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Elrod Janush arrived at the Jameson home dressed no differently then he normally dressed.  Jeans, t-shirt and beat up motorcycle jacket.  He's polite when mom answers the door and lets him in, and dad does his best to act normal while giving Elrod the 'eye'.

"So, will there be alcohol at this party?"  Dad asks brightly.

"Probably, but I'll make sure to keep Sammy away from anything of that sort of thing."

Dad is poised to say something, but Elrod's answer took him by suprise.

"Allright.  That sounds fair.  Do you drink Elrod?"

"Mr. Jameson, I knock back a beer now and then.  I know my limitations and I never drink and drive.  I'm an heir to a huge fortune, the last thing I want is to die before I get rich.  I really like Sammy, and wouldn't do anything that might put her at risk.  So, if it's okay with you, we should probably get going."

"I'll tell her you're here Elrod."  mom said, heading upstairs.

OOC: Up to Sammy if she was hiding out of site to hear that chat.

Sammy doesn't need to hide to listen.  When her sister moved out to go to college and handed over the bedroom to Sammy, a secret was revealed:  it was very easy to listen to some downstairs conversations if you sat next to the air conditioning vent.  Sounds travelled through the ductwork and the opening to this particular bedroom was in a sweet spot.

She whispers, "Just show him the car, El, and he'll go out with you himself!"

There is no need to knock, the door has been left slightly ajar.  Mom finds Sammy sitting on the edge of her bed, lacing up her ankle-high brown leather boots.  She's wearing her best-fitting jeans, and three layers of shirts - a white henley layered over a navy blue cami, all topped with a gray hoodie. Her hair is pulled into a neat, low ponytail.

Sammy looks up when her mom enters the room and announces that her date is here.  "Thanks, Mom.  Did he pass inspection, or do I need to call home every half hour?"

"Your father is following his list of important questions and elrod isn't giving any of the usual evasive answers.  It's causing dad to rethink this 'Participating Parent' philosophy."  Mom sits on the bed next to Sammy.  "I heard a rumor that someone tried to smash the cheerleading squad today.  Everything okay, no one hurt I hope?"

"No, they're all fine.  The pole was knocked away from them.  I wouldn't want to be one of them though; it seems like somebody is sure out to get them.  Somebody who can excrete acid; the base of the pole was corroded, same as the bleachers.  Did Dad tell you about the bleachers?  I asked him to look at a piece of the metal." Sammy gives a solid tug to her laces, then begins tying them.  "He noticed that my friends aren't band people.  I told him they were with the school newspaper, which isn't a lie, but... Mom, its getting hard to keep hiding things from him.  A teacher found out the other day when I needed help right away.  I accidentally came in contact with some pheromones that made me act kind of, um, out of control.  One of my friends ran and got a science teacher who has been helping the police look into the stuff happening at school.  He had an antidote.  Anyhow... I keep thinking Dad might be more upset if he's the last to know than he would be if he was just told.  We don't have to tell him about you if you want to keep quiet.  We can say it just happened; maybe I was exposed to something?  If you still think its a bad idea, I'll try to hold on a while longer."

She stands up and looks in the full length mirror on the open closet door.  "Do I look alright?  I'm doing my best to look good but not give Daddy a heart attack.  The layers were El's suggestion because it might be cold, but I figured they wouldn't hurt Dad's mood either."

Mom seems lost in thought for a minute before she answers, "I've been thinking a lot about that since you found out you have powers too.  I keep wanting to tell him, but everytime I think it's time, my fear gets to me.  It's the same fear that got me into trouble in the first place."  She gets up and hugs Sammy. "I don't want you to hide anything from your father.  Tell him whatever you need to.  I'll just have to figure out what I'm going to do."  She looks into Sammy's eyes and smiles, "You look fine.  I'm sure dad and Elrod will be pleased."

Sammy hugs back.  "OK, Mom."  She takes a deep breath and lets it out.  "I think its time to go downstairs."

Stepping quickly down the stairs, Sammy sticks her head into the Rec room.  "Hey, hope you weren't waiting too long."  She looks back and forth between her dad and Elrod and sees that things are basically okay.  "I'm ready to go if you are.  G'night Dad."  She pecks her father on the cheek.  "I'd say don't wait up, but I think I'd be disappointed if you didn't, so I'll just say see you later."  Turning back to Elrod she asks, "Ready?"

"Be careful sweety."  Dad says.

"Ready when you are."  Elrod says, getting the door.

Once outside he gets the car door for Sammy, saying as she gets in, "This isn't going to be a habit.  The door thing is just for this special occassion."

She gives him a look, raises an eyebrow and says in a regal tone "You'd better get used to it then.  Any time you go out with me will be a special occasion.  If you don't believe me, ask my Father."   She relents, and the laughter comes back to her eyes.  "But maybe I'll cut you a break every once in a while."


As they're riding along, Sammy asks "How about what happened with that pole at the football game?  Somebody could have been killed.  Maybe your sister is lucky to be at Fenwick now.  It sure looks like somebody has a serious hate on for the cheerleaders."

"I can't count the people that don't like them, but I'm not getting any real bell ringers for people that might try murder.  Talk about it sure, but they talk about killing everyone that they think has wronged them.  they're just lucky that dragon thing happened along when it did."  Elrod can barely keep from chuckling as he says it.

Time to be a naive freshman.  "What's so funny about dragons?  I don't get the joke.  Do you know where it came from?"  She looks at him eagerly, Elrod the fountain of all knowledge.

"The part about lucky it happened along.  Nevermind, I guess it wasn't that funny.  So, what was the deal with the half time show today anyway?  One minute I'm ignoring them and the next second I can't not look at them.  They blast the audience with a hard-on ray or what?"

Sammy laughs.  "It was me.  I wanted to have something to fight about so that we could get to the making up part.  Guess I got a little carried away."

She laughs again at her joke, then sobers.  "Really though, I have no idea what happened.  Everything was normal, then all of a sudden I noticed drool on the chins of every male there.  I don't know if the cheerleaders did it or not.  Maybe it was the same person who knocked down the pole?  They had everybody's attention on that spot, so nobody would miss the cheerleaders getting smushed."

"Except that everyone would have noticed them getting smushed.  It was totally wierd."

"No, that's what I mean.  Maybe somebody wanted to make sure that when the cheerleaders got smushed, everybody would be watching them instead of the football game, and maybe wouldn't even see who was fooling with the pole."  She hesitates for a second, not sure how much to risk saying, then goes a little further.  "I've made friends with some of the kids on the school newspaper.  They were looking at the pole after.  It was corroded by acid, same as the bleachers earlier in the week.  The police think its a paranormal with acid powers."

"So a paranormal has it in for the pep squad.  Only at Oak Park."

OOC: Feel free to post in the aftergame party thread if you wish.  Elrod delivers beer to the party, but he might not stay long if Sammy wants to move on.

OOC: ok... sliding over

OOC: You don't have to, but I wanted to make the option available.

OOC:  If it gets too confusing for any of us, I can slide back.  I don't want to rain on Thevshi's parade either.

After about an hour at the post game party Elrod signals Sammy it's time to go.  They make their way out to the car, and then head into the city.  "There is a club, little underground place, and 'Five of Nine' are playing tonight.  One of my compatriots told me they're worth hearing, I thought we'd check it out."

"Sounds good to me."  She collects her belongings and they depart.

As they're leaving, Sammy takes a good look at the motorcycle jacket Elrod is wearing.  Is it the same jacket she borrowed to fight the snake monster at the party earlier this year?

OOC:Yes.

Elrod drives into town and parks in a crowded but well lit lot.  They walk about a block to an alley, and he bangs on a non-descript door.  A small panel slides open and an obviously portly face looks out.  After a moment a voice can be heard as the door bolt is slid out of the way and the door swings open, "El, glad you could make it mahn."  the accent is a cross between New Jersey and Jamaca.  When the large black man sees Sammy he smiles, "Goodevening."   His accent is still there, but his pronunciation is more refined.

"Hey Bell, this is my friend T-Bone.  A friend told me that you had a good band in tonight."

"Ya."  Bell nods, "Hiya T-Bone."   He says, extanding a huge hand for Sammy, "Welcome to 'Da Hole'."   Bell looks back to Elrod, "They gonna start in a couple minutes, you want a table up front or up high?"

Elrod looks at Sammy, "Let's go up high, these guys don't do any dance stuff."   He looks back to Bell, "Up high."

Bell nods and leads the pair through a maze of crates, racks, shelves and junk.  It becomes obvious that they are backstage because they walk behind the band as they're setting up.  The deep rumble of the clubs sound system can be felt now, and it's hard rock strains can be heard somewhat.  They reach the other side of the stage and then ascend a spiral stairway to a large deck above the main floor.  There are a dozen skylights up here, and it looks like they can be opened if the weather permits.  Several tables are here, but none are occupied.  Bell seats the pair at a table with an excellent view of the stage and the main floor.  "I'll send someone up for your orders."  Bell says, then fades into the dim light as he walks back down.

Sammy smiled pleasantly and nodded at Bell as they were introduced.  As she and El follow the big man through the club, she looks around curiously.  "Wow! I didn't know this place existed!"

After they are seated, Sammy looks down at the stage.  The view is excellent.  "This is awesome.  How did you find out about this place?  Some sort of heir-to-the-vast-family-fortune secret club?"

"Sort of.  My dad actually owns it, along with about ten others in the city.  He has no idea that he owns it.  I've been CC'd on emails about his property purchases since I was in second grade.  My spam filter didn't catch one about a club that his holding company bought.  Since then I've been reading those emails, looking for gems.  This place is the fruit of that labor."

Leaning over the rail for a better look, Sammy says "I can't even imagine owning a place and not knowing about it.  I know your folks have money, but still... well, wow.  So this place is kind of your personal project then?  Have you ever performed here yourself?"

"Nah, I'm not good enough to do a gig here.  I like to come here and watch the acts and talk to people, look at the books.  Someday, I might run a place like this."

A waitress comes up and Elrod orders a couple of Stawberry Daquries, virgin of course, and some cokes.

"My folks have more money then they know what to do with.  They basically bribed Fenwick into letting Lisa in, just wrote them a check for a new floor in the gym or something.  I have to wonder if it's going to make her a lame'O when she grows up."

"Well, after a certain point things quit being somebody else's fault, and it's time to take responsibility for your own self.  But she might not figure that out for a long time if your folks are making things too easy for her.  You seem okay though; what was different between you and her?  Was she sick a lot when she was little, or was she just the Princess?  Or did you just insist on doing things for yourself from the get go?"

"She's daddy's little darling.  Which was good, since it kept him out of my life.  I don't know, maybe they wanted a daughter and got the package deal.  I'm older by all of eleven minutes or something like that.  Which makes for plenty of arguement when the folks bring up that I'm her older brother and she should listen to me."

OOC: Don't have the NPC Llist here so I need to confirm they're both Seniors and therefore probably twins.

OOC:  I do remember them both being seniors, but didn't know if they were the same age or if one was held back a year or even pushed forward a year.

"Thats not fair to her or you.  What, do they think you were born just to look out for her?"

She looks down below and notices the place slowly beginning to fill.  "Enough about her for tonight, unless that's what you really do want to talk about.  What's the plan for the Halloween party?  I heard a rumor that the building is haunted; how are you going to pull that off?"

"Sometimes that's what I think they believe."


"Well, I'm leaving that up to Dave and the Usual Suspects. I'm just arranging for the place, electricity, and libations.  The spooky stuff is gonna have to come from them."  He says with a smile, "You're totally gonna be there right, I'll be crushed if you stand me up."

"Wouldn't miss it.  Although I was thinking of going totally in disguise, not talking, make people guess who I might be.  You wouldn't know if I stood you up or not unless I broke cover, so maybe I'll have to do something different.  Nobody gets crushed on my watch."  She remembers what Sarah said the day before.  "I could always show up as an angel.  Goddesses have more fun though."

"Well, as long as you promise to be there.  I can spend the evening trying to find you.  That could be cool."

The curtain comes up and the band starts to play.  they do several covers of populat modern rock, and a few songs of their own.  the first set is pretty good, and they take a break to a room full of applause.  Elrod seemed to enjoy the music as well.

"I always liked a good game of hide and seek.  If you don't find me by midnight, I'll find you."


When the set starts, Sammy slides her bar stool so that it's right up against Elrod's rather than separated by a cocktail table.  While not exactly dancing, she's rocking to the rhythm and bumping into El's side to get him into it too.  By the time the set ends, she's glowing with the rush she got from the music.  "Hey, would it be all right if we stepped outside for a couple of minutes?  It's hot in here!"  She laughingly adds, "Unless the next part of the plan is to party with the band.  But if you don't feel like pulling that trick out of your sleeve, I'd be just as happy with a cold drink and some fresh air."

"Sure.  Outside sounds good."  Elrod signals for her to wait, then goes downstairs, coming back up with a couple of tall glasses of what look like lemonade.  He gives her one, then lead her to a door that opens onto a short stairway that goes to the roof.  There are tables and chairs here, mostly covered for the winter.  "Careful, that's gonna have a kick."  he says, sipping his drink.

It doesn't smell like alcohol, but it is a bit tart.  The night air holds a chill, but the heat from the club is thick between Sammy and Elrod.

Sammy takes a sip.  "What is this?" she asks as she rolls the taste around in her mouth, trying to identify it. "It's tart, but nice.  Oh, 'scuse me, not nice.  It probably doesn't want to be called nice.  So, unique.  Itself.  Original." Still holding the glass, she leans back against El's chest and takes in the view from the rooftop.

"I'm not sure what it is.  Some fruit juice thing.  The bartender is Japanses and there is the sour fruit from Asia that he mixes into this stuff.  It grows on you though, and completely virgin.  I promised your dad I'd keep you away from all that evil alcohol and stuff."  Elrod puts an arm around her waist and lets her lean into him.  "This is much nice in the summer.  We'll have to come back."

"Summer's a long time away.  I like it tonight, cold and all.  Besides, you're nice and warm."

She snuggles in closer.  "Any time you want to hang around up on a roof top though, give me a call."

"Will do."  Elrod says.

After a little while they can hear the band start to play again.  Once it's too cold to stay outside they head back in, where the warmth of the club is welcomed.  Once the band has finished Elrod suggests a couple of other clubs, with dancing.

"Awesome.  Let's go!"  As they're riding from one venue to another, she leans the back of her head against the car window and stares at El's profile while he drives. He seems to be awfully sure that we'll be going out on dates for the whole school year, but he doesn't know about the powers.  Would he be okay with it, or would he be freaked out?  I had to deal with it, but he doesn't.  That's a lot to ask of somebody, and then ask them to keep your secret.  You should be able to really trust somebody before handing over a secret like that.  Too many people know as it is.  Oh well.  It's not a good idea to tell him tonight anyhow.  Dad first, before anybody else, unless there's another emergency.  Stupid goo.

When he glances over her way, she smiles at him.  "Just admiring the view."

He smiles and keeps driving.  Elrod has a habit of going in the back door of clubs.  It avoids the lines and Sammy gets introduced to lots of nice people along the way.  The next club is a hoping rave with pounding music and plenty of dance floor.  Elrod seems happy to spend as much time on the dance floor as Sammy wants.  The crowd here is a bit older and the prowl factor is pretty high.  Elrod has to tell a couple of guys that Sammy is with him.  He offers to buy drinks to smooth over any rough edges, so there isn't any violence.

During a break in the dancing he finds them a relatively quiet spot to enjoy some drinks.  "I guess dancing not so bad.  I guess I just needed the right partner."

"Um, I need to warn you right now -- I'm meeting a boy named Preston Wilde after school on Monday.  He's showing me his robot project; I saw it on Friday afternoon, and he offered to show me how it works, maybe let me drive.  I don't know how bad its going to be, but I was under the influence of the Goo when I was talking to him, so I might... I might have led him to think things.  I don't know, I was getting whacked out, and for all I  know I was pumping out all kinds of signals.  So, don't scare him, okay?  I'm pretty sure I can handle it myself.  In fact, I'd rather handle it myself."


Sammy is dismayed.  "'Not so bad'?  That also means not so good!  You should have told me you don't like dancing, we could have done something else.  It would have been fine.  We can stay right here if you want.  You want to be a writer; tell me stories about the people who go by, or ask me enough questions that you could tell a story about me.  Or make up a story about me.  Whatever."  She gazes earnestly into his eyes.  "I want you to have fun too, ok?"

"No worries.  The only reason I'm being tough nosed here is because I brought you, so I feel I should look out for you."


"I am having fun."  he says with a smile, "I just normally don't dance at clubs."

Sammy chokes on a laugh.  "I appreciate that.  It feels weird because I'm not used to it, but I appreciate it."  And if you can't handle them, I'll blow them away...  whoosh!


"Oh.  OK."  She chews on her lower lip for a moment.  "Do you like slow dances?  I'm just wondering about Homecoming..." and about taking you spinning through the sky, if I ever decide to come out about my powers to you.

"I wouldn't have asked you to go if I wasn't gonna slow dance with you."  he says softly.  "What's the point of going to Homecoming if it's not to dance with someone you like and watch your friends get dressed up in fancy cloths."

"OK.  Good answer."   She steps closer to him.  "We could practice some right now if you want.  Maybe we'll set a trend."

As they rock back and forth in a classic "Why Dance" rhythm, Sammy asks Elrod "I'm going to ask you a question, and its going to sound really vain, but roll with it.  Why me?  'Because I like you' is an answer, but I can't figure out what you see, why you like me.  You're a senior, your folks have money that you can dip into, you're well liked by a lot of different kinds of people... I don't get it.  I'm a freshman, not especially outstanding in any way that I can see, and there are a lot of other girls around.  Why'd you focus on me?  What makes me different?"  Maybe he does know; I was never sure if he recognized me or not at the party.  Maybe he just wanted to know who took his jacket.

"Well, you're a musician.  I think you have a style all you own, which attracts me.  I'm not into the conformist types, they always end up being boring.  From what I hear, you're pretty smart.  I like smart, makes for better conversations.  an finally, I think you're easy on the eyes.  I like looking at you, and you're sort of natural kind of pretty, not the kind that comes out of bottles and gets brushed on in the morning."

"That's what I don't get.  You're way out of my league, but you keep coming up with nice things to say, and you seem to mean them.  I guess...",  she pauses, "I guess I can't believe my own luck.  I'm going to be afraid to fall asleep tonight, in case I wake up in the morning and find out it's all been a dream."  She laughs abruptly and rolls her eyes.  "Maybe I ought to hope it is a dream.  I'm starting to talk like someone on a soap opera."  She looks at him with exaggerated suspicion.  "You're not really my secret half-brother, are you?"

They keep dancing.  Or not.

"That's just creepy T-Bone."


They do.


"Look, I understand what you're saying.  There has to be a catch right, I mean if this were a movie there'd be a catch.  You be as suspicious as you need to be, and I'll just keep being me and we'll see what happens."

After a while of this, Sammy will be ready for a break.  She leads Elrod off to a spot where they can catch their breath and crowd watch.  Anything interesting going on?

The crowd is typical of this type of establishment.  Most of the people are trendy twenty-somethings looking to have a good time one way or another.  There are equal numbers of players and couples and a fair amount of mixing going on.  Except for the newness of the experience it seems like it's not terribly exciting.

Periodically there are a few people who will distinguish themselves on the dance floor, and soak up the applause.  Most of the time the music just pounds and people move in what passes for dancing,

During the break Elrod gets a text message, which warrants little more then a glance and a nod before his phone goes back into his pocket.

"Whenever you're ready we can take off.  I know a diner that has pretty good food if you're hungry too."

"Food sounds good.  Seems like I'm hungry all the time ever since (cough) ever since school started this year.  Guess I'm burning more calories."  Sammy gestures at the phone.  "Do you need to do something about that?  I can hit the ladies room if you want to make a call and not feel rude about it."

"Nah.  Just one of my spies telling me my sister got home.  Let's get out of here then, I'm starving."

They head out to the car, and it's not long before they're at a vintage 70's style diner near the airport.  The atmosphere is bright, with colors only found in aged paint and the smell of food that is only made in diners.

The menu's still have the logo of the restraunt as it was in the 70s, even though the sign has changed.  The pictures are faded with time and spots of the plastic lamenation are worn, but they're readable and the fare is what would be expected.

Elrod orders a BLT on white and a chocolate milkshake.  The waitress, perhaps employed here since it's grand opening, takes Sammy's order and moves with suprising vigor to the counter to put it in.

Sammy orders an orange float and a hot turkey sandwich.  As the waitress moves off to the counter, Sammy puts her feet up on the seat opposite her.  "My feet hurt," she grins, "but I shouldn't complain.  Her's probably hurt worse."

The half-conscious fidgeting with cutlery and miscellaneous table ware begins, but stops when she actively realizes she's stacking and connecting things again.  The towering stack of jams and jellies threatens to overpower the skyscape of sugar shaker and ketchup bottle monoliths, salt and pepper shaker factories, and artificial sweetener complexes.  "Sorry about the mess... its an annoying habit I have.  I'll straighten it up before the food gets here."

"I asked you before but you never really answered; what do you think of what's going on at school -- all the paranormal stuff?  You seem to have an extensive crew; have they seen or heard anything worth repeating?  I'd like to find out who was behind that love goo and stomp them flat.  It was just wrong!  Along with so many other things!"[color]

"I'm not sure what to think of all of it.  On the one hand it's pretty exciting, and on the other it's down right scary.  I'm not sure how I'd handle it if I woke up one morning and had super powers, but I'd like to think I'd still be able to be a decent person.  I guess it's like drugs.  some people can take drugs or drink with no real change, but some people, they get a little booze in them or get high and they become instant assholes.  As for stuff worth repeating, I know a lot of stuff, but I'm not sure how much of it is worth repeating.  Besides, it's not like evil masterminds go spouting off about their evil plans, if they did someone would just stop them.  Right?"

"I'd like to believe they'd try.  I think some of them are already trying."

The food is delivered, and they eat.  She snitches a french fry off his plate and tastes it.  "Wow, what do you know!  They're right!  Fries off your date's plate do taste better.  Let me check out that milkshake!"

They eat some more.  "So, you're a senior, you know lots of people at school.  Do you know Candice Bell or Laticia Culver?"

Elrod makes motions at slapping her hand away when she comes back for her next fry, but smiles.


"Between Dave and I we probably know everyone.  Candice and Laticia, yeah I know them.  Candice is gonna grow up to head Green Peace or become a totallt currupt lobbyist and Laticia, she's gonna win the Boston Marathon and cure cancer.  Mostly nice girls, Candince can be a bit intense.  She's had a petition every year to shutdown the cheerleading squad.  It's her pet project.  It makes women into sex objects, and after the show today, she might get some more irrate girlfriend signatures."

"Well that's weird.  Did you know both of them tried out for the cheerleading squad?  Sylvia, my friend on the newspaper who's a cheerleader too, was looking at the tryout records; so many girls have, uh, fallen out that they need replacements.  Somebody pointed out that it was kind of odd that either of them tried in the first place."  She delicately munches a fry. "Hey!  Do you suppose somebody was messing with them to make them act in a way they wouldn't normally act?  Like the love goo, only, I dunno, cheerleader goo?"

Elrod shurgs.  "I could see Laticia trying out.  She's missing a leg but she'll be damned if it slows her down.  Candince though, are you sure?"  Elrod seemed suprised that Candince tried out.

"Yeah, I'm positive."  She drinks some of her float. "I wonder if I ought to ask her about it.  I mean, I had something happen to me.  Actually, I've had a bunch of things happen to me, and all around me.  Maybe she had something happen to her too, and she'd feel better if she got to talk about it."

"Maybe."  Elrod says as he finishes his sandwich.  "Certainly sounds very un-Candice-like for her to have tried out for the pep squad."  He waves the waitress over and asks for apple pie with a glass of milk.

"So you've been all over this crazy stuff this year, maybe I should stop hanging out with you before something happens to me?"  He says with a smile as the waitress brings his pie and milk.

"Too late!" she replies, taking her fork and stabbing at a piece of his pie. "Mmmm.  Good pie.  I'll be coming here again."  She swallows some water.  "So its already too late for you.  You were love goo-ed.  Your sister was caught doing the deed, which may or may not be connected to the other stuff.  Your party was crashed by a snake man.  It's way too late.  All you can do now is buckle down for the ride and hold on tight."  She smiles at him and puts her hand on his.  "But I'm on the ride too, and I'll be happy to hold your hand.  And... well, you saw the dragon today.  That proves there are people nearby who are trying to fight back.  That makes me feel a lot braver, knowing they're around."  She thinks to herself, "...and I'll be looking out for you too."

He wraps her fingers in his.  "Ok.  I can just sit back and watch the ride."

Idle chatter is exchanged along with bites of pie.  It's really late by now, and Sammy has a curfew.  Even with the knowledge that its really easy to get out of the house unnoticed, Sammy doesn't want to go home.  She knows she has to though.  She reluctantly points to her watch.  "Time's up.  They'll be looking for me soon.  If I want to go to the Halloween party or to Homecoming, we can't push limits tonight."  

They drive back to her house.

Suddenly shy again, she smiles and softly says,  "I had a really good time tonight.  Thank you."

"Thanks for coming.  I had a great time too.  I'll see you Monday at school probably."

Once he has her home he gets the door for her and walks her to the front door.  He seems perfectly happy to go, not wantiong to create a potential scene by loitering for a kiss, just in case dad is watching.

When he does finally go he leaves her with the receipt from the diner with his cell number and email on it.

Sammy stuffs the piece of paper deep into her jeans pocket and goes into the house.  She gentlly closes and locks the door, just in case her folks actually did fall asleep, and quietly walks back towards the rec room, beckoned by the flickering glow of the television screen.  She looks in and softly announces,  "Hey, I'm home, safe and sound.  You can go to bed now, unless you're still waiting for Stephie."

"She called it an early night.  Apparently the movie was horrible and the boy smelled or somthing."  her dad sets his book down and gets up, switching off the TV.  "You're close to the curfew mark though, I'm guessing you had a good time."  He puts an arm around her should, giving her a loving squeeze.  "I think there is some pudding left, want some?"

"Yeah, it was a good night.  We left the party early to see a band, then we went dancing for a while, then he took me to a diner to get something to eat.  I'd go out with him again, even if we weren't already lined up to go to Homecoming."

She follows her dad into the kitchen and pulls a couple of spoons out of a drawer. She pauses before reaching for the cabinet holding the bowls.  "Do you want to be civilized and eat from your own bowl and have more to clean up later, or do you want to do it the fun way and just not tell Mom we're 'eating like a bunch of wild animals'?"

Her dad gives her his comical face, "Pauhlease child."  he says as he fetches the bowl of pudding from the fridge, setting it on the counter between them.

"I'm glad you had a good time."  He says between spoonfuls of pudding.  "He seems like a nice kid, but don't tell him I said that.  I have the feeling he's got a reputation to protect."

Sammy chuckles.  "You're right, he's a nice guy, and I won't tell him you said so.  I just couldn't figure out why a senior would want to go out with a freshman, so I was a little cautious about him at first, but it seems I impressed him somehow.  There's no accounting for some people's taste."  She laughs again.  "I'll tell you a secret; Mom said the same thing about herself when she told me about her choosing you.  She said she fell for you the minute you fell for her.  She said she looked down on you, sprawled out on the ground but miraculously still holding onto the cake you were carrying for her, your uniform all muddy and your face looking all sad and afraid that you'd really blown it this time, and she knew right then that you were the One.  Then she smiled and said there was no accounting for some people's taste."

"especially in this family kiddo."  He said with a grin.  "I'm glad your happy, but just keep in mind that age difference.  It's small, and if you were twenty and he was twenty-four it wouldn't be a big deal, but you're gonna change a lot over the next few years, and so will he.  Just keep thst in mind, okay?"

"Please!"  Sammy throws up her hand in a "Stop" position.  "Why do you think I wondered so much about the freshman-senior thing?  I'm going to have fun right now while it lasts, and not worry too much about what's going to happen next year or even next month.  Besides, we don't even know each other all that well; I might say or do something and scare him off next week.  Well, maybe not next week.  I already spent all that money on a Homecoming dress and it would be tough to come up with a replacement date that quickly.  I won't grow a second head or drop any hints about big expensive Christmas gifts until after that's done."  She grins evilly at her father

She gets up and walks over to the refrigerator.  She opens the door and looks around inside.  "I'm not telling him about my paranormal abilities either,  not for a while at least, not unless he guesses or asks me about it outright.  It's probably not worth the risk.  I don't want to scare him, or make him think I'm some sort of a freak."  She emerges from the fridge with a bottle of milk, comes back to the table and pours some milk into the big bowl to get the last of the pudding.  "Does that sound like a good plan to you?"

"Her dad is licking his spoon with a slightly bemused look on his face.  "Was that some teenage code I don't understand or your not so subtle way of trying to tell me you have paranormal powers?"

"Yeah.  I have powers..." She sits down.  "They showed up at the beginning of the school year.  I can fly, move air around, maybe some other stuff.  I've been trying to figure things out for a while now, and I figured it was time to fess up to you.  Last thing you need would be for me to get outed somehow, and you only find out when a tv camera crew knocks on the front door.  Its come closer to that than I would like already.  So... "  she looks at him pleadingly.  "You don't think I'm a freak do you?  I don't scare you?"

The silence stretched between them for seconds, but it seemed like hours, or maybe even days to Sammy.  Her father hadn't budged, hadn't done much but blink.

Sammy looked anxiously at her father.  "Dad? Daddy?"

"I want to be happy for, is this something I can be happy for you about?" it's obvious from the look on his face he's not sure how the news should be taken.

Tension broken at last, Sammy flings her arms around her dad's shoulders.  "Yes! This is something you can be happy about!"

Dad returns her embrace, then whispers, "Have you told your mom yet?"

She breaks the embrace.  "Yeah.  She caught me when I was feeling scared about it.  She said she wouldn't talk about it with you until I was ready to tell.  I'll let her know I told you about me.  I... don't think its a good idea to tell Ash or Steffie.  Especially Steffie; I think she'd freak out completely.  She might not keep the secret either, and its hard enough to keep as things are right now."

Dad moves on tip toes to the doorways into the kitchen and listens for noise in nearby rooms.  Satisfied that he and Sammy are alone he sneaks back over to where she is.  "This is just between you and me, I don't want you to tell your mom I told you this.  She's got powers too.  I'm not sure why she's never mentioned it, guilt maybe or something else.  It's not like it's a subject you can just bring up though so I haven't been able to find out why she thought she couldn't tell me.  Maybe if you two spend some time together, she might share with you.  I hate to think she had to keep that secret all these years alone, ya'know?"

Sammy carefully answers her dad.  "I know.  She told me about herself so I wouldn't be so scared. She put all that away a long time ago, on purpose, and never looked back until me.  It's her story though, and not mine to tell.  If I hadn't turned up with active powers, she might never have had to tell anybody ever.  I feel kind of bad about that, but she's been great."

"Well, at least she's got someone she can share with.  I guess I can stop worrying about it."  He goes to wash his spoon off, to hide any evidence of the crime.  "So, you gonna do the whole costume and name thing or are you just going to try and get through high school without any trouble?"

"I have a costume, but no name, and its way too late for no trouble.  I've been mostly playing defense though; I tried going out and hunting, but it wasn't as cool as I thought it would be.  If I can keep people from getting hurt, I'm happy; there are enough bad things happening at school that I'm busy doing just that much."  She starts drying the washed 'evidence' so it can be put away. "You okay with that?"

"Well, like most things as a parent it's a balancing act.  I'm proud of the fact that you want to help people, but I'm not too keen on the idea of you running around being a super hero, mainly because of how dangerous it can be.  Unfortunately the normal rules don't apply, so we'll just have to play this one by ear and see what happens."  He gives Sammy a hug.  "You need anything, if I can help, all you have to do is ask.  Okay?"

"OK.  Maybe you can help me come up with a name.  Everything I think of is totally lame.  And if you can do it without being caught, find out if there's scholarship money for, er, 'gifted' kids.  Wouldn't it be cool if I could get a free ride?..."  Evidence erased, it's time to go to sleep.

OOC:  This is as good a place as any to end it.