Chapter 3

"Hey Sam!" Clay called to him as he strolled toward the school from the bus.

"Hey guys." Sam smiled seeing his two best friends waiting outside the school.

"So does this mean you get to stay?" Rick asked a hint of excitement in his voice.

"Yes, I got Dad to let me finish out the school year before I have to leave."

"That's great!" Clay said slapping him on the back. "We can team up on that science project now."

"Sounds good." Sam replied walking with his friends toward the front doors of the school.

"Hey guys wait up." a female voice called to them.

They turned to see the last of their foursome hurrying toward them. She was smiling happily her eyes more on Sam than the other two, but Clay and Rick didn't mind. They became close friends almost instantly, like they were kindred spirits and hung out together as much as possible.

Sam had made friends with Clay the first day of school and then Rick shortly after. They became like the Three Musketeers and looked out for each other. On his second week at the school, another student transferred in and was in some of his classes. Her name was Valerie and Sam had a huge crush on her. She had dark, wavy hair and violet eyes that sparkled when she got excited. She had homeroom across from his and her locker was down from his. He was too shy to speak to her at first, but when he saw she kind of kept to herself he decided to introduce himself. He would of asked for Dean's help but after hearing some of his date stories he thought better. Turns out she was pretty cool and liked some of the same things he did. Sam had two classes with Clay and Rick and two with Valerie. They were lucky to have lunch period together and ate together whenever they could. The guys didn't seem to mind when she started joining them for lunch. Sometimes they would tease Sam about having the hots for Valerie, but it didn't bother him. The Three became the Four Musketeers as well as blood brothers and sister. That happened one weekend not long after they all became friends. Clay had the pen knife, but it was Rick's idea and neither Sam nor Valerie protested the ritual. They each pricked their fingers and mingled their blood swearing to be there for the other whenever needed. Sam thought it was a little lame, since he knew about spells and rituals and other things, but he kept his mouth shut. They were thought of as weird and geeks, but it didn't bother any of them, they were fine with it.

They headed for their lockers to get ready for the school day. The guys were in the same homeroom so their lockers were close together and Valerie was across the hall so her locker wasn't far from the guys. Sam looked up and sighed listening to the others around him and the hustling of classmates to get to homeroom before the bell rang. He was content for the time being happy to be able to finish the school year here.

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"Alright class, I'm going to be giving back your stories from the last assignment and I have to say I'm impressed with some of them and there are others who need to put in more effort." the English teacher announced as she walked down the aisle handing out papers.

Sam waited for his story to be given back, tense and unsure. Mrs. Cooper smiled down at him and laid his story face down on his desk. He touched the papers and took in a breath before turning it over to see an 'A Great Job' in the upper right hand corner. He let out the breath he was holding and flipped through the pages noting some minor errors marked in red and stopped on the last page where Mrs. Cooper always left notes. He read her comments quickly and then again. 'Sam this is an amazing story with so much detail and imagination, keep up the good work. Have you ever thought of becoming a writer?' His lips twitched with a smile, but he forced himself to remain neutral. Sam was never one to brag about his grades or boast about himself. He wanted to stay under the radar and not call attention to himself like his Dad taught him.

"Alright class, we'll be starting in chapter 22 this week, read the first lesson and answer the questions at the end." the teacher told the class just before the bell rang for lunch.

Sam gathered his things together and stuffed them into his backpack before getting up to head for the cafeteria to meet up with Clay, Rick and Valerie. He stopped at his locker, got his lunch and swapped out books for the afternoon classes.

"Over here Sam." Rick called to him from a table over in a corner.

Sam gave a small wave and worked his way through the other students and tables to where his friends were sitting. He saw Valerie make her way toward them from the other entrance and smiled at her.

"Did you see the notice on the bulletin board about the spring dance?" Clay asked as he bit into a sandwich.

"Not really, I don't do those things." Sam replied pulling out an apple, sandwich, chips and water.

"What if you get asked by a girl?" Rich teased. "Ain't that right Val?"

"I don't know, I'm not much into dances either." she replied casting her eyes downward shyly not able to meet Sam's eyes.

"Still won't go." Sam shrugged. He was shy around girls even thought Dean had given him the birds and bees talk several years ago. Sam almost blushed remembering how descriptive and straightforward he had been talking about sex and didn't dare look at Valerie.

"Sam, are you listening?" Rick asked when Sam didn't answer his question.

"What?" Sam asked blinking fast and pulling himself back to reality.

"Rick was telling us about a house that was supposed to be haunted." Clay said leaning closer so he could whisper.

"You know ghosts don't really exist right?" Valerie asked Rick. She looked to each of them and stopped when she saw the look on Sam's face. It was one of concern, rather than the skepticism that ghost aren't real.

"What do you mean haunted?" Sam asked looking cautiously at Rick.

"I heard my Dad talking about it to the sheriff. Seems like someone went missing last week and he was last seen around that house." Rick told them excitement in his eyes. "How 'bout we go check it out after school this week?"

"I don't think that's a good idea." Sam told him. "The sheriff probably has the place guarded and it would be breaking and entering if we got caught."

"I can't get into trouble; my Mom would have a cow." Valerie told them.

"Yeah, my Dad would tan my hide if I got arrested." Clay added. "How 'bout we go down to the river and swim instead?"

"I guess." Rick said disappointment in his voice at his idea being rejected by the rest.

"Besides, most of those rumors are nonsense anyway." Sam added hoping to discourage any more talk of it. He would ask Bobby about the place and see if he knew anything about it. He usually took care of any strange things since this was his home.

"Can you come over after school so we can work on our science project?" Clay asked Sam. "My Mom can take you home."

"I'll have to call Uncle Bobby and be sure it's ok." Sam told him as he ate his food. "Should be ok, I'll call when I'm done eating."

"Great! It's not due until next Monday, but I figured the sooner we do it the more free time we have to explore."

"Ok, I'll go call Bobby and make sure it's ok. Meet you at your locker Valerie and we'll walk to our next class?" Sam said gathering his trash to throw away before heading outside to use his cell.

"Alright, I'll see you in a few minutes." she replied as she listened to Clay and Rick talk some more about the haunted house. She told the good-bye, tossed her trash so she could head for her locker to wait for Sam.

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Sam found a quiet place and called Bobby waiting for him to answer.

"Singer Salvage, Singer speaking." Bobby answered in his gruff, annoyed voice.

"Uncle Bobby, its Sam."

"Sam, son somethin' wrong? Ya still at school aren't ya?"

"Yes, I wanted to check to be sure it was ok if I went home with Clay after school so we can work on a science project?"

"Do I know this kid's parents?"

"Mr. Harper works at the hardware store in town; I think he's the manager."

"Yep, know him. Do I need to come and get you?"

"No, his Mom's gonna drop me off." Sam told him.

"Ok, just be home for dinner and mind yer manners."

"Thanks Uncle Bobby I will, oh yeah, have you heard anything about a haunted house around here?"

"I've heard a lot of rumors over the years but none of them ever panned out. Just some jackass trying to scare the kids or some dumb ass letting his imagination get the best of him thinking he saw something that wasn't there."

"Alright, thanks Uncle Bobby I'll see you at dinnertime." Sam said hanging up and heading off to catch up with the others. Since they had late lunch, they only had two more classes before school was out and one of them was study hall. He used that time to get most of his homework done and if he didn't have any would ask to go to the library to study where it was quiet and no one would disturb him. Valerie had study hall at the same time and she would join him in the library when she could. They would find a quiet corner and talk or read or work crossword puzzles together. He looked forward to the days she could join him and was working up the nerve to ask her to the movies. Most of the others in his class thought he was weird but left him alone, especially when Dean showed up one afternoon at pickup and put a couple of bullies in their place. Word got around fast that you didn't mess with Sam Winchester unless you wanted trouble from his older brother. One thing Dean could be was intimidating when he needed to be and when it came to his little brother he could be your worse nightmare.

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"Thank you Mrs. Harper for the ride." Sam said getting out of the car.

"You're welcome Sam, come over any time." she replied.

"See you at school tomorrow Clay."

"See ya Sam."

Sam watched them drive away before heading inside, dropping his backpack on the couch and going in search of Bobby.

"Bobby I'm home."

"That's good; did ya get your science project done?"

"Almost, can Clay come over tomorrow to finish it up?" Sam asked snagging a carrot out of the salad on the counter. "I'll be sure there's nothing out he shouldn't see."

"Don't see why not." Bobby answered pulling a roasted chicken from the oven. "Wanna wash up and set the table for me?"

"Sure, can I do anything else?"

"Naw, the rolls need to heat up and it'll be ready. We're serving from the pots tonight, cut down on dishes to wash."

"Fine with me." Sam said as he washed his hands and got out plates and silverware. "Do you want tea or coffee to drink?"

"Tea'll be fine. Why the questions about haunted houses?"

"Rick was telling us about some rumors he heard. Said there was talk about it. You think we should check it out?"

"I'm thinking we are doing squat. I'll ask around and see what I can find out."

"Awe Uncle Bobby! I wanna help." Sam whined in a voice he saved for Dean when he wanted to get his way.

"And let you get hurt on my watch, I don't think so." Bobby stated in a voice that didn't leave room for argument. "If there's any research to do you can do that, how's that?"

"I guess." Sam sighed taking a plate and serving himself from the pots on the stove. "Have you heard from Dad or Dean?"

"Not yet, I'm sure they'll call in the next day or so."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure son, you can ask me anything."

"Do you think I was wrong not going with them?" he asked glancing at Bobby sideways.

Bobby filled his plate and sat down at the table before giving him an answer. He looked over at the boy for a moment and watched him push his food around on his plate before forking some to eat.

"No Sam, I think you need to speak up for yerself and do what you think is right for you. I know how you feel about school and wantin' to learn all you can. You're old enough to decide things for yerself. I know yer Daddy might not like it, but screw him, this is yer life." Bobby told him. "That's just my opinion mind ya, just don't give up on your dreams son."

"I wanna go to college Uncle Bobby." Sam said quietly keeping his eyes lowered on his plate.

"Well I say if that's what ya want, ya should go for it."

"I don't think Dad will let me anyway, it's just a thought." Sam said sadly knowing his Dad wouldn't agree to it. He expected both his sons to follow in his footsteps: hunting things, saving people, the family business. It wasn't that he wanted to dish his family; he just wanted more out of his life than driving from one hunt to another, one dingy motel room after another, hustling for money and never settling down.

A cell rang in the other room and Sam scurried to get it hoping it was Dean. He looked at the caller ID and smiled slightly when he saw it was.

"Hey Dean, how's it going?" Sam asked.

"Hey bro, things are ok. How 'bout you?" Dean answered.

"I'm ok."

"School going ok?"

"Yeah, it's good."

"Have ya asked that girl you're sweet on out yet?"

"How'd you..." Sam stammered wondering how he knew about Valerie. "I'm...We're just..."

"I saw you walking her out when I picked ya up. You were making goo-goo eyes at her." Dean smirked proud he had guessed right. "Hey I say go for it."

"You figure out what you're hunting yet?" Sam questioned trying to get his brother away from talking about Valerie.

"Think so, we got one more lead to track down to be sure."

"Need any research done? I got some time..."

"Naw, we're good, you just concentrate on your school work."

"Is Dad still mad at me?" Sam asked cautiously.

"Don't worry 'bout it; he realized it was better you stayed there. He just won't admit it. You know how he can be, doesn't like admitting he's wrong. Gotta run Sammy, I'll call in a few days, stay safe and don't do anything I wouldn't do." he snickered.

"Jerk! Bye Dean." Sam said hanging up the phone but hearing a 'bitch' coming from his brother before they were cut off. He sat on the couch for a moment thinking before getting up to go finish eating. Sam didn't want to admit it, but Dean was right about asking Valerie out. He needed to do it soon.

A/N: Thank you for deciding to read my story, I hope you are enjoying it. Reviews are welcome, I do like to know what you think about it. Please review. NC