A/N

I have now started to reply to my reviewers. For now, I gave each reviewer one reply. Please keep those reviews coming! They really encourage me to write more. Well, school has started. How are y'all doing with school? (Unless you don't go to school.) As for me, I am buried in homework, but I still try to spare time to write at least a sentence a day. I promise to complete this story and not leave it hanging and open for two years or something. It's my first fanfic… it's the least I can do.

Okay, now I'm just babbling. I won't bother you anymore. Please, go ahead. Read!

XOXO

Chapter Eight

"Lucy, what's wrong?" I asked in confusion as she pulled me into my bedroom without answering. She gestured for me to sit down on the bed. Puzzled, I slowly sank down while Lucy locked the door after making sure that the rest of the family was out of earshot.

After confirming that the coast was clear, Lucy collapsed on the floor and desperately hugged a bewildered Manet. She looked like one of those beautiful princesses in distress from fairy tales. "Sam, what am I going to do? You have to help me. I'm so dead…" Her babble got quieter and quieter until it became audible. Yet, Lucy still moved her lips silently, muttering to herself, like someone had pressed the "mute" button.

Suspicion, shock, then horror… The three hit me one by one in that order. "Oh my goodness, Lucy… Don't tell me…" I muttered disbelievingly.

Lucy nodded gravely and said, "It's just as I feared. The worst has come."

Horrified, I said, "You've done it now, Luce. You've finally gone too far with Jack and now you've gotten yourself pregnant! How many times did mom and dad warn you? You have got to…"

Whap! My frantic rambling was cut short by Lucy chucking a pillow at my head.

"Ew! What are you talking about? Sam, you're so sick! What kind of slut do you take me for?"

Astonished and relieved at the same time, I asked tentatively, "So you're not pregnant?"

"Heck, no!" Lucy shrieked indignantly.

"Thank God, then what are you so uptight about?" I inquired.

Lucy's expression returned from indignation to worry. "They, the people at the model agency, I mean, said that in order for me or my pictures to get anywhere, I have to sign a Talent and Model Release form. And since I'm a minor…" she trailed off.

"Mom and dad are going to have to sign their consents," I finished for her.

Lucy nodded sadly.

"Just tell them," I said matter-of-factly.

"I can't do that!" Lucy cried. "They'll be mad enough that I lied about a book club in the first place! I'll probably be sent to some camp or summer school so that I won't misbehave the rest of the summer!"

"Well then, what else are you going to do?"

"I… don't know," Lucy said with a sigh. "I just wish I didn't have to give it up," she said quietly.

"Here's an idea," I said. "Since they're bound to find out sooner or later, you should just confess."

"But…" Lucy interjected.

I silenced her with my hand and continued, "This is better because they'll be less angry if you honestly confess instead of them finding out for themselves that you lied. Just tell them the truth, and mention everything you said to me the last time. You know, about how much you love the job and you really want to dedicate to it and stuff."

I could tell that Lucy was rapidly taking mental notes on all this. That was something she didn't do often. Work her brains, I mean. She never really uses her brain, except for performing daily bodily functions, or what she's going to wear the next day, or whatever.

"Oh, and be sure to emphasize the fact that you plan to quit if it interferes with grades. That's important since it shows mom and dad that you're willing to be really responsible about all this," I added.

"Responsibility… I'll show them responsibility," Lucy said with determination.

"Another offer you might want to make is to actually take them with you to your workplace. You know, to show them how awesome it is and prove that you're not some Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. And I think that should about drive your point straight home," I wrapped up.

Lucy sprang up and gave me a suffocating hug. "Thanks so much, Sam! I love you!" she squealed. "If this works, I promise to take you shopping with my first paycheck."

"Thanks, but I'll take a rain check on the shopping spree." Shopping with Lucy meant twenty-four hours cruising the mall, stopping at every single store. Plus, I was satisfied that I was able to help Lucy, since she had helped me realize how much I love, I mean, "loved," David a while ago.

When Lucy was about to leave, I added, "Oh and Luce, talk to them in the morning. You know how mom's a morning person."

"Morning, got it," Lucy replied. "I'll totally make this up to you, Sam. I owe you so much." Then she skipped out to read her new Cosmo, her worries long gone. It must be nice to be Lucy… being so happy all the time and all.

XOXO

Whether Lucy's morning talk with mom and dad had succeeded or not, I didn't find out. That was because I had overslept, and I was going to be late for Susan's morning class. David was going to be picking me up today, and he was due any minute now. I threw on some jeans, and a No Doubt T-shirt. I picked up my canvas bag for the art class, and I was good to go.

"Samantha, at least have some toast before you leave," Theresa said.

"No time… but I'll take these." I grabbed two doughnuts lying on the table and bolted out the door, ignoring Rebecca's screech, "Hey, those were mine!"

I was outside just in time to see David's limo pull up.

After a quick smooch for a greeting, David and I began talking and eating breakfast at the same time.

The ride was short. I finished the last of my doughnuts just as we arrived at the studio.

Right as we entered the studio, I began to walk backwards, not taking my eyes off Joe the crow. I had forgotten my daisy helmet at home, and my head now felt very bare and vulnerable without it. When I heard David say, "Hi, Susan," I turned around to greet her as well… and ended up knocking into her.

The paintbrushes Susan had been carrying went flying into the air and clattered on the floor. Apologizing with a blush, I quickly helped her pick them all up.

"Hello to you too, Sam," Susan said sarcastically.

"Hi," I muttered. After picking up all the paintbrushes and handing them back to Susan, I went to my seat. Bryan was already there, and David had finished setting up as well.

As I was propping up my sketchbook on the easel, I noticed that a folded piece of paper lay on the easel. Curious, I unfolded it to find a small heart drawn on it.

I smiled. David had given me one of these before, when we had decided to go out with each other while passing notes in these very stools some time ago.

I threw a sidelong glance at David. He was absorbed in sorting his colored pencils, and gave no sign of recognition that I had read the note. He's probably pretending not to notice, I thought to myself, and tucked the note in my pocket.

XOXO

Two hours later, we were packing up and getting ready to leave. I didn't have to hitch a ride with David this time because Theresa was coming to get me.

"Hey Sam, I'll see you later," David said, giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"You're leaving already?" I asked. David and I normally hung out in Static until our rides came.

"Yeah, my dad has this thing today and I have to attend." I could tell he was grimacing at the thought of having to stand around in a tux around old people all day long.

"Okay. Well, have fun. I'll see you next week. Your birthday party is coming up in ten days, too, don't forget!"

"I definitely won't forget that," he grinned. "Oh, wait. Susan!" He called. "Susan, I have this aunt of mine over for a weekend, and she's a really great artist. I'd really like for you to meet her. She's outside, in the car, waiting."

When Susan agreed, David exited the studio with Susan at his side, waving at me cheerfully.

After David left, I finished up my packing and got ready to leave. I was the last to leave to the studio… or so I thought.

"Um, Sam, wait!"

I jumped at the voice, startled. I looked back to see Bryan still at his easel, packing up. So I hadn't been alone in the studio.

"Yeah?" I answered with a smile. I was hoping to be friends with Bryan as well. He just seemed really nice, and I wanted to smooth things back between him and David.

"Um… I was wondering…" Bryan stammered, blushing.

"Yes?" I said, curious.

"Would you like to go out with me?" he blurted out.

Silence. "Um… excuse me?" I asked, not sure that I had heard correctly.

"Would you like to go out with me?" Bryan repeated more slowly, fidgeting. "Didn't you get my note with the heart on it?"

I chuckled, thinking this was a joke, and said, "You sent that note? Bryan, you know I have a boyfriend. David."

"But still… can you give me a chance?" he asked.

I stopped smiling. Forcing on a more polite tone, I said, "Bryan, I'm sorry but no. I already have a boyfriend. I can't go out with you. Not that I don't like you or anything. I think you're really nice, but I won't go out with you. Don't waste your time on me. I'm taken." I emphasized the last two words.

"So?"

I frowned. Was this guy kidding? "What do you mean, so?" I shot back at him, no longer polite.

Timidly, he whispered, "David doesn't have to know…"

I exhaled loudly in exasperation. This guy wasn't getting the point. "Bryan, I repeat, I already have a boyfriend, and I'm not about to start cheating on him. I'm sorry, but you've got the wrong girl," I spoke clearly.

"Please?" he asked, sounding like a kid begging his mother for a toy.

Fed up, I said, "I'm not having this conversation anymore." I was about to turn towards the door, when his voice suddenly stopped me.

"Come on, enough with the games, Sam. You don't love him."

I froze. I hadn't even turned my back halfway on him.

Something about his voice was suddenly different. It was colder, full of much more confidence than the timid, embarrassed Bryan I had just been talking to.

"What are you talking about?" I inquired callously, while my brain was frantically wondering, how the heck did he know?

"Any observant person can tell that you don't love David nearly as much as he loves you. You're just playing along with the guy. Why you still stay with him, only you would know. Maybe you just like toying with his feelings, or maybe you just feel too sorry to break up." He observed coolly.

He penetrated my deepest secret straight through.

But still, why was he doing this?

Putting on a kinder tone, I asked, "Bryan, what's wrong with you? You're not the Bryan I know. The Bryan I know isn't like this. He's kind, polite, and cheerful. Come back to your old self." I was hoping he would snap out of whatever kind of trance he was in.

It didn't work.

He only snorted and replied, "Who are you to judge what my 'old self' is like? Have you really known me that long? Who cares that I put on a mask to disguise myself as the nice, timid, goody-goody little boy? I can get closer to people that way before doing what I want with them."

I gaped at him, shocked. So he was really two-faced, this Bryan.

"But enough about me, Sam," he said. "Let's talk more about you. Tell the truth. You don't really love David."

"That's not true, I… I…" I stammered, looking for words that wouldn't come. I just ended up blushing to the tip of my hairline. It was a sign that I was lying.

Bryan noticed this and smirked. "See?" he said. "You're blushing, which means you're lying."

Having nothing more to say, I just glared at him. "You despicable jerk," I said coldly.

Then, I turned around to leave… and saw David at the doorway, staring at me with an unreadable, yet harsh expression.

"David," I whispered in horror.

David just stared.

XOXO

A/N

OMG, David found out!

I'm sorry about boring you with the whole Lucy and the model thing at the beginning. But I think I made it up to you with the ending.

So what's Sam going to do now? Everything's ruined because of Bryan, who turned out to be a real jerk!

Anticipate the next chapter!

(Hehe, I like leaving you guys hanging.)