Chapter 5

When lunch finally comes Emily and I bring the cake into the cafeteria and wait for Sam and Derek to arrive. Once they do, I take the cover off the cake and make Sam cut the first piece. He's impressed, not only with the taste, but the fact that I cooked it myself.

I was trying really hard not to be mad at him. This became much easier with him complementing the cake.

After school I'm surprised to find Sam waiting for me at my locker. I'd assumed that he and Derek and the girls would have left already.

"What are you doing here?" I ask him.

"I just wanted to apologize about the ride home. I didn't think Derek would tell people that I'd give them rides. That was never my intention. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I know how Derek can be when he sets his mind on something. Go have fun, and drive safe."

"Thanks, I will."

The strangest part is, I am okay. Sam didn't let me down on purpose, he just values his friendship with Derek too much to risk losing it over something as meaningless as giving a few people rides home.

While I am fine with the rides I know what I want to do tonight. I call Emily on her cell phone and make plans to get a ride to the mall at 6:00. If Derek and Sam were going to be hanging out with girls that's okay with me. I was just going to be at the mall too, not checking up on the boys, but shopping. And if we happen to come across Derek and Sam, so be it. But I will not go out of my way to run into them. Besides, I need another book, and the closest bookstore is in the mall.