This chapter is definetly more angsty than the other ones, but I mean... yeah. Anyhow, the ep sunday? How depressing is JJ's storyline? Anyhow, I am glad it seems that they may be starting some Meg and Sam stuff. Anyhow read and review!

xoxo Jules

Chapter 8: "Yes the strong get smart"

Roxanne and Meg stood beside one another in the mirror contemplating their dresses. It was Friday night before the dance.

"You look so awesome Meg." Roxanne said smiling almost sympathetically at her.

Meg rolled her eyes and plopped down onto her bed.

"I can't believe that I am going to the dance with Joey Wilson. Every girls fantasy right?" She said sarcastically.

"At least I'm taking Sam so you don't have to worry about some skank taking him." Roxanne said in an unsuccessful attempt to make Meg feel better.

"Why am I this upset Rox? I mean, Sam is just a boy." Meg said letting out a sigh

"Maybe," Roxanne began in a sing song voice, "maybe you're in love with him." She gave Meg a wide smile.

"What? No!" Meg said blushing furiously

"Oh come on Meg. You have been risking everything for him for months, and for what it's worth I think that he loves you too."

"Really? Do you think so?" Meg asked now turning to Roxanne with a goofy smile on her face

"I think it's possible." She said as she nudged Meg in the shoulder. "Come on let's get this night over with."

Meg smiled as her best friend pulled her off of the bed with both hands.

"It can't be that bad." Roxanne assured her as they made their way downstairs.

The tension could be cut with a knife when Joey picked up Meg. The two stood awkwardly as Mr. Pryor took their pictures. Roxanne watched from the living room hoping for the sake of her best friend that it would all be over soon.

Roxanne and Sam watched Meg and Joey dance from the punch table on the other side of the room.

"If he touches her one more ti-" Sam said about to charge across the room when Roxanne grabbed his arm to stop him.

"Calm down Sam." Roxanne said looking at her obviously uncomfortable best friend who kept glancing over to them "We've gotten through most of the dance without anything happening. The last thing that we need is a slip up right now."

Sam nodded trying to not think about the fact that the person that he couldn't stand more than anyone in the world was dancing with his girlfriend.

"You having a good time?" Joey asked as a slow song came on and he pulled her closer to her.

"Yeah, it's okay I guess." Meg responded to Joey although she was watching Sam and Roxanne across the room.

"You can at least pretend to be having a good time." Meg smiled sadly at him but didn't speak

"I don't understand you two." Joey said "What do you see in him? He's nothing Meg."

Joeys words cut her like a knife. Sam never let anyone talk about her like that so she wasn't about to let Joey insult him.

"You don't know shit about Sam." Meg whispered in his shoulder as to not draw attention. "He is a million times the guy that you will ever be."

Then Joey stepped back and let his hold of Meg slip.

"I'm taking you home." He said as he grabbed her sort of roughly by the hand and slipped her out unnoticed. Meg looked behind her for Sam and Roxanne but they were nowhere to be found.

Joey and Meg had parked in the ally behind the school where people would always go to drink and smoke. Meg stood and watched Joey as he made to attempt to get into his car.

"Are you going to open the doors?" Meg asked annoyed.

"Well I was thinking that we could do this outside of the car." Joey said pushing her up against the door and ramming his lips against hers. Meg tried to scream but Joeys mouth muffled her screams.

His body pressed hard against hers firmly, he was too big, there was no escape. Silent tears fell down Megs face, she heard about this happening to people from time to time, but she never imagined that she would be one of them.

----Sam rolled his eyes as he followed Roxanne out to the ally.

"I can't believe that you are dragging me with you to smoke." He said rolling his eyes

"I need a look out." Roxanne said shrugging.

"I need to lookout for Meg." Sam said

"I'm hurrying!" Roxanne said as she took quick puffs of her cigarette. "Was it me or was it so hot in there."

Suddenly they heard screeching tires and saw Joeys car speed past them out of the ally.

"Isn't that Joeys car?" Roxanne asked, but by the time the words left her mouth Sam was already jogging down the ally into the direction where Joey had just sped away from.

"Meg?" He called out "Meg!"

He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Meg crouched in a ball on the pavement, tears in her new red dress…

"Meg!" He said running over to her

She wouldn't look him in the eye, she wouldn't even lift her head.

"Meg baby, what did he do?" Sam asked his voice quivering hoping that his worst fears wouldn't be confirmed.

"Oh my god!" Roxanne said wrapping her arms around her best friend. "I'm so sorry Meg." Meg collapsed in Roxannes arms and began sobbing. "It'll be okay."

Sam stood up and was about to leave the ally.

"Where are you going?" Roxanne asked

"To beat the crap out of the jackass!" Sam said his hands clenched in fists of rage

"Don't." Meg whispered, the words barely leaving her mouth. She reached out a weak arm for Sam.

"Not now." Roxanne pleaded with him. "She needs you."

Sam pulled his jacket from his shoulders and wrapped it around her, and both he and Roxanne helped her to her feet.

"We can go to my place, my moms out of town." She told Sam who just nodded in response

Meg weakly leaned against his side as they began to long walk to Roxannes house. Sam had both arms around her for awhile before scooping her into his arms. Roxanne followed behind Sam with her arms crossed firmly and her head looking to her feet.

This time they didn't care who saw them.

What's going to happen?