Chapter One: There Is No Ham Flavored Gum

(Freddie's POV)

"Carly, have you seen Sam today?" I asked as she had her head buried in her locker. I heard a muffled "no", and leaned back against the lockers, wondering what had kept Sam from school on a day like today. For one, it was a Thursday, and everyone knows that Thursdays are 'Meat Madness' in the cafeteria, and Sam NEVER misses that. On top of that, today was the day Sam had promised to give Gibby the mother of all swirlies for making the mistake of actually throwing a dodge ball at her in gym.

But it looked like none of that would happen now, as Sam was nowhere to be found. I sighed and Carly's head finally popped out of her locker, eyeing me suspiciously.

"Why?" she asked. Then, remembering what this day was, she corrected herself. "I mean. why do you care?"

I thought about it; why do I care? I mean, sure, she's my friend and all, but she makes it her job to make me constantly miserable. What do I care if Gibby escapes impending doom at least for one more day? What do I care if Sam misses her mountain of meat for lunch?

"I don't" I finally answered. "Just curious."

"Well, I've texted her like five times and she answered yet." Carly said. Then, as if on cue, her phone vibrated.

"Never mind…that's her now!" I waited as she read the text and watched her face go from excitement to confusion to worry. When she was done, I asked her what Sam had said.

"She said to come over to her house after school."

"What for?" Sam never asked us to go to her house unless it was to help clean or room. Maybe she actually was sick and wanted Carly to take care of her. Or maybe she was just trying to get out of doing her chores again. Either way, I was skeptical.

"She said she has something important to tell us…" Carly replied. I shrugged.

"Probably found out they invented ham-flavored gum or something." I joked, Carly rolling her eyes at me.

"Whatever. We're going."

I groaned. I didn't really want to go; it was probably gonna be a bunch of girl talk. Sam probably didn't want me there anyway. But I knew I had no choice - Carly would get me to go eventually.

"Fine." I mumbled, and hurried off to class.

We got to Sam's house in record time; Carly made Spencer pick us up and drive like a demon to get to Sam's. The car had barely stopped before Carly jumped out and ran to the front door, banging on it loudly.

"Sam! We're here!" By the time the door started to open I had caught up with Carly. The person who opened the door was Sam, but not the Sam I was used to. She was still in pajama bottoms and a light blue T-shirt, her hair all mussed up. Her eyes were red and puffy as if she had been crying - definitely NOT the Sam I knew.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" Carly said, hurrying into Sam's house and pulling her to sit n the couch. I entered hesitantly, closing the door behind me slowly, finding this situation a little awkward. What was wrong?

"Yeah… it's just…. What are you looking at, Fredbag?" Sam shot at me, and I realized I must have been staring at her while I was assessing the situation. I dropped my gaze to the floor.

"Sam…. What is it?" Carly said in a firm but caring voice. Sam's gaze softened and she turned back towards Carly.

"I… I'm moving." Sam said flatly, then sank her head into Carly's shoulder.

I wasn't sure if I had heard her right. My mind was racing at a hundred miles an hour but my heart stood still, and after a minute or so I realized I was forgetting to breathe. Sam was moving?

This couldn't be happening.