Title: NBK: Different Story

Chapter Eight: Three weeks to go!

Author: Jaycee

Here it is guys! Have fun! Remember to review them!

Josie was on her way to the Country Club that morning. She was running so late, since she tried on different clothes, looking for the perfect breaking up outfit.

Finally, she settled for a long gauzy black skirt, a glittery purple turtleneck top with short sleeves and her black strappy sandals. She pulled her hair into a ponytail, leaving a few strands of hair that she straightened to frame her face. She put on light make up.

Looking at the mirror, she was actually happy with what she saw. She looks happier now, than she did in those two years that she wasn't with Sam, and now that he's back, she's deliriously happy.

The fact that he's engaged to be married in three weeks was a big problem, but she just had to deal with it, whatever Sam chooses, at least she tried.

She hailed a taxi and told him to bring her to the Country Club as fast as he can. In twenty short minutes, she was in front of the Club. She hurriedly paid the cab driver and went out of the cab and ran up the stairs to the grand ballroom.

When she got there, she looked around the club and saw Anita with her crew, preparing their materials for the day ahead.

"Hey, Josie!" Anita called out. "Wow! You look great! What's the occasion?" Josie pulled her friend to a secluded part of the ballroom.

"Anita, I have to tell you something." Josie said to her friend. "I'm breaking up with Mark." She explained.

"What? Why?" Anita asked, a confused expression on her face.

"I realized that…. I'm still…um…in love with Sam."

"What? How did you know?"

"When I saw him kissing Maria, I was so hurt. I almost fainted in jealousy. Then, I spent an afternoon with him yesterday, and I felt so happy, so comfortable with him. After that, I went to his apartment since my car needs to be towed, he apologized for what he did to me two years ago, and…. he…. we…. almost kissed." she said, a deep blush showing in her cheeks. She looked at her friend, and she saw her smiling.

"Oh, Josie that is so great! I'm so happy for you!" Anita hugged her tight.

"You don't think that this is wrong?"

"Nope! I always knew that you and Sam were meant to be. But, he is still going to get married within three weeks." She said.

"Yah, I know! I'm going to tell him everything today… and then it's all up to him." Josie explained.

"Well, good luck!" Anita said, and gave her another hug.

"Thanks Anita!" she said. Taking out her cell phone, she dialed Mark's mobile number.

"Hello? Mark! It's Josie!"

"Josie! What is it?"

"I need to talk to you… in person. It's very important."

"Why? You're going to break up with me?" Josie flinched at what he said, and then she heard him laugh.

She opened her mouth to say that she is, but he cut her off. "I know you wouldn't break up with me. Anyway, I can't. I'm here in New York. I have a seminar and I won't be back until next week. I'm sorry. I need to go! Bye!" Then he hanged up.

Josie couldn't believe. Here she was, ready to break things off, then, THEN, Mark's not here!

She looked around and saw Maria breeze through the doors, hanging at Sam's arm. Jealousy swept through her body. Looking at Sam, their eyes met. She turned around, and went back to her crew to orient them in what they were going to do.

* * * Sam looked around the ballroom, looking for Josie. At the left side of the ballroom, he saw her, looking more beautiful than ever.

He met her eyes, and saw all the jealousy swirl inside them. He tried to smile at her, but she turned around to talk to some people. He shook his head.

He knows he has to tell Maria the truth, he just didn't know how, but he has too. He was still in love with Josie Geller. And she's the one he should be with. Not Maria.

* * * The rest of the week flew by so quickly for Josie. She didn't get to talk to Sam at all, since she was assigned by Gus to stay in the office since he's going to Wisconsin for a few days because of a seminar.

Not only that, Sam was with Maria the whole week, of course, since it is their wedding. They went to Texas for a few days where some of Maria's relatives are in.

Sam never called her, and time and time again, she told her self that she shouldn't hope that he would.

A bright part of her week, though, was that she was almost finished with the layout of the Showcase feature. Her crew was fast and efficient. She supervised their every move but other than that, they could do everything on their own.

* * * "Finally! I'm home!" Sam said to himself, as he opened the door to his apartment on Wednesday, the following week.

He and Maria spent a whole week at Texas with her relatives and they almost drove him crazy with their pompous attitude.

He knew that they were rich, but they didn't have to keep on flaunting it to his face. They didn't like the fact that he was just a professor at Dartmouth, and that they were hoping that their 'little Maria' would have chosen someone her own level.

Her family didn't exactly say it to his face, but he felt it. With each passing day he spent at Texas, he missed Josie more and more. He tried to call her so many times that past week, but he never had the courage to do so.

'I'll tell her this week!' he decided, as he fixed his clothes into his cabinet. He also noticed that Maria was becoming more and more distant to him, as he was with her. He hoped that Maria wouldn't be too hurt at his decision.

* * * The next day, Josie walked into the ballroom when she smelled the enticing aroma of chocolate. S

he looked around the ballroom, and saw the buffet table that was set for everyone who was involved in the wedding. She quickly walked towards it and she saw that she was indeed correct.

There in the middle was a huge chocolate cake. She smiled at the waiter and asked for a piece.

As she waited, she heard her phone ring. "Hello? Oh, hey Rob! What's up? Tell me already! No way! Oh my God! That is so cool! You're a coach now! I'm so happy for you. We have to celebrate! No, I insist. I'll take you out tonight. At the new French restaurant across town. Wear something dressy. Yah, a tux would be nice. Okay. I'll see you there! Congratulations, Coach Geller! Bye!" she laughed as she hanged up.

She was so wrapped up in the conversation that she didn't know that someone was behind her, listening to her conversation.

* * * Sam saw Josie at the buffet table. He was so happy of seeing her again, that he didn't notice that Maria was watching him from across the ballroom.

He walked to Josie's side and heard what she was telling the person she was talking to on her phone. He realized that it was Rob.

Obviously, he had been assigned as the new coach of South Glen and Josie was thrilled for her brother. He heard her making plans to take him out to the new French restaurant across town and he decided to take Maria there too, tonight so that he'll see her all dressed up.

She hanged up and picked up her plate of chocolate cake. He reached out and tapped her at the shoulder. He laughed as she jumped in surprise at his touch.

She turned around and smiled as she saw whom it was. "Oh, Sam! You startled me. I didn't know you guys were here already. How was your trip?" she asked him.

"I'm sorry if I startled you. The trip was great." He lied as he smiled at her giddily. "Um…Josie. I have something to tell you. It's just that…." He started, but before he even finished his sentence, he felt someone stand beside him. He looked at his side and saw Maria, her arms wrapped around his left arm.

"Oh, Maria." He said, disappointingly.

"Sam. Josie." She said, her eyebrows rose as she looked at Josie.

"What are you doing here? Don't you have an article to do?" she asked sarcastically. He saw Josie flinch at her tone of voice.

"I'm sorry. I'll be going now." She said, as she walked away, leaving her plate of chocolate cake on the table.

"Why did you do that Maria? We we're just talking." He said, as he pulled his arm free from her grasp.

"She was slacking off. Every time I see her, it's either she's talking on the phone or she's here at the buffet table, or sometimes talking to people around her."

"She's my friend, that's why we we're talking. And, she has the right to eat too, you know. And she's not slacking off. She's doing everything that she can to finish her articles on time. All you can do is to get off her case. I thought you liked her." he said, as he stepped away from her.

"I thought I did. But, I have the right to change my mind, don't I?" she asked bitterly. "And why do you keep on defending her? She's not your fiancée, I am. Or have you forgotten that?" Sam shook his head at Maria, and walked away.

* * * That night, Josie pinned up her hair, and stepped into her black dress, which Anita persuaded her to buy last month. She's never worn before.

Zipping it up at the side, she took a peek at her self in the mirror. She had never worn that color before and she can see that it fits her. The dress was very simple, having no designs whatsoever. It was a halter design, baring her shoulders. It fell to just above her ankles.

Stepping into her black stilettos, she picked up her black shawl and bag and went to her car, that she got that Saturday.

* * * Meanwhile, at New York, Mark Springsteen was having the time of his life. He was in a bathtub with the woman he met at a club last night.

Her name was Lara Patton, a Wall Street lawyer.

"So, what's the name of your girlfriend again?" she asked, smiling seductively at him as she gently scrubbed her arm.

"Can we not talk about her?" he said, as he closed his eyes.

"Come on."

"Okay… she's Josie Geller."

"Oh, really? The 'Never Been Kissed' girl?" she asked, her eyes glinting mischievously.

"What 'Never Been Kissed' girl? What do you mean?" he asked as he sat up straight.

"You mean, she didn't tell you?" "What did she didn't tell me?" Lara smiled. 'Now it's time for me to get back at that Josie Geller for stealing away my Sam Coulson from me.' She told herself.

Looking at Mark with a mock sad look, she launched on to tell him the story.

* * * Thirty minutes later, Mark was on his way back to Chicago.

He couldn't believe that Josie didn't tell him anything about her article and the fact that Sam Coulson was the guy that she waited for that night at the pitcher's mound.

He tried to breathe evenly as he remembered the number of times that he saw Josie lock eyes with Sam Coulson at the park. 'So that's why it seems like they have that certain connection. I thought I was just imagining it.'

And that night at the Delloser Club!

He saw Josie looking at Sam at the railing. 'She must still love him!' he thought angrily. 'So, that's why she never let me kiss her, she was waiting for him! Well, we'll see about that! Never been kissed huh!' he said to himself as he drove through the high way.

* * * Sam and Maria followed the matire'd to their table. After their fight earlier this morning about Josie, Maria apologized to him and said that she was just jittery about their upcoming wedding. She said that to make it up to him, they can go out for dinner that night and he'll be the one to choose the restaurant.

Sam happily agreed and they went to the restaurant that Josie was taking her brother. They ordered some wine and steaks and began to talk about their wedding.

He noticed that Maria was becoming more and more withdrawn from him, but he didn't know the cause. He hoped that whatever the reason was, it would make it easier for him to break things up with her. It was a bad thought but he couldn't help him self.

He has to be with Josie.

* * * Josie walked into the restaurant, with Rob behind her. They met at the parking lot and it was more obvious to her that her brother is beside himself with happiness.

As they sat down, she leaned towards her brother. "Order whatever you want, it's on me! We have to celebrate!"

"Thanks Josie. I told Sarah to come with us, but she said that this night is for the two of us. She said that she'll celebrate with me tomorrow night and that she has a surprise for me." He said, wiggling his eyebrows up and down. (Sarah was his girlfriend.)

Josie threw back her head and laughed. "Good for you then." She called the waiter and ordered the most expensive bottle of red wine and they both ordered steaks.

"So, how's the Sam situation?" he asked, as soon as the waiter was out of their sight. "

Well, it's getting better. I'm going to break up with Mark before I tell Sam anything. Then, after that, it's all up to him. I know I'm putting my heart on the line, but I have to take the risk. This is all I can do right now. I've done this before anyway." She explained.

"I hope you know what you're doing Josie. I just hope that you don't get hurt all over again." He said, as he fixed his cloth napkin on his lap.

"Thanks Rob!" she said, as the waiter poured their wine for them. The steaks came after ten minutes, and they both got busy with their eating, talking about Rob's upcoming job in between bites.

"Hey, look over there Josie!" he exclaimed as he wiped his mouth.

"What?" she asked and then she looked behind her. When she turned around, she found herself staring into Sam's green eyes, seated at the table behind them.

* * * Sam looked around for what seemed the thousandth time that night, looking for Josie. But this time, he was rewarded.

Sitting at the table before them, was none other than Josie her self. She spotted him at the same time and their eyes locked, for a very long time. Maria followed his gaze and frowned when she saw Josie.

"Why is that woman everywhere?" she asked Sam.

"Well, this is a pretty small town." He explained. He saw Josie stand up with Rob on tow and they approached their table.

"Hey guys!" she greeted them.

"Hey Josie! How you doin' Rob?" he greeted back, smiling into Josie's eyes. He swallowed as he took in Josie's attire that night. She was wearing a simple black dress that hugged her curves at all the right places. She had her hair up, showing off her long white creamy neck. He wanted to kiss her right there and then, but he know he couldn't.

Trying to drag his thoughts away from the scenario of kissing Josie he returned his attention back to what Josie was saying.

"Maria, this is my brother, Rob Geller." She introduced. Rob extended his hand to Maria who shook it gently.

"Hey Maria! Hi Sam!" he said.

"Hi!" Maria answered in a dreary tone of voice, and then she returned her gaze to her food.

Sam was shocked at Maria's rude behavior. He saw Josie's face fall at Maria's attitude towards her and her brother.

He smiled apologetically at Josie, hoping to return her wonderful smile back on her lips. It worked, as she smiled at him.

"So I guess we'll be going back to our table then. See you guys tomorrow!" she called as she walked away.

"Bye!" he called back. He followed her with his eyes, then suddenly, he saw Josie stop and he heard her tell Rob, "Oh, Rob! We have to dance to this song. Please, it's my favorite."

He listened to the song and realized that they we're playing Bryan Adam's Heaven, which was also one of his favorite songs. He noticed Rob shake his head and say, "Josie I can't. My stomach hurts. I ate too much."

"Oh, okay!" she answered, her face downcast. Sam couldn't let her look that sad, so without telling Maria, he stood up and went to their table.

"Josie, would you like to dance with me?" he asked as he held out his hand. Josie looked at him, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"Sure!" she answered, as he took a hold of his hand and they walked towards the dancing floor.

* * * Josie couldn't believe it. Here she was, again, in Sam Coulson's arms. She closed her eyes, inhaling his intoxicating aftershave. She shivered and looked into his eyes. "Thanks for dancing with me."

"My pleasure! This is one of my favorite songs you know." He said, as he smiled back down at her.

"Really? Me too!" she said, happily, knowing that they have another thing in common.

"So, where's Mark?" he asked, rather sadly, as he looked into her eyes.

"Oh, he's not here. He's in New York. For some seminar." She answered, hoping that he would pull her closer. He nodded, and then as if he read her mind, he pulled her closer.

Josie sighed as they began to move with the music. At that moment, she felt Sam lean closer to her ear, and what he did made her shiver even more. "And baby you're all that I want/ When you're lying here in my arms/ I'm finding it hard to believe/ We're in heaven/ And love is all that I need/ And I found it there in your heart/ It isn't hard to see/ We're in heaven" He sang in her ear, in that deep sexy voice of his.

She closed her eyes as she dared to take a step closer to Sam. When he finished singing, he looked into her eyes, as if telling her that she's the one that she wants. That she's the one that he loves. She nodded and rested her head lightly on Sam's shoulder. "Josie… I just want to tell you that…" he started.

She waited as he struggled to find the words. Then, unexpectedly, they heard someone clear his or her throat loudly behind them. They jumped apart guiltily and they saw Maria behind them. "Sam I want to go now!" she said, tapping her heels to the floor. Sam looked at her.

"Oh, okay! See you guys tomorrow. Bye Maria!" she said, but Maria ignored her. She pulled on to Sam's forearm and practically dragged him out of the restaurant.

She looked after them, until they we're out of her sight. She closed her eyes and sighed when she remembered how it felt to be in Sam's arms even for just a little while. "It was heaven!" she said to herself and walked back to Rob to pay the bill and to go home.

* * * At his apartment, Sam couldn't believe what Maria did at the restaurant. In the car, she didn't even say anything in her defense when he asked her about her manners.

It was clearer to him than ever. Maria was not the one for him. It was Josie. He knew that he's been telling that to himself so many times in the past week, but he has to tell himself again and again, so that he'll have the strength to tell Maria everything tomorrow.

He closed his eyes, as he lie on his bed, thinking about how it felt when he was holding Josie in his arms. She fitted so right in his arms. It was like she was meant to be there. He didn't know what he was thinking when he started singing into her ear, he just felt like he needed to do it, so that she'll know that she's the one he loves. And he felt like she understood everything even though they didn't talk directly about it.

He closed his eyes, drifting into a deep sleep, now comforted at the thought that he knows what he's going to do tomorrow.

* * * As soon as she got home, she changed into a pair of her bear pajamas and went to her computer so that she can finish the dummy of her newspaper.

As she looked at the dummy, she read the headline: ulson-Rodriguez Nuptials'hurts her so much to read it, but she knows that she has to do that. Smiling to herself, she typed in her computer her surname, 'Geller', then printed it out in the same font size as the one on the dummy. She took the printed page, and cut the surname carefully, and then placed a strip of adhesive tape behind it. She knows that it was wrong, but she needs to do it. Her hands shaking slightly, she placed it on top of Maria's surname. Admiring her work, she read the title again, and she was happy at what she saw. It now read, Coulson-Geller Nuptials'

She laughed at how good it feels to see their surnames together. Suddenly the phone rang, snapping her out of her thoughts, "I'll be back to fix you okay. Don't go anywhere!" she said to the dummy. Answering the phone, she realized that it was Rob. "Hey Rob!" she said, as she walked into her bedroom, completely forgetting about the dummy. She lay down on her bed and buried herself under the covers. "Really? That's so sweet of mom and dad. Did you leave me a slice? You know that chocolate's my favorite. Come on Rob…"