Disclaimer: Though I don't own American Dreams, I really wish I did. Sigh.

A/N: Kinda short chapter, but I noticed that they're always fighting on this show, so I had to write a yelling match, and I figured, there's only so much arguing a person can take, so I just decided to post these two scenes. Really, I'm just making this stuff up as I go along, since I don't have a definite outline or plan or anything.

When I got the e-mails with my reviews, and I read them, I actually giggled. Yes, that's how happy you guys make me. I giggled. Out loud. 

Lovers of AD: write fics! The show is worth it, just give it a try! And don't forget, watch tonight's episode!

XXX

Roxanne flew into the record store ahead of Meg and Sam, and once they reached the door, their friend was actually hugging the counter.

"I missed this place," Roxanne told them.

"Obviously," Sam chuckled.

"Oh, I swear I dreamt about the listening booths for a week straight!"

Meg shook her head at her best friend's antics. She had so many memories of the Vinyl Crocodile. Her first boyfriend had worked here, she had come here to do signings for Bandstand, she and Sam had spend hours upon hours listening and trading records, not to mention the amount of music she had bought.

She began flipping through the records that were placed under the letter 'L' as Roxanne kept running around the store and Sam checked out another selection. He gave up soon, though, and rejoined his friend.

"So, uh, back at the store..." Sam began slowly, eyeing Meg.

"What about it?" Meg asked, playing dumb.

Sam sighed. "That guy, Kyle, you were talking to."

Meg noticed the edgier tone Sam's voice took, and boldly looked him straight in the face. "Yeah? What about him?"

"He's just...bad news, Meg." The honesty Sam exhibited made Meg wonder just what type of news it was.

She decided to find out. "Why?"

"Well, he's just a big player, and he doesn't have the best personality...But if you like him, then-"

"I definitely don't like him at all," Meg stated firmly. "He's a jerk. Thanks for sticking up for me."

"I guess I knew you'd do the same for me," Sam replied, sounding unsure and avoiding Meg's eye. He busied himself with the stacks.

His words made her consider. Would she do the same for him? Of course she would; she had in the past. "Yes. Of course I would. Because we're friends."

For some reason, saying the word 'friends' made Meg feel disappointed.

XXX

Meg shrugged off her light jacket as silently as she could as she eased the front door shut and she entered her home later that night. The place was darkened, but Meg could hear the TV going from the other room. She knew coming home to that was never a good thing.

The top of her father's head was visible over the back of the chair he was sitting in, watching a baseball game. Wondering if she could slip upstairs, Meg turned, but a little too quickly, so that she knocked over a picture that had been hanging on the wall.

"Meg?" Jack asked.

"Uh, yeah, dad," she finally responded. "I'm just going up to bed." Yet still Meg stood in the doorway, knowing her dad was going to say something. "The game go into extra innings?"

"Yeah."

The only noise was the cheering of the crowd at the baseball game on the television.

Jack broke the silence first. "You have fun?"

"Yeah."

"Where'd you go?"

"Oh, well, we went to the new diner, and the Vinyl Crocodile."

"Just you and Roxanne?"

Her hesitance was enough for Jack to turn around so Meg could see half his face over the chair.

"Sam was with us, too," Meg added without any trace of fear.

Jack sighed and rubbed his face with his hand. "Meg, what are you doing?"

"What do you mean?" Now she was just confused.

"You've been home two days, and both days you've been doing something with Sam."

"So?"

"So?" Jack repeated, standing up and shutting off the TV. "Meg, just because you're almost nineteen doesn't mean you can be running around with a guy. Especially-" He stopped abruptly, glancing away from his daughter.

Meg didn't care about keeping her voice down now. "Especially what? Because he's black?" When Jack didn't agree or disagree, she went on, "I can't believe you, dad! You know Sam! He's probably the nicest guy I've ever known, and his color shouldn't matter!"

"It's not that easy, Meg! I've had two different guys who are working on the store tell me they saw you two...close!"

She couldn't believe his accusations. "Close?" she echoed loudly, shaking her head. "It shouldn't matter who I'm with!"

"It just doesn't look good, Meg! Not for me, not for Henry, and not for you two! I know Sam is a nice kid, and I've told you before, I don't want you getting him in trouble with other people." Jack took a deep breath. "People talk, Meg, and a lot of the time, they're not talking good stuff."

"It's none of their business," she said, then turned quickly. Meg took a step, then twisted back. "It's none of yours, either," she shot, sounding exactly like her father.

Almost colliding with her mother on the stairs, Meg kept running up, past Will and Patty, who were both looking confused. She finally stopped when she reached her bed, collapsing on it to cry in peace.

She wondered if it would have been better if she had stayed out west.

XXX