Chapter 2: The Conversations

That afternoon after school Sam and Tucker were having an unusual conversation.

"… Yeah, of course Dash and Paulina are together, why?" Sam asked him

Tucker said, "No reason, it's just that everyone but you and Danny have valentines."

Sam sighed and said, "It doesn't matter, and besides since when have I cared what everyone has?"

Tucker said, "Come on, Sam you can't tell me that it bothers you that you're the only girl without a boyfriend."

Sam sighed and was about to speak when the doorbell rang so she said, "Hold on, Tuck." Then she went to open the door.

When she opened the door Jake stood there and he said, "Um, hi, I'm your new neighbor and I was wondering if I could speak to your parents?"

Sam nodded and called out, "Mom, Dad, door for you!"

"So does it bother you?" Tucker asked on the phone.

Sam sighed and said, "O.K. don't tell Danny but it does bother me. I mean, is there something wrong with me?"

All of a sudden her dad came downstairs and said, "Oh, hello. Can I help you with something?"

Jake smiled and said, "Hi, my name is Jake and I just wanted to let you know I moved in next door and me and my family would love to have you guys over for dinner sometime."

When Jake was about to leave Sam handed the phone to her dad and followed Jake outside.

"Hello, hello, Sam!" Mr. Manson heard Tucker yell before he hung up.

"Hey, were you listening to that?" Sam asked Jake when she caught up to him.

"No, I was just waiting." Jake answered

Sam rolled her eyes and said, "You know I think it's a real invasion of privacy."

Jake answered, "Well, I think it's rude to not speak to someone who's in your doorway."

Sam sighed and said, "Well, it's not like you came to talk to me."

Jake asked, "How do you know?"

Sam asked, "What?"

Jake asked, "How do you know I didn't come to see you?"

Sam asked, "Well, did you?"

"Look, I got to go talk to my parents something, but if you stick around I'll answer your question. So, will you wait?" Jake said to Sam.

Sam rolled her eyes and said, "Yeah."

Jake looked at Sam and asked, "You will?"

Sam nodded.

Jake smiled and said, "O.K., don't move, but to answer your first question, there's nothing wrong with you."

Sam smiled and then she waited for Jake to come back.

The next day at lunch Tucker noticed that Sam was glowing and he asked, "So, what happened yesterday, I mean, you hung up on me and you never called me back."

Sam sighed and said, "He's perfect for me!"

Tucker gave her a confused look and then Danny came.

"Hey guys, what's going on?" Danny asked when he sat down.

Sam sighed and said, "O.K. I have to tell you guys something, you know the new guy, Jake?"

Danny and Tucker nodded and they waited for Sam to continue.

"Well, it turns out to he's my new neighbor and he came over to my house yesterday and after a bad start, we got to talking and it turns out that we have a lot in common. For example me and him love animals, are both vegetarians, we hate shallow people, and he loves dark colors."

Danny and Tucker rolled their eyes as Sam continued her ranting. After a while Tucker said, "You know what I think I'm going to go get some of those cookies."

Danny smiled and said, "Yeah, cookies sound good."

While they left Sam said, "I bet Jake would love cookies, maybe I could call him that, 'Hey, Cookie', 'See you later, Cookie'."

When Danny and Tucker were in the hallway on their way to the lunch room, Tucker said, "Can you believe how much Sam has been talking about Jake?"

Danny shrugged and said, "I guess she really likes him."

Tucker cried out, "Likes him! She's possessed!"
Danny said, "What do you think it is about him, do you think he was a Goth? I bet he was a Goth."

Tucker asked, "Danny, now you're going to talk about him obsessively, too?"

Danny gave Tucker a look and said, "No, it's just so weird. I mean, other than my family and you, Sam are the one person I've really felt comfortable with, I guess I never thought what it would be like when she got a boyfriend she really liked."

Tucker grinned and asked, "Danny is I detecting jealousy?"

Danny blushed and said, "N-no, I-I'm not jealous." Tucker gave Danny a look that said I-know-you're-lying.

Danny saw the look and said, "I guess I am a little jealous, I mean, I finally figured out how clueless I was, and now this Jake comes."

Tucker sighed and said, "Well, you got to tell her sometime."

Danny looked at him and said, "I did make this for her." Danny handed Tucker the card he was writing in the other day.

When Tucker read the card he said, "Danny you got to give this to her."

Danny said, "I can't! I mean, she likes Jake, I mean, they have all that stuff in common, he seems really perfect for her."

Tucker shook his head and said, "I feel for you, dude."

When school ended Sam and Jake met up after school.

Sam smiled at Jake and asked, "So, what are we going to do today?"

Jake handed her skates and said, "I hope you know how to skate." Then they strapped up and started to do tricks and had a great time. All of a sudden Sam fell and before she hit the ground Jake caught her, only to fall himself. They both broke out laughing, when they finished laughing they realized how close they were and without thinking, they got closer and closer, until finally they were in an embrace, and who should see them but Danny, with his card that he was going to give Sam for Valentines Day.