Sam

If anyone had told Sam that she would be enjoying the next six weeks at Eddington, she would have called them crazy. But here it was, eight weeks into the first term and Sam was starting to feel at home. No one at school was picking on her. Even Sophie and her minions left her alone. They still glared at her, but glaring was harmless. Zander continued to flirt with her. But flirting was harmless, too. And Sam actually liked hanging out with Zander at his Saturday football club. A few of the other girls on Sam’s team played too. She won her team over instantly because she was by far the best player. And due to Sam’s superior offensive moves, the Lady Eddi’s, were currently undefeated.

But by far, the thing that made Sam happiest, was Devon. And Eggsy. Okay, mostly Devon, but she’d grown to love the lanky mutt, who much to Devon’s dismay, slept in Sam’s bed now.

“You’re a traitor!” Devon called across the hall at Eggsy on Thursday night.

“No, he’s just smart,” Sam called back.

At some point, Sam and Devon had started leaving their bedroom doors open so they could talk continually. That’s how Eggsy ended up in Sam’s bed. That’s where the huge dog currently was, with Sam’s feet propped on his furry back as she tried to concentrate on her homework.

“It’s not fair. I’m lonely over here,” Devon called.

“Well, no one said you had to stay over there all alone.”

“It’s the principle of the thing,” Devon pouted. “He’s my dog. He should hang out in my room.”

“Maybe if your room was more fun . . .” Sam teased.

“My room is fun!”

Sam was about to yell a witty comeback about his room being dark and boyish, when her laptop screen chimed and Megan’s face flashed on the screen. “Hey, Meg!”

“Hey, doll face!” Megan had settled on doll face as her thing.

“Is that Megan?” Devon called from across the hall.

In two seconds he was crowding onto Sam’s bed to talk to Megan with her. This had become their thing—talking to Megan, and volleying for her attention. Megan loved it. She made Devon say all sorts of random words that she thought would sound funny in his accent.

Today she greeted Devon with her best Irish accent. “-Ello, ‘ansome!” It was terrible.

“Have I taught you nothing, lass? You sound bloody British!” Devon teased.

Megan giggled. “So, what’s my favorite duo up to tonight?”

“You’re looking at it,” Sam said holding up her homework.

“Blimey! You should be out drinking pints or playing the fiddle!” Megan retorted.

Sam rolled her eyes. Megan thought all Irish people played the fiddle. “I think you’re gonna be sorely disappointed when you come to visit, Meg.”

“It’s under twelve weeks now!” Megan squealed.

“Seventy-nine days!” Devon added.

“How do you know that?” Megan asked.

“Sam made a calendar,” he said grabbing her laptop and swiveling it so Megan could see the corny poster board hanging over Sam’s desk.

“Correction! You helped me make it,” Sam said grabbing her laptop back from Devon.

“You guys are disgusting!” Megan yelled. “Can you just get married and have babies already!”

Sam hated when Megan said stuff like that. It made her face hot, but Devon just took it all in stride. He’d say things like, not without you, or so, we have some news . . .

Today he said, “Didn’t she tell you, we’re going away together!”

“You are?” Megan asked, her eyes as big as saucers.

“Not like that,” Sam corrected before her best friend exploded. “Just camping, and I haven’t even agreed yet, Devon.”

“Why not? Are you scared?” Megan teased.

“Yeah, why not, Sam?” Devon pestered. “Even Eggsy’s going.”

Devon had invited Sam on his annual camping trip. They both had Monday off from school for some random Irish holiday, and Devon apparently always spent the holiday weekend camping with his father. But this year, Henry obviously couldn’t go, so Devon invited Sam instead.

Sam wanted to go to be a good friend, but if she was honest, she was nervous to be alone in the wilderness with Devon. Sleeping in the same tent with him was a temptation she didn’t need. Lately, she’d caught herself staring at him, in a more-than-friends kind of way. And last week, she had a dream about him that broke every friends rule there was. So yeah, camping with Devon sounded dangerous.

Megan was still carrying on about Sam being a scaredy cat. “Why don’t you want to go?”

“Because. I’ve never been camping,” Sam said hoping to skirt the real issue.

“You’ll love it,” Devon said.

“Yeah, Sam, you’ll love it,” Megan echoed. “Don’t be scared.”

Ugh, they always ganged up on her.

“What’s not to love?” Devon continued. “Wilderness and stars and fresh air.”

“Bugs, dirt, sleeping on the ground,” Sam added. “Plus, I’m a girl. Peeing in the woods doesn’t excite me.”

Devon laughed. “Come on, it’ll be grand.”

“Come on, Sam!” Megan begged. “I want to go camping in Ireland. Do it for me!”

Sam contemplated her options. A weekend home alone, or a weekend sleeping under the stars? “I do like stars . . .” she said tentatively.

Devon and Megan both started chanting her name. “Sam! Sam! Sam!”

“Oh my God! Fine! But if I die in the woods I’m going to haunt you both.”

* * *

When they finally disconnected with Megan, Devon took both of Sam’s hands excitedly. “Are you really gonna come camping with me?”

The enthusiasm in his voice was intoxicating. How could she say no when he was so happy? Besides, she couldn’t make him go by himself. One, she would be worried about him. Two, he’d be all alone and thinking about a lifetime of lonely camping trips without his father. She had to go. It’s what a good friend would do. She’d just stuff her feelings down. They probably weren’t even real anyway. It was just hormones. Being constantly surrounded by hott Irish guys that looked like they’d just gotten off a yachting photo shoot was making her boy-crazy. But she could do this. She would conquer her hormones and be a good friend.

Sam sighed and nodded her head. “Yeah. Why not?”

“Ah! Grand! This is going to be brilliant! I’m gonna go grab my map so I can show you where we’re going. Ah! Grand!” He said again, practically skipping out of the room.

Sam flopped onto her back, hoping she hadn’t just made a huge mistake.