"Well here we are", Sam said with a slight note of disappointment in her voice. She'd spent the whole morning with Charlie and it had been better than she could have imagined. They'd talked, shared joked, stuffed their faces with doughnuts and realised that they had a lot more in common than either expected. Now, here they were, back outside Sam's dorm room, the morning over but she didn't want it to end.
"Here we are", he echoed her words. He too wished that the time hadn't gone by so quickly. They'd had a great time, just the two of them but now they were back at school and back to reality. Spending an afternoon with the ducks was something he usually looked forward to but right now he just wanted to be alone, with Sam.
"I guess I better go see Amy, she'll be wondering where I am", Sam said reaching for the door handle, it was locked. "That's weird, I guess she's not here".
"Maybe she's with Connie and the guys", Charlie suggested.
"Yeah, probably", Sam rummaged in her pocket for her key. Once she found it she unlocked the door and took a small step inside. Then she stopped and turned to face Charlie. "I had a really good time", she said with a smile.
"Yeah, me too". He shrugged his shoulders and tried to act casual, "Maybe we could do it again some time?"
"I'd like that".
"Really?" He seemed a surprised, happy but surprised.
"Yes really", Sam laughed a little at his reaction. "Like I said I had a good time and well, I like you Charlie".
"I like you too Sam". They both lowered their heads and blushed with embarrassment. Neither knew what to say so they stood there in silence. Sam grew increasingly uncomfortable.
"I should probably find Amy", she said slowly.
"Yeah, I gotta go see the guys and find out what the plan is for this afternoon", Charlie replied nervously, "You're still coming right?"
"Of course", Sam smiled at him sweetly and he did the same.
"So I'll see you later then".
"Yep".
"Okay, well, goodbye".
"Bye Charlie", Sam turned and took another step into the room. 'Just do it' she told her self. Suddenly she stopped, walked back and kissed Charlie lightly on the cheek. He just stood there, unable to move, as she disappeared into her room closing the door behind her. After a minute he left and headed back to his own dorm.
Sam collapsed on her bed a huge childlike grin clung to her face. She rolled on to her back and punched the air triumphantly, 'he likes me, he actually likes me'. She nearly jumped out of her skin when the door swung open and Amy and Connie fell into the room. They both shrieked with laughter and were clearly having trouble remaining on their feet.
"What's up with you two?" Sam asked sitting up.
"Sammie", Amy squealed and ran towards the bed to hug her friend. "Were have you been? I thought I'd lost you!" she struggled to say through her laughter.
"Hey Sam", Connie said still giggling too.
"I've been ..., what is so funny?" Sam asked staring at Amy in confusion.
"Well, I sorta, and she kinda", Amy began but lost the ability to speak when struck by another attack of the giggles. She slipped of the bed and Connie sank to the floor, both girls held their stomachs, they were laughing so hard it actually hurt.
"Okay forget", Sam said irritably, "I don't think I even want to know".
After a few moments the laughter faded and both Amy and Connie regained their composure. Connie cleared her throat and rose to her feet.
"I'm gonna go change then, before we hit the mall", she said calmly.
Amy just nodded, she was out of breath from laughing so much. Connie left the room and Amy moved to sit on her own bed across the room from Sam.
"So, where did you vanish off to?" she asked curiously, "I was beginning to get a little worried".
"Yeah you sure seem worried", Sam said sarcastically.
"Hey I was, but I figured you'd be okay so I went to see some of the guys with Connie and Julie", Amy replied. "But that's not the point, where were you? What were you doing?"
"Nosey much!" Sam said with mock insult but when she thought about the answer to Amy's questions a huge smile lit her face. "I was with Charlie".
Amy didn't respond, didn't move, didn't speak. She couldn't, Sam's words had hit her like a ton of bricks.
"He took me out to breakfast. We went to this cute little diner where his mum works, and he paid!" Sam just couldn't hold back, she was filled with happiness and felt the need to share it with her best friend. "We ate doughnuts and drank shakes, and talked and talked till we were blue in the face. It was sooooo much fun and he is just the sweetest, nicest, cutest guy ever" She gushed. Amy still didn't respond. "Hello, are you even listening to me?" Sam waved a hand in front of her face to attract Amy's attention.
"Yes. Yes, I heard you", Amy spoke slowly her voice lacking any noticeable tone.
"So what do you think? Of Charlie I mean, of me and Charlie?"
"I, I ..." Amy couldn't find the words.
"It's cool huh? Me and him together, well not together as such, not yet but he told me he likes me and I like him too", Sam began to bounce up and down on the bed grinning from ear to ear. She stared at Amy waiting for her reply.
"That's," she paused, "great Sam. I'm happy for you". Amy's voice was quite and strained as she forced a smile to mask her real feelings.
"Oh I knew you would be! I still can't believe it. He wants us to go out again *and* we get to spend this afternoon together, well the rest of the guys'll be there too but that doesn't matter", Sam just couldn't stop talking. She felt like she'd explode if she didn't get it all out. 'God will she ever shut up', Amy thought bitterly.
"It's sounds like you two really hit it of", she said trying her hardest not to let her jealousy show.
"Yeah we did, oh I'm sooooo happy! It's like we just, connected", Sam said dreamily picking a stuffed toy of her bed and hugging it against her chest.
'Connected? Connected?!' Amy watched her friend in disgust and disbelief. 'Would you listen to your self. It's sickening, it really is' she thought biting her tongue to prevent the words slipping out of her mouth.
"Good for you Sam", Amy said simply. She pushed herself up of the bed and straightened her short, cream, khaki skirt. "I'm ready to go, how about you?"
"What?" Sam asked finally breaking from her thoughts. "Are we going now?"
"Yeah, we're supposed to meet Connie and the rest of the ducks by the main steps in five minutes".
"Arrgh, five minutes?! But look at me I'm a mess!" Sam shot up off the bed and raced into the bathroom.
"You look fine", Amy called after her. Sam reappeared in the doorway a minute later. Amy examined her. She'd pulled her hair in to neat high ponytail and her face was clean of make up. She wore scuffed up trainers, baggy pale blue trousers and a white crop top. Her out fit wasn't exactly neat or formal but that was Sam, she dressed in a very laid back manner. Some would even say she was a bit of a tomboy, mainly due to the fact that she refused to wear skirts.
Amy was the exact opposite, she was always fashionably dressed and neatly preened. Never a hair out of place, rarely seen in sports clothes. She preferred to dress in pastel colours and tight fitting materials. Her friends had always said she was a real girly girl. That thought made her smile as she looked down at the pale pink fitted shirt she'd chosen to wear that day.
"You know what, I don't care", Sam decided whilst looking in the mirror, "I've looked a lot worse than this before, and if I spent too much longer in front of this mirror I run the risk of turning in to a true bimbo". She made a face and walked back over to her bed. She picked up her purse and room key from where she'd placed them on the nightstand then turned to look at Amy. "Shall we go?"
Amy nodded, collected her own purse from the desktop where it sat and headed towards the door with Sam just a step behind.
Charlie, Portman, Adam, Dwayne, Averman, Kenny, Goldberg and Julie stood around on the front steps of the school waiting for the rest of their friends to arrive.
"I tell you she's a real hottie", Portman said, he was deep in conversation with Kenny, Averman, Goldberg and Dwayne.
"Who?" Charlie asked joining in.
"Dude the new girl", Portman answered, "I tell ya Spazway you sure got lucky there".
"What?" Charlie flushed, he hadn't told anyone but Adam about his crush on Sam, or their date this morning. He shot Adam a look but he simply shrugged in shoulders in response. "It's no big deal", Charlie tried to play it cool.
"No big deal?" Portman exclaimed, "A girl like that gets the hots for you and it's no big deal? Wait a minute, I didn't think you knew?"
Julie suddenly realised that Portman was talking about Amy and Charlie obviously wasn't. She moved to wear Portman could see her and began to swipe her hand across her throat as a sign that he should stop talking, he didn't.
"Did she tell you?"
"Well, yeah kinda, this morning after we ..." Charlie began but Portman cut him short.
"You were with her this morning? But she was ...", Portman paused when he saw Julie, who was now standing behind Charlie, shaking her head frantically. "What?!" he yelled staring straight at Julie, everyone turned to look at her.
"Err, ha, um, nothing", she rambled nervously.
"How did you find out about it any way Portman, did Sam tell you?" Charlie turned back to Portman, a look of confusion on his face.
"Sam?" Portman was confused now too, "Who's?" He stopped suddenly and Julie jumped in.
"He's just winding you up Charlie, he doesn't know anything. So, err Sam, the other new girl", she made sure to look at Portman when she said that, "there's something going on with you and her huh?"
"Yes, well, I think so", Charlie mumbled.
"Really?" Julie immediately felt bad for Amy, how was she going to tell her.
"Yeah, I really like her", Charlie smiled.
Julie and Portman shared a look of disappointment and concern, but suddenly Portman cracked a smile.
"Well, Luis will be pleased", he said to Julie with a sly tone.
"Luis, what's he got to do with it?" Charlie asked.
"Forget it", Julie shoved Portman slightly.
"Forget what?" Amy asked suddenly appearing behind them.
"Amy!" Julie exclaimed bouncing of the bottom step and pulling her into a tight hug.
"Hey babe", Portman winked.
"Losing the ability to breath here", Amy joked causing Julie to take her arms from around her neck.
"Sorry", Julie smiled, "Listen I really need to talk to you".
"What really, really?" Sam mocked Julie's voice as she walked up to stand at Amy's side.
"Sam hey", Charlie said with a huge smile when he saw her.
"Hey", she replied.
Amy looked between the two and began to feel nauseous. Julie noticed her friends face twist in disgust and pain.
"Come on Amy I'll introduce you to the rest of the guys", she grabbed Amy's hand and pulled her further up the stairs to where Averman, Goldberg, Kenny, Adam and Dwayne stood.
"Where's Connie?" Sam asked scanning the group.
"She's with Guy and a couple of others, she'll be along in a minute", Portman answered. "I'm Portman by the way, and I'm guessing you're Sam".
"Yeah, that's right", she nodded.
Portman gave her a quick once over with his eyes before nodding approvingly at Charlie. Charlie smirked and shook his head.
"We're here!" A voice called. Sam and Charlie turned to see Connie, Guy, Russ, Luis and Fulton rounding the corner and heading towards them.
"So, you guys ready to go?" Connie asked as she reached the group.
"Sure are", Portman answered for everyone.
"Well let's get going", Julie said linking her arm with Amelia's and descending the steps.
One by one the rest of the ducks, plus Sam, followed them away from the stairs and off campus heading for the mall.
"Here we are", he echoed her words. He too wished that the time hadn't gone by so quickly. They'd had a great time, just the two of them but now they were back at school and back to reality. Spending an afternoon with the ducks was something he usually looked forward to but right now he just wanted to be alone, with Sam.
"I guess I better go see Amy, she'll be wondering where I am", Sam said reaching for the door handle, it was locked. "That's weird, I guess she's not here".
"Maybe she's with Connie and the guys", Charlie suggested.
"Yeah, probably", Sam rummaged in her pocket for her key. Once she found it she unlocked the door and took a small step inside. Then she stopped and turned to face Charlie. "I had a really good time", she said with a smile.
"Yeah, me too". He shrugged his shoulders and tried to act casual, "Maybe we could do it again some time?"
"I'd like that".
"Really?" He seemed a surprised, happy but surprised.
"Yes really", Sam laughed a little at his reaction. "Like I said I had a good time and well, I like you Charlie".
"I like you too Sam". They both lowered their heads and blushed with embarrassment. Neither knew what to say so they stood there in silence. Sam grew increasingly uncomfortable.
"I should probably find Amy", she said slowly.
"Yeah, I gotta go see the guys and find out what the plan is for this afternoon", Charlie replied nervously, "You're still coming right?"
"Of course", Sam smiled at him sweetly and he did the same.
"So I'll see you later then".
"Yep".
"Okay, well, goodbye".
"Bye Charlie", Sam turned and took another step into the room. 'Just do it' she told her self. Suddenly she stopped, walked back and kissed Charlie lightly on the cheek. He just stood there, unable to move, as she disappeared into her room closing the door behind her. After a minute he left and headed back to his own dorm.
Sam collapsed on her bed a huge childlike grin clung to her face. She rolled on to her back and punched the air triumphantly, 'he likes me, he actually likes me'. She nearly jumped out of her skin when the door swung open and Amy and Connie fell into the room. They both shrieked with laughter and were clearly having trouble remaining on their feet.
"What's up with you two?" Sam asked sitting up.
"Sammie", Amy squealed and ran towards the bed to hug her friend. "Were have you been? I thought I'd lost you!" she struggled to say through her laughter.
"Hey Sam", Connie said still giggling too.
"I've been ..., what is so funny?" Sam asked staring at Amy in confusion.
"Well, I sorta, and she kinda", Amy began but lost the ability to speak when struck by another attack of the giggles. She slipped of the bed and Connie sank to the floor, both girls held their stomachs, they were laughing so hard it actually hurt.
"Okay forget", Sam said irritably, "I don't think I even want to know".
After a few moments the laughter faded and both Amy and Connie regained their composure. Connie cleared her throat and rose to her feet.
"I'm gonna go change then, before we hit the mall", she said calmly.
Amy just nodded, she was out of breath from laughing so much. Connie left the room and Amy moved to sit on her own bed across the room from Sam.
"So, where did you vanish off to?" she asked curiously, "I was beginning to get a little worried".
"Yeah you sure seem worried", Sam said sarcastically.
"Hey I was, but I figured you'd be okay so I went to see some of the guys with Connie and Julie", Amy replied. "But that's not the point, where were you? What were you doing?"
"Nosey much!" Sam said with mock insult but when she thought about the answer to Amy's questions a huge smile lit her face. "I was with Charlie".
Amy didn't respond, didn't move, didn't speak. She couldn't, Sam's words had hit her like a ton of bricks.
"He took me out to breakfast. We went to this cute little diner where his mum works, and he paid!" Sam just couldn't hold back, she was filled with happiness and felt the need to share it with her best friend. "We ate doughnuts and drank shakes, and talked and talked till we were blue in the face. It was sooooo much fun and he is just the sweetest, nicest, cutest guy ever" She gushed. Amy still didn't respond. "Hello, are you even listening to me?" Sam waved a hand in front of her face to attract Amy's attention.
"Yes. Yes, I heard you", Amy spoke slowly her voice lacking any noticeable tone.
"So what do you think? Of Charlie I mean, of me and Charlie?"
"I, I ..." Amy couldn't find the words.
"It's cool huh? Me and him together, well not together as such, not yet but he told me he likes me and I like him too", Sam began to bounce up and down on the bed grinning from ear to ear. She stared at Amy waiting for her reply.
"That's," she paused, "great Sam. I'm happy for you". Amy's voice was quite and strained as she forced a smile to mask her real feelings.
"Oh I knew you would be! I still can't believe it. He wants us to go out again *and* we get to spend this afternoon together, well the rest of the guys'll be there too but that doesn't matter", Sam just couldn't stop talking. She felt like she'd explode if she didn't get it all out. 'God will she ever shut up', Amy thought bitterly.
"It's sounds like you two really hit it of", she said trying her hardest not to let her jealousy show.
"Yeah we did, oh I'm sooooo happy! It's like we just, connected", Sam said dreamily picking a stuffed toy of her bed and hugging it against her chest.
'Connected? Connected?!' Amy watched her friend in disgust and disbelief. 'Would you listen to your self. It's sickening, it really is' she thought biting her tongue to prevent the words slipping out of her mouth.
"Good for you Sam", Amy said simply. She pushed herself up of the bed and straightened her short, cream, khaki skirt. "I'm ready to go, how about you?"
"What?" Sam asked finally breaking from her thoughts. "Are we going now?"
"Yeah, we're supposed to meet Connie and the rest of the ducks by the main steps in five minutes".
"Arrgh, five minutes?! But look at me I'm a mess!" Sam shot up off the bed and raced into the bathroom.
"You look fine", Amy called after her. Sam reappeared in the doorway a minute later. Amy examined her. She'd pulled her hair in to neat high ponytail and her face was clean of make up. She wore scuffed up trainers, baggy pale blue trousers and a white crop top. Her out fit wasn't exactly neat or formal but that was Sam, she dressed in a very laid back manner. Some would even say she was a bit of a tomboy, mainly due to the fact that she refused to wear skirts.
Amy was the exact opposite, she was always fashionably dressed and neatly preened. Never a hair out of place, rarely seen in sports clothes. She preferred to dress in pastel colours and tight fitting materials. Her friends had always said she was a real girly girl. That thought made her smile as she looked down at the pale pink fitted shirt she'd chosen to wear that day.
"You know what, I don't care", Sam decided whilst looking in the mirror, "I've looked a lot worse than this before, and if I spent too much longer in front of this mirror I run the risk of turning in to a true bimbo". She made a face and walked back over to her bed. She picked up her purse and room key from where she'd placed them on the nightstand then turned to look at Amy. "Shall we go?"
Amy nodded, collected her own purse from the desktop where it sat and headed towards the door with Sam just a step behind.
Charlie, Portman, Adam, Dwayne, Averman, Kenny, Goldberg and Julie stood around on the front steps of the school waiting for the rest of their friends to arrive.
"I tell you she's a real hottie", Portman said, he was deep in conversation with Kenny, Averman, Goldberg and Dwayne.
"Who?" Charlie asked joining in.
"Dude the new girl", Portman answered, "I tell ya Spazway you sure got lucky there".
"What?" Charlie flushed, he hadn't told anyone but Adam about his crush on Sam, or their date this morning. He shot Adam a look but he simply shrugged in shoulders in response. "It's no big deal", Charlie tried to play it cool.
"No big deal?" Portman exclaimed, "A girl like that gets the hots for you and it's no big deal? Wait a minute, I didn't think you knew?"
Julie suddenly realised that Portman was talking about Amy and Charlie obviously wasn't. She moved to wear Portman could see her and began to swipe her hand across her throat as a sign that he should stop talking, he didn't.
"Did she tell you?"
"Well, yeah kinda, this morning after we ..." Charlie began but Portman cut him short.
"You were with her this morning? But she was ...", Portman paused when he saw Julie, who was now standing behind Charlie, shaking her head frantically. "What?!" he yelled staring straight at Julie, everyone turned to look at her.
"Err, ha, um, nothing", she rambled nervously.
"How did you find out about it any way Portman, did Sam tell you?" Charlie turned back to Portman, a look of confusion on his face.
"Sam?" Portman was confused now too, "Who's?" He stopped suddenly and Julie jumped in.
"He's just winding you up Charlie, he doesn't know anything. So, err Sam, the other new girl", she made sure to look at Portman when she said that, "there's something going on with you and her huh?"
"Yes, well, I think so", Charlie mumbled.
"Really?" Julie immediately felt bad for Amy, how was she going to tell her.
"Yeah, I really like her", Charlie smiled.
Julie and Portman shared a look of disappointment and concern, but suddenly Portman cracked a smile.
"Well, Luis will be pleased", he said to Julie with a sly tone.
"Luis, what's he got to do with it?" Charlie asked.
"Forget it", Julie shoved Portman slightly.
"Forget what?" Amy asked suddenly appearing behind them.
"Amy!" Julie exclaimed bouncing of the bottom step and pulling her into a tight hug.
"Hey babe", Portman winked.
"Losing the ability to breath here", Amy joked causing Julie to take her arms from around her neck.
"Sorry", Julie smiled, "Listen I really need to talk to you".
"What really, really?" Sam mocked Julie's voice as she walked up to stand at Amy's side.
"Sam hey", Charlie said with a huge smile when he saw her.
"Hey", she replied.
Amy looked between the two and began to feel nauseous. Julie noticed her friends face twist in disgust and pain.
"Come on Amy I'll introduce you to the rest of the guys", she grabbed Amy's hand and pulled her further up the stairs to where Averman, Goldberg, Kenny, Adam and Dwayne stood.
"Where's Connie?" Sam asked scanning the group.
"She's with Guy and a couple of others, she'll be along in a minute", Portman answered. "I'm Portman by the way, and I'm guessing you're Sam".
"Yeah, that's right", she nodded.
Portman gave her a quick once over with his eyes before nodding approvingly at Charlie. Charlie smirked and shook his head.
"We're here!" A voice called. Sam and Charlie turned to see Connie, Guy, Russ, Luis and Fulton rounding the corner and heading towards them.
"So, you guys ready to go?" Connie asked as she reached the group.
"Sure are", Portman answered for everyone.
"Well let's get going", Julie said linking her arm with Amelia's and descending the steps.
One by one the rest of the ducks, plus Sam, followed them away from the stairs and off campus heading for the mall.