Chapter 12. So thanks to another early dismissal, the joy that I got because of it, and the tacos my mom made for me when I came back from school that are SO damn good (thanks Mom!), I finished it in success. I never knew Mexican food was one of my main sources of brainstorming. Enjoy! ;)

"So your brothers and Sandy know now huh?" asked Sam.

"Yeah they do." replied Flora now feeling kind of guilty about spilling the secret to them. Was Sam angry about that. "Are you mad about it? Don't worry, they're sworn to secrecy. We can totally trust them."

"No, no, it's not that. What I'm trying to say is, you really have a close bond with your brothers. And Sandy, she must be a really good friend."

"Sandy's not actually my friend. She's Cash's friend. I mean Sandy and I would say hi to each other and make small talk, but we're not friends."

"Oh. That's too bad."

"Do you like, like her or something?" asked Flora teasingly, with a pinch of jealously.

"What?! No, no! I don't even know her. How can I like her?!" replied Sam defensively. I got my eye set on another girl anyway (Ohh, we think we know who Sammy boy!) he finally caught on to Flora's tease and started laughing with her.

"JK. I know you don't. Someone else has a thing for Sandy anyway." Flora didn't say who. Cash kept her secret. Sort of. She will keep his.

"Cool." replied Sam. A question comes to his mind. "But Flora, may I ask why you're not friends with Sandy? Did she ever do anything to you?"

"No. Sandy's nice and all, but when it comes to making friends, I'm never good in that department. I never really get in any social circles."

"You're socializing with me now."

"Well with you, it's different. With you, you're really like no one I ever saw and I really feel like I'm-"

"Connecting to me?" Sam finished her sentence. "Yeah, me too."

Flora smiled. There was something about Sam that made her do so. She didn't know what it was, but it was in there somewhere.

"Don't be ashamed." Sam's voice snapped Flora out of her thoughts.

"Of what?" asked Flora. She then realized it.

"I know it's hard to deal with something that makes you stand out, but you shouldn't think of it as such a bad thing. We all have that one trait that makes us stand out. It's not a curse. It's a sign."

"Of what?"

"That you are the one and only Flora. I'd be lost if there was millions of you." Sam froze in embarrassment. Did I really just say that out loud?

"Wow. You're the only one besides my dad who can really boast my confidence up." said Flora, especially touched by his "One and only Flora." comment.

"Really? Thanks. I do my best." grinned Sam, relaxing a little. Good, she didn't notice. "You really do have a close relationship with your dad don't you?"

"Yeah. We do. It's just that, he's really becoming protective of me now. Like I'm fragile or something."

"It's because of me isn't it? If you can't or don't want to see me anymore, I understand."

"No, no! Sam, it's not your fault. Nothing is ever gonna stop me from seeing you. Not even my dad. I'm way to stubborn for him to crack. I guess Cash isn't the only one who gets it from our mom."

"A little stubbornness doesn't hurt." Sam and Flora laughed at the joke until his facial expression changed.

"Sam, are you okay?" asked Flora looking concerned.

"I just remembered I gotta go do something. I gotta go know Flora, but I'll meet you at Mist Falls at noon(It's still morning), I promise!"

"Okay. At noon. I won't forget!" nodded Flora understandingly. She and Sam have named that place with the Water Fountains "Mist Falls" because of all the mist made by the waterfalls.

Flora walked back home, with a smile glued on her face. Shira took notice of it.

"You sure look happy baby. What ever happened that made you grin so much.

"Oh nothing." sighed Flora. "Just a very beautiful day." Flora had to ask her parents if she could go out. That way, they won't find out she's gone and classify her as missing in action. "Hey Mom, you mind if I go out alone at noon? I'll be back at curfew I promise."

"It's fine with me sweetheart, as long as it's not a place that your father won't deem unsafe for you. But I suggest you ask him too."

"I know. Thanks Mom!" chirped Flora, nuzzling her cheek against her mother's.

"She is not happy over a beautiful day is she?" asked Ellie, knowing that feeling.

"Nope. As a mother, I know it's something else." said Shira. "But I'm not gonna confront her about it. Flora is becoming a big girl, and this is something big girls definitely need." Shira wasn't going to nag her about it. She thinks she knows why Flora is acting so sun-shiny. The least she will do is just read her daughter's facial expressions everyday and know it is true, maybe even drop some hints every now and then when the two of them are alone, but one thing is certain. Shira is not telling Diego.

That's a wrap! So what did you think of Sam and Flora there? And what is it that Shira knows and is not telling Diego? Find out soon!