(Carly's POV)

Sam looks so amusing in an adorable sort of way. I pat her on the head. "I'm not mad at you. And I still like you."

Sam lifts her head up and rubs her stomach. "Thank god. You know what stress does to my tummy."

"Oh," I lean forward so my face was by her stomach. "Sorry tummy." I sit back up right and adjust myself. We fall still for a few moments. Outside, the snow was failing heavier than it was a few minutes ago. Making the world around us a winter wonderland.

"It hurts, doesn't it?"

Sam looks over at me, "What does?"

"Having your best friend want nothing to do with you."

You can see the remorse construct on her pretty face. "I deserve that."

I bump her on the arm. "Cheer up. Tomorrow night, Spencer is throwing me an After Finals Pizza and a Movie Party. You want to join us?"

Sam thinks for a moment. "Freddie gonna be there?"

"No." I guarantee her.

"What movies are you showing?"

I remember to what Spencer told me. "Umm…Step Brothers and Behind Enemy Lines Columbia."

"Huh, a comedy, an action film, pizza, and Freddork free. I'm in."

The bust comes to a stop as I snatch my stuff and elevate myself out of my seat. "You coming over?"

Sam shakes her head. "No, I'm going to study for once. You know one last run through."

"Ok. Text me. Promise?"

"I promise." Sam leans up and kisses me on the cheek. "Bye cupcake."

"So Carly, does Sam have somebody in her life?" Warren Burke, a fellow senior, asks me, brushing his black streak hair back with the palm of his hand.

"As in boyfriend?" I shut my locker and lean back against it. He nods his head. "Not that I know of. Why? You like her or something?"

"Well….she is really cute. And I've been crushing on her for awhile." Warren informs me. He seems like a really nice guy. And cute to. Standing almost 6ft tall and a lean, mean 200lbs with petite black hair, Sam would be fortunate to have a guy like Warren.

"Then ask her out. She'll love to go out with you." Even though telling him to ask Sam out seemed so ordinary, something inside me, deep down in my heart, something told me it was a mistake. It probably was just a tiny bit of protectiveness. Nothing more and nothing less.

"Thanks, I'll go do that." Warren smiles before leaving to go find Sam.

I know what I did was right, but I still felt bad. Now that Sam was going to go on a date with Super Sexy Warren, and possibly become his new girlfriend, then she would forget about me. Just like when she was with Jonah. Forget about the special bond we made. Carly and Sam. Sam and Carly. Together forever.

Maybe I'm just over reacting. Warren will treat her right. Better than Jonah ever did. My main concern should be the last of the finals I have to do. God, I can't wait until I'm done and second semester starts. The final stretch.

"Oh sweet lord! That had to hurt." Spencer says, clutching a pillow while watching the movie on the TV.

The television was filled with men in a jungle, shooting at each other. Bullets going through them causing blood to blast through them like cherry Kool Aid begin poured from a pitcher.

"Maybe we should have picked something less sadistic." I say with my hands covering my face but peaking through in-between my fingers.

Sam was sitting next to me. Her eyes ample, lips formed teeth showing smile, and chunks of popcorn falling out of her mouth. It surprised me how much apathy she had for people getting killed.

"Oh, come on. This is nothing compared to a Puckett Family Reunion." Sam says in-between bites.

Spencer looks at her with a fearsome look. "That's daunting."

"Not really. Besides the parole officers, the really only scary part is all the women wearing bikinis. Even my grandmother." I feel Sam shudder.

I look back at the TV. The mêlée was more grim and extreme. Bodies dropping to the dust filled ground like flies on a Summer night.

"Owe! Right in the eye!" Spencer nearly jumps off his burgundy lounge chair.

I let out a yelp as I hide my face under Sam's arm. My safe sanctuary. The smell of her deodorant, thank God she was wearing some or this wouldn't be that pleasurable, filled my nostrils. The fresh scent of baby powder and a chilly morning rain sent vibrations to my nerves letting me know this was the safest place in the world. Making me want to crawl right up in there and shut myself from the world. Everlastingly.

"Carly. Wake up." Sam shakes me delicately.

I snuggle up against her. "I don't wanna."

Sam shakes me a little harder. "You have to wake up."

"No I don't."

My eyes open a little. Everything around me a slight blur until my vision goes to normal. The movie was over and my guess is Spencer was off to bed. Pizza boxes, popcorn, and empty pop cans were scattered everywhere which only means clean up duty in the morning.

She shakes me again. This time with more vigor. "Carly, if you don't wake up then I can't leave."

I let all my body weight down on her. "No! You stay put. You go sleepy." I poke her on the tip of the nose.

"But—"She begins but I stop her with a quick kiss on the lips. Even though it was quick, I still could taste the salt from her popcorn and the spicy sauce from her pizza on her lips. I feel her let out a long sigh and her arms wrap around me. "Ok. I'll stay."