Teen Cliques

Date: October 2004

Disclaimer: I own Delilah. The rest… belongs to Kate Andrews.

Sam checked his watch again. Good. He had half hour more to go before his next and last lesson for the day. He had planned to drop by the computer lab after school for an hour or two to do some research on campaign elections. He wanted to run a better election this year. High school always means everything must run more professionally.

"Mr Wells," someone called out.

Sam stopped in his tracks. "Hey there, Principal Cashen."

The Principal stepped next to him and smiled. "Off to your next class?"

Sam shook his head. "No, my locker. History won't start till one. Is there anything wrong?"

Principal Cashen laughed. "Oh no, my boy. If it were anybody else, I'm sure there is. The Student Council election is coming up."

Sam nodded. Both of them continued walking. "I hope to see you run for President." Principal Cashen said. "I'm glad the school board promoted me to RLHS. I get to witness for myself a brilliant student like you rise to the top."

"But sir, I'm not as good…"

"Yes, you are. I want to see your name on the list of candidates now, alright?" When they reached the staircase, they both stopped walking.

Sam shrugged. "I'll try my best but you have to know that it's ultimately the choice of the student body."

"You can do it, boy. Run along now. I won't take anymore of your time." Principal Cashen smiled. "Ah, Miss Morgan. How good to see you."

Sam turned. Delilah was standing at the top of the stairs clutching what seemed to be a black folder. Sam figured that must have been her portfolio.

"Hello, Principal Cashen." Delilah said shyly.

"Come by my office again if you need any help next time. Have a good day." Principal Cashen said to both of them before heading down the stairs towards this office.

"Again?" Sam asked when Principal Cashen was out of earshot.

"It's… nothing." Delilah muttered. She went down the stairs and turned towards her locker.

Sam went towards his too. Throughout the entire time of removing or putting into of books from their locker, neither of them spoke a word. Sam glanced nervously at Delilah. She was staring at her portfolio with a vacant expression in her eyes.

"Are you alright?" Sam asked.

When Delilah didn't respond, Sam went towards her. "Delilah?" He tapped her shoulder.

"What?" Delilah said finally.

"Are you ok?" Sam asked again.

"Yeah… yeah. I'm fine." Delilah sighed and tossed her file into the locker dejectedly.

Sam knew what happened. Delilah must have been from meeting Carrie. Whatever it was, it must had been horrible for her to look extremely disappointed.

"Actually, I'm not." Delilah said suddenly. She slammed her locker shut and faced Sam. There was a look of fierce determination in her eyes.

"I'm confused." She said. "Yesterday, we were all fine. She was fine. How is it possible that she can suddenly hate me overnight?"

"Who's she?" Sam asked meekly. He didn't want her to know that he knew what was going on. It will only make matters worst. For him.

"Oh, cut the crap Sam." Delilah snapped. "You know who I'm talking about."

"Right," Sam said. Jordan was right. Girls can be pretty scary when they want to be. He turned to his locker hoping that she would go away. He didn't want to confront her and make things uncomfortable for him.

"Don't you walk away from me," Delilah said. She slammed Sam's locker shut and faced him. "What is up with Carrie? Does she suddenly realize that she's supposed to hate me or something?"

"Don't be ridiculous." Sam said weakly.

"She said some pretty hurtful things just now, Sam. I need to know what I did to make her say those things to me."

Sam looked at Delilah in surprised. "What did she say? That's not like Carrie at all."

"I don't know her so I wouldn't know whether if it's like her. But all I know is that what she said made me dislike her very much right now." Delilah said.

"I'm sorry," was all Sam could say.

Delilah shrugged. "I guess she just hates me then."

"No, she doesn't." Sam protested. "She's just… well, she…"

"What?" Delilah asked.

Sam looked at her. "Delilah, can I ask you something? But you have to promise me you will answer me truthfully."

Delilah nodded. "Yeah, of course. What is it?"

"Are you best friends with The Amys now?"

Delilah stared at Sam. She didn't say anything for a good minute before bursting into laughter.

"What?" Sam asked in irritation. "It's not funny, Delilah. I was being serious."

"So am I," Delilah said in between outburst of laughter. "Is that it? Because I ate lunch with The Amys?" She must have read Sam's mind because the next thing she said answered the question in his head.

"How do I know? It was evident yesterday how they totally hate one another." Delilah said.

"So, you're not best friends with The Amys?" Sam asked again.

"I am friends with them but not best friends. I hardly even know them."

"That's not what it seemed to Carrie just now during lunch." Sam said.

Delilah sighed. "This is so ridiculous. Why can't I be friends with both you guys and The Amys? Who invented this stupid rule that two groups can never get along?"

Sam folded his arms across his chest. "We're not telling you to choose your friends, Delilah."

"But that's exactly what you wanted me to do, isn't it?" Delilah retorted.

Sam glanced at his watch again. "Look, History is about to start and I don't want to be late."

"That's ok," Delilah said coldly. "I was just leaving anyway."

Sam watched Delilah strode off angrily towards the end of the hall. If he was made President, he will definitely make a rule that girls are not allowed to be angry and vent their frustrations on boys.