******

‘Nic, what’s wrong?’ Brooke knew her friend well enough to know of her longstanding crush on her stepsister and she knew something was wrong. Nic had been avoiding Sam at all cost and stopped commenting on the things she claimed irritated her about Sam.

‘Nothings wrong hun.’ Nic answered, knowing that Brooke could see right threw the act.

‘Nic, I know you. You’re my best friend and I know when your hurting’

‘Brooke’ Nic sighed.

‘Alright, what if I told you I already know you’re in love with Sam.’ Brooke said matter of factly. You see Brooke knew that was what Nic was having trouble telling her, that she was ***** and in love with Sam.

Nic’s head shot up ‘You do?’

‘Yes Nic, now what’s wrong?’ She really hated seeing her friend upset.

Nic looked down and a single tear slipped down her face. So much for forgetting Sam. ‘I told her’

‘Oh. What happened, what did she think, what did she say?’

‘She didn’t say anything. She was probably in shock. I just walked away after I told her.’

‘Nic give her time, Sam does everything on her own time.’ Brooke hated seeing that defeated look in Nic’s eyes. Like she’s given up on Sam.

‘Brooke, come on. This is Sam were talking about, she hates me and I’m supposed to hate her. Its..’ Nic started as another tear rolled down her face ‘its okay, I know she’ll never love me and I’m okay…or I will be someday. So, what do you say we finish shopping?’

‘Okay Nic,’ Brooke said thinking there was no way she wasn’t going to at least talk to Sam about this, ‘lets go.’

****

When Brooke got home she was determined to help Sam see just how much Nic loved her. There was so much emotion in Nic’s voice when she talked about the hopelessness of it all and it made Brooke want to cry. How horrible would it be to live thinking the only person you could ever love would never love you in return. That’s why Brooke was currently standing outside Sam’s door getting ready to ….

*Knock*

****

*Knock*

‘Who knocks at 10 at night’ Sam thought. Never the less she got up and went to open the door.