"Look Paulina…" Danny began seemingly becoming more nervous the more he spoke. "I just don't think I can hang out tonight." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously not meeting her eyes.

Sam had no idea how she had stumbled upon this lovers quarrel. She had been walking through the Amity Park, the Park, and had still been thinking about the sudden change in Danny's behavior. When she had heard the familiar sound of Paulina shrieking.

Apparently, Danny had canceled on their date again. Now the only reason she was staying to listen to this was because it'd be really weird if she randomly popped out of the bushes she hid in when this whole thing started.

Definitely not because she loved to see the two get knocked down a few pegs. Or that Paulina's upset face looked like she was constipated.

"Danny, you've been avoiding me for days!" She yelled, her voice cracking as her emotions overwhelmed her. "I don't know what's going on with you but don't forget where you stand."

She walked off before he could get in another word, flipping her perfectly styled hair in his face. He watched her go with a pained look.

For a second he looked like a human. Someone who wasn't the soul sucking reason that Sam hated going to school.

Sam waited, barely breathing as the silence enveloped them. He sighed when Paulina's retreating figure was out of sight. Sam sat through the pain staking minutes, not realizing he movements as her hand broke a twig underneath her.

She cursed under her breath, watching with wide eyes as Danny whipped around toward the bushes she so embarrassingly hid in.

He grew on edge, looking everywhere for a sign of life. His body going rigid. From her position she could see his eyes grow dark, once again looking green as he surveyed the scene.

"Who's there?" he questioned, a level of authority in his voice. An edge she almost assumed had an echo. Sam didn't know why he seemed so on edge, but she decided it was probably better to step out before he came in.

She stood up, awkwardly brushing off the leaves from her body. Danny looked at her incredulously, giving her a once over as she tried to look anywhere but him.

"Sam?" He questioned his eyes wide in question but his lips twisted in a playful smirk. "Have you been spying on me?" His voice was light and airy, something that no doubt seemed friendly.

However, Sam's instinct told her otherwise, and she was only listening to the part of her brain that told her she should be irritated that he was so egotistical. To assume someone was spying on someone else was just arrogant.

She huffed and rolled her eyes at him, despite that what he had said was technically true. She didn't listen to that part of her brain.

"News flash, Danny," she spit out his name like it was a disease. "Not eveything I do revolves around you." He raised his hands in defense but his eyes grew somber. Sam again rolled her eyes, what could he possibly have gone through to express that level of sadness.

"Sorry, it was just odd."

"Yeah well I dropped something and I was getting it back."

He raised his eyebrows at her terrible excuse. She realized he knew she was lying, and it pissed her off to no end. He shouldn't know anything about her. He should be throwing insults at her. He shouldn't be avoiding Paulina.

"Why are you doing all this?" She questioned, venom in her voice. "Stop with this stupid act. Everyone in Amity Park knows what a terrible guy you are so stop playing 'lovable idiot' or whatever you're going for."

"Sam, I'm not acting I'm just-"

"And stop calling my name like that!" She hated this. She hated everything about him. The way his eyes showed how hurt he was. As if SHE could ever hurt HIM. As if they hadn't been yelling at each other for years.

She hated the way he said her name. No mocking tone to it. No indication that he thought himself better, like she had heard it before any time before last week.

"Like what? I thought you hated Samantha?" He seemed confused. His voice was breaking and she didn't know what to do. He was hurt and she didn't know why. Nor did she care. Because that was HER job. That's what they did. So why wasn't he following the script? Why wasn't he doing what they had done for years.

"But you arn't supposed to know that. You're not supposed to care!" She screamed at him. She hated everything about this. She hated that he knew that. She hated the feeling she got when he said her name. She hated it!

It was nothing like the countless of times she could hear him call her. When he said her name before, it was full of venom, like she meant nothing more to him than an enemy. Someone he'd dearly wished to throw away and to never see again. But now… now even when he seemed to be so broken and confused, his eyebrows knitted together in an unending scowl he called her name with a newfound meaning. And she hated that!

So why… why did it make her feel butterflies.

"I'm sorry Sam, I mean…" he awkwardly placed his hand behind his neck again. "Look, I know this must feel like a lot for you, but I, " he looked to the ground before meeting her eyes, unwavering determination filling in his chest. "I want to apologize. For everything I've done."

A silence fell between them.

A beat passed. And then another.

Soon over a minute of silence was unbroken until a soft sob came over the girl.

"Please, Danny." She cried. So angry and frustrated. So irritated and appalled. So tired and exhausted of the back and forth. So utterly shocked at the apology. And so heartbroken by the pain that fluttered in his eyes as he stared her down, not letting her break the eye contact. "Just… leave me alone."

"Sam," he said again. This time she couldn't deny it. The 'meaning' she could hear behind his voice was an intimacy she couldn't explain. The way he said her name was that of a best friend, a partner, a lover. She couldn't handle the emotional rollercoaster anymore and she quickly ran towards her house, not looking back to see Danny's hand pull back, too afraid to fallow.