"We both wanted something, the same thing only I didn’t realize it at first," Brooke said cryptically, moving a little closer to Sam. Sam eyed her warily. She loved being around Brooke but something in Brooke’s behavior right now was setting off alarm bells in her head. And yet, most of her really didn’t want to listen to them.

Brooke, for her part, had come to a few conclusions after hanging up the phone. The most important being, Lily was right, her happiness was paramount. She could deal with whatever else second. She wanted Sam, that would make her happy and she already knew Sam wanted her. Now she just had to muster the courage to let Sam know. Unfortunately, knowing this and acting on it were two different things. And Sam’s present Bambi caught in the headlights imitation wasn’t helping.

"What did you both want?" Sam asked slightly confused. Lily and Brooke didn’t wear the same size, so it wasn’t clothes, not to mention they had different taste. It certainly wasn’t a guy, because Lily wanted Sam herself. But if it was that then that would mean.

Brooke watched Sam’s eyes grow so wide she thought they were going to pop out of Sam’s head and she knew Sam had figured it out on her own. Sam looked at her in shock and started to shake. Brooke took another step forward and was surprised when Sam took a step back.

"Sam." Brooke started. Sam shook her head.

"Don’t play with me, it’s not fair," she whispered. Brooke crossed the space between them and deciding that words would fail her, pulled Sam into a scorching kiss. (Hmm.AquaFresh) Brooke thought absently. Sam made no effort to pull away but instead surrendered to the kiss. Brooke finally broke away and leaned her forehead against Sam’s, panting heavily.

"Brooke?" Sam asked quietly but Brooke covered her mouth with her hand.

"No questions tonight, Sam," she said as softly as Sam had said her name. "We’ll talk tomorrow, I promise." She kissed Sam again and then after giving Sam a loving smile, retreated into her room. Sam stood in the bathroom, shocked for several minutes before she remembered where her bedroom was. When she reached her bed, she collapsed onto it and cried herself to sleep.

**

Meanwhile, Lily decided she needed chocolate so she walked to the corner store. She hated walking at night but her mother had her car so she had no choice. She was on her way home when a familiar and unwelcome car pulled up beside her.

"Heya, Twinkie, whatcha doing walking this late at night? Earning extra cash?" Nicole asked. Lily rolled her eyes.

"Go away Nicole. I’m not at school therefore I don’t have to put up with you."

"OK, the prostitution crack was out of line, Lil, sorry," the apology stopped Lily in her tracks. (Did Nicole Julian just apologize to me?) She did a double take to make sure it was indeed Nicole Julian driving the expensive luxury car. (Yup, that’s Nic)

"What do you want, Nic? I’m not really in the mood for your unique brand of company," she warned. Nicole shrugged.

"Look, I just wanted to offer you a ride home, that’s all," Nicole explained. Lily stared at her like she’d sprouted an extra head.

"Excuse me? And what do you get out of it?" Nicole frowned.

"Nothing. Lily, it’s late and dangerous for someone like you to be out walking alone," Nicole said softly. Lily scoffed.

"Someone like me? What? Latina trash?" Nicole sighed.

"No, a pretty young girl. Jesus, Lily, hang a sign on your back that says `rape me’ for God’s sake, you’d be less obvious," Nic snapped. In Lily’s opinion, Nicole had just sprouted two more heads. (Pretty?)

"Uh." Lily stuttered.

"Taking articulation lessons from Spam, I see?" Nic joked. "Are you getting in the car or not?" Lily nodded.

"Ok, you have a point, Nicole. I’ll give you that," she climbed into the passenger’s seat. Nicole pulled the car back on the road.

"Great, but if you tell ANYONE at school I let you in my car, loser, I’ll skin you alive."