Sameen lifted her solo cup to her lips and looked around the party. Everyone around her was dressed up for Halloween, but she'd chosen comfort over costume. It was sort of pointless without Root to match her. Sameen pushed her hand into the pocket of her sweatpants and took another sip of beer, her head already fuzzy.

She spotted John and the girls dancing across the living room. Snickering to herself, she watched John try and sway to the beat as Zoe and Joss danced circles around him. They'd made up a couple weeks ago and their bond seemed tighter than ever. Sameen could only hope the same would happen with her and Root.

Angrily finishing her drink, she turned to get another one, but stumbled and bumped into someone. She looked up at them, ready to apologize, but scowled when she saw who it was.

"Watch where you're going, Hersch," Sameen slurred. "Not everyone here is a fucking giant."

Hersch smirked. "I'm not a giant, Shaw. You're just very small."

Sameen stepped back, offended. "Excuse me? I could beat the shit out of you, asshole."

"Hey," Hersch held his hands up, "it was just a joke. I'm sorry."

Swallowing, Sameen squinted up at him. He was being nice... Too nice. "Do you think you're better than me?"

Hersch shook his head, confused by the question. "What? No. I'm just not going to fight you right now."

"What if I want to fight?"

"No." Hersch put his hands on her shoulders. "I know you're upset about Root and I'm sorry about her mom."

Sameen swung her arms up and pushed his hands away. "You're sorry? It was your dad's bar that sold alcohol to an alcoholic."

Hersch winced and nodded. "I know. I talked to him about it. He's not exactly…sober, either."

"Oh," Sameen shrugged. Her neck was starting to grow warm. How much had she drunk? "Well…tell him to stop it."

"Ok, Shaw. You know," he added disdainfully, "I wouldn't have expected this from you,"

The cup in Sameen's hand crunched loudly and she stared down at her hand, surprised. Her fingers poked through the cup, the plastic edges sharp against her skin. She shook it off, letting it clatter to the floor, and turned her attention back to Hersch.

"What?" She glared at him. "Expected what?"

He crossed his arms. "You're so emotional recently. Always angry."

"I'm not a fucking stone," she snarled at him, his words striking a sore spot. "I'm allowed to think about things. I'm not a monster."

"I didn't say you were," Hersch sighed, his forehead scrunching. "You're just normally so unaffected. Maybe Root fixed you."

She bared her teeth and drew herself up to her full height. "I'm not broken. You better watch your mouth before I decide to break it."

Hersch had the decency to flinch at that. He turned away, but Lambert appeared beside him and swung an arm over his shoulders, keeping him in place.

"Hey, Shaw!" Lambert grinned, trashed. "If I'd known that a blow to the head caused hearing loss, I would have aimed better in PhysEd!"

That was the last straw. Sameen launched across the short distance and crashed into Lambert, sending them both into the tile floors with a thud. She fisted her hands in the front of his shirt as she straddled him. Lifting him up, she shoved him into the ground as hard as possible; his loud grunt at the impact made her grin, her mind clouded with alcohol and anger.

She pulled her fist into the air and punched him across the face. The sting on her knuckles felt like vengeance. Sameen landed blow after blow against his skull, her face twisted in rage. She heard the crunch of bone as she broke his nose.

Strong arms wrapped around her, pinning her arms to her side and lifting her into the air. She struggled against them, but the person was bigger than her and she couldn't free herself. It felt like John, the feeling of his arms dragging her away from fights familiar now.

He carried her out of the house kicking and screaming. Sameen wasn't even sure what she was shouting, but she hoped it was threatening. Lambert deserved more than what she's given him. He wasn't even unconscious yet.

They walked out of the house; the muggy October air immediately making her sweat. John threw her onto the grass and she tried to stand up, but her feet slipped out from under her. Cursing, she finally climbed to her feet and turned back to the house, ready to storm inside and fight anyone who got in her way.

She spotted Joss with a hose seconds before the water hit her in the stomach and knocked her down again. Sputtering, she turned over and let the water hit her back instead of her face. The cold water cleared her head a bit and she held her hands up in defeat.

The water cut off and Sameen shifted to lie on her back, wiping her face off. Throwing the hose to the ground, Joss stomped over to her.

"You need to cut this shit out, Shaw," Joss scowled. "You're being violent on the field. You're being violent in class, at parties."

"I'm not in a great place," Sameen growled and sat up.

Joss crossed her arms. "I know that. Obviously, I know all about that. It doesn't mean you can be reckless. You're no good to anyone in Juvie. Stop this right now, or I'll kick you from the team."

Sameen scrambled to her feet. "You can't! I'm Vice-Captain!"

Joss gestured behind her to Zoe. "We have other options. You're not irreplaceable."

Sameen's stomach clenched as she thought about Root replacing her. That wasn't possible, right? If Root wasn't interested in being with Sameen, she probably wasn't interested in being with anyone else either. Right?

"Ok," John said, stepping forward, "I'm going to take Sameen to the gym."

"The gym?" she asked, still fuzzy. "It's like 10pm."

John shrugged and grabbed her elbow, dragging her into the street. "I have a key."

"To the gym? I thought I was bad," Sameen scoffed.

They started down the street towards their house, John keeping a firm grip on her arm so she couldn't escape.

A while later, John pulled his car into the Bishop Gym parking lot. Sameen glared out the window, slumping in her seat. This was stupid. John thought doing weights was going to calm her down? She was way past that. Also, her buzz was wearing off and her head was starting to hurt.

John turned the car off and started climbing out. When Sameen didn't move, he reached over and unbuckled her seatbelt for her. She rolled her eyes and got out of the car, slamming the door shut behind her. They walked to the front door, Sameen stomping as loudly as she could in her sneakers.

She followed John into the gym, wincing as he turned the lights on. Sameen hadn't been here since they finished the treehouse and Mrs. Reese had bought her weights. It was as lame as she remembered. When she went to college, she was going to find a better gym.

The center of the one-room gym had a boxing ring and, for a minute, Sameen expected John to lead them onto it. She subtly appraised him and decided that it would be difficult, but she could take him. He didn't take them to the ring, though, instead walking them over to a punching bag hanging from the ceiling.

"I'm going to spot you," John said, pulling out a pair of gloves from his backpack and tossing them to her. "You're going to punch and listen."

"Listen?" Sameen rolled her eyes as she put the gloves on. "To what?"

"To me."

John braced himself against the bag and Sameen moved to the other side, bouncing on her toes. She tried to focus on her body, but her first punch lacked any power. Her bruised knuckles brushed against the bag and she winced. Sighing, she stepped back and pulled her gloves off to pull her wet hair up into a bun.

She looked at John expectedly. "Well?"

"I know what Root's going through," he said, softly, "and what you went through."

Sameen rolled her eyes and pulled her gloves back on. She dropped into her punching stance. "I doubt that."

"You don't wonder where my dad is?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I guess, so," Sameen said, striking the bag. "You and mom don't really talk about it."

John smiled, adjusting his feet. "It's nice that you call her mom sometimes. She really appreciates it."

"She's our mom, dude. Don't read into it."

"My father died when I was 11, so…four years before you and Lionel came."

Sameen glanced at him. His forehead was crinkled; he looked sad. She punched the bag again, harder this time.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

John shrugged, his shoulders tense. "I'm pretty much over it. It's been seven years. I do miss him sometimes, though. He was in the army."

"My dad was a marine," Sameen offered. She grit her teeth and punched the bag a few times in rapid succession. "Are you going to join the military, too?"

"I don't think so," John sighed. he sighed. "I think it would hurt my mom a lot. I'm planning to join the police force after I graduate though."

"Oh yeah?" She swung her arms in small circles. "What about Zoe and Joss? Do you guys have a plan? You're all graduating in a few months."

He nodded, smiling to himself. "We're all moving to College Station. Zoe and Joss want to go to Texas A&M. Zoe for Political Science and Joss for Law. They want to do good things."

Sameen chuckled. She started punching in a steady rhythm, the sounds echoing off the concrete walls. "That sounds about right. It's good that you have a plan."

"Yeah," He agreed. After a moment, he added, "I was talking about my dad dying."

"Right. Sorry."

John shifted his feet again, adjusting his grip on the bag. "It's ok. I was going to say that I got really depressed when he died. Mom was having a hard time and I started getting into trouble at school. I was pretty small before my growth spurt in 9th grade."

"I'm annoyed that I missed that," Sameen panted, her muscles starting to burn.

"I'm not," John laughed. "I was getting into a lot of fights…and losing. I was small, like you, but not nearly as tough. My mom ended up sending me to a therapist. The therapist recommended a sport – I picked Lacrosse - and I started going to the gym."

"I got into soccer for sort of the same reason," Sameen said. "My foster dad said I could learn another way to channel my energy, or I could go to juvie. It's not my fault middle school boys can't keep their hands to themselves." She stepped back and glanced at him. "Sorry. Keep going."

John stepped away from the bag and pushed his hands into his costume. He was dressed as Luke Skywalker; he'd wanted to be Han Solo, but Joss had called it first. He looked handsome, she thought, his five o'clock shadow making him look older. Sameen smiled. She couldn't believe he was going away to college next year.

"Well," John said, digging the toe of his boot into the floor, "I noticed that my mom wasn't getting happier, not like I was, and I told her that she should see a therapist. It had helped me and I thought it would help her, too."

"That's nice," Sameen nodded. "Did she?"

"She had been," John replied, thoughtfully. "I asked why it wasn't working and she said that it was, but she knew that I'd be going to college in a few years and she'd be alone, for real."

"Oh."

Sameen scratched her neck and thought about that. She'd never really considered why Mrs. Reese had adopted them. It had just happened and Sameen had been glad to have somewhere steady to live, instead of bouncing around foster homes. If pressed, she might have said it was so John would have friends.

Sameen sighed and squatted down, dropping to sit on the floor. She stretched her legs in front of her, the concrete cool against her sweaty skin. Now it made sense that John wanted to talk to her; she'd closed herself off and let her anger at Root sit inside of her. She wasn't alone, though, and even without Root there were people she could talk to.

"Ok," she gestured for John to sit down. "Finish the story."

"I told her to adopt some younger kids," he winked at Sameen. "I didn't bargain on getting you two depressed losers."

Sameen laughed and started taking her gloves off. "Yeah, we are a…family of grumps. Lionel is nice, though. Kid's got potential."

"He does," John agreed, smiling. "It's nice that you've been working out with him. He really appreciates it."

She rolled her eyes and tossed the gloves back to John. "Whatever. He needs some friends."

"If you get over this anger thing," John started, "maybe the three of us could hang out more. You've got some time and I can make some time. I want us to stay in touch after I leave."

Sameen frowned at him, the last of her anger dissipating. She didn't want to think about him leaving. It made her feel weird. Not in the same way as Root, but similar. She would miss him.

"Ugh," she groaned, dropping onto her back. "I'm not complicated enough for this."

"I think you're too complicated." John disagreed. He climbed to his feet and walked over to her. "Come on. Let's go home. I'll text the girls and we can watch a movie in the living room."

Sameen nodded and reached up, letting him pull her to her feet.

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Sameen snuggled further under her blanket on the couch. John, Lionel, and the girls were sprawled out on the floor in front of her as Hocus Pocus played on the tv. The witches danced with a fake Satan and Sameen stretched her legs out. She was glad that they'd turned the lights off to watch the movie; her headache was only getting worse.

The front door opened noisily; it was probably Root, back from wherever it was she went. Sameen didn't bother to move. Root hadn't shown up for the family picture before they set out trick or treating and Mrs. Reese had looked so disappointed. It didn't exactly make Root look good.

Root stepped into the living room, not wearing a costume. Sameen ignored her and kept her eyes fixed on the screen.

"Hey," Root said to the room, and everyone but Sameen looked up at her. "Can I join you guys?"

John glanced at Sameen, who gritted her teeth, but nodded to Root. "Sure."

Root gave him a half-smile and moved to the couch, stopping next to Sameen's head.

"Can I sit with you?" she asked quietly.

Sameen didn't answer, but she sat up and moved to the far end of the couch; Root needed space, after all. She could feel Root's gaze, but still refused to look at her. It was just too much tonight and Sameen didn't trust herself not to get angry again.

The talk with John had helped; she knew now that she could reach out to him if she needed to. She probably wouldn't, but the option was there. The couch vibrated and Sameen looked around.

Root pulled her phone out, the screen lighting up her face. Sameen watched from the corner of her eye as Root grinned at the phone and typed out a reply. She rolled her eyes; when she'd started texting Tomas she'd at least had the decency not to do it right in front of Root.

Of course, she remembered, that was lead to their big fight and first 'break up'. She sighed and stood, dropping the blanket onto the couch behind her.

"I'm going to shower," Sameen announced to the room. "Good night."

The group wished her a goodnight and she headed out of the room, walking passed Root without a glance.