Miss Hall appeared down the corridor and opened the door to let us in. The rows were arranged in twos and the spaces were filling up fast. I turned to look for Sam through the throngs of people but it was impossible. The crowd was too powerful. Panicked I scanned the class and I saw Ky waving his arm at me.

"Hey, Kat over here. Come sit by me."

"Uh okay, thanks!"

Quickly I made my over and dumped myself on the chair, smiling gratefully.

"I was getting worried there: I could only see one place next to Mike Lasserson and I can smell his bad breath from here!"

"Well, I guess I'm your knight in shining armour then."

I looked sceptical and answered

"I wasn't that big of a deal, I can look after myself you know, but whatever, I kinda feel sorry for Sam don't you? Who's she going to sit next to?"

The door slammed open and a panting Sam slumped in the doorway.

"I'm here miss, don't worry!"

"A 'sorry I'm late miss' would have been nice but I suppose that will have to suffice, take a seat Samantha."

Sam eyes surveyed the classroom and looked onto me and Ky. Her face twisted into a scowl and she glared at me. I opened my mouth to speak and then shut it again. There was nothing to say. Sam made her way to the only available seat and sunk into it, taking care to sit as far away as physically possible from Mike on the seat next to her. She couldn't exactly blame me though, could she?

#########

"Class dismissed!" The teacher called and everyone started heading for the door.

I rushed ahead, staring intently at the ground, but Sam wasn't going to let me get away that easily. She appeared in front of me and blocked my way just as I was edging out the door.

"We need to talk." Sam growled menacingly "Now."

"Uh..."

"Hey girls, wanna head to lunch?" Ky called

Sam glared at him.

He cowered and smiled awkwardly.

"Uh, I'll just go then." Ky stuttered, then laughing and feigning fear continued "I see you girls need to have some 'girl talk'. Make a change from the shopping advice right?"

We both stared at him silently.

He cleared his throat and hurried down the corridor. Sam turned to me.

"Kat, we need to talk."

"Uh, about what?"

Sam put on a sickly sweet smile and a squeaky voice

"Uh I don't know, maybe about the fact that you just abandoned me for some idiot."

"Look I'm sorry, but there were no other spaces apart from next to Mike Lasserson and I could not stand his complete laxk of personal hygeine up close for an hour!"

"Oh so it's okay for me to have to go through that, but not you?"

"I didn't mean that Sam, and you know it. Ky asked me over and I couldn't go anywhere else. I'm sorry but it's really not as big a deal as you're making it out to be."

"You just don't get it do you?"

"No I really don't. Apart from the fact that you're being crazy!"

"Urrgh, don't you see? It's not just about today, you've abandoned me for Ky as a friend not just someone to share a desk with. Today is just one example. And why you'd do it with that twit is a complete mystery to me."

"I have no idea what you're talking about: I'm not any less friends with you because I met Ky! But if you keep insulting him for no reason, then maybe I won't want to be friends with you!"

"Oh give me a break, he's a pretentious idiot and you know it, even if you are blinded by love."

"Love! Are you kidding me?"

"Well I don't know how it's passed your notice seeing as you are the one who's been giving him doe eyes and smiling like a crazy person all the time!"

"Oh shut up Sam, you've been moody whenever he's been around all week. Whether you like it or not he is one of our group now and you better stop playing up all the time. You make him feel bad and you make me feel like crap. I thought we were friends!"

"Well what if he makes me feel bad too huh? Do you not care what I feel? Me who has been your best friend for as long as I can remember? All for someone who's practically a stranger, who's so pretentious and fake he thinks that him citing obvious Shakespeare and French that he doesn't even know the meaning of, is impressive, and who's so full of himself that he talks the whole time whilst you just smile dutifully. It's unbelievable!"

Sam stood fuming for a moment whilst I just stared with an open mouth.

"Where the hell did that come from?"

"From watching you two fawning over each other whilst I sit there, totally excluded, and watch you drift further and further from me. That's where."

"For the last time Sam the only reason I now don't want to be friends with you is because you have insulted both Ky and me for no apparent reason."

"I'm just trying to help you Kat!"

"Well I can look after myself thank you."

"Oh!" Sam looked fake taken aback, then smiling sarcastically "But won't Ky do that for you?"

I gritted my teeth and exhaled. Silently I walked away down the corridor.