Author's Note: Hey everybody, it's the thewritershand! I'm back with the fourth main chapter of my story. Before we get to business, however, I would like to take a little time to thank JunoLuv for selflessly promoting this story in her own fic. I appreciate the notion very much, and I encourage you to read and review her work if you haven't already. You won't be dissapointed. For those who were referred here by her, I sincerely hope my work doesn't let you down. For all of you readers out there, enjoy this chapter!


Freddie's POV:

I knew from that moment that all of my fears regarding Sam have been realized; a mere wooden door separates her fury from my face. Sam was going to break that door in seconds if didn't open it up, so I flew off of Mel's bed to her bedroom door. With a sense of surrender, I calmly unlocked the door and stood by the doorknob paralyzed by fear. A split-second of silence passed; Melanie sat on her bed, while I stood firm with my back towards her. Then, all went dark.

I woke up, about a minute or so after to discover a rather altered world. I heard bickering voices far in the distance and saw that they came from these strange similar looking shapes. Thankfully, my brain quickly began to regain full consciousness, and I deducted Sam flew inside Melanie's room and rendered me unconscious when the door smashed against my head. As the seconds past, I was thankful the injury wasn't too severe; I regained most of my vision and hearing again, but I lost parts of my short-term memory. One Puckett was tackling another; I couldn't tell which since I forgot who wore what. I instead focused on their words, since I knew I'd never be able to discern which was which.

"How dare you..take..from me? What the hell?"

"Don't blame it on..really..started it.."

"I don't..care! I'm going to..until you're.."

"I'm your sis! You..do that. We always..."

From that point on, I realized that Sam had the upper hand in this battle. I can't bear to see Melanie hurt too bad, but if I lift a finger to help her, Sam might kill me along with her. I could always help Sam beat Melanie down, but that's perhaps the sickest thing I've ever heard. What have I done? I don't even remember!

There's only one thing to do; I have to take Sam's beating. Sam will think it's justified, and Melanie won't be completely destroyed. As I motioned over to this fight though, I was astounded to see that Melanie had taken control, at least temporarily:

"Melanie! Get off of her!"

Melanie turned to see that I had finally woken from my bout of unconsciousness. She frowned at my command and replied:

"What? Why Freddie? She just attacked me! She's going for you next!"

"I know that. Just leave her to me. Leave it all to me, and just get out!" I screamed. Sam seethed at my courage, and vowed that she was going to pry my head open. I winced, but I focused on finishing my rather brief talk with Melanie.

"Freddie, it's my room!" she pouted. I laughed in my head. It's true, but she's not going to want to be in here to watch what's going to happen.

"Look! I understand that! Just please get out, I have to handle this!"

Melanie sighed and turned towards me again with admiration.

"Well, okay. Good luck, Freddie." she uttered. She loosened her grip on Sam and flashed a look towards me of despair; she must have known that I was going to get destroyed. Nevertheless, she fled the room full of guilt. It felt sickening that she would've taken the beating from Sam instead of me. Again though, for what?

"Sam, what the hell happened?" I asked. I pleaded to her while I looked her straight into her cerulean eyes. Her blonde curls lie flung out in every direction on the carpeted floor, while her appendages remain stretched out, still in the position when she was pinned.

"Freddie Benson.." she echoed. "After all the times we've been together, and all the stuff we did. It means nothing to you, does it?"

"What?" I asked.

"Stop saying what! You know damn well what the hell you did!" she snapped. She got up from the ground and pinned me against the wall. Flashbacks from the Groovy Smoothie ran through my head. My breathing grew shallow as I listened to her words. Each sentence was followed by a punch. Punches that I apparently deserved...

"What happened? I can't even remember! I-I...my head!"

"I trusted you, Freddie! You're the only boy I ever loved, and you choose to love my sister instead!"

"What did I do?" I pleaded.

"You two swapped spit on her bed while you two giggled about repeating freshman year. That enough for 'ya?"

With that, she punched me in the abdomen. I began to remember what happened; at the least, I remember I didn't initiate it.

"I didn't start it Sam! She did!"

She punched me again, harder. I began to cough and almost weep from the pain. I could've just retaliated, but I'm never going to strike Sam. No matter how abusive she gets, I just can't do that to her.

"Oh Sam! Just hear me out! I made a mistake!"

"I thought you said she started it!"

"She did! It's my fault I didn't stop her! How can I resist kissing someone who looks just like you?"

She backed off for a second, and she took in what I said. I thought what I said got to her, but she replied with an answer that I didn't even see coming:

"You resist because you know you have already have somebody who looks like that, who already trusts you and loves you. I thought you loved me Freddie. I guess not. I guess this is your revenge, for all the things I did to you. I see how it is."

I froze against the wall as her words sliced my being in half. I just realized that I had soiled the best experience in my life with a single mistake. For the first time in my adolescent life, I shed a tear in her presence as I grasped how much grief and suffering I inflicted on Sam.

"I don't care for your tears, Benson. I'm going to Carly's. I don't care what you do. Just stay away from me."

She stormed through the door and slammed it shut; I slid down the wall and buried my face in my hands. I'm not exactly sure how much time elapsed, but Melanie returned in the room to find me nearly sobbing, half from pain, and half from grief.

"What happened?" she asked.

"You did! You happened! You ruined everything!" I shouted.

"I-I didn't mean to ruin everything! I just thought it'd make you happy if we did what we did." she said. She spoke softly with subtle frown, but her motions went unnoticed.

"I hate you." I muttered. "I hate you with every fiber of my existence."

Melanie took the words to heart; she became visibly uncomfortable, but she held her ground. She only said:

"I didn't mean for you to get hurt Freddie! I was going to take her beating! I took the blame!" she pleaded.

"I don't care!" I cried. "You hurt Sam! She'll never see me the same ever again because of what we did."

I panted and grew quiet; I wasn't in any condition to exactly fight anymore. As I looked up, I saw Melanie sit back down to my level.

"Well, Freddie. You might not think it, but I really know how awful this is. If there's anything I can do to fix this, I'll do it!" she said. I turned away, but she placed her hand on my cheek and turned my face back towards hers.

"I mean it."

I sighed. This predicament was both our fault, I guess. I would've just told her to not touch me, but being a guy, I'm not going to complain about it. That's just ridiculous.

"Well, could you help me onto a softer surface or something? I just want to go to sleep.."

"You can use my bed. And I promise I won't do anything bad, Freddie." she smiled. She carefully guided me to her bed and made sure I was comfortable.

"Thanks.." I muttered. A part of me hated myself; I couldn't stay mad at Melanie, not even for five minutes! I gave the thought up and surrendered to sleep. I knew the rest of my break would be miserable, so I shut my eyes and dreamed back to better times.

Melanie's POV:

Freddie quietly fell asleep after I helped him into my bed; he's just as adorable as he was when I first remember seeing him. I know well that I have a boyfriend, and I'm thankful that he hasn't found out about this entire mess, at least yet. He's probably going to dump me after he hears though. Oh well. What really bothers me is that I've never even cheated in my life, not even on my tests! Freddie's just so strange; he brings out what seems to be what's awful in me! I stole a few looks at him while he slept, and then I turned away and stared out my window. As I watched some snow begin to fall, I began to ponder why this entire predicament exists. After some thought, it hit me:

The boy is the first guy I really loved.

He never even acknowledged I existed when we first met, but he began to love me when he realized that I loved him. I guess it was exciting to have a guy spontaneous cling to you like that; I've had plenty of guys, but none so pure and so wholesome. It's no wonder Sam and I find so much to love in the kid; he is what he is: nothing more, and nothing less. His love is genuine, and it comes with a fabulous body and personality. He went so far for me as to take all of Sam's blows, even though I initiated our kissing.

On that note, I felt awful that I soiled everything between Sam and him. In my pursuit to have him to myself, I ruined what was definitely the best aspect of Sam's entire life. She had him, while I had my grades, wealth, and popularity. Sam couldn't even top me in looks, since we're identical. I also played sports; Sam couldn't since she was always after-school for detention. The contrasts between us were staggering, and it's no wonder she doesn't want to be around me. I make feel like she's a failure. Without him, she's back to her old life.

That notion hurt me though. I love Sam! A part of me wanted her back with Freddie, but my own interests wanted him with me. It looks like I'll have to think of something to fix this problem. Before I do anything though, I need to sleep too. I took to the side of my bed not occupied by Freddie, and curled up beneath my covers.


Melanie's making a plan. Remember Christmas is approaching? Carly and Sam will be talking; Melanie will be plotting; Freddie will be sleeping. Send those reviews in!