~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Nicky..............Nick...........NICHOLAS!!"
"Huh?" Nick mumbled turning over.
"Nick, you're gonna be late for school."
"I don't feel good mommy......."
"What is it? Math test........history test?"
"MOM! I'm serious!"
"Sorry honey.....if you really don't feel well, you can stay home."
"Thanks," Nick mumbled turning back over.
Jane just shook her head and headed back downstairs.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ms. Michaels!!!"
Sam lifted her head off her desk and stared blankly at Mr. Mitchell. He took one look at her face and sighed.
"Why don't you go to the nurse, Ms. Michaels."
Sam nodded, gathered her stuff and headed off to the nurses office.
"So, what are your symptoms," the nurse asked, "do you have a sore throat, a stomach ache?"
Sam just shook her head no, "I just have a headache."
"Well, why don't you lay down for a bit and rest."
The nurse shut the door on her way out and left Sam alone to rest.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Nick stared blindly out the window. He had been sitting this way for awhile. Just staring and thinking. His mom had been right. He wasn't really sick. But the reason he didn't want to go to school wasn't because of some silly math or history test. It was Sam. He didn't know how to handle that problem.......so here he ws sitting at home thinking about it when he heard a knock on his door.
"Come in."
Jane poked her head in and stared at her son. He looked so depressed.
"Nick? Can we talk for a moment?"
Nick just shrugged his shoulders so Jane let herself in. Closing the door behind her, she crossed the room and sat on the edge of Nick's bed.
"Nick, what's wrong sweetie?"
"Nothing mom......"
"Nick, I know something is bothering you, but I can't help unless I know what it is."
Jane stared at Nick as he continued to stare out the window. Sighing, Jane turned to leave.
"Mom?"
Jane turned and just looked at her son.
"I don't know what to do mom," he said putting his head in his hands.
"Don't know what to do about what sweetie?"
"Sam."
"Well, what happened? Are you two fighting?"
Nick could only nod his head.
"What about honey?"
"It's........I tried to do something for her and it backfired."
"What did you try to do?"
"I tried to get revenge on someone for her."
"Did she ask you to?"
"No......."
"Then what made you think she wanted to get revenge on this person?"
"Mom......I just knew......I can't explain how, I just did. Anyway, I didn't fill her in on the plan and now she hates me."
"Honey, I doubt it she hates you. She's probably hurt that you didn't tell her. Give her time. She'll come around and you two will be back to normal again."
Nick stared at his mom for a moment and then looked away. He heard her leave the room. As he stared out the window, he hoped his mom was right.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Light shaking intruded into Sam's nightmare, waking her.
"Miss Michaels? Miss Michaels?"
"Hmm......," Sam mumbled.
"Miss Michaels, we think it would be best if you went home and rested. We're gonna call your parents so they can come get you."
"You can't reach my parents," Sam said sitting up.
"Why is that?"
"They're out of town on their second honeymoon."
"Oh......is there anyone we could call? A neighbor perhaps?"
Sam thought for a moment before answering, "Yea..........you can call Jane Carter. She should be home."
Sam gave the clinic assistant the number and waited for her to return.
"She'll be here in a few minutes. Would you like to wait here or out front?"
"I'll wait out front."
Sam grabbed her stuff and headed outsite to wait.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Jane pulled up to the school and saw Sam, she gasped. The girl looked like death.
"Hi Sam," Jane said as Sam got in the car.
"Hi........thanks for picking me up Mrs. Carter."
"No problem at all."
The rest of the ride was made in silence. When they pulled into the Carters driveway, Jane stopped Sam before she could get out.
"Sam.....until you either get better or your parents get home, you're gonna stay with us."
"I can't Mrs. Carter."
"Sam, this isn't open for discussion. I know you and Nick had a falling out. I'll try my best to make it so you two don't get in each others way. Now come on."
Sam followed behind Jane slowly as she went inside. Once Jane had settled Sam in the spare room to rest, she headed downstairs.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sam stared around the room. She just wanted to go home. She hated knowing that she was stuck this close to Nick until her parents got home, which wouldn't be for another week. And to top it off, she had to worry about her date with Zac. Sam laid down on the bed and instantly fell into a fitful sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"BJ!!"
"Yea mom?" BJ said upon entering the kitchen.
"Could you please go let everyone know that dinners ready?"
"Sure," she said heading for the stairs.
BJ ran into Aaron and Angel first. And while Aaron ran off to tell Nick, BJ and Angel went to let Sam know. Knocking softly on the door, BJ poked her head in. Sam was tossing and turning in the bed. Looking at Angel, they made their way to the bed. BJ lightly shook Sam and she bolted upright in the bed, out of breath.
"Whoa, Sam......relax.......it's just me and Angel......."
Sam looked at them confused, then she realized who they were.
"Sam? You ok??"
"Yea BJ......just having a bad dream."
"Oh.....well Mom wanted me to let you know that dinner is done."
"I'm not hungry......."
"Sam......you know Mom.......she isn't going to let you out of dinner......especially since you're sick."
Sam looked at BJ for a minute before giving in and getting up. All three of them headed downstairs to the table.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jane watched as BJ, Angel and Sam came into the dining room. Sam looked a little bit better but not much.
"Where's Aaron?"
"Um......he went to tell Nick dinner was done."
At that moment, Nick and Aaron came into the room. Nick took one look around and instantly spotted Sam. Grabbing the seat farthest from her he waited. She looked awful. He didn't know why she was here though.....
Sam stared at Nick throughout dinner. He looked pretty bad. Almost as bad as she did. Sam didn't know what to do anymore. She hated fighting.........especially with one of her best friends. But right now she didn't know Nick anymore. He had changed.......or maybe she had. Neither of them said a word throughout the dinner. As soon as it was over they both went to their rooms.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Later that evening Nick got a call from Brian.
"Hey Frack, what's up?"
"Nothing...."
"Gee, you sound ever so happy to hear from me Nick. What's the problem?"
"Sam."
"Still??? I thought you guys would have worked this one out by now....."
"Yea, me too.......guess not though."
"Well, as much as I'd love to hear about this right now......I called for another reason."
"What?"
"There is an ad in the paper. This record company is holding a talent competition. I thought we should go."
"Why?"
"What do you mean why??? Hello Nick!!! Are you in there?!! This could be a good break."
"Well, what do we have to do? And when?"
"All we gotta do is pretty much go and audition for them this weekend."
"What's the prize or whatever?"
"I'm not sure......they didn't announce that in the ad. Come on Nick......this'll be good for you. It'll cheer you up!! PRETTY PLEEEEEZE!!!!!!"
Laughing Nick agreed. They made plans to get together on Friday to finalize everything. Once he got off the phone with Brian, Nick laid down and attempted to go to sleep. Something he had a hard time doing nowadays. He wasn't the only one though. A few doors down, Sam was having the same problem. If only one of them would give in talk, they all might be able to get some sleep.