sorry for the long delay of this chapter. i read the reviews - thanks to all who wrote one or anyone who has read any part of this story...and the 'wanting more jack and sam' well...i'll give you more sam, because her character does seem to be almost non-existant so i'll include her more.


4. Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This

"How was your first day?" Vio's mother said as she sat down at the table, about to eat.
Vio was half way through a bowl of cereal, "It was interesting…"
"Interesting?" her father intruded, looking at his wife, "I've forgotten slang terms, does that mean good or bad?"
"I do not speak slang!" Vio protested. At that very moment, Gus walked into the kitchen. "He does." She pointed.
Gus held up his hands, "I haven't done anything."
"Viola, was your day good?" her mother restarted.
"I'm lucky I know Jack." Vio answered.
"Ooo, Jack." Gus butted in while he was buttering a piece of toast.
"It's not like that."
"Yeah, right." Gus said sarcastically.
"Our neighbour's son?" her father enquired.
"Yes, that's the one." Vio answered.
"The one she fancies." Gus added.
"He has a girlfriend actually."
"So? I said you fancied him, not going out with him." Gus clarified.
"Speaking of dating - mum, you remember Charlie Kawalsky?" Vio said, facing her mother.
"Your ex boyfriend? From summer camp?" she asked.
"That's the one - I saw him yesterday. He goes to Cheyenne."
"He's a nice boy. What happened between you two?" her mother asked.
"We broke up because we didn't see enough of each other."
"I don't think you should be concentrating on boys at your age." her father started after having a sip of coffee.
"Then, what should I be concentrating on?" Vio asked childishly.
"Your school work, university, the future…"
"Dad, you don't always have to sound like a teacher. And what if I don't want to go to university?"
"Viola, what do you want to do?" he said, levelling.
"I'm not sure yet, but once I figure it out, I'll tell you."
Vio's father rose from the table, staring at the clock. "I better be heading off." he walked around the table, kissed Vio and his wife, and patted his son on the back. As he was about to walk out the back door, it knocked. Opening it, he was greeted with,
"Hi, you must be Mr Stratford. I'm Jack." Jack said holding out his hand.
Mr Stratford shook it, "I've heard all about you."
"You shouldn't listen to a word of it." Jack joked.
Mr Stratford chuckled, "Come in." Jack walked in and took a seat at the table. "I have to go, nice to meet you Jack." he said walking out the door.

Sam and Daniel were conversing in the hall,
"How come the door isn't open?" Daniel asked twisting the doorknob getting no movement.
Sam shrugged her shoulders. After a short silence she asked, "How did your date go last night?" she asked with a small smile, waiting for a reaction.
Daniel looked at Sam, "It wasn't a date."
"A little birdie has told me otherwise."
"You shouldn't listen to Jack…even if you do fancy him." he said, striking back.
"Shh…" she said putting her finger to her lips, "Don't say that out loud."
Daniel shook his head at her reaction, "Which little birdie?"
"What birdie?" Vio said butting in, "Hey!…Sorry for intruding."
"Doesn't matter." Daniel responded.
Sam gave Daniel a 'wide-eyed' look.

At lunchtime, Sam and Daniel met up in the cafeteria.
"That new girl is so annoying." Sam started.
"I like her." Daniel replied. Realising what he had just said, he quickly added, "She's funny."
Sam wiped away his cover-up and started to chant, "Daniel's got a crush…Daniel's got a crush…"
"I don't." he said seriously.
"Okay."
"You just wish I did so you could tease me about it like I tease you about Jack."
"There's nothing going on with Jack."
"Of course."
Across the cafeteria, Vio was in line holding a bag of fries and a burger. Just paying for her lunch, she heard her name being called,
"Vio!"
She turned around to see Maybourne and Ferretti standing against the wall. She then worked out that it had been Harry who had called her name. She responded with, "Yes? At your service." She knew she was in for a long irritating chat and decided to wrap up her food and put it in her bag.
"Me and Louis here were just wondering if a hot babe like you was owned?" Harry asked.
"If I am what?" Vio replied. She had partially understood what he meant, but wanted to properly know what he was talking about.
"We wanted to know if you've got a boyfriend. Because if you haven't, I'd like to ask you out." After finishing his sentence, Harry's eyes moved up and down against her body. This made Vio feel uncomfortable so she glanced around the room to see if people were watching, during which she saw Daniel and Sam sat at a table quietly watching her conversation like many others in the room. She thought about his question.
"Yes." She answered. It was like everyone in the room breathed after hearing her.
"I don't believe you. Does he go here?" Harry continued.
"No. I don't go to school with my boyfriends." Vio added spitefully.
"Why not?"
"Because guys in this school are immature."
"Am I?"
"Totally."
"What's his name?"
"Griff."
"What sort of name is Griff?" he said trying to make a joke.
"It's short for Griffin, which is actually his middle name." She said in a quick ramble.
"What school does he go to?"
"He goes to the local college actually."
As she was speaking, Jack and Charlie had walked in. They sat at the same table as Daniel and Sam. Jack whispered to Daniel, who mumbled something about Vio's boyfriend.
A few minutes later Maybourne walked out. Charlie ran over to Vio, gave her a peck and a hug, and stood talking to her for a while. Jack, Daniel and Sam sat in shock of the events.
"V, what happened?"
"He just started asking me about my boyfriend."
"Your boyfriend?"
"Yeah. He was like, 'do you have a boyfriend?'…'what's his name?'…'what school does he go to?'"
"And you told him about Griff?"
"Yep."
"You and Griff going out?"
She shook her head and chuckled, "No way."

Slamming the door behind her, Vio collapsed against the front door of her home. She ran her hand through her hair with a sigh.
"Violin, that you?" she heard from the kitchen. Realising her brother was home; she got to her feet and walked into the kitchen.
"Hey." Jonas said, putting his head to the side and making an exaggerated frown. "What's happened?"
Vio shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.
"Osbourne, what's the prob? Let me guess? – Jack's got a girlfriend and you're pining over him." Gus said sarcastically while watching a box of chips spin around in the microwave.
"No, Gus-tave." Vio replied.
The microwave beeped and Gus opened the door, took the chips out and began to eat, "I better leave you two gals – pals to chit chat." And went into the living room.
Jonas patted the chair beside him and Vio sat in it. He held her hand that was laid on the table, "Tell me. What happened?"

Sam was at home sitting at her dressing table. She had been looking at herself in the mirror and making faces for amusement as she spoke to Janet on the phone.
"I still can't get over the fact that you're gone. I still just think you're gonna walk into class tomorrow and everything will just go back to how it was…I just wish you didn't leave, now I'd stuck with the guys…you like it there?…you've made lots of new friends? I'm glad…you miss me? I miss you. Did I tell you about Jack?… we're not going out…we shouldn't. He's going out with Anise…I know, I was shocked…I don't love him…I don't!…I guess I do a tiny bit…a replacement?…a new kid? We got this girl called Viola…she's almost like another Annie Hathor…yes, she is…she's Jack's next door neighbour…and she's always flirting with him…I also think Daniel's got a crush on her too…it's not love, it's lust…Daniel thinks she's funny…she's really annoying…it's got nothing to do with the fact that she flirts with Jack!…yes, he does flirt back. But that's just Jack…"

Jack was at Daniel's house. They were hanging out in is bedroom, Jack was lying on Daniel's bed reading a Spiderman comic, whilst Daniel was searching the internet for information about some of the latest novels out. Daniel glanced to see what Jack was up to,
"Get your shoes off my bed!"
"Chill." Jack said as he raised his feet off the bed and began taking off his shoes.
"Thank you." They both carried on reading and searching in silence until a thought crossed Daniel, "Jack, what's it like having a girlfriend?"
Jack looked over the comic, "Why'd you wanna know that?"
"Because. How is it?"
"It's…okay. Anise is attractive, likes to kiss – pretty good kisser."
"I don't need to know about Anise's kisses, thank you!" Daniel interrupted.
"Danny, you're the one who asked."
"I just wanted to know…if it's worth it."
"Are you thinking about asking someone out?"
"Of course not, it's just Annie keeps talking to me. I was trying to come up with an explanation."
Jack sat up and moved over to the edge of the bed, "Annie Hathor? Get in there Danny!" he said getting excited.
"She hasn't done anything yet, she just keeps touching me."
"Touching you? Where?" Jack asked, thinking about it sexually.
"Not like that! I read that girls are more likely to touch you if they like you."
"That's true, but some are nice and friendly. But Annie Hathor? She must like you. How does she touch you?"
"I saw her twice today, she touched my hair and my arm constantly. And she told me she likes my hair."
"You're in!" Jack said, stopping and thinking, "Hold on - do you like her?"
"I'm not sure."
"This is Annie Hathor we're talking about. How can you not like her?"
"Jack, it's not that easy. I haven't had a girlfriend since…"
"Ever?"
"Since I was nine. That's why I was asking you what's it like."
"The truth is it can be great, it just depends on the girl. Anise is okay, but she will never be a Mrs O'Neill."