She enjoyed doing the menial tasks. It was basically busy work and
afforded her a knowledge of all things musical. Also a perk, was the
fact that she got first dibs on the promotional CD’s after they were
deemed too old to keep in the play cycle. Her manager, Taria,
usually kept a box of them that any of the employees could pick out
of. They were really supposed to send them back to the record
company but they never actually wanted them back. Sam was the one
who collected them and put them in the box, so she never had to
actually buy that many CD’s anymore.

Now if only she could find her work shirt, she would be on her way.
She still had to take a shower, but she liked to actually change in
the bathroom. It was a habit she had taken up when Harrison used to
spend the night many years ago. Even if it was just Harrison she
couldn’t ever change in front of him. The habit had stayed with her
and probably always would.

She showered and changed into her work clothes. She was due into
work in an hour and she was going to have to leave now if she was
going to make it. Since her mother refused to giver her access to or
buy her a car until graduation she relied on Brooke to give her a
ride to work most days. It had actually been something that their
parents had cooked up to try to get them past their differences back
in the days of their policy of mutual and assured destruction.
Brooke was usually up early anyway so it worked out nicely, except
today. Sam couldn’t find the girl anywhere. Finally, she ended her
search at Brooke’s bedroom door. She stared at it with raised
eyebrows, then sighed and stepped forward to knock. When she got no
answer she rolled her eyes and knocked louder, still no answer. Her
only option was to go in.

The door ***** turned easily in her hand and she pushed lightly. When
the door was open enough for her to look in she found Brooke curled
up on the bed facing the wall. She stepped into the room and went to
the bed. Brooke’s legs were tucked up into her chest and her arms
were wrapped loosely around her torso. Sam noticed something black
sticking out between the blonde’s arm and stomach, contrasting with
the blue of her pj top. It looked oddly like a sleeve, and a
familiar one at that. Her brows furrowed. She reached out and
lightly touched Brooke’s arm.