~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sam raced into the cafeteria during lunch and spotted Sera instantly.
"Sera!!!"
"Hey Sam........what's up?"
"Not much...........what are you doing after school?"
"Nothing, why?"
"Wanna go shopping with me?"
"Whatcha lookin' for?"
"A prom dress."
"What? I thought you weren't going! Who are you going with?"
"Nick."
"YOU ASKED HIM!," Sera shrieked.
"NO! He asked me..."
"It's about time!"
"No.....he asked me to go as a friend."
Sera's face fell, "Oh I'm sorry Sam. Geez, Nick is dumb!!! Look, we'll get you the best dress and you'll look so good, he'll have to finally open his damn eyes!"
Sam just smiled at her friend and they made plans to meet after school.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Nick anxiously sat through one class after another. As soon as the lunch bell rang, he bolted for the nearest phone booth.
"Come on....pick up....pick up....."
"Hello?"
"Brian!?"
"Yea.......what do you want Nick? Aren't you supposed to be in school?"
"I am in school."
"Then why are you calling me?"
"Well.......I asked Sam to prom!"
"You did!! Way to go man! What did she say?"
"She said yes."
"Congrats my boy. So, you finally coming to terms with the fact that you like her?"
"I asked her to go as my friend Brian, nothing else."
"You didn't tell her that did you?"
"Yea....."
"Man Nick!! You've got a lot to learn about women."
"What are you talking about?"
"Nevermind."
"Okay........anyways, you wanna come with me to get a tux on Friday?"
"Sure."
"Cool.....shit, lunch is almost over, gotta go. Oh, you guys still coming over tonight?"
"Yea, we'll see you at 5. Later."
Hanging up, Nick ran and grabbed a quick bite to eat and then headed back to class.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sam and Sera ran full speed into Sam's house while Sam screamed.
"MOM!!!"
Stephanie came running down the stairs in a panic.
"What's wrong??"
"Mom, I need money and I need it now!"
"Excuse me?"
"Sam!! Breathe!! And think about what you're going to say before you say it, cuz judging by the look on your mom's face, you're about an inch from being grounded for life."
"Oh.....I'm sorry mom. Sera and I are going shopping to find a prom dress. Can I please have some money in case I find one I really like? Please???"
"Oh, so you decided to go.......with whom?"
Sam looked at the ground so Sera answered fro her.
"Nick!!"
"You're going to prom with Nick?"
"Yea......"
Stephanie smiled and walked over to her purse. When she came back, she handed Sam her credit card.
"Here, take this. Now, if you see a dress you really like, buy it! Don't worry about the price. Also, get your shoes, accessories and whatnot."
Sam gave her mom a big hug, "Oh thank you!!"
Grabbing Sera, they both ran back out front. Stopping short, Sam turned to Sera.
"Would you mind if I asked BJ to come? She's really good at this sort of thing."
"No, lets go."
Both of them hopped the fence and ran to the door. Sera beat her and knocked.
"What are you knocking for?"
Before Sera could answer Nick opened the door.
"Hey! Why'd you knock Sam? Usually you just walk in."
"Sera knocked, not me. Is BJ here?"
"Yea.......why?"
"Cuz I have to talk to her," Sam said pushing past Nick and heading up to BJ's room. Reaching her door, Sam knocked and waited.
"Yea?? Oh hey Sam. What's up?"
"Are you busy?"
"No, why?"
"Will you come with me and Sera to help me find a prom dress?"
"Really??"
"Yea!"
"Of course, lets go!"
BJ grabbed her purse and they took off downstairs. Grabbing Sera, they headed outside.
"Tell mom I'll be back later Nick!!"
"Where are you guys going?"
All three turned around and yelled "NOWHERE!!" before turning back around and giggling.
Nick shut the door and walked into the living room. Sitting down he wondered where the girls had gone and why they wouldn't tell him. He was still sitting there when the guys arrived to practice. Since they'd been coming over so much, they didn't even bother knocking.
"Hey Nick!" they all called out.
"Hey....."
"Uh oh.....Nick, you've got that 'I've been thinking' look. What's wrong?"
"Nothing Bri..."
"Oh stop lying. You were estatic when you called at lunch and now you look depressed."
"I'm not depressed.........just curious."
"About what?"
"Well, Sam and Sera came over, grabbed BJ and left. And they refused to tell me wehre they were going."
All of the guys busted out laughing. They all calmed down after Nick shot them angry glances.
"Nick........you just asked the girl to prom! She's probably out looking for a dress doofus!"
A look of realization washed over Nick's face.
"Duh!! Oh man, I never even thought of that! But why wouldn't she tell me then?"
"I don't know Nick......it's a girl thing. Lets go practice. We gotta get ready for Saturday."
The rest of the guys dragged Nick down to the basement to rehearse.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Come on guys.........lets just go home. We can go back out this weekend! We've already hit two malls!!"
Both BJ and Sera turned and yelled, "NO!"
"Why is it so important to you two that I find the perfect dress!?"
"Because!! This is what's going to get you and Nick together!"
"You're wrong BJ. I'm going with Nick as a friend, no more."
"When did he ask you to prom?"
"This morning......why?"
"I knew it!! Okay, last night the phone rang and me and Nick picked it up at the same time. The call was for him but I decided to listen in for a bit....."
"BJ!!! You were eavesdropping!!??"
"Yes!! So what, the boy reads my diary! Anyway, do you know Cynthia Myers?"
"Cynthia Myers? You mean, Ms. Perfect? Perfect hair, teeth, skin, body and incredibly nice?"
"Yup, that's her. Anyway, it was her on the phone.......and she asked Nick to prom!"
"What?!"
"She called and asked him to go with her. And he said 'No, I'm going with Sam' and then she said, why would you wantt o go to prom with a platonic friend?"
"Yes?? What did he say?!"
"He said......and I quote! "Me and Sam aren't platonic anymore."
"What!!! Are you kidding me? BJ are you lying?"
"NO!! I'm serious!! That's what he said!!! Trust me Sam, he likes you, he's just too scared to make a the first move."
Sam sat back and grinned. With that in mind, they headed to the last mall with renewed energy.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After rehearsing for a couple of hours, the guys were sitting around talking and goofing off.
"So Nick, you finally asked her? Now I've got a question. Prom is like the one night in a guys life where he can almost always score. So why woul dyou want to go with your best friend?" AJ asked slyly.
"Well for one, I'm not going to prom to score. I'm going to I can have fun and I know me and Sam will have fun."
"So, to make a long story short, no one asked you?"
Before Nick could answer, the door opened and Nick groaned upon seeing who it was.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sam, Sera and BJ were all becoming tired and discouraged. This was the third mall they had been to and they were almost out of stores.
"Come on Sam, there's one place left, then we'll give up for the night."
Sam wearily nodded and followed BJ into a classy looking shop. All three girls split up and about 20 minutes later they ran together when BJ squealed.
"What? What is it?!"
"This is it Sam!!" she cried holding up a dress, "This is it!! Go try it on!!"
Sam gingerly held the dress and a saleslady showed her to the dressing rooms. When she stepped out a few minutes later, everyone stared at her in surprise.
"What?? Did I put it on backwards or soemthing!?"
Sera and BJ just shook their heads andt hey continued to stare wide-eyed.
"Excuse me, "a saleslady said stepping up to the group, "I think they're in shock because you look absolutely gorgeous. That dress was made for you!"
"Yea Sam!! It's perfect!! Nick is going to be head over heels for you!!!"
"BJ! I don't want Nick to be head over heels because of a dress!"
"Sam.........let me explain this to you. Nick likes you! He's got the hots for you, but whenever he thinks of you like that, there's a little voice in the back of his head reminding him of the times you two played in the dirt together. He needs to get over that mental hurdle and it's going to take seeing you look this good and sexy for him to realize it's okay to like you like that."
Everyone stared at BJ like she was insane.
"How'd you get so smart BJ?"
"Well look at who's in my family Sam!! Someone had to be the smart one!"
This had them all cracking up and they didn't stop until a saleslady interrupted them.
"Woud you like the dress miss?"
All three of them turned to her and nodded. After changing and putting the damage on her mom's credit card, they headed off and got her shoes and accessories. They also made stops to make her hair and nail appointments. BJ had already offered to do her make-up. Once that was all done, they headed home, finally!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Oh, someone asked him alright."
The guys looked up as BJ walked in the room. Nick groaned and put his head in his hands.
"Hey BJ!"
"Hey guys."
"So BJ, do come in and tell the dirt on Nicky here."
"Sure Brian. Lets see, a Miss Cynthia Myers asked Nick to prom last night."
"Oh she did Nick?" Brian asked looked at him.
"Yea.........and he said No, cuz he was going with Sam...........and it gest better. She asked why he would want to go with a platonic friend......"
"That was my question," AJ interrupted.
"Nick, would you like to tell them your answer or shall I?" BJ asked.
All the guys looked over at Nick who was laying on a couch with a pillow over his head.
"Okay, I'll tell them. He said, and I quote....."me and Sam aren't platonic anymore."
All the guys looked over at Nick, then got up and pounced on him. After a few minutes of wrestling around, Nick sat up.
"Okay!! Yes I said that!! BJ, I hope you realize I will get revenge!"
"Yea right Nick! Now when are you going to get your tux?"
"Friday, why?"
"Cuz I've been told I have to go. This way I can make sure you don't get one that clashes with Sam's dress."
"She got a dress?"
"Yup."
"What does it look like?"
"You'll have to wait until prom to see."
"You suck BJ!"
BJjust smiled and ran out the door seconds before a pillow ht it. The guys went back to torturing Nick.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sam had hidden her dress in the back of her closet. She didn't want anyone to see it until prom. She still couldn't get over what BJ had told her. BJ had also told her that she might have to make the first move because she doubted if Nick would have the guts. That's what she was thinking about when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Sam? It's Nick."
"Hey, what's up?"
"Nothing.........just managed to kick the guys out."
"How did rehearsal go?"
"Oh fine........."
"Nervous about Saturday?"
"Yea, a little....."
"Don't sweat it Nick. You've got a great voice, you'll do fine."
"Thanks......"
There was a lovely pause as they both just sat there.
"So.....is there any particular reason you called Nick?"
"Well, I wanted to know where you wanted to go to for dinner for prom? Also.....what does your dress look like?"
"I don't care where we eat.......and I'm not telling."
"Oh come on!! Why not?!"
"Cuz, you'll just have to wait and see."
"You know, you and BJ both suck!"
"Oh come on Nick!! Quit complaining! Prom isn't that far away. I take it BJ is torturing you with the knowledge of the dress then?"
"Yea."
"Okay, well this conversation is pointless."
"No it's not."
"And why is that?"
Nick started stumbling over his words.
"I dunno.....it just isn't. So where do you want to eat?"
"I don't care Nick. Pick a place."
"You know if I pick a place we're eating pizza!"
"Okay, let your mom pick a place."
"Okay."
"Look Nick, as much as I'm enjoying this conversation, I have to go. I have to take a shower before I go to sleep and finish some homework."
"Hmm....."
"What???"
"Just the mental images you're making me think of."
"You are disgusting Nick! You are such a pervert!"
"Yea I know, that's why ya love me!"
"Yea right!"
"Okay, I'll let you go. I'm sure I'll see you before the show, but if not I'll see you Saturday morning. G'night."
"G'night."
Sam hung up and leaned against her pillows. She didn't know what to make of the light bantering they had just done. With most people it would be flirting.....but with Nick, who knew. Sam hurried through her shower and homework and headed off to sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Nick hung up the phone and grinned. He had been serious when he was talking about the mental images. He could easily picture Sam in the shower. Shaking his head to clear that image, Nick decided to actually do his homework before heading to bed. He was actually anticipating prom now. As he laid down, that mental image of Sam in the shower refused to leave him alone, and therefore he fell asleep dreaming about her.