`` hey , ash ... '' i whispered to the girl who was the closest thing i had to family in the shade , `` it 's sam . i still had one parent i could stand to be in the same room with , not that my father allowed it . you still have to deal with mike . '' the pair chat their way through dinner , covering pressing issues such as favorite cookies , favorite color , favorite cartoon , and favorite fighter . finally , someone stepped into the light . 