(Okay; this story is my baby. Make my baby cry and I will hurt you. Got it? I'm just joking. Seriously though, I put a lot of work into this story and I hope that you'll enjoy it. Now, this first chapter is set during the year 1996 and then the next chapter flashes forward to 2008. Get it? Got it? Good. Whenever I hear the song 'Secret' by The Veronicas I can't help but think of my character, Samantha, during her teen years. Hope you enjoy this story!)

Chapter One

August 12th, 1996

"Bad news."

That's the first thing that came to Samantha Reads' mind when she first saw him. The second thing was his smile. It was an amazing smile, but it was also unsettling. He had to be around seventeen. He was thin, but not scrawny. Lean was more like it. Blond hair, deep brown eyes, and very tall. His voice was a little uneven in pitch, like he was still growing into it, and when he laughed it sounded strange; unique. He was always smiling like he had a trick up his sleeve. Another thing about him was that he kept running his tongue over his lips every now and then or constantly.

The day their paths crossed was in August 12th, 1996. Principal Gibbs pulled Samantha aside on the first day of school during her senior year and motioned to the boy that was with him. "I want you to meet Allan Jordan. He's new to the school but I'm really busy at the moment, so could you be a dear and show him to all of his classes. Give him a tour of the school if you could?"

"Sure, Mr. Gibbs," Samantha replied with a smile. Allan, who had been lazily leaning against the wall by the door to the principal's office, suddenly stood a little straighter and raised an eyebrow. He liked her smile.

When Principle Gibbs left, Allan waited until the man was out of sight before he turned to Samantha and grinned, devilishly. "Alone at last," he said.

Samantha smiled and tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear. "Can I see your schedule?" she asked, holding her hand out for it.

"Why? Wanna date?" Allan chuckled.

She forced the smile to stay on her face. Inside her head she groaned. "Not one of these crack pots…," she thought.

"So we can figure out where your classes are," Samantha explained. Allan was still smiling when he handed her the sheet of paper that had been sticking out of his back pocket. She scanned over it and her eyes widened. She checked it twice, three times, four times…. but what she saw stayed the same. Allan had all of her classes.

"Greeaat," Samantha thought with some annoyance.

"We have all our classes together," she told him.

"Then I guess we'll be seeing each other often." Allan placed an arm around her shoulder and stretched the other arm out in front of them, like he was envisioning something. "You and me, classmates all year; that is, if you can stand me. Oh, just think of the fun!"

Samantha shrugged off his arm but kept smiling. "Yeah; a barrel of laughs. Follow me," she said in a light voice.

"You better believe I will."

Samantha rolled her eyes and led Allan to a flight of stairs.

"You know, I haven't heard your name yet."

"I'll tell you when I feel like it." Wow. That had come out sounding harsh. "What's the matter with you Samantha?"

Allan let out a quick laugh. "Then I'll just call you 'Pretty Girl' until I find out."

"Oh heck no." Samantha stopped climbing the steps and turned to face him. "No, that's not my name. I'd rather you whistled to get my attention." She turned back to continue climbing just as Allan let out a wolf whistle. She spun around and frowned at him, debating on whether to laugh it off or let it go.

Allan seemed to be studying her eyes intently. "You know," he wet his lips, "I've never really seen green eyes before… I mean, I've seen blue/green, grey/green, gangrene." He chuckled at his little joke, but Samantha wrinkled her nose in slight disgust. "But I've never really seen green/green. I kinda like that color. Sooo, why don't I call youuu 'Esmeralda'?"

Samantha tilted her head to the side, curious but not wanting to show it. "Why?"

Allan climbed a step closer to Samantha and leaned against the wall with his left shoulder. He stuck his hands in his pockets. "It's Spanish for 'emerald'; which is precisely what shade of green," he brought out his right hand from his pocket and pointed at her, "you have." He suddenly started to walk up the stairs, passing Samantha.

Samantha was still for the moment. Nobody had ever described what shade of green her eyes were. It was…weird. She was shaken from her thoughts when Allan called out to her. "Come on, Esmeralda; I need you to be my guide."

Samantha hurried to catch up before he got himself lost.

…

English class was first on the list. When they got to class, Allan was seated three chairs behind Samantha. At least he wasn't beside her. He had been saying weird things to her the entire walk to class and she needed a break from Allan.

The teacher began to call out names and got to the 'J's.

"Allan Jordan?"

His long arm shot up in the air while the rest of him remained in a relaxed slouch in his desk. "Right here!"

"Welcome to our school." She went down the list and came to Samantha.

"Samantha Reads?"

"Here."

Allan gave a squeal of delight. "Oh! So your name's Samantha, hm?"

"Mr. Jordan, if you could please refrain from making outbursts like that, I think you'll do well in this class," the teacher warned him.

Allan smiled slyly at the woman. "My apologies," he said smoothly. He settled in his desk and caught Samantha staring at him. He winked at her and licked his lips.

Samantha shook her head and sighed as she turned to face the front of the class.

"You'll live through it," she told herself. "Or not…"

…

During lunch, Samantha sat with her two best friends, Alice Fredricks and Harleen Quinzel. She had just finished telling them about her experience with Allan Jordan and was slightly miffed when they giggled at her.

Harleen had caught a glimpse of Allan that morning during class changes and had a different opinion about him. "I think he's hot," she said before biting into the cafeteria's poor excuse of a turkey. She made a face and looked at her meal critically, pushing the tray away from her. Adjusted the band holding her brown hair in a ponytail, Harleen focused her blue eyes on Samantha. "Like, Smokin', lava hot."

"Really?" Samantha asked.

"I think so too," Alice chimed in.

Samantha and Harleen looked at Alice in surprise. Alice Pleasance Fredricks was the shyest girl you could ever find, so it was surprising that she voiced her opinion like that.

Harleen threw her hands up into the air. "What's this? Alice has hormones?" she said with mock shock.

"Oh just think of the scandal when the rest of the school finds out," Samantha joked.

Alice's light blue eyes widened and she blushed in embarrassment.

"So, you don't think he's hot, Sammy?" Harleen asked, her thick Brooklyn accent showing through with every word.

"I think he's…cute."

Her friends eyed her in a way that said, "Oh please, you liar."

"Okay, okay. He's a handsome guy , but he's driving me crazy."

"Oh Sammy, come on; lighten up. He can't be that bad."

"Harley, he is so annoying! And you haven't had to be the one to put up with him all day!"

"I'm sorry, but I wasn't given that honor," Harley giggled, elbowing Samantha in the ribs.

If Samantha had thought Allan couldn't get any stranger, she had been proven wrong with every passing moment. And it wasn't just an awkward strange or weirdness, it was kinda creepy. Things that he said, his opinions, were a bit twisted. Maybe he was joking with her? It was hard to tell, but lunch time was a welcomed separation from him.

Samantha sighed, heavily, and rested her elbow on the table, chin in hand. A moment later, she felt something running up her spine, causing her to jump and yelp. She heard a strange sounding laugh and turned in her seat to see Allan holding his lunch tray in one hand and the other hand's index finger tracing her backbone.

"Gooood evening, ladies," he greeted. His tongue darted along his bottom lip as he plopped down in the empty seat next to Samantha.

Samantha rubbed her eyes in frustration. "This is not happening to me, this is not happening to me," she repeated in her mind. Did he think they were friends? Maybe, considering she was showing him around the school all day.

"Sooo who are these lovely ladies?" Allan asked when he noticed Alice and Harleen.

Alice smiled shyly. "I'm Alice Fredricks; Samantha's best friend since kindergarten."

"And I'm Harleen Quinzel, but you can call me Harley; everyone does."

Allan flashed them a charming grin. Geez… wow. That was a heart stopper right there. "Thrilled to meet you, Alice. And you too, Harley."

Alice and Harley both blushed! They blushed! Samantha couldn't believe them. "Weeell, actually, I mean- did you see that smile? Oh shut up, nobody asked you, Brain."

"I have a feeling that you'd be great in drama class. Are you in one?" Alice asked.

"Unfortunately, yes; my drama class. And every other class!"

"Yeah, I'm in Esmeralda's drama class," Allan answered.

Harleenand Alice looked confused. "Esmeralda?" Alice repeated.

Allan draped an arm around Samantha and she stiffened like someone had poured ice water down her shirt. "It's the nickname I gave 'emerald eyes' here, because she wouldn't tell me her name," Allan explained with a playful pout. Samantha's face burned.

"Awww, that's so cute!" Harley said in a dreamy voice.

"This cannot be the same girl who wants to be a psychiatrist."

"Harley, get a hold of yourself."

"Ah, lighten up, Samantha. Smile for me." Allan leaned in close to her. Too close. And his hand was brushing up against the side of her leg. It wasn't on purpose; it was just that he had placed both hands on his seat and that's where it landed. Samantha didn't like the close proximity. There was something very wrong about Allan. But what?

"Get off of me," Samantha said through clenched teeth.

"What was that?" Allan asked, bringing his head close to hers to listen.

Samantha's anger rose and broke free. "Get off of me!" she screamed in his ear. She grabbed her milk carton and splashed it in his face. Allan removed his arm and went to wipe the milk from his face as Samantha stood up.

"Come on you two, let's leave this freak," she said and left the table. Alice and Harley looked uncertain about what to do but followed Samantha anyway.

"See ya in science!" Allan called out in a sing-song voice. Lots of students were giving curious glances as the three friends walked out of the cafeteria. Samantha did her best to ignore them.

…..

Samantha put her head against the cool metal of her locker door. She always tried to get to know a person before she wrote them off, and this guy, even if he was cute, was someone she did not want to know.

"What happened back there?" Alice asked.

"I told you, he's been trying my nerves."

"But you've never drenched a person with milk before," Harleen pointed out.

Samantha sighed through her nose, already feeling beyond guilty about what she had done to Allan. She was really shocked at herself.

"Oh my gosh! Harley! Samantha! It's Boy Billionaire, Bruce Wayne! He's heading this way!" Alice whispered urgently.

Samantha glanced up and saw Alice was right. Bruce Wayne, the richest guy in school – no, the richest person in the city, was walking down the hallway. He had inherited his wealth after his parents were murdered right in front of him many years ago when he was just a kid. Samantha couldn't help but feel sorry for him. She looked back at Alice and Harley.

"That's nice; now leave the rich boy alone."

Harley made a face but obeyed.

"Ugh… I shouldn't have done that to Allan," Samantha said after a moment.

"Ya think?" Harley asked sarcastically.

"You're not helping." Samantha gnawed on her thumbnail and ran her fingers through her hair. She groaned and closed her eyes. "I've got to go apologize."

Alice happened to look up and see Bruce was heading directly towards them. She cleared her throat to alert Samantha. "A-a-a-ahem."

Samantha lifted her head from the locker and found Bruce looking directly at her. He seemed a little concerned. "Are you alright?" he asked.

She was confused as to why the richest person in Gotham, was worried about her. "I'm fine… I just have to apologize to someone I don't like."

"Oh, well… good luck on that," Bruce chuckled and continued on his way down the hall.

Alice and Harley's mouths hung open as they stared at the retreating back of Bruce. Harley turned to Samantha. "Why can't I be like you?" she whined.

"Huh?"

"You know, act like I don't care around cute boys."

Samantha cocked an eyebrow and let a small smile grace her lips. The smile faded as she sighed again and let the back of her head thump against the locker. "I'm going to go find Allan and apologize."

Alice gave a thumb up. "Do your thing," she said.

Just then the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch and the start of the next class; which for Allan and Samantha was science. She waved good-bye to her friends and headed off. When she went inside, she found him with his feet propped upon a desk in front of him and his hands behind his head. Allan gave a grin and winked when he saw her. Who did this guy think he was?

"Do I really have to apologize to him?" Samantha knew the answer to that. "Yes."

She sat in her desk next to Allan. A few seconds of silence passed as she argued internally with herself, but in the end, her guilt won. "I'm sorry for screaming and pouring milk on you," she whispered.

Allan locked eyes with her and in that moment, she knew. That's when she saw it. Looking into those brown eyes of his, she saw the evil. And it scared her. It was like she couldn't look away. Allan's eyes were so dark, they almost seemed black. Black and consuming. That's what made his smile so unsettling. The smile never reached his eyes. Such dark eyes.

Allan said nothing, only smiled and looked away. Samantha felt shaky and she couldn't concentrate on the lesson the teacher was going over. At that instant, she decided that when the school year was over, she would have nothing to do with Allan Jordan; that was her decision.

…..…

At the end of the day, Samantha ran out of drama class and to her car. Harleen and Alice were standing next to the vehicle, waiting as usual.

"Did you apologize?" Alice asked.

"Yes."

"Hey, are you okay?" Harley asked, looking closely at Samantha.

"Yeah; why?"

"You look kinda shaky, scared even."

Samantha looked down at her hands to see they were shaking. She held onto her notebook to stop the trembling. "It's nothing."

"Okie-dokie," Harley chirped. The subject was dropped as the girls discussed how their first day as senior high school students had gone. Alice and Harley soon left her and Samantha turned to unlock the car door. She felt her heart leap when she saw Allan right behind her, dropping her notebook in surprise.

Allan bent over and picked up the notebook. "You didn't stick around to say good-bye," he pouted in a fake, hurt voice.

"I can't stick around when I have to go to work." Samantha reached for her notebook but Allan held onto it.

"Oh really? Where do you work?"

"It's none of your business." Samantha reached for the book again and Allan moved out of her reach.

"You hurt me real bad," Allan said laughing.

This time Samantha lunged for the notebook. Allan held the notebook up as high as his arm let him go, which was really unfair due to his long arms. She ran into him and he immediately wrapped his arms around her like a boyfriend would do with his girlfriend.

"Dude, what is up with you?" Samantha yelled. Allan only licked his lips and laughed like the maniac she suspected him to be. She punched him in the gut and he let go, doubling over and holding his stomach with one arm. Samantha didn't care about the notebook now. She got into her car and drove off.

Allan straightened up and watched her go. "What a gal," he sighed in a fake, dreamy tone. Opening the notebook, he glanced through it, and snapped it closed with a grin on his face. He'd find a way to return it to her.

…

Samantha was so glad to get away from Allan. Her heart was pumping so hard, she could hear it.

No way could she work today, she just couldn't. She had so much homework to do. Oh yeah, she could feel that Senioritis kicking in.

Her job was being a waitress at her favorite restaurant, The Green Willows. Samantha didn't plan on being a waitress for long; she wanted to be a nurse. Samantha was taking all the right classes for the career of a nurse, but she couldn't get a job related to nursing. No one was hiring at the moment; the waitress job was. She couldn't complain. Her boss, Mr. Samuels, was a good man and fair to his workers.

When Samantha got to her apartment complex, she hurried up the stairs to the third floor and to her door. The moment she was inside, she locked the door behind her. Samantha put her back to the door and sighed.

"Sam, is that you?" her dad called.

"Yeah, it's me," she replied and headed for her bedroom. "I've got a lot of homework to do. Could ya let me know when dinner's ready?"

"Sure thing, honey."

Samantha opened the door to her bedroom and launched herself, belly-flop style, onto her bed. "What a day," she moaned. She couldn't remember the first day of a new school year ever being so tiring. Well, none of those days had had Allan Jordan tagging along with her.

Samantha rolled over onto her back and grabbed her own private phone that was on her nightstand. "Better let Mr. Samuels know I can't come in," she said to herself as she dialed his number.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Mr. Samuels, it's Samantha."

"Hi, kid; running late?"

"No sir, I can't go to work today."

"Why, are you sick? Did something happen?" Samuels asked, concerned.

"Sort of. It's a major sickness called senior homework. It's common among most high school students." Samantha could hear Mr. Samuels laughing on the other end of the line.

"Well, you have more than enough sick days to take off for."

"Thanks, Mr. Samuels."

"Hey, I was a high school student once. Okay kiddo, see ya tomorrow."

"Bye." Samantha put the phone back in its cradle and lay motionless on the bed for a few seconds. "Okay, homework; prepare to meet your maker." She sat up and leaned over the bed's edge to grab her backpack and drag it closer to her. Samantha unzipped the bag to get out her homework. She rummaged around but couldn't find it. A groan came from Samantha when she remembered her homework was in her notebook…which Allan was in possession of at the moment.

The doorbell rang and Samantha heard the distant sound of her mother answering it. "Samantha, it's for you!"

Samantha lazily tumbled out of her bed, landing on her hands and knees. She quickly got up and went to the door. She was shocked to see who was there.

"Hello, Samantha," Allan greeted.

"Hello, Allan," Samantha said with no enthusiasm. Her mom left them so she could finish cooking dinner. Good! Cause Samantha was ready to chew him out! She looked over her shoulder to make sure both of her parents weren't in hearing range. The coast was clear.

She whipped her head back around to face Allan. "What are you doing here? Are you following me?"

"I can't really be following you if you've written your address in the 'if lost, please return to' part of the notebook," Allan said as he pulled out the book from behind his back and opened it up to show her address written inside. He held it out to her.

Samantha eyed him as she reached out and took it. His fingers brushed against hers. She quickly withdrew her hand when she felt like she had been shocked. "Uh, thanks," Samantha managed to say.

"You're welcome." Allan grinned as he looked at the exterior of the door and then back at her. "Now I know where you live." He pushed the inside of his left cheek with his tongue. "Scary thought, isn't it?"

Samantha silently admitted that it was. Allan put his hand on the door frame and leaned in. "You think I could come inside? Maybe we could do some homework together, hm?" He took a step into the doorway and Samantha subtly blocked his way by acting like she had decided to lean against the frame. She couldn't explain why, but Samantha did not want Allan in her home.

"Actually, I work better on my own." It was sort of a half-truth.

Allan blinked and licked his bottom lip. "Well then, I'll, uh, stop by again. See you around, Esmeralda." He gave her a little salute then turned and walked away.

Samantha closed the door, locked it, and went to her room. She threw herself onto the bed and hugged a purple pillow to her chest.

"Why am I so scared of him? He hasn't done anything to me to make me scared, so why? Why do I get a feeling he's going to be…something terrible in the future? Like he's one step away from going over the edge of insanity?"

She felt like she was about to go over the edge of insanity if Allan kept acting like he did. Samantha started to drift off to sleep, but slept fitfully; she kept hearing Allan's laughs in her dreams.

…

August 13th, 1996

The next morning at school, Allan took a Canon E53 video camera out of his locker and switched it on. He made a few adjustments and looked up to see Samantha Reads, Harleen Quinzel, and Alice Fredricks walking in his direction. Allan grinned and pressed the record button, pointing it at them. "Good morning, ladies," he greeted as he walked towards them.

As soon as Alice and Harleen noticed the camera, they began to smile and blow kisses. Samantha smiled at her friends' poses but did not pose herself. "Come on, Samantha," Allan encouraged.

Samantha looked straight into the camera and said, "Drop dead."

"Harsh," Allan replied. He still kept the camera trained on Samantha as she went to her locker.

"We have to go, Sammy," Harleen told her.

"Scoot," Samantha said with a wave of her hand and a smile on her face.

Allan loved her smile; absolutely loved it. It was a true smile. Beautiful. Too bad he couldn't see it more often.

As Alice and Harleen walked away, Allan called out, "Bye Alice, bye Harley."

Harleen squealed and waved good-bye.

Allan knew Harley had a crush on him; he would have to be a complete idiot not to know. Sure Harleen was a very attractive girl, but Samantha had a certain quality that drew him in.

Samantha bent down to a bottom locker and opened it. She was digging through, grabbing books and folders, when a loud clang came from the locker above hers. Samantha quickly stood up to find two arms pressed against it. Samantha whirled around to see Allan standing there, very close. He had her trapped.

"Hello there," he said in a low voice.

After getting over the initial shock of finding him suddenly in her space, Samantha turned her back on Allen. "Could you please back away?" she sighed.

"I can't; my locker is right above yours," he said with a sly grin.

Samantha whirled back around to face him. "You have got to be joking!" She hissed.

"Not right now. If you would excuse me…" Allan began to open his locker to put away his camera while Samantha was still trapped. She tried to squeeze out but she only got closer to his face. Allan looked down at her and a wolfish grin spread across his lips. "Getting kinda intimate, aren't we?"

A teacher walked by and shouted out, "No public display of affection!"

Samantha turned red. She shoved Allan away from her. He lost his footing and fell on his butt in the middle of the hall. "Jerk," Samantha muttered and slammed her locker door shut.

As Samantha began to walk away, Allan called out in a sing-song voice, "I'll see you later, Beautiful!"

That caused people to stare.

"I'm one step away from committing murder!" she thought to herself as she hurried to English.

…..

After lunch, Samantha went to her locker to grab the supplies she needed. Allan came by and opened his locker without a word. Samantha stuck her head inside her locker, looking for a certain paper. She withdrew her head when she found it, and discovered Allan had knelt down to get eye level with her. He had his camera out and was recording Samantha.

"What is up with you and that camera?" she asked, irritably.

Allan shrugged, still aiming the camera at her. "I don't know. I just really like capturing things."

Samantha paused in the middle of transferring a class book from her bag to her locker. "On film?" she added.

Allan briefly looked up from the camera. "Huh?"

"You like to capture things on film, right? That's what you meant."

"Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah," he replied, lowering his gaze back to the camera.

She looked at him from the corner of her eye. "Do you have to record me?"

"Yes."

Samantha closed her locker, rolling her eyes. She straightened and shrugged her back pack on as faced him. "What do I have to do to get you to stop?"

Allan also stood and smiled. "Smile for me," he said simply.

Samantha forced a smile.

"A real smile, Samantha. You can do better than that; I know you can."

She gave him another smile, better than the last, but still not a real smile.

"One day, I'm going to make you laugh," he promised.

"I doubt that."

Allan stopped recording and lowered the camera. He stood very close to her and stared deep into Samantha's eyes. "Don't close your mind to the idea," he said in a low voice.

Samantha stood there quietly for a moment. She could see it again. The…dark glint in his eyes. It felt like something was fighting to be free. It made her blood cold and her skin tingle.

Samantha broke free from his gaze and walked away. Allan raised the camera and pressed record.

"One day, Esmeralda, I'll make you laugh," he thought.

Allan ran his tongue over his lips and stopped recording when Samantha was out of sight. He chuckled and walked after her.

…

In Drama, the students were learning the stage techniques of how to make a fight look real.

"You hit your leg when you pretend to slap someone so you can get that good impact sound," the drama instructor explained. "Who would like to demonstrate?"

Samantha raised her hand.

"Samantha, come up here. Now, I need a guy up here… Allan, since you're new here, come on up."

Samantha felt an idea coming on as Allan stood in front of her.

"Remember what I told you. Go on," the teacher said. Samantha let her hand fly and slapped Allan across the face. "Oh, that was lovely! It looked like so real," the instructor exclaimed cheerfully. Allan put a hand on the place Samantha had struck him. He smiled and let a small chuckle escape as he wet his lips.

"Let's have them demonstrate a man kissing a lady's hand. Allan, would you care to show us?"

Allan's eyes danced with mischief as he stared at Samantha. "Sure," he answered.

"A man is supposed to get down on one knee and take the lady's hand and kiss it while he looks into her eyes. Do you understand?"

Allan nodded. He got down on one knee, grasped the hand Samantha had slapped him with, and gently placed a kiss on it while looking into her eyes. Samantha turned red. She clenched her fists as she walked back to her desk. She could never get back at Allan long enough. He always had something up his sleeve that he'd use to get back at her, like that kiss.

Samantha glanced at him to see he was staring at her, grinning. He blew her a kiss and she turned away. Allan licked his lips and grinned even bigger.

"Jerk," Samantha silently mumbled. "A very cute jerk. Oh shut up."

…

Months went by, the New Year came, 1997, and soon it was prom night. Samantha and her friends met up at the school gym and admired each others dresses.

Samantha wore a long light blue dress that had one strap and the skirt flowed when she walked, making her look as though she were gliding. She had pulled her hair back in a ponytail with five small braids in it. Her shoes were silver, and she wore a simple silver chained necklace with silver teardrop earrings.

Samantha and Alice were talking as the music played and students danced when Harleen came back from dancing with the fourth boy who had asked her to dance. "Dancing can take a lot out of ya," she huffed playfully.

"Look who's talking, Miss. Gymnast," Alice teased. They had to nearly shot at each other to be heard over the music. Amber's 'This is Your Night' could be heard clearly through the speakers.

"You captured my heart, you're the key to my life
A vision of our love, that made me survive
Regaining the mood, that we're in, it's so real
It's time to move up, and to face what I feel, oohh!"

Harleen giggled and glanced over Alice's shoulder. "Oh, Sammy, Allan's here!"

"What?!" Samantha blanched. She and Alice turned to look.

"I'll get him over here," Alice said taking a step in his direction.

Samantha grabbed her arm. "No!"

"What? Why?"

"Because I don't want to talk to him."

"Then don't talk to him."

"I won't, but then he'll end up making me talk to him."

Alice rolled her eyes and went to get Allan anyway. He smirked when he caught Samantha's eye. He wore a black suit with a purple tie. Allan gave her a wink. "Hello Samantha."

Samantha flashed Allan a quick, forced smile to acknowledge his presence. "You look good in that suit, Allan," Harley told him.

Allan straightened his purple tie, grinning. "Thanks."

The song 'Sway', sung by Dean Martin, began to play over the speakers and Allan lifted an eyebrow at Samantha. "Would you like to dance-?"

"Yes!" Harleen interrupted with a squeal.

"Samantha?" Allan finished. Harleen pouted.

Samantha was on the verge of saying 'no', when she took a moment to look at his face. He looked so… hopeful; like he was pleading with her. Those eyes…

"Okay…"

That shocked everyone, including Samantha. Allan was silent as he extended his hand out to her. Samantha placed her hand in his and he held it gently, like he was afraid he was going to break her. An impish grin spread across his face and he led her out to the dance floor.

"Do you even know how to dance?" she asked him.

"You'd be surprised," Allan replied and moistened his lips with his tongue.

Samantha did turn out to be surprised. Allan was a pretty good dancer. And he was sneaky! He had chosen the perfect song to dance with her. It called for two dancers to be close and the sneak knew it! He'd move her all around and draw her in close to him, grinning mischievously while he did it. At the end of the dance, Allan had managed to get their heads very close together. His face lost all trace of mischief as he just stared at her.

Allan slowly moved in and brought their faces closer. Samantha pulled away which startled and confused Allan. She pried herself out of his hold and started towards Harleen and Alice.

Allan took a few deep breaths to collect himself and walked after her. "Samantha!" he called.

"Guys, I have to go home," Samantha hurriedly told her friends.

"But, Sammy-."

"I just have to go." Samantha began to hurry out of the gym with Allan following behind.

"Samantha!" Allan repeated. Samantha glanced over her shoulder and picked up her pace. Allan jogged to catch up with her. "Samantha, wait!" He finally caught up and reached out, touching her arm. "Samantha-."

"Don't touch me!" she cried fearfully, jerking her arm away like she'd been burned by acid.

Allan's brow furrowed as her stared at her with a look of confusion. "Are you nervous around me?" he asked.

"Nervous? What I feel when you're around is more than being nervous."

Allan grinned. He grabbed both her arms, pulled her into him, and wrapped his arms around her waist. "So you like me, hm?" he chuckled.

Samantha pushed off of his chest, breaking free. "No! Listen, you joker, I've had enough of you! I am so sick of looking at you, listening to you, being held by you, and having anything to do with you! I've had it!"

Allan looked stunned for a moment at her outburst and then, slowly, a sickening grin spread across his face. It caused Samantha's stomach to churn. "Joker, hm? I kinda like the sound of that." His hands reached out to clasp Samantha's. He received a backhanded slap that made his teeth rattle. A bright red spot appeared on his cheek.

"Did you not hear a word of what I just said?" Samantha seethed. Allan stared at her in shock. "I've had enough of the jokes; enough of you! You scare me!" her voice trembled. "That's what I feel when you're around; fear! Please, get away from me!"

Allan looked down at his feet, silent. When he looked up, there was no grin, no hint of a smile on his face. "Not before I do something first," he said quietly. He brought his hand at the back of Samantha's neck and ran his fingers through her hair a few times. Tilting her head back, Allan brought his mouth down to Samantha's.

She tried to pull away, but he had a firm hold on her. She shivered when his hand slid down her bare arm, feeling that same shocking sensation when their fingers had brushed against each other. Samantha couldn't decide if it was a pleasant feeling or not. Allan broke the kiss and put his hands in his suit's pockets. He stood there, looking at her for a moment. He gave a brief smile, inclined his head at her, and walked past Samantha to the school's double doors, humming to himself.

That was the last time she ever saw Allan Jordan.

(Well? What did ya think of chapter one? Please leave a review!)