A/N

Disclaimer: Everything you recognize is Meg Cabot's…the character Bryan and the plot of the story is mine.

Important Note: I'm sorry, but I forgot to mention at the beginning of the story that this is taking place during summer vacation. No school in the meantime for our characters! I apologizefor any confusion.

I'm glad to see some new reviewers! Thank you so much to all who reviewed! However, I'm seeing that the difference between the number of hits and reviews is very big and noticeable! Please take 20 seconds of your life to write a comment! Your criticism makes the story better! Everyone appreciates a little R & R.

Want to know something funny? I never thought I'd apply something I learned in Biology class to this story. Remember Rebecca's thing with Cytochrome c in chapter four? Yup, that's from Bio. LOL who would've thought that bio would be useful in AAG in Love?

XOXO

Chapter Six

"YOU WHAT?" I hollered.

"Ssh! Shut up! Mom and Dad might hear!" Lucy shushed me.

"But Luce, you said you joined the library's teen summer book club, not some model agency!" I loudly whispered.

"Listen, it makes a good part-time job with considerable pay. Plus, it won't even interfere that much with studying time either when school starts again. And having people make me look beautiful in make-up and clothes certainly isn't a turn-off either. I really love the job, Sam. But if mom and dad heard that I was working as a model, they would pull me out of the job quicker than you could say 'Vogue.' Not to mention, they would take me out of cheerleading and make me take study sessions at some who-knows-where tutoring club," Lucy said earnestly.

"But Lucy, you seriously do need to mind your grades. College is more important than appearing in Playboy," I shot back, trying to knock some sense into her.

Lucy glowered at my last comment. "I am NOT going to be a strip model, Sam," she enunciated clearly and angrily.

Whoa, Lucy was serious about this whole thing. "Yikes, sorry Luce, I didn't mean it that way. My point was that you can't let this model thing take control over your grades once school restarts. If your grades started slipping, mom would know something's up for sure. Seeing as how you won't have anymore teen summe book club for an excuse... You'd get in even more trouble."

"I promised myself I would quit if it started affecting my grades. I'll even quit cheerleading this year if I have to balance modeling and schoolwork," Lucy said solemnly.

I was taken aback at Lucy's statement. Lucy's beautiful eyes were strong with determination. This was the first time Lucy cared so much about something and had figured out a plan to achieve it.

"You're serious about this?" I asked. I still half-expected her to laugh and say the whole thing was a joke.

"Dead serious," she said, not smiling. Her expression softened, and she pleaded, "So please, Sam. Don't tell mom and dad. I also would really appreciate it if you just went along with my 'book club' thing once in a while, so that mom won't be suspicious."

Well, Lucy had broken up with Jack for me that last time (though they had gotten back together, but still), and she was a totally awesome, kick-A sister. Isighed and said, "Of course, Lucy. Whatever you say."

Lucy squealed and gave me a hug. "Thanks so much, Sam!"

When she had pulled back, I asked her, "So, how did it start? Your modeling career?"

"Well, I was at the Static music store last week, and this woman came up to me, asking if I would be interested in modeling. I declined, but she gave me a business card and told me to drop by if I had a change of mind. The next day, I figured a shot at it wouldn't hurt, and I went. The people there wanted to do a camera test on me. So they had this professional make-up artist work on me, then I got to wear this awesome shirt, and some really hot jeans. Then, they took me to an actual photo-shoot site where they took pictures of me to see how photogenic I was and all. It was like being a celebrity at her photo-shoot! I really loved it, Sam! And the people there were so nice… they said I should seriously consider a career in modeling because it turns out my pictures all came out really well. I extremely loved it all. I've been going there every few days so far, just watching others work, or getting photos taken myself. I've had three photo-shoots so far," Lucy recounted.

"So that's what you were doing at your 'book club,'" I smiled slyly.

"It's so much fun. I'd still do it without the money!"

"Lucy!" Mom's voice interrupted our conversation. "Please come put away your magazines!"

"Got to go," Lucy said. "Thanks so much Sam," she smiled. After giving me another quick hug, Lucy scurried out of my room.

I sighed and lay on my bed. Lucy was going to be a model! She sure was born to be one, I thought. With her perfect features and perfect body, she could have been Miss America, no, Miss Universe! I hoped mom and dad could support her, though. It would make Lucy feel a whole lot better about not having to lie about a book club.

XOXO

The next day, I received a text from David. Can u meet 6 today 2 help w/ the party stuff? Ur welcome 2 stay 4 dinner. Call me so I'll know 2 pick u up.

I didn't particularly feel like going through another "true or false, you love me" conversation like last time, so I just text-messaged him back. I'm free. I'll b waiting 5:45. Can't wait.

I had another three hours to kill, so I went out in search of David's birthday present. His party was in a week, and I still hadn't gotten him his present. I wanted to get him something that wasn't all lovey-dovey, but I didn't want to buy him something that screamed "I don't love you!" either.

I started at Static, the music store. CD's of his favorite bands would be too bland for a gift. His friends might be getting him the same thing, and I didn't want to get him something too plain. I was his girlfriend, for crying out loud. David probably expected something more special from me. It was in the store next to Static that I found David a gift.

The store was small and looked unnoticeable next to the bright lights in Static. Its tiny size made it look overwhelmed by the big music store beside it. It was called Good Laffs, and the only reason I entered it was because the name reminded me of David's good humor.

The store was dingy, and not well lit. Inside, Good Laffs looked more like a wooden cabin with goods stacked up in the place of bunk beds. Dirty Laffs was a more suitable name for this store because it contained merchandise like cups, shirts, and bumper stickers with vulgar messages that were meant to be funny. The owner was sleeping at the counter, probably not expecting any customers. He was a bald man of considerable size with pierced ears and tattoos on his biceps. He looked more like a gang member than a store manager to me. I was about to leave when a black t-shirt caught my eye.

It bore a message that read: Roses are red, violets are blue. My girlfriend loves me… well, you should get one too!

I laughed quietly to myself. It was perfect. It would make David laugh too, and whatever made him laugh, was good enough for me. The price wasn't bad either. I decided to throw in a couple of big cookies along with the shirt when I would be giving it to him at the party.

Ignoring the idea that this would be the first thing David would trash in the case that I gathered enough courage to break up with him, I found the right size, and walked towards the counter to pay.

I was a bit hesitant about waking the scary "gang" owner. He looked like he could strangle me with one hand if he was woken from his sleep. I timidly stammered, "Um… excuse me," then I quickly stepped back a few steps in case his hand shot out towards my bare neck.

He merely grunted, otherwise not showing any other sign that he was aware of my presence.

"Excuse me!" I said a bit louder.

No response.

"You have a customer!" I screamed.

He awoke with a start. "Huh? Huh? What?" He rubbed his eyes and frantically looked around. As his eyes slid into focus, he noticed me staring at him strangely with a t-shirt at my side.

"I'm sorry; I must have dozed off a bit. I do apologize. How may I help you, miss?" he said politely. He sounded quite the opposite of the skull-crushing, gang member I had taken him for.

"I'd like to purchase this t-shirt," I said, holding out the black t-shirt and a twenty-dollar bill.

He rang up the shirt, then handed me my change and the t-shirt in a plastic bag. "Have a good day," he said with a smile.

I smiled back and said, "Thank you."

As I walked out, I saw him rest his head on the counter again, returning to his sleep I had interrupted.

XOXO

After exiting Good Laffs, I went to Art Depot to buy some wrapping paper, a gift bag, and a blank card. At home, I wrapped the t-shirt, and then started making a birthday card for David.

I drew a comical illustration of a person with a pineapple for a head wearing the White-out helmet David had given me. And to top it all off, I drew Joe the crow perched on the helmet. At the top, I wrote Title: Sam's self-portrait, and at the bottom, wrote HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVID in colorful letters. David would understand how the pineapple, the helmet, and Joe were related to me. Hopefully, the card would make him laugh like the t-shirt will.

I pondered for a while before inscribing inside the card: Happy birthday to the most amazing guy I've ever known. I hope today is full of joy and all your wishes come true. Love, Sam.

I knew the message was a bit tasteless, considering how I should've written a bit more mush than just "Love, Sam." But I didn't know what else to write that wouldn't give David hints about the whole no-love thing. I mean, too much mush, and he would know something was up, since I was never a girl to overly express my feelings of love anyways.

XOXO

The ringing of the doorbell and the sound of my mom saying, "Oh hi, David! Sam will be right down." signified David's arrival. I looked at the clock and saw that he was right on time. After putting the card in an envelope and licking it shut, I put David's present away and went outside my room to greet David.

He grinned when he saw me, and said, "Hey Sam, you all set?"

"Yeah," I replied. I turned to my mom and said, "I'll be back after dinner, okay?"

Mom replied, "Sure, honey." My mom was never suspicious when David and I were together due to the constant presence of bodyguards nearby. Her suspicions about Lucy and Jack… well, that was another story.

After bidding my mom goodbye, I got in David's limo and we were off to David's house.