"Why would you want to help me?" Brooke asked doubtfully. Sam looked away hurt.

"Ow, where’d that come from? I thought we’d gotten past the bitch-on-bitch phase of our relationship. I realize we’re not exactly friends but whatever you’d call us now, I thought we could at least help each other out once in a while," Sam explained while her eyes darted around the room nervously. She was afraid she’d overstepped her bounds. Brooke mentally gave herself one Hell of a beating.

(Sure, Brooke, she reaches out to help and you beat her over the head with a lead pipe. How nice of you) Brooke told herself sarcastically. She eyed the skittish brunette in the room with her. (How do you do it, Sam? If you feel the same way I do in your presence, how do you hide it so well? Just looking at you is making my heart race and my skin itch with the need to touch you. And you look so calm! It’s not fair!)

"God, Sam, I’m sorry," she apologized. "And we are friends, or close to it." Sam’s face lit up and Brooke smiled at her. "It was just strange given our `wonderful’," the word dripped with sarcasm, "history that you would offer to help me."

"Well, I’ve noticed something bothering you lately and I’d like to help," Sam said. (I wish you could, Sam, but I’m not ready for that just yet) Brooke lamented.

"It’s nothing, Sam," she lied. "But if I do decided to talk about it, you’re the first person I’ll go to." (:::hysterical internal giggle:::)

"OK, cool," Sam responded with a satisfied half-smile. Her expression turned serious. "Not to change subjects, but what is up with Lily lately? It’s like she’s been possessed by some sort of HellSpawn. I mean, I’m beginning to prefer Nic’s company to Lily’s, no offense." Brooke nodded.

"None taken, I know what you mean," she agreed. Sam eyed her suspiciously.

"What happened in the bathroom that day? Because that’s when her attitude dove into the toliet, excuse the pun. She came out of there pissed like I’ve never seen before and while I’m not blaming you, something obviously happened but neither of you are talking." Brooke looked away and shrugged, not ready to divuldge that discussion to Sam.