Unbroken Season 1

Chapter 5 The Dangling Conversation

“…You say you’re lonely, well I’ve been lonely too…”

R-R-Ringggggg!

Blue eyes looked up from the book that she was reading and swiftly riveted to the source of the noise coming from across the room. In a split second, the tall woman found herself holding her breath. A quick glance at her watch told Brooke that it was eight on the nose when the phone rang. With that realization, she knew who was calling or at least who it should be. Sam, but I thought…

R-R-Ringggggg!

There it went again, the shrill tone piercing the air like some cry in the night beckoning you to answer it. Brooke took in a breath finally and tried to swallow, but her mouth was so dry that the only thing she could think of was that damn camel, what’s his name, from the cigarette commercials plodding along in the Sahara Desert. Good God. And I’m supposed to talk to her?

R-R-Ringggggg!

The dark-haired woman closed her eyes and tried to calm her mind. She’d need a minute to settle her racing heart and catch her breath. Gosh, I never got this way before a gig. Slowly she rose out of the chair and found herself standing next to the obnoxiously noisy device.

R-R-Ringggggg!

She couldn’t believe how nervous she felt as she reached out an unsteady hand to answer the phone. Brooke stared down at the industrial-gray looking piece of everyday necessity, loathing the way it was making her feel. Damn it anyhow. She’s just a person. She’s only C.C.’s roommie. She’s….

R-R-Ringggggg!

Half-startled, the woman jumped at the noise, muttering to herself, “Oh, this is insane.” Brooke rolled her eyes and gulped one final time before she clutched the cordless phone up into her powerful hand, raising it to her ear.

“Hel…Hello,” she croaked out nervously.

R-R-Ringggggg!

She pulled the phone away, very much annoyed and nearly deaf from the loud ringing directly in her ear. Quickly focusing her attention to the buttons on it, Brooke angrily push the one marked ‘Phone’ with her finger, then switched hands as she raised it to her good ear.

“Brooke Gordon, Brownstone Records…” she got out in her best C.E.O. voice before she realized that she wasn’t at work. “Ah… I mean, Hello, Brooke speaking, may I help you?” Shit. That sounded like you don’t even know where you are. Now, pay attention and try to not look like an idiot, she mentally chastised herself as she waited to hear the voice on the other end.

The sound of soft laughter floated on the air as a smile graced the young woman’s face. “Hello, Brooke. It’s me, Sam.”

There was silence for a moment as Brooke stood in awe, letting the lilting voice sink in. “Ah… Hi, Sam,” she finally spoke. “I thought… I thought I was going to be the one calling you.”

Sam shifted her cell phone from one hand to the other before speaking as she settled into the fluffy comforter on her bed. “Well, that would’ve been alright too, but I never gave you my number.”

“Oh,” Brooke ran her free hand through her long, dark hair and sighed. Damn it, Brooke. You’re so out of practice with this sort of thing. You forgot to get her number. “Well, I…” her mind searched for an alternative. “Well, you did say chat room. I was going to try to get you online.”

“And if that didn’t work?” The blonde teased, wondering just how far the older woman would have gone to contact her.

“I…I would have called C.C.’s cell phone number.” Brooke nodded, proud of herself as she walked over to the steps leading to the second floor. In her mind she could hear the familiar sound of ‘Good answer, good answer’ that was indelibly written there from many years of watching the TV show, ‘Hollywood Squares’ during her childhood.

“Well, that might have gotten you C.C. but it wouldn’t have gotten you me,” Sam paused for effect, hearing dead silence on the other end. “She went out earlier on a date and I know she won’t be paying any mind to that stupid melody she has set for a ringer.”

“Yeah,” Brooke sighed. “I don’t think that a rousing rendition of ‘Ode to Joy’ would have her breaking any lip locks.”

Sam smiled as she thought about her roommate’s intensity of concentration when boys were in her close proximity. “You got that one right.”

There was laughter on both ends now as Brooke began feeling more comfortable with the younger woman, letting C.C. be their common ground. “So tell me about you, Sam. Where are you from and why haven’t I met you before?” The older woman asked out of the blue, surprising even herself.

The heat of a blush rushing up Sam’s neck made her drop back down onto her pillow, her free hand covering her eyes. Gosh, where to start? The blonde quickly gathered her thoughts and answered, “I’m born and raised a Virginian.”

“Well, that’s good, I mean…you didn’t sound like you had an accent or anything,” Brooke teased her. “So where have you been hiding at all this time?”

“Growing up, mostly with my parent’s and sister. That is until the last couple of years,” Sam’s voice grew distant on the last few words.

“So what’s so different about the last few years, besides your going to school?”

“I…ah…I’ve been living with my aunt and her family,” she slowly said, then perked up with the start of her next sentence. “But this year, I’m on my own here with your sister at the dorm.”

“So, you commuted then?”

“Yeah, I’d either ride the bus or I’d be bumming a ride with my Aunt Sandy or my cousin Crystal on their way into the hospital when our schedules would work out,” Sam mused. “It made for some pretty hectic years. That’s why I decided to live on campus this last year. I didn’t want to miss out on having a life this last time around. With all the studying, I figured that the time I spent on the bus could be put to better use.”

Brooke thought back to her days in college and had to agree. “You got that right. Your life really seems to take on new meaning during that year. I know mine did.” That was the year that we pushed our group into the spotlight. Boy, did that change my life forever.

“So did you stay at a dorm or were you one of the elite with a sorority house engagement?” Sam teased, knowing all too well that Brooke just didn’t fit in that mold.

“Well, as much as I’d like the view at the sorority house, you’re right, it wasn’t me.”

“So then we’re both sisters of the dorm?” Sam sat up on her bed wondering if Brooke could have lived in her dorm and one time. Perhaps even in this very room that she shared with C.C.

“Ah…that would be correct,” Brooke snickered. “Sigma Dorma Thi.”

“Ohhh…we’ll have to compare handshakes sometime,” Sam teased. “Just to see if things have changed since you were here.”

“Well, you know it’s been a while since my bones graced that hall. I bet a lot of things have changed since then.” The older woman searched her memory for things that were relevant to her day and age. “Yeah, back then it was rad to have your own pager.”

“Rad?” the blonde asked. “What’s rad?”

“Slang…ah…radical…cool…totally in,” Brooke offered, trying to answer the younger woman’s question.

“Oh, you mean, bad.”

“Bad, rad…so they changed one letter. It still means the same.” The brunette held the cordless phone with her shoulder and head as she stepped out of her jeans and folded them over a chair. Her shirt was next as she disrobed, making herself more comfortable in the privacy of her own bedroom.

“Yeah, it does. Only, Brooke,” Sam paused for a second or two then continued. “Pagers are out and cell phones are in.”

“Yeah, well, at least you don’t have to go running to find a unused pay phone to find out what they want.” Brooke shook her head remembering those days. “I don’t know what was worse, having the quarter in my hand, coming up empty on finding a phone or having any phone I wanted but no change to make the call.”

The older woman lounged in her bed, clad in a pair of boxers and a tank top. It was too warm during these late summer evenings to be concerned with more than that in her own home. The satin top sheet lay in a heap near the foot of the king-sized bed as she sat near the headboard with a pillow behind her back.

Sam laughed at the woman on the other end of the telephone line. “Too funny!”

Brooke smiled as she listened to the soft laughter coming through the receiver. “What’s so funny?”

“You,” was Sam’s simple reply, “I can see you trying to be so cool.”

“Cool? Why, whatever would you mean?”

Brooke walked over to her bedroom light and turned it off. The tall woman opened the French doors leading out onto her balcony to allow the flow of fresh air to cycle through her bedroom, and then she sat back down on her bed in the same position as before.

“You don’t have to be up on all the latest words and ‘in’ things, Brooke.”

“Damn good thing. I don’t understand half of the shit I hear,” the woman muttered.

The small talk that all new acquaintances draw on are the experiences of their lives. Brooke and Sam were no different from any other as they swapped stories, back and forth, and in the process received a small glimpse of what the other was about.

“Just be yourself, Brooke. You know, I have a feeling that there is more to you than meets the eye.”

Brooke laughed at Sam’s remark. “Are you sure you really want to know who I am?”

“Why don’t you let me decide that for myself? I’m willing to have a look-see. Face it tall, dark and ominous… you can’t hide for long from me.”

Brooke smiled at the determination of her new friend. “Ominous? That’s a new one.” Brooke tried to encourage the teasing banter from moments before as she heard Sam sigh.

“I take one look in your eyes and see lots of things…lots of wonderful things.”

“Oh yeah?” Brooke asked in a whisper. “Like what? What do you see?” she listened to Sam’s soft breathing as she waited for an answer.

“I’m sorry, Brooke. Maybe I’m getting way too personal here…but I see someone who has a lot of potential in many areas. You like to come off as the strong, bull-headed type but I see that it doesn’t last for long.”

The woman didn’t know whether to laugh at Sam’s observations or just blow them off. She did neither as she answered, “Hey, I am bull-headed. Just ask my Mom…”

“Yeah, nice try, but I know differently,” Sam cut her off.

“Oh really?” Brooke asked with renewed interest as she slouched down in her bed and drew lazy circles across the satin sheet under her fingertips.

“Oh yeah. I think that there is a whole other Brooke that you don’t let anyone see. Not even yourself sometimes.”

Sam waited for a response, becoming a little concerned when she didn’t get one. She was concerned that she had offended the older woman and that was the very last thing she wanted right now.

“Brooke? Are you still there?”

The sound of Brooke’s breathing filled the air for a moment then was followed by a sigh before she spoke quietly, “Yeah, I’m still here, Sam. And, you’re right. I’ll give you that. It’s just…someone I don’t care to visit.”

Hearing this, the blonde’s heart went out to the other woman, “You know, I think I’m here to find that Brooke and help her to live.”

“I see.” Brooke was happy to hear Sam’s quiet laughter, wondering what the young blonde was doing as they talked.

“I told you. Things happen for a reason, Brooke. It’s destiny. ” Sam spoke just as passionately about fate as Brooke had heard her talk about music.

Brooke found her voice cracking a little as she asked the question she desperately needed to hear an answer to, “Destiny? You…think that…I’m your destiny?”

“Let’s just say that it’s a possibility. Crazier things have happened, right?” Sam waited a moment before continuing, trying to gauge a reaction from Brooke. “It’s like I said in that email, Brooke: I’m not trying to rush anything here. I’m just saying that things will happen along the way to show us.”

“Okay. I see your point,” Brooke raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

Hearing the trepidation in the woman’s voice, Sam bit down on her lip before asking what was on her mind, “So, where do you think fate is taking us?”

Brooke thought about Sam’s question and answered as honestly as she could, “I’m not sure. I was never one to really think about fate, Sam.”

“Famous last words. It’s there whether you believe in it or not. It doesn’t really care,” Sam let a soft laugh escape her throat to try and take some edge off of the seriousness of their topic of conversation.

“You know, Sam… if you had told me the other Sunday at dinner that I’d be having this conversation with you about fate, I probably would have laughed my head off.” Brooke laughed at the mental image of Sam trying to convince her of all of this while sitting at her mother’s dinner table.

After a minute or so, she noticed that Sam hadn’t responded and sat up straight in bed, afraid that she had said something to bother the young woman. “Sam?”

“Don’t…don’t even say that you didn’t feel something then. I saw the looks that you were giving me. Those thoughtful looks.”

“I never said that I didn’t feel something,” Brooke corrected herself. “And you’re right…those looks were very thoughtful.”

Both women had to laugh at the flirtatious tone in Brooke’s voice.

The older woman shook her head. That was so obvious. Man, you are way out of practice with this sort of thing. Brooke raked her long fingers through her dark hair.

“What did you feel?” Sam asked, feeling like she was close to getting Brooke to open up to her about what went on inside that raven-covered head of hers.

“I felt…” Brooke chose her words carefully, “That’s just it. I felt… something. I felt that I should be on my best behavior,” Brooke grinned into the phone as Sam’s soft laughter replaced the silence on the other end.

“You are a tough one, Brooke. I can see that I’m going to have to work on that.”

“I felt curious,” Brooke admitted.

“Curious is good. How so?”

“I don’t know. Just wondering, who you are?’”

“That’s simple, Brooke. I’m me. Really, I’m nobody special. Just another one of the family.”

“No. I mean, who are you that you had this…power over me to make me feel something? To feel anything.”

Brooke was now becoming confused over her own reactions to Sam over the last few weeks. Other than her immediate family, Brooke had felt nothing at all for anyone or anything. Well, except for music. No extreme happiness or sorrows had entered her life. Nothing had touched her since that night in Detroit three years earlier. Not since…

“I thought that you felt it. I was right.” The woman reached out, took the now warm can of soda off the nightstand, and raised it to her lips to drink.

Sam’s voice broke the spell of bad memories Brooke had been reliving. She shook her head as if to clear it. “What did you think I would feel?”

“Feel? I thought you might…” suddenly Sam stopped. “No way, Brooke Gordon. You are not trapping me like that.”

Brooke was momentarily confused until she thought about what she had asked and realized what Sam had assumed she meant. It was easier for Brooke to just play along, “Damn,” she snapped her fingers loudly, “caught me didn’t you?”

“Trying to…I mean, ah…yeah,” Sam caught herself before revealing any more. She could almost hear the smile coming onto Brooke’s face.

“Little flustered there, Sam?” Brooke asked as she got comfortable once again by lying on her bed, this time, on the opposite side since the sheets were cooler.

“Maybe. You know, I’m not usually this outgoing… to just say what I think and feel.”

Brooke was surprised at the honest admission. “So tell me…what did you feel, Sam?”

“Well, to say the least…intrigued. You know, by your ability to slay dragons,” the blonde thought of how C.C. and Terri had portrayed the woman she was talking to on her first day at the dorm.

Brooke pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it as if it had grown two heads. She placed it back against her head, thoroughly confused and replied with, “Huh?”

Sam’s only response was to laugh and mumble out, “Nothing.”

After the laughter subsided a bit, she continued. “You made my heart go out to you at dinner the other Sunday, for being so steadfast in your life and not letting your mother force the issue on you. Well…not too much,” she chided.

“If she could see me now,” Brooke whispered to herself as she got out of her bed and walked out onto her balcony. Taking a seat on the wide rail, she positioned one knee pulled up near her chest with her back against the side of the house. The tall woman wrapped her left arm around her knee and stared off into the night sky.

“You mean something’s changed?”

Brooke was shocked to hear Sam’s question. She didn’t think she had spoken those words loud enough for Sam to hear her, but she was wrong.

“Uh…no. Ah…never mind,” she brushed the question off. “So, does this mean you’re my reward for being so insistent?”

It was now Sam’s turn to be confused, “Hmmm, reward? That means…” blonde brows furrowed as Sam looked out the only window in her room, searching for an answer. “What does that mean?”

“Nothing, never mind.”

“Brooke, you do know what they say about one that protests too much…don’t you?”

“What’s that?” Brooke asked as Sam giggled.

“Never mind. I got my answer. I can actually hear you better now. Where are you?”

“Sitting on the railing of my balcony, outside my bedroom. There’s a small breeze and it’s nice outside.”

“Wow, you have a balcony?” Sam asked. She had found herself wondering a couple of times during the week what kind of house Brooke would occupy.

“Yeah, I have a couple.”

Letting her mind wander through the house that Brooke was describing, Sam closed her eyes and tried to imagine it.

Opening her eyes, the young woman wondered where the evening had vanished and the night arrived. The last remnants of the sun were gone and the dorm room was growing dark. Crossing over to the other side of the room, the young blonde gazed longingly out her window, letting her eyes fix on the slight twinkle of the night’s first star.

There she made a silent wish, praying that it would come true. Please, God. Don’t let this just be my imagination. I’d really like to get to know her better.

Realizing that she had tiptoed around her thoughts long enough, Sam needed to have some clue as to how Brooke felt, and soon.

Gulping back her fear, she decided the time was now. “So, tell me, Brooke…honestly…is this going to be a cat and mouse game or what?”

Brooke considered just letting the question slide as if she hadn’t heard it, but she was tired of pretending. Pretending she didn’t need anybody, pretending she was happy, and pretending that she didn’t care about Sam. Within the span of a few weeks’ time, the young blonde had wormed her way behind all of Brooke’s defenses.

“I don’t think I want to play cat and mouse,” Brooke admitted softly.

Her honesty surprised Sam, “Oh? So, does that mean you’re going to ask me out or not?”

“Well, unless my memory is really whacked, I thought we went out last Friday night a week ago.”

“Oh, that was a date? A real date? Three minutes notice and you call that a date?” Sam couldn’t resist teasing Brooke.

Pausing to think for a moment, the older woman had to agree. “No, actually it wasn’t. Sam, would you go out with me?”

The blonde stood up, staring at the phone, stunned. She had meant for her previous words to be a joke but Brooke had taken them to heart.

“Me?” her voice was soft and somewhat shaky sounding. “You’re asking me out?”

Brooke smiled at the shocked tone in Sam’s voice, “Unless there’s someone else talking to me on my phone named Sam.” The older woman paused adding a little drama to the situation, then added, “Yes, I would like it very much if you’d go out with me.” Brooke chuckled to herself, “You know, you had the same reaction when I asked you about the movie last Friday night.” Please say ‘yes’, Sam. Please say ‘yes’.

“Nope, just me. No matter how you spell it, Sam is my name. And yes, I’d love to go out with you. Just let me know when and where.”

Brooke was so excited that the idea of jumping up and down on her balcony in the moonlight seemed perfectly reasonable. However, priding herself on her adulthood, she refrained from doing so.

“How about next Sunday? I mean, it’s been a while since I’ve actually been on a date but we can go wherever you’d like. Whatever you’d like to do.”

If it were actually possible to hear someone smile, this would be the case. Sam could hear the happiness in Brooke’s voice, ecstatic that she was responsible for putting it there, bringing a grin to her own.

“Next Sunday sounds great,” the blonde fought to contain her own joyous emotions. “So…you haven’t been out with anyone in a while?” Sam asked, not trying to be nosey. The blonde wanted to absorb everything there was to know about the woman she had been speaking to for over the last two hours.

“No, nothing that would be considered a date.”

“Don’t feel bad. You don’t get asked on many dates where I come from. I mean…you would, I’m sure but…”

Brooke cut her off, “Sam, I find it hard to believe that you didn’t have them lining up at your door.” Her voice grew softer than normal as she admitted, “I know I’d have been the first in line had I known of you.”

“That’s very sweet of you, Brooke, and I would have liked that very much. But remember I told you that I wasn’t the most popular. And, well…it would have been kind of hard explaining this line of women outside my door when my parents didn’t know at the time that I was gay. I mean…I’m not saying that I’ve never been out,” the irony of that line at that particular time made Sam laugh. “No pun intended.”

Brooke laughed as well before growing serious again. “Can I ask you something, Sam?”

“Sure, anything,” Sam answered without missing a beat.

“Why did you find it so hard to believe that I wanted to go out with you?” Brooke listened for an answer. Even as good as her hearing was, she had to strain to hear Sam’s quiet voice.

“You just seem so…I don’t know…more adventurous than to settle for someone like me. I mean, let’s face it, Brooke, you’ve got way more experience here than I do.”

“Settle? Sam, I would never settle for you. If I want to be with you then, I’ll be with you. I don’t consider that settling at all.” The last thing Brooke wanted was for Sam to believe that they would only be spending time together until someone better came along.

Sam’s soft snort of laughter came across the line, “Funny, isn’t that the word your mother kept using…trying to settle you down? I really don’t think that you’ll ever settle down. You’re like an unbroken horse…wild and tame, all at the same time. Maybe that’s what is attracting me to you.”

Brooke remained silent, letting everything Sam had said sink in. As long as ‘something’ is attracting you to me.

“You’re awfully quiet, Brooke. I hope I haven’t offended you.”

“No, not at all. Just making me think,” Brooke said quickly.

“Think about what? Something good, I hope?”

“Oh, yeah. It’s good. I just keep thinking about how I’ve tried to blow my mother off of her one true obsession and turned around and ran right smack into you,” Brooke smiled into the phone, more than a little disappointed that Sam was not there to see it.

“Fate, huh?” Sam asked, curious as to what Brooke’s response would be.

“I guess so, Sam. I believe it might just be. So…anything in particular you’d like to do?” Brooke steered the conversation to their upcoming date. She stood up from the rail and walked back into her bedroom, closing the balcony doors after she was inside.

“How about something with music? It seems to be our common ground,” Sam suggested.

“Okay…” she thought for a moment. “Like what?”

Brooke made her way downstairs to get something to drink. She realized that all of their talking and soul bearing had made her thirsty. Grabbing a bottle of water out of the fridge, she ran back up the stairs.

“Hey, I only know stuff around the campus. I defer to you.”

Brooke thought about what they could do as she re-entered her bedroom. She sat down on the bed, taking a drink from her water bottle.

“Well, other than the studio, I really couldn’t tell you where we could go. C.C. would probably have a better idea. The only time I really go to any bars now is when I’m out of town, scouting.”

“Well, actually, bars are kind of out of the question anyway. I won’t be 21 for another month or so. But, you mentioned your studio. You have any good music to listen to?” Sam rolled her eyes at the absurdity of the question that just left her lips. Of course she’ll have good music, idiot. She smacked her palm on her forehead and sank down onto the bed.

“I’m sure I do. As a matter of fact, I have some new stuff I just mixed down last week.”

“Well, there you go. That sounds cool. Hey, what do you say to me packing us a dinner and we’ll eat in?” Sam suggested.

“We can do that,” Brooke agreed immediately. At least she doesn’t expect me to cook. There is a God. Looking up to the heavens, she mouthed the words, ‘Thank you.’

“Well, if I’m doing the dinner, let’s put you in charge of the entertainment.”

“Okay, I think I can manage that.”

“Think you can keep me amused?” Sam asked, the flirtatious tone back in her voice after its absence for the last few moments.

“I’m sure I can think of something,” Brooke replied, flirting just as much as the blonde on the opposite end of the phone line. “It’s a long drive to the house from the campus. Sure you’re up to it? What time should I pick you up?”

Sam stumbled over her words. It had never occurred to her that Brooke’s studio would be at her house. Could she handle being that attracted to Brooke…that close to Brooke’s hidden thoughts and dreams? “Oh, the studio is in your house?”

“Yeah, C.C. didn’t tell you? Is that a problem?” Brooke cleared her throat, thinking of what her invitation sounded like. “We could do something else…go somewhere else, if you’d feel more comfortable.”

“No, it’s perfectly fine, but it puts a whole new spin on dinner then. Pick me up about five in the afternoon or so,” she paused for a moment considering all that her roommate had told her about her siblings. “And no, C.C. isn’t too giving when it comes to you.”

Laughter erupted from deep in Brooke’s throat, “That’s funny. She always seems to be trying to pawn me off on somebody.”

“Oh really?” Sam asked, wondering if there would be a story to hear.

“Oh yeah. I’ll tell you about it sometime.”

“Speaking of C.C., what should I tell her if she asks where I’m going?” Sam felt lucky that she had this much time to talk to Brooke as it was.

“Like I said that night after we kissed, Darlin’…tell her whatever you’d like.”

Sam’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of the endearment that had just passed over Brooke’s lips, landing in her direction. The emotion she felt at this moment made her pause.

“Honestly, Brooke, I think it should be our secret for now. I mean, if that’s okay with you,” the blonde crossed her fingers, shutting her eyes tightly as she made the wish. Oh please, please, please.

“That’s fine. I understand.”

A sigh was heard coming from the phone, giving Brooke an idea. Thinking about it quickly, she decided to run it past Sam and see if she would agree to it. “What time is your first class on Monday, Sam?”

“Why?” Sam drew her eyebrows together at the strange question.

“Just wondering. Do you think my sister will place a curfew on you?”

Brooke took another drink of her water as she adjusted the pillows under her head, waiting for an answer. Upon hearing the dead silence on the other end, her stomach turned and her nervousness began to develop. Damn, she’s going to think I’m up to something. Just when Brooke was ready to apologize for any misconception of what she was asking, she heard Sam clear her throat, then stop before she uttered her first word. “Sam?”

“Well, I think she might miss me if I’m not here on Sunday night. Why?” the younger woman asked, not seeming ill at ease in the least.

“Understandable. I was just wondering what time I should have you back. That way I’d have an idea of what to plan. I mean, I just want to make sure that we’ll actually be able to spend some time together.”

“Plan? Sounds like you’re really putting some thought and effort into this,” Sam pointed out, innately pleased that Brooke was as anxious about their date next week as she was.

“You have no idea,” Brooke stated, wanting their next meeting to be perfect for what little bit of time they would have in each other’s company.

“You know, Brooke, I could always tell C.C. that I was headed home and won’t be coming in till my first class on Monday,” Sam tested the waters. “I mean if you’d like…”

“That would be a great idea,” came back the eager reply. “So, what should we plan on for dinner?” Brooke asked.

“That depends. I mean, will we need something to sustain us or something for a quick energy boost?”

“Mmmm…Good question,” Brooke all but purred into the phone, causing Sam’s eyes to roll at the very sound of it. “Who knows? Tell you what, I’ll pick you up at five next Sunday afternoon and we’ll stop by the store to grab a few things. We’ll see what we’re in the mood for,” the woman could feel her dark eyebrows wiggling in delight, “Or…we can always order in.”

“Oh, no. I have a feeling that I already know what I’ll be in the mood for.”

“Oh yeah? And…ah…what would that be?” Brooke was dying to know what had just popped into the blonde’s head.

“Nuh-uh…Let’s just keep that as my surprise.”

All sorts of images were running through Brooke’s mind at the moment and she once again could only come to the conclusion that Sam really did drive her to distraction.

“Well, bring an overnight bag with you. If you get tired, you can crash here. I have plenty of room. But if you think it’s a bomb and I’m the most horrible date you’ve ever had, I’ll take you home. Either way, you’ll be prepared.”

“Oh, I’ll be prepared. Don’t worry about that.”

“Who say’s I’m worried? I mean, just because I no longer have any fingernails left.”

Sam’s laughter filled the air and warmed Brooke’s heart for what seemed to be the thousandth time that night.

“You are too funny, Brooke.”

“I try,” was Brooke’s simple response but exactly what Sam needed to hear.

“That’s all I’m hoping for,” Sam whispered into the phone as the door to her room opened and C.C. walked in.

“Hey there, Sam.” C.C. crossed to the closet and hung her purse on the doorknob. “So who’s got your ear?” the willowy brunette motioned toward the phone in Sam’s hand.

Sam smiled at her roommate and waved, “Hi, C.C.,” she turned her attention back to the phone in her hand. “Yes, Aunt Sandy. That’s my roommate coming in now. Yes, Auntie, I’ll be home next Sunday for sure.”

Brooke had to hold the phone away from her mouth as she giggled at Sam’s cover up.

“Five then?” Brooke asked behind her giggles.

“Yes, I’ll be careful. About five, yeah, that sounds good.”

“I’ll pick you up out in front of the dorm then.”

“No,” Sam snapped, “that’s okay, Aunt Sandy. I’ve got the key for the back door. Is that okay?”

Brooke wondered how much she could get away with as ‘Auntie’. “That’s fine. Will you have a kiss for Auntie?” she couldn’t help but tease Sam.

“Always,” was her response and Brooke could swear that Sam’s voice dropped about an octave.

There would be no more games tonight Brooke thought as she glanced at the clock, noticing that it was after eleven. I’ll be damned. Where did that time fly to? She amazed even herself knowing that she had never talked to anyone on the phone for longer than ten minutes at a time. What’s happening here? She had no idea. Startled by her unusual behavior, she forced herself to draw the conversation to an end. “Then I can’t wait. Sweet dreams, Sam.”

“Give a big hug and kiss to that teddy bear of mine. Let it know how much I miss it so it won’t get lonely.”

C.C. giggled at her roommate, shaking her head in disbelief. “I don’t know any aunt of mine that would do that for me at eleven at night, much less be on the phone. That Auntie of yours must be some kind of night owl.” She pulled off her outer clothing and lay down on her bed, quickly drifting off to sleep.

“Next Sunday just can’t get here fast enough, Sam,” Brooke spoke softly into the phone.

“Yeah, I know.”

“I’ll meet you at the back door. I’ll be waiting for you, Darlin’.”

There it was again that endearment that Brooke used before and Sam could feel the fluttering sensation once more in her chest as it was said. She regained her composure more quickly this time and whispered, “So will I. Bye,” she hesitantly hit the end button and rested back on her pillow trying to calm her racing heart, hoping that she could sleep.

Gazing down at the phone for a long minute, Brooke hit the disconnect button and placed it on her nightstand. She turned off her lamp and stretched out on the bed, praying that sleep would come swiftly and carry her well into next weekend. It would be a while but Brooke would realize later that her friend, Sleep, would not stop in for a visit with her this night. Instead, her mind raged with thoughts of what this ‘Auntie’ would actually like to being doing.