AN: As promised, here's chapter two! I hope that you enjoy!

"Okay, now there's definitely no way! What kind of luck is this?" I growled, shoving fries in my face.

"We better hurry and get out of here before he follows us home or something." Anika said seriously.

"Agreed." I mumbled.

Everything was quiet for a few moments until we were approached by the waitress.

"Excuse me girls, this man said he's a friend of yours! Is it alright if we leave him here with you?"

An unsettling feeling crept up in my abdomen.

"Hell no!" Anika said loudly, slamming her fist on the table. "Ma'm this man has been harassing us all evening!"

I blushed at Anika's loud confession but was thankful that she said something. It could come in handy when he kills us in his basement later. The waitress stood there with eyes wide and mouth open, obviously not sure how to handle the situation.

"I haven't been harassing them – just commenting on how two lovely girls shouldn't be alone all night. Some company would do them some good." He said lowly, eying me.

"Look dude, if you don't back off I will call the police." Anika hissed.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sam and Jared stand and approach our table. A part of me panicked while the other part of me was relieved because they added another layer of protection from this guy.

"Is something going on here?" Sam asked.

"Yes! This guy has been making crude comments and basically following us all night." Anika growled, pointing at Daniel.

Sam turned to Daniel and looked him up and down. Daniel stepped back a bit, intimidated by Sam's size and glare.

"It's not my fault," Daniel began. "If you saw these two all alone wouldn't you like to approach them?" He said with a short laugh.

"So that means it's okay to approach two high school aged girls and make them feel uncomfortable all night?" Sam questioned dangerously.

"This is a place of business so if there's a problem, please move outside." The waitress cut in nervously, trying to take control of the situation.

"I'm sure there won't be a problem." Sam said pointedly. "This man is going to sit on the other side of the diner for the remainder of the meal, isn't that right…"

"Daniel." He grumbled.

"There, settled. And we'll join these girls just to make sure he stays away, won't we ladies?"

Anika and I glanced at each other and I saw her nod quickly. The waitress hummed with approval and showed Daniel to his seat on the other side of the restaurant.

"Let us grab our things and we'll join you in a minute." Sam said lightly.

"Oh, that won't be-"

"Perfect! Thank you very much!" Anika stated sweetly.

Sam and Jared nodded and moved back towards their table.

"What the hell was that? The creep is gone! We don't need them to babysit us!" I whispered harshly.

"Kim, this is the perfect chance to get Jared's attention! Hello! Wake up!" She said excitedly.

I blushed and went to make a comment but was interrupted by Anika standing up and moving to sit next to me.

"You guys can sit there. Thanks again! I was starting to get freaked out!" Anika stated, popping a fry in her mouth.

"Not a problem! I'm Sam by the way and this is Jared." Sam introduced, nudging Jared who gave a tight smile.

"We know! We actually go to school with Jared, don't we Kim? She's practically in every class with Jared!" Anika elbowed me and I blushed deeper.

"Yeah, she's right." I grumbled, taking a sip of my coke. Did I just speak in front of him? Holy shit I just spoke in front of him. Is the jig up? Can I actually act like a normal girl in front of him?

Jared looked at me for the first time that night and he stiffened slightly, looking at me curiously. Huh, maybe he did recognize me?

"Oh, so you know these girls then?" Sam questioned, looking at Jared with same curious look that Jared was still giving me.

"Sure, yeah." Jared said, finally looking away and down at his half-eaten burger.

"You'll have to excuse him, he hasn't been feeling well today." Sam said politely, taking the last bite of his own burger. "So, does this happen often to you two? I'm sure it's scary."

"Not really!" Anika stated. "If I go out I'm usually with a group but tonight was just for Kim and I. She owes me since she isn't going to prom!"

Sam chuckled and Jared's head snapped up, his gaze back on me.

"Why not?" Jared asked softly.

I blushed and shifted uncomfortably.

"Dances aren't really my thing." I said, shrugging.

What was with him? He's never acted like this before; he's never even spoken to me before. So what's with the sudden starting and interest?

"Plus, she doesn't have a date." Anika stated jokingly, poking my cheek. "Kim is more of the bookworm type so she doesn't get out much! It also makes her better than everyone else because she's not tainted by the party scene!" She finished dramatically.

Jared laughed quietly and nodded.

"I'm actually that way as well but I have several friends like you who push me to be social." He said lightly to Anika. "It's fun but sometimes we need our nights at home with The Great Gatsby, don't we Kim?"

Anika and I both looked at him bewilderingly.

"Uh, yeah. Exactly." I said, smiling softly. Jared returned the smile and I felt my heart leap into my throat. I wasn't expecting that at all. I mean everyone knew that Jared was smart but him also being a bookworm? Could he chill out and let other guys have a chance? He's going to make it hard to move on from him when I headed to an out of state college after graduation. My heart went from racing to aching in a moment's notice at the thought of not seeing Jared or Anika after graduation.

Sam then looked at me in a friendly but curious way. I avoided his eyes, along with Jared's, and continued to finish the couple of fries I had left. I felt like Sam could read me like a book which, surprisingly, didn't scare me. Based off of what happened tonight, it was apparent that the rumors about Sam weren't all true.

The boys offered to walk us to our car and we accepted, especially thankful when we walked out to see Daniel leaning on the wall by Anika's car. Daniel frowned and crossed his arms, spitting on the sidewalk by our feet.

"You guys should really learn when to back off. I saw these girls first, they're mine." He said, standing up straight as though to match Sam's height.

Sam huffed and ran his hand through his hair.

"Listen, if you don't get out of here I will call the police. These girls obviously want nothing to do with you and it's best that you leave them the hell alone." Sam stated with authority.

"These girls need someone to show them a little fun, that's all!" Daniel said with his eyes focused on me. "Especially this little uptight one here – I bet I could really get you unwound." He said with a sickening chuckle.

I took a step back and shivered in disgust.

"Get the hell out of here or the cops will show up to a homicide case." Jared growled viciously, his body trembling.

Sam eyed him warily but Daniel's sickening laughter just turned into a guffaw.

"Fine, I'll go. But I assure you, if it's not now, it'll be later." He said ominously before beginning to walk towards his car. The creep gave a wave out of his window before exiting the parking lot.

Jared lunged at the back of Daniel's vehicle, his whole body shaking like he was an earthquake personified. Sam grabbed him by the back of his shirt and pulled him back earning another growl from Jared.

"You can't let that scumbag leave!" Jared hissed, his tremors coming violently now.

"I have his license plate number, Jared! Don't worry, he'll be reported to the police. Right now I think it's best that we let these girls go home, okay?" Sam gave him a knowing look.

Jared just shook his head and pushed by Sam, walking into the woods that lined the back of the parking lot.

"Is-Is he going to be okay? He's shaking pretty bad…"I said, concerned. I'd never seem someone shake the way Jared was and on top of that he was absolutely covered in sweat again, just like in class.

"Yeah, he'll be fine but I'd better go with him. You know…because he may…get sick?" Sam looked at the forest nervously. "Be safe you two!" Same said before jogging over to where Jared disappeared into the darkness.

Anika and I said our quick goodbyes to Sam's fading form before getting into the car and buckling up. As we left the diner, we heard a scream rip through the quiet woods.

"I don't know about you, but I've never heard of the flu doing that to someone. I hope he's okay! Shit!" Anika said, pressing on the gas to bring us home faster.

"Me too." I agreed, peering back at the empty parking lot.

Once we arrived back at my house, Anika decided that it would be best if we spent the night together seeing as though my parents were out of the state for two weeks.

"I can't believe they just leave you here alone." She said, slipping on a pair of pajamas.

I shrugged, throwing my hair up in a messy bun.

"They live their own life, I live mine. I don't mind it." I stated simply and changed into a pair of pajamas myself.

I always thought that I was lucky, honestly. I've heard that fifty percent of marriages ended in divorce and my mom and dad were as far away from that statistic as possible. They were the couple that most people wanted to become but regardless of being a great couple, they were kind of shitty parents. They never hit me or even disciplined me, but they also never paid too much attention. They were wrapped up in their own little world and paid attention to me when they wanted to. Don't get me wrong, we got along well and they always supported me. I supposed I was never a troublesome child and so I didn't need a lot of looking after and I guess they never really needed to parent me. Now that I'm older, they tend to vacation quite a lot with each other and aren't home very much. Hey, it's fine by me! It gives me a sanctuary where I can read, cook and basically do anything that I want when I want and how I want.

"Still," Anika began. "Don't they ever consider how lonely it must be?"

"It's not so bad! Honestly!" I said, plopping down on the bed and sighing softly.

Anika followed suit and gave me a bright smile.

"Jared seemed pretty interested in you tonight! Did you see how he kept staring at you?" She said excitedly.

"Jared also was sick as a damn dog! He probably won't remember anything by Monday." I finished sadly.

"I guess we'll see then, won't we?"

Oh yeah, I had to see him again - didn't think that far.

"I'm going to die!" I exclaimed dramatically, turning off the light.

"Oh please, he'd be crazy not to fall head over heels and declare his love for you the next time he sees you." She said with a giggle.

"Yeah right! With my luck, he might recognize me! And that's a strong maybe!"

I could tell that Anika was smiling as she pulled the covers up and rolled away from me.

"Truthfully Kim, you're a great person and I know that you'll find a happiness like no other one day." She said seriously.

I smiled softly.

"I feel the same way about you, Anika. It's because we're so damn fantastic."

We both chuckled and eventually fell asleep, Monday being the only thing on my mind. Well, that and the scream we heard leaving the parking lot...

AN: There we go! I should be updating as soon as possible! Please tell me what you think or if you have any questions! Have a great day!