On with the show, I've stalled enough as it is. Sadly, this madness can't last forever. ;p
---

Samantha's Valentine

Chapter 6- ...desperately for you.

---

It was getting dark and the heavy clouds hung over Riverview as Samantha watched the heavens blankly. Raindrops pattered noisily onto her bedroom window as the wispy grey clouds moved slowly by.

The weatherman was always wrong.

-Ring ring- the phone sounded in the background, droning on and on.

It was the 8th time today. That Valentine just wouldn't quit.

-beep- "Hello..." her mother's pre-recorded voice answered the call. Samantha carried on staring into the clouds. She had lay there in her pyjamas on the same spot on the floor for an hour now.

-beep- "Samantha." The familiar voice crackled on the answering machine.

She immediately reached over to the receiver, lifted it and put it down again.

"Please. Just go away." She said weakly, rolling onto her side. Maybe this pesky kid would give up now. On the table the clock ticked slowly until it reached 10 p.m.

The phone rang again.

Samantha had never felt so tired and weary. Ever since Erika had published the newspaper and that damn story Samantha had kept getting calls day and night. Letters and flowers were mailed to her every night as a sign of this Valentine's undying affection. They were sickly but with each message, the feelings behind each one became more stronger and desperate to the point where Samantha couldn't bear to read them.

She knew these letters were written with genuine emotions.

She told Peppercat that it was because she hated this person and was sick of the whole damn thing. She said she threw away those letters with disgust.

But the real reason was- she nearly cried.

Yes...

She nearly cried.

But it was something she would never ever admit.

Why? Why you? Why did -you- choose to love me?

Now she was so confused. She found that she could sympathise with this valentine as she had felt like this before. This feeling of helplessness and desperate longing was described so vividly, it brought flashbacks of how she once felt straight back to her.

For the first time in her life, she didn't know what to do.

"Boss..." Peppercat sighed. She felt drained of all energy too.

The recorded message played again.

Maybe...just maybe I should... She closed her yes and propped herself on one arm.

"Samantha..." the voice on the other end of the phone, said softly in a pleading tone.

This time she didn't move.

"Please, hear me out..."

Still she didn't say anything. In the silence, rain drops splattered gently down onto the glass.

"Please..."

Something inside her finally snapped.

This is it. She rubbed her forehead in mild frustration.

No more torture. This Valentine is a problem. "This Valentine is like any other problem we've ever had."

"Yes." Peppercat began, her eyes gleaming with the knowledge of the evitable. "And you know how we deal with them."

They looked at each other; both knowing what had to be done.

Samantha sat up and nodded to her medabot. "Right. We have to end this, once and for all."

She picked up the phone and went numb.

"Samantha!" the Valentine called out excitedly.

She weakened at the sound of the voice. It was all hopeful, wishful and soft...

"No. I can't do this", she thought. She'ld never say this out loud.

"Samantha. Please. Please answer me..."

She sat there with her knuckles turning white as she closed her eyes not knowing what to say. Slowly she began to replace the receiver.

"No..."

Samantha stopped dead in her tracks and her eyes opened wide.

This kid was...crying?

A wave of regret began to wash over her. She couldn't just leave it like this. She had to respond.

"I'm listening."

There was a brief pause and then voice on the other end exclaimed with an affectionate sigh. "Oh...", they replied gratefully.

---

Peppercat silently turned round and left the room, leaving them to chatter alone.

Secretly, she knew what was going on inside Samantha's heart.

At first Peppercat was scared. It could end up going horribly wrong, like it did with Nathan. She never wanted Samantha to leave her like that again.

However.

This time things might turn out to be different.

She read those letters that Boss now kept under her bed. She read about the Valentine's hopes and dreams of them being together and now she knew the true reason to why Samantha couldn't bear to read another word of it. This was how she felt when she liked Nathan. That and a lot more.

This was actually...

...real...

But more importantly these letters didn't exclude her. This Valentine loved Peppercat and didn't leave her out of anything. In the imaginary scenes of their dream dates, Peppercat was there. At parties, anniversaries they'd eventually have and walks in the park she was actually included.

It really touched her deeply.

Maybe...

Maybe this isn't so bad after all.

---

"A Robattle." Samantha said- not asked.

"What?"

"If...if I win then you'll have to leave me alone."

"But-"

"Please. You can do better. Find somebody else."

There was a quiet moment as the Valentine considered this.

"You make this sound as if you'll win. But, if I win?" the voice asked with curiosity.

"Then..."

"...you'll have to go on a date with me."

"What?!"

"No. No complaining. If this is the only way I can get you to be my girl then so be it."

Samantha slyly smiled. "You don't know what you're up against."

"I've watched you ro-battle enough times to become your worthy opponent."

"Fine then. The battle field will be the local park. Meet me there in three days, 7 in the morning."

"..."

"Scared?"

"No. Not at all. I'll see you there. I'm gonna win this."

That last sentence sent a small shiver down Samantha's spine.

-duuuu-

But before she could reply to this, the phone went dead.

"This is it", Samantha thought with the receiver still in her hand. She looked up into the clearing sky and gazed on in determination.

"I won't lose."

---

Brass and Erika woke up with a start and almost screamed.

The window had been opened and the wind was blowing the curtains around an eerie figure.

Purple eyes gleamed.

"P...Peppercat?" Erika mouthed.

Peppercat laughed in an icy tone. "Listen."

Erika's hair stood one her back. Both Brass and she couldn't speak.

"I have your latest scoop..."

---

END OF CHAPTER 6.

YES. I KNOW this chapter was mushy, lovey-dovey but bear with me! This was written in 2 hours (and I'm damn "proud" of it).

Evil Ikki: Big headed..

EC: Well actually. I'm not proud of it. This chapter is probably loaded with typos and recurring descriptions/sentences. If it is, please tell me.

Okay guys and gals, in the next chapter you'll find out who this Valentine is .

I Promise.

It's about time I stopped torturing you all. The characters need a slice of it too.

Samantha: AS IF I DON'T GET ENOUGH!

Ikki: Thank god it's you and not me...anymore.

EC: HAHAHA! That's what you think!

Ikki: O.O