Sam lay sprawled out on her bed, fully dressed but still half asleep. It was 10:00 am and in her book that was far too early for a Saturday morning.
Reaching to turn on the TV she was startled by a knock at the door.
"Uugh", she groaned loudly, swinging her legs over the side of the bed to stand up. She stumbled towards the door and tripped over her own shoelace. 'I get the feeling this is going to be a bad day', she thought groggily as she landed hard on her knees and the knocking got louder.
"*Okay, okay, I'm coming! *" She yelled in frustration. She crawled over to the door and pushed herself up. "What?!" she snapped the minute she opened the door but her scowl soon turn to a smile as a result of who she saw. "Charlie, hi!" she gushed slightly embarrassed.
"Hi", he seemed a little nervous, "Sorry did I wake you?"
"No, no. I've been awake for hours", Sam lied convincingly.
"Oh good. So where were you?"
"Pardon?"
"Well, me and the guys were wondering why you weren't at breakfast".
"I missed breakfast?" Sam suddenly became aware of how empty her stomach felt.
"Yeah, sorry", he said with a smile.
"That's okay", Sam smiled back, "although I am kinda hungry".
"Really?" Charlie stood and thought for a moment. "Well, if you like we could", he stopped mid-sentence unsure of what to say.
"We could what?" Sam asked curiously.
"My mom works at a diner near here, I was thinking we could go there and grab a bite to eat if you like? The food here isn't all that great so I didn't eat much". He felt like he was rambling and his face was burning as he blushed uncontrollably.
"I guess we could but ...", Sam said sounding disinterested. She cracked a smile when she saw the look of disappointment on his face. "Relax, I was just kidding. I'd love to go".
"Great", Charlie could barely contain his excitement.
"Step inside while I put a sweater on", Sam said retreating into the room and over to her closet.
Charlie glanced around the room, 'it's a lot neater than mine', he thought.
"Hey where's Amy?" He asked noting her absence.
"Oh she went to call her grandparents", she paused to pull her sweater over her head, "She's been gone quite a while actually".
"Shouldn't you let her know where you're going?"
"Nah, it'll be fine. Anyway I'm ready, should we go?"
"Sure", Charlie nodded and walked back out into the corridor. He stopped to wait while Sam locked the door and pocketed her key. She moved to his side, stuck her arm out in front of her and said with a smile,
"Lead the way".
"Yes I will Grams, and you be sure to take care too. Okay I love you bye". When Amy heard a click on the other end of the line she placed the receiver back on the hook and let out an exasperated sigh. She looked down at her watch, 'an hour she kept me talking for one whole hour!'. Shaking her head she turned and walked away from the payphones that lined the outer wall of the dorm building. 'I bet I've missed breakfast' she thought slightly angered but if truth be told she hadn't had much of an appetite recently. When she got inside she decided to stop off and see Connie before returning to her room. She needed at least some idea of their plans for the day.
She reached the door and knocked lightly, it was opened almost immediately.
"Oh there you are!" Connie greeted her. "I was beginning to think you'd wondered off and gotten lost somewhere".
Amy stepped into the room.
"Huh?"
"Well, first you didn't show for breakfast and when I called at your room a minute ago I got no answer", Connie explained.
"I clean forgot about breakfast because I had to go call home. I've only just got off the phone and I came straight here".
"Oh okay", Connie said sitting on her bed and picking up her hairbrush.
"Hi Amy, I see she found you then", Julie said suddenly appearing from the bathroom.
"Erm, yeah. Morning Julie. Wait a minute, Connie wasn't Sam in the dorm when you called just now?"
"Nope", Connie stated simply, engrossed in brushing and platting her hair.
"Are you sure? She was there when I left, maybe she fell back to sleep?" Amy was a little confused and worried.
"Maybe but I did try the door and it was locked".
"I didn't lock it".
"She must have gone out after you did", Julie suggested entering herself into the conversation.
"Yeah", Amy nodded distractedly. In her mind she was trying to figure out where she might be.
"Look don't worry about it now", Connie said finished with her hair. "Me and Julie are going over to Guy and Russ's room to play video games, you wanna come?"
"Sure", Amy answered with a smile. Looking at Connie's perfect French plait she worried that her own hair was a mess. She moved to look in the mirror on the far wall. Her honey blonde hair hung just below her shoulders, it was straight and glossy with layers cut in from her chin downwards. She ran her fingers through it.
Julie popped her head over her shoulder and tutted loudly.
"You look gorgeous now come on", she said taking hold of her sleeve and pulling her towards the door.
"Yeah but she has to look her best Julie, after all, Charlie might be there", Connie teased. Amy tried to lunge at Connie but was tugged out of the door by Julie. Connie laughed to herself and quickly followed her two friends down the corridor to the boy's dorm.
When they got to the room they walked straight in.
"Jump you fool, jump!" Russ shouted at Guy who was sat on the floor in front of him playing on their play station. "Ha, you dead!" He jumped off the bed and grabbed the controller from Guy's hand, "my turn".
"That was your fault you put me off", Guy whined.
Also in the room where Fulton, Luis and Portman. They sat on the bed on the opposite side of the room.
"Err, hello", Connie said irritably waving her hand and stepping in front of the TV.
"Get out of the way!" Russ yelled frantically, "move, move!"
"Too late, you're dead", Portman laughed, "That means it's my go".
"That's not fair, she got in my way", Russ protested but when Portman clenched his fist Russ handed him the controller.
"Are you just gonna ignore us?" Connie asked growing increasingly annoyed.
"Oh, hi hon.", Guy said with a smile standing to give her a kiss.
"Guys I'd like you to meet Amy", Connie said gesturing towards Amy who was stood quietly by the door.
"Hey", she said uncomfortably, raising her hand slightly in a wave.
"Well hello there babe", Portman said pausing his game and walking over to shake Amy's hand.
"Hi", Fulton grunted from his spot on the bed.
"Good to meet you", Russ smiled stepping forward.
"Amy?" Luis said quizzically. He leant over on the bed a peered round Portman's side.
"Oh, hi", she stammered. Being a very shy person meeting new people made her very nervous.
"You two know each other?" Julie asked confused.
"You could say that", Luis answered.
"We've 'bumped' into each other before now", Amy added and both she and Luis began to laugh.
"Wait a minute, is this that chick you met yesterday?" Portman asked pointing at Amy but looking at Luis, he nodded in response. "Dude you weren't lying, she really is hot".
Amy looked horrified and immediately turned read in embarrassment. Everyone stared at her, then Luis who was blushing too. They all cracked up laughing.
"Shut it!" Luis snapped throwing a cushion at no one in particular.
"I hate to have to tell you this Luis but Amy here's already got her heart set on ..." Julie began but was quickly silenced when Amy clamped her hand over her mouth.
"On who?" Russ asked with raised eyebrows.
"No one", Connie jumped in saving her friend any further embarrassment.
"Yeah, I was just kidding", Julie said as Amy removed her hand.
"Are you lot just gonna stand there all day?" Fulton finally spoke up. All three girls moved to sit around the room.
"So err, where's Charlie?" Julie asked trying to sound as casual as possible but everyone noticed her grinning at Amy as she said it.
"So that's who it is!" Russ said, shooting his arm out and pointing at Amy.
"Wha, no, no", she tried to stay calm but failed miserably.
"Ha ha, I don't believe it", Portman laughed in her face.
"Charlie? No way!" Guy joined in with the teasing.
"Just leave her alone guys", Connie spoke up defensively.
Amy prayed for the ground to open up and swallow her whole as the laughter and jeering continued around her.
Luis sat quietly on the bed, his expression one of hurt and disappointment. 'I knew she wouldn't like me', he thought bitterly, 'but Charlie? What's he got that I haven't?'
'This isn't happening', Amy thought, 'this isn't happening'.
"If you really do like Charlie", Russ said sitting beside her and draping his arm across her shoulder, "Then I'll see what I can do".
She smiled slightly, 'Maybe them knowing isn't such a bad thing after all. Little did she know that at that exact moment Charlie was in the midst of a successful first date with her best friend Sam.