Carly's POV
"What's Freddie got to do, nub head?" Sam said aggressively.
"Okay, then" Wendy said. "Freddie has to go with me to the fall dance."
"That's insane!" I shouted.
"You guys, we have to get to class," Freddie said.
Freddie was always thinking about class and school… He was focused, unlike some other boys. What was I thinking? We're friends ONLY. Well, to Freddie, I'm girlfriend material, but he's not supposed to be boyfriend material to ME!
"You guys!" Freddie persisted.
"We should wait until next period," Sam suggested.
Yes, only Sam would think that missing a period or two was better than being late.
Freddie and I rushed into English. Sam didn't go anywhere; she was skipping this period. Wendy and her friends went to the Computer Lab; they probably begged the school to let them have the exact same schedule.
Freddie and I sat next to each other. The teacher was Ms. Hathaway, the nicest teacher I've had, so when we came in nervously, she said, "All right, Carly and Freddie, since you two haven't been ever late, I'll let this one slip. But next time, come at the right time, okay?"
"Yes, Ms. Hathaway," we answered. I didn't think Freddie noticed, but we were almost holding hands.
"Like I was saying, you have an English assignment: make your own romance play." Ms. Hathaway continued. Romance? Really?
The class responded with "no way" and "gross". I didn't say anything.
"C'mon, it'll be a good experience! Make it "Romeo and Juliet". Make it, I don't know, original." Ms. Hathaway said.
"Okay, you'll be in partners: Wesley, Ryan. Rodney, Jane. Ben, Paris. Carly, Freddie. Katrina, Zach. All right, everyone, rehearse it so you know your play is good in action, you can add some EXTRA romance if you wish, and have fun! This is due a month later!" Ms. Hathaway exclaimed. Then, the bell rang. As everyone filed out, I couldn't help thinking how great it was that I was paired with Freddie.
Freddie's POV
When I came out of the classroom, Wendy was waiting for me.
"Hey, Freddie. How's it going? English class good?" she asked sweetly. She had pulled her hair in a high ponytail, and then I remembered: she was a cheerleader. I almost started drooling mentally, but I stopped myself. Man, I have a weakness for cheerleaders.
"Yeah, I'm paired with Carly for an assignment." I said.
"Really?" she asked in a high voice to match her ponytail.
"Yeah, and YOU'RE not going to yell her head off, because… I'm going with you to the dance," I sighed.
"Really! EEH! I promise, Freddie, I'll be the best date I can be." Wendy took my hand. "Thankyouthankyou, Freddie!" She ran off, probably to tell her friends that her malicious plan had worked.
I went to meet up with Carly and Sam for lunch. I needed to tell them what I just did.
Carly's POV
When Freddie sat next to me for lunch, I flushed with happiness. He looked so incredibly hot, and he smelled SO good…
Nevermind. I just said hi back to him and smiled. Talk and smile, that's the key. I told myself.
Sam's POV
I saw Carly feeling SO great when Freddie sat next to her. So what? He's a nub, and you don't feel happy when a nub says hi.
I have very sharp eyes. I saw their knees touching. I saw them laughing together. I saw Freddie silently touching her lap. Their ARMS were touching, for Pete's sake! It was OBVIOUS they liked each other. DUH!
"You guys, I agreed to go to the dance with Wendy," Freddie confessed.
"WHAT! You can't go to the dance with that skunkbag!" I yelled.
"Quiet down, Sam. Freddie, why did you do that?" Carly whispered fiercely.
"It was the only way to keep Wendy out of your way," Freddie smiled.
"Aww, thanks, Freddie!" Carly said.
Ugh. I HATED when people had romance in public when I was in their group. It makes me feel like a social outcast. So, I broke them apart. For now.
"You guys, Wendy alert," I said in a low voice. It WAS true. Wendy was bouncing along prettily with her friends, (supporters is more like it) to Freddie.
"I just told my friends the GREAT news! I see you're telling Sam and uh, Carly." Wendy said.
That's GOOD news? To us, that's worse than, umm, a day without ham.
"Wendy, I really don't want to go with you," Freddie said.
"But that's, like, the plan," Wendy said.
"What plan?" Freddie said cleverly. Man, I need some ham.
"The plan to get you to hate Carly! DUH," Wendy said.
"Um, Wendy?" Clarice asked timidly.
"What do you want, Clarice," Wendy shot back.
"You just told Freddie our plan," Clarice said. Marilyn and Janelle nodded.
"And now since you blew it, I don't think you're the best leader I can have. I gonna go on Carly's side. Because… because you're just being plain MEAN!" Clarice said. Hah! I knew that Wendy was some sort of leader.
"Fine! I can work with a crew of three, right?" Wendy asked Janelle and Marilyn.
"Right!" they said enthusiastically.
The three of them left. Clarice stayed back.
Clarice's POV
"I'm REALLY sorry. Super sorry." I said to them. As if.
"It's okay, Clarice. Sit with us," Carly said, making room for me. Wendy TOLD me Carly might be playing innocent.
"Yeah, Clarice!" Freddie said happily. Wendy wanted Freddie. That was my mission: to get Freddie to want Wendy.
I just wanted to say I'm sorry," I said again. Hah! WHY would I be sorry?
"It's all right," Carly laughed. You're trying to act nice? I'm not fallin' for it.
"Hey, how about this? I go over there, and pretend that I want to be a part of THEM again, but actually, just collect info?" I suggested.
"I'm all for it," Sam said.
"For real?" I said. I was actually surprised. But, then again, Sam loved evil plans.
"Yeah, it's cool," Sam said.
"Um, I'm not so sure," Freddie said worriedly.
"Yeah," Carly agreed. Carly was siding with Freddie. It was OBVIOUS she liked him.
"No it's fine," I said.
I started to walk toward Wendy. I'm SUCH a good actress. Wendy would be proud.