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Samantha ran out of the pep rally as soon as she could. She ran into the girls' bathroom and sobbed inside one of the bathroom stalls. Samantha wasn't sure what was the worst day of her life. At first, she thought it was the day she thought lost her father to an earthquake. Then, she thought it was the day, her stepmother ruined her father's diner and made her work as a waitress. Now, she was sure that it was the day that Austin, her secret admirer and Prince Charming, rejected her.
Why?
Well all because she wasn't his dream princess, she was the diner girl that everybody at school mocked. The sixteen-year-old didn't understand. Samantha thought he loved her. She trusted him. She had poured out all her heart and soul to him through their university chat room. Through all their time together on the Internet and at the school dance, she thought he understood her. Didn't he see her as someone special? Someone that the other high schoolers couldn't see?
Apparently not.
When she was done crying, the girl washed her face at the sink. No more tears fell from her face but her eyes still looked lifeless. She walked out of the bathroom, hoping to avoid anyone who would recognize her.
Time has passed. Since that fiasco at the pep rally, Austin had been avoiding her. Never once, did he ever come up and apologize to her or give her back her cell phone.
Sam walked down the hallway, trying to ignore the bullies as usual. She looked up to see if Austin noticed her. The blonde sighed when she saw Austin quickly walking away from her with Shelby.
So that's how it is, then? He decided to go back to his mean girlfriend as soon as he found out who she really was.
Samantha should have seen it coming. Her friend, Carter had a romantic night with Shelby and later revealed himself to her. And how did she react? By yelling and shoving him! Even though Austin hadn't physically harmed Sam, the girl still felt like she got a punch to the stomach. It's bad enough that she was hated by her stepmother, stepsisters, and the whole school. Now she's strongly disliked by Austin, too?
Well, at least she has Carter.
Sometime later, Samantha's life finally started to get better. She stood up to her evil stepmother by quitting her job and walking out of the diner. She didn't expect Rhonda and the rest of the staff to follow her. They too, had enough of Fiona and her mean daughters.
Next, the teenager discovered her father's will in her storybook. Why in the world would he store his will in her book, of all things? Was he hiding it from Fiona? Maybe he was thinking of the only place to store where no one would suspect?
Well, it didn't matter. All that mattered was that everything that was her father's, belonged to her now. Whatever Finia controlled, Sam got it back. She got back her house, the money, and the diner.
Once Sam got the diner back, she and Rhonda restored the place to its former glory. It was no longer a teen hangout with bad food. (What dope thought it was a good idea to have every single dish on the menu have fish from Norway?) It's now a place where families can come and eat classic American food. Rhonda was promoted to owner and Fiona was demoted to waitress, along with her spoiled brat daughters. As long as Rhonda is in charge and keeps a close eye on Fiona, the diner will survive.
Yes things were looking up for Sam.
The only last thing that she had to fix was something she dreaded the most.
What to do about Austin?
She inhaled and exhaled. The girl braced herself before stepping into the boys' locker room, not caring that she was not allowed in there. This was important.
"Sam, I um, sorry I was kind of-," Austin spoke before Sam cut him off.
"A coward? A phony?" Her voice was full of venom.
"Listen, I'm only seventeen, I didn't want to be bullied by other kids! I have a reputation-"
"No, you listen," she spoke firmly. "You turned out to be exactly who I thought you were. Shallow, self-absorbed, and cowardly. I never pretended to be someone else. It's been me all along. And it was me who was hurt in front of everybody!" She paused and took a deep breath to cool herself down. "Look I didn't come to yell at you, okay? I came to tell you that I know what it feels like to be afraid to show who you are. I was, but I'm not anymore, and the best thing is that I don't care what anyone thinks of me because I believe in myself. And I know things are going to be okay for me. But even though I don't have a family, a job, and money for college, it's you I feel sorry for."
"Heads up!" David called. "Game is gonna start soon!"
"Coming!" Austin answered, before turning back to Sam. "What?" He looked annoyed and wished that this diner girl would hurry up. He couldn't handle his friends teasing him for liking someone unpopular.
"You are not who I thought you were! Heck, I don't know that if that guy that sent me those emails is still inside you. Even if he is, I can't wait for him because waiting for you is like waiting for the rain in this drought. Useless, hopeless, and disappointing! But I hope that one day when you do find a girl and love her, I hope that you would love her so much that you wouldn't care what the bullies think!"
As soon as she said that, Sam walked away. She didn't respond when Austin called for her. He had his chance and he blew it.
She had gone to the bleachers to watch the game with Carter.
Five minutes into the game, and she still couldn't handle the fact that some eyes were still on her. Looks like the pep rally was still fresh in their minds. "Carter, let's leave," she pleaded, her voice breaking. Carter nodded and they both got out of there as fast as they could.
One year later, things had changed for good.
Sam had gotten her phone back, after retrieving it from the lost and found box. That was Austin's way of giving it back to her without anyone seeing him with her in public. At least the football star had the decency to put it in there!
The teenager would receive a phone call from Princeton, asking if she had decided whether or not to attend there. The girl was surprised. She had been accepted into that school all along? Then why did she get that rejection letter? Then her eyes widened. Fiona must have written that letter! That was why she looked so smug that day when she had given Sam that damning letter. Nevertheless, the girl confirmed to Princeton that she would be attending their school.
Now she is standing on the campus of Princeton, attending student orientation. Sam did not know what to expect. She was alone and nervous. But the people seemed friendly here. A whole lot more friendly than her high school.
Still, she wished she wasn't alone. It's a shame that Austin had decided to go to his father's college and continued dating Shelby. She had accepted that and wished him the best.
But it still feels awkward being alone.
As she continued to walk on campus, Sam tripped over a rock and fell on her face, dropping her folder.
"Ow!"
"Are you all right, Miss?" A kind male voice asked.
Sam looked up and locked eyes with a boy who looked to be about 18. He had brown curly hair and brown eyes. He held out a hand for her, which she took. Then, he pulled her up.
"Thanks," she smiled.
The boy introduced himself to her.
“I'm Adam Stein, what's your name?"
I'm Samantha Montgomery."
She may have not gotten the standard happily ever after, but things are finally, turning around for her.