A/N: I own nothing...if only John Cena would let me...
**********
Shane's thoughts were interrupted by the phone ringing. He reached over to answer it. "Hello?"
"Hello? Is this Shane?"
"Uh yeah, who is this?"
"Hey, man, its David. Is Sam around?"
"Yeah, hold on." Shane covered the mouthpiece and yelled for Sam. "Sam, David is on the phone."
Sam ducked her head back into the room. "Thanks Shane, I'll take it in the kitchen."
Shane waited for her to pick up the other extension before hanging up. 'He sure has interesting timing.'
**********
"Hey baby, what's going on?"
Sam giggled. "Not too much. Whats up with you?"
She could hear him sigh. "Not alot. Um, what was Shane doing answering the phone?"
"He stayed over last night. We went shopping with Amy and Matt after we got back from Stamford. We watched a movie, and it was late, so he just stayed over. It really isn't a big deal, David."
"Right, no big deal. What were you doing in Stamford?"
"Tell me you are joking, David."
"Umm, no, sorry. Was it important?" Sam could hear the embarrassment in his voice.
"Oh, no, not at all. It was just the orientation for the job I waited my whole life for. Thats all."
'Great,' David thought, 'now she's pissed.' "I'm sorry honey, I completely forgot. How did everything go?"
"Fine."
David groaned. "Don't be like that Sam. I have had a very hectic weekend."
Sam was seething. "So have I. Thank God Shane was there. I was a mess on the flight up, I was so nervous."
"Shane went?"
"David, I am really losing my patience here. What is the obsession with Shane this morning? He is my best friend. He has been for the last 4 years and he will continue to be. We are very close. You know that."
He sighed. "Yes, Sam, I know that. Maybe I'm just jealous that he gets to spend more time with you then I do."
"Its ok sweetie, I think I understand. Matt gets like that with Jeff sometimes because he's around Amy more." Sam smiled. "Hey, at least I know ya still like me!"
David laughed. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."
"So, is everything on for Wednesday and Thursday?"
"Well...I might have a show."
"Damn it David! I haven't seen you in like a month! You are on NWA now. Why do you still do indies?"
"Some of them are prior commitments, Samantha."
"Don't talk down to me, David. This can't have been a prior committment or you wouldn't have made plans with me. Then again you have been awful forgetful lately."
'Damn,' he thought. "Look, honey-"
"Don't 'honey' me! When you get this straightened out call me. Maybe we can still work something out."
He exhaled loudly. "If we're going for honesty points here Sam, then I'll tell you right now. I have shows both nights. I was just trying to figure out a way to break it gently."
"Well isn't that perfect!"
"Don't tell me you didn't have plans with Shane."
"I didn't. He wanted me to go to a Giants game with him but I told him no because you were supposed to be there! These shows are more impotant than seeing your girlfriend of two years for the first time in a month!"
"I made a committment, Sam."
She looked down at the ring on her right hand. "What about the one you made to me?"
"Sam, I'm sorry to be so harsh about this, but you're going to have to get over it. I'm sure Shane will comfort you."
She gasped. "Where in the hell did that come from?"
"He wants you so bad Sam, I bet he can taste it. And you just egg him on."
"You are so fucking jealous David. Get over it. When you decided to grow up, call me." With that she slammed down the phone. At the noise, Shane came walking into the kitchen. Taking one look at her face, he sighed.
"How about that Giants game?"
**********
Shane poured Sam a mug of hot chocolate and joined her on the couch.
"Thanks," she said when he handed it to her.
Shane nodded. "So what was the deal this time."
Sam just rolled her eyes. "He completely forgot about my job. He said he had shows booked for both Wednesday and Thursday, that he made committments. So I asked him about the committment he made to me, and he told me to get over it." She conveniently left out the part about him. Sam started crying when she felt Shane's arms go around her.
"Don't cry over him Sam. I don't know how many times i have told you- he is not worth it."
She nodded. "And how many times have you had to pick up the pieces?"
"Once was too many, Sam. I try to supporte your being with him. Hell, sometimes he can be a great guy. But times like this make me want to fly to wherever he is and kick his ass."
Sam gave a little laugh. "And sometimes I wish you would. There are times when I Want to scream from the rooftops that I love him, and other days I want to give him this ring back and move on."
Shane looked at the ring she was talking about. David had given it to her last Christmas, with the promise that he would always be there for her. Shane wondered about that often, especially during times like this.
"Don't be mad at me Sam."
She gave him a puzzled look. "Why would I?
"I talked to Amy on Saturday."
Sam bit her lip nervously. "What did she tell you?"
"That you thought you fell out of love with him a long time ago."
"Why did you go to Amy behind my back, Shane?"
He threw his hands up in frustration. "I was worried about you Sam. Until Sunday morning it was like you were in a funk, you were acting depressed. SO I went to Amy figuring that if you would tell anyone besides me it would be her."
She nodded. "For some reason I didn't want to talk to you about it. I don't know why Shane, I just felt weird. Thursday morning Amy and I were sitting here chatting about her and Matt and me and David. She was talking about how she still feels all tingly every time she sees Matt, or thinks about how her stomach does flip flops when he kisses her. And how when he touches her, her skin feels burnt. Thats when it hit me. David doesn't make me feel that way. He never has."
Shane just looked at her. "I had no idea."
Sam chuckled. "Neither did I. I mean, yeah, hes a good kisser, but I never had that moment."
Shane rolled his eyes. "Not the moment."
"Don't interrupt my pity party moment here Shane."
He just stuck his tongue out at her. She ignored it and continued. "Yes the moment. That electrifying kiss. When you just know that this is the person you are supposed to kiss for the rest of your life."
"That was corny Sam."
"It may have been, but I am a corny, hopeless romantic. You should know that by now."
"I do. Do you feel a little bit better now?"
"Not really. Maybe if I just start working I'll feel better in awhile."
He kissed her forehead before standing up and pulling her up with him. "Guess I'll start packing."
"Don't look so excited." She reached up and hugged him. "I know I'm saying this alot, but thanks Shane. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Have a very boring existence."
Sam laughed. "Thats it." They started walking towards her room.
"Oh, and Shane?" He looked down at her. "The Giants sound great." He just smiled.
**********
About 12 hours later, all of Sam's packing and most of her paperwork was finished. Just as she finished reading the last page of a contract, the doorbell rang. Going down to answer it, she passed Shane in the hall. "Did you see who it was?" He just shook his head. Sam pulled the door open. "David! What are you doing here?"
"I think we need to talk Sam."
**********
A/N: Finally it might just start to get interesting. I will warn you though. Nothing really sneaky or too horrible happens in this story. That is being saved for my next one. Also, Ryan in the next chapter (and she was briefly mentioned in chapter 2) is the main character of my next story, tentatively titled 'Heartbreaker'. As always, please R&R
Thanks!
Lisa
**********
Shane's thoughts were interrupted by the phone ringing. He reached over to answer it. "Hello?"
"Hello? Is this Shane?"
"Uh yeah, who is this?"
"Hey, man, its David. Is Sam around?"
"Yeah, hold on." Shane covered the mouthpiece and yelled for Sam. "Sam, David is on the phone."
Sam ducked her head back into the room. "Thanks Shane, I'll take it in the kitchen."
Shane waited for her to pick up the other extension before hanging up. 'He sure has interesting timing.'
**********
"Hey baby, what's going on?"
Sam giggled. "Not too much. Whats up with you?"
She could hear him sigh. "Not alot. Um, what was Shane doing answering the phone?"
"He stayed over last night. We went shopping with Amy and Matt after we got back from Stamford. We watched a movie, and it was late, so he just stayed over. It really isn't a big deal, David."
"Right, no big deal. What were you doing in Stamford?"
"Tell me you are joking, David."
"Umm, no, sorry. Was it important?" Sam could hear the embarrassment in his voice.
"Oh, no, not at all. It was just the orientation for the job I waited my whole life for. Thats all."
'Great,' David thought, 'now she's pissed.' "I'm sorry honey, I completely forgot. How did everything go?"
"Fine."
David groaned. "Don't be like that Sam. I have had a very hectic weekend."
Sam was seething. "So have I. Thank God Shane was there. I was a mess on the flight up, I was so nervous."
"Shane went?"
"David, I am really losing my patience here. What is the obsession with Shane this morning? He is my best friend. He has been for the last 4 years and he will continue to be. We are very close. You know that."
He sighed. "Yes, Sam, I know that. Maybe I'm just jealous that he gets to spend more time with you then I do."
"Its ok sweetie, I think I understand. Matt gets like that with Jeff sometimes because he's around Amy more." Sam smiled. "Hey, at least I know ya still like me!"
David laughed. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."
"So, is everything on for Wednesday and Thursday?"
"Well...I might have a show."
"Damn it David! I haven't seen you in like a month! You are on NWA now. Why do you still do indies?"
"Some of them are prior commitments, Samantha."
"Don't talk down to me, David. This can't have been a prior committment or you wouldn't have made plans with me. Then again you have been awful forgetful lately."
'Damn,' he thought. "Look, honey-"
"Don't 'honey' me! When you get this straightened out call me. Maybe we can still work something out."
He exhaled loudly. "If we're going for honesty points here Sam, then I'll tell you right now. I have shows both nights. I was just trying to figure out a way to break it gently."
"Well isn't that perfect!"
"Don't tell me you didn't have plans with Shane."
"I didn't. He wanted me to go to a Giants game with him but I told him no because you were supposed to be there! These shows are more impotant than seeing your girlfriend of two years for the first time in a month!"
"I made a committment, Sam."
She looked down at the ring on her right hand. "What about the one you made to me?"
"Sam, I'm sorry to be so harsh about this, but you're going to have to get over it. I'm sure Shane will comfort you."
She gasped. "Where in the hell did that come from?"
"He wants you so bad Sam, I bet he can taste it. And you just egg him on."
"You are so fucking jealous David. Get over it. When you decided to grow up, call me." With that she slammed down the phone. At the noise, Shane came walking into the kitchen. Taking one look at her face, he sighed.
"How about that Giants game?"
**********
Shane poured Sam a mug of hot chocolate and joined her on the couch.
"Thanks," she said when he handed it to her.
Shane nodded. "So what was the deal this time."
Sam just rolled her eyes. "He completely forgot about my job. He said he had shows booked for both Wednesday and Thursday, that he made committments. So I asked him about the committment he made to me, and he told me to get over it." She conveniently left out the part about him. Sam started crying when she felt Shane's arms go around her.
"Don't cry over him Sam. I don't know how many times i have told you- he is not worth it."
She nodded. "And how many times have you had to pick up the pieces?"
"Once was too many, Sam. I try to supporte your being with him. Hell, sometimes he can be a great guy. But times like this make me want to fly to wherever he is and kick his ass."
Sam gave a little laugh. "And sometimes I wish you would. There are times when I Want to scream from the rooftops that I love him, and other days I want to give him this ring back and move on."
Shane looked at the ring she was talking about. David had given it to her last Christmas, with the promise that he would always be there for her. Shane wondered about that often, especially during times like this.
"Don't be mad at me Sam."
She gave him a puzzled look. "Why would I?
"I talked to Amy on Saturday."
Sam bit her lip nervously. "What did she tell you?"
"That you thought you fell out of love with him a long time ago."
"Why did you go to Amy behind my back, Shane?"
He threw his hands up in frustration. "I was worried about you Sam. Until Sunday morning it was like you were in a funk, you were acting depressed. SO I went to Amy figuring that if you would tell anyone besides me it would be her."
She nodded. "For some reason I didn't want to talk to you about it. I don't know why Shane, I just felt weird. Thursday morning Amy and I were sitting here chatting about her and Matt and me and David. She was talking about how she still feels all tingly every time she sees Matt, or thinks about how her stomach does flip flops when he kisses her. And how when he touches her, her skin feels burnt. Thats when it hit me. David doesn't make me feel that way. He never has."
Shane just looked at her. "I had no idea."
Sam chuckled. "Neither did I. I mean, yeah, hes a good kisser, but I never had that moment."
Shane rolled his eyes. "Not the moment."
"Don't interrupt my pity party moment here Shane."
He just stuck his tongue out at her. She ignored it and continued. "Yes the moment. That electrifying kiss. When you just know that this is the person you are supposed to kiss for the rest of your life."
"That was corny Sam."
"It may have been, but I am a corny, hopeless romantic. You should know that by now."
"I do. Do you feel a little bit better now?"
"Not really. Maybe if I just start working I'll feel better in awhile."
He kissed her forehead before standing up and pulling her up with him. "Guess I'll start packing."
"Don't look so excited." She reached up and hugged him. "I know I'm saying this alot, but thanks Shane. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Have a very boring existence."
Sam laughed. "Thats it." They started walking towards her room.
"Oh, and Shane?" He looked down at her. "The Giants sound great." He just smiled.
**********
About 12 hours later, all of Sam's packing and most of her paperwork was finished. Just as she finished reading the last page of a contract, the doorbell rang. Going down to answer it, she passed Shane in the hall. "Did you see who it was?" He just shook his head. Sam pulled the door open. "David! What are you doing here?"
"I think we need to talk Sam."
**********
A/N: Finally it might just start to get interesting. I will warn you though. Nothing really sneaky or too horrible happens in this story. That is being saved for my next one. Also, Ryan in the next chapter (and she was briefly mentioned in chapter 2) is the main character of my next story, tentatively titled 'Heartbreaker'. As always, please R&R
Thanks!
Lisa