Thanks guys for the great reviews!! This is the next chapter, moving on from the teens bit.
Bookworm37, thanks 4 helping out with that. As a linguistic student, I'm absolutely horrifed that I'm making mistakes like that, but there we go. I've tried checking the grammar with word this time, so hopefully I haven't missed anything.
SO...anyone interested to be a beta reader, please feel free to contact me, or say so in a review, thanks.
For disclaimer, see epilogue.
Now, onwards with the story...
Chapter 1: The great idea.
She couldn't believe it. She actually felt like stomping her foot down in frustration. How could he have done it again? But she already knew the answer to that. That was how he was and he was never going to change until he fell in love himself. And that was as likely as an alien beaming suddenly into her sitting room. She had to move on.
Yet how many times had she tried to move on from Malcolm O'Neill, and promised herself that those green eyes would never trick her again? And every time she fell for him. Every. Bloody. Time. She shoved the last piece of the extra large chocolate bar into her mouth and groaned. She was heartbroken. Alone. And so full she didn't think she could move for a month. As Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan shared a scorching onscreen kiss, Sam threw the remote at the TV, wincing as it bounced back from the screen, crashing loudly onto the table in front of her. She so needed a life. One that didn't include Malcolm. Or one that included him falling desperately in love with her.
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The credits of the Saturday night movie were now playing on the screen. The phone rang, breaking into her chocolate induced reverie.
"Carter."
"You know, that's such a weird way to answer the phone."
"Sorry Jan, you know it's habit I got from dad."
"Yeah I guess. Hey, listen, Daniel and I have formed a plan. An amazing, brilliant plan that you cannot refuse."
"Oookay. I'll agree to it only if it doesn't include coffee."
"Coffee?"
"You know how you and Daniel get when you've had too much."
"Yes. Well. No, it doesn't involve coffee. I'm talking about one or two friends that we have that would really like to meet you and-" Sam cut across her friend quickly.
"No. Absolutely not. N. O. No way. No blind dates, thank you, goodbye."
"Wait, wait, you haven't heard the whole plan yet. You know we've all been a bit worried about you. You haven't seriously dated anyone apart from Malcolm since Jonas, and you know how much of a crack-up he was. Anyway, this will give you a chance to meet some hot guys and- no don't interrupt again- if you see one of them for a while, it might make Malcolm jealous like he was about Jonas. Now, if you carry on with another guy for a bit longer than you did with Jonas, Malcolm might realise that he can't actually live without you after all. If, by that time you're still hung up on him, fine. If not, you'll have a nice new man to play with!"
"Oh God."
"That means you'll agree doesn't it?"
"Janet…"
"Well?"
"It is a pretty good idea."
"It would do you good to get out there you know. The entire faculty think so. You know, Pete Shanahan, the new history teacher, he thinks you're hot."
"No, please Jan, nobody from our faculty, it'll be embarrassing enough as it is."
"Ok, Ok, but even Jack thinks it's a good idea, and you know how worried he is about you."
"Christ, you told Jack?"
"Watch you language Sam, you're talking to a Christian here you know."
"Yeah, sorry. Fine, fine. I agree to this insane idea of yours."
"Really?" Sam heard a squeal, a lot of whispering and the phone being passed before a male voice came on the line.
"Hey Sam."
"Hey Daniel."
"Thanks for this; Narim is really excited about meeting you."
"Narim? What kind of name is that?"
"I'm not sure where his family comes from, but it sounds kind of European, maybe with roots in Italian, or maybe Spanish and-"
"Daniel?"
"Oh, yeah, sorry Sam. 7.30pm Monday night at O'Malley's okay?"
"That early?"
"He's a nice guy Sam. He doesn't like coffee very much, I promise."
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The door swung open a few seconds after she knocked.
"Hey Sammie, come on in, I was just about to order pizza, you want some?" His brown-blond hair was still wet from a recent shower, his jeans and blue shirt fitting his lean, muscled body nicely. Sam felt an unwilling shiver go through her. He was her best friend, and they just didn't have that sort of relationship, but hell, she was only human.
A phone was in his hand and an expectant look was on his face.
"Um yeah, just a plain cheese, thanks." He finished relaying his order and set the phone down.
They both sat on his leather sofa, feet up on the coffee table.
"So was the chocolate not enough to fill you up?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Uh-huh." He grinned knowingly at her, before his features slipped into a slight frown. "You ok? I know he always gets you down. The dunce doesn't know what he's missing by letting you go every time you know." She smiled in thanks, but she thought Malcolm knew exactly what he was missing. And it obviously didn't bother him much.
Snuggling to Jack's warm side, enveloped in his arms and his smell, she nodded. What would she do without Jack to lean on, she wondered.
"You know, there's cake in the fridge." She had to laugh at that.
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And there you go. Another chapter guys? Or should I give up? Up to you, all you have to do is review...u know u want 2...