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Minutes after the dismissal bell, Sammy shows up at the front door of the school to meet Breanna and walk over to the Tasty Dog.

Breanna emerges after the crushing masses.  She's navigating the steps with her cane and Sammy realizes it's one of the rare moments someone who doesn't know her can tell she's blind.  She makes her way to the last step and and looks over in Sammy's direction.  "Sammy?"

Sammy moves away from the stair wall.  "Hey Breanna.  Did you know I was over here or did you just guess? Are you ready to go?"

"I remember your perfume, like a spring rain."

After they've walked a little ways Breanna puts her hand on Sammy's shoudler, saying in a low tone.  "At lunch, when you introduced yourself.  I didn't know if the others weren't supposed to know that you saved me or not.  I wasn't gonna say anything about how we got down from the roof, because I really didn't see that part of the trip."

Sammy decides to keep mum on the others' abilities.  They can divulge or not as they choose.  "That's usually a wise plan," she says noncommittally.  "You never know who's paying attention." They walk a few more yards.  "Promise not to freak out?  I flew you down from the roof.  That's how we got away from there."

Breanna nods, "Okay.  That removes the doubts about my sanity.  This is a good thing.  So."  She says, changing the subject, "You're dating Elrod.  That must be interesting.  The whole Freshman-Senior thin g is cool with your folks?"

"It wasn't at first, but he seems to be cool with my mom now, and probably Dad too.  He proved himself worthy the day you and I were both hospitalized.  I think he wants to be adopted by my folks, because he keeps telling me what a great family I have.  His is a little messed up.  He's stuck playing keeper for his twin sister because his folks are always away on business.  I feel bad for him.  I kind of feel bad for her too.  But yeah, he's a pretty great guy, and I have no idea how this freshman got so lucky.  I'm going to miss him when he leaves."  There's a wistfulness to Sammy's voice, coupled with acceptance.

"Well.  Some guy named Bill rants about how it's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved.  But, I can't for the life of me ever remember if her was married or not."

"I think I know who you're talking about, and yeah, he was, but he was only around long enough to get his wife pregnant a couple of times then he was gone again with some new special friend.  Kind of like that Federline guy.  Still know where we are, or do you want a way mark?"

"I think I'm good.  The pace count is still in my head, and I can smell food so we must be getting close."

"You smell the air coming out of the kitchen ventilation system.  The smell of cooking meat travels pretty far, doesn't it?  But yeah, we're not so far."  She walks a few more paces.  "You must be really super smart to be able to keep all of your navigation in your head, and do math without seeing it."

"Mom says I'm a gifted person, which I'm sure is momspeak for I love you even though you break more dishes than a herd of buffalo.  You get used to the navigation thing after a while.  Counting is a pain, so I try to use songs or playlists that match the time it takes to go from one place to another.  Like the walk from my last class to hear is about three minutes and thirty seconds.  I choose 3 Doors Down, Going Down in Flames as the song to get me here from there and I'm good."

"It's still impressive.  OK, we're next to the school parking lot near the corner of Lake and Scoville now.  I'm going to stick to the sidewalk rather than cut through, ok?"  They get to the corner and turn right to proceed along Lake St. 

"So gifted girl, since you know about my secret, want to help?  Its actually something that you should be really good at anyhow since you have to lean on your other senses.  If you ever hear a lot of bees, or even just one where it shouldn't be at this time of year, tell me or El.  There's a nutjob at school who raises bees somewhere in the building.  I'm  trying to find him.  He has an unhealthy obsession with me, and I'm really afraid he's going to try to hurt Elrod.  You don't have to do anything but raise an alarm, but you don't even have to do that if you don't want to get involved.  Interested?"

"Sure.  It's the least I can do.  I'd have probably fallen down the stairs and broken my neck if you hadn't come along. "  They continue along and Breanna takes out her phone and listens to a text message.  "Parents."  She says as she replies, "Mom is a doctor, and I have to program the DVR to record shows for her.  Sometimes I think they had children just to have someone to run errands for them."

This elicits a giggle from Sammy.  "I know.  My mom is always yelling about how when she grew up, they only had an antenna on the roof that let them see 4 channels and two of those were snowy.  There were also no cell phones, no personal computers, no answering machines and somehow in spite of the hardships they 'all survived'  That's usually after she's been defeated by the remote for the tv.  Its a good thing she married my geek dad.  We have to be careful of him though; he likes to take things apart, and sometimes when he's done putting them back together there are extra pieces.  That's always fun."

As they walk down Lake Street, the smell coming from Tasty Dog gets stronger.

"We're getting closer.  The place looks packed as usual.  I hope Elrod has saved us some seats."

When the pair get inside Sammy can spot Elrod easily.  He's in a booth, by himself, doing some homework and munching on fries.

"Ooh, there he is."  Sammy leads Breanna over to the table, slides into the seat next to Elrod and kisses him on the cheek.  "Hey you."

After the initial pleasantries are exchanged and the waitress takes Sammy and Breanna's orders, Sammy looks around.  "Hey, there's Sylvia and Donnie over there.  I wonder if he's asking her out to Homecoming again."

"Again?"  Elrod asks.  "Do I want to know?"

"He forgot to re-ask her after they reached a... truce?  an agreement?  I'm not exactly sure.  Maybe you don't want to know.  Maybe I don't either.  Maybe I just want my coke and my chili dog and some of your fries..."

Elrod nods.  "I think it's great that they're together, even if it's bumpy.  It'll do wonders for his confidence and that can't be bad."

Sammy replies "I hope so.  His confidence is awfully fragile.  It was damned hard work patching him back together again after those two blew up at each other that one night.  It did a number on my own emotions too.  That's why I was so angry at him at first when he walked right back into it.  I thought he was just setting himself up for more pain, and I didn't want to have to be the one holding the tube of superglue again -- fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, you know?  Then I saw the way he looked at her, and I realized he couldn't help it.  He'd be hurting if he didn't try again.  So I let it go, I mean, the part about me being angry.  That's the only part I could control anyhow."

"That's sweet."  Elrod says, "Or you harbor a secret love for Donnie."  He smiles, "I should tell him.  It's only fair he knows he's got two hot chicks to choose from."

Sammy nearly chokes on her drink, and has to fight desperately to keep it from shooting out of her nose when she starts to cough.

"That's just mean," she says when she's finally able to speak.

"Yeah, but that's why you love me."  He helps wipe the soda up and gives her a kiss.

One corner of Sammy's mouth quirks up into a smile.  "Yeah, probably."

She turns the conversation so that it includes Breanna again.  "Breanna and Kel decided today that they are going with each other to Homecoming.  How much room is in that limo?"

"Congratulations."  Elrod says, putting a hand on Breanna's shoulder.  "Well, easily room for eight.  I can arrange to rent something if we plan on having more bodies."

"If Breanna and Kel want to join us, that's four, and I was going to ask Sarah so she gets to ride in a limo.  That's six right there.  Is that enough for you to feel well enough chaperoned?"

Elrod smiles.  "I'm just looking after your reputation.  I wouldn't want it all smeared up and stuff before you even complete 9th grade."

Sammy sighs.  "I know  But if I snap and become a bad guy because I get too worried about what other people believe to be true about me, remember this at my trial."  She looks quickly at Breanna.  "It's okay, Breanna knows.  She figured it out when I took her off the roof.  My personal fragrance gave me away."

Breanna giggles slightly.  "Well, I'm good with scents.  Faces, not so good, but I never forget a scent."

"I'm thinking of asking her to run the sound board for my band too.  She's good with sound."

Sammy notices Breanna fishes nher phone out of her bag and opens it up, begining to type on it.  she's obviously blushing somewhat.

Something about what he says, or maybe its how she hears it, and something about the way Breanna reacts, or the way Sammy sees it,  causes Sammy to feel a nasty jolt inside of her.  She looks at Elrod, then at blushing Breanna, and wonders at her sudden surge of jealousy.

Be cool, Sammy.  It's probably nothing... and if it is something, you knew this would happen someday.  [Just not so soon...]

She gets a moment for herself by sipping very carefully at her drink.  "Well, I know you like to surround yourself with talented and interesting people, so that's not a real shock.  I bet she'll work out just fine.  I didn't know you ran sound boards, Breanna."

"Well, Elrod is making out to be far more than it is I think."

Elrod grins, "Danny, my drummer, says he was at a party she DJ'd and it totally rocked.  He's got family out in San Diego, that's where she was living before comeing to chilly rainy Oak Park.  Anyway, he's gushing about this girl DJ, then come to find out she's here now in my Economics class.  Which reminds me."  He turns to look at Sammy.  "I know the party was sort of a one time iknvite to play thing.  But the guys think the horn sounds good.  I was wondering if you think your folks would be okay with you joining the band?  We wont get rich, but we'll have some fun and it'll mean lots of summer travelling.  We play parties and under age clubs mostly, but I manage to land us a mean biker bar from time to time."

"Really?  Wow."  She's smiling.  "I'll have to ask.  That would be awesome if I can...  you're serious?"

Elrod tilts his head slightly.  "No, I make this stuff up so I can systematically tear your hopes and dreams down.  Of course I'm serious."  He's shaking his head, "I don't get girls sometimes."

She lightly socks him in the arm.  "No, I'm just trying to make sure that I'm not still sleeping  it off in the hospital and having a really nice dream."

She grabs a menu and reads it, then reads it again.  "No, it says the same thing twice.  Two times three still equals six.  Multiply that by 7, its 42.  I can do math too.  Not a dream."

"Huh?"  Elrod says.

"You can't read or do math in dreams."  Breanna says, "Different parts of the brain."  She's got headphones in and seems to be texting madly. 

"I'll ask them.  Worst they can say is no.  At the very least they'll probably let me do local stuff."  She knows if she keeps talking, she'll start to babble, so she contents herself with  bouncing up and down in her seat and wiggling a little bit.

"If it helps you can invite your mom to come along on some of the summer gigs.  She doesn't work full-time right, and I'm sure that would help.  Also, do you play anything other than the trombone?  If not, we could work on something.  Versatility is important in a small band.  You could even try singing if you want."

"Um, no, she's a sales person for kitchen gadgets,  she sets her own schedule, but I don't know if she'd want to go on the road..."  She shakes her head to clear it.  "I can play most any wind instrument.  I've never tried singing, I don't know how well that would work.  I'll ask my folks about all this when I can get them together and they're both in a good mood.  Would, would you want to come over tomorrow night for supper?  If I ask them then, and they have questions, you'd be right there.  It might help."

"Sure.  Dinner sounds cool."

Elrod's phone rings and he motions to pause the cionversation while he checks it.  He rolls his eyes and answers it, "Yeah dad?"

"Yeah, Principal Landis hooked us up, we should buy him a boat or something.  I think it was so she could go to a concert.  Not positive, but it might be the answer.  You okay with me letting her play hookey the day after the concert?"

"It's either that or we risk her setting fire to Fenwick to get out of school so she can go.  Look, why don't you call her and give her the daddy loves you sugar voice and find out what's up?"

Elrod laughs, "It does so totally work.  Just send me an email with what you want me to do.  Love you guys.  See you Wednesday.  Bye."  he hangs up the phone.  Okay, that's taken care of."

Lisa.  Again.  Eye roll.

"El -- if they say no to me going, you'll still go, right?  Get away from home, get away from  being your sister's babysitter?  You need to do that to save yourself.  I don't want to push you away, but I'll be damned if somebody gets to pull you down because I might get lonely.  I'll survive.  I just want to make sure you do too."

"It'll be my last summer before I go off to college.  It'll bug me if you can't, but I'll still go."

"Good."  She means it. "And I'll do my best to convince my parents that this is a path to a scholarship or getting into college by being active in something other than school.  That's the best argument to use with them since one of their goals is to get me into college.  Then they'll be happy, you'll be happy, and I'll be happy."

"So I said I'd help out with the Homecoming decorations in the gym.  I figured at the very least they might need somebody who wasn't afraid to climb up high enough to hang things.  Do you know where the committee meets?"

"I'll do you one better."  He says, taking his phone out again he makes a call.  "Laura, this is El.  Good, listen I have a friend that wants to help out with Homecoming, doing the decorating thing.  Where do you guys meet up?"

"Sure, she's probably headed over there now.  Right, you're the best.  Later."  He puts his phone back into his pocket.  "They've claimed one of the old abandoned offices as their command center.  Room 1147.  It's past the admin offices and through those double doors that no one uses, should be easy to spot as it'll be the only room people are in."

"Cool.  I'll go over there after I've finished these fries.  Think I can make the mad dash all by myself, or should I have another escort?"

"I'm gonna tell  Dave he needs some athletic geeks too.  Keeping up with you and your schedule looks frantic from the outside."

"Hey, when the Queen's off her ass, nobody sleeps!"  Sammy starts pulling her stuff together.  "I guess I ought to get going."  She leans over and gives him a smooch.  "Love you mister.  Bye bye!"

Elrod returns her kiss.  "Take it easy.  Don't get eaten."

Breanna starts to put her stuff away.  "Mom's here.  Gotta go.  Thanks for the escort Sammy."

Sammy says goodbye to Breanna, then whispers to Elrod "I only show up on your menu."

She takes off at a trot to go see some girls about some decorations.