“Ugh, her she comes.” Whispered some girls to one another as Caitlyn walked down the hall way.  Sammy couldn’t believe her ears.  Again some preppy cheerleaders were picking on her best friend.  Sammy felt rage build in her as she wanted justice for her friend. 

Caitlyn was the outcast of the school for some reason.  She wasn’t ugly; in fact she was one of the hottest girls in school.  She was smart, pretty, and nice; but that is what made her unpopular.  She was timid and shy, and never spoke up for herself allowing others to step over her. 

The only time she did step up for herself was freshmen year when there was a math test.    Becky wanted some answers from Caitlyn, but Caitlyn said no.  Becky failed the test and Caitlyn passed.  Becky set out to destroy Caitlyn’s life from there on.  As head of the cheerleaders and with her looks, she was everywhere and everything in the school.  She had her hands dipped in every club and sport team.  You couldn’t turn a corner without running into a friend of hers.  She was the worse of the worse.  If there was one person you didn’t want to piss off, it was Becky.

“Hey four eyes, go home!” Shout someone down the hallway.  Caitlyn dipped her head and let her hair cover her face as Sammy heard her sniff back some tears.  Everyone broke into laughter as the bell rang.  The students started to clear the hallway as someone bumped into Caitlyn.

“Hey watch where you’re going!”  Sammy yelled at him.  He just turned around and flipped both of them off.  “I’m kick your-”

“Please don’t,” Caitlyn said in a whispered.

“Caitlyn, you can’t let everyone step all over you.  You need to stand up for yourself.”

“I know,” She said as she continued to walk to class.  “I just don’t think I can be as outgoing as you.”

Sammy shook her head, “Caitlyn some time in your life you’re going to have to take a stand.  I can’t always be there for you.”

Caitlyn smiled at her, “I know, and I thank you for being my best friend.”

Sammy couldn’t help but smile with Caitlyn.  She had one of those faces that when she smiled it lite up your day.  Sammy remembered the first day they meet.  They were at a park and were little kids.  Some boys were picking on her, when Sammy stepped in and punched one of them in the face.  Sammy got into a lot of trouble for it but Caitlyn never forgot it.  She helped Sammy whenever possible from then on.

“Look I got Chemistry next; I’ll see you in English.”

“Ok.”

Sammy watched Caitlyn walk down the hall way toward her class.  Sammy proceeded to head to Mrs. Boras’ class. 

Sammy walked in right after the bell rang and took her seat.

“Sammy your late?” She said almost shocked.

“Yeah Mrs. B.  I had to deal with some punks that were messing with my friend.”

“Oh well at least you have an excuse.  I’ll let it slide.”

“Thanks.”

Chemistry went by relatively slow.  Mrs. Boras was reviewing the previous topic for the rest of the class to understand.  Sammy sat there thinking what she was going to do Saturday.  It wouldn’t just be any Saturday, it would be Caitlyn’s birthday.  Of course again it would just be Sammy and Caitlyn celebrating her birthday, because her parents will be out of town like always for her birthday.  Caitlyn’s parents weren’t mean, there is always a meeting on her birthday forcing them to leave town.  When they get back they throw a big party for her so it’s like she has two birthdays. 

But still it would mean Caitlyn and her hanging out at her house all alone…  Sammy perked her head up.  She let a smile creep over her face.  Or did it…

Becky was standing in the hallway with her best friends as they were talking about the Football team. 

“No, Brad may be the biggest on the team but he isn’t the biggest.” Cindy said with a wink to the girls.

“No way!  You didn’t.”

Cindy nodded, “Yep he was the third one this week.”   The girls all laughed as they continued their talk, that was everyone but Becky who was texting her boyfriend who went to another school.

“Hey Becky?”

Becky looked up to see the last person she thought she would see, Sammy.

“Oh, it’s you,” she said as dryly as she could.  “What do you want?”

Sammy kept smiling, “Well I just wanted to know if… well you know Caitlyn?”

Becky made a sound of disgust, “What about her?”

“Well you see she’s having a birthday and well… I’m trying to throw a surprise party for her.  I was wondering if you would like to come you know to bury the hatchet.  You all are invited too.”

Cindy started to say, “Why would we-”

Becky cut her off, “Why of course we would.”

“We would?” Becky’s posy said.

“That’s great.  Here is her address.  If you all could show up around 3 that would be great.  You all can bring some friends if you want.  Just don’t tell Caitlyn.”

“Oh no of course not,” Becky said sincerely. 

When Sammy left Cindy said, “Why would we go?”

“Because,” Becky said grinning evilly.  “We’re going to ruin that little bitch’s birthday.  She will never want to come to school again.  Get the rest of the gang to come too.  It will be a night she will never forget.”

Sammy hung out with Jessica and Charlie as they were all waiting for Jessica to finish grading the test.

“Well Sammy you did it again, 100%.”

“Yes!” Sammy shouted fist pumping the air.  “It’s because I have an awesome teacher.”

“Hey what about me,” Charlie asked.  “I helped you too.”

Sammy gave him a grin, “Giving me your sandwich doesn’t count.”

Charlie gave her a hurt look, “Hey that took a lot of time making.”

“Ok, Ok, you two,” Jessica said as she started to pack up her papers.  “You ready babe?”

“Yep,” Charlie said as he gave Jessica a quick peck on the cheek.

“What are you guys going to do?”

“None of your business young lady,” Charlie teased.  “But if you must know I’m taking your teacher out, to a very expensive night around town.”

“That sound’s wonderful,” Jessica said.  “What about you Sammy?  What are you going to do this weekend?”

“Caitlyn is having a birthday party.  I’m going to throw her a surprise party.”

“I assume there won’t be any drinking involved?”  Charlie said with a grin.

Sammy rolled her eyes, “If there was I wouldn’t tell you.”

The both laughed.  “Well we best head home.  Our reservations are at 5.”

Sammy got a ride home from Jessica and Charlie.  She just got to her room when her phone rang.  She opened it up to see the text she got from Caitlyn.  Her parents were leaving tomorrow and she would have to drive them to the airport.  She was getting back around 4ish.  Sammy grinned, “Perfect.”

Becky walked up to the house of her most hated enemy.  It wasn’t anything like she expected.  She imagined it to be like a mansion, the way Caitlyn dressed, but it turned out to be a one story tall house.  Shrugging Becky wrapped herself around her boyfriend as they walked up to the front door and rang it.  She brought her boyfriend Jake; Cindy and her boyfriend…s Thomas, Fred, Lewis; Tiffany, who brought Claire and Rachel; and last but not least Brittney.  They all took Brittney’s and Claire’s cars her and parked a couple of blocks away so not to scare Caitlyn off.

Sammy opened the door and gave a warm welcome.  “You’re here!  Come on in!  I just made some punch.  Why don’t you all get a glass and I’ll get the party ready for Caitlyn.”  Sammy quickly rushed them in.  “Oh she is going to be so surprised!”

“Yeah I bet,” Becky said with a wicked smile.  She was going to torture this bitch sooo much today.  She was getting all giddy about it.

Sammy poured some punch and gave it to everyone.  “Oh right I need to get some balloons for the party.  Umm you all wait here and I’ll be right back.”

Sammy left the room and went to go blow up some balloons.  Sammy couldn’t wait for Caitlyn to get back to party.  She was feeling all giddy inside.

Caitlyn pulled up into her drive way.  She felt so sad that her parents were gone.  She had no one to be with for her birthday.  Slowly she walked up to the door and opened the door.  She quickly took her shoes off and walked into the family room and heard.

“SURPRISE!!!”

She was showered with confetti and balloons and heard a party horn blow.  Caitlyn jumped in surprise to the noise.  Once the shock was over Caitlyn couldn’t help but smile as she saw what was going on.  In the center of the room, all by herself with no one around, was her best friend Sammy smiling.

“Happy birthday!”