It had been a week since Sam last asked for Jack. The cheerful demeanor that Sam felt earlier, was transforming into something much darker. She was slowly accepting the fact that Jack may not come back. That X took him far, farther than the previously believed Charlotte. She was mad. Mad that her world would now have a void, a void that only Jack could fill. She was angry that he didn't call. Maybe X was constraining all independence, maybe X threatened to kill him. She shuddered at the thought. Every time she thought of Jack her mind went to that night. Her memories flooded her and soon enough tears of shame, hatred, and fear fell, but were quickly wiped away. This was a repeat of the past seven nights for Sam. She hated herself for it.

It was early in the morning. She hadn't slept one bit. Her eyes were wide open, but she was huddled in her covers. The worried whispers of her parents behind her door made her feel pangs of guilt. Why couldn't she just get better? Why couldn't this all just end?

"Julian she needs to go to school!" Brooke whispered fiercely.

Julian rubbed his neck, "I know that babe."

Brooke sounded exasperated, "I can count on one hand how many times she's left her room willingly. She's shutting down Julian."

"I know babe. I know. But is school really gonna help?" He asked.

She glared at him, "And you think being locked up like some bird in a cage is any better!?" Her whisper ripped through the eerie quiet in Sam's room.

Sam shut her eyes hard. Trying to escape. She really was trying to get better. But without Jack, her life just didn't feel right.

'I'm sorry!' She yelled in her mind.

Their whispers continued,

"I'm sorry. I know. It's just she won't talk to me! She won't talk to you. I think we need to call Gold." Brooke's voice sounded tired.

'No! Not Gold! I don't need a shrink! I just need Jack.' Sam thought to herself.

There was a long silence, but Julian finally responded.

"Then we'll set it up. And, well, you're probably right."

"About what?" Brooke asked

Julian grabbed Brooke's hand, "School would probably do her some good. Come on babe, let's get her out of that room."

Sam closed her eyes once more pretending to be asleep. Brooke sat on the bed and Julian bent down towards her eye-level.

"Samson?" He said gently. Sam opened her eyes and turned over, not wanting to talk to anyone.

Julian took a deep breath and looked to Brooke. She nodded and began to rub her back.

"Sam I know things have been hard lately. And your dad and I wish we had the power to make everything better." She said looking back at Julian who shook his head in approval. Brooke continued, "We just want you to be happy. And being stuck in this room isn't helping."

Sam said nothing, but she felt herself getting emotional.

Julian took over, "Samson you need to start going to school again. You've missed almost a whole month. And I know you've been doing your work from home, but you need to get out of this house. See your friends."

They heard a sniffle. Brooke got closer, her voice was soothing to Sam's ears, "You know… Sawyer really misses you. She needs a friend right now. And I think you need her just as much."

Sam's mind raced to Sawyer and back to Jack. She really did need an outlet. But how could she be happy when she knew Jack was miserable?

Reluctantly, Sam sat up and weakly responded, "Okay."

Brooke put her hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes, "Okay?" She repeated.

Sam gave her a half-hearted smile, "Yeah but, can I skate to school?"

Brooke was about to say no, but she saw the frown forming on Sam's face, "Sure Sam." Brooke embraced her to which Sam responded with a weak and lazy hug.

She got up from the bed and headed towards the restroom, "And I don't need Dr. Gold I just need Jack." She said.

Brooke felt the sadness in her voice. She composed herself. Julian squeezed her hand, "Come on Brooke. You gotta get ready for work and so do I."

Brooke half smirked, "You're right. You're right. I just, I just get so mad."

"Why?" He asked.

"She's been dealt some of the shittiest cards Julian. We're supposed to protect her from this."

Julian embraced her.

… …. ….

The homeless shelter opened at 4 am. They prepared a hot breakfast every day, and for the past week Sawyer was right there at four in the morning. She was reluctant and maybe even a little rude at first, but now all the men and women coming in began to grow on her. Although having to be up at 3 in the morning felt like a heinous crime.

"Hey Sawyer how's it going?" the head of the shelter asked. She found Sawyer intriguing.

Sawyer yawned and smiled, "Tired. That's how it's going."

Glenda laughed, "Well I'm glad you're here. Let's get to work Sawyer." She placed her arm around the half-asleep teenager.

"Ha, I guess that's the only option I have."

"Exactly!" Glenda said with a beaming smile on her face. She could see the heart of gold that Sawyer hid beneath all that teenage angst.

While serving the oatmeal and toast Sawyer felt a camera flash from afar. She looked up and saw a kid about her age. He had a loose backpack around him and he was wearing a hoodie with a dark blue sweater and a pair of old vans.

'Sam's type of guy." she thought.

He saw her look up and he quickly walked away. She kept on serving giving no thought to it. The line was waning and one of the last people in line was the mystery man with camera.

"Hey did you take a picture of me?" Sawyer asked while serving him oatmeal.

He looked at her with demeaning eyes, "What's it to you?" He said gruffly.

She frowned, "Sorry. Geez. It was just a question." She grabbed a piece of bread, "Do you want toast?" She asked.

He took it from her hands and placed it on his tray. As he was walking away he turned back towards her, "Just to be clear. I intern with the newspaper. I was taking photos of everyone for an article. I'm not homeless." He turned back around and walked to a table.

Sawyer looked stunned. She felt slighted. It was getting late and she had to get to school. Her dad was probably already waiting outside. She thanked Glenda and headed out, but not before addressing the mystery camera man.

She sat down in front of him, "I'm sorry."

He stopped chewing and swallowed his food, "For what?" He said.

"I don't know. You just seem mad at me and I don't know what I did to you."

He started to chuckle, "Are you serious?! Are you not used to being unliked or somethin'?" His question really surprised Sawyer.

She hesitated, "I'm just trying to be nice. But whatever, I have to go."

As she was getting up he grabbed her hand, "Sawyer."

"How do you know my name?" She asked a bit afraid.

He laughed at her, "Calm down." He said pointing at her nametag.

"Oh." She said blushing.

He smiled, "Michael. My name's Michael. You really should have manners and ask a person's name before you bombard them with questions."

She rolled her eyes, "Whatever." And pulled her hand from him.

She headed out. Michael watched her leave. Glenda went up to him, "So you finally got the guts to talk to her."

He turned stunned, "What're you talking about?" He asked.

It was her turn to laugh at him, "Michael, you've been watching her since she got here and you finally decided to get in line for breakfast today."

He shrugged feeling caught, "Well, whatever. It won't work. She's Sawyer Scott a cheerleader. Popular. Beautiful. I'm just Michael. Some homeless kid."

"Ohh sweetie" she said putting an arm around him, "You'd be surprised. Some of the most popular kids turn out to be some of the nicest."

He scoffed, "Sure." Putting his head down.

She sighed, "When I was in highschool there was a girl named Brooke..Brooke Davis." She said smiling and reminiscing.

He looked up giving her the cue to continue… "She was the most popular and scandalous girls at Tree Hill High. One day I talked to her and I found out she had a heart of gold."

He smiled, "So I should try and talk to her?"

"Talk to her as Michael, a highschool freshmen just like her. Not as Michael the newspaper intern." She said lifting an eyebrow."
"You heard that?"

"Ohh yes. I definitely did Mr. I'm an intern, not homeless."

"Sorry." He said embarassed.

"Sweetie. Don't put yourself down. Talk to her." She gave his arm a squeeze and went back to work. He checked his watch, 'Damn. I'm gonna be late' he thought heading out.

… … …

When Sam got to school she went straight to Haley's class. She really didn't want to be around everyone. They all seemed so happy, so perfect. To her relief Haley was not there yet. She sat at her desk and imagined Jack sitting next to her. She saw someone come in, but it wasn't Haley, it was Sawyer. They saw each other and Sawyer looked surprised to see her there.

She walked to Sam and pulled her up from the chair and embraced her whole-heartedly. Sam returned the hug. Sawyer looked at her best friend in the eyes, "I love you Sam. Everything's gonne get better. I'm here for you."

Sam nodded and looked at Sawyer.

"Thanks dude. I missed you."

"I'm sorry I haven't gone to your house my parents have been "

"Overprotective helicopters?"

Sawyer shook her head and laughed, "Exactly."

Sam punched her in the arm.

"What was that for!?" She exclaimed.
Sam smiled, "You don't think I know about your idiotic pill-popping fiasco."

Sawyer frowned, "I know. I know. Are you gonna yell at me too?" She asked taking a seat by Sam.

"Nah. I figured you've gotten yelled at enough. How's all the work treating you?"

Sawyer thought for a second. The first thing that came to mind was Michael, "Ummm it's…tiring and annoying. But the homeless shelter is pretty cool."

Sam shrugged, "No sympathy. You kinda derserve it Soy. What about Justin?"

Sawyer disposition waned, "I don't know he hasn't really talked to me. I try but he shrugs me off. I heard his parents are sending him to some type of rehab. It's all my fault."

Sam looked at her disbelievingly, "Soy. He's a jerk and you know it. You just look like some desperate girl when you go after him like that. Just drop it. He doesn't deserve you anyways."

Sawyer was about to say something but was interrupted by Haley. Seeing both of her nieces put a smile on her face.

She went up to Sam and kissed the top of her head, "Sweetie I'm glad you're back." She said gently.

"Thanks aunt Haley." Her voice seemed tired.

Haley took a look at Sam and sighed. Wishing she could do more for her, "Sam I-"

"I'm fine aunt Haley. Can we not talk about it…please." Sam said in growing frustration. Everywhere she went she was reminded of Jack.

Haley nodded sympathetically, "Okay Sammy."

She turned to Sawyer, "How're you holding up? With all you've been doing?" She said in a lighter tone.

Sawyer rolled her eyes, "Just fine. Today after school?"

Haley chuckled, "Yup. Right after. You're grade's going up slowly, but surely."

Sawyer put her head down on the desk. Haley laughed. The bell rang and slowly everyone else began to file in.

Sam's peers expressed their concern for her.

"It'll be okay"… "I'm here for you if you need anything."…. "Jack will come back."… "Don't worry."

Sam couldn't take it. She felt her blood boil. She felt emotions of all kinds. She had to get out of there. Sawyer quickly noticed.

"Sam they're just trying to be nice." She whispered as Haley taught.

Sam clenched her fists, "I gotta get outta here. I'm going home after this."

Sawyer sighed, "Fine. But please make sure you go home Sam! Text me when you're there."

Sam scoffed, "Alright Brooke."

Sawyer rolled her eyes, "I'm serious Sam. I'm worried about you."

"Fine! I'll text you." Sam gave in and whispered.

The moment the bell rang Sam dashed out of Haley's classroom. Haley stopped Sawyer Sawyer, "What's wrong with Sam?"

Sawyer shrugged, "Would you want to be in English class if you didn't know where Uncle Nathan was?"

"I guess not." She answered truthfully.

Sawyer gave a jerky nod as if to say, "Exactly."

"She'll be fine. I gotta go." Sawyer dashed out before Haley could ask any more questions. She was running late to her next class and decided to take a short cut to gym. She saw Michael walking slowly. She smiled and laughed inwardly at the coincidence.

As she was walking towards him he began to speed up.

"Michael!" She called after him.

He turned around with displeasure written on his face, "What?" He asked annoyed.

"I'm going that way too. Can I walk with you? You know I didn't know you went to Tree Hill!"

He put his hands in his pockets, "You talk a lot." He simply said.

"Fine. I'm just trying to be friendly." Sawyer said a bit embarrassed at his ability to blow her off. After all, she was a cheerleader.

He stopped, "Fine. Hi Sawyer. Bye Sawyer." With that he went into his classroom. He hated that he felt so nervous around her. Sawyer scoffed, "Wow." Was all she could say. She kept on walking. Michael watched from the door's window as some other cheerleader's met up with her. He frowned, 'Two different worlds.' He thought.

So this chapter was focused mostly on Sam and Sawyer. Sorry if it was different or something. But Sawyer might just have a new catch ;) and Sam's really struggling…write a review, tell me what you're thinking! I'm so sorry it took me a while to post. Sometimes life just throws you some curveballs!