**Drew Van Acker as Sam Steinfeld**

***The songs referenced in the story are not mine unless I explicitly say so in the author's note. I will always say who the real singers are as well since it's their work, and I will state if I wrote something, as will be the case a little later on in the story.***

A/N: Surprise! ;-)

Sam's POV (On the same day that Haley arrives in Del Cerro)

There wasn't much I couldn't handle.

Run ten miles? I'm down. Dance the mambo on the spot with no misteps? Piece of cake. Act like a cantankerous old man with a perfect Australian accent? Don't even consider it a challenge.

But I had a weakness, one that very few knew about, and even fewer called me out on. One that I never considered a weakness until she left three years ago without a word and never looked back, because my stupid behind ruined the friendship of a lifetime with someone who connected with me in a way that very few people got to experience in their lifetime.

I never thought I'd see her again. Not after the way my idiotic, pubescent head had dismissed her for inconsequential reasons in an unforgivable way. However, it seemed our story wasn't finished writing itself.

But, I was getting ahead of myself. First, I had to go back to the beginning of the day when my heart began to tape itself back together with its other half.

Practice for theater day had just ended, the many songs I'd memorized and practiced for hours on end running through my head on a constant loop. It made me sad to think of the two numbers we'd practiced with all the seniors of the drama department that were scenes we'd done our freshman year as a type of "throwback", because I had done those with her playing the female lead opposite to me, and now I had to settle for another senior girl who knew the steps. It wasn't the same, but then again nothing was. She and I always did have an amazing on screen chemistry. The type of chemistry that dancers wished for with their partners came to us naturally and allowed us to anticipate each other's movements to make magic on stage.

Walking over to my car, I felt bone tired and weary, the way I only am after hours of dancing, and I wanted nothing more than to get home, take a shower, and collapse on the couch to watch some action movies and get out of the funk I had been in for days. But, it seemed the big man upstairs had decided I wasn't getting what I wanted.

"Yo, Sam! Sammy, wait up!"

This yell came from behind me, and I sighed, resigned to the fact that I would have to make small talk before leaving. I stopped and turned around to find Landon and Logan running to catch up to me.

Landon and Logan Richards were fraternal twins that were super close to each other, but anyone looking at them would never think they were related in any way, much less twins, because Logan was black and Landon was white. The wonder twins, as I called them, were super talented and I loved them to death. Today, however, they obviously had a death wish to have stopped me before I could leave to go rest.

"Steinfeld, where you goin' man? All the guys are headed over to our house to watch some cool movies, get in the theater groove, and you know, release some tension before tomorrow." Landon told me once he'd caught up.

"Lanny boy, I'm all about having fun together and watching some movies, but I don't have the energy to do anything but eat and crash right now."

"Boy please, you know you can do that at my house. Hell, dad's probably cooking something good right now. And mama might not be cooking, but you know she'll get you all those fucking weird pillows she's got stored in her storage closet left over from when she was designing the governors' house. You know you want to sleep on all of them." Logan said with a smirk my way.

I exhaled slowly, letting my resignation come full circle. It was true that I wanted nothing more than to sleep on those pillows. Mrs. Richards always had the softest and fluffiest pillows, and I had a weird addiction to sleeping with a thousand of them surrounding me.

"Alright fine, you got me. I'll go. Let me just text my mom real quick to let her know so I can crash at your house for the night. You still got some of my clothes over there right?" Landon nodded as Logan got his own phone out.

"Alright then, I'll see you guys there."

"Sweet! Oh, and Sammy? Try not to drive like my grandmother on the road please. Everyone else has probably reached my house by now, and I'd like to eat sometime this century. You know dad has annoying rule of not eating until everyone's at the table." Logan told me with an exaggerated glare as he walked away.

I flipped him the bird before laughing and getting in my car to ride over to the Richards'.

***

"Sam, sweetheart! How lovely to see you!"

Mrs. Richards engulfed me into a hug the second I walked through the door, shrouding me in her distinguishing smell of honeysuckle​ and rasberries. Her voice was a gentle cadence of African dialect dialed down with her years in America. She was a beautiful woman having been a model in her younger year, and the years had been nothing but kind to her.

What I loved about her and her husband the most, though, was the way they never let anyone push them around over their interracial love- even their own families. Mrs. Richards had had an impossible time getting her aristocratic, white family in South Africa to accept a black man from America, especially since they'd been firm supporters of apartheid during its time. But, Mrs. Richards showed her true, pure colors and ran away with Mr. Richards and became a model as he became one of the top mechanical engineers in the West Coast of America.

They were two of the most wonderful people I'd ever met, and they'd gotten me through more hard times than I could count.

*Candice Swanepoel as Mrs. Richards*

*Shemar Moore as Mr. Richards*

After exchanging pleasantries with Mrs. Richards, she brought me to the back of the house where the rest of the theater kids were sitting and Mr. Richards was fiddling with sizzling steak that smelled as good as anything we could get at a restaurant. I immediately maneuvered my eyes away from Sophia who sat at one end of the patio very obviously trying to get my attention with her eyes. Our relationship had always been off and on, and I'd gotten sick of it last year when I told her we were over for good.

Especially since that was the year I realized exactly how big her role was in Haley's leaving.

Mr. Richards looked over once he'd finished flipping all the steaks and smiled over at me.

"Sam my man, how you doin'? Haven't seen you around much, I was getting worried that Leslie had cooked for you and you'd gotten food poisoning."

Everyone cracked up as Mrs. Richards thwacked him to the back of his head and glared. Mr. Richards smiled sheepishly and hugged her tightly to stop her breaking free.

"Baby, you know I love you, but you have to be honest and admit you also know I didn't marry you for your cooking prowess."

Mrs. Richards rolled her eyes.

"Maybe so, but if you don't want to sleep on the couch tonight I suggest you shut up."

"Yes, ma'am."

Mr. Richards went back to his steaks and Mrs. Richards smirked at all of us.

"Remember everyone, the man may be the head of the house, but the woman is the neck that moves him whichever way she wants."

All the girls in the group cheered, and I laughed with all the guys, all the while knowing she was absolutely right.

***

After eating, everyone gathered in the living room to start watching movies as Mr. and Mrs. Richards shooed us away from any cleaning. Telling the group that they could choose whatever and it'd be fine with me, I separated myself for a moment to use the bathroom. When I got back, I should have known from the silence and Sophia's piercing glare at the tv that something wasn't right.

"Hey guys, what'd you choose?"

Everyone shushed me immediately, and Landon forced me to sit down on the long, plush, navy blue couch with him. When I looked at the actual screen, my breath was caught in my throat.

Haley walked into the scene looking around the room pensively as another girl lay on a checkered bed spread asking her about her date with "Jace". I recognized it instantly as the Haley's debut movie from the other girl whom I'd seen with Haley in the trailer.

I'd just never watched it, because it brought too many hurtful memories to the surface.

A commercial suddenly came on just as the room scene hits a climax, and it was as if the room was injected with oxygen again. Landon gave me a look from the corner of his eye when he thought I wasn't looking, but I ignored him as I tried to relax and not ruin the evening.

That is until a segment came on called "Current Hollywood" that showcased talent in Hollywood and what they were working on. It would've been fine, of course, had the reporter not said they would be reporting on "Haley Jameson".

Another woman came on the screen, clearly a reporter fishing for information, in a bright red suit and a mass of wicked, brown curls. Her appearance isn't what caught everyone's attention, however. It was that the person she was interviewing was Haley.

Haley looked older, beautifully flushed and energized, standing in a wooden dance room with mirrors in the back to catch her every move. In a tank top and yoga pants, she looked ready to dance for hours, something I knew for a fact she did just about every day.

"So tell me, Haley, are the rumors true? Were you cast as Scarlet in the upcoming film 'The Dancing princess'?" Haley laughed softly.

"I knew this question would come up eventually, so I asked the studio what we were allowed to say. I can confirm I was given the role of Scarlet."

"Oh wow, you must be so excited! This is quite a big role for you, isn't it?"

"Definitely, it's my biggest role to date. I'm extremely excited to get started, especially since I get the amazing opportunity to work with both of my best friends on set. We'll be traveling soon and getting the last of the casting down, and then we'll be ready to go."

"And is it true that Dillon, you're love interest in the movie, is of one of the parts not casted yet?"

"Yeah, the casting director is still trying to find someone who one, is a triple threat, and two, has the type of on-screen chemistry that makes movies like these so good."

"There's also rumors going around that the shooting will be done in San Diego, in a small town called Del Cerro. That also happens to be the town you grew up in. Are you excited to be going back?"

Everyone in the room gasped except for me. That would require taking in air, something my lungs seemed incapable of doing.

Haley was coming back?

"Yes, it will. We land over there November second. And, I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous at the prospect of going back, but I'm also really excited to see my family and old friends that meant a lot to me."

"Sounds like it'll be a great time. Haley, I wish you all the best in this new movie."

"Thanks so much, Cheryl."

"Unfortunately, our time is up for now. Remember to stay tuned in while 'Living in Secrets' plays guys, because in the next commercial breaks, we'll be showing a couple of clips from the cover songs Haley got so famous for on youtube, plus a look into Haley's first original music video for her song 'Come Back to Me', as well as a preview of her upcoming collaboration song with Zedd: Clarity, and another interview with Haley and her bff's. We'll see you here in a bit."

The show rolled out as the movie started back up again, but all I could do was sit like a mummy waiting for the next commercial break to see Haley up close and personal again. My nerves racked up as I saw the commercials start up again for a bit, and then "Current Hollywood" came on once more with Cheryl staring at the camera with a practiced smile.

"Hello again, everyone, this is Cheryl Hargrove with 'Current Hollywood' reporting the newest trends and the hottest new actors in Hollywood. The segment today has been all about Haley Jameson, the triple threat teenager who seems to be taking Hollywood by storm. The girls has talent in spades, as seen by the fact that not only is she the lead in what is deemed to be the next hit movie, but she is also collaborating with brilliant minds like Zedd to make hit singles. Here are a few clips we put together of cover songs she's known for on YouTube."

The reporter's face left and was taken over by a slightly younger version of Haley sitting on a sofa. She was dressed plainly in a short, yellow sundress and her hair in a messy bun, but she radiated a beauty that I'd seen Sophia try to replicate with hours of make-up tutorials when we used to be together.

The clips went into Taylor Swift songs like "Red", "Love Story", and "You Belong with Me", as well as "Problem" and "Into You" by Ariana Grande, and a few Megan Trainor songs. Then, came the look into her music video "Come Back to Me".

*Come Back to Me by Vanessa Hudgens*

They only showed a little bit of the actual video with a few clips of bloopers from the shoot. But, even the little bit I got showed Haley having a ton of fun and dancing like there's no tomorrow. A quick look at the group around me showed many drooling guys and a pissed off Sophia. I didn't pay much attention to her, though. She'd always been jealous of Haley.

Too bad it took me so long to realize it.

They finally came to the clips of Haley's latest song, Clarity, and I held my breath as her clear voice rang through explaining the song.

"I had a hard time when I first came to LA, and I had a ton of hurt from some stuff that went on back home. I wrote this song when I got here as a way to release my emotions, and when I met Zedd and he asked to see my stuff, he really fell in love with this song and helped me clean it up and add music to it. I hope you guys like it."

*Clarity by Zedd ft. Foxes*

We only got to hear what sounded like the middle of the song, but that one piece was enough to tell me everything I needed to know about what the song was about.

You are the piece of me,
I wish I didn't need.
Chasin' relentlessly,
Still fight and I don't know why.

If our love is tragedy,
Why are you my remedy?
If our love is insanity,
Why are you my clarity?

My heart hurt as I heard her beautiful voice push it's way into the screen with haunting lyrics that spoke of pain and heartbreak, of hurt and a continuous fight to stay away from what wasn't good for you.

The clips ended and the movie started again, but I'd fallen into my own silent world. I could tell that the others were in the same boat, because they sat in a dazed silence until Landon broke it.

"She really made it, didn't she. She's really a star," he said in a voice filled with awe.

"Yeah, not really sure why. I mean, please. A lead role in a hit movie? She can't act!" Sophia voiced out. Logan snorted.

"Well, seeing as how she's the one making it big in Hollywood, and you can't get anything but a supporting role in school plays, I don't think you have much to compare to."

Sophia clenched her teeth tightly and glared at him spitefully, but Logan had already moved on to look at me with a glint in his eye I didn't like one bit.

"You do realize what today is, right?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Thursday?"

"I meant the date, you idiot."

"November second?"

He looked at me purposefully, but I still didn't get it. Aisha, one of the other girls in the group, gasped.

"It means Haley and her crew arrived today!"

My heart stopped for a second, and then it went into overdrive. Haley was here. She was here.

Did that mean I would see her soon?

Before I could think more about it, "Current Hollywood" came back on, this time with Haley and two girls sitting on either side of her in a room decorated to look like a living room. This seemed like a more current interview than the last one.

"So girls," Cheryl started, looking absolutely giddy. "Only two more days until you go to Del Cerro and get closer to shooting 'The Dancing Princess'. How do you feel? Let's start with you Maiko."

"I'm pretty excited. I recently got back from being a backup dancer for Lilith's world tour, so it'll be fun to transition into movie making."

"Yeah, I'm like Maiko," said the blonde girl. "I'm much more used to dancing, so getting to act will be act real treat."

"How about you Haley?" Cheryl asks.

"I'm excited to start the production. It'll be a big project to take on, but it's a challenge we're all anxious to get on with. Especially, with such a great director like Cecilia Stewart handling it."

"Sounds like a lot of fun. Now, we asked the viewers to give us a fun game to interview you guys with for the little time we have, and a lot of them thought it'd be a ton of fun to get you all to talk about your 'types', or the guys you're attracted to. So, can you tell what each other's types are?"

The girls laughed.

"Lindsey and I can definitely tell you what Maiko's type is," Haley said, chuckling with Lindsey as Maiko smirked.

"Maiko is all African American guys all the time. I mean, we can literally be walking on the street having having a really important conversation, and she'll see a cute black guy and leave me in the dust to go flirt her little butt off." Lindsey exclaimed. Maiko fluttered her eyelashes.

"What can I say? Once you go black, you never go back."

Everyone in the room and on tv cracked up. I could see why Haley had her as a best friend; she was just as carefree and funny as Landon.

"And Lindsey is more complex," Haley continued. "She doesn't look for looks so much as intellect. She wants a guy that can really hold his own academically, because she herself is wicked smart. She wants a guy that can keep up."

"So true. I want a guy I know is fun to hang out with him, but not at the expense of his brain. Smart is sexy." Lindsey told the screen, adding an exaggerated lick of her lips for emphasis.

"And what about you Haley? What's your type?"

Before Haley could say anything, Maiko smiled and spoke. I looked down and realized I was at the edge of my seat waiting to hear the answer.

"Oh no, I've got this. Haley is quite the  connoisseur of men. You see, for one she likes a guy to have long hair. Not super long, but just long enough to where it maybe curls at the edge of his neck so she can run her fingers through it relentlessly. As for the body, she likes the strong but lean type. Not too bulky, but not too skinny either. But for all that, there is one characteristic in a guy that turns her into a big ole puddle of goo."

"Oh really?" Haley asked, quirkiness her eyebrow. "Do tell, oh wise one."

"Two words. Blue eyes." Maiko said, throwing her hands to make a fake explosion as Lindsey cracked up.

"Oh my God, yes, Haley has such a weakness for guys with blue eyes!"

"I mean, we literally met Chris Pine the other day at a gala, and when we got home this girl would not shut up about his eyes." Maiko explained. She and Lindsey joined together to imitate Haley.

"Did you see his eyes?! They were gorgeous!" They exclaimed.

"Well you guys heard it here fast, cute black guys for Maiko, smart and sexy for Lindsey, and to quote my girl Megan Trainor, it is about those eyes with Haley. That is all we have for today, thank you so much for watching everyone. Please join us tomorrow at seven right here for 'Current Hollywood'!"

The show stopped and the movie's credit rolled out, but the room was alive with chatter and a restless energy from everyone that drowned it out. I simply sat on my seat and felt more than I saw Landon and Logan get up and sit on either side of me.

"So," Logan started. "You think Maiko would go for me? I am her type."

Landon reached over and slapped his brother on the back of his head.

"Seriously? Can you not see our boy is freaking out behind this whole peaceful face he's got going on? Could you try to at least pretend to be mature?"

"Oh, because you're the epitome of mature?"

"Um, duh. I am the older brother after all."

"By a minute and a half!"

"Guys!" I exclaim, stopping them from getting into one of their legendary fights that take forever to be resolved. "Can we not do this right now? I'm trying to digest a lot of info right now. I need some time and space, so I'm just going to go on and head over to my room for the night. Is my stuff in there?"

The boys nodded, waving me off with concerned expressions. I left to the guestroom Mrs. Richards always kept stocked and ready for me when I slept over. I hadn't yet made it to the end of the hall, when Landon called me and I turned my head. In silent question of what he wanted from me.

"You heard what she said about the movie right? They haven't found anyone to play her love interest. That's a lead role and it would be with her. Did you think that maybe it could be you?"

He levels me with one last look, one reciprocated by Logan, and then went back to fighting with his brother. Climbing the steps to the second floor and the guestrooms located on it, all I could hear were Landon's words replayed over and over again.

It could be you.

***

A/N: Hey y'all, sorry it's been so long. School has been my main focus for so long, that writing seemed frivolous while I had so many other obligations to attend to.

Anyway, how'd you like Sam's POV? He won't be a very prominent POV in the story, but he will come up now and again.

You know the drill: if you like it, vote and please comment! Thanks guys!!