A/N: So, my author's notes tend to sound the exact same every time I write one. I guess I would just like to say that I love writing this story and even though I'm not as consistent with updating as I liked to be I do know that I will finish this eventually. I know I want this to finish with at least 40,000 words or thirty chapters whichever comes first.

Chapter Fourteen: Who am I?

"It's good to be home," Brooke says with a smile as she drops her bags on the floor in her living room.

Sam and Julian walked in front of her and Sam dropped down onto the couch. Since meeting her grandparents, Sam had really spoken a word. She was scared when she first saw them. She loved her daddy and they had threatened to take her away. She couldn't handle that.

Julian looks at his daughter sadly before sitting down next to her.

"You haven't talked in awhile. Is everything okay?"

"Stop bugging me!" Sam yells before getting off of the couch and stomping into her room and slamming her door shut.

"I'm a failure," Julian announces as Brooke sits down next to him. Brooke takes Julian's hand in comfort and forces him to look at her.

"Julian, what you just said is outrageous. I mean do you honestly believe that you are a failure?"

Julian looks at his fiancé with sad, tired eyes.

"My daughter won't talk to me. How else am I supposed to feel?"

Brooke laughs and kisses Julian softly on the lips.

"Julian, you have to realize that Sam is a teenager, a teenager who just lost her mom, met her grandparents and is dealing with a lot of changes happening at once. Give her time Julian. I think that's all she needs."

"You're very in-tune with what a teenage girl feels," Julian says with a grin.

"Well Mr. Baker, it wasn't long ago that I was a teenage girl myself."

-WLOM-

Sam lies back on her bed with a sigh. The past few weeks had been tough on her. She knew her dad was trying and she knew Brooke was trying, but it still didn't help the fact that her mother was gone and she was never coming back. Sam picks up her phone from her table when it vibrates.

U want 2 hang? –N

Sam smiles at Nicole's text and responds back.

Sure meet me store –Sam

Sam shuts her phone. She could hear her father talking to Brooke so she decides to climb out her window.

-WLOM-

"Julian, I think we should post pone planning the wedding," Brooke announces as she gets up from the couch and enters the kitchen where Julian is making dinner.

Julian stops what he is doing and looks up at Brooke.

"Are you having second thoughts?"

Brooke shakes her head quickly before taking a seat on the stool. She trails her finger on the counter top.

"No, nothing like that, I just think with everything that's going that maybe it would be best if we waited."

"Are you sure?" Julian asks hoping that maybe Brooke wasn't sure. He really wanted to marry Brooke. "If this is about Sam, I could talk to her."

"I love you and I love Sam, but I don't want to change her whole life. I mean she's been with us for a month and already her mom died and now I think it's finally settling in that she will be in Tree Hill for a long time."

Julian starts chopping vegetables while Brooke continues to talk.

"Which reminds me, school starts up in less than two months and we have to get Sam registered at Tree Hill High and then we'll go from there."

Julian places the knife on the table and faces Brooke.

"So, if you have thought about postponing the wedding plans, then do you have any idea when you want the wedding?"

Brooke bites her lip as she thinks about Julian's question. She knew she didn't want to wait so long to become Mrs. Baker, but she was also taking Sam's feelings into consideration which at times could be extremely hard thing to do.

"Less than a year for sure, but I was thinking maybe at some point after the summer. It just depends on how Sam thinks of it."

"Brooke this isn't about Sam. I don't want to sound harsh, but I want you to come up with a decision without thinking about my daughter," Brooke glares at Julian in disbelief. "I don't mean to be rude, but this isn't about my daughter. This is about you and what you want."

Brooke gets up from her stool and places her hands on her hips.

"No offense. If I don't take Sam's feelings into consideration who is? Because from where I'm standing it sounds like you won't."

Brooke walks away in a huff and Julian just stares at her.

"Offense taken."

-WLOM-

"That's rough Sam, I'm sorry," Nicole apologizes as she settles against the back of the counter.

"You don't have to apologize. I know my life sucks right now. I'm sorry if I sound so depressing. This really isn't me."

Nicole looks at her new friend in sadness. After hearing her story it made Nicole like Sam even more.

"I'm sure people have said this to you, but I want you to know that if you need someone to talk to, someone that isn't an adult or a family member, than know that I'm here. I'm your friend Sam and I just want you to know that I'm here for you. Always."

"I've never really had friends before," Sam replies honestly. "I was always close to my cousin. We grew up together you know?" Nicole nods her head with a small smile. "In school I was always known as the kid from a teenage pregnancy. I was an outcast and I fought a lot and now everything is different and I don't know what to do. I don't know who I am anymore," Sam cries out as she places her head in her hands.

Nicole wraps her arms around her new friend comforting her in any way possible.