A/N: I seriously have to apologize for getting this chapter up so late. I've been incredibly busy and have just had no time to write for this story particularly. I sort have lost interest, but that doesn't mean that I won't finish this story. It may just mean that I end it soon…who knows though.

Here is the next chapter…I hope you enjoy!

Chapter Eighteen: More Lies

Sam walked into the house with a smile on her face. Her date with Logan was amazing. They didn't kiss, but it didn't matter because for the first time in a long time, Sam felt fine. She felt normal.

All of that changed when she saw Brooke glaring at her with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Where were you?"

"I told you out with Nicole."

"Try again…"

Sam remains silent. She knew she was screwed, but she couldn't tell Brooke where she really was. It would ruin everything.

"Sam, where were you?"

"It doesn't matter," Sam says as she starts to walk towards her room.

Brooke steps forward and grabs Sam's arm.

"Actually it does. Your father is not here so I'm in charge and I want to know where you were."

Sam shakes her head.

Brooke let's go of Sam's arm.

"I'm trying here and I feel so out of place. I was worried about you. Before I thought you were with your friend and I was fine with that, but then I come to find that you weren't and you lied. My mind couldn't help but think of weird scenarios…so I'm asking again, where were you?"

"It's none of your business. You're not my mother. You're not anything."

Sam closed her eyes as soon as she uttered those words. Brooke steps away shaking her head and goes to walk into her room. Sam sighs and does the same.

-WLOM-

Sam entered her bedroom and instantly went to lie down on her bed. The words she had said to Brooke were the wrong ones obviously, but it slipped out. She knew from the start that Brooke felt out of place especially now that her mom was actually gone…dead…and wasn't ever coming back.

Deep down Sam knew what she was doing with Logan was wrong. He was older, an actual adult and she was just a teenager. She's underage and legally she has to be seventeen in order to be with him, but she was smitten with him. It wasn't love by any means, but she really liked him.

She knew her dad would be furious when she finds out and she's not sure what Brooke would think.

She was lying to everybody.

She was lying to her father.

She was lying to Brooke.

She was lying to Logan.

But mostly she was lying to herself if she thinks that the relationship could actually work. But it was worth a shot.

She knew she had to do something. Now all she had to do is figure out what that thing is.

"I could really use some of your advice mom. I'm so screwed up. What am I supposed to do?"

-WLOM-

Brooke sat starring at her wall. The words that Sam had said hurt her, but more importantly she never thought Sam could ever say those words to her face no less. She was in an impossible situation. Did she step up and be a mom or does she let Sam skate by? Would she be replacing Sam's mom?

Right now she wished that Julian was here.

-WLOM-

A few days later and Sam and Brooke had still not spoken to one another. Sam barely stepped out of her room and when she did Brooke would glance at her like she wanted to speak to her, but then didn't. Sam would do the same thing. But today it was going to be different.

Brooke was standing in the kitchen drinking her coffee and Sam was sitting on the stool eating her cereal. Sam dropped her spoon in the bowl and looked at Brooke.

"When's dad coming home?"

Brooke looked up surprised.

"In a few days."

"Cool."

It took over five minutes before Sam spoke again.

"I'm sorry."

Brooke glanced at Sam and placed her coffee mug on the table. She waited for Sam to continue.

"I shouldn't have lied to you and I'm sorry for that. It won't happen again, but you have to understand that I do that a lot…not the whole lying thing, but the being alone thing even when I was at home. My mom could trust me and I just hope that at some point you could trust me to."

"Sam, it's not about trust with me. I can trust you, but when I don't know where you are that's what bugs me. What if something had happened and I needed to get a hold of you?"

"I had my cell phone," Sam throws out casually.

"That's beside the point. Look, I'm new at this whole mom thing okay? I'm trying here, but I need you to try to. I'm not trying to replace your mom, but this is my house and you live under my ruled and your dads and your dad's not here. I was left in charge and you broke the most important rule."

"What rule is that?"

"Lying, that's an important rule. I haven't done this before, but I might as well start now…you're grounded. I'll speak to your father when he gets home, but until then you are grounded."

Sam sighs.

"What's your definition of grounded?"

"One week for lying to me and another for being rude. What you said to me was unacceptable and you know it."

Sam nods her head and gets up from her stool.

"Hey Brooke," Sam says before walking away.

"Yeah Sam."

"You did pretty well for your first grounding," Sam says with her father's grin.

"I appreciate that Sam. Now go to your room."