Chapter 3 Sarah and Bri looked at each other, then walked to Sam's room.          "Sam." Sarah said. "What's wrong?"          Her and Bri walked in the room.  Sam was sitting in the middle of her bed, her arms wrapped      around her legs, holding them close to her body. Her head rested on her knees.          Sam looked up.   "Nothing important, I'm just... sad, and scared about tomorrow, and yet excited      and a whole bunch of emotions."          Sarah and Bri sat on the bed next to her.          "Yeah, I'm sure you are," Bri said. "But there's another reason behind the tears."          Sarah ran her hand through Sam's waist length red streaked black hair. She'd gotten it trimmed      and streaked earlier that day. "You Love him."          Sam stared at a painting on her wall. "I don't know who or what you're talking about."          "You love JC and the news he delivered broke your heart," Sarah said, watching her best friend      for any reaction.          Sam bit her lip. " I love him. He's like a brother to me. And I'm happy for him. I just think      Lesley's a stuck-up  blonde bimbo and that she'll ruin his life."          "You love him, romantically. And you want the person he marries to be you."          Sam couldn't hold back the tears any longer.  They flowed down her face. "He doesn't love me.      He doesn't even know I exist. I'm........ That song by 98 degrees, 'Invisible Man' describes me      perfectly."          "Sam, he knows you're alive. And he does love you." Bri said. "Otherwise he wouldn't have      gotten you the ring." Bri and Sarah looked at Sam's hands. Both were bare. "By the way, Where      is it?"          "In my jewelry box. I'm never going to wear it."          "Sam, have you ever thought about telling him how you feel?" Sarah asked.          Sam looked at her. "I've told him I love him. I've said it a dozen times.  I end my letters and      e-mails with it."          "Maybe he doesn't realize you mean romantically." Bri said. "Maybe he thinks you mean you      love him like a brother, or a good friend."          Sam buried her face in her hands.  "Now it's to late."  Her sobs filled the room.          Sarah and Bri looked at each other Sarah hugged her best friend, letting her cry on her      shoulder.  Bri ran her hands through Sam's hair.  The three girls fell asleep a little while later, as      Sam's tears stopped and silence descended on the room.          Sam had graduation practice at seven. It was over at nine. Sam dropped Destiny and Lillian      off at Destiny's house, then went to the apartment to get the things she needed.          The guys were over when she got home, sprawled around the living room.          "Hi everyone."  Sam said. "How are all of you?"          "Good," Sarah said, "Did you have fun?"          "Have you decided what you're going to do about your problem?" Bri asked.          "Sarah, it was graduation practice." Sam replied. "No, Bri, I haven't. Wait- I have, I'm      going to forget all about it; get over it."          "What problem?" JC asked. "Is there something bothering you that I can help with?"          "No, JC you can't help. I need to get over it myself."          "Well you ever need help, let me know."  He gave her a hug. "And where's your ring?"          "In my jewelry box. I don't want anything to happen to it, so I took it off."          "Sam, it fits, your finger perfectly, so it won't get lost or stolen."          "It doesn't go with my dress or the cap and gown."          "I don't care," JC said, dragging Sam to her room. "You're going to wear it. And you can never      take it off again."  He found the ring and slipped it back on her finger.  "The only reason why you      can take it off is to get it cleaned. Promise."          Sam laughed, "JC, I don't think any boyfriends, or fiancees or husbands would like that."          "It's just a ring from a friend. Nothing more. If your boyfriend, husband or whatever doesn't like      it, he isn't good enough for you. Promise me you will always wear it."          "No," Sam said. I might want, or need to take it off."          "You aren't leaving until you promise," JC picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder.          "JC, I need to go over to Destiny's." Sam struggled to get down, but he wouldn't let go."  "I've      got graduation tonight, and we're going out to lunch then getting our hair done."          "Promise me, and I'll let you go." JC walked to the living room and sat down in a chair, putting      Sam on his lap.          "Fine, I'll always wear it.  Now let me go."          "Promise."          "I promise to always wear the ring, Happy Now?" Sam demanded.          "Yes," JC let go of her.  "Now you can leave." He kissed her forehead.          Sam got up and walked back to her room.          Justin watched Sam walk out of the living room and down the hall. She walked in her room      and closed the door.  Justin stood up and walked to her room.          He knocked on the door. "Can I come in?"          "Go ahead," Sam said. She was packing her things.          Justin walked in and closed the door behind him. " Will you go out with me?"          Sam looked at him. "Sure," she said. "When?"          "Would tomorrow night do? We can go out to dinner."          "That'll be cool. Just call me tomorrow around noon and tell me what's going on, who's going to      pick up who, what type of clothes to wear, things like that."          Justin smiled. "I'll call you at one, so you can get another hour of sleep."          "I could probably use that, since I'm not going to bed until like four tomorrow morning."          "I think so Even if you do wake up at noon, I'm not calling until one, I have no desire to get my      head snapped off."          "I'm not that bad in the morning, I'm just not alive until I get my coffee." Sam zipped up the bag.      "I'll see you later, and remind you to call me."          Justin opened the door for her, and followed her out of the room. " I won't forget. Even if you      hadn't told me to call, I would. A guy's got to be sure his date still wants to go out."          "Date?" Sarah asked. " Who's dating?"          Sam walked to the door. " Bye everyone."          "Bye," they called. When the door closed, Sarah turned to Justin.          "What did you mean by that last comment?"          "I asked Sam out," Justin said. "And you can't object. You've known me for the past four years,      and I know that if I ever hurt Sam I'll be tortured to death.  The same rule applies to anyone who      hurts any of your friends, or any of Sam's friends, or Bri's.   The three of you are loyal and      protective of your friends."          "Hell yeah." Sarah said. "And I don't object. Just don't hurt her. She's already been hurt by a      guy. Nearly destroyed."