Written by me!

Sam picked at her veggie burger. Across from her sat Jamie, her assigned partner for the day, or so said the glowing parchment the Ancients delivered to each of them. They were at the Waverly Gyros, the popular burger joint in Peace Valley, Wisconsin.

She didn't understand why they had to split up like this. She would have much preferred to stay with Danny and Tucker. Plus, she hadn't forgotten how Jamie had scolded her a few days ago for something completely unrelated to him. So suffice it to say, she didn't want to be here.

Sighing, she studied the boy across from her. He toed the line on being shorter than her, even though he was two years older. He had messy brunette hair and striking grey eyes, who were currently looking at her.

"So… I guess we should get to know each other a little?" he supplied, filling the awkward silence.

Sam sighed, trying to push down her irritation. "Fine."

Jamie must have caught on to her true feelings because he frowned. "Listen, neither of us chose to be paired, but I believe there's a reason for everything. So can we at least try to get along?"

Sam looked at him for a few seconds before answering. "Okay, fine, we can try."

"Great. So… you're vegetarian?" he motioned to her chosen meal.

"Yeah, and in my opinion, everyone should be. The way they treat the animals in the meat industry is just horrible." She glared at the people around them who were eating real burgers.

"Maybe it is, but I think people should still have a right to choose what they eat," Jamie replied uneasily, causing Sam to grumble in disagreement. "How would you feel if someone else forced their diet onto you?"

"Not good," the girl replied with a sigh. "I see your point." She wasn't about to tell him that Danny and Tucker had called her out on that same thing when she HAD forced everyone at Casper High to eat her diet. It wasn't so great when the shoe was on the foot.

"Okay, great. I think I know the perfect question to break the ice. Do you like any musicals?" Jamie asked with a smile.

"I like Little Shop of Horrors," the girl replied with a slight smile.

"Oh, that's a good one! Any others?" the gay teen asked curiously.

"Not really. I'm more into rock and punk music than musicals." Sam paused for a few seconds before continuing. "So, you like musicals?"

"Yep! I've starred in quite a few over the years. I've been acting since I was in single digits," Jamie smiled, which was true. He'd been acting since roughly the third grade.

"What's your favorite?" Sam questioned with genuine interest.

"Hmm, that's a hard one. I'll say a tie between Hamilton, Hairspray, and Beauty and the Beast. They all have some outstanding music and characters."

"I see."

"And if I remember correctly, you're Jewish, too?" Jamie asked, cocking his head.

"Uh-huh. So we have that in common, at least."

"Yeah! I have to ask, what's your favorite Jewish food?" the boy asked.

"Probably latkes, the potato pancakes. When I was young, my family used to make them together on Hanukkah," Sam replied. "Not so much anymore, though. My parents and I don't exactly get along." She rolled her eyes as she remembered her and her mother's constant arguments.

"Hmm. Do you want to talk about it?" he asked gently, not wanting to poke the bear too much.

"Well, they wanted me to be the perfect daughter—the kind that wears frilly pink clothes, ladylike and all that crap. I didn't turn out that way, so they get irritated at me and try to force me to do things I don't want to," Sam explained with bitterness.

"I'm sorry about that. You should be able to be who you are without them wanting you to be somebody else," the sixteen-year-old replied sympathetically.

"Exactly. My mom doesn't see it that way, though," She crossed her arms and sighed, disgusted.

"Have you ever tried explaining to your parents how you feel?"

"I don't see the point. They wouldn't listen anyway."

"Well, maybe it's worth a try."

"Maybe…"

"Anyway, latkes have to be my second favorite. But my top choice has to be the dessert," Jamie laughed. "Have you ever had hamantaschen? They're like pocket pastries."

"Yeah, I think so. Those aren't bad."

"Right? I would make them for myself if I could, but I'm a disaster in the kitchen," Jamie said sheepishly.

"Oh, yeah? How bad is it?"

"Once, I tried to make toast and almost burned the house down."

"Oh, no." Sam couldn't hold back a chuckle.

"Yeah, it's pretty bad. I've been all but banned from touching any kitchen appliances."

"You and Danny could start a club. He's no good at it either."

"Really? I guess us fire hazards have to stick together. How about you? Do you cook?"

"Yeah. I like to know that there's no meat in my food, so the best way to do that is to make it myself."

"That's fair."

The two teenagers continued talking for a while. Sam was surprised they had some things in common, and Jamie was fun to be around. Even after they parted ways, she wondered how a calm conversation with her parents would go. Maybe Jamie had some good advice after all.