A/N: Wendelin Van Draanen's writing style is so unique that it's hard to imitate it... really hard. Even though Sammy is a lot like me personality-wise, it's still hard to get her character down. I'm trying, guys!

This chapter was written while on vacation! I obviously tinkered with it while typing it up, though.

Disclaimer: Obviously, not mine.

Replies:

Ruby Maggot: Yeah, she does...

writerchicky1425: Well, I try.

penguinsrock12: Yay! I can't be bugged! Mwahahaha! Anyway... I disabled it 'cause I'm using my dad's e-mail for my account and I got tired of him deleting them and stuff.

Chapter 6

It took me a while to fall asleep, 'cause I kept thinking about things. Mom. Grams. I remembered the time Grams threatened to send me to live with my mother if I didn't tell her the truth. Ever since then, I don't lie to her and she trsts me. For her to refuse to let my mother take me to live in Hollywood was big. I mean, most of the time I feel like I'm just causing her trouble. Lying there on Hudson's couch, wrapped up in a blanket, I just thought for the longest time. Eventually I must've fallen asleep, because the next thing I know, the little alarm clock I set is going off.

I jump in the shower while Hudson fried up some bacon and eggs. Pretty soon I'm scarfing food that I never get at Grams's while my white-haired friend peruses the newspaper.

"You want a ride?" He asks me as I rinse off my plate in the sink. Now, I know he's dying for me to say yes so that he can show off Jester, but since I don't like to draw attention to myself at school, I shake my head.

"Thanks anyway," I tell him as I walk out the door. It's when I hit the sidewalk that I realize I left my skateboard at the apartment. So instead of click-click-clicking along the sidewalk, I'm truding along in my high-tops.

Now, I'm on auto-pilot, walking to school, going to homeroom. I'm staring at the ground, totally zoning out, when I notice something out of the corner of my eye. There's someone behind me. I'm dying to look over my shoulder and see who it is, but instead I keep faving forward and make my way to homeroom. Right as I'm at the door to homeroom, I dart a glance over my shoulder, and who do I see?

Heather and her cronies, turning really fast and acting like they weren't following me. They're whispering like they are planning something. They look suspicious.

I shake my head and step into homeroom, waving to Marissa as I sit down. After a minute of so Heather struts in, giving me the usual dirty look, but this time accompanied by an evil smile. I know that she's had plenty of time to plan over the summer, and that she's probably planning revenge, and I'd bet my high-tops I know what for.

Three words. The Farewell Dance. It's so stupid! Now, I know Heather was steamed when I showed up with her brother, and she really went psycho when I won that Style award, but for me, it's not a big deal. Marissa and Holly and Dot all think that Casey likes me, but I have no idea where I stand on that subject. And every once in a while when the subject comes up, they get all moony-eyed over the horseshoe and what he wrote in my yearbook at the end of seventh grade.

I'm busy thinking about all the stuff Heather has done to me over the past year, including jabbing me in the butt with a pin, attacking me for my horseshoe, and then the day-to-day namecalling, and in the midst of all that I'm wondering what evil plot she has know.

By the time English class rolls around, I'm avoiding Heather. I'm not afraid of her or anything, but I figure it can't hurt to keep an eye out for her. What with the sudden visit from my mom and all, I'm just not up for a confrontation.

Mrs. Martin almost acted normal. She stared me down for a minute before she called roll, but other than that it was okay. She started reading some of Romeo and Juliet to us, and we all sat there, understanding it somewhat. Miss Pilson's class had prepared us for more thees and thous.

After I had said goodbye to Marissa, I headed over to the Highrise. And I've just closed the door and I'm about to call out to Grams, when I realize there is no one there. I checked the table and found a note from her, saying she was running errands and she'd be back soon. I decide to surprise Grams by fixing dinner myself, and just as I'm measuring rice she comes in the door.

"Where's Mom?" I ask as she drops her purse and keys on the table. She kind of sighs before she answers me.

"She went home. She is very angry and upset."

I'm dying to say, About what? Did she really expect me to want to go with her? But I keep those thoughts to myself and ask instead, "At me, or you?"

"Both of us, Samantha. You won't believe how much she cried when she left." Now, she's kind of saying it like it was my fault, and I'm about to defend myself by saying, Grams, you said you wouldn't let her take me, but just as I'm opening my mouth, Grams waves a hand and says, "She'll get over it."

I grin and turn back to measure the rice. I've been a pretty big influence on my grams, I'll tell you that. She's changed a lot in the year I've been living with her. Right as Grams is pulling the snapper out of the fridge the phone rings. And who else is calling but Mrs Wedgewood? And what does she need this time? A Snickers and Tums.

I roll my eyes and grin at Grams, then head out the door and down the fire escape.

Little did I know that what was supposed to be an errand for a neighbor would turn into something bigger.

A/N: Shorter than the last chapter, obviously, but I wanted to leave the cliffhanger there. I was going to continue it to what happens after, but I decided to leave you all hanging in suspense.