WEDNESDAY - JUNE 16, 1976

Sarah was awoken by a soft tapping sound. She lay still and listened as she heard her name being whispered. When it was repeated a second time, she realized it was coming from the doors that connected the two rooms.

She started up and then fell back as she saw that Sam was sprawled across her, she was pinned under his arm and leg. Sarah pushed him away, while calling out that she'd be right there. She grabbed up Sam's discarded tee, slipping it over her head, while opening the door to greet Trish.

"Oh my god, Sarah, we gotta talk!" Trish began as soon as she walked in the room. She looked over and saw Sam stirring around.

Sarah saw Sam moving around also. She was dying to talk to Trish, but she wasn't going to do it in front of Sam. "How about the lobby? Give me a few minutes." She asked her friend.

Sam sat up in bed and squinted at Sarah as she ran around, getting dressed.

"Where are you going?" He mumbled, still half asleep.

"I'm meeting Trish for breakfast." She threw the words over her shoulder as she closed the door.

"Oh fuck!" Sam groaned and fell back on his pillow. Trish was going to chew his ass out. Worse than any ass chewing she had ever given him. And in the past year, she had given him a hell of a lot. She had the ability to send him on guilt trips worse than a mother could.

Trish watched as Sarah walked across the lobby. Her hands were jammed into the pockets of her blue jean jacket and she'd left her hair down; it was wavy, floating behind her as she walked. Trish thought that she seemed more sure of herself. She was liking this new attitude she was seeing in Sarah.

After giving Trish a welcoming hug, Sarah steered her towards the coffee shop that adjoined the lobby.

As the waitress poured their coffee, Trish arched an eyebrow and looked over at Sarah.

"It sounds like everything fell apart while I was gone."

Sarah took a sip of coffee then set the cup carefully in the saucer, her eyes on the steaming cup.

"Yesterday was a day from hell." She looked at Trish, guardedly.

"First, let me say one thing, Sarah." Trish reached across the table for Sarah's hand. "I know that Georgie slept with Cherry. He didn't have to say a word, his face said it all. I'll deal with him in my own way."

Trish gave a bitter laugh. "He knows he will have to pay for that one."

"How do you put up with it? Why do you let him do this to you?"

"I've learned that he strays, but he always comes back to me. I guess you could say we have an agreement between us, in that respect. Whatever happens while we're apart, either with me or with him, we still go back to each other...." Trish paused, " I have to admit that I haven't always been faithful to Georgie. But we love each other. I can't imagine not being with him."

Sarah looked at Trish and she felt a chill go down her spine. What Trish just said could very well be hers and Sam's future. "No." She said adamantly. "I can't do that."

"You have to do what you feel is right, Sarah. Just as I do. Now, tell me about your day from hell."

Sarah recounted her day, finally ending with her agreeing to stay.

Trish listened, shaking her head in disgust with herself.

"I'm sorry that I didn't believe you when you told me about Gisette before. I should have known what she was up to. Please say you'll stay, no matter what. I'll help you. I can help keep an eye out for anything else she tries to pull."

"I won't let Sam keep breaking my heart. He has to stand up to her."

"He will. He doesn't want to lose you. Sam loves you. A lot. Georgie said Sam was a fucking basket case when you wouldn't wake up. He also heard you guys yelling later on. So you must love him a lot too, if you are sticking around to fight for him."

"You know how much I love him. But I can't fight the battle alone. Sam has to step up and prove he can stay away from that French bitch."

Trish nodded in agreement, then abruptly changed the subject.

"Another thing we have to talk about is the pills. Don't ever take more than two! They're the lowest strength, but you are just little, and it doesn't take much for you. Do you understand?"

Sarah laughed at Trish's stern voice. "Yes, mother! I promise I won't take more than two anymore."

Sarah's eyes slid over to the door as Tex walked in. She turned her head to look out the window beside her. But Tex had spotted her and he walked over to stand by their table, looking down at Sarah with a concerned look.

"Everything go okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, sure. I'm fine." Sarah said shortly. She stared down into her coffee cup, not wanting to see his face. The memory of the two of them was still fresh in her mind, and she was embarrassed by what had happened.

"I heard you helped Sarah last night." Trish said.

"Yeah, well, a damsel in distress has always been my weakness." Tex brushed it off, laughing. He looked down at Sarah as she kept her head lowered, refusing to look up at him. "I guess I'll see ya around."

Trish turned her head to watch Tex walk away, then looked back at Sarah. "I think you left out part of the story."

Sarah could feel a blush spread across her cheeks. She had purposely not told Trish certain events that had happened.

"He helped me to the hotel."

Trish laughed and shook her head, her black curls bouncing around. "There's more to it. I can tell. And I know Tex only too well."

They stopped talking as the waitress refilled their cups. Then Trish looked at Sarah, giving her a wicked grin.

"You know what they say about him, right? You know, how he got the name - Tex."

Sarah shook her head. "No, I never heard any rumors about him. I guess I never really wondered about it."

Trish giggled. "Well, they say things are always bigger in Texas......"

Sarah opened her mouth in surprise.

"My god, Trish! I wouldn't know!"

Trish looked at her skeptically. Sarah's blushing face was giving her away. Something had happened, but it was obvious that Sarah wasn't going to tell her.

"Ok. But if you ever do find out, you have to tell me. I would love to know if it's true."

The girls paid their check and were walking out when Sarah looked back at the counter, where Tex was sitting on a stool. He looked up and gave her a wink, then went back to eating his breakfast.

Sarah looked at the clock in the hotel lobby and saw it was only 11:00. She wasn't sure if she was ready to be alone with Sam yet.

"Trish." Sarah said suddenly. "I saw a cute boutique right down the road. Why don't we run down and check it out."

Trish giggled, "I don't think so. Georgie and I have to make up for lost time!"

Sarah gave a short laugh. "Yeah, you do...but I think I'll run down and browse around. If you see Sam, tell him I'll be back in a little bit."

"You're going to have to see him, you know. Why postpone it? You should do it now. When you have time alone." Trish gave Sarah a meaningful look.

"Right now sex is the last thing I want to do."

"Make up sex is always the best." Trish reminded her.

"Maybe I'm not completely ready to make up."

"Don't take an argument on the bus, please."

"Oh, don't worry about that. I'm not going to let Gisette see what's going on between Sam and me." Sarah said assuredly as she turned towards the main doors. "I'll see you in an hour. Have fun!"

Sarah quickened her pace when she saw Tex fall into step beside her as she crossed the lobby. He stayed in step with her, as she tried to ignore him.

Finally he took her arm, stopping her when they reached the sidewalk outside.

"You know you have to talk to me at some point."

"About what?" Sarah played innocent.

Tex let go of her arm and took a step back. "I just wanted to apologize. I was out of line."

Sarah felt herself blushing again as she remembered what she and Tex had done.

"I guess we both had too much to drink." She made the age old excuse that everyone makes to cover their drunken mistakes.

Tex nodded then took Sarah's hand, putting a gooey napkin into it. "I also want you to eat this piece of toast. Sorry about the stickiness. It has jelly on it."

"Why?" Sarah laughed and looked at the toast, slathered with grape jelly.

"Because I like jelly on my toast." Tex chuckled.

"No, I mean why do I have to eat it?"

Tex squinted his eyes at her. "Because you only had coffee for breakfast. You have to eat more often."

"I do eat! I'm just not a big eater, like some people I know." Sarah had noticed the pile of pancakes in front of Tex earlier.

"I knew a girl once who didn't eat. It was awful to watch her waste away. I don't want to see that happen to you."

Sarah rolled her eyes and laughed. "I'm not anorexic, Tex!"

Tex crossed his arms over his chest. He said, stubbornly. "Then eat the toast."

Sarah took slow bites, enjoying each mouthful. She couldn't remember the last time she had grape jelly. She knew it had to have been with Pete; jelly sandwiches were a favorite of his. They used to pack them for lunch and take them to the tent.

"You must really like that toast. You have the same dreamy look that I saw last night."

Tex laughed as he saw her blush again, and he knew she was thinking of them in the hallway.

"I meant when we were on the dance floor." He said.

Sarah popped the last piece of toast in her mouth to cover her embarrassment.

"Good girl. You have to start eating more, okay?"

Sarah nodded, unable to speak around the mouthful of toast.

"Where were you going?"

She sighed and turned back to go into the hotel, walking beside Tex.

"I guess I'll have to face him sooner or later." She mumbled.

Tex helped her into the elevator, putting his hand on her back. He leaned against the mirrored walls, eyeing their image as it reflected back opposite him. He pulled Sarah closer and saw how perfectly she fit into him. He kissed the top of her head and then rested his chin on her, his arms wrapped around her shoulders.

"I know it wasn't right." He squeezed his eyes shut against the mirrored reflection. It didn't do any good to want more of her. She belonged to Sam. "But I just wanted to tell you.." He cleared his throat and nervously continued in a low whisper. "It was good. It was really fucking good."

Tex lifted her face to his and his thumbs smoothed away the guilty look on her face. "It's our secret, Sarah, I promise."

She gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you."

Tex turned towards Sarah as they approached her door and took her hand.

"If you ever need anything, let me know. I'm your friend, Sarah, I'll help you."

"Thanks, Tex." Sarah squeezed his hand then inserted her key in the door knob.....