Sam was drinking milk out of the carton when he seen her again.

"Hey there beautiful," he said, smiling widely as he opened his arms to embrace the girl who had quickly rushed towards him.

"Oh hey Claudia," he said when he looked over Stacey's shoulder to see her best friend watching them.

"Hi Sam," she replied in monotone.

"You're still mad at me huh?" he asked her, still holding Stacey who was clutching him tightly.

Claudia just ignored him and went upstairs to find the other girls.

"I'd better go," Stacey whispered before standing on her toes to give him a brief kiss. She turned to leave but Sam caught her wrist and turned her around again before tilting her head up slightly and kissing her deeply.

"You should stay," he said before moving to kiss her neck instead.

"Sam," she giggled before playfully slapping him away, "let me go."

"Hey what gives Stacey? Don't you miss me? When Kristy told me you were coming over tonight, she also to keep the hell away from you?"

He was only teasing her and he could tell that she knew that.

She bit her bottom lip as she smiled before replying, "I guess you better do what she says."

"What if I don't?" Sam replied.

"Seriously Stace, what are you playing at here?" he asked a few moments later. He was curious as to what she was up to.

"Nothing," she said innocently, she supported herself on her tiptoes by leaning into him before whispering into his ear. "Just don't go to sleep early tonight."

oxoxoxoxo

Since there were so many at the Thomas-Brewer residence that night Watson offered to order pizza. Stacey and Dawn were not the only ones to object to this however. Shannon didn't want to risk getting pimples and Mary Anne was watching her weight. This only left Claudia and Kristy who decided to split a pizza whilst the other four girls sorted out their own meal.

Dawn had bought over some tofu patties and Shannon had volunteered to head to the bakery to buy some buns, Mary Anne had gone with her. Kristy had plated up her half of the pizza before volunteering to barbecue the patties. Dawn had gone outside to watch the progress and keep Kristy company with Dawn every now and then dropping hints about how unhealthy Kristy's pizza was. Claudia sat inside with her half of the pizza whilst Stacey kept her company.

Figuring that since Claudia was already aware of their feelings for one another, Sam went to join the girls inside. He decided to make a peace offering to Claudia hoping to ease her frostiness towards him.

"Claudia," he said said drawing out the syllables of her name as he sat next to Stacey. "Don't be mad at me. I've known you your whole life."

"So," Claudia replied moodily.

"Here, have the rest of my pizza," he said. "I know Kristy made you get Pepperoni but you like Hawaiian."

"Maybe," Claudia sniffed looking over at the slices. She accepted the box but still arched her eyebrow when Sam fitted his arm around Stacey's shoulder.

"Why do you lead her on," Claudia asked suddenly when Stacey looked up at him, her doe eyes shining through those long lashes.

Sam was taken aback. "I do not lead her on," he retorted.

"You're right Sam," Claudia started, "we have known each other a long time and I know you like girls. Lots of girls, so why do you insist on stringing along my best friend. Like...like some sort of plan B."

"I have never done that," Sam snapped back, genuinely insulted.

"Really," Claudia said, "because you act like you're her boyfriend even though you broke up with her over a year ago."

"It's not as simple as that," Sam said. He looked at Stacey, she was looking downcast again. "Besides I was the one who wanted to get back together. Stacey was the one that said no."

"I know all about that Sam," Claudia snorted in disgust. "You only offered the day before you left. How was that going to be any different from what you had been doing to her for the previous couple of months. You give her affection when it suits you and then just leave again."

"Claudia," Stacey said, she sounded like she wanted her to stop but Claudia ignored her.

"You're too old for her," Claudia snapped. "I've always thought so." She looked like somebody who had just had a tremendous weight lifted from her.

"No I'm not," he snapped back.

"Oh really, why did you tell her she was to young for you then."

Sam cleared his throat. "Stacey knows why, and if she hasn't told you then that's her business but frankly I'm glad she didn't because it's private. Know this though, I do not use Stacey. It's just complicated right now."

"Whatever," Claudia sniffed.