Disclaimer: American Dreams rocks. I wish I owned it. Sadly, I don't. But if I did, it would never end. Ever. Seriously.

A/N: Wow, guys, I totally suck for not updating in awhile. I've been insanely busy, so I haven't had a chance to write anymore, but I finished this chapter so I could put it out there for Christmastime (yay!). I want to think up some more plots and where I'm going with the story and stuff, and then I'll get back to writing. I have some idea, but since this is my main story right now, I want to basically finish it before starting any others.

You reviewers are incredibly awesome. Like, you're all just wicked cool. I can't get over these reviews, they're just too nice.

So Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, so on and so forth.

XXX

When they parted, Meg took a deep breath, having been caught so off-guard that she'd nearly forgotten how to function correctly. Sam was still gazing down at her, seeming to be shocked by his own behavior.

"Meg, I'm sorry… I don't know what I was thinking," he started quietly.

Shaking her head, Meg smiled a little. "It's okay."

They were quiet, just taking in the moment. Meg could hardly believe what had just happened. The feeling of Sam's lips on hers was running through her mind like a broken record.

"You never answered my question," she pointed out softly, the smile still on her face.

Sam scratched the back of his neck shyly. "I uh, thought that'd be answer enough."

"So you like me?"

"Meg, I already told you that I do," Sam said bashfully.

Meg grinned, just wanting to hear him say it. "And I like you too."

"Right."

There was an awkward silence, until Meg sighed. "So what do we do about this?"

"I guess we either stop now, or give this whole thing a try," Sam answered.

"You know what I want to do," she said slowly, averting her eyes so she didn't have to watch him. She was afraid they'd end up back where they had been minutes before: arguing. "It's up to you."

Sam took a minute. He seemed to be weighing the whole thing in his mind. Meg thought he'd never give her an answer, until-

"I think I want to give this thing a try," he said truthfully.

"But what about everyone else that you were talking about before?"

"Like you said, it's none of their business."

Meg finally let her eyes drift back to his. "So what do we do now?"

Sam seemed about to reply, but Roxanne appeared in the alley at that moment. She looked between the two of them with a smile. "Hey guys!"

"Hey Rox," Meg said, turning to her friend, hiding any sort of emotion she held from just seconds before. Sam nodded his greeting.

"So, what'd I miss?" Roxanne questioned eagerly, oblivious to what was going on between her two friends.

Well, Meg thought she was oblivious.

XXX

"What happened with Sam?" Roxanne asked. She, Meg and Sam had joined the large group in the store, and Roxanne had led her best friend away from the festivities to a secluded corner.

"What are you talking about?" Meg said, playing dumb.

Roxanne rolled her eyes. "Meg, this is me you're talking to. You can't lie to me. What was going on in the alley between you and Sam?"

Meg decided to let Roxanne wait for the answer. She sighed and glanced at the group, specifically at Sam, who was speaking alternately with his sister and Beth.

"Well?"

"We uh…kissed," Meg finally mumbled out.

Roxanne gasped and squealed. "Oh my God!" she nearly shouted.

Meg hushed her quickly, taking another glance at the others to see if anyone had heard. "Please, not so loud. I don't want anyone to find out."

"Why?" Roxanne questioned, a smile on her face.

"Because it just happened. I don't know, we didn't really get to talk about anything before you showed up."

"Well how much did you talk about?" Roxanne was fascinated.

Meg shifted from one foot to the other, not meeting her best friend's look. "We both decided we wanted to give it a try."

"Give what a try?"

Shooting another glance towards the small crowd across the store, Meg said quietly, "Give dating a try."

"Oh my god," Roxanne said again, but this time she restrained herself from yelling. "Finally!"

"What do you mean, finally?" Meg asked with slight annoyance.

"Are you blind?" Roxanne shook her head. "Meg, you and Sam have obviously liked each other for a long time. It's just that both of you have always been too shy."

"Shy? I was dating Luke, and then Drew, and then Chris, and then Mark!" Meg defended, then felt stupid. She couldn't believe she was listing the guys she had dated. "And I liked all of them."

"Yeah, well, you've always liked Sam a little bit too, right? Plus, I mean, Luke was your first boyfriend when you hardly knew Sam, and Drew was in college, so that made him more appealing, and Chris was a bad-boy, also a turn-on, and Mark was older, and from California. But Sam's always been in the back of your mind, right?"

Meg took a beat too long, and her silence just confirmed Roxanne's assumption. "Yeah, well, it's always just seemed…impossible anyways, so I never really considered it," Meg confided.

"Well, it sort of was. And I guess it kind of still is. But not really," Roxanne replied, confusing her friend even more. "You need to talk to Sam and figure out what's going on between you two."

"Yeah, you're right," Meg agreed, glancing at the subject of their conversation for a moment. She looked away and couldn't help but smile a little. "I'm just worried about what my family will say."

"Then don't tell them," Roxanne said simply.

"What?"

"Don't tell them for now. If things get serious, then yeah, you probably should let your family know, but for now, just keep it to yourselves. And me," she added with a smirk.

Meg sighed for what seemed like the millionth time, finally letting her eyes rest on Sam and stay there. She had no idea what she was getting herself into. Though, the idea didn't seem so scary.

XXX

The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent milling around the now-opened store with family and friends. Meg had only spoken to Sam briefly when she'd gone to get something to drink and he'd been talking to her older brother. Otherwise, all the conversation between them had consisted between locked eyes and small smiles.

Meg sighed as she flopped down on her bed late that night, an application to the University of Pennsylvania in her hand. She'd barely even been able to say goodbye to Sam. And now she worried that he may change his mind.

"Meg?" Patty called, barging into her sister's room.

"What do you want?" Meg asked, exasperated. She set the application down on her nightstand.

Patty took a quick glance around the bedroom before saying, "Can I borrow your blue headband?"

Meg rolled her eyes and got up from her bed, going over to her dresser and getting the blue headband off the top. She handed it to Patty. "Here. Is that it?"

"Yup. Thanks," Patty said slowly. She didn't move, however.

"What?" Meg was getting annoyed now.

Patty shifted on her feet, but gave a superior look to Meg. "Where did you go when everyone else went into the store this afternoon? You and Sam disappeared for awhile."

Meg's breath caught in her throat for a second, but before Patty could even pick up on it, Meg had it covered. "He left something in the truck and I went with him to get it."

Patty stayed silent, analyzing her older sister. Meg just gave her a look.

"Uh huh," Patty finally said, unbelieving. She left before Meg could say anything else.

Huffing, Meg sat down on her bed for a moment, watching the door.

Patty couldn't know.

…Or at least, Meg hoped she didn't.

XXX