1

"Sammy, what the hell are you doing in there?" - the irritated voice of her friend brought the girl out of her thoughts, and she, hastily slamming the locker door, hurried down the corridor.

Leah met her with a look that was just right for throwing lightning bolts.

- If we are late for the lesson, I will remember this for a long time! she threatened Samantha. - If Kamikaze detects me again, I will not see a good score. And if I do not become a doctor, no one will cure you of your absent-mindedness ...

- Enough "if"! Samantha grabbed Leah's arm and pulled her towards the classroom. She didn't really resist.

They were in a hurry to the biology class. The teacher, Mr. Yamamoto, was of Japanese descent, so he was called "Kamikazde" behind his back. He got the nickname for a reason - Yamamoto was distinguished by rare dedication, and often took on the children's tricks, for which he received from the director. But the elderly Japanese was very kind, which his students often used. However, there was something that Kamikazde did not like very much - being late.

Therefore, Samantha, or Sammy, as her friends and parents called her, hurried with all her might, not wanting to let her friend down. Leah really wanted to be a doctor, so a Biology grade was extremely important to her. Sammy felt guilty - she was late because she was on the phone with Jasper ...

When a couple of meters remained before the open door, the girls slowed down - a male voice was heard from the class.

- Crap! Leah moaned. “He’s already there… Samantha Wylie, I’ll strangle you!”

"Hush," Sammy hissed at her, and listened. – This is not the voice of Kamikaze! she said after a few seconds.

Indeed, the speaker's voice was lower than Yamamoto's, and there was no accent.

- Yes? So let's go, why stand here. - Leah pushed Sammy forward, and she literally flew into the office.

Frozen in surprise at the threshold, Samantha met the eyes of the entire class, and also the new teacher, if the tall, thin man standing at the blackboard was one. However, who else could he be?

- Uh-uh ... Hello, - said, finally, Sammy.

- Good afternoon, girls. The man nodded to both friends. - Are you going to my lesson?

- And who are you? Leah butted in, pushing Samantha a little. “Where is Kami… Mr. Yamamoto?”

- I am your biology teacher, my name is Thomas Becker. The former was fired, as far as I know. Now, please, go ahead, you are delaying the lesson. And please don't be late again, miss?

- Mackenzie. Leah Mackenzie.

Bond. James Bond,” came from somewhere in the back of the desk, and the class rolled with laughter.

- All right, Miss Mackenzie. Come in, please. And you…

"Samantha Wylie," Sammy answered quickly and darted past the teacher to her desk. More than anything, she would like to merge with the linoleum on the floor, as the T-1000 Terminator did in its time. Childhood film...

Well, if you don't mind, I'll continue. - Becker turned back to the board, and the girls breathed a sigh of relief.

Samantha squinted at her friend - she was darker than a cloud, although she tried not to show it. Again, her plan to appear cool failed. But Leah will not leave attempts ...

Well, she had more chances than Samantha. Slender and tall, with long dark hair, quite pretty and witty. Sammy never wanted to stand out, everything suited her. She had friends, studying was easy, hobbies and interests did not let her get bored. But since Leah wants to get into a cool party, you can help.

At dinner, she told Sammy they had a chance. A chance to prove they're not cowardly chickens. Samantha just shook her head, hoping that her friend's latest adventure didn't involve a risk to her life.

She nevertheless decided to try to listen to what the teacher was saying, when the director of the school, an obese, balding man, looked into the office.

- Mr. Becker, how is the lesson going? - he asked.

"It's all right, thank you," the teacher replied. Sammy seemed unhappy at being interrupted. But the director did not notice this:

- May I ask you for a few words?

Becker nodded, placed the piece of chalk by the blackboard, and left, shutting the door behind him. There was an immediate uproar in the class.

- Wiley the frog must have been late in the library. Book dust is like an aphrodisiac for her ... Look how hard she breathes, - a mannered voice was heard.

Abigail Blair, the school's premier beauty who also wrote the Bond remark, smiled mockingly from her seat. Travis Doyle, the captain of the football team, was lounging in the next desk, watching Samantha, who was flushed with anger, with a half-smile. She hated being called Frog, a nickname that stuck with her in elementary school when she wore a CrazyFrog backpack and loved those songs.

"I didn't know you were interested in my sex life, Abi," Samantha snapped at her. You seemed to like guys.

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"Shut up, you creep," Abigail said contemptuously, but she stopped mocking.

Samantha turned to Leah. She looked in the mirror, straightening her hair.

"You shouldn't fight with Abi," she advised Samantha. We still have a quest to go through tonight.

"Actually, I'm not the one clinging to her," Sammy muttered. - What other quest?

- Well, remember, I said that it would be necessary to do something. A kind of dedication.

- Initiation into the rank of subjects of Abigail Blair? Yes, I remember, - Sammy grimaced, and Leah grimaced:

- Don't be a jerk. Yes, Abi's character is not sugar, but you know, it's cool with her.

I don't know and I don't want to know. Leah frowned and Sammy added, "But I'll go for you."

"For my sake," Leah rolled her eyes. “You will thank yourself later. I bet you can't turn down a guy like... Like Travis Doyle, for example.

- What? And what about Doyle anyway?

"Guys like him don't date mere mortals," Leah chuckled as she put the mirror back into her bag.

I don't date people like him. And anyway, you know, Jasper...

- My God, again your Jasper! You are friends with him from the cradle, but you can’t understand everything that he perceives you as a friend, no more. You are a bro, not a girl in his eyes. And in general, he sucks.

- Oh, thanks. - Samantha turned away, and Leah pulled her sleeve, but it was not possible to continue the conversation - the new biologist returned to the classroom.

The lesson continued, but Sammy's thoughts were far from biological topics. She could hardly hold back her tears - Leah, of course, did not do it intentionally, but she hit it where it hurt most.

Samantha has really been friends with Jasper Green since childhood. They had lived next door and had been in contact with each other for as long as Sammy could remember. Jas was a year older than her, they always had common interests and topics, first games, and then music, books, computer battles. Samantha had always liked him, and with age, her affection grew into a rather strong sympathy. Leah believed that she herself came up with falling in love, but Sammy could not imagine another guy next to her - Jas was like herself, understood her perfectly. However, Leah was right about one thing - Jasper never showed feelings for her other than friendly. Sometimes Samantha thought she noticed his gaze, or that he held her in his arms a little longer than necessary. But Leah always said if Jasper wanted to, he would date Sammy.

Samantha became friends with Lia two years ago when she came to their school from out of town. At first, Sammy could not get used to her friend's caustic and abrupt manner of communication, and her ambition puzzled her. Samantha and Jasper never cared about the opinions of others, they only did what they liked. However, over time, she and Leah became close - a friend turned out to be a very intelligent girl, and deep down she was kind. Samantha knew that Leah would never do anything wrong to her, and if she sometimes offended her with rash words, then, in the end, she was right. A real doctor who hurts people so that later they feel better. And then everything goes right.

Only this time, Samantha resisted and refused to go down the right path. Jasper occupied her entire mind and she refused to think of anyone else. Although she continued to be only a friend for Green.

By the end of the lesson, she managed to cope with her chagrin, only a slight sadness remained. The bell rang for recess, and the students left the classroom noisily. Samantha was packing her things without looking at her friend, but it was so easy to keep up with Leah.

- Listen, stop being offended! She stood right in front of Samantha's nose, and Samantha had to raise her eyes and look at her. - I want you to be happy. What's the point of pissing on a guy who discusses computer toys and rock bands with you instead of asking you out on a date? Sam, seriously, stop thinking about him!

"He's my best friend," Samantha said softly.

- So be friends on health. And you need to meet someone who will be interested in you.

- All right, I'll do that. Sammy slung her bag over her shoulder, walked around her friend, and walked towards the exit.

"Stubborn," Leah breathed and followed her.

Samantha went to literature class. Leah called out to her that she would be waiting for her at the stadium after class ended, but Sammy had no desire to go to practice. Recently, she began to go to volleyball classes, and Leah was on the cheerleading team. One of the steps to her goal.

As she walked into the classroom, she almost ran into the same Travis Doyle that Leah had mentioned a little earlier. With a frown on the boy, Sammy walked past. No, thank you, she doesn't need such beauties.

But Doyle was really handsome. Tall, slender and fit, with light brown hair and blue eyes, the look of which pierced and seemed to lure into their nets. So it usually happened, because in the piggy bank of the handsome man there was an impressive list of girls in love with him. Travis periodically walked with someone, but he did not have a permanent girlfriend. Even Abi Blair herself was left with a nose. Samantha seemed to like him, although Abigail hardly showed herself, surrounded by her own admirers day and night.