| April 27 | Friday Afternoon |

~ Sam's POV ~

There weren't many things that got me excited enough to wake up before noon. If not for Megan always being on my ass about being late, it was likely I wouldn't have made it this far to begin with.

But today was an exception, I thought while fumbling two to-go coffees and some balloons. I set them both down on the ground as I dug for the spare key I had secretly made to Blair and Tony's apartment.

Once the door was unlocked, I resumed what I was doing and let myself into the apartment, being sure to close and lock the door behind me.

Then, I barged into Blair's room.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BITCH!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.

Blair shot up. I couldn't help but think her bed head was something serious.

"Am I in hell?" she whispered to herself.

I set my gifts down and jumped onto her bed. "My best friend is finally twenty-one, you bet your ass I'm raising hell."

"How did you even get into my house?"

"My key."

"Your... key?"

"Yeah."

"You illegally made a key to my house?!"

I bounced on her mattress. "Yes... but I brought coffee and balloons."

"That's the only reason you're not dead yet."

"Get up."

"Suck it."

I rolled my eyes. "I mean, it is your birthday..."

I pretended to try and kiss her, causing my best friend to finally laugh and push me away from her.

"Gross," she said. "Not gonna happen."

"So, what do you want to do today?" I asked.

"What do you think?" She yawned and reached for her coffee. "It's Friday, the weekend before finals, and I'm twenty-one. I wanna get drunk!"

I laughed. "Well, lucky for you, I know a place."

Blair and I sipped on our coffees and caught up since it had been a day or two since we had last seen each other. I wasn't gonna lie, I had missed my best friend, especially with all the drama that had gone on weeks ago with Nikki and Mariah.

"So how is Jinx?" Blair asked. "Have you found another bartender?"

"Yeah, they're catching on quick. Quinton and Sara love him. Especially Quinton." I wiggled my eyebrows. "I think they might like each other."

"You're shipping a work relationship?"

"Maybe?"

"Isn't that like, not okay?"

"As long as it doesn't effect their performance," I informed. "But anyways, so Jinx tonight... What about for lunch? Have any plans?"

"No, but I'm sure you do," Blair retorted.

"Oh, I always have a plan."

* * *

On Friday nights, Jinx was the place to be, so that's exactly where I was taking Blair on her birthday.

"This is so weird," Blair said as she handed the bouncer her card. "This is the first time you didn't have to sneak me in."

The bouncer just looked at me and rolled his eyes.

I laughed nervously. "Uh, yeah."

Megan handed the bouncer her ID. "So, what's your drink of choice?"

"Yeah, you have to graduate from Vodka cranberries now that you're of age," I teased.

"Why?!"

"Because..." Tony laughed. "It's time to broaden your horizons."

Jinx was already flowing with people. I recognized some regulars and gave them a wave while heading over to the bar. Then I spotted Quinton, Sara and Jas.

"Hey Sam!" Quinton called while giving me some kind of shimmy.

I laughed. "Hey Quinton."

He leaned forward on the bar. "What can I get for you?"

"I need you to make one of your specialties..." I smirked and looked at Blair. "For the birthday girl."

"Got it."

"What did you just order?" Blair pressed.

"Don't worry about it."

"You're gonna try and kill me tonight, aren't you?"

"It's your birthday!"

"Sam."

I stopped joking with Blair and turned back towards the bar.

"Can we talk for a minute?" Jas asked.

I looked at Megan, who didn't seem pleased, but couldn't tell me no.

"I'll be right back," I promised.

Then I followed Jas to the back of the bar.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Mariah left."

I felt my heart sink, but not for the reasons I expected. I felt bad for Jas, but I was glad Mariah was out of her life. She had no more ties to me, and that's all I could care about.

"Are you okay?" I wondered.

Jas shrugged, and I could tell this was hurting her more than she was letting me see.

"I'd be okay if she had told me where she went," she said. "Or would at least answer my texts."

I didn't want to say I told her so, because that wouldn't help anyone. I hadn't expected Mariah to stick around with Jas for so long after I fired her, but she had probably only used her for a place to stay until she could find another escape. Who knew.

"I'm sorry, Jas," I finished.

"It's fine," she lied. "I should've known better."

I felt as if the conversation was over, but she still seemed to have things to tell me.

"I'm sorry for letting her get away with so many things," Jas continued. "I should've never let her get away with being late and high. I just..." She took a deep breath. "I have this bad habit of wanting to fix people."

I just reached out and rubbed her shoulder.

"And I was hoping that me showing her some sort of love would make her change," Jas finished.

"I know," I agreed. "And sometimes, that works. But I don't think Mariah is ready to change."

"I just needed to apologize to you. I know she gave you a hard time the day you fired her."

I nodded, knowing Mariah had probably only told Jas what she wanted her to know. She had probably tried to make me look more like the bad guy, but Jas had realized once Mariah bailed that it wasn't true. I just hate that she had to get hurt to realize that.

"Now, go have fun," Jas ordered. "Because if I can't, you should."

I gave her a smile, sensing that she was still struggling with the pain of Mariah ghosting her.

I pulled her in a hug. "It'll be okay."

We pulled apart and she just gave me a sad nod.

I exited the back and rejoined my friends, Megan pulling me into her.

"Dance with me," she stated.

I did as I was told, spinning Megan into me as her arms draped around my neck. Then I looked over my shoulder and saw Tony and Blair doing the same.

"So, what did Jas have to say?" Megan asked.

"Mariah left," I admitted. "She isn't answering Jas' texts either, so she has no idea where she's at."

Megan's expression changed from annoyed to pitiful. At least I wasn't the only one feeling bad for my coworker.

"God, Mariah is such a bitch."

"You're telling me?"

"I mean, you were nothing but honest and helpful to the girl, up until the end," Megan reiterated. "I just don't get how someone can be so selfish."

"I can." I looked at my girlfriend. "She's hurting. She's lost. I mean her mom kicked her out, she got kicked out of school... Right now, she's looking for herself."

Megan's grip on me tightened, as if she was silently remembering how I had been back before we had gotten together.

"I just hope she finds what she needs before she gets into serious trouble," I finished.

"Check it out!" Blair yelled next to us.

I looked over, seeing her carrying not one, but two Vodka cranberries. I rolled me eyes.

"You're horrible," I stated.

"I bought my first drink," Blair boasted. "Sue me if I want to milk it!"

I couldn't help but laugh at her as Tony tried to convince his girlfriend to slow down, or else. Megan's hand slipped into mine as she continued to bounce to the music.

"I'm actually out," she claimed, signaling to her drink. "Do you want another?"

"Sure."

Then she disappeared towards the bar.

Blair and I danced to the music for a little, enjoying each other's company. Even though I felt bad for Jas, I couldn't help but feel relieved that Mariah was gone. Her negativity had been causing serious tension in my life. Not that I hoped anything bad has happened to her, but I just hoped she had found some sort of peace wherever she had ended up.

"Sam?" I looked at Blair. "Is that...?"

I looked towards where she was staring, and my heart threatened to jump right out of my chest. Nikki. Nikki was here, talking to Megan, who seemed to be entering a heated argument rather than discussion.

My legs instinctively raced towards them. No telling what the hell Nikki was saying to my girlfriend, but judging by the look on her face, it wasn't making her happy, which was my cue to stop it.

"You were lying!" Nikki practically yelled.

"Hey!" I shouted.

Nikki and Megan faced me, but I could tell my presence was not welcomed, by either party.

"Sam-"

"What the hell are you telling her?" I asked Nikki.

"Sam, go back to Blair," Megan ordered.

I just looked at her, probably with an expression that said, "are you kidding me?" but I couldn't move. I didn't want her alone with Nikki, no matter what.

"I'm handling it," Megan finished, letting me know I wasn't needed.

When I didn't move, this angered Megan.

"Sam, go."

I felt the rage in my stomach bubble, but I wouldn't argue. If Megan believed she could handle whatever was going on, I had no right to stand in her way. I turned and left.

When I made it back to Blair, I looked back at Megan.

"What are they talking about?" Blair asked.

"I have no idea," I answered. "But it's not good."

"Yeah, Megan looks pissed."

"And she just expects me to sit here?!" I fumed. "When her and-and... bitch Nikki talk about God knows what?!"

"Sam, chill-"

"Chill? Chill?"

Then, Nikki said something to Megan that really hit a nerve, the expression on her face changing into something along the lines of shock or disbelief. It was as if my girlfriend was at a loss for words.

And then Megan turned away and headed straight towards me.

"Megan-"

"We're leaving," she demanded. "Now."

"What-?"

"Now!"

That's when I looked up, seeing Nikki facing the bar and sliding money across the counter. So, what? She just upset my girlfriend and was trying to leave? Bullshit!

I stormed towards the bar. Blair tried to grab my arm, but I was too fast. Then Nikki headed for the bathroom. I couldn't help but follow her.

I caught her in the hallway, ready to knock some sense into her, physically.

"What the fuck did you say to Megan?"

"Nothing but the truth."

"Bullshit," I said. "What did you say?"

"You know, for someone with a lot of secrets, you're not so good at keeping them," she answered. "But you are good at making enemies."

I just shook my head. "What does that even-?"

"In a small town like Baldwin, you and Megan were pretty brave."

My heart raced. At first, I couldn't comprehend what she was trying to tell me, but it was because my brain didn't want to believe it.

"If it ever got out that you and Megan were involved while she was your teacher..." Nikki shook her head. "Well, I just think it would really ruin Megan's teaching rep."

"Mariah?" I asked. "She told you?"

"Yeah, she's an... interesting person, to say the least," Nikki said. "But, more than willing to spill your secrets when you do her wrong."

"We weren't even really together-"

Nikki leaned against the wall. "Don't change your story now."

"It's not a story, it's the truth," I fumed. "I pretended to be her girlfriend to piss you off."

"Because you two were involved, somehow."

I just looked at Nikki with a death glare. No matter what I said to her, she had her beliefs. There were things going on around us, but we were totally unbothered. I couldn't read her. Her expression was stone. This just pissed me off even more.

"Why do you even care, Nikki?"

My voice was tired. The stress and anxiety over the past few months had really taken a toll, so when I finally got to ask her, the sentence had sounded so... desperate.

She shrugged. "I have my reasons."

Then she walked off without another word.

Everything was in slow motion. What the hell had just happened? And what the hell was Nikki's intentions with telling Megan and I she knew the truth? Was she threatening us?

I didn't know. I didn't know anything...

And I was terrified.

***A/N***

Another update! Thanks for hanging around guys, I really appreciate it!

The second season of "Everyday Adventures" is coming to an end, but don't be sad. It's just for now. I figured I should finish one story at a time, which is why "The Mural" hasn't been updated as frequently. It's hard for me to focus on two stories, so, I'm dedicating my time to this one until the end of season 2.

If you're enjoying it, don't forget to vote and comment!

Much love,

Lauryn