Wow, people actually voted for Gabe! I'm honestly shocked! Ha! This is a short chapter but it's more of a build up for the next ones to come! We are finally getting to homecoming! Brace yourselves mateys!

Sam was more than happy to finally leave the game. Gabe seemed relieved too. They climbed back into the car and cranked the heat. Gabe chuckled and Sam looked over at him quizzically, her hands still in front of the heater.

"Ok, that really was a bad idea. Sorry," he shook his head still chuckling and put the car into gear pulling out of the school.

Sam laughed too. "Well at least you got to see for yourself," she said happy that he wasn't disappointed that they left early. "Hey, do you want to go to Clara's?"

"That little diner?" He smiled. "I'd love to."

They pulled into the little parking lot that was shared with Phil's and parked the car. Walking into the familiar diner was as welcoming as ever, the heat was on, there was the sound of pans sizzling, and the delicious smell of sweets and coffee. Sam took a deep breath enjoy the diner that remained unchanged through all this mayhem.

Clara's head popped up from behind the front register and after a moment of gawking she smiled at them. "Samantha, honey! Been a while since I've seen you dear," she said grabbing some menus and handing them to Sam. "Go ahead and sit anywhere you like!"

Sam thanked her and grabbed Gabe; dragging him over to a booth in the back corner. The old fading red vinyl cracked and creaked as they sat on it. It was one of the rounded wrap around booths, so they both scooted near the back until they were sitting side by side.

"I'm just looking forward to that delicious cake you had me try from here," Gabe said gazing at the menu.

Sam laughed; Clara's desserts sure did make an impression on people. Before she could reply a young waitress came to their table, snapping her bubble gum her pen poised and ready for their orders.

"What'll it be?" She looked up and nearly dropped her pen. "Hey, you're that famous kid ain't you?" She said smiling at Gabe and much to Sam's surprise, she smiled at her too. "And you're that rancher's kid who's 'bout to be a movie star too! Well I'll be dang," she put her hands on her hips and shook her head. Sam bit her tongue, not sure what she should say, and apparently she needn't say anything because the girl wasn't done talking.

"I'm sorry, I'm bein' all rude and star struck. Clara would have my hide if she knew I was standin' here gawkin' at you instead of doing what I should be...which is getting your orders of course."

Gabe blinked slowly and smiled at Sam before looking back at the waitress. "I'll have a vanilla shake and some of that cake."

Sam ordered too and the girl brought back their shakes setting a vanilla in front of Gabe and a chocolate in front of Sam. She gazed at the two shakes, a smile slowly playing on her lips.

"Chocolate's better that vanilla," she whispered to her shake, her happiness suddenly fading. How she missed those times, so simple.

"I'm sorry?" Gabe looked over at her quizzically and she just smiled reassuringly.

"Oh nothing, I was just remembering something...," she said taking another long sip from her shake. She shivered at its coolness and jumped as the sound of breaking glass sounded on the other side of the diner.

"Whoopsie daisy!" Sam looked around the corner to find Darrel sitting with some friends. She ducked back behind the booth but not quick enough, he had spotted her. "Sammie!" He yelled waving.

Gabe looked at Darrel then at Sam uncertainly.

"Friend," Sam supplied as she sunk into the booth. She could hear Darrel making his way across the diner with his friends in tow. Their rowdy loud voices echoing throughout the tiny restaurant. He slid into the booth pausing to stare at Gabe. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and smiled.

"Fancy meeting you here with...?" He peered around Sam at Gabe. Gabe held out his hand to be shaken and smiled politely.

"Gabe."

"Right, Gabe! Anyway, what are you doin' here Darlin'? There's a game going on right now!"

Sam glared at him. "I could ask you the same."

His face masked fake innocence as he grabbed her shake to take a sip. "You know I don't like football."

She snatched her shake from him and he choked on it as he laughed. "You know I don't like people," Sam answered making him laugh more.

He looked back at Gabe who sipped on his milk shake uncomfortably. "So you heard from Jake?" He asked his attention back to Sam.

It was her turn to choke on her milk shake. "Um, no. He's been hanging with Rachel. Not really my scene."

Darrel's eyes popped and he glared across the diner. "That monkey butt," he muttered.

"Have you?" Sam asked, not sure as to why.

He shook his head. "If I had I wouldn't be hanging with these clowns right now," he said nodding to his friends.

They were quiet for a bit, both lost in thought. The over eager waitress brought their cakes and Sam nibbled on hers, chewing slowly along with her thoughts.

"Are you going to homecoming?" She asked Darrel finally. "Jen's going with Ryan," she added for unknown reasons.

His gaze rested on her cake, his brows knitted in annoyance. "I know. Of course I'm going. Who else are they going to get to spike the punch?" His annoyance was wiped away with cockiness and Sam rolled her eyes.

"I'll have to remember not to drink any."

Darrel smiled at her. "We'll have to remember to get Jake to drink it," he laughed and Sam smiled. "Imagine that little puss-in-boots getting a little tipsy."

"You know he could probably sniff it out a mile away," Sam said reminding him of Jake's unnatural intuition.

"Just rain on my parade, Darlin'," he said with a huff. "Are you going with this pretty boy over there?" He asked nodding at Gabe who looked up from his cake.

Sam elbowed Darrel in the side and he flinched. "As a matter of fact, yes."

"Be nice," he complained rubbing his rib. But Sam ignored him, her attention instead on Gabe's smiling face.