Ah, I love vacation, it's given me much time to work on my fics, I'm actually ahead of the game, how cool is that? Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter

Chapter 14- Danger Awakens

Sam's P0V

"There's something weird about her"

"Come on Torie, Sam isn't that bad"

"I know she isn't, but something about her just seems…strange is all-"

"What's strange", Sam said finally, "Is that I actually though I could count on my friends to not talk about me behind my back"

Torie cringed and looked around. Sam glared at her, her brown eyes burning. "Sorry", Torie finally muttered. Sam just sort of shrugged and sat down next to Allie.

breep-breep-breep-breep

"What's that?" Allie asked, looking around.

"My phone", Sam sighed, "I changed the ring. I should change the number to, I don't know how many times I told them not to call before three…" she grabbed her phone and hit the talk button, "Hello?"

"Boo"

"Hi Shayna", she sighed.

"Nice to talk to you to Sam", Shayna quipped sarcastically. Sam could hear whispering on the other end.

"Who's phone?" she said at once, "Corinne?"
"Of course", Shayna said, "Carol and Catie both left theirs at home, and none of us own one other than the three C's…hey, cool, everyone in our group who owns a cell phone has a name with a C in it"

"I don't", Sam said in a hurt voice.

"Okay, we'll make you the exception", Shayna said, "You like being different, you wouldn't care right?"
"Shayna, unless you called for something, you're wasting minutes-"

"All right all right", Shayna said exasperatedly, "We- as in your friends- just wanted to know how you were. Things just aren't the same without you here being weird"

"Uh, thanks…?"

"It was suppose to be a compliment", Shayna said. Sam could just imagine her friend sitting out in the school yard with her other friends, smiling. It made her feel kind of bad she wasn't there with them.

BRIIIIIIING!

"Whoops, bell, gotta go Shayna", she hung up before Shayna could say another word.

Sam daydreamed her way through her classes after lunch. She kept thinking about what she would be doing if she were in Hudson. During Math, she would have been in Spanish, talking to Julia about what a psycho their Spanish teacher was. During Gym she still would have been in Spanish (they had extremely long periods at her old school). And during Science she would have been in…well, Science, actually, that hadn't changed anyway. Only instead of sitting with Torie, Allie, Kapree, and Haley, she would have been with Catie, Carol, Corinne, and Ana, talking about how close they were to freedom, and talking about how much homework they got, and about their teachers in particular (how mean they were, how much homework they gave, etc.). And chances were at her old school, she wouldn't have ended up being the keeper of some ancient crystal, and certainly wouldn't have become leader of the world's only hope for survival. She tried to imagine that scene.

Hey Sam, wanna go to the mall tonight?

We can't, we have to save the world

But there's a sale at The Limited!

Yea Sam, a sale!

But-

Come one, we can save the world another night

She laughed slightly. Her friends would never think of her as the leader the type, she had always been too quiet, and withdrawing. Not that she was one who took well to being ordered around either. She had sort of been a rebel. And now here she was, the leader of a group of misfits out to save the world. Talk about a laugh in a half.

"Sam!" she jumped a mile; Ms. Vandom was glaring at her, "Have you been paying attention? At all?"
"Uh, of course", Sam stuttered. Not, she added silently.

"Well then", the teacher said, "Perhaps you can tell me what I just reviewed?"
"Uh…" Sam's eye's darted to the board, "You were uh…telling us about the different kinds of chemicals and chemical reactions, and, uh…telling us chemical names…"

"Can you tell us the chemical name for citrus acid, then?"
"Uh…" she quickly ran over some mental notes. They had, after all, studied this at her old school, she should have known it, "Citrus acid"

"Actually…yes", her teacher looked quite surprised, "That is absolutely right"

It took everything she had not to sigh with absolute relief. Now she was glad she had stayed awake through Science. It really did help her in other places. Like other schools.

BRIIIIIING!

The last bell of the day. It was honestly a godsend. She stood up and grabbed her stuff, and walked out of the classroom with her friends, who were already making plans for after school.

"We could go to the mall", Torie said, "One of the stores is having an out-of-business sale. We should go"

"I'm in", Allie said at once.

"Sure…" Haley said in a doubtful voice.

"I've got nothing better to do", Kapree shrugged.

"I'll pass", Sam said, "Not much of a mall person"

"Oh come on Sam", Allie said, "It'll be fun"

"Pass", Sam repeated, "Talk to you later"

She split off without another word, and as she left, she heard Torie say, "See what I mean?"

Sam dragged her feet long the sidewalk, still say-dreaming about her old town. By now she would have been home, probably playing on the computer. She would have walked to her aunt's with Chris and Diego (she went to her aunts some days after school). Even though she didn't like Chris, she still usually ended up talking to him about Band or whatever. She sighed wearily. She'd never realized just how much she missed her old town.

"Aw, isn't that sweet"

She jumped a mile and looked around. There was that girl again. Sam was starting to get mad.

"Who are you?" she said firmly, "What do you want? Why do you keep bothering my friends and I?"
"Evidently your little friend Haley never gave you my message", the girl scoffed.

"What message?"

"Hand over the Heart of Candracar", the girl said, "And no one will get hurt. Yet"

"Yea right", Sam snapped, "I hand over the crystal and what, you let me skip on home? Yea right"

The girl's eyes flashed, "You don't know what you're getting into", she said silkily, "You're just a child"

"And you're not?" Sam shot back, "Face it, you have to be around my age"

"Is that a fact?" the girl said lazily.

"Yea", Sam said firmly, "So why don't you just do me a favor, and get lost?"
"You really don't know what you're getting yourself into", the girl said with a laugh.

"Enlighten me then", Sam snapped.

"You're in over your head", the girl said simply, "So why don't you just do yourself a favor, and get out of the water before you drown"
"I was never one to listen to orders", Sam said breezily, "And I'm certainly not going to let some kid push me around"

"Some kid huh?" before Sam knew what was happening, a stream of energy was shooting at her. She jumped and dodged, just barely getting out of the way of the attack. One of her books got fried though.

"Glad I have an extra copy of that", she said with a smirk. She looked back at the girl, a clear determination in her eyes.

"Laugh while you can", the girl said, "Your going to regret your choice"

"I don't regret much", Sam said firmly, "And I'm certainly not going to regret the chance to show you up"

"The game is on then", and with that, the girl disappeared with a loud crack. Sam stood, looking at the spot for a few seconds. Finally she collected her dropped bag, and picked the charred remains of her favorite book. She had another copy at home, and as long as her mom and brother never noticed she was one book short, she'd be fine. She threw the book into a trash can as she passed one. Her head was spinning, her thoughts were wandering. Allie and Torie were right. This was dangerous. She'd never really noticed. She'd gotten careless, really. She sighed wearily as she walked to her apartment.

She got home and instantly dug up her Discman. Linkin Park, she reasoned instantly. She searched through the CD for her favorite song. It was a skippy sort of CD, she'd burned it off her computer. Right then, she really didn't care.

You all assume, I'm stationed in my room…

She sang along to the song for a little while, but finally got bored and just sort of laid there. She was still thinking about the girl. She instantly found herself wishing she were back in Hudson. At least there she didn't have these problems. She looked at the time. Two-forty. It would take her half an hour. She could manage. She grabbed her mini back-pack and threw her Discman inside, slung on her back, then left a note saying she was going for a bike ride and would be back for supper. She grabbed her bike and wheeled it to the elevator, and finally got outside. She jumped on, suddenly energetic, and raced down the street.

"Hudson High", she said quietly. It was maybe half an hour later. She'd ridden the whole way to Hudson, stopping once for a break at a little mini mart to buy a water bottle. She knew for a fact her mom would kill her if she ever found out what Sam had done. But right then, she really didn't care. She remembered Catie saying the other night that she, Carol, Corinne, and Shayna were staying after school that day. She looked at her watch. About three-twenty. She hoped they were still there.

She turned down the driveway and raced down the hill. It had always been a fun hill, her and her brother had gone bike-riding there once. They'd gotten in trouble afterwards, it'd been fun while it lasted.

"Aha", she said quietly. Four girls had just walked out of the building. Even at this distance she could tell who they were. She hit the breaks. All four had their backs turned to her. She smirked. She just couldn't resist.

"I really don't like her", Shayna was saying, "She's the devil lady I tell you!"

"Mrs. Loporto isn't all that bad", Carol said fairly.

"Carol, I like you and everything", Catie said, "But you're crazy! An essay every week! Who assigns-"

"BOO!"

"Ah!" all four girls jumped and whirled around. Sam was cracking up.

"Sam!" Catie yelled, "That wasn't funny missy!"

"Not if you're you", Sam smirked, "If you happen to be me, it was hilarious"

"What are you doing here?" Corinne asked, eyeing her bike.

"Just hanging around", Sam shrugged, "Not a crime, right?"
"Does anyone even know you're here?" Catie asked.

"When did you become my mother?" Sam asked, "I left a note, all right? I said I'd be back by dinner, and I'm a girl of my word"

"What about the time you said you'd lend me a book, and never did?"
"And the time you offered to type something for our project, but forgot?"
"And the time-"
"Okay, okay!" Sam cried, "I'm almost a girl of my word, but if you guys are gonna do this, I'm outta here, see ya"

"Come on Sam, we're kidding", Shayna said, "What happened to your sense of humor?"
"She had a sense humor?"

"Be quiet Catie"
"What'd I do?"
"Guys!" Corinne said suddenly, "We still going over my house or what?"
"How do you plan to fit all of you, and your stuff into Corinne's mom's car?" Sam asked.

"My mommy doesn't love me that much", Corrine said, "We have to walk"

"That stinks", Sam said.

"Thank you Ms. Points out the obvious a lot", Shayna said, "Wanna come with us?"
"Sure", she shrugged. She followed her friends out of the parking lot. They were talking about English.

"She's a witch", Shayna said. Corinne nodded in agreement.

"You just aren't giving her a chance", Carol said.

"Oh yea?" Catie said, "What do you think Sam?"
"I think the debate is old", Sam said, "I also think she's an old bat"

"Ha!" Shayna cheered, "Four for, one against. We win!"

Carol looked upset. "You're never going to win this debate Carol", Sam pointed out.
"I can try", Carol shrugged.

"Points for trying"

They got to Corrine's house after maybe ten minutes of walking, and went inside.

Breep-breep

"Nice ring", Shayna said, looking around at Sam, who pulled her phone out of her pocket, "You got me"

"Where are you?" Jamie's puzzled voice came over the line.

"I went out for a ride", Sam shrugged, "What do you care?"
"Hope that isn't your mom", Shayna laughed.

"Quiet Shayna"
"Shayna!" Jamie yelled, " Shayna! You're on Hudson, aren't you?"
"Not a crime"

"When Mom finds out she's going to murder you"

"Not if a certain blabbermouth doesn't tell", Sam said, "So keep quiet and I'm home free"

"And why should I?"
"Well…" Sam knew she had to play her cards right, "It would be such a shame for a certain older sister to let slip about the little blonde boy who broke his grandparents window and blamed it on a bird-"

"Okay, okay!" Jamie said hastily, "You win, I won't tell"

"Thought so. Talk to you later"

Jamie grumbled as he hung up. "Your brother?" Shayna asked.

"Course", Sam said, "You know, little blackmail, he shuts right up"

"I should try that with Sam and Harry", Corrine said thoughtfully, "They're always trying to get me in trouble"

"You should be nice to your brothers", Sam said.

"Says the girl who just got through blackmailing her brother"

"No one asked you"

All and all, it was enjoyable afternoon. She finally left about four, trying to keep her word about being home for supper. She felt better, after seeing her friends. They mostly just hung out, talked, and snacked, but it was still fun.

"Look who's back", busted. Her mom was sitting at the kitchen table.

"Yea", Sam shrugged, "You know, went for a ride, clear my head-"

"Must have had plenty of time to do that, riding to Hudson"

"Jamie!"
"Corinne's mom called", her mother said, "Called my cell phone to let me know you were there if I was looking for you. What i n the world possessed you to ride to Hudson?"

"Told you", Sam said, "I just wanted a ride. Go check out my old school, check up on my friends, see how was everything was going. Just like I always did"
"It's only been a few weeks since we moved", her mom said, "Not even, really, maybe a week"

"things change"

"You made some great friends here Sam", her mom pointed out, "Can't you just be happy with them?"
"I am", Sam said, "I just…wanted to see some old faces, that's all"

"Fine", her mom sighed, "You aren't grounded this time, but if you ever do something like that again, there will be trouble. Got it?"

"Got it", she dragged herself to her room, stopping by her brother's room long enough to say, "snitch", then slipped into her own room. Then she put her headphones back on and blasted out her eardrums. She yawned and thought back about the day, and her mind instantly wandered back to the girl. Torie and Allie were right. This was a dangerous thing. She'd gone to Hudson to try and get away from the thoughts for a little while. And it'd worked. Until she came back. This was a dangerous situation. Did she really want to take the chance?

"No matter what." Well, that lasted maybe two chapters. Okay, I'm procrastinating, but I couldn't resist writing bout my friends. Yes, Shayna, Corinne, Carol, and Catie are all very real people in my life. And yes, they all really do act like that. Maybe I should get some new friends. Oh whatever, review.