Disclaimer: American Dreams is definitely not owned by me.

A/N: Okay, the past like, two episodes of the show have been absolutely amazing. I could never, ever, compare to that. So this story is turning slightly AU, since some of the things I've explained are now taking place, and I'm guessing it's gonna be pretty different from my quick explanation of things.

Keep watching, Sundays at 8:00!

XXX

"You look tired," Helen commented as Meg entered the kitchen the next day. A glance at the clock told her it was already late morning.

"I couldn't sleep," she replied, taking a piece of bread and sticking it in the toaster. She stared at the little machine, wondering who first invented the toaster. That led her to question how electricity worked, and how it went through those wires on the street, and suddenly Meg felt as if she were back in school, trying to answer these questions for homework.

Helen was tidying up the dishes that were strewn about the kitchen. "Will and Patty went to the pool to swim, and your father left early this morning for the store. I have today off, so I'm going to be cleaning up the house most of the day, and I've got some errands to run, and later JJ is coming over to-"

She stopped talking when she noticed that Meg wasn't listening. "Meg?"

Meg jerked her head up from her position of staring at the toaster. "Yes, I heard you, Will and Patty are at the pool, dad's at work, you've got errands."

"Is there something wrong?" Helen asked kindly as Meg removed the now-toasted bread from the toaster and buttered it.

"I'm just...trying to get used to everything again." She chuckled. "You know, Rox actually worked at a diner for a few weeks in L.A. She got fired for eating the food."

"Do you miss being there?"

The question was sudden, and Meg actually hesitated before glancing at her mother's almost hurt expression and saying, "No. Not at all."

Helen brightened at this. "So, JJ is coming over later to take Patty driving, and Beth is dropping off John for a little while so she can go into work. Maybe you can watch him?"

"Well, I was going to go see the new store," Meg said slowly.

"Oh? Any reason?" Helen looked at her daughter as if she knew there was an ulterior motive for her wanting to go to the store.

"Not really. This is a big deal, I want to see it."

"Alright."

The toast crunched in her mouth, and Meg considered why she wasn't telling her mother she really wanted to see Sam. Though, from the tone of voice Helen was using, Meg thought she may have guessed something else was spurring this visit anyway.

XXX

The bell above the door jingled with a clean, clear sound that reverberated throughout the store as Meg entered the newest Pryor's TV and Radio. She looked around at the freshly painted walls and brand new stands that would be holding new appliances by the end of the day.

The store was opening in a week, and by the looks of things, it was crunch time.

The place was packed with boxes that had yet to be opened, and people putting last minute touches anywhere they thought needed it. Meg was surprised at the number of men working there.

She spotted her father giving instructions to a man, and walked over to them. Once the other man had departed, Meg smiled at her dad. "Wow."

Jack looked almost pleased with his daughter's one-word approval, but tried to hide it. "Yeah, it's come along nicely."

"You've got a lot of guys working here," Meg pointed out.

"I wanted to make sure everything was perfect, you know, it's important when you're opening a new store."

"Right," she agreed, and the two then stood in slightly strained silence.

"Well, I gotta get some stuff, so I better go..." Jack said, looking for a way out.

Meg didn't fight his attempt to abandon their awkwardness. "Okay. I'm just gonna look around, and then I'm-"

"You don't have to explain yourself to me," Jack interrupted, holding up a hand, his voice harsh if you listened closely. "You're an adult."

He turned and left. Meg vowed then and there that if she heard her father say 'you're an adult' one more time, she'd scream.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

The voice behind her made Meg jump, and she twirled quickly to face Sam, who was smiling slightly, both arms preoccupied with carrying a large TV. He was sweating, and seemed to have removed his normal shirt so that he was only wearing his t-shirt.

"You scared me." She pressed her hand to her heart for affect.

"Sorry."

"It's okay."

Meg wondered when her conversations with people had turned into long silences.

"So...it's looking good," Meg finally said.

Sam glanced around. "Yeah, well, everyone's been working hard." He shifted. "Lemmi just put this TV down."

"Oh, yeah, sure, sorry," Meg fumbled, taking a step back to let him pass. She watched him disappear into the back room, and then pop back out moments later.

When he reached her, he wiped his forehead with the back of his wrist. "Man, it's hot."

"Yeah, it's weird weather. I mean, it's only July first. Well, tomorrow is July first, but...you know what I mean."

"Yeah."

Think of something to say, Meg commanded her brain. Since when had it become so hard to have a normal conversation with Sam? "So, uh, guess where I'm re-applying to."

"Where?" Sam leaned against a wall, obviously tired, but still listening to his friend closely.

"Pennsylvania University."

Smile growing, Sam stood straight up again. "Really? That's great, Meg. But did you say re-apply? Did you already apply?"

Now Meg leaned against the wall. She didn't notice the blatant stare she was receiving from one of the white men moving boxes. "I applied, and got in, last year. But...my dad..."

"Ah," Sam said knowingly. "He didn't want you to go?"

"I thought he didn't, and then I guess he did, and it's all just , to say the least."

Sam nodded in understanding, and that was when his father, Henry Walker, entered the store and spotted the two. "Is that Meg Pryor?" he asked loudly.

Meg grinned at Sam's father as he came over. "Your father told me you were home, but I didn't believe him," Henry stated. "How was it out west?"

"Crazy," Meg responded immediately, and Henry chuckled in his low-pitched way.

"Well, welcome home," he said, and then wished the two good-bye and went into the back.

Once Henry was gone, Sam turned back to Meg. "He's managing the store, so he thinks he should be here 24/7."

"I heard. I think it's really great."

Meg finally looked around the store once again, and noticed the young worker who was watching them. He diverted his eyes in the most un-subtle of ways, but not before smirking at her a bit.

"Do you wanna have lunch?" Meg asked finally, and Sam brightened.

"Sure," he replied, "I've just got a few more things to do."

"And uh, me and Roxanne were gonna check out the Vinyl Crocodile a little later, so you should come after we eat. If you want." She felt herself blush a little at how stupid she sounded.

"Alright," Sam agreed, now a grin on his face.

"I'll wait for you outside," Meg informed him, and the two went their separate ways.

Meg exited the store, and moments later, she heard the little bell jingle again. "I'm thinking we should go to that new-"

She stopped talking when she had turned fully around and saw that the person wasn't Sam, but the worker who had been watching them from inside.

"Oh, sorry, I thought you were someone else," Meg apologized quickly and quietly, extremely embarrassed.

"Don't worry about it," the guy replied. He had a deep and scratchy voice, but looked to be only a year or two older than Meg. He leaned against the wall beside the large windows and took out a cigarette. "Want one?" he offered.

Meg shook her head. "No, thanks." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"I'm Kyle," he said suddenly. "You're Jack Pryor's daughter, right? Peg?"

"Uh, it's Meg, and...how did you know?" She really didn't like how this was going.

"I've seen pictures on his desk at the other place. I've been workin' for your dad since last winter." Kyle stood up from his leaning position, and took a step closer to Meg. She stepped back casually. "You're pretty."

"Uh, thanks," she said slowly. He was making her uncomfortable, and obviously he wanted it like that.

"You dating the colored guy inside?"

Meg took a breath, and was about to answer when Sam came out of the store. He glanced between the two of them.

"Sam!" she said loudly, beyond thankful that he had decided to come out at that time.

"Everything okay?" he asked, looking between them, and Meg was surprised at how defensive he sounded.

"Yeah, I was just gettin' to know Meg," Kyle told him with a smirk, putting out his cigarette.

"We should go," Meg prompted, grabbing Sam's arm.

"See you later, Sam. And Meg," Kyle added, "don't be a stranger around here." He winked and went back inside.

Sam was following Kyle inside with his eyes, and once satisfied at his distance from them, glanced at his friend. "Was he bothering you?"

Meg shrugged. "He was being...weird. Let's just go," she said.

Nodding, Sam followed behind Meg, but looked back one more time to see Kyle smirking at their retreating forms.

XXX