beingthere Popular- Being There
Rating: R [for attempted rape and alcohol use]
Spoilers: "It's Greek To Me"
Summary: What if Sam and Lily never got caught and they had gone to the frat party with Brooke and Carmen?
*Note* Carmen was never attacked, the ending of the episode is totally changed.
Disclaimer: Popular, the characters and the episode "It's Greek To Me" belong to the WB but the dialogue belongs to me.

Send comments, suggestions or criticism to Soulfire Stories@aol.com

Sam looked up from her plastic cup of punch, she looked around her surroundings and sighed. Why in the world had she let Brooke talk her into this?

*Because your recent sticky situation with Harrison and the fact that you can't kiss your boyfriend, George without feeling guilty?*

Sam looked back down at her cup, she went to take a drink of her punch but stopped when she smelled the aroma of alcohol; Sam turned to Lily who was standing right next to her.
"Don't drink the punch, it's spiked"
Lily sighed and put her cup of spiked punch on a table and turned to Sam who did the same thing. Lily looked over Sam's head trying to see where Carmen and Brooke had gone but she couldn't find no sight of them.
"Tell me again why--- no how we got talked into going to this fraternity party? I thought we were smarter then this"
Sam tousled her hair and stifled out a tired and annoyed sigh.
"Because our boyfriends are immature nightmares that find throwing cookie dough at bystanders in the school cafeteria exciting"
Lily nodded suddenly and leaned her head on Sam's shoulder and whimpered.
"Now I remember"
Sam sighed once more. Fraternity parties weren't really her thing, the only reason she had actually agreed to this nobrainer idea to go to this stupid party was because she needed something to do to get her mind off of Harrison. Harrison John--- who at one time was her best friend in the entire world, a person she could tell anything to, the person who would made up an excuse for her to get her out of coming to this lame college party but what he was now, Sam had no idea. Harrison loved her and in the more 'then just friends' way, he loved her in the 'I think about you all the time, can I kiss you?' way and that just messed everything up. Sam didn't know what to think about Harrison, she would be lying if she said that his declaration of love hadn't melted her heart... when he had looked her in the eyes and told her he loved her, she saw all the love that he held for her and it had scared her like hell. This was Harrison! The same Harrison that held her, rocking her fragile body in his arms as she cried her eyes out the night after her father's funeral.. The same Harrison who she confided her secret crushes to... The same Harrison she felt the most comfortable around.
"Sam!"
Sam pushed herself out of her thoughts and opened her eyes, which unknown to her she had closed, she blinked back unshed tears and saw Brooke standing right in front of her with an excited half lopsided grin of her face.
"Brooke can we leave?"
Brooke smiled and grabbed Sam's hand.
"Not yet. There is this guy I want you to meet, his name is Alex---"
Brooke turned to Lily who had a uncomfortable frown on her face. Lily hated this sort of thing, this was everything she hated and somehow she had gotten talked into coming to this party; College parties were just about drinking until you were drunk off your ass and waking up the next morning in some strange guy's bed... that was something Lily Eposito could do without.
"Lily we'll be right back"
Lily pushed herself up and and rolled her eyes and mouthed 'be careful' to Sam as Brooke dragged Sam away from her and into the crowd of the party; Lily turned to Carmen who was busily chatting to some obviously older guy.
"Shoot me now"

"I'm not really in the mood for this Brooke, I rather be home and listening to Sheryl Crow and painting my toenails"
Sam shouted over the loud music, the bass of the music vibrated underneath Sam's feet and it also pounded into her ears giving her the worst earache... *god could this day get any worse?* Brooke whirled around to face Sam, she noted the sad expression on her face.
"Sam! Come on don't be all sad, this is why we're here... to have fun, which is something you haven't been having since Harrison--"
Sam glared at Brooke.
"Don't bring him up. I told you I don't want to talk about Harrison"
Brooke shrugged.
"Well it's the truth. Ever since he declared his undying love for you, you have been down in the dumps and me being your step-sister-to-be it's my duty to cheer you up"
Sam rolled her eyes.
"Fine, let's just get this over with"
Brooke smiled big and dragged her a few more feet before stopping. Sam looked over Brooke's shoulder to see a handsome guy; he was 6'1, he had short brown hair, intense brown eyes and all the right curves. Sam smiled.
"Sam this is Alex, Alex this is Sam"
Sam stumbled but managed to catch her balance when Brooke pushed her towards Alex; Sam glared at Brooke over her shoulder and then she turned to Alex and shook his hand.
"Hi Alex."
Alex smiled at her; *A cute one*
"Hi Sam. How are you enjoying the night?"
Sam opened her mouth to say something but scowled when she felt someone push her; Sam looked up at Alex and shook her head.
"Could be better. Sorry this isn't my thing, the only reason I'm here is because my friends made me come."
Alex laughed and flashed Sam a smile.
"I know how you feel, this is so not my scene, I'm more of a book person if you ask me"
Sam smirked but winced when she heard the music get louder.
"Want to go up to my room, to talk"
Sam hesitated.
"I--- well--- I don't know"
Alex put his hands up.
"Just to talk. Believe me the last thing I want is *that* thing you're thinking about. Just some good, well rounded conversation"
Sam smiled.
"Then lead the way"

[Meanwhile Outside]

"This has to be the most idiotic plan ever! I told you we wouldn't be able to get in, and oh yeah that little secret handshake Josh---"
Harrison turned to Josh who had a embarrassed look on his face.
"Was pure genius! I mean hey who wouldn't believe that? Those guys have to be idiots not to believe that"
Harrison folded his arms against his chest; He was already regretting this... the only reason he had come here and sat next to George the whole car ride here was because there was a chance he could see Sam, and the fact that horny college guys who had no good intentions except to use them would be surrounding Sam all night made him uneasy.
"Well I for one, didn't see you coming up with anything Harrison"
Harrison turned and glared at George; god this guy had some nerve, after all that had happened between him and Sam, George talked to him like they were best friends or something... which they were not.
"Well if I knew I was coming to a college party with 2 half naked half baked jocks I would of thought of something actually good. I thought Josh would come up with something good but I guess George you have rubbed off on him" George's relaxed expression turned to an angry glare as he stared back at Harrison.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Harrison smirked.
"Put 2 and 2 together Georgie boy"
Josh pushed himself in the middle of Harrison and George. Josh put his left hand on George's chest and his right hand on Harrison's chest and pushed them both back; you would have to be blind to see the anger and tension between them both.
"Calm down both of you, whatever this is about---"
Josh was cut off by George.
"He's being all pissy because Sam chose me over him. Face it Harrison, me and Sam are going to be together for a very long time and I am not going to let you ruin our relationship"
"Guys---"
Josh was cut off once again but by Harrison this time.
"Believe what you want to. Sam will realize you're not her type sooner or later"
"Oh is that so?"
"Yes it's so"
"Please Harrison! If anyone isn't her type it's you. You're her best friend not boyfriend material"
Harrison reached over Josh's shoulder and grabbed George's shirt as George did the same thing. Josh pushed them both back.
"Stop it!"

"Josh? Harrison? George?"

Josh, George and Harrison turned away from each other and turned to Brooke who was standing in front of them with her hands on her hips.
"What are you guys doing here? Oh let me guess, crashing the party? Spying on Sam and Lily?"
Josh walked over to Brooke.
"Look can you just let us in? Harrison and George are about to kill each other"
Brooke glanced over to Harrison and George and sighed.
"Yeah follow me in guys, I'll let Sam and Lily deal with you three"
Brooke smirked and guided Josh, George and Harrison into the party.

Lily sighed and grabbed her purse and slung it over her shoulders, she turned to Carmen to say goodbye but just sighed, she probably wouldn't even hear me Lily thought to herself; Lily looked around the party hoping to see Sam, she had been gone a while, once she didn't see any view of her she sighed once more and headed to the exit of the party but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Josh... in a toga.
"Josh? Is that you?"
Lily put her hand over her mouth as a solution to stop the laughter that threatened to escape out of her mouth and never stop. Josh in a toga... who would of thought Lily thought to herself.
"Uh hey Lily---"
Josh stopped in the middle of his sentence once he thought how stupid he must look to Lily.
"I should be mad at you right now, but god you look stupid"
Lily's laughter slipped through the cracks of her hands and as hard as she tried not to laugh, she ended up laughing hard. Brooke joined in the laughter as Carmen made her way over.
"Josh!?"
Josh turned a reddish color as all three girls laughed at the sight of Josh Ford in a toga.
"Where's Sam?"
Harrison asked Lily, Carmen and Brooke as he let his eyes scan the party trying to find Sam through the crowd, where was she? George started to look around the party too but couldn't find her.
"Um she's with this guy named Alex, he's showing her around the college"
Harrison stopped searching for Sam and snapped his head to Brooke and gave her the most shocked look he could give.
"Wait let me get this straight--- you let Sam leave with some college guy alone?"
Brooke looked at Harrison and saw the look he was giving her.
"He's giving her a tour of the college, no big deal"
Harrison felt like screaming at Brooke--- she couldn't be this clueless.
"No big deal!? No big deal?! I can't believe you just said that! He's an older, horny college guy who wants to get laid no matter what and you let Sam leave with him?"
Lily listened to what Harrison was saying and felt the same fear and aggravation that Harrison was feeling course through her body. Brooke looked over at George and then Carmen.
"Let's split up and try to find her. Carmen you come with me, George and Josh you two go together and Lily you go with Harrison"
They all nodded and took off in separate directions; Lily ran after Harrison and stopped when he turned around to face her.
"Look Lily, it will be faster if we split up too ok?"
Lily nodded and gave Harrison a good luck hug before walking away from him; Harrison took off running yelling Sam's name over and over hoping to get a response but all he got was weird looks from the people from the party.

[Upstairs: Alex's Room]

"You were the editor of your newspaper in high school? That is so cool, so am I"
Sam looked at the award; Alex took off his coat and laid it down on his bed and walked behind Sam and was about to put his arms around her but she turned bumping into him.
"Oh! Um uh sorry"
Sam felt her body tense up; Sam tried to move but Alex was blocking her way.... what in the world is he doing Sam asked herself.
"I should be getting downstairs, my friends are waiting for me"
Alex grabbed the award out of Sam's hands and threw it to the ground and looked back at Sam.
"You're friends can wait, come on Sam"
Sam pushed Alex out of her way and headed for the door.
"No they can't"
Alex grabbed Sam from the behind and kicked the door shut; Alex smirked and threw her down on his bed.
"Yes they can"
Alex let out a laugh as he saw the look on Sam's face.
"Oh don't pretend this isn't what you want."
Sam pushed herself up and tried to run for the door but she was grabbed by Alex again and thrown back on the bed, Sam let out a whimpered scream when she felt her head connect with the wall.
"Now don't fight it Sam"

"Sam! Sam! Sam!"
Harrison put his hands around his mouth and continued to scream Sam's name over and over but he still didn't get a response, he was starting to get really worried.
"Hey excuse me, do you know where some guy named Alex might be?"
An older girl who had her up in a ponytail and was wearing a short and skimpy dress thought for a minute and then smiled.
"Alex? Yeah his room is up the stairs and to the left, you'll know it when you see it"
Harrison smiled and thanked her and ran up the stairs and took a left and froze when he saw all the rooms.
"Great..."

Alex leaned down on the bed and grabbed Sam's hands and pushed them against the wall above her head as he leaned into her, pressing their bodies together as he kissed her; Sam felt like puking once his lips touched hers, she wanted to scream out but she didn't have the strength to, tears spilled down Sam's face. Alex finally pulled his lips away from Sam's, he smiled down at her and let her hands fall down to the bed, he started un-buttoning his shirt but then he yelped out when he felt Sam kick him in his side which started to burn the moment her knee came in contact with his side. Alex fell off the bed and doubled over in pain, Sam pushed herself up and jumped off the bed but fell to the ground when Alex grabbed her by the ankle. Sam felt blood spill out of her lip indicating that she had busted it open, Sam felt Alex pick her up once again, she let out a loud scream.
"Help me! Someone help me!"
Sam screamed out some more hoping someone would hear her and come to her rescue.
"They're all downstairs little girl"

Harrison's ears perked up as he heard a familar voice echo in his ears, she sounded so scared, so afraid, so terrifed; Harrison ran past all the doors pounding on them.
"Sam! Where are you?"
Harrison felt his voice crack but that didn't matter, all that mattered was finding Sam in time before that creep did anything to her.
"Sam!"

Sam struggled against Alex as they both fell down to the bed; Sam felt her heart skip a beat when she heard the faint screaming that belonged to Harrison.
"Harrison! Help me! Harrison!"
Alex shook his head and put his hand over Sam's mouth as he hiked up Sam's dress and put his hand on Sam's thigh and moved his hand up higher, Sam whimpered and tried to struggle some more but he was just too strong for her.

Harrison heard Sam scream his name and then everything became quiet, Harrison looked around the halls and then he looked at the doors and froze when he saw the one that he had been looking for. Harrison looked at the door and read the sign that was tacked up on the brown wooden door:

Alex's Room... Stay out!

Harrison leaned into the door and heard whimpering inside; Harrison wrapped his hand around the metal doorknob, he swallowed down his fear and turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. Harrison looked around the room and then he felt his stomach turn over in disgust when he saw some guy on top of Sam.
"Get off her!"
Harrison ran over to the bed and pulled Alex off of Sam and punched him in the face which sent him flying; Sam looked up and saw Harrison.
"Harrison!"
Sam screamed out, she scrambled off the bed and ran up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck; Harrison sighed sadly and put his arms around Sam and held her close.

"Harrison?"
Harrison turned around to find himself face to face with Brooke, Carmen, Lily, Josh and George. Harrison opened his mouth to say something but he couldn't find any words to describe what had happened, by the look on Harrison's face and the passed out half naked man on the floor everyone knew what had happened.
"Sam? Honey?"
George had walked over and now he was standing side by side next to Sam; he touched her cheek but she pushed him away and let out a scared cry.
"Sammy?"
Sam looked up to see Brooke; Sam advanced her teary gaze to Lily and then to Josh and then to Carmen and then back to Harrison.
"Don't let me go"
Harrison looked down at Sam.
"Okay I won't"
Sam buried her face into Harrison's chest and started to cry again.

[End of Chapter 1]