Author's Note: I'm back! Enjoy this chapter that I whipped up for you during my hiatus. Update should be up my either tomorrow or the day after, so keep checking back and review!


Freddie's POV:

As I finished up my last class, I realized that Carly was right; I belong with Sam. I love Sam more than any man could bear to, but a part of me also knew I couldn't abruptly sever my ties with Melanie. My heart knows to stick with Sam, but it's also attached to Melanie's unwavering and genuine affection. I'm forced to cut one off; a choice that's going to potentially hurt all three of us. It's my fault I let this problem persist since being with Sam, but I figured it would disappear when Melanie stayed in boarding school. The genius in me never realized that she does return for the holidays, and she still is going to continue where she left off. Carly isn't going to want to deal with me, but one other Shay might want to

hear it.

The walk to the Shay's apartment felt miserable; the wind nipped at face as I marched through piles of gray slush and fresh fallen snow. I took a look to the skies to see it locked with billows of gray; droplets of rain began to float down. I sighed as I finished my walk to Bushwell. The rain intensified shortly before I arrived to Carly's apartment, and I moaned as I drudged through Lewbert's lobby dripping with rainwater.

"Hey! You wet filthy hooligan get out of my lobby!" Lewbert screamed. His fit tore half of his paperwork, but I couldn't care less. Today, I'm not taking his shit. I lowered my bag to ground, and pointed my finger clear into his face:

"Watch it! You filthy lecherous bag of shit! If you utter one more word, I'll hop this counter and crush your face into the floor until nothing's left but your sagging pus filled wart. Are we clear?" I shouted.

Lewbert looked back in shock; he gave the very same look of horror that Sam evoked on her victims.

I figured I should leave on that note, as that is what Sam would do in this situation. I smirked as I climbed the mahogany stairs to Carly's; Sam's imbued me with her fighting spirit. Most people might say she's a poor influence, but her aggression was one thing I needed over years. Getting your way; it feels good.

While buried in thought, I came upon Carly's apartment. I got my hopes up. Carly wouldn't be back for another forty minutes, and I didn't see Sam on the trek here. I just walked in and saw exactly what I wanted. Spencer sat perched on a low wooden stool, sculpting from a large block of brown ice.

"Greetings, child who lives across the hall."

"Salutations, adult who acts like a kid!" I replied.

He chuckled a bit, with full knowledge I was right.

"So, just hangin' here until Carly gets back, Freddo? You're here kind of early."

"I'm early on purpose, Spence. I gotta talk to you about something."

He spun around, simply aghast at my rather simple assertion.

"Did you go in my room?"

What?

"Nah Spencer. Why do you keep asking that?"

"Oh." he muttered. "That's only something for me, myself, and I to know!" Haha!" he claimed. He dug in his shallow toolbox for another ice pick.

"Oh." I replied. "Could I just talk to you about something?"

"Sure, shoot Freddie."

"You know I've been going out with Sam, right?"

"Mhm" he whispered. "It's adorable." he cooed.

"Well, we've been going out for awhile, but all this time I've had feelings for another girl."

"So, you've been cheating, my young player. I see..."

"No! It's not like that. It's just that I've kind of liked Melanie since freshman year, but I went out with Sam in the meantime."

"Well Freddo." he started. He spun around and looked me in the eye:

"It sounds like Sam's playing second to Melanie, no matter how you might put it. What are you going to do, that is the question..." he trailed.

"I want to stay with Sam."

"Then do it! By all means!"

"It's not that easy!" I pleaded.

Spencer looked down, and he looked back up at me. I stared back with a blank expression. Moments later, he broke the silence.

"You remind me a lot about myself, Freddie. I had a dilemma like this when I was your age.."

"What happened?"

"A lot of stuff happened." he returned.

"Could you describe the nature of this stuff?" I inquired.

"Well. I had this girlfriend sophomore year. She and I started dating after I wore a tux at one of my school plays."

I nodded my head.

"She and I were doing fine, but I met her younger sister. I didn't care much for her, but she was so charming!" he sighed.

"Did you cheat?"

"No. The younger one made a move on me while I was at my girlfriend's house though. I didn't resist. My girlfriend caught me and thought I was cheating and left me."

"Well, at least you got the younger one, right?"

"Yeah! It wasn't that great though!" he moaned. "It was great until she flung herself on my ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend. She was just a jealous conniving no good freshman who-

"Spencer!"

"Aww, let me finish Freddie!"

"I get the point though!" I laughed.

"Well. Okay." he smiled. "Just stay with Sam. It's easier to end something that's never begun. In your case, your little felony with Melanie." he stated.

"It's not that easy though!" I pleaded again. I couldn't even laugh at his wordplay.

"I never said it was easy, but that doesn't change that it's right. Right?" He looked up to ceiling, confused at the sound of his own advice.

"Right." I sighed.

"I'm going into my room." he stated. "In the meantime, please enjoy my sculpture in its succulent and fizzy beauty." He grinned and began to head into his room.

"What's it made of?"

"Oh, that's a huge block of Peppy-Cola." he called from his room.

"Ah!" I said.

It's quite a piece of art; it's pure soda molded like the Peppy-Cola logo. While I marveled at Spencer's craftsmanship, I heard the door burst open.

"Hey, Sam."

"How'd you know it was me?"

I laughed. "You always kick in the door. Carly's just more graceful than that."

"Shut it, Benson. What's that brown block you're staring at?"

"It's frozen Peppy-Cola. Spencer's molding it into their logo, and it's pretty sweet."

"Oh, let me see!" she cried. Sam bolted to my side and was in as much as I was.

"It's so beautiful. It makes me thirsty though." she said.

"Well, you gotta wait. I'm sure Spencer used all the Cola in the fridge to make this thing."

"Mama's thirsty!" she pouted. "..and she's in the mood for some frozen cola."

"You wouldn't!" I cried. My eyes widened as she bent down and start to suck slowly away at the frozen ends of the sculpture.

...

I couldn't help but watch her suck away at the sculpture, eyes closed, body and hair swaying ever so silently. She opened one eye and saw me standing in a forced silence; she smirked as she got her fill.

As I watched her finish off half the "a" of the sculpture, she suddenly spun around and grabbed my shirt.

"Don't get your hopes up, kid."

"I-I wasn't hoping for.." I started. I feared her fiery retribution, but she backed up and looked straight at my pants. What?

"Your pants say otherwise." she grinned. "Which head is in charge, anyways?" she giggled. She was in charge of the situation now; my knees faltered.

"Uh. Are you still thirsty?" I managed to say. I put out an offer to get out; I can't stand being in here right now.

"What question is that? Of course I am, Fredweird. Let's go pick up some drinks! And some ham.."

"What about Carly?"

"What about her? I'll text her later, duh." she replied.

"Oh yeah.." I muttered.

"You alright? Did I just ruin the innocence that your mommy worked so hard to keep?" she teased.

"You ruined that the day we started dating."

"So true. Let's get out of here! Sheesh!"

With that, she and I made our way to her house. It was a long trip back to her place, but it was well worth the walk. Her personal fridge is stacked with smoothies, drink mixes, and everything you could ever want for a beverage. Except alcohol. Sam never wanted to be like her mother.

"Well we're here." she said. We climbed the icy stairs to her front door and entered. Her house looked same as ever, though I noticed some pink luggage near her dining room table.

"What's this?" I smirked. I motioned over to the pink items and began to tease Sam. "This looks like a pretty little case. Never knew you were into pink, Samantha."

"Oh, be quiet. That's Melanie's crap. She showed up sometime today."

"Oh, okay. You mind if I go say hi?"

"Nope." Sam replied. "I'mma go get some drinks for us though. So don't take forever!" she stated. Her voice elevated a bit at the end; I took heed.

I climbed up her dark stairwell to the second floor. It was thankfully brighter once I made my way towards Melanie's room; I hate the dark. I knocked on her door, and she opened it.

"Hey Freddie! How are you?"

"I'm doing alright. Glad to see you're looking good as usual." I chimed.

"Oh Freddie, you flirt. Come in! I'm just finishing up on the computer."

I hesitated, but I didn't resist her offer.

Melanie closed the door, and turned towards my direction. She asked:

"So Freddie, what's new?"

"Nothing much." I returned. "I didn't know you were coming here for the holidays though. That was a bit of a surprise."

"Was it, a good surprise?" she laughed. The Puckett's laugh at the most unnerving moments...

"Yeah, it was. Except you're with a guy now, so like it's just not the same.." I started. Crap. That's not what I needed to say.

"Oh, I understand. You know I still like you though Freddie." she replied. "It's just that we're separated by circumstance."

At this moment, I heard quiet stomping; likely the beating of my heart. I didn't know what to do.

"Well, what should we do?"

"Want to repeat freshman year?" she giggled.

"You can't! You'll be cheating on your man!" I argued.

"You'd be cheating on my sister. Your point?" she replied. Her tone was so convincing, so controlled and inviting, I couldn't refuse. What have I done?

"It's only for a little bit. Until we get to be together later on." she whispered. She began to tug at my shirt. "Come on..." she goaded.

I crashed onto her bed and she lied on top of me. She began to passionately kiss, and I returned. Our mumbles were quiet, but something louder hammered at the door.

"Open up. Now." the voice exclaimed.


I wonder who's at the door?