Chapter 18 "Have you decided yet?" George questioned Sam once they were done eating lunch, and  were drinking coffee. "Yes, I've decided. And I'd be very pleased to become a model for you."  Sam smiled at  him.    "Good, good." George smiled back. "I am very pleased. You're just in time for the winter  line." "Will I have to do a lot of traveling?" "Just for the fashion shows, and an occasional photo shoot in exotic locations. We're  going to Europe at the beginning of November."     "Will I need training or fitness?"    "Yes, to both. Why don't you come by the salon in a week?  That way, you can settle in and explore the area, get to know the city."           "Next Wednesday:  I can do that.  Just give me the address and I'll be there at..... what time?"           "Nine here's a business card, " George told her, handing her a business card.  "If you  can't find it, have Justin bring you. Are you ready to leave?" "Yes," Sam told him, putting his business card in her wallet. George signaled  the waiter to bring the check." Sam started to pull out some money, but George stopped her.  "The gentleman always pays."           "But..." "Let me pay. It's of no concern to me." "Okay." Sam shrugged. "Thank you for lunch."           George paid the check and lead her outside. "Thank you for accepting my offer." He walked her to her car and held open the door, closing it when she climbed in. "I look forward to working with you." "Thank you for asking me." Sam started the car and pulled out of the parking space.           "Bye."     George watched her drive away. The guy she loved would be one lucky man.  If he was ten years younger, he'd give Justin or any other man some competition.                                              ~~~~~~~               Sarah watched JC climb out of the pool and walk to the patio where she was sitting.  He walked to an ice chest and pulled out a beer, sinking to a chair.    "JC," Sarah began, standing up and walking toward him," We need to talk." JC looked at her. "Why?"   Silence descended on the group of people as everyone paused what they were doing and edged closer to the patio and JC and Sarah. "What's going on?" Joey whispered to Lance. "Shh," Lance said, holding a finger to his  lips. "I want to hear." "You, JC, are an asshole. You hurt a friend, although you didn't know it at the time. You  should have realized it by  now. And the fact that you didn't realize that something you recently did hurt a person everyone here knows, and loves is no excuse. "The fact that you hurt someone who has done nothing to harm or hurt you, but instead has loved you with all their heart. All they've done is love you, support you in everything you did or have done.  As payment to them you come along after dating a slut for a while and with what should of been good news, rip out their heart, shreds it into pieces then stomp on them until they're smashed into the ground. And you call yourself a friend. " "You're more of a back stabbing asshole then a friend.  A friend is suppose to care for  and love their friends, not rip their heart out, nearly killing them."  By the end Sarah was screaming.    JC stared at her, shocked and confused.  "What the hell was that for?  It's my birthday. You're supposed to be nice."   "I don't give a fuck. I really don't like you right now, JC. And you're engagement to that slut doesn't help matters."     "Why does everyone insist on calling Lesley a slut or a bitch, or a whore? She's the woman I intend to marry. Can't you be at least civil to her?"         "I don't give a fuck if she's the woman you're going to marry.  She's a bitch and a slut." If looks could kill, the ones Sarah was sending JC would have buried him six feet  under. "I can't stand her.  Neither can most of your friends. You are so fucking blind, Joshua Scott Chasez, it isn't funny. You proposed to her less than ten minutes after she called Sam a slut. You might have gotten her to apologize, but everyone knew she didn't mean it."    "Yes, she did. Besides how do you know Sam and Justin didn't fuck each other?"      "Leave me and Sam out of this," Justin demanded. "We didn't. I would have liked to, but some guy screwed her up too much."           "How come everyone but me knows who hurt Sam?  And why does no one seemed surprised by Sarah's outburst?" JC demanded of his friends, looking around at them.           "Open your eyes, JC."  Bri told him. "Open them and you just might see." Sarah was still glaring at him.  She wished she could have said more, but Sam would kill her.                                    ~~~~~~~~                    Sam wandered around town for a few hours, getting to know the city.  Around      four, she went back to the apartment to finish unpacking and arrange her room.  At five,      someone knocked on the door.       "JC, what are you doing here?" Sam exclaimed, opening the door to find him standing       there. "Why aren't you at your party?"        "It wasn't for me. A.J arranged it for you girls." JC told her, pushing his way inside.        "Thank you for the watch."        "You're welcome," Sam sighed, closing the door. "JC, I'm busy and don't need anyone      to bother me."      "Sam, have you ever been in love?"  JC asked, walking into the living room, ignoring      Sam's comment."             "Why?" Sam inquired, following him.      "I need advice. Have you ever been in love?"      "Yes."      JC sat on the couch, picking up a magazine, and flipping through it, hoping it would hide      his reaction to Sam's answer.  He couldn't stand the thought of Sam loving someone.      "Was it the guy who hurt you?"          Sam sighed and sat in her recliner. "JC, don't believe what everyone's telling you.  The      guy I loved - love doesn't know I love him. I don't even think he knows I exist. And it's      all my fault. Yes, something he did broke my heart, but it wasn't intentional.  And even      though he did break my heart, I still love him. And always will."      "Why do you love him?"      "He's..... special. I can't tell you a lot about him, or my love for him, it hurts too much, but      I can say he's a very very special person. And not just because I love him."      "Would you like help trying to get him?  I'm sure I could talk to him, make him realize      what he's missing."      Sam stared at him. "No, JC, I don't need help. He's made his choice and I hope he'll be      happy.  That's all I want for him. To be happy."      "You would sacrifice your happiness for his?"  God, if I was the guy you loved, I would      ask for nothing more from life.  Whoever he is, he doesn't know what he's losing.       "Do you love him that much?"      "JC, the only thing I wouldn't do for him is hurt my friends.  Yes, I'd sacrifice my      happiness for his. If he's happy, truly happy with his choice, then I'm glad for him."  She      sighed again. "Why are you asking me all these questions?"      "I just want to know. I need your advice on a problem I'm having."      "Does this involve Lesley?"      "Yeah, why?"      "Then don't ask me . Ask someone else for advice.  Seeing how terrible my love life is, I      shouldn't be trying to help you with yours."          JC watched her as she paced the room.  She seemed upset about something. "Okay,      I'll ask someone else." He headed for the front door.      "Sam," he asked suddenly turning to face her," if you had the chance, would you not fall      in love with the dude?"      "Oh no. Even if he doesn't know it, and it changed so many things between the two of us,      and I might want to believe I'd change my love, I know in y heart, I wouldn't trade in that      love for anything. The only thing I would do differently would be to tell him."      JC stared at her for a minute, then turned and left, not saying anything, although he      wanted to badly.  He wanted to pour out all of his troubles, tell her what was happening      to him. Tell her about the thoughts he'd been having.  But she already had too much to      worry about.  She didn't need his problems on top of everything else.  Sam stared at the      door for a minute after he left, then slowly sank to the living room floor, her hand pressed      to her heart.      "Oh my love. I wouldn't change it for anything. How I wish I could tell you my feelings.      "Her quietly spoken words filled the silence, haunting the deserted rooms.