The smell of meat filled the air. Tucker stood at the grill with the spatula. Brittany stood behind him with her arms around his waist. Danny sat at the picnic table talking over to the happy couple. Sam sat on the ground near the lake, with her legs crossed. She kept looking over at Danny, who for the first time, was smiling like crazy and laughing. He looked over at her, and winked. She smiled back, and then turned back to the lake.

"Sammy!" Tucker called. Sam looked up, and Tucker sat next to her. She looked over at the grill, and Brittany was now manning it. "Are you alright Sam?" He asked. She looked at him and shrugged, "Yah, I guess." Tucker sighed, "Is it because we're having meat?"

"No."

"Are you sure? I can go get some salad."

"Really?"

"Yah, what the hell?"

"I'll come with you. Thanks Tuck."

The two stood up and started walking towards the store. Danny and Brittany stood at the grill, putting the meat onto the plate. "Where are you two going?" Danny yelled after them. Sam turned to him, "We're going to the store, we'll be back." She turned back around and started walking with Tucker again.

Danny watched her walk away, until Brittany said, "You two are in love aren't you?" She asked. Danny turned to her, "Yah." He smiled, "I really hope so." Brittany set the plate onto the table, and asked, "You guys don't really act in love."

"What do you mean?" Danny said getting the ketchup and other toppings.

"I mean, you guys never hold hands or put your arms around each other or even kiss!"

"Well, school's out, so you'll be seeing alot more of that."

"Good. You two are great together."

"So, how you and Tuck doing?"

"Really good. He's amazing."

"Huh, who knew."

"Danny, shut up!" She said playfully.

Tucker and Sam walked into the food store. Jasmine was there with Mark, near the frozen foods section. Jazz was laughing like crazy, and Mark was doing the same. She put her arms around him, lovingly and whispered something in his ear. He turned his head and kissed her on the cheek. She let go of Mark and he went down the isle to the snacks section. Jazz turned to see Sam and Tucker there.

"Hi guys. What's up?" She said. Tucker shrugged, "Nothing, we're having a grill out down at the lake want to come with Mark?" Jazz smiled, "Okay, let me go tell him. We'll meet you guys down there, okay?" She said. Sam nodded, "Alright, we'll see you guys down there." Jazz nodded and turned to go down the isle with Mark.

Tucker and Sam went into the fruits and vegetables section and got Sam's salad fixings. At the end of the isle was a rack with some red wine on sale. "Ooo.." Tucker said picking up a bottle. "Sammy I think I gotta way to celebrate!" He said holding up the bottle. She laughed and took it away from him. "No, Tuck." Tucker frowned and said, "Sam you've had wine before! Why not?" Sam gave him one of those 'that face isn't gonna work' looks and shook her head.

"Why not huh? You love red wine!" Tucker said picking up the bottle again. Sam was over now looking at the fruits, "No Tuck I can't, plus I don't need to get drunk and have a hangover the very first day of summer vacation!" She started walking away from Tucker, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "What do you mean you can't?" He asked curiously.

"I just said, I don't want to have a hangover on the first day of summer." She looked at the floor. Tucker let go of her and crossed his arms. "That doesn't mean you can't." Sam yelled at him, "You know what I mean Tucker!" She turned and started walking towards the checkout line. Tucker shrugged it off and took the wine.

"Well, I'm gonna get it. You don't have to have any. And sorry I hurt you." Tucker said putting the wine on the convare (A/N: How the hell do you spell it?) belt. "You didn't hurt me. Thanks again Tuck." Sam said in a monotone voice.

Danny lay on his bed, a little buzzed from the wine. Jazz and Mark went out after the celebration, to meet up with friends. Tucker was walking Brittany home, and Sam was heading home already. He got off his bed and took off his shirt. The scar was still there, from his little incident. He looked at it and shook his head, then changed into some boxers and a t-shirt. He lay back down and started staring at the ceiling.

"Jack!" He heard his mom yell from downstairs. It was Wendsday night, which meant Jack was out bowling with his friends. "JACK!" Maddie yelled again. Danny, getting pissed got up from his bed and opened his door, "Dad's at bowling, Mom!" He yelled. Maddie was silent for a moment, then said, "Danny?"

"Yah. Jazz's out too."

"Honey, come down here for a second."

Danny sighed and went downstairs into the kitchen. Maddie sat at the table with a mug of coffee. Danny sat down next to her and said, "So...what's up?" He said. Maddie took a sip of her coffee and looked at him. "How was your last day of school?" She said, smiling. Danny's face went from bored to confused in an instant, "Huh? Uhh...fine. Why?"

"Just wanted to know. I never get to talk to you anymore Danny."

"Yah I know. You know how teenage years are."

"Oh yah, confusing."

"Hell---uhh...I mean yah."

"I heard you and Sam were together."

Danny shot his mother a terrified glance. "How did you...?"

"I work with Samantha's limo driver's wife's sister."

"Oh..."

"I think it's good! Just don't do anything stupid, okay?"

Danny froze, and looked up at his mother. "Okay." He said quickly.

Maddie stood and kissed Danny on the head, then went into the living room. Danny put his head down, then got up and went up into his room. He locked his door and grabbed his guitar, plugging it in. His amp was turned all the way up.

"Pieces"

I tried to be perfect
But nothing was worth it
I don't believe it makes me real
I thought it'd be easy
But no one believes me
I meant all the things I said

If you believe it's in my soul
I'd say all the words that I know
Just to see if it would show
That I'm trying to let you know
That I'm better off on my own

This place is so empty
My thoughts are so tempting
I don't know how it got so bad
Sometimes it's so crazy
That nothing can save me
But it's the only thing that I have

If you believe it's in my soul
I'd say all the words that I know
Just to see if it would show
That I'm trying to let you know
That I'm better off on my own

On my own

I tried to be perfect
It just wasn't worth it
Nothing could ever be so wrong
It's hard to believe me
It never gets easy
I guess I knew that all along

If you believe it's in my soul
I'd say all the words that I know
Just to see if it would show
That I'm trying to let you know
That I'm better off on my own

iamraven: more to come. R&R!