He didn't see much of her. She wasn't in the cafeteria when he was. The only times he saw her was doing English class. Every day he waited for her to turn around and smile at him like she used to do. But it didn't happen. He wondered what had gone wrong last time he spoke to her. Could a question like "what have you been up to" really upset her? Maybe it was the fact that she hadn't been up to anything. That she was a loner. She didn't have anyone to go out with and have a great time. All her time past by with reading. Now he was doing it. Judging her. Just like the others. Who was he to judge her based on how she was here? She could be an entirely different person at home. How would he know? She avoided him, it seemed.
He didn't learn anything in that lesson. All he did was trying to find a way to make it up. But how could he do that when she was nowhere to be found in the breaks? He wondered if she was even worth all that effort. He could find another girl to hang out with if he wanted to. The only problem was that he didn't want to. He wanted to get to know her.
He spotted her packing her things and decided he'd catch her on the way out. So he hurried to the door and waited. He really shouldn't have hurried. She was the only one left anyway. But she didn't seem to have noticed him. She was organizing the books and papers in her bag so that they could all fit in there. Suddenly one of the teachers entered the room and walked right past Sam. When he reached Diane, he stopped and poked her on the shoulder. He told her something Sam couldn't lip-read. He saw how tears appeared in her eyes and how the teacher put a supporting hand on her shoulder.
A few minutes later he left, giving Sam a glare on the way out. Left was Diane with her bag and on the edge to cry. It didn't last long before she broke down. Sam hurried to her seat, bent down and tried to make eye contact with her. But she covered her wet eyes with her hands.

"Diane, what happened? Please tell me."

After several minutes sobbing she moved her hands from her face and looked at him.

"It-it's my father. He-he's been hospitalized after having a heart-attack," she sobbed.

"Oh dear," Sam whispered "I'm so sorry, Diane, I wish that-"

"Sam?"

"Yes?"

"Hold me."

"Sure."

She leaned into his embrace and she stayed there for a while.

"I need to get to the hospital. I need to see him."

"Let me take you there."

"But Sam, you can't. You have classes."

"No, I have baseball practice, but I'll just get someone to tell the coach I ain't coming."

"No, Sam. I'll be fine. I just have to find some transportation, that's all."

"I got a car, I can drive you in," he said quickly.

"You do?"

"Well actually it's my brother, Derek's. But I'm burrowing it for some while. May I please take you there?" he begged.

At last she nodded and they rose. She was just about to pick up her bag but Sam was faster and picked it up just as she was about to.

"Let me take that."

She smiled thankfully and they walked out of the class. Sam with an arm around her shoulder for support.

They reached the first red light on the way and she took this as an opportunity to get the talk going.

"So I suppose you live at home too," she said.

"Yeah, I do. And you too?"

"Yes. Well, I'd always prefer home to a college dorm, but the main reason I didn't move into one was because I'd like the freedom to stay different places. Living at my mom but having the possibility to visit my dad."

"Did it come as a shock to you?"

"What?"

"The heart-attack."

"Sadly, no. My dad's been ill for quite a while. So when you asked me what I had been up to, looking after my father was the real answer to that."

"I'm so sorry. I wouldn't have asked if-"

"No, I know, Sam. It's not your fault. It's just- it's been hard on me and it's one of those subjects I'd like to leave out in a conversation. But of course you wouldn't know that."

"Mm."

"I apologize for being avoiding you. I didn't mean to make you feel the wrong way. I just needed some time of my own to cope with things."

"Completely understandable."

"I haven't even asked you how the game went."

"We lost. 3-2."

"Oh. I'm sorry to hear about that."

"Nah, it doesn't matter. I guess I just wasn't up for the job as a starter."

"I'm sure you weren't the only one to blame."

"What's done, done. There's nothing more for me to do than practice my curveballs and hope to be given another shot someday."

"Just promise to give it your best," she smiled at him.

"I will," he smiled back.

"Oh, that reminds me that I have bowling practice on Wednesday." She said dryly.

"You bowl?" he asked surprised.

"I need a P.E credit. It's the only reason why I'd bowl."

"How about soccer, basket or…"

"It's a sport where I don't have to run and get all sweaty."

"So is pitching."

"Could you imagine me pitching? I can hardly make out which one is the baseball field and which one is the football."

"Wow. You really need to get to know sports better."

"Do I?"

"Well, I'd be useful."

"How?"

"Well…If a football lands before your feet you'll know which field to return it to."

"Yes, that sounds like an extremely useable."

He chuckled behind the wheel.

"Well, I guess a genius like you doesn't need to be interested in sports. I could surely need a brain like yours to get me through the next couple of semesters."

"I sense you're not academically gifted?"

"That'd be a sad thing to say."

"You don't like to read?"

"I try to avoid it as much as possible. But college makes it pretty hard."

She let out a giggle.

"Did you say this was your brother's car?"

"Yeah, I'm afraid so."

"And he doesn't bother that you're using it?"

"Doesn't bother, doesn't know."

"What?"

"Well, he's traveling a lot at the time. So he isn't much home."

"Oh, I see."

"Besides, he's too busy impressing the heck out of my parents to bother."

"Seriously? How is he?"

"Well, for one thing, he's smart, then he's kinda good looking, and at last his great at everything. And I mean everything. He has me beat in every way."

"I hardly believe that's true."

"Really, you should meet him. Or maybe not."

She chuckled.

"Well, I guess that's the hospital," he said and nodded forward.

"Yes," she whispered.

"Mr. Chambers? Your daughter's here to see you."

"Well, let her in then!" Mr. Chambers chuckled.

Diane hurried to her father and hugged him.

"How are you, darling?"

"How am I? It'd be more appropriate for me to ask how you are first."

"Well, I'm coping. Who's your friend, there?" Mr. Chambers said and nodded toward Sam standing just outside.

"Father, I'd like you to meet Sam Malone. Sam and I have English classes together.
Sam, this is my father, Spencer Chambers."

"It's a pleasure meeting you, sir. I'm sorry it's under these circumstances."

"So am I, my boy. But there's no need to worry. I've just spoken to the doctor. He said if nothing terribly wrong happens, I'll be out of her within a month."

A forced weak smile appeared on Diane's lips.

"How is your mother?"

"Busy as always," Diane sighed and so did Spencer.

"Well, then it's nice to have a guy like Sam here to keep you occupied."

"Well, actually we're in a hurry, dad. I wouldn't like Sam to miss the whole of today's baseball practice, so I guess we better leave soon. But I'll be coming back later."

"We don't have to leave, Diane, I don't mind staying. It's only one time I'm-"

"No, Sam, she's right. Your practice is important. You shouldn't waste valuable time on being around an old sick man like me."

"If that's the case, I'll leave you two to say goodbye. I wish you a speedy recovery, Mr. Chambers."

"Thank you, boy."

"I'll be waiting in the car."

Diane nodded and Sam left.

"Oh dad…"

"Don't you feel bad, sweetheart. You just keep focusing on your studies, and then visit me whenever you find time for it."

"You know I always have time for you, daddy."

"I know, I know. You've been raised well."

She chuckled.

"It's nice to see you socializing with such fine, young man. Don't you ever let him slip away."

"Dad, we're just friends."

"That may be, but that doesn't give you any less reason not to hold onto him."

She smiled.

"It's important for you to have someone close when your mother and I aren't around. Especially during rough times."

"I get what you're saying, father."

"Take care, dear," he said and placed a kiss on her forehead.

Just as she was about to exit the room, she heard her dad murmuring "bring Sam anytime you want."

She smiled and began searching for the stairs down.

She met him just outside the hospital beside the car.

"Your dad seems like a nice guy."

"He is. Sam, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"I don't know if this sounds a bit odd, but would you like to make a deal with me about helping each other out for the rest of the year?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"You could use a helping hand when it comes to studying. Am I right?"

"Right," he nodded.

"And I could use some help with P.E. Perhaps you could teach me how to enjoy it more than I do presently."

"Sounds like a win-win situation."

"And besides…My father likes you. He'd like to see me spend more time with people like you."

"Well, I'm yours, Ms. Chambers." He said and bowed and straitened his arms out to.

"Ha ha," she giggled.

"It's a deal," he said and handed his hand out.
She took it and shook it.