Prologue

At seven in the morning, the sun peeked in through a fifteen-year-old's violet drapes, as if trying to escape the dark of the night. And there a girl lay, wrapped up in bundles of dark colored cushioning. Her raven black hair was tied up in a ponytail but, after hours of rolling around mindlessly in bed, her "ponytail" seemed to look like a half-flipped twirl of an up-do. So to say, I don't even know what kind of hairstyle that is either.

Just before two minutes past seven, Sam's phone started ringing. The multi-colorful object began to vibrate, it's alarm still going off. She groaned to herself before reaching for the phone. Sam rubbed her eyes, then pressed the TALK button.

"Hello?" she groggily answered, trying to focus on the dim-lighted room. She gazed around, noticing that the candles she lit a few hours ago were burnt out.

"Sam?" A deep voice emerged from the speaker of the phone. A voice that was clearly recognizable. "It's Tucker."

Sam chuckled. "I know that. Whatcha need?"

"Did you know that Danny's birthday is next Sunday?" Tucker asked. Sam could hear some shuffling of papers in the background as he continued, "I didn't…"

"Oh, no, you didn't need to," she pronounced. "You've just been his best friend for years. You have no requirement to know the day of his birth. At all."

"Thanks, Sam," Tucker pouted. "Love your sarcasm." Sam smiled as she continued, "You're welcome."

"So…" she tried to get to the point of this way too early conversation. "What about Dan's birthday?"

"I was just calling to ask you if you knew his birthday was Sunday."

"Of course I know."

"Jeez. Just wondering."

"Okay, so that's it?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Well… Bye, then."

"—wait, Sam." Sam sighed as she removed her thumb from the END button.

"What is it?" She tapped her finely polished and trimmed nails against the notebook on her nightstand as Tucker asked, "What are you getting Dan?"

Sam shrugged. "I don't know. It's a week before. Why?"

"I'm gonna get him a book," Tucker said slyly. And with that, Sam heard a dial tone.

--

After the seven o'clock phone call, Sam couldn't go back to sleep. So, instead of digging her face into her pillow and effortlessly falling asleep like she wanted to, Sam slipped into her purple fuzzy slippers and silently trudged down the stairs. Yet, when she found herself in front of her parents' door, she tiptoed past, the adults still softly snoring.

Making her way down the cascading stairway, Sam soon entered the kitchen. She walked over to the refrigerator, opening it up to see that her family was out of mil. I want cereal! the girl thought angrily as she quietly slammed the refrigerator door in frustration. She sighed. She'd do anything so parents would continue to sleep and let her be. Whether it meant slamming the fridge door softly, or tiptoeing around the house. Sam loved to be by herself... Unless she was with her two best friends. They were an exception.

Sam walked over to the cupboard and pulled out a Chewy Bar. At least it was something. She worked the wrapper off, her stomach pleading for the delicious taste of chocolate and oatmeal combined. Sam felt her hunger melt away chocolate and oatmeal touched her tongue. It tasted so good. Once again, she inhaled the sweet scent of chocolate...

Bring! Bring! Bring! Sam jumped, startled by the small mysterious -- Bring! There it was again! She was soon to discover that the noise was coming from the watch on her wrist. The tiny screen was green, it's digital numbers neon squinted her eyes, trying to focus on the small screen in front of her.

7:17 a.m.

Sam almost choked on her Chewy Bar. She had missed the bus! She whirled on her heels, craning her neck to try to gaze through the white drapes that covered the wide window in living room. She could see. She could also see the school bus driving down the road, going the completely opposite way it was supposed to be going. The bus was supposed to be coming to her house! But, it already passed her house.

Dang it. Sam cursed under her breath as she scampered up the stairs. Slipping into a black tank top and skirt, Sam fastened her "killer boots," as Tucker call them, then headed out the door. Both, her bedroom door and front door.

Sam walked up to the bus stop, finally catching up with the vehicle. It took a while, but she made it. Sam rested against the bus stop, waiting for Danny and Tucker to come out. But, instead, they lingered in the back of the bus for a few minutes.

What's taking them so long? Sam wondered to herself as she looked around, trying to spot her two best friends. She never thought about looking inside the bus. Where are they? Finally, Sam noticed Danny and Tucker making their way off the bus. Those slow-pokes, she chuckled to herself as she headed their way.

But, the closer she got, the more Sam could see. And, before she knew it, Sam could spot Danny with his nose in a book. Finally! Sam exclaimed silently, trying to focus on the title of the book Dan was reading. But she couldn't see because his hand was in the way.

When she caught up, Sam said, "Hey, Danny, what are you reading?"

"Ahhh!" Danny jumped back in surprise as he stuffed the book behind his back. Sam watched as he glanced around, trying to find the source of the voice. He stopped at the sight of Sam in front of him. She cracked a smile, laughing as she reached out for the book behind Danny's back.

"I asked what you were reading." Sam's eyebrow cocked as Danny shoved the book into his booksack, blushing.

"Nothing," He seemed to answer nervously. Continuing to watch, Sam saw him glance around, apparently trying to find something to talk about. "So, let's head to school, shall we?"

What is up with him, this morning? Sam thought as she eyes the book in Danny's grip. It was barely peeking out from behind his booksack; a great opportunity to snatch it then, Sam noted.

"C'mon, Danny, tell me," Sam whined, clutching her best friend's arm. "It's just a book!"

Why didn't I just take it? Sam mentally smacked herself in the forehead.

"It's, uh, something for Literature," Danny quickly spoke, "so quit it!" Sam was stunned in position as he slapped her playfully on the arm, then headed towards Casper High.

What the heck? Sam turned to Tucker, confused. Tucker just laughed, following Danny into the highschool. Then there was Sam, standing there in a daze. "Wait... what?"