Disclaimer:I don't own em, just borrowing em


Part four

"Brooke, I'm going to rent some movies. Wanna tag along?" Sam asked standing in the blonde's doorway.

"Nah, you know what? I think I'm going to Carmen's to work on some routines. Maybe next time…" The Brooke responded, not even bothering to look up from the magazine she was reading.

"Yeah, next time." Sam replied with a sigh.

Things had been like this between her and Brooke for the past two months, and she wasn't really sure why. She'd asked Brooke if she'd done something wrong to offend her, but the blonde had given her a weird look before brushing it off as her being paranoid. It was the same look she caught Brooke staring at her with. And they never spent anytime together unless someone else was around, which made Sam very suspicious. It also hurt her immensely. What hurt most of all was whenever they accidentally made contact, no matter how innocent, Brooke jumped back as if she'd been burned.

Sam made it back an hour later, by passing the blonde's now empty room, and headed straight for her own. She sat the bag of movies on her bed before moving her wireless mouse to get rid of her 'maze of pipes' screen saver and checked her away message box. She had two messages from Harrison and one message from Mia. She couldn't contain the smile that danced on her lips at the latter.

She'd met Mia via one of the communities her secret journal belonged to about five months ago. They'd read each other's post and sometimes leave comments. The comments had become increasingly frequent in the past three months, and the two had begun chatting on instant messenger. After a month of chatting she learned that Mia was from California as well. In fact, she lived in the next city over, and Sam had confessed that she wasn't really from Big Rapids, Michigan. Once they learned that they had more in common than their journals they started talking everyday, sometimes for hours, given Sam's sudden surplus in free time. They even exchanged pictures, and eventually phone numbers. Sam figured it was safer to give out her cell number, instead of the main house, but they'd had some delightful conversations on the phone, and she was very at ease.

She clicked on her away message box, getting rid of it and waiting for the two conversation windows to pop up. She checked Harrison's first.

TheNinthHole: Hey Sammy

Auto response from LoisLane082884: Running errands…call the cell…

TheNinthHole: Message me when you get back. I have a joke I want to tell you.
LoisLane082884: Hey Harry, what's the joke?


Auto response from TheNinthHole: Spending time with my lady love…call the cell or leave a message…better yet, just leave message ;)

She sighed, though she was sort of happy not to have to talk to Harrison. She really wanted to watch the movies she'd rented. She clicked on Mia's window and proceeded to read it.

CalifrnaDreamnGrl: Hey Sam

Auto response from LoisLane082884: Running errands…call the cell…

CalifrnaDreamnGrl: I have a question to ask u when u get back. I'm too shy to ask u on the phone. I'll just wait for u to get back.
LoisLane082884: I'm back
CalifrnaDreamnGrl: Hey did you have fun running errands?
LoisLane082884: Eh, I just went to the video store.
CalifrnaDreamnGrl: Ooo, rent anything good?
LoisLane082884: I was feeling sort of like having an 80's brat pack night. So I got Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, St. Elmo's Fire, and The Lost Boys.
CalifrnaDreamnGrl: Oooo, good choices. I'm so jealous. I wish I could watch them with you.
LoisLane022884: Me too :"
CalifrnaDreamnGrl: Well u may get ur chance…shoot, I have to sign off for a bit, my dad needs the phone.
LoisLane022884: You need to get a cable modem…
CalifrnaDreamnGrl: I know, I actually convinced my dad, finally. We're getting it next week. But anyway, I'll be back in about an hour or two…have fun watching ur movies. ttyl
LoisLane022884: Later babe…
CalifrnaDreamnGrl signed off at 6:56:34 PM

Sam sighed, realizing she hadn't asked Mia what her question was. She'd make sure she did that first thing when Mia got back online. She checked Carmen's away message to see if Brooke was over her house.

LoisLane022884: Hey Carm…

Auto response from CheerBear2002: Going over routines with Brooke McQueen.

The brunette tried not to roll her eyes. She didn't understand what Carmen's obsession with her blonde stepsister was. Well she did, but she was pretty sure that Carmen wasn't in love with Brooke, at least not the way she was. She sighed deeply, wondering how she was going to repair her relationship with the blonde cheerleader. Deciding not to dwell, she popped The Breakfast Club into her DVD player and lost herself in the beauty of 80's teen angst.

Brooke came home sometime during the second movie, St. Elmo's Fire, and Sam decided for once not to go and knock on her door, at least not until she had a plan. When the movie ended, she took a break and sat down in front of her laptop. Harrison still hadn't come back, Carmen hadn't returned her message either, but Mia was back, much to her delight.

CalifrnaDreamnGrl: Hey I'm back


Auto response from LoisLane022884: Paying homage to early teen angst…God I love the 80's…

LoisLane022884: Hey I'm back too
CalifrnaDreamnGrl: Hey how's movie night going?
LoisLane022884: Can't go wrong with the classics.
CalifrnaDreamnGrl: So true
LoisLane022884: Oh! Before I forget. You mentioned you had a question for me. Something you were 'too shy to say on the phone?'
CalifrnaDreamnGrl: Right, well…see the thing is, we've been talking for what five months right?
LoisLane022884: In various forms, yes…
CalifrnaDreamnGrl: And things have been good thus far right? I mean we like each other right?
LoisLane022884: I know I like you. I can't speak for you…
CalifrnaDreamnGrl: Oh, I do! I mean I like u a lot…
LoisLane022884: Okay, so we like each other and enjoy talking to one another. Where is this going because I'm confused?
CalifrnaDreamnGrl: Well, I was wondering if, maybe u might want to
LoisLane022884: Might want to what?
CalifrnaDreamnGrl: Might want to meet up and hang out sometime…

Sam blinked and stared at the screen. While it was true that they had talked for a long time, and she most certainly liked Mia, she'd never really thought of it progressing beyond cyberspace. But then again, this was someone she'd thought she'd come to know well enough, and it wasn't like she was going to have the true object of her affection. They were barely talking right now as it was. And she certainly wasn't going to meet any girls at Kennedy. So what the hell? Right?

CalifrnaDreamnGrl: OMG, you know what? That was a stupid suggestion. Just forget I said anything, and we can put the whole ugly sordid mess behind us.
LoisLane022884: Really? Okay, if you're sure, because I was going to say it was a great idea.
CalifrnaDreamnGrl: Really?
LoisLane022884: Yep
CalifrnaDreamnGrl: Wow! Okay great! I mean cool…
LoisLane022884: Yeah, cool…
CalifrnaDreamnGrl: Well, I have to get offline again. My grandmother is supposed to be calling, and I'll talk to u tomorrow about setting up a tentative date and time.
LoisLane022884: Okay sounds like a plan
CalifrnaDreamnGrl: Great! Well, good night Sam
LoisLane022884: Talk to you tomorrow, Mia.

CalifrnaDreamnGrl signed off at 11:34:13 PM

Excitement fluttered through her as she thought of the possibility of meeting this new stranger. They'd had some pretty amazing conversations over the past months about everything and nothing at all. She'd told Mia some things she hadn't even told Brooke, and she felt like they had a real connection. She could even see herself possibly dating Mia some where down the line. Barring that the meeting goes well and they have a real connection. But what if Mia thought this was a date? It wasn't a date right? Cause she wasn't so sure that she was quite ready for a date with a girl. She needed some advice, and she knew of only one person that could help her with this problem. She opened a new IM window.

LoisLane022884: Brooke, are you busy?
QueenMcBitch: I was just heading to bed.
LoisLane022884: Oh, well never mind then…
QueenMcBitch: What's up, Sam?
LoisLane022884: Nothing, it can wait until the morning. I just needed advice on something. But you're tired. So it can wait.
QueenMcBitch: I'll be there in two…
LoisLane022884: Okay, thanks Brooke

Auto response from QueenMcBitch: In Sammy's room…call the cell if you need me.

Sam was barely finished reading the away message before the blonde was crossing her room and sitting on her bed. She swiveled her computer chair around, and looked at the cheerleader. She felt like she hadn't truly seen Brooke for weeks. She was struck, as always, by the beauty that was Brooke McQueen.

"Okay, what's up Sam?" Brooke asked giving Sam her undivided attention.

Sam took a deep breath. How was she supposed to start? Hey Brooke, I'm gay! Oh by the way, I figured it all out when I fell in love with you, and now I need your help to woo this other girl? Somehow she didn't think that would go over well. Still, she and Brooke were past that petty need to destroy each other, and she felt like she could tell the blonde anything.

"Well, um, you see the thing is…the thing is I like someone." Sam started off slowly, not able to quite meet the blonde's hazel eyes. She was sure, however that she'd seen the cheerleader stiffen as she spoke.

"Well, who is this guy? Is he cute? Is it someone that I know?" Brooke asked in such rapid succession that Sam could barely keep up.

"No, you don't know the person I like. They don't go to Kennedy, and…" Sam said letting her words trail off.

"And…?" Brooke asked in a weird tone.

"And…it's not a he, but a she." Sam finished in a rush.

"So?" Brooke asked nonchalantly. Sam stared at her. Of all the reactions she'd expected from the blonde, cool indifference hadn't been one. It was almost as if Brooke wasn't surprised by her admission. Brooke's hazel eyes studied her face for a moment before she continued to speak. "Sam, it's fine that you're gay. It's not a big deal that you like girls, unless it's a problem for you."

"Uh, no, no it's not a problem for me." Sam stammered.

"Well okay, then so there's no problem, unless the someone you like is me. And that's not what's happening right? You don't like me do you, Sammy?" Brooke asked, and there was an edge in her voice that Sam didn't quite understand.

Where was all of this coming from? It was almost as if the blonde knew about her feelings for her, but that couldn't be the case. She hadn't told anyone about her feelings for Brooke, not even Mia. In fact the only place she ever talked about it was in 'Tippy's Journal,' and there was no way Brooke knew about that.

"No, it's not you I like. That would be crazy, wouldn't it? I mean could you imagine that?" Sam chuckled, playing it off. She didn't miss the look of surprise that washed over the blonde's beautiful face, before she could recover it. What was going on with Brooke lately?

"Okay, so tell me about this mystery girl. You said I don't know her right?"

"Right, well her name is Mia. I met her when she left me a message on my…IM. Anyway, we've been talking for about five months. We've even talked on the phone a couple of times." Sam said.

Brooke arched a blond eyebrow. "Okay, and where's the part where my advice is needed?"

"Right, well so like I said, we've talked a lot over the past few months, and I've really grown to like her. She's interesting, and smart, and not bad looking from what I can tell from pictures." She paused looking over at the blonde with a slight blush. Brooke nodded her head, encouraging her to continue, even though Sam had to wonder at the strange look in the blonde's eyes. "Well, tonight, she asked if maybe I wanted to meet up and hang out."

"And you said?" Brooke asked slowly.

"I said yes."

"And the problem is?"

"Well, for one, this is someone I have never met before, and I'm a little nervous. And two, what if she thinks this is a date? Is this a date? And if it's a date what do I do? What do I wear? How do I act?"

"Whoa, calm down there, Mucky, before you hyperventilate. The first thing you're going to do is breathe. I think what you need is a 'wing man.' Someone to accompany you on this date or whatever it is that will, keep the conversation flowing, but could also provide the alibi for a quick get away, just in case this girl turns out to be a total skankzilla or something."

Sam chuckled, marveling at how Brooke was able to ease all of her fears with so few words. She was glad that she could come to the blonde with this. She always knew just what to say. All she needed was a 'wing man' and she would be fine. But where was she going to find said 'wing man?' There was no way she was telling any of her other friends about this. She just wasn't ready yet. She looked over at Brooke uncertainly, and she knew the blonde could read her unvoiced question.

"Don't worry, I'll do it."