Sam felt trapped by the current situation. Underlying it all she knew what Marcus was doing was not right, but she couldn't leave it. Haley couldn't possibly understand that, and neither would Brooke. No amount of unease that resonated from either could cease what Sam was trying to attempt to build. So she went on her way, and her way was to Marcus. It was the only way she was willing to go towards. It was the only way she thought.

"You are late," he informed her of the palpable tardiness.

"Ha… I mean Mrs. James Scott needed to talk to me," not really wanting to deal with him right now, especially after the exhausting conversation she just had with Haley.

"That teacher is a bitch," he wasn't aware of the personal relationship that the two held. Now wasn't the time for it to be brought to his attention. He would never understand. And truth be told, Sam did not want to get anyone else involved. She was involved enough for all.

"Yeah," she simply agreed aloud though she did not believe it for once second. Haley was one of only a handful of people who took time out of their day to ensure that Sam felt wanted. She was certainly not a bitch, but her stomach pain reminded her not to disagree with Marcus. She was intelligent after all.

"So what did she have to talk to you about?" he wanted to know every aspect of her life, so in some way he could control it.

"I fell asleep in her class."

"Nice, now that is what I am talking about," he knew that she excelled, and it made him look bad. Anything that could cause a downward spiral in Sam's excellence would complement him well.

"All she did was drone on and on, I couldn't possibly keep my eyes open," she contributed to the notion.

The duo got caught up through a pointless conversation as the bell rang signaling the next class. Marcus put his arm around Sam's shoulders and they strolled to their next class. "Kiss me," he instructed her.

To appease him, she quickly pecked him on the lips. Not good enough, so she lingered longer. It seemed to work. He gave her a little shove and he was off, leaving Sam embarrassed. She quickly found her seat in the back of the room, put her hood up, and expected to snooze through this class as well.

She didn't get her wish. "Samantha, they need you in the office," her history teacher informed her. Great what could she have possibly done now? Or did Haley do something, she wondered.

She picked up her bag; there was no place that she went without it. Then she dragged her feet down the hall. When she finally made it to the office, she was not happy with what she saw. It was Brooke. That was the most uncool thing, to have your mom – or semi-close version of – talk to you in the office. "Did Haley call you?" she asked fearing that Haley hadn't remained truthful to her wishes.

"No. Why would she call me? What are you not telling me?" Brooke was now suspicious.

"Nothing, never mind," she looked at Brooke and knew she had to give her something, even if it was a lie, it was something Brooke could hold onto and jump off of her back, "I fell asleep in her class."

"Well it is a good thing that you are grounded, bed early for you, Missy."

"So you came here to tell me of my new bedtime. What else? Next are you going to tell me you are going to read me a story before I fall asleep?" she smirked at Brooke, contributing to her sarcastic, 'no-care-in-the-world' teenager act.

"Not a bad idea, it will insure that you are in fact in your room when you are supposed to be. But no, that is not what I came here for. The agency called me. Apparently you have a bi-yearly doctor's appointment, it is at two," looking down at the slip she was given.

What? There was no way she could go to a doctor's office and undress. He would see more than Haley had seen, and that was enough. "No, no, I am not going to that. They are so invasive. I am not a little kid anymore, and I like my privacy. And all those appointments are for is to see if the foster parent is abusing the kid. Have you been hitting me, Brooke? Nope. See no need to go. So I am just going to go back to class," she said walking towards the door without even giving Brooke a chance of rebuttal.

Oh was there going to be a rebuttal, "Stop, turn around, and come back here," she was stern, but this new version of Sam needed some sternness.

Sam picked up her feet and presented herself in front of Brooke, "Yes?"

"It isn't a question of whether or not you are going, Sam. You are a growing child; the doctor needs to make sure you are healthy. We are going regardless if you want to or not, it is for the best." Brooke wanted to know as well. The girl had been living in a car for she didn't know how long. If she didn't have a safe place to sleep at night, then how could she possibly be healthy physically as well? Sam never appeared as if she was unwell, but there was not much Sam would be willing to reveal.

"I am not a child anymore, so stop calling me one. I grew up a long time before I ever met you. And you don't know what the best is for me, no one does. A doctor cannot tell me that, and neither can you. I am not going, you cannot make me." With or without bruises, Sam hated going to the doctor. Who likes going to the doctor anyways?

Brooke was stunned by this version of Sam, she was a brute, and she was mean. She was definitely not the girl that had been living under her roof respectively for the last four months. What happened to that girl? This outburst contributed to the fact that she was missing. "Fine."

Sam was ready for another abruption, but was stalled because of Brooke's response. "So I can go back to class?" She was slightly confused by Brooke's change of heart.

"Or you can come home?" Brooke was trying to win some cool points.

Sam looked at Brooke's pleading eyes, it was as if Brooke really wanted to dig deeper and for Sam to confide in her. But it was not something she felt secure enough doing. Not now at least, so she chose, "I rather go back to class, wouldn't want to miss anything, I got a test soon."

"Of course, good choice. Way better choice than I would have ever made. I left at any opportunity, high school wasn't really my thing," it was a little personal tidbit into Brooke's life to possibly leave the stage for Sam to do the same.

"It really isn't mine either," she said with one more look to Brooke and she was off. Unlike Brooke in high school, Sam didn't really have a choice. School was a must, and honestly, it was the safest place she could reside during the day.

Brooke was in search of Haley when her phone rang, "Hello."

"Brooke, I have been trying to reach you all morning."

"Do you think there was possibly a reason why I wasn't answering?" She was not pleased with the caller on the other end, and she had no problem emoting it.

"Did I do something to offend you, Brooke? If I did, I apologize; I would never intentionally hurt you."

"Did you tell that same line to Peyton?" it was not a good time to be speaking to the newly angered Brooke Davis.

"What did she tell you, Brooke? Things between us did not end well, but it was because she was still in love with Lucas. Wait, is that it? Are you still in love with him too?"

"No. I am not in love with Lucas Scott. I am in love with what Peyton and Lucas have now. And you cannot give that to me." True love was not something that could be given away; it was a definite that occurred without assistance, not a token to be spent.

"You want me to propose to you, I will get down on one knee if need be."

"I want a family. I want a relationship. I do not want to have fun anymore. I have a 15 year old to worry about. I cannot do fun, and that is all you want to do." The latter would have been compatible to her life a year ago, but not even close right now. She was rational enough to acknowledge this.

"I thought that is what you wanted to hear. I thought we were having fun."

"I did too. But I cannot do that anymore. And if that is all you wanted, I don't think that you should call me anymore. Goodbye, Julian." If someone would have told her of the break in her heart that was currently happening as she spoke, she would have never have believed it. Julian was an asshole, which is what she had learned from his relationship with Peyton. Well that is what she thought. He wasn't an asshole; he was just in love with a girl that was in love with another. His actions afterwards might have been asshole-like, but he was living with a broken heart. She loved every moment that she was with him. And at first it was fun, and all she was willing to give. But Sam had to come first, and her feelings for Julian had to subside if she wanted to continue putting her first. Fun was no longer a possibility.

"Wait, wait, Brooke. I care about you, I care a lot," he had been hesitant to tell her the truth. Everyone seemed to know of his past, and since Peyton, he had not been honest about his feelings to any girl. It was always fun, and the girl never seemed to mind. So they had their fun, and then he found another. He wasn't willing to find another this time.

"I can see that, and that is why when this movie stuff wraps you will be out of here in search of the next girl in a novelist's book." She knew the story too well, hell, she was half of the book, she was an expert. And she was an expert of a broken heart. She was preparing herself so it would hurt less in the end.

"You are right I came for the girl in the book. But I might just have to stay for the other one. I don't want to lose you," he couldn't lose her.

"Are you willing to give it a try? This cannot just be for fun, Julian; I can no longer run amuck, I have someone else to worry about now." She couldn't believe her ears, but she was not going to jump to any conclusions, if she was naïve, it would hurt more.

"Sam?"

"I hate to break it to you, but she is always going to be first. Is that something you are going to be able to deal with?"

"I respect your relationship, and more than anything I respect you."

"You know I couldn't sleep last night because of you," he had been in the process of breaking her heart. She didn't want to lose him, so instead she lost sleep just thinking about the pain of goodbyes.

"Well maybe I should come over tonight and help you out," his trademark smile shone through the line.

"Whoa, Buddy, you need to slow down. I have a no boy in beds policy implemented at my house."

"I thought it was for Sam."

"How hypocritical would I be to break my own rules?"

"Not hypocritical, very cool."

"Not going to happen."

"I'll get you to change your mind, Brooke Davis."

"You just try."

"Is that a threat?"

"It just might be."

"I think I am okay with that."

"Good. Well, boyfriend."

"Oh, I like the sound of that."

"I have to get to the store; I have left Millicent waiting too long."

"I'm the guy for you, Brooke Davis."

"You better be. Bye," she closed her phone with a smile on her face. She unlocked her car door when she was summoned by a voice, "Brooke, wait up."

A floppy haired boy had stopped her, "It is Jack, right?" she had to admit she was extremely surprised to see him.

"Yeah," he said quietly.

"I haven't seen you in Sam's bed in awhile, and I am glad" she joked with him.

"Yeah," he was quiet again, not sure how to conjure the right words to say.

When his face didn't even change, she knew something was up, "Jack, is there something you need to tell me?"

He put his hands in his pockets to avoid his response, "Actually, yeah."

"What is it? Is everything okay?"

"It is about Sam."

"What is it, Jack? Please just tell me," it seemed that she wasn't the only one noticing Sam's devastating counter-transformation currently in progress.

"It is her boyfriend."

"Wait a second, Sam has a boyfriend," she felt like an ignorant parent. Then she thought to the night before, Sam was evidently upset by something, was it caused by a boyfriend?

"Yeah, his name is Marcus."

"Marcus? What can you tell me about this Marcus fellow?" she wanted all the details.

"He is a senior."

She didn't really allow him to list all the details, "A senior? I didn't even date seniors when I was a sophomore," she looked at Jack and realized that there was more than his class that needed to be addressed, "Sorry, continue."

"Well he is senior, not very smart, and he doesn't treat Sam very well," ever since Sam started dating Marcus, the relationship Jack and Sam had had become defunct. He watched from afar, heard the gossip in the halls, and realized that it had accumulated to something that did not favor Sam in the least. When he saw Brooke, he thought maybe it was a step to inadvertently help the girl he cared about.

This completely shook Brooke's already crumbling world. First Sam had a boyfriend, then he was older, and now he treated her poorly. "What do you mean by bad, Jack?"

"I don't really know all the details. I just have heard some things about him being kind of possessive, and rude to her. That is all I know," he knew a little more, but like many others did not want to bring all facts to the surface.

Brooke looked at the boy who seemed scared to admit the details, but she was beyond grateful to have some insight into the reason behind Sam's change of behavior. It was about a boy, "Thanks, Jack. And as long as you are not in her bed, I wouldn't mind you coming by the house sometime," giving the boy a sad smile.

"Umm, Sam and I are not exactly on speaking terms right now."

"I thought you were like best friends," she was thinking classic Haley and Lucas relationship.

"Not since she started dating Marcus. She doesn't really hang out with anyone else."

"I hope things change. You seem like a nice guy, Jack."

"Yeah, something like that," he said walking away glad he cleared some ground.

Nonetheless, it left Brooke on shakier grounds. What was she supposed to do? Does she confront Sam with the details? Or does she let it be? She wanted Sam to trust her enough to come to her if the relationship had become problematic. What happens if the possession led to something more with even more dire consequences? How was she to know all this? Do parents have this automatic intuition, because she was certainly lacking. She needed someone who had raised a teenager. Ding, ding, ding, she had a winner. She was the winner. She raised a teenager: she had raised herself. What Brooke knew was that all she ever wanted was someone to be involved. She just hoped that this is what Sam wanted as well, or she might be unintentionally pushing her out the door.

There must have been a delay in the bell because the day would not end, or at least that is what it felt like for many occupants of Tree Hill High. Sam just wanted to leave – even if it was to Brooke – so she could avoid any more interruptions to her day. In spite of this, Haley wanted to be one of those interruptions.

All and all, Sam got her way, out of the corner of her eye she spotted Haley coming towards her, but she slipped down a hallway and out of the school before Haley caught up. Haley sighed, but there was nothing else she could do about it. Not now, at least.

Brooke looked at her phone, school had just let out, she was going to give Sam twenty minutes to get there, and she felt that was fair enough. She debated it, but she dialed Haley's number for the second time that day. She couldn't wait to see if any more details had arisen.

There was too much on her mind to concentrate on grading freshmen essays. She was calling it a day early. Haley was going to pick up Jamie from school and surprise him. She thought of Sam at that instant and wondered how anyone could not love the child they brought into the world. She would walk a hundred miles, jump out of a plane, any absurdity just to ensure Jamie was safe. Why did someone not have this same customary with Sam? She was grabbing her last book lost in thought when her cell phone interrupted them all. "Hi, Tigger," she felt that the nickname was endearing, and she needed to be endearing, especially when she was going to be withholding information from her best friend.

"Well, I suppose, you are Tutor Girl today?"

"Whatever I need to be, I will be."

"This is why I love you."

"And I the same. What's up?" she knew, there could have been only one reason for the second call, but she asked anyways just hoping that it was about something new.

"Oh, nothing really. Just waiting for Sam, that's all," she droned in hope that Haley could bring up the subject. She did not want to appear that she was stuck in the situation. But she was, and she had to know, she simply had to know what the cause to Sam's decline in behavior was from, because as much as she didn't want to admit, she didn't know.

"That one fell asleep in my class today."

"She told me that. And that is why she is going to sleep at like eight tonight. Is that pushing it?"

"No, not at all, she is exhausted; she can barely pick up her own feet. Wait a second, when did she tell you about my class?" Did Sam tell Brooke about their conversation as well? Was it out in the open to speak on? It would be a relief; she could already tell withholding information could not possibly end well.

"I came by the school earlier. The agency called, Sam had a prearranged doctor's appointment today. She made a huge fuss about not being a child anymore; I couldn't even force her to go."

Sam was avoiding the doctor? Haley thought, and she knew the reason why. "Didn't she need to go?" If Sam went to the doctor then he could bring attention to her physical condition, and Haley wouldn't feel as if she betrayed the little trust Sam had left in her.

"I don't really know. She said that all they really did was to secretly ensure the foster parent is not abusing the child. I am definitely not, so I guess it is okay?" She didn't really know, but she bought Sam's rebuttal. Brooke just didn't know the real reason that Sam didn't want to go to the doctor.

Haley knew. "I don't know, Brooke. Maybe you should try and make another appointment. Sam needs to be checked out regardless, she is a growing girl, and doctors like to document all those things. And she had been basically living on the streets before you, so you don't know if she is deficient in something," she was trying. If Sam went to the doctor, then it would be out in the open. Maybe it would be the safest bet for all involved. Haley's main concern was Sam's safety, and if Sam wasn't willing to budge, then Haley didn't know what to do. And Haley always knew what to do.

"How do I force her to go? You should have seen her; she really did not want to go."

"Well, you are the parent; you tell her she has to."

"I think I have something worst off than a doctor's appointment to deal with now."

"And what is that?" maybe Brooke knew more than Haley assumed she knew.

"Apparently Sam has a boyfriend. His name is Marcus, and he is a senior. A senior. She is only 15; I didn't even date 18 year olds when I was 15."

A boyfriend, now that would work perfectly into the scenario, Haley thought. Who is this Marcus guy? She was totally asking around, even if that would involve her speaking to the teachers. The only problem was most of them were her own teachers four years ago, just break some barriers, that is what she was going to have to do, Sam was worth it. "A boyfriend? I didn't know she had a boyfriend, Brooke."

"Neither did I, not until today."

"How do you feel about that?" Haley was beginning to put some details together, but she was nowhere near a conclusion.

"All I can think about is what kind of mistakes I made when I was her age with boys, and I pray to God that she doesn't do the same," one could tell that things were bad if Brooke was praying to a god she rarely spoke to. But Sam was that important to her.

"She is a very smart girl, Brooke," but apparently her intelligence was not pulling her away from an abusive relationship.

"I know that, boy, is she smart. But I don't know, I still have that fear. I don't want her to use myself as an example" though Sam knew little details of Brooke's past, she still feared the cycle could repeat itself. Success and fame were nice, but using the road she took to get there, sometimes it just wasn't worth it.

"She doesn't know anything about your past, Brooke. All she knows is who you are now, and you are pretty damn awesome. She knows that. She sees your strength, and your passion, you would be a wonderful person to look up to."

"Yeah, maybe," oh modesty, Brooke Davis.

"Not maybe, definitely," Haley knew better than anyone the insecurities that Brooke obtained, and she never felt that she was good enough. Right now it seemed apparent that Brooke did not feel suitable for Sam, when she was the only one Sam needed.

"But it took me years to become the person I am, I don't want her to suffer the same pain along the road just to get to this point. I rather her skip it."

"Pain is unavoidable, especially growing pains. She needs to experience them herself; you can't live it for her."

"How could I possible live it? I know nothing about her life, nothing more than her hair color, the amount of sugar she puts in her coffee, and her deviance. I have no earthly clue how I got to this point. I am so not cut out for this motherly role."

"Don't you dare say that, Brooke. Do you even realize the impact you have made on her life in four short months? She smiles, she is doing well in school, and she has a place to come home every night." Haley had been the biggest advocate for Brooke taking Sam in, and she could have had never even imagined the impact Brooke could have on the emotionally battered girl.

"Very late at night, we might want to add."

"You don't give yourself enough credit, not even close. You are just what she needs right now. She is your foil, you know how you got to this point, help her along the way. We both know the potential is there, don't give up." Anything involving children of any age required a lack of guidance, but a necessity to hold on. "You were a teenager once, did you ever want to completely open up to any individual?"

"I kept it all in because I didn't know who to reveal it to," it was her largest confession, and it kept her real self back for years.

"You can be that person for Sam. Just let her know you are."

"What would I ever do without you, Haley?"

"Well we would not be having this conversation, and you would not have a teenager living under your roof."

"Thank you, Haley."

"For what, Brooke?"

"For the opportunity to alter a life."

"You didn't need me to do that. But you are welcome regardless. Call me if you need me. Anytime at all."

"Be careful what you put out there, because I just might," she saw Sam dragging her feet into her boutique and give Millicent a wave hello, "Well she is here, let me see what I can do. Love you."

"Love you too. Don't forget about the doctor's appointment," she had to put it in there because as much as she loved Brooke, she was semi-forgetful.

"Okay, bye," she closed her phone and walked over to where Sam was lounging on one of the couches. "This is a major step."

"You told me to come."

"I also told you to be home before ten o'clock on a school night."