"I don’t like the idea of you calling your Mom. They’ll trace us and be on us like white on rice, B. It’ll give them a place to start looking," she explained. Brooke sighed, knowing Nic was right.

"OK," she said reluctantly. She really wanted to call Jane. "But eventually we are going to have to call home."

"I know," Nicole said. "But let’s make them stew a bit longer. Besides, we’ve got plenty of money and we’re four fine young women. There’s a lot of fun to be had." Lily rolled her eyes and sighed.

"You’re horrible, you know that?" she asked Nicole with a half-smile. Nic smirked at her.

"That’s why you love me," Nicole answered cheekily making Lily laugh.

**

Deciding to splurge, they got a pair of rooms at a hotel and enjoyed some creature comforts not always available in some other establishments. Lily and Nicole treated themselves to the pool while Brooke tucked the still groggy Sam into bed and hopped into the shower. She put the water on hot and let it soak into her weary bones.

(Oh, I can see it now, ten years from now. Next on `Where Are They Now: Brooke McQueen, former head cheerleader, homecoming queen, straight A student and most popular girl in her class at Kennedy High) she thought to herself. (She had it all, all her ducks in a row and all the ivy league colleges clamoring for her attendance. Where is she now? In a run-down little shanty somewhere on the outskirts of New Orleans. Her lover left her, she’s all alone, overweight with no one but a cat named Lemue for company. How the mighty have fallen) she snickered and wondered where the sudden attack of self-doubt was coming from.

"Is this a private shower or can anyone join?" Sam’s voice made her jump and she turned to see Sam standing half in and half out of the tub. She smiled broadly at Sam as her self-doubt left as suddenly as it came.

"Oh, you can join," she said. "Definitely." Sam stepped into the shower and reached for her and Brooke melted into Sam’s embrace.

"Do you always talk to yourself in the shower, love?" Sam asked as she soaped up Brooke’s hair and lightly kissed Brooke’s cheek. Brooke frowned.