Story: An Agreeable Arrangement

Main Characters: Draco/OC Samantha Black

Pairings: Harry/OC Katherine Black, Hermione/Ron, & Ginny/Blaise

Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my OC's Sam & Katherine

Ch. 9-The Exes

With the Christmas season in full swing so was Sam and Drake's schedule. Samantha's show was scheduled to open in London the week between Christmas and New Years, and Draco had been juggling the investigations and the merger.

Both were working long hours on low amounts of sleep, and high levels of stress. Draco would leave early in the morning for the office and Sam would return late at night from rehearsal.

She was spending a lot of her nights with Jason, catching him up on the material and perfecting their performance. It was on one of these nights that the amount of work she was doing was brought to her attention.

"Okay let's try that move again. I want to make sure we are in sync on the turns…"

"Sami, as much as I'm dying to tell you I can go all night, I really can't. Let's take five." Jason said hands on his knees breathing heavily.

Sam slumped her shoulders slightly allowing her own exhaustion a moment to surface before she sucked it in to make a comment.

"If you're going to be a baby fine. Five minutes." She walked to the edge of the stage to jump down and grab her water bottle. She took the time to check the clock and realized it was already ten o'clock.

"Whoa, I didn't realize it had gotten that late." Sam said to Jason as he sat down next to her.

"Well you know, time flies and all that." He took a gulp of water then paused looking at Sam like he was going to ask a question, then thinking better of it he took another sip of water.

"What?" Sam asked.

He gave a non-commital shrug.

Sam rolled her eyes. "What is it?" she got up on her knees to look at him.

"Nothing, don't worry about it." Jason said again eyeing Sam.

"Jason Trent you are a horrible liar. You've got something on your mind, say it."

"I was just going to ask how Draco feels about you being out at all hours of the night with your ex." When Sam didn't respond right away he continued.

"I just know that, if it were me, I wouldn't be too happy about it."

Sam took a moment debating how much to say. She opted for mostly honesty, she trusted Jason, even after they broke up they still remained friends. Truth was the only reason they broke up was because of their careers pulling them in different directions.

His towards swimsuit models on the West Coast and hers towards Basketball players in the East. The fact was neither of them were ready for the commitment and rather than hurting each other they chose to part ways as friends.

And their friendship was the only reason she told him, "I haven't exactly mentioned to Drake what I'm doing. That is to say, it hasn't really been brought up."

Jason gave her an incredulous look. "Are you lying to your very serious boyfriend? Don't we know that doesn't work."

"I'm not lying. It honestly hasn't come up in a conversation. Should I just randomly wake up in the middle of the night and tell him hey by the way… I'm not worried about telling him I just haven't found the right timing."

"Why wouldn't you tell him when he asked where you are going to be tonight? What are you doing? What did you do with your day? any of these questions offered the perfect opportunity."

"We haven't really been having those conversations lately." Sam said to herself more so to Jason.

Come to think of it, when was the last time she had a real conversation with Drake?

She realized that they were both busy but she hadn't quite recognized how often she wasn't home.

We haven't had sex in over a week!

"Trouble in paradise?" Jason questioned watching Sam's facial expressions.

"No, not really. I just hadn't realized how busy I've been, we've both been. I haven't told him what I'm doing because I haven't had the time and he hasn't had the time to ask. Lately we come home and are just too exhausted to attempt to hold a conversation. He's been really stressed with work and I am always here. I just didn't notice…"

she trailed off thinking about this discovery. It really was not that big of a deal like it would be if it were a real relationship.

But it is a real relationship.

As it may, she should probably put in a little more effort to at least have a meal together once a week. If anything to make sure they knew the other one was okay.

"It sounds to me like you and Draco need a night out. I have the perfect place, my party!"

"I don't think…"

"Stop, it's perfect. I'm going to have the band, the crew from the show, it's basically a work event so you really should go anyway, but it gives you and Drake a chance to go out and have fun and me a chance to meet the guy. That way you can tell him about the show and our practices and you won't feel guilty about lying to him."

"Who say's I feel guilty. I don't feel guilty."

"You should feel guilty." At the look Sam gave him he quickly amended, "Just kidding. We aren't doing anything wrong, let's practice that number one more time."

Samantha woke up early the next morning to rustling. Drake was getting out of bed presumably to go to work.

"What time is it?" Sam asked groggily turning herself to squint at the Grandfather clock by the fireplace.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." Drake said pulling on the suit pants he laid out the night before.

"It's not even 6 o'clock! Why do you have to leave so early?" Sam asked turning back to watch him slip on his crisp white shirt.

"This investigation is a complete headache and interfering in my everyday business life. Therefore Blaise moved to have the preliminary hearings early, before I go into the office."

He wrapped his tie around his neck but had to start over again when he messed up. "I have to meet Blaise before hand to go over strategies."

Sam got up on her knees motioning for him to come to her. She reached out and fixed his tie into a Winchester knot while Draco ran a hand through his hair letting out a frustrated huff.

"I am sure that everything will work out fine. Maybe we just need some time to relax, this weekend my co-star is throwing a party for the cast and crew, it might be fun if we went…"

"I don't know Samantha. I have a lot on my plate right now and don't think I will have time for a party." He stepped back grabbing his brief case and slipping on his shoes.

"I have to go I'm already running late. I will see you tonight."

"I have rehearsal tonight…" He was out the door before she could finish.

Well then…going stag it is.

She ended up going to the party, on Saturday after wasting an hour trying to convince Drake that looking at the reports for hours on end would not make any of the numbers he was seeing change. After it hit her that she would be more productive talking to a brick wall. She gave up and left him to his brooding.

She wore a pair of dark skinny jeans a flowing silver top and silver heals. Her hair was in a high, styled ponytail and her jewelry and makeup pulled the outfit together. She felt good, and confident, and took every compliment she got to heart. It was nice to just be out with people having fun, with no care or agenda.

But still she found herself missing Drake's brooding presence, his snide comments, and his dry humor. But mostly she just wanted someone to dance with.

"Me thinks the lady deserves an escort." Jason was by her side with a hand extended towards her, "Come on Sami, no one as good looking as you should be standing on the sidelines when there is a perfectly good dance floor."

Author's Note: So this story has been on hiatus for months and I can't even begin to apologize! I promised myself I would never be one of those author's but damn when life get's in the way it is hard to write something worth sharing. I'm trying to get back into the swing of things this summer and get the creative juices flowing. I know Sam and Drake are going to have a struggle ahead of them and before school starts I will have this story complete. As usual I love you all and thanks for barring with me.

XOXO~IntrepidReporter