Whoa, I updated. Gnarley ^_^

"Hi Sam!"

Sam waved to another hyper girl she didn't know in Darton High. It was Monday, first day of school. Gram had driven Sam and Jen to school…saving Sam from having to ride on the bus. Sam fiddled the entire ride there.

"Oh, would you quit your worrying Samantha? It'll probably be just like it was last year." Gram had said. If only she knew how wrong she was…

Jen rolled her eyes and linked her arm through Sam's as someone else greeted her. Sam gave her a grateful smile and held on tight to her friend.

"So you wanna bet that Rachel hates you more this year than she did last?" Jen teased trying to calm Sam.

It worked, she laughed. "You are on. I bet she'll want to be my 'best bud' now that I'm no longer the invisible cowgirl."

Sam and Jen stopped at their lockers. Sam had talked the school into letting them have ones side by side. There were definitely some perks to being known. But mostly it was just annoying. Especially to Sam, who hated any kind of attention.

Sam couldn't help to peek down either side of the halls for Jake. The halls were crowded with older kids welcoming each other back, and then there were the freshmen who were trying to keep it low. But no Jake.

Sam sighed and slammed her locker shut. Jen gave her a pitying glance; Sam had told her all about their little hay filled escapades. Again, Jake and she haven't spoken and Sam couldn't stand it. Not once in there lifetime have they been apart so much. They were like peanut butter and jelly, milk and cookies, chocolate milk and popcorn (well that was just one of their creations…); they were meant to be together. Friends or foes, enemy or ally, boyfriend—Sam stopped there and started hurrying down the hall. Jen had to jog to catch up.

"Sam you seriously need to chill. I can not keep up with a moody Samantha," Jen said as-a-matter-of-factly. Sam gave a short laugh and rolled her eyes, Jen smiled. "Much better."

"Darlin'!"

Sam froze when she heard her little nickname from the one and only Darrel. She couldn't help the smile that formed on her lips when she turned to see Darrel barreling past other kids to get to her. She hadn't seen him in a long time. Considering Jake doesn't really like her to hang out with him. Typical Jake. He looked the same though. His baggy jeans barely hanging onto him, with a belt that Sam decided was pointless, his undershirt and the always backwards hat that was sun bleached from being worn so much. It was just so Darrel.

"Darrel!" She dropped her bag and leapt to give him a hug. He laughed and hugged her back. All in all…Darrel could be extremely annoying, but you could always count on him to always be himself. Maybe that's why Sam had always liked him despite how aggravating he could be. Sam couldn't help but look over Darrel's shoulder as she gave him a hug…no Jake.

A few people stared as they past but no one dared to stop. Darrel could have that effect sometimes…

"Well miss Samantha do you know that you are talk of the entire school? Shoot! The entire town…maybe even the entire—,"

Sam laughed and cut him off. "Okay I get it Darrel, and yes I know. But don't worry it'll all die down soon." At least she hoped. "So how was your summer?" She asked, because she really didn't want to talk about herself anymore.

"Crazy, I won state champ for dragsters," he smiled brilliantly at his accomplishment. It reminded Sam of a little boy who got his first t-ball trophy, but she smiled back at him and gave him another hug.

"Oh man, that is awesome Darrel!" And it really was, he worked so hard for it. She remembered him always talking about it and Jake telling her about their adventures at the track.

"Yeah it is! And the best part was the ten thousand dollar purse!" He made a whooping noise and Sam gaped at him. That was a lot of money.

"Holy—,"

"I know," Darrel cut her off and winked. "So I would ask about your summer but…," he trailed off and shrugged. Then he turned to Jen who was tapping her foot impatiently and watching the clock like a hawk. "Hey Sweets you gunna give uncle Darrel a hug too?" He pouted and held out his arms. Jen rolled her eyes and smiled giving him a hug.

"Yeah, yeah whatever Doofus. Sam I was going to try to get to class early…you ok?"

Darrel draped his arm over Sam's shoulder and winked at Jen. "Don't worry I got her."

"I'm fine, catch you later," Sam smiled and waved to Jen's back as she hurried down the hall. A few people Sam didn't know waved to her…they must have thought she was waving to them. Sam began slowly walking down the hall with Darrel. A few people glared at Darrel, or Darrel's arm, she couldn't really tell. Then she noticed his little posse was missing.

"Where's your friends?" Sam said deciding this was the slyest way to ask about Jake.

Darrel smirked at her. "I haven't seen Jake yet today."

Sam frowned so Darrel lightened up, he stopped her and made her face him. "Don't take it personal Darlin'. He's probably avoiding you so he doesn't get any unwanted attention, you know Jake."

Sam gave a short dry laugh and began walking again. She knew Jake was avoiding her, but she knew it had nothing to do with unwanted attention. Besides it's not like she wanted all this stupid attention.

"Hey Sam!" Sam and Darrel froze as they saw a smiling Rachel wave in their direction. Sam looked behind her to make sure she wasn't talking to someone else…there could be more than one Sam…

But nope she was talking to her. Rachel skipped up with her little group trailing behind her and gave Sam a big hug. Sam was too shocked to hear what Rachel was blabbing about, but she couldn't miss Darrel's obnoxious laughter.

"Hello? Earth to Sam?" Rachel waved her hand in front of Sam's face breaking her out of her reverie.

"Huh?"

Rachel laughed at Sam's oblivion. "I was asking about your summer silly."

"Sorry Rachel, but Sam can't be late for class. It's my personal duty to make sure she gets there safe and sound…and on time." Darrel put his hand on Sam's lower back and urged her towards class, she didn't miss Rachel sneering at him. Rachel waved to Sam and she waved back. Then began laughing hysterically.

"Rachel…nice…duty!" Sam managed to get out between fits of laughter. She paused by her class room door and doubled over clutching her stomach. She really didn't know why she found this all so funny…but she did. Darrel put his hand on Sam's forehead in mock concern.

"You ok there Sammy?" He asked teasingly.

Sam took a deep breathe, put on a straight face, and stood up.

"Peachy," she said just as the bell rang.

x-x-x-x-x

Sam and Jen found a secluded spot to sit at outside of their cafeteria. Sadly since Jen was in all the brainy classes this was the only time she would be with her during school hours. Sam groaned and took a big bite out of an apple.

"So what do you think the chances are of me being home schooled?" Sam asked swallowing the lump of apple in her mouth.

Jen snorted. "One in a million."

Sam smiled not missing the opportunity. "So you're telling me there's still a chance?" She sighed when Jen scowled. Usually she and Jake would be cracking up and telling Jen to find a sense of humor. But Jake wasn't here. Ugh, why was it bothering her so much? Jen gave her another sympathetic smile.

"Really Sam everything will be fine. I bet you he's in the cafeteria being stupid with Darrel and all of them right now. Besides not like this is anything new…he has always avoided you in school."

True, Sam thought as she tossed her apple core into the bushes for some little critters.

"I know, you're right. Sorry," she apologized and gave her best friend a hug.

Jen sighed in mock annoyance. "I always am. And you should be its bad enough we have to talk about boy issues but worse that those issues have to do with…Jake," she shuddered and Sam shoved her. They both laughed at the normalcy of their lunch, enjoying just being Sam and Jen.

"Oh my gosh! It's Violette Lee!" Sam and Jen turned when they heard some squeals from the cafeteria.

Sam moaned. "Oh no…"

Violette came marching out of the back of the cafeteria with a herd of fan girls and guys trailing behind her. When she saw Sam she walked over to her and sat. Sam couldn't help but squirm at the crowd of people. Violette noticed this and shrugged.

"Sorry, but I needed to talk to you," she said unapologetically.

"Here…now?" Sam glanced towards the crowd taking pictures with their camera phones while others were digging in their bags for a pen and paper.

"Um, yes." Violette rolled her eyes and scooted closer to Sam. She scrunched her nose at Sam's food and peeked at it from behind her sunglasses. "What on earth is that?!"

Sam picked up her greasy pizza and deliberately took a huge bite.

"Charming."

Sam wiped her mouth with a napkin. "What do you want Violette?" She asked annoyed.

Violette ran her fingers through her hair and leaned back on her elbows. "I want to know what's going on between you and Gabe."

Sam couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Are you serious? Is that what was so important?"

Violette smiled. "Actually yes and no," she sat up to whisper in Sam's ear. "Kyle wants you guys to start spending more time together. You know to make things more…interesting."

Sam blinked and stared at her incredulously. Jen gave her a 'what's going on' look.

"What? That's stupid. You had to come all the way here just to tell me that?"

Violette gave a aggravated huff but smiled none the less. "Just do it ok cowgirl?" She stood to leave but gave Sam a hug first. "Oh, and we're suppose to be all buddy-buddy too," she paused and sighed. "This cowgirl…,"she motioned to herself and Sam. "This whole entire business is all about image and publicity. So you want more people to see your movie you give them what they want behind the scenes. And what the want is relationships and what they think is big secrets. Drama Especially with a new kid on the food chain. So don't mess this up. Pretty soon this movie is going to be the talk of America, they will be watching your every move. Got it?" Violette smiled at Sam and she smiled back uncertainly.

"Your suppose to be an actress…you'll have to be more convincing than that," she waved and walked away where the crowd swarmed her.

Jen scooted closer. "What was that all about?"

Sam shook her head. "Publicity."

Jen snorted. "Figures."

Sam just poked her greasy pizza no longer hungry.

-Slaps hand- Nu-uh. No leaving until you review! ;-)