AUTHOR'S NOTE ~ OK, this chapter is a bit . . . what's the word I'm looking for . . . maybe more depressing than the other chapters. DON'T WORRY LOVE WILL PREVAIL!!! lol jk! But also, updates from now on might be a bit slower since my computer is being a douchebag. But hope you like this chapter even though it's a tad on the sad emotional side! Please review!!!

Nobody's Home ~ Avril Lavigne "She wants to go home. But nobody's home. That's where she lies, broken inside. With no place to go, no place to go, to dry her eyes, broken inside.

Freddie and Sam made no progress whatsoever on their project, probably due to the fact that Sam had no idea what Romeo and Juliet was about and also she kept throwing the book at the door everytime they said something she didn't understand. So, the door was getting close to it's breaking point.

"OK, I think we're done for tonight. You all ready damaged my door one too many times," Freddie said with a sigh. Looking at the door, Sam saw chips where the book kept hitting various spots. She gave a small devilish grin before getting her stuff together.

"So after school, tomorrow?" Sam asked.

"Yea, tomorrow we can actually go over the play and choose which part we want to do."

"All right." Sam got off of Freddie's couch, slung her backpack over her shoulder and started to walk out of the apartment. She turned to go down the stairs so she could go outside, even though it was getting rather dark.

"Where are you going?" Freddie called from the top of the stairs.

"Uh . . . home. Where else?" Sam yelled back to him, despite Lewbert's loud protests.

"Carly's?" Freddie was in sight now at the top of the stairs. She looked at him with unbelievable eyes.

You've got to be kidding me Benson! You think I want to go over there and watch you and Carly hold hands and giggling and be all cute while I sit there lonely and depressed? I don't think so. I'd rather be at my mom's place at this point. It's the only way I can feel like an actual being again. To be away from you and Carly.

"I don't think so," Sam started to turn around to leave the apartment building. She heard the footsteps behind her as Freddie ran in front of her and faced her.

"Sam, tell me what's wrong. I know something is wrong. I can see it in your eyes. You're not as happy as you were. Just please tell me what's wrong," the look on his face was a mix of sadness and begging. It was hard for Sam to resist him.

"Why would you want to know anyway Benson?" she screamed. She was starting to get angry. She didn't want him interrogating her like this. Sure the only other person around was Lewbert who was poking his wart to even notice the two angry teenagers in his lobby.

"Because Sam I . . . I can't help it, I care about you, and I want to protect you. Even though my being there wouldn't be all that helpful, I don't care. I still want to help you. And . . . I want to see you be happy again. And I'll do whatever it takes," Sam could see Freddie was having difficulty forming what he was trying to say.

"And how does dating Carly play a part into this whole 'hero' role you have going here?" Sam spat at him. She could feel her blood boiling. She wanted to make him shut up. It all didn't make sense. He started dating Carly so he could help Sam?

"So that's it . . . you don't like the fact that I'm dating Carly! Why? Why does it bother you so much to see me with Carly?" Freddie said.

Sam could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. What was going on? Sam Puckett DEFINITELY did not cry. She bumped her way past Freddie and lowered her head so he couldn't see her face. She ran outside, despite Freddie's calls for her to come back. Now it was pouring rain outside. The drops pelted every inch of her body. She raised her head, so she could feel the drops on her face. She wanted to wash away everything that was happening, and to let things just be normal again. She looked back towards the apartment building to find Freddie no longer calling to her, but still watching her, as if he would need to rescue her at any given moment. Giving one last look, she turned her back towards the apartment building and started walking home, constantly reminding herself not to look back.

The Next Day . . .

Sam woke up to the sun shining brightly in her eyes. She looked around, feeling the wet cement underneath her. She had slept outside that night, for her mother had locked all the doors and hadn't bothered to come see her own daughter on the front steps as she was banging until her knuckles started bleeding. Sam grabbed her backpack, which had dirt and other unmentionables caked on the bottom from where she used it as a pillow the previous night. She slung it over her shoulder, ignoring the dirt falling in her shoes which had shook loose from her bag. She started walking the long distance to school. She had no idea what time it was and no idea what she looked like to other people. But she didn't care about either of these of things. All she cared about was moving forward. As long as she could move her feet, she was content. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a shady pair of guys eyeing her from across the street. Feeling uneasy, she moved as far away from the street as possible. She saw them start to move in the same direction as her. Her nerves started acting up, she was getting jumpy. She was trying not to let fear show, but she was failing miserably. The boys would know that she was afraid. Out of nowhere, Sam bolted down the sidewalk. The two other boys started running too, but they couldn't keep up with Sam. One of the boys even tried throwing a rock at her, but missed. She was heading near Freddie and Carly's apartment building. She headed into one of the alleys, trying to move as fast as she could. If those two boys caught her, there would be some kind of unpleasantry forced upon her. She started climbing up the nearest fire escape. The boys had crossed the street by now and were heading into the alley. She reached the top of the fire escape and crawled through the window. One of the boys had thrown another rock again and she closed the window before the rock could hit her. Sam leaned against the wall, holding her chest. She'd never been so afraid in her life. With her back sliding against the wall, she fell to the ground. Her uneven breathing started to make her feel dizzy, but she couldn't control it. She couldn't sense anything around her.

"Sam?" she heard a distant voice say. She saw a figure heading towards her. Her vision was going in and out. After a few minutes, her vision started clearing up. She could see the person had shaggy brown hair. The person was kneeling, looking right into her face and they were stroking her cheek.

"Freddie?" Sam whispered.

"Sam, what happened?" Freddie demanded, although his tone had an edge of worriness.

She told the story of what happened last night when she walked home. And then waking up outside and walking to school. And the boys who started chasing her. And the fire escape. She was surprised how easily it was to tell him everything, considering yesterday, she didn't even want to see him. Now all she could do was confide into him. Looking at his face, Sam could tell Freddie was trying his best to keep from lashing out. His face had turned a shade of red, his hands clenched into tight fists, and he was holding his breath.

"Can you stand now?" he asked her calmly. Sam just nodded. Her body had calmed itself down and her vision had came back into clear focus.

"Why don't you go take a shower, I'll get you some towels." Freddie got up, leaving Sam alone on the floor. She felt as if she couldn't speak and she didn't know whether or not it was from her body freaking out, or if it was because of Freddie.