The day I received a call from Carly Shay's Seattle cell phone number was a day I wish I had been sober.

See, I've been kind of a shit person lately. I've been pretty irresponsible and it's been making Cat upset. I love her dearly and I've changed for her a lot since we've met, but I've started to go back to my old habits and it started to spiral out of control. I've been hanging out with bad people, doing illegal deals for Dice and spending money Cat and I don't have. I hate that it basically took her threatening to break up with me to realize how shitty I've really been.

The night before I received Carly's call, Cat and I had managed to find a reason to fight about some god damn beauty products and it went down a path I didn't want it to.


"Sam, you know I need this kind of shampoo for my hair. Please don't argue with me. "

"Yeah well I'm just saying this one's cheaper. You know we've been tight on money lately. For some reason parents have actually been wanting to be around their kids lately."

"Sam we're fine, you know Nona lent us some money to buy the things we need. She gave us more than what we spend on average."

"It wouldn't hurt to save some though."

"I realize you want us to save some money, but it isn't fair that you get to buy whatever it is you need for your bike and things we really don't need when apparently I'm not even allowed to get the proper shampoo for my hair."

"I highly doubt shampoo compares to the importance of motorcycle parts. Without my bike we'd never be able to go anywhere."

"Only because you refuse to ride the bus. There's nothing wrong with public transporta-"

"Newsflash babe, the bus costs money too. So do bicycles, so do scooters, so do rollerblades and any other method of transportation."

"Yeah well that's how I got around before you came into my life Sam. It isn't a fortune and it isn't hell."

"That's right, because apparently hell didn't come until after I came into the picture."

"You know that's not true."

"If it wasn't true, you wouldn't have said it the night you were mad at me for no damn reason."

"No reason?! Sam you wasted our rent money on a stupid video game system! Of course I was furious!"

"I told you I'd get it back because of a job a did for Dice but of course you wouldn't believe me. You don't trust me anymore."

"Sammy you know I love you but it's hard to trust you when you're running around spending our BORROWED money and doing sketchy jobs for Dice while you leave me at home worrying if I have to bail you out that night or not. It's just not fair Samantha."

"Don't fucking call me Samantha."

"Then don't give me a fucking reason to."

"Whoa. Okay Cat, calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down when you're stressing me out. We just came for groceries and now we're arguing in the middle of the supermarket. God damn it Sam why do you make things so difficult for me?!"

"Baby I'm sorry, let's just finish shopping and we'll talk at ho-"

"No. I'm done. I'll just take what I need, you get your own shampoo. I'm done taking care of you Sam. I'm done with constantly putting up with your stupid actions. It's been going on for too long and you've worn me out. I don't understand why I'm the only adult. You've changed since the day I met you and not for the better Sammy. I love you, but I'm tired. I'm going home."

"Cat listen I know I've been a shitty person lately, but at least let me take you back home. It's okay if you don't talk to me I just want you home safe, it's late."

"I'll call a cab. Stay out as long as you want, I won't be waiting."


It wasn't until she physically left that I realized everything was my fault. I tried to go after her, but she wouldn't even look at me.

After this incident in the supermarket I decided to go to a bar a friend of mine works at so he could slip me a few drinks. I figured I'd drown my regrets in cheap alcohol instead of making Cat cry with my tired attempts at apologies.

"Hey Sam, wow you look like shit." Nick said as I entered the back of the bar.

I gave him a glare.

"I like your subtlety asshole, get me some drinks please."

I sat down behind the bar while he stood and watched, surprised.

"Did you just say please? Has hell frozen over?"

"Apparently to Cat it has. Might as well go with it." Her name made my tongue sting.

He poured me a glass of whiskey and handed it to me reluctantly.

"Trouble in paradise?"

"Worse than having your dog shit in your cake on your 10th birthday."

I downed the glass in one swig.

"Give me another."

He poured me a second glass and kneeled down next to me. The bar was slow that night, so he had time to talk to me.

"That's a creative analogy there Puckett. What's up with you?"

I downed the second glass of whiskey before speaking.

"See, Nick, I've been fucking up pretty bad lately. I've been a fucking child. Cat has basically been having to monitor me 24/7 to make sure I don't get arrested or waste our money. It makes me feel like I'm back in Seattle at Ridgeway High under the surveillance of my principals and the entire police department. That's not what a relationship should be like man. I love her and I hate that I'm hurting her."

He looked at me with concerned eyes.

"So, instead of trying to fix this situation and yourself you decide to come to my bar and get completely fucked?"

I turned around and sucker punched him.

"Ow! What the fuck?!"

"Don't you think I tried that you idiot? She won't even look at me. I'd take it all back if I could, but something is stopping me."

Nick rubbed his sore jaw.

"Well maybe you just need to get it our of your system, you know, go your separate ways for a bit and start fresh again. It wouldn't hurt."

"It wouldn't, but I'm afraid she won't be there for me when I come back."

Nick and I talked about Cat for the majority of the night while he handed me drink after drink. After a few hours I was barely conscious and he drove me back home.


I spent the night on the couch, as expected. When I got home, Cat was fast asleep in her bed. Her eyes were puffy and nose red from obvious crying and I figured the couch was the safest place for me to be.

I woke up in the middle of the day to an empty apartment. My head was pounding from a massive hangover. As I forced myself to get up I noticed Cat had left no note before leaving the house as she routinely does. This reminded me of the night before and the pain caused me to run to the bathroom and puke my brains out. Obviously because I was sick to my stomach food didn't seem as appealing as it usually does. This left me with no method of comfort.

I lay on the couch thinking about how big of a bitch I've been to Cat. I can't help but realize that I don't deserve her. I figure maybe she's better off without me, but then I think I can change my filthy habits and go back to how things used to be. I've changed before, so why not again?

My hungover thoughts are suddenly interrupted by the piercing sound of my ring tone. I answer the phone before reading the caller ID and my heart stops at the voice on the other end.

"Ugh, what?" I answered angrily.

"Hey Sam, are you okay? You sound distressed. I, um, I just landed in Seattle."

Carly Shay?


A/N: Hey guys! It's been a while since I've come back to the creative side of the table. It's great to be back. I figured since it's summer vacation I'd dig a little story out of my head. This fic is different from my others (I only have two so there's not much to compare it to but hey). This one is less comedic and more serious on the love side of things. I'm writing as Sam because that's how I'm most comfortable but the POVs may possibly change up a bit. Also, yes I realize this seems like a setup for a Cam story. Warning: there will be some major Cam in here. It's one of my favorites, but Puckentine is very near and dear to my heart and that is what the outcome shall be. There will be more Cat and she'll be happy once again, don't worry. Please R&R, I want to know I'm not wasting my time on this.. I promise you it'll get better as it goes on. I have many ideas. :) Thanks guys!