Mika was her best friend for many years. The two met when they were four and ever since they were attached at the hip. Sam was the first to hear about her crush on Brett Aspinall and the first to hear when they got together.

Over the years she had gotten to know Brett well, spending time together with Mika around, until they became friendly enough to speak without her presence to break the ice. Brett knew how to make her laugh when all she wanted to do was cry and knew how to comfort her when the first sign of tears appeared. Sam grew to like him more as time passed but never admitted that there could be something more hidden behind her feelings - dismissing claims from other students that she and Brett were too close for the best friend of his girlfriend.

It wasn't until they were studying at lunch when she offered to lend Brett notes and he kissed your head, saying, "I don't know what I would do without you, Sam," that she took notice of the stares they received and questioned just how close she was with Brett.

It was small gestures that led to a big conclusion. The way he would rest his arm across her shoulders whenever they walked together or the way he would smile at her when she offered to help him with homework, or he offered to help her. They were both bright students, and Brett had said more than once he loved to hear her thoughts. The way he kissed her head when he left or when he arrived. These small gestures, seemingly innocent at the time, made Sam realize that they weren't so innocent. And neither was the way he looked at her.

"Are you alright?" He asked, ducking his head to meet her gaze, noticing she had drifted into her thoughts.

"I'm fine." She smiled but he wasn't convinced, and she was grateful when he didn't press for answers. That was another thing she liked about Brett. He didn't hover because he knew she would confide in him when she was ready.

Sam closed her locker and listened as he spoke about how interesting and helpful he found the notes she had let him borrow on the way to their next shared class. His arm, as always, lifted and draped around her shoulders, keeping her close beside him as they weaved through the crowded corridors.

Sam felt the warmth radiating through his clothes, and looked up at him, lips parting when he turned his head to meet her gaze, a wide smile on his lips.

"You haven't heard a word I've said have you?" He asked, amused.

Sam shook her head. "No. Sorry. I feel a little - can you say I've gone home or something?" She asked, moving away from him, hating how she missed the warmth.

"Y-Yeah. No problem. Are you sure you're alright?" He asked, gazing down at her with worry in his eyes.

Deciding not to answer, knowing it would be a lie, she said, "I'll see you later."

Brett turned, watching the redhead push her way through the crowd of students making their way to classes, a frown on his lips. He reluctantly continued on his way to class, trying to figure out what had caused the change in her behaviour.

Sam was writing at her desk when there was a knock on the front door. She sighed as she headed downstairs, opening the door to find Brett and judging by his clothes and the time, the school had finished twenty minutes ago. The same amount of time it took to get from her house to Waterloo Road, meaning he had driven straight here.

"Hi." His blue eyes widened, almost as if he was surprised she had opened the door.

"Hi," Sam leaned against the door. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to check on you. Make sure you were okay." Brett swallowed thickly. "Can I come in?"

Sam stepped aside wordlessly, and Brett entered. She led the way upstairs to her bedroom, and Brett looked around, taking in every detail as he had only been downstairs in the living room once. She took a seat on the bed, crossing one leg beneath her, her green eyes following him as he looked at the photographs on the walls.

From where she was sitting, she had a good view of his side profile and the way his hair fell over his forehead, the way his striking blue eyes seemed to glow, and the way his tall frame had to bend slightly to accommodate the cathedral style ceiling.

Sam was surprised when he spoke.

"Have I done something?" He asked, turning to her.

Her eyebrows furrowed until she registered his words. A sigh left her rose lips. "No, you haven't. Why do you think that?"

"It's just - this morning everything seemed fine then after lunch you seemed...distant. If I've upset you, I'm sorry." He walked closer, standing beside the window, making sure he kept space between them as if he came any closer, she would runoff.

"It's not you." Sam ran a hand over her forehead. "It's something Janeece said this morning. It just - I let it get under my skin. And I shouldn't have because it's ridiculous." She attempted to laugh it off.

Brett's eyebrows knit together while he crossed his arms. "What did she say?"

"It's stupid -"

"Hardly if it's affected you like this." He lowered his arms. "You know that you can talk to me anytime. About anything, right?"

Sam sighed. "She said that we were - that we didn't act the way we should." She told him, lowering her gaze to her hands, missing the way his blue eyes fell to the floor. "She said if she did not know us, she would think that we were the couple, not you and Mika." Sam looked up at him to find him staring out the window. "Look, forget I said anything. Like I said it's ridiculous." She stood up, and Brett turned a few moments later, his blue eyes looking at her with an intensity she was trying not to fall for. But Sam knew she already had.

"It's my fault." He said. "I never meant for this to happen -"

She was frozen to the spot, unable to tear her eyes at the sight of him nervous - the first time she had ever witnessed such a thing.

"Sam, I -"

"Don't finish that sentence." She hurried out. "You're with Mika. My best friend."

"I know!" He exclaimed, running a hand through his hair. "I never meant for it to happen it just did. I tried to put it behind me, thinking it was just some passing feeling that would fade away on its own, but..." He sighed, shrugging his shoulder softly, his blue eyes meeting her gaze. "it never did. If anything it got stronger." He approached where you stood in the centre of the room. "I like you, Sam."

"What about Mika?"

"I tried fighting it for her sake but...it's not her I lie awake thinking of at night. It's not her that I am eager to see in the morning."

"She's my best friend!"

"I know. I know." He sighed softly. "But I can't ignore how I feel forever. Can you?"

Sam shook her head. "I can't hurt Mika. We've been friends for years, this will crush her."

"So, we just lie for the rest of our lives?" Brett frowned as he stood in front of the redhead.

"Maybe...maybe not - I don't know I-I -" Sam ran a hand through her long hair, looking up at him when he cupped her cheek.

"I don't want to spend the rest of my life wondering what might've been, do you?" He whispered.

Sam shook her head and Brett leaned down, pressing his lips to hers tentatively. When she didn't push him away or slap him, Brett grew more certain of his actions when her lips moulded against his.

And at that moment they knew there was no going back from this. Sam knew Mika would be devastated in the end regardless of Brett's plan to break up with her. She knew that it would be difficult comforting her when she had a role in their breakup. But Sam also knew that Brett was right. They couldn't fight it forever.

For a few weeks after their breakup, Sam remained friends with Brett, whilst supporting Mika who had paid no mind to the prolonged glances they sent each other.. Until someone told her the rumours that threatened to rock their friendship for over a year.

Sam was standing at her locker when Mika stormed over to her. "Hey, I was thinking we could -"

Mika slapped the redhead when she turned to her, stunning Sam into silence. "How could you? I thought we were friends!"

"We are - I -" Sam flinched when she grabbed her shirt, shoving her against the lockers. Sam grabbed Mika's arms, trying to hold her back, never hitting her.

A crowd had gathered round in the next five minutes and Brett was confused as he had wandered down this corridor in hopes of seeing Sam before his next class. He pushed through the crowd of cheering students, eyes widening when he saw Mika and the redhead he had been looking for, fighting on the ground.

Brett swiftly intervened, moving Mika away, standing in front of Sam. "Don't blame her. It was all me." Mika slapped him harshly and Sam gasped, covering her mouth with her hands, seeing the way his head turned from the force.

"Mika!" Tom intervened before she could hit Brett again and Sam adjusted her shirt as she got off the floor.

"I never want to see you both ever again!" She stormed off and Sam watched her leave with tears in her eyes.

Brett touched his cheek, wincing from the stinging feeling. He turned to the green-eyed beauty, ignoring the stares from students. "Come on." He said softly, putting a hand on her arm.

She lowered her gaze to the floor, allowing him to lead her away from the stares. Sam covered her mouth with her hand, a sob leaving her lips and Brett stopped, wrapping his arms around her.

Sam looked up at him, seeing the red mark on his cheek. She pressed her lips to his cheek and hugged his waist.

"It'll be alright." He assured her.

She nodded, resting her head on his chest.

"Do you want to skip the rest of the day?"

Sam shook her head. "We have to face this now." He sent her a small smile when she lifted her head, meeting his gaze.

"I'm ready if you are." He said.

She smiled softly when he held out a hand, taking it and intertwining her fingers with his. "As I'll ever be."

Sam couldn't change what happened and she didn't see the point in waiting when everyone knew about her and Brett. So she decided that if her friendship with Mika was really over, then she wouldn't lose this chance with Brett.

His blue eyes gazed down at her with a softness that made her heart race when she placed a hand on the cheek that wasn't slapped. Sam leaned up on her toes, kissing him tenderly. Brett smiled into the kiss, not realising just how much he missed the feeling of her lips against his since their last kiss only the night before.

He rested his forehead against hers, and Sam smiled up at him, knowing that soon Waterloo Road would have more to talk about than their relationship. And although they would be under scrutiny for at least a week, Sam and Brett knew their feelings were strong enough to survive it.