A genuine smile spread across Sam's face as Melanie took her hand and dragged her over to collect her luggage, all the time babbling animatedly about how excited she was to have her sister back, how she'd have to show her around Vancouver soon, how she'd have to introduce Sam to her friends, the flat they'd be sharing...

Three weeks and six days ago.

Sam had ended up missing out on any form of university education but still managed to find a job in a small pub, east of Douglas Park in Vancouver. The pay was healthy and the tips were good and she managed to contribute to the apartment's rent she shared with Mel and Rebecca; a mutual friend of the sisters' who attended the same university as Melanie. Rebecca was an artist and her creativity reminded Sam a lot of Spencer, although she was quiet a lot of the time and didn't have the same energy Spencer had, Rebecca was funny and had the same witty, sarcastic sense of humour as Sam and they got on well.

"Becky, I'm going down to McArthy's for my shift, I won't be back 'til late," Sam shouted into the apartment, one foot out the door. A faint "Okaaaaaay" could be heard erupting from Rebecca's room. "Tell Mel when she gets back. I'll see you later" Sam called out behind her as she walked out the door, stepped into the elevator, made her way through the lobby and stepped out into the cold December air.

Pulling her coat further around her body she began to walk.

Twenty five minutes later, Sam arrived at McArthy's and was welcomed by many of the regulars who were sat at the bar; drinks already in their hands even though it was only 6pm.

An hour or so into her shift, a man Sam didn't recognise walked into the bar. He couldn't have been much older than Sam, probably around the age of 22 or 23; he had dark hair, a piercing on his eyebrow and a mischievous glint shone in his dark eyes. He appeared to be a typical bad boy, one of the guys Sam was expected to go for. Sam even expected herself to be into guys like that, but all she could think as he confidently strode up to the bar was that he was nothing like Freddie. He was missing the gentle touch that Freddie owned, the modesty and the overall attitude that belonged to Freddie Benson, and Sam hadn't even said two words to this guy.

He leaned against the counter coolly and looked at her, "Are you from Tennessee? 'Cause you're the only ten I see"

Sam scoffed and rolled her eyes, amused by the lame pick up line he'd just used, "Really? Is that the best you could come up with?"

"I- …Yes. But hey, it must've worked. You're talking to me now, right?"

"Not for long."

The man chuckled and extended his hand towards the blonde, "I'm Gareth, and you are?"

Sam glanced at his extended hand but ignored it completely, "I'm Sam. Now what do you want?"

Gareth retracted his hand as his face turned back to one of flirtation, "I want you, sugar."

Sam just gave him her famous 'you've-got-to-be-kidding-me' look, but stayed silent.

"Fine, fine! I'll take a pint of lager, thank you."

She scoffed as she walked away, returning moments later with his drink then continuing to attend to the rest of the bar.

The next day, Gareth returned once again trying his luck with yet another lame pick up line. ("Do you know karate? 'Cause your body is really kickin'.") And again the next day ("Do you have a sunburn, or are you always this hot?") and the next ("Are you a parking ticket? 'Cos you've got fine written all over you") until eventually, Sam caved.

Three weeks and two days ago.

"Are you an alien? Because you just abducted my heart."

"Gareth. Really, these are getting worse and worse, just give up already." Sam said, although the amused expression that remained on her face deducted from the seriousness of her message and instead caused Gareth to laugh.

"Then just go on a date with me! We could go get a drink…"

"I've been getting you drinks for the past four days."

"No, not like that. You know what I mean. Please." Gareth asked pleadingly. Sam sighed, "Fine, I get off in twenty minutes."

Fifteen minutes later, doubts began creeping into her mind.

You don't want this. You're settling. Of course, the first guy to show an interest in you and you'd cave. You're just lonely and desperate.

Yet the other part of her mind was simply saying:

But Freddie stopped trying to get a hold of you months ago, he must've moved on. So should you.

The second part won.

They got a drink.

In fact, they both got drunk.

Gareth and Sam shared drunken kisses and she ended up spending the night at his.

#

A/N: Wow. A really long time between updates, I'm so so so sorry. I'll try and update more regularly from now on…

So the feedback from the last chapter was great, thank you to those who reviewed, I'm glad a lot of you dislike Katherine. And thanks Sadie (who Katherine was based on. Haha, sorry.) for pointing out a mistake in the last chapter regarding the dates. It won't affect the story from now on though so please try to forget about it, as I don't know how to correct it XD

Please review!