Okay first I'd like to shout out a thanks to all who reviewed this story so far. And another thanks to all who read this chapter. Now a question was raised about the couple pairings. All I will say is it will eventually become obvious to all. : ) Oh and I don't own the family stone but I do own Star Shot magazine.
Anyway I don't own Danny phantom or the characters. I do own my own characters which are listed on the previous chapter. But I do own these new characters that come into play here; Erika Witthers, Jasmine DeZeige, Christopher Smithers, and Owen Post. Anywho Happy Readings. Oh and this is Sam's side, were not in New York here. This takes place in Chicago.
------------------------------------------
Samantha Manson opened her eye's groggily, then shutting them tightly as the sunlight peered through her bedroom window. She looked at her digital clock on the bedside table. The neon green numbers showed 7:25. Sam stretched her arms out and moved to get out of bed, as she did though she found herself twisted up in sheets and the comforter. While trying to wriggle lose she managed to topple out of bed ungracefully. Landing with a thud, she sat up and uttered a few choice words at her predicament, kicked her bed a few times and went on with her morning routine.
After a hot shower and a few, namely 6 cups of coffee she was awake and ready to face the day. She stepped outside her apartment, and after a few minutes she was outside saying good morning to the doorman, in front of the apartments. She stepped out to the street curb and signaled for a taxi. After about 4 had passed she finally caught one. She told the cab driver, "To The Star Shot magazine company on 23 avenue please"
Sam walked into her office slowly setting her bag in the corner before she sat down in her chair. Sam was a Journalist, just not the kind of Journalist she wanted to be. She dreamed of being able to write the serious and thoughtful articles, instead of the new celeb-style secrets articles. It wasn't that she wasn't good, on the contrary she worked wonders with the topics but it was never what she wanted to write about. She sighed softly and sunk into her chair mumbling under her breath, "I had to be a Journalist..." She was interrupted from her moment of relaxation by a teasing voice, "Well, what do we have here? I thought I was the only one allowed to pass out in the office like a crazy old drunk!" Sam looked up to see the large grinning face of Erika 'Mrs.Sarcastic' Witthers. "One I'm not drunk," Sam stood up from her chair and stood next to Erika, "And two you know were to good of friends for me to steal your job." Sam smiled widely at Erik who only uttered, "Touche mon amie. Touche." Sam laughed sarcastically at her friend. Erika was her best girl friend in this city. The friend Sam never really had before since she had hung out mostly with guys in her lifetime. 'Yep' she thought things had changed. And for some reason at that moment Sam, found herself thinking about a certain boy, her ghost boy; Danny.
"So what are we dreaming about today lady's? Future, money, hot men, world hunger, hot men, politics, the universe, and did I mention hot men?"Erika and Sam turned to face their well, pal Christopher Smithers. Or as the boss called him 'Chris the hair god' that man did live up to the title though. It was his 'destiny' as he put it to solve the hair problems of the world. Everyone in the office but, the newbies knew quite certain if you ever had to write a hair article, you don't tell Chris unless you want a landslide of painful advice and so called help.
"Oh, like you didn't space out constantly when were together like when we went to watch and review the Family Stone? If I remember correctly you sat there saying 'Chris like, Chris like lots' in that zombie voice of yours." Erika's statement earned her a mock hurt look from Chris. "You know I might not tell you about the meeting now..."Chris said with a fake sadness dripping off his words. "Oh Shit! The meeting I forgot! Come on Sam we have to go!" Erika grabbed Sam's sleeve pulling her out the door, with Chris following swiftly. "What meeting?" was all Sam had time to say while running to keep up with Erika.
Erika and company stopped outside the largest meeting room in the company building. The one dubbed 'The Gold Room'. Sam wasn't sure what but she was starting to suspect something was up. "Okay lets go in, now." Erika said over dramatically. They stepped in the room it was totally dark, but then the lights sprung on and there was a loud happy yell, "CONGRATULATIONS!"
Sam fell back a little in surprise, she felt Chris's arms wrap around her and hug her tightly while he told her congratulations and good luck. "Wait! Would somebody please tell me what's going on? I would really like to know why I'm getting a party." After Sam finished talking every one in the room turned to look at her in silence. "They didn't tell you?", Sam looked over to see her boss Jasmine DeZeige looking a little surprised at her. "Nooo, they just drug me here." Sam replied her mind racing with questions about what was going on here. "Honey, your past article caught the big boss's eye. He sent the fax last night, you have been officially upgraded to the Central office in New York! You will get to be one of the hot shot boss's! Isn't this exciting Samantha!" Jasmine stood there in front of Sam acting like she was a proud mother watching her child graduate. "Wha...Ne...New..York?" Sam felt like she had no control over her voice, it was almost like a blender had chopped her words up into small unexplainable bits.
"You got it Sami,"Erika said happily, "And all your friends here at the Chicago magazine department pitched in to get you a special present. We figured you would have time to live in a small New York apartment later once you moved in, so we decided you should live the high style New York life for a start. So we got you and Owen plane tickets and a 2 week stay at none other than the Notnef Hotel. The most glorious New York hotel! So how overly shocked are you Sami?" Erika paused waiting for her friends statement of happiness, but all that greeted her silence was a thud. Then a shout of, "Someone help! Sam fainted like a rock!"
Sam woke up in her office chair, "What in the world? How did I get back here?" Before Sam could ponder anymore of her thoughts her phone rang loud and clear. "Hello, Samantha Manson" She answered in a business tone. "Hey Sami,"The voice said on the phone.
Sam knew at once who it was, Owen. Owen Post was her on again off again boyfriend for the past 2 years. They were constantly breaking up and getting back together. It never made sense to her how she could hate him one minute and adore him the next. "Sam, ya there?" Owen's voice crackling through the phone woke her up from dream land. "Yes I'm here. You won't believe what's happened today." "Yeah, that's great but you see we need to talk about two things Sam." Owen said interrupting her. "Okay, I guess." Sam said apprehensively.
"You see Sami I think, we've been moving to fast for me. So I think we should well see other people.giggle sssshhhhh she can hear you."Owen stopped talking loud enough for her to hear then. Sam was crushed, she felt sick to her stomach. That, JERK! Start seeing other people her ass, he had already started he just seemed to want to call her to make sure he left her hurting. Then that cheating Jerk had the guts to talk again! "Oh and Sam you might get some flowers I accidentally sent them to your office. Could you send them to 5-" "NO I WON'T SEND YOUR LITTLE FLOWERS YOU JERK! BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GIVE ME AN ADDRESS GIVE ME YOURS SO I CAN COME CLAW YOUR EYES OUT!" Sam slammed the phone down in it's spot, then looked over to see a delivery guy shaking nervously by her office door.
"What do you want!" She snapped at him. "I,..uh have flowers...for you Ma'am." the young boy stuttered out. "Fine!" Sam said. As soon as she signed the boy's clipboard he ran out the door away from her. Sam looked at the bouquet of sunflowers, she spotted the card attached to them. 'Snooky-Poo,' It read, 'I am so glad we can celebrate our relationship freely without sneaking around that little meanie Sam. Lot's of love Owenie-poo' Sam lost it then she was just so angry.
Picking up the flowers she threw them against the wall, watching the glass vase shatter to a million pieces. "Okay..., apparently were feeling like our old self again." Sam turned to see Erika standing in the door way of her office.
She gave Erika a pleading look and sank to her knees on the floor. Erika was beside her in a heartbeat, "It's Owen isn't it?"Erika looked over at the card on the ground, picked it up and read it. "He was an ass wasn't he? But that doesn't matter Sam he's a loser and you don't need him! And you know what they say everything happens for a reason." Sam looked her in the eye and said, "Yeah? What's the reason here?" "The reason here is, now we have a free ticket to a Great New York vacation. So this must mean girls vacation! We can go be pampered in New York for 2 weeks and then look at the issues. It's all about the big picture Sami. This must be fate! Why else would you be going to New York free as a bird?" Erika looked down at Sam with a genuine caring face.
"Fine. we'll both go, but I can't imagine anything life changing is in New York for me." Sam said standing up with Erika's support. "Just wait and see for the big picture. I'm sure there's something there for you." Erika smiled at Sam as they walked out of Sam's office.