You exit my house, slamming the door for emphasis. You pass underneath my window, making sure not to look up. As I expected, you're heading in the direction of Bushwell Plaza. Towards Carly, just like I said you should. You belong with her. I shouldn't even enter the equation. You don't belong with me.

So why is it that you're the only thing I can think about? Your trip plays out in my mind, even when I'm not there to see it…

You ride as fast as you can. You arrive at Bushwell, don't even bother with locking your bicycle and rush straight past that weird doorman yelling at you. You fly up the stairs, two steps at a time, only to come to a grinding halt before her door.

'What if she really did move on', you ask yourself. You glance at the stairs you just ran up, considering to just leave and accept being alone. However, you remember my words. You know that you belong with Carly, and that it's a risk worth taking. So you knock.

The door opens, Carly stares at you. You ask if you can come in, she invites you to do so. She sees that something is troubling you. You didn't just barge in, you're not as chatty as usual, you don't inquire about her fridge. You sit down, she sits next to you. You take a deep breath and begin talking.

You tell her that hooking up with me was a mistake. That you didn't want to ruin the friendship. That you only went with me because I was available and safe. That you're willing to do whatever it takes to make a relationship work, that you're sorry for making her wait so long. And all she does is listen, until the moment you finish talking. That's when she leans in and kisses you softly.

You forget everything. You forget the troubles at home, the leftover feelings you still have for Freddie, the many difficulties that will surface in a relationship with Carly. You also forget me and my broken heart. When the kiss deepens, you even forget where you are. So does Carly. One of your hands is already toying with the hem of her shirt, while her hands firmly grip your butt…

The phone rings, interrupting my thoughts. I check the display; the number is unfamiliar. The voice on the other side isn't, but hearing it is nevertheless unexpected.

"Wendy here."

"Wendy, it's Freddie."

"Oh, hey. Why a–"

"It's Sam. She's on my couch asking for you; I don't know what to do with her. Can you come over?"

"Why? What happened?"

"She just came from Carly's… I think something happened between them."

"…I'll be right there."

As I hang up the phone, understanding sinks in. Things didn't quite go the way I thought they would. Once I exit the building, another realisation pops up. If you're showing Freddie and me this vulnerable side, things have gone horribly wrong.

You're sitting on Freddie's couch; at first glance, you're holding up just fine. I say "at first glance" because I can tell that you're holding back tears. I ask Freddie to get you some water and sit down next to you. You look at me, confused and sad. When you speak, it doesn't even resemble your usual tone.

"She said she moved on. She got over me when she found out about… us, and she didn't want to change her mind again. I was too late."

"I'm sorry…"

"You said she'd want me back."

"I know. I'm really sorry."

"…Yeah, I know."

Freddie comes in with two glasses of water, which you thank him for – you're thanking Freddie! He's as surprised as I am, but quickly recovers with a "you're welcome". Once he leaves, we find ourselves in yet another awkward silence.

"So where does that leave us?" you ask, actualising the question that was on both our minds. Another long silence falls, which you eventually break with a not-so-subtle expression of impatience. I shake my head and mutter something about not being sure. You're on the rebound, confused and vulnerable, and I'm not sure if I'm okay with being a second choice.

Freddie comes back in. He overheard the conversation, but thankfully doesn't bring it up. Instead, he just tries to be there for you. I do the same: I'm not sure about a relationship, but there's no reason I can't be a friend. You leave the apartment in a much better mood than when you entered. Still, I know that you'll stare at Carly's door before leaving.

You approach me two weeks later. Even though we haven't spoken since that time on Freddie's couch, I think I know where this is going. Indeed, you stand in front of me and demand an answer. I look into your eyes, noticing one important thing. Carly is standing further down the hall, but you refuse to look at her while you talk to me. Not even a single stolen glance.

You got over her, just like how she got over you. Now you're going with the girl who willingly broke her own heart for your happiness. It's dedication you won't get from anyone else, and you know it. Perhaps a solid relationship can grow out of appreciation; perhaps love can grow out of it, we don't know. But you're willing to try – you want to try.

I don't answer. I just lean in to kiss you. Behind you, Carly gives me a small smile. She got over you, just like how you got over her. No hard feelings. She's happy for us. When we break apart, you turn around towards her, receiving that same smile. You return it. No hard feelings.

After school, we spend the rest of the day at my house. We tell my parents, we go upstairs, we get interrupted by my brother, we threaten him with a frozen bra to keep our bedroom activities quiet. It's pretty much what I expected, except for one thing.

"I love you, Sam."

"…"

"…You don't have to say it back."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

I know it's not perfect. But it's still pretty good.

A/N: The reason this chapter is so late is because I was never satisfied with the ending. In the original ending, Sam ended up with Carly, leaving Wendy heartbroken and alone. Other endings considered were Seddie, OT3 (Sam/Carly/Wendy) and everybody loses. In the end, I went with this ending because I just have a bit of a soft spot for Wendy.

Please, do let me know what you think =)