea what they were talking about. All he could think about was the look on Sam's face when he told her . . "oh God, why did I tell her that. Why didn't I just keep my mouth shut"

. . . "isn't that right Baird" Jace said.

"Mmm, what did you say"

"What's with you today Baird. It's like your in another world or something" Carmine said.

"Just thinking that's all"

"Oh. About what. Or about who" Cole said jokingly

Baird suddenly panicked and could almost feel him self going red.

"What? No one, I'm not thinking about anyone!" he said defensively.

"Woah baby, I'm only playin' with ya" replayed Cole.

"Good"

"Wow Baird, you sure got defensive then. Maybe you were thinking about someone" Jace said.

"Yeah, what's his name?" Carmine said with a grin.

"A gay joke, really?"

"Cmon Baird, tell us. Who you got the hots for?" Jace asked.

"No one ok. Absolutely no one!"

"Oh, I bet it's Sam" Jace said to Carmine, almost acting as if Baird wasn't there.

Baird was sure he felt himself go red this time, and it didn't go unnoticed.

"Oh my God it is, look he's going red" Carmine said.

"That's because I'm angry because you lot are pissing me off!" he said as he got up. "I'm outta here, I don't need this" He said as he stormed off. Cole followed him leaving Jace and Carmine feeling a bit bewildered at his outburst.

"Hey" Cole said trying to catch up with Baird

"Just leave me alone ok"

"Hey I wasn't the one making fun ok, it was them"

Baird realised that. But he still wanted to be left alone.

"I know it wasn't you. I just, wanna be alone. Ok?"

Cole knew when to back off.

"Ok. But I'm around if you need me ok?"

"Sure" he replied as he walked off.

Cole sat back down with the guys trying to work out what had gotten into him. Unless they had hit a nerve when they mentioned Sam. Maybe Baird was thinking about her after all.

Anya slowly woke up, almost forgetting where she was for a moment. She was still getting used to life on Azura, just like everyone else. She slowly opened her eyes to the morning light, and let out a big yawn. She looked at the clock. 0900. "Can't believe I slept in so late" she thought as she looked over to see that Marcus wasn't there. "He must have let me sleep. Maybe he thinks I need it" She was startled when she heard a knock at the door.

"Who is it" she asked sleepily.

"It's me, Sam"

Since the war had been over, her and Sam had become pretty close friends. They were always there for one another if the other one needed to talk.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

"Of course, just coming" Anya said. She was still in her sleepwear but she didn't mind her friend seeing her like that. She opened the door to let Sam in.

"I really need to talk to you"

"Ok. Take a seat" Anya said gesturing to the empty chair next to the bed.

Sam sat down and Anya sat on the bed.

"Oh, Anya, I didn't wake you did I"

"No. Just woke up before you knocked"

"Ok. Good"

"So, what did you want to talk about"

"Ok. I'm just going to say this and get it out there ok"

"Ok" Anya replied wandering what her friend had to say.

"Ok. Here it is" She took a deep breath. Then finally said "I think Baird, likes me"

Now Anya wasn't expecting that at all.

"What do you mean. Like, likes you likes you?"

"Yeah"

Anya was surprised to say the least. I mean, Baird had been a lot more pleasant to Sam lately but she didn't think that he felt that way about her.

"How do you know Sam?"

"Well. It all started this morning" Sam started. She told Anya the whole story of what Baird had said to her.

"Well. What do you think he meant?" Sam asked.

"Well, if he was jealous about your feelings for Dom, he must have feelings for you. Or feelings for Dom" Anya said with a chuckle afterwards. But then saying the name just reminded her that he was no longer with them.

"Well, that's what I thought."

"Well. What happened next Sam" Anya said, eagerly awaiting the end of the story.

"Well, he told me to forget what he said. That it doesn't matter now and it's for the best"

Anya just sat there taking in everything Sam had said. She finally said

"Wow. Well, what do you make of that"

"I know. I just don't know where to go from here"

"Well. That depends Sam"

"On what?"

"Well. How do you feel?"

"About Baird?"

"Yeah"

"I really don't know Anya. I just don't know. I have all these confusing feelings in my head and I can't make sense of them. Why is it so complicated? Is this how you felt with Marcus.

Anya thought for a moment about that then replied "No. It felt right with him. Right from the beginning I knew he was the one"

"I wish it was that simple" Sam said.

"It's ok Sam. It's not always that simple. I guess I'm just lucky that's all. Look, you obviously feel something. Otherwise you wouldn't be so confused about it"

Sam sighed. She knew that her friend was right. If she felt nothing at all, it would be so much easier. She could let him down gently and they could both move on. But she did feel something, and it scared her.

"I'm sure you will figure it out Sam. Just remember, it's always better to listen to your heart, than your head"

As much of a cliché that was, Sam knew her friend was right. She got up to leave.

"Thanks Anya. For listening"

"That's ok. Any time Sam"

She saw Sam out. Realising it was now 0930, she decided it was about time that she got up and started the day. For a start, she would find out where Marcus had got to.

Sam decided to go back to her room. She really didn't feel like speaking to anyone else, and she certainly didn't want to run into Baird. "Baird" Just thinking about him brought back what he said, and the look in his eyes when he said it. Sam knew that the reason that she was so confused was because she was in denial about her feelings. "But why am I denying it. If I like him and he likes me, what's the problem?" She knew exactly what the problem was. She was scared. Afraid of getting close to someone and losing them. It hurt so much when she lost Dom and she didn't even get that close to him, she didn't have the chance. It would hurt so much more, if she got close to Baird, and then lost him somehow. That, was why she found it hard to admit her feelings.


More to come soon.