New Paths, Old Faces
|~ Prom Night Preparations ~|~ Prom ~|~ Winding Down ~|~ Your Little Secret ~|
"Hurry up, Brooke, or I'm leaving without you," Sam threatened from outside the bathroom door. Not that she actually would, she was just tired of waiting around for Brooke to finish getting ready and knowing that they still had to run the gauntlet of parental units armed with cameras made her cringe.
"You wouldn't dare!" Brooke shouted indignately from inside the bathroom. Sam grinned.
"Have you seen the limo driver? I mean, sure he's not you but, yum," she called back. She heard Brooke rushing around the bathroom and chuckled. (That should get her moving) The bathroom door was suddenly yanked open and Sam sucked in an unsteady breath. There was Brooke looking more radiant than Sam had ever seen her, even if her facial expression was slightly peeved.
"I'm finished, happy?" Brooke demanded to know. Sam opened and closed her mouth, suddenly unable to speak. She'd seen the dress on Brooke before but with her makeup and hair done, Brooke was positively glowing. Brooke looked at Sam's stupified expression confused.
"What?" she asked.
"Errr�" Sam managed as inside she screamed at herself to remember what her native language was. Brooke tilted her head.
"'Errr'? Is that the best you can do?" she teased, understanding now why Sam was so flustered and flattered by it.
"You look�I mean�wow�and beautiful�gorgeous�and�wow," Sam stuttered. Brooke laughed.
"Wanna try that again in English?" Sam blushed.
"You look terrific," Sam finally said in a coherent sentence. "Beyond terrific. You are without a doubt the most breathtaking thing I have ever seen." Now it was Brooke's turn to blush.
"You say the sweetest things," she giggled. Sam kissed her passionately.
"I speak the truth," Sam told her after the kiss ended.
"You don't look half bad yourself," Brooke assured her.
"I look like a goose dressed in peacock feathers next to you, love," Sam whispered in Brooke's ear, making her shiver.
"We'd better head downstairs before we get carried away," Brooke warned. Sam sighed knowing she was right.
"Lead the way, Princess."
**
Sam was pretty much convinced that you could go blind from camera flashes by the time she and Brooke reached the last few stairs. Her mother was just going nuts taking pictures. Sam wondered exactly how much film the woman had purchased.
"Mom, knock it off before I take a header down the stairs," she protested. She heard Brooke snicker behind her.
"Oh, stop being so overly dramatic, Sam," Jane sighed as she clicked off a few more pictures. "You only have one Senior Prom and I want lots of pictures to remember it with." Sam rolled her eyes but stayed quiet. Her mother had a point after all. What surprised her was the fact that Mike was videotaping the whole thing with the new, highly expensive digital videocamera he bought after Mac was born. And he looked like he was enjoying the experience himself.
"You girls look beautiful," Mike said quietly, further surprising Sam. She looked at Brooke confused. Brooke just smiled and hugged her.
"I don't know, go with it," she whispered in Sam's ear. "Thanks Dad," she said louder.
"Yeah, thanks Mike," Sam echoed. She still couldn't cross that invisible line and call Mike `Dad' and now that she was involved with Brooke for what looked like the long haul, she doubted she ever would. There was a certain awkward factor involved.
"So what are your plans for after the prom?" Jane asked as she switched rolls of film. Sam and Brooke looked at each other.
"Nicole's family has a beachfront house we're all going to go spend the long weekend at," Brooke explained. Her parents exchanged wary glances.
"I don't know, girls," Mike started.
"Everyone will be there," Sam interrupted. "Josh and Lily, Nic, Carmen, Sugar, God help us, even Mary Cherry. Harrison might show too. And there is absolutely no alcohol in the vicinity. I swear."
"It's going to be our last big blast before graduation," Brooke further explained, giving her father her best wounded puppy look. Sam pouted at her mother.
"And all our stuff is all ready at the house, Mom. Please can we go?" Unable to resist the twin attacks from their daughters, Jane and Mike relented.
"All right, but we want your word that there'll be no drinking," Mike ordered. Sam shot him a look.
"Mike, I think we all learned our lesson reguarding underage drinking and proms last year," she pointed out, a hint of bitterness creeping into her tone. Mike nodded.
"OK," Jane hugged both girls. "The limo's out front so you'd better get going or you'll be late." Mike hugged them as well.
"Have fun you two. And behave," he added. Both girls shot him devilish smirks.
"Daddy, don't we always?" Brooke asked as she closed the door behind her. Her laughter mingled with Sam's as they walked down the steps. Mike turned to Jane.
"That's what I'm afraid of," he sighed. Jane gave him a supportive pat on the shoulder.
Brooke and Sam met up with the rest of the gang outside the prom. The plan was that other than Josh and Lily, no one really had dates, they were going as a group. The only other person with an official `date' was Mary Cherry who brought some GQ model reject named Brock although Sam kept calling him Brick. They met up outside and entered together into the school gym, which was decorated in greens and whites. The theme of the prom this year was In the Still of the Night.
They sat at their table and watched their classmates mingle with one another and listened to Nicole's fashion critique:
"Oh, God, who let her out of the house in that?"
"I haven't seen that much skin since the nude beaches in France. And as much hair too."
"Argh! I'm blind!"
Everyone laughed because 9 times out of 10, Nic's opinion was spot on. A horrible number of their classmates had bad taste and chose this night in particular to flaunt it. Everyone cringed as April Tuna approached their table clad in a salmon colored dress.
"Sam McPherson, Brooke McQueen, glad to see you didn't let the sophomoric and anthropoid regulations of the facist oppressors prevent you from attending," she said.
"Uh, thanks, April. I think," Sam said as she looked at Brooke and shrugged.
"The Sapphic sisterhood seems to be the chic thing these days," April continued. "I was thinking about giving it a try. Hello Carmen Ferrera," she added as she walked away. Carmen looked suitably disturbed as Sam turned to Brooke.
"Well, that's almost enough to scare me straight again," she joked dryly. Brooke pinched her lightly although she saw Sam's point.
"Anyone have any mace?" Carmen asked no one in particular.
"Are you two gay?" Brock asked Brooke and Sam.
"He's quick, for a brick," Sam said to Brooke who giggled. Brooke turned back to Brock.
"Yes, why, does that bother you?" she asked. Brock smiled and shook his head.
"No, my sister is too. I was just surprised," he said kindly. Brooke nodded.
"I think he's too smart for Mary Cherry," Sam whispered. Brooke nudged her to shut up.
They ate their dinner of prime rib, or in Lily's case a nice hearty salad, in compatable company with light conversation, everyone just enjoying everyone else's company. Even if certain people didn't want to admit to enjoying other peoples company (i.e.-Nic and anyone other than Brooke and MC). Soon the dancing started. Brooke and Sam danced together, ignoring some stares they got as well as one warning from the class advisor. They explained that they arrived dateless and could dance with whom they pleased and the administrator had no real argument for that.
They danced to: `Everywhere' by Michelle Branch; `Let Me Blow Your Mind' by Eve and Gwen Stephani, which drew a few stares because it got a little suggestive between them; `Short Skirt/Long Jacket' by Cake; `Valentine' by Martina McBride; `Fallin'' by Alicia Keys and a whole slew of others before sitting down when their feet finally began to hurt.
"Having a good time, Princess?" Sam asked. Brooke grinned at her.
"The best," she answered. "You're a terrific date, Sammy." Sam smiled back at her.
"Why thank you. I'm glad you're having fun, love. I'm glad we decided to come." Brooke's eyes got wide.
"Really?" Sam nodded.
"Yup, really. This is MUCH better than last year. Especially given the obvious lack of speeding cars and ambulances," Sam joked. Brooke just shook her head as she chuckled.
"I told you so," she pointed out.
"Yes, you did. And I'm glad I listened. Thank you, Brooke, I'm having a wonderful time as well." Brooke leaned over and hugged Sam tightly to her.
"I am SO glad to hear that, Sammy. You just made my entire night."
"Good then, I'm doing my job," Sam told her gently. Brooke just looked at her in amazement.
"You are so amazing, you know that?" Brooke asked. Sam blushed.
"That's what you tell me from time to time," she responded with a wry smile. "So are you."
"Ladies and gentlemen, we're ready to announce this years Prom King and Queen," the DJ announced as Nicole climbed on stage.
"OK, twinkies, listen up," she started. "The votes are in. This years Prom King is�Josh Ford!" she announced. Everyone applauded although no one was surprised. Josh blushed and climbed on stage to be crowned.
"Uh, thanks," he said. Nicole nudged him out of her spotlight.
"And this years Prom Queen is�" Sam turned to Brooke.
"You ready?" she asked as she brushed a lock of blonde hair from Brooke's face. Brooke nodded.
"Uh-huh," she responded to Sam as she grasped Sam's warm hand.
"Lily Esposito?" Nicole exclaimed as she read the results. "Are you people insane?" Brooke and Sam started laughing as Lily sat in shock and Nicole fumed onstage.
"Lily, you'd better get going," Brooke encouraged. Lily stared at her blankly.
"Huh?" she said numbly.
"It's your night, Lil, get going so that they can crown you," Brooke explained to the stunned Latina.
"But you�" Lily started.
"Voted for you. It's OK, Lily, go," Brooke assured her. Lily smiled and stood up on unsteady legs and joined her husband onstage where she was crowned as Prom Queen even as Nicole protested and demanded a recount.
"You OK with this?" Sam asked Brooke.
"Better than OK, Sammy. Free," she said simply as she leaned back in Sam's arms. Sam frowned at her.
"Free?"
"Free from the popular trappings. Look, school's almost over and what good is popularity going to do me after it? I don't need it; I don't need another crown. I only need you, Sam. Let Lily have this, I have more than enough." Sam hugged her.
"You, love, are amazing," Sam told her reverently. Brooke smiled cheekily.
"I know."
"I am so glad to be out of those shoes," Brooke moaned as she flopped down on the couch at the beach house next to Sam and started to massage her feet. Sam grabbed Brooke's feet and took over that duty.
"Oh, Sammy, that feels nice," she gasped.
"Hey, hey, none of that in the house," Carmen complained as she walked into the room with one hand over her eyes. Sam stuck out her tongue.
"I'm massaging her feet you perv," Sam informed her haughtily as Brooke snickered. Carmen laughed and sat down in the armchair nearby.
"I know. Did you see the look on Lily's face when they called her name for Prom Queen? I thought her brain exploded," Carmen joked. Sam and Brooke laughed.
"Or imploded," Brooke countered. "But it was nice for her."
"Yes it was Brooke, thank you," Lily said as she walked in the room and hugged Brooke from behind.
"You are very welcome, Lily. But I didn't technically do anything."
"You weren't bitter or upset. Instead you let me enjoy the moment, even if Nicole did make a scene. Actually it was worth it just to watch that," Lily explained.
"That was pretty funny," Sam added, recalling how Nicole had ranted and raved on stage, arms flailing about and face red. She took lots of pictures of that.
"She'll get over it," Brooke said calmly. "So what are we going to do now?"
"Well, we have three glorious days to ourselves in this house to do whatever we want," Nicole explained as she came down the stairs and caught the end of the conversation. "We do what we want. We have a fully stocked fridge, endless DVDs, the beach and ocean at our disposal so, enjoy."
**
And enjoy they did. The weekend passed way too fast for both Sam and Brooke's liking. They spent every moment together either on the beach or cuddled on the couch watching movies. They kind of annoyed the others with their constant cuteness but no one really held it against them and Josh and Lily were almost as bad.
With prom over, attention shifted to graduation and passing those last classes. Brooke fretted over where in the class she was ranked and what colleges would accept her while Sam just went with the flow, happy to pass her classes and get into college. Brooke soon realized there was an issue they hadn't discussed.
"Sammy, we never talked about what we were going to do about college," she said quietly one evening while they were lying in bed together. Sam sighed.
"I know. I've been thinking about it lately. What are we going to do?"
"Where do you want to go?" Sam shrugged.
"U of Southern Cal has a nice journalism program," she said. Brooke nodded.
"I applied there. I can go there." Sam shook her head.
"It doesn't work that way, love. What do you want to study?" Brooke was quiet for a few minutes. "Brooke?"
"That's just it, Sam. For the first time, I really don't know what I'm going to do next," she said softly. Sam snuggled closer.
"That's OK, Brooke. You'll figure it out. But you can't base your college decision on where I'm going."
"I know. I just want to stay close to you," Brooke explained.
"And I want you to. But make up your own mind, Princess. Well work it out from there on, OK?" Brooke smiled.
"OK, Sammy. But U. of Southern Cal is a possiblity," she said.
"You're right, it is, but only if it has something you're interested in studying there. Otherwise you'll find another school, only one close," Sam told her.
"Deal," Brooke agreed.
There was something bothering Brooke and it had been bothering her for a while now. It was nagging at the back of her mind like an annoying little voice and she was unable to stand it anymore. She was getting angrier and angrier and didn't want it to get out of her control. So she asked Nicole to meet her in the Novak later at school one day a week after Prom.
"Nic, we need to talk," Brooke said in a tone that allowed for no argument. Nicole looked at her surprised at the tone but shrugged.
"Sure, B. What's on your mind? Is there a sale at Saks I need to know about?"
"Nic, I'm serious. I need to talk to you about Sam." Something in Brooke's tone made the hairs on the back of Nicole's neck stand on end.
"Christ, what'd Spam do now?"
"No, Nic, it's about you," Brooke almost growled. Nic's eyes grew wide for a second in alarm.
"What about me?" she asked defensively as her heart started to race. Brooke advanced on her dangerously making Nicole back up unconsciously until she hit the wall of the Novak.
"I know you have feelings for Sam," Brooke announced lowly. Nicole felt her stomach drop to her knees and her head spin. Brooke was glaring at her with a fiery intensity that made her squirm.
"Feelings for Spam McPherson? Are you sick?" she nearly screamed at Brooke in a near panic. Brooke's glare got impossibly hotter.
"Drop the act, Julian, I'm not buying it. I may be blonde but I'm not stupid, or blind. You have feelings for Sam, admit it," Brooke challenged. Nicole blinked at her in shock.
"I�uh�no�" she stuttered. Brooke rolled her eyes and stomped her foot as she placed her hands on her hips.
"Is that the best you can do?" she taunted angrily. "Here, let me tell you how I know. Maybe that'll make it easier for you."
"I've noticed the little things, Nicole. The uncharacteristically nice things you've done for me and Sam. I figured you did them partially out of guilt for last spring and partially out of obligation from your friendship with me. But you've grown increasingly protective of Sam. And after the way you tore into Pierce after he attacked and hurt Sam, well, that REALLY made me suspicious. So, I've been watching you. And it's become abundantly clear that you care for her." Nicole just stared at her.
"Jesus, for the sake of what remains of our friendship, Nicole, for once, be honest with me. Do you have feelings for Sam?" Brooke asked. Nicole hung her head as a few tears leaked past her eyes.
"Yes," she finally squeaked. Brooke sighed.
"I knew it," she said quietly. "GOD DAMN IT!" she screamed, punching the wall and making Nicole jump.
"So what are you going to do now, Nic? Huh? You going to go after her? Try and hurt me so you can have her for yourself? I'm surprised you haven't tried all ready," Brooke accused bitterly. Nicole's head snapped up in shock.
"What? How could you think that?" she asked.
"That's what the old Nicole Julian would do. See something you want and destroy anything that stood between you and it. Let me tell you right now that you're in for one Hell of a fight," Brooke warned.
"Have you learned nothing in the past year, Brooke?" Nicole asked, her own anger fueling her now. "I am not `the old Nicole Julian' anymore." Brooke scoffed.
"Oh really?" Nicole glared at her.
"Really," she stated firmly. "That accident changed a lot more than you and Sam. If you think it didn't, it must be nice in that little plastic bubble you live in. I changed too, Brooke. I'm not going after Sam because I have no right to her. She's YOURS; she loves YOU. She tolerates me, barely. Aside from those facts, it'd take nothing less than an act of God to separate the two of you." Brooke eyed her suspiciously but some of the animosity disappeared from her hazel eyes.
"You're not going to plot and plan to steal her from me?" Nicole shook her head.
"I have no right to her, Brooke. She loves you and I'm not you. Besides, while I may care for her, I doubt that it's love. I don't think I'm capable of that emotion. It's been bred out of me," she said sadly. Brooke shook her head.
"Well, I doubt that. But, I appreciate your honesty." Nic nodded.
"Please don't tell her. And I'm sorry if it bothers you. I understand if you don't want me around anymore." Brooke shook her head.
"If you're telling me the truth and you aren't going after her, then don't worry about it. I will be watching you though and at the first sign otherwise, Nic," Brooke warned. Nicole smiled sardonically.
"Message received, Brooke. Loud and clear. Sam's yours. Gotcha."
"Just so long as that's clear," Brooke added. Nicole nodded. It was very clear. Dasanti and Evian clear even.
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