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Sammy and Nick get out of the school and head for Sammy's house.  He calls his folks to let them know he's okay and that he'll be home later than usual.  "I remember what happened.  When I heard the other people giving their statements, I figured I should play along.  I remember everything though.  I just want to say that you've been great to me through this whole thing, so thank you."

"Everything?" she asks, wondering exactly how much of everything that means.  Does that mean he saw her move through the crowd, and noticed when she put Colin's hand on her chest causing the wings and the spirits... "OK.  Then you remember that the stuff in the air didn't affect me, right?  I wanted to try to get us out of there, and saying what I said... it was the easiest way to keep you with me.  But here's the deal; you probably don't know this,  but I was affected by love goo once.  It made me say and do things that weren't how I'd normally behave.  So when I saw what was happening with you... when someone kisses me, I want it to be because he means it, not because something is making him do it.  I want it to be real and honest and true.  So I kept you as safe as I could, and gave you back your free will.  OK?"

Nick looks at the ground for a few paces as they walk, "Friday, felt so perfect.  Was that love-goo too?  I felt that I might be really attracted to you before the kiss on Friday, so, was that real?"

Nick isn't the only one looking at the ground.  Sammy quietly replies, "As far as I know, it was just you and me and the music."

"That's good right, then, if things were to change.  If you weren't with Elrod, maybe you and I could be.  Not that you'd want to or that I don't want you two together.  It's just nice to know that maybe, if things are different, we could be more than friends too.  You know?"

"Things might be getting different," is her quiet reply.  "I wouldn't have been able to kiss you like that if there wasn't something behind it.  It was enough to make me notice.  Enough to make me think about it a lot."

"I thought things between you two were good?  You want to talk about it?  I know this sounds crazy, but I'm here if you want to talk.  Okay?"

"Things aren't bad, its just not..." Sammy wonders at the wisdom of talking about an existing relationship with the guy who might just be partially, or at least indirectly, responsible for ending it.  "I'm sorry.  He's a good guy, and at the very least he's my very good friend.  We're just starting to go in different directions, that's all, and I'm feeling the split happen sooner than he is.  Just so you know, he didn't send those guys after you.  I have that on very good authority."

"Ok, I'll take your word for it, considering what happened in the auditorium, I'll believe you when you say Elrod didn't send those guys."  He looks around a minute, then sighs, "Have you told him what you're feeling, about the split and different directions thing?  Maybe he just needs to know."

"I started to, and bungled it up.  I don't think he wants to think about it.  I know he doesn't want me to think about it."  She looks at him carefully.  ""Considering what happened in the auditorium"... did you know about it beforehand?  Or did you just figure it out today?"

"Ah, that you had strange friends?  That was just today.  You seem kind of unlucky though.  Stuff always seems to happen around you.  Maybe I should keep my distance."  He says the last part with a smile

She smiles in return.  "Maybe you should.  I am kind of a disaster magnet.  But you'll never get bored."  The smile fades.  "I'll do what I can to keep you safe."

"Thanks.  I'll hold you to that.  So, we do the concert with the kiss at the end.  Then we see what happens.  I just want you to know that I'm here for you, if you ever need someone to talk to, or not talk even.  We can sit around and watch movies, eat popcorn, you know."

"Yeah, I know.  I wouldn't want us to stop hanging around together just because the winter concert is over."  She stops walking and gives him a hug. "Thanks."

OOC: End here?

Sammy and Nick walk the rest of the way to Sammy's house.  She introduces him to her parents as "Nick, the guy I'm doing the song with at the concert."  Mom knows about the kissing thing, and Dad knows if Mom told him.  Sammy's sister Stephanie knows because she saw the video with everybody else in the school.  After a couple of minutes of explanation, Mom agrees to give him a ride home.  Somehow Mom makes sure that a frozen, holiday-wrapped loaf of banana bread finds its way into Nick's belongings, and he gets a verbal invitation (from Mom) to drop by during the holidays if he is going to be in town.  She and Sammy drive him home.

On the ride back, Sammy asks her Mom about the Grandmother thing that Colin wants to do.  Mom is uncomfortable with the idea, and says only that she needs to think about it for a while before saying yes or no.  That generally means "No, and I don't want to discuss it right now" in Mom-speak.

OOC:  i's dotted, t's crossed, loose end tied.  I'm ready to close the thread now.