Dear Journal,

It's October 9th 2000 already, five days left the Monday before the big invasion and I'm thinking about my personal problems. Okay so that was pretty vague can Sam get less specific right? Well I realized as I was brushing my teeth of all things that I was in a relationship for half of my teenage life. Well okay John asked me on a date in like 8th grade and we broke up our senior year. So that's pretty long right? I mean I went through puberty in a relationship, sure not a real ya know intimate relationship but a one half of something. And being single right now is great I get to look flirt ya know the good stuff. Then the Michael thing yeah I do feel for him and a part of me well the Macaria part is in love with Rath. Not to get the two mixed up I mean what part of me is in love with Michael or can I even distinguish the two. Confusing right? I can tell you that my teeth got very clean today thinking about this.

We see Sam staring at her locker in awe with her life, there's no movement she can't seem to find anything or even try. Alex who is across the hall next to Isabel as she rummages through her folders and perfectly neat locker notices Sam dazing. Interested he heads over to her.

"And what are we looking for Samantha?"

"A life."

"Excuse me?"

Sam smiles to herself grabs some books cradles them in her arms after she closes her locker. She looks at Alex who is half amused and then slides right down to the floor. Alex just stares at her first amused and then slightly worried he slides down next to her to talk.

"Everything's set up we're all ready for Friday there's nothing to worry about."

Sam nods her head, it's been a long two weeks planning and having secret meetings. She's been dreaming her powers, and they've become stronger for it everyone has. The one thing is that she's been in such close proximity with Michael and they haven't talked at all. That's been stressful.

"Let's see, well Maria's booking the rooms today supposedly this morning online with Lucas so there's nothing to..."

"I know Alex to worry about got it."

Alex nods, and then notices Isabel coming forward looking puzzled. He gives her a one sec look she nods and heads for the girls room to check her hair and makeup.

"Okay so is this a, what does Maria call it a, Czechoslovakian thing or a humanoid thing?"

Sam shrugs and sighs.

"Both I guess."

A couple walks by holding hands Sam's gaze follows them and Alex notices.

"So, feeling lonely Samantha?"

Sam looks to Alex and then shrugs.

"No, more like confused."

"Do tell."

"Look at these couple walking by, and me well I'm not jealous but."

"But what?"

"Picky, I'm a picky girl."

"Uh huh and?"

"And I see all these couples together and it's like they've settled for something."

"I mean look at you and Isabel, it's taken you guys like a year to really get together."

Alex nodded and tilted his head trying to figure Sam out.

"But there's couples who well, look at them they're settling for each other."

Alex tried to open his mouth but Sam continued.

"They don't think they can get what they want so they settle for second or even third best."

Alex nodded.

"Well Sam, how much of this has to do with others, or has to do with Michael?"

Sam looked to Alex and closed her eyes.

"I don't know, things between us were moving along and then I felt bad about Maria and..."

"Well Maria's gonna have to be told sooner or later cause the girl needs to know."

"Who needs to know what?"

Sam and Alex both looked up to Maria smiling with Lucas trailing slightly behind her talking to John.

"Oh nothing, one of Sam's defining moments, I told her she needs to get her head out of the books."

Maria nodded slightly and smiled.

"Well we have the rooms booked for tomorrow. Four total at Copper Summit Motor Inn."

Alex smiles.

"They have an online reservation service?"

Maria smiles and nods with a shrug.

Sam starts to stand up.

"Okay good then we'll stay in the trucks like planned everything's seems to be working out fine."

As Sam swings her bag over her shoulders Michael and Max walk by. Michael catches Sam's eyes and the two gaze at each other for a few moments. Just as Isabel comes out of the bathroom glowing. Alex smiles excuses himself as he meets up with Isabel.

Sandie who is now holding hands with John ushers him to her locker as Lucas and Maria take off too with a wave. Liz comes after they clear out looking tired. "Liz are you okay?"

Liz shrugs she pulls her hand out of her pocket it's emanating a green force. Sam nods looks around no-one's in the hallway she points to the janitors closet and the two go in. Sam smiles reassuringly and uses her power to ease Liz's hand.

"How's it feel?"

Liz shrugs.

"It doesn't hurt anymore, this just wouldn't go away after my exercises this morning."

Sam nodded.

"That's a good thing then your power has fully developed it's just capping off."

Liz nodded.

"I don't feel as dizzy anymore, but using my powers in the morning like you told me to it's exhausting."

Sam nodded.

"I know look at me I sometimes think we're the only ones who have been affected by this Friday."

The two turned around and left the closet walking to their homeroom.

"So when are you going to tell Maria about the whole, ya know Michael thing?"

Sam nodded, "Question of the day it seems."

Liz smiled

"Yeah I bet."

The thing is I don't want to tell Maria. It's like telling Maria about my past would I don't know make it that much more real. Why can't I have this one thought or obsessions that I can keep to myself. The fact is I'm a huge chicken I don't want things to go further than they are right now. By keeping Maria in the dark and having that be my excuse well I can keep things with Michael at arms length. So that's the new plan, tomorrow who knows but tonight right now that's it.