-Hiding IT-

Chapter 2: Freddie Visits Sam


FREDDIE'S POV:

Sam Puckett. Annoying and physically abusive most of the time. But something was wrong, I could tell by just looking into those almost stormy looking eyes. Grayish-blue.

They certainly captivated my undivided attention.

You know, people often say: "The eyes are the window to your soul". With this girl, her eyes, when noticed up close, gave all her secrets away. Usually I could spot what the secret was. Usually. This time though, I just couldn't put my finger on it. It was something strange, and something that was very nearly crushing her spirit.

Now, that was all I thought about. Her mystical eyes.

The girl crawled onto my bed, her blonde curls draping over her face.

"What are you doing, Freddie?"

"Homework," I say, looking at her seriously. "Something YOU should be doing."

Laughter fills the room, and echoes through my ears. Her head is thrown back and her whole body shakes, as her giggles continue. I never thought I would say this. About Sam. But she looks gorgeous when she laughs.

I ponder over the math question, in front of me, but somehow, I can't study anything. I'm too worried.

"You worry too much, nub," she comments, as she lays upside down, draping herself over my bed.

"It's my job to worry about you, Sam. You seem to be getting into trouble all the time." I reply, smirking.

I close the book, with a slap and sit back. Staring at it, hoping it would jump up and bite me in the nose. Or at least yell some common sense at me. Grabbing my coat, I head out of the apartment. I don't care if it's the middle of the night. I don't care that it's pouring with rain.

Sam needs me, whether she knows it or not. Whatever the problem is, I'm sure I'll be the one to fix it.

… /…

I press the intercom button, at the bottom of the apartment building.

"What? Who is this?" A scratchy voice replies. Probably Sam's mom.

"Uhh. It's Freddie Benson. I'm a friend of Sam's."

"Ham? Nah, we don't want any ham thanks."

My finger slips off the button and I sigh in hopelessness. Before I can leave, I hear Sam's voice.

"Mom, that's Freddie!" she says, and the woman responds something that I can't really understand. "Come on up."

At the sound of a click, I know that the door has been opened and I can push through it. I walk up a couple of flights of stairs, and pass through another door.

Room 239. Rusty looking door. I knock on it, and it's opened almost immediately.

"You must be… erm…. Benson."

A woman, in her late forties stands right in front of me, chewing her gum obnoxiously. Her eyes narrow, and she surveys me closely. It's safe to say, she's a protective mother, despite what Sam lets on.

"Mom, relax," says a familiar voice. "He's not gonna hurt a fly."

There she is, in her PJ's and pig slippers. I never really thought I would see Sam in pink pajamas, but there you go. A first time for everything.

"Sam," I greet, with a small smile. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Yeah. Why not. Come in." Sam replies, almost as if she was expecting me.

"Cool. Okay."

You would think that Sam's apartment is all trashed and such, when in actual fact, it's really not. It's more of an artistic feel to it. Different colors of paint are randomly splattered on the walls and also on the floor.

Well, I always knew the girl was somewhat of an artist. Maybe that's what her father did. Maybe.

I never thought to ask. Then again, Sam and I hardly shared anything secretive or personal, without Carly. The only time we had our own 'dirty little secret' was after our first kiss, on the fire escape. That's old news though. It happened a couple of years ago now.

"So," she says, sitting Indian style on her bed and looking at me. "What brings you to my humble abode?"

"I really need to know the truth. What's going on with you?"

"Nothing."

If it wasn't for the hesitation, I probably may have believed her. If it wasn't for the brief look of fear, I probably may have bought it. But, on both counts, I didn't.

"Tell me," I say, sitting down next to her. "It can only make the situation better."

Sam slides to the edge of the bed, and stands slowly, walking to her window and stays there, while she talks.

"Freddie," her voice is distant, quiet and shy sounding. "You ever made such a huge mistake, that you wanted to take back… but you just couldn't, no matter what?"

"Sure."

I wasn't lying. There were a couple of things that made the top of that list. No, I'm not telling you just yet.

"That's how I'm feeling right now."

"It's called, regret."

She nods quickly, but hasn't yet looked at me. I close my eyes and sigh softly. Sam does the same. Then she lets out a huge yawn. Maybe it's a fake one. Who knows. But it was getting a bit late, and we still had school the next day.

"I should go."

"Yeah. You should." Sam replies, crossing her arms.

"Sam, when you're ready to talk to me… about…whatever it is… I'll be ready to listen to you."

"Whatever."

I shrug in defeat and make my way to her bedroom door.

"Freddie?"

"Yeah?"

Turning around, fully expecting to have something thrown in my face, like a fatcake or pillow. It doesn't come. Just her quiet voice. Which also was a little strange. Sam's voice was always loud and obnoxious.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

I can't resist flashing her a grin. And I can tell, she's trying so hard to hide her own smile. Fail.

"See you tomorrow Sam."

Making my way down the stairs, I hear Sam's bedroom door close gently. I notice the photos, all hung up on the wall. There's Sam and another girl, that must have been her twin sister. Maybe. I'm still confused on the whole Melanie thing. But I see a smiling man and woman, which I have to assume is her father and her mother.

I feel a slight pang, and keep stepping down the stairs and admire the young pictures of Samantha Puckett.

"Enjoying yourself, boy?" I raspy voice asks, and I jump in fright.

"Oh, Mrs… P-puckett… I was just…"

"Ha! Just kidding, Benson," she smirks at me, and I straighten up slightly. "You know, she doesn't shut up about you."

I laugh nervously, and meet Sam's mom's gaze. I'm afraid of blushing, so I walk to the door.

"Oh, really? What… erm… what does she… say?" I question, not turning around.

Mrs Puckett laughs, and it sounds like a bell. a weird rusty old church bell, that is. That's when I turn around, and notice she's not there anymore.

I shrug and open the door, about to leave, when a hand stops me. It's Sam.

Whoa! Really, how did that girl learn to be so… stealthy? I guess she has what it takes to be an invisible ninja.

"Freddie, wait," the girl whispers, and then leans over, pecking my cheek quickly. "Goodnight."

Before I can say anything, she's dashing upstairs and out of sight. I'm feeling a little flushed, and take that as a good time to go back home. You know, before my mom finds out I'm missing and all that.