Hey hey. KL21 here with chapter 10 of War Games. I know it took a lot longer than you expected but I have been workin on this since I posted chapter nine.

But enough of that. You guys know the drill so I won't hold you up any longer.

I give you Chapter ten of War Games: Covert Operation.

Covert Operation

"Well, if you wanna make things right again, then you know what you need to do." She's right, this whole thing is stupid.

"You're right Wendy, and thanks." I suppose I should try to find Carly and set up a meeting with Sam, "What do I owe ya?"

"Well for the advice and information… nothing." Hmm. That's pretty generous, "However…" of course, "for having me live in fear for the past couple of days… ten bucks." That's fair. "Thanks and good luck."

I don't know exactly how I'm gonna arrange this but I can worry about that some other time.

"Hey Freddie!" Who is that? "Heeeey!" part of me wants it to be Sam. In fact, all of it wants it to be Sam. But of course… it isn't. Some chick with black hair, and skin that is a bit more tanned than I'm used to seeing. Where does a person get a tan like that in Seattle? I mean the sun doesn't shine all that much. Hmmm…I got this feelin' that I've seen her somewhere before. Her eyes are really big too… almost grey but not really. Hazel, maybe? I don't know I suppose it isn't really all that important.

"Uhh… hey." I'm not really used to people comin up to me in public. I'm usually behind the camera.

"Don't you recognize me? It's Lisa… from the party?"

"Oh, sorry. Got a lot on my mind. What's up?"

"Just out for a lil stroll. You know, you never called me." Huh… something is a lil off with this girl.

"Sorry. I've been a little preoccupied." She has a pretty smile. Just a little creepy… but pretty nonetheless.

"That's ok. How 'bout you make it up to me by spending the rest of the day with me?" I suppose it couldn't hurt.

"Ok, but I can only hang out for a couple of hours, then, I have to do some stuff for the website."

"Cool, so how about we head to the park? I heard about an area in the back of the park. It's supposed to be good for clearing your mind."

I know that area. I hear that if you don't give the head hobo any food then things can get pretty chippy. I suppose I should get somethin' for him. I wonder if Rufus is still the leader. Last time, Gibby didn't give him anything to eat and he had Jo-Jo and Left-Eye follow him around and poke him, and then they covered him in honey and bread crumbs. The birds and ants ate good that day. He hasn't been to the park since. What is his favorite food? I guess I can ask Carly, she's been spending a lot of time there lately.

Hola

What does Rufus like to eat?
is he even still n-charge?
Need 2 clear my head.

TechMasterFreddie

"Ok, Lisa, how bout we head to the store first? Gotta fend off the hoboes." She looks confused. But if she's from Seattle then she should know about the hoboes at the park. Maybe, she just moved here or somethin'.

"Sure thing." There's that smile again but something is off about it. It's not overtly evil like Sam's smile is, but it isn't overwhelmingly sweet like Carly's. It's a very… sneaky smile. Is she up to something? "What's wrong, Freddie?" I must've given her a look.

"Uhh… nothin'." Hopefully she'll buy that but I better not look at her. Sam says that I'm not a good enough liar to do it when I'm directly interacting with someone. However, she has said that I can sound convincing enough to lie over the phone. Of course, she also said that I could never lie to her, that she would always know when I was lying. I'm pretty sure it was a bluff though. "Let's get a move on… gotta get to the park before the skeevy hoboes come out." I think I got her…

"Ok." Played her like a video game.

Well it won't do any good walking to the store in silence, "So how long have you been in Seattle? I don't remember seeing you around the school."

"Well, I transferred to Ridgeway at the beginning of this semester. It was a little rough but, I figure that you rarely keep the friends you make in high school anyway." Wow that's really sad. It must've been really rough leaving everything behind like that, and then she'll have to do it again at the end of this semester.

"So where'd you transfer from?"

"Across town at SeaPoint High." That's a weird name.

"I've never heard of…"

"it's a small private school near Lake Washington."

"Why'd you transfer?"

"Well there was a small situation at my old school. One thing led to another and I just figured that I needed a fresh start, even if it would only be for a semester."

"I've had that feeling before."

"What do you mean had?"

"Well, there have been times where the things I have gone through felt like too much for me to take. I felt like running away. From everything… from school, my mom, Carly, Sam, my mom, tick baths, wheat germ, my mom, teachers that are jerks, the craziness of being semi-famous… sometimes it was just a lot to deal with."

"You said your mother, like, two or three times."

"You don't know my mother. Nor do you want to."

Finally at the store. Still no text from Carly. Oh well. Last I remember, Rufus liked Fiber O's. So I should get him some of those. "Ok, Lisa, follow me to the cereal aisle."

Ugh… why do they have to be on the top shelf? There has to be someone here who can help. Ahh, there is someone with a Sir-Foods-A-Lot vest. "Excuse me… could you get the Fiber O's off of the top shelf for me please?"

"Do I look like I work here?"

"Well you have on the vest."

"Whatever man, there's the step ladder." He points all the way down to the step ladder at the other end of the aisle, "have at it." Well he's certainly getting a complaint from me. As a matter of fact I have a better idea.

But for now, I apparently have to get the cereal off of the top shelf

"Ok… Lisa, can you please hold onto my phone? I don't want anything to happen to it while I'm up here foolin' around with the top shelf."

What was the deal with that guy? I've got no business up here on the top shelf and I can't believe that idiot would let me climb up here. Part of me wants to fall down, break a leg and sue this place. If I do, I'm naming names and that guy will never work in another store of any kind ever again. That would show him.

"Freddie, you've got a message from…" That must be Carly.

"What does it say?"

"Hi FreddieBear," Oh no, "If you could, please go to the drug store and pick up ointment for your rash. And more tick lotion. Love My FreddieBear." The Universe won't rest I've suffered so much humiliation that my body tries to collapse on itself to hide from the world. "So you really have…"

"I don't have ticks!" I don't believe that she did that, "Nor a rash!"

"Oh, you have another one." I can hear the giggle's in her voice. It's a pretty laugh. Or at least it sounds like she would have a pretty laugh. I mean she wasn't actually laughing.

"Who's it from?"

"Umm… Carly." Phew.

"What's it say?"

"Hey Freddie, Rufus isn't in charge any more. Spanky found a pizza." Aww, Rufus was my favorite hobo. He didn't smell as bad as the other ones did. And I got these stupid Fiber O's for nothin'.

"Did she say what the new guy likes?"

"Umm… Oh, she says he likes blueberry muffins."

"What kind of uppity hobo develops a taste for muffins?"

"Umm, Freddie? How does a hobo come to take control over such a large group?"

"I've always wondered, but I've never asked. If there is one thing you learn when living here: it's that you stay out of hobo politics." It's very complex. I swear, there should be a class on it. Not in a college or anything, but in like a community center or something.

"Ok. How about you go and get the muffins and I will go get a couple of bottles of water for us. The water at the park is far too overpriced." I wonder what the rush is.

I guess she's just eager to get to the park. "Ok sounds good. Water's on aisle four. Shouldn't be too long, so just wait for me there."

"I've got a better idea. How about I meet you at the register?"

She is in a rush. I wonder why, "O… k… I guess that's…"

"Good now go get 'em."

Well that was certainly strange. I mean, why would she be so eager to get to an abandoned area of the park? Even more so, considering that it is overrun with hoboes. It really doesn't make sense but I suppose with everything else that has spun crazy and outta control in my life, one more crazy person can't hurt. Ok I got the muffins. I guess I'll head to the register now.

"Hey Freddie," Ahh. There she is, "You left your phone with me. Here ya go."

"Thanks."

Now that we're checked out and such, I guess it's on to the park. This day hasn't been so bad. Met a new girl, she's a little weird but no worse than anyone else who's in my life right now. In fact she seems to lean more towards normal than most of the other girls I know.

"So, Freddie… how are you gonna handle this whole thing between you and Sam?" That seems kinda personal. Should I tell her?

Well she did say something about goin through a similar situation at her old school, if I remember correctly. I suppose it couldn't hurt to get a second opinion, "Well I was thinkin about tryin to meet with her and talk out our problems."

"What made you come to that decision?"

"Well despite all the trauma she has caused me… she's still a friend. She's been my friend for as long as I can remember, and I don't wanna lose her over something as stupid as a date that probably wouldn't have gone well in the first place." That's not the whole truth, but I figure she doesn't really need to know the depth of my feelings for Sam. "Despite everything she has done to me, and it has been a lot, I still consider her my best friend. I don't want to lose her. I still…" Crap, almost let it go there. Gotta reign it in, "I still want her to be a part of my life."

"If she was just a friend, then why would you endure what she's made you endure? Best friends don't do that type of stuff to their friends. It just doesn't make any sense to stick around for that kind of abuse… unless…" I don't like the sound of that, "… unless…" I don't like the look on her face, "Unless your feelings for Sam are more than 'just friends' feelings."

"I don't know what you're talkin about."

Just like that… her eyes light up, and I know I'm caught… "So, are you gonna tell me or does this actually have to turn into a thing?"

"No, we're just friends."

"Look at me Freddie. Look me in the eye and say that."

Crap… "Fine I like her, alright. For a couple of years now. So, through every prank, every physical abuse, through every emotional smack in the face, I've stayed hopin that one day she would feel the same way about me."

"You deserve better Freddie."

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is… you deserve someone who is going to care about you just as much as you care about them." But Sam does care… doesn't she? "and before you jump in, I know that you care about Sam. But don't you think you deserve to be cared about too? Don't you think that you deserve to have your affection returned instead of thrown back in your face and mocked, mercilessly? Because I do Freddie, I believe that you deserve someone who is going to care about you just as much as you care about them."

"But… Sam does care… sometimes. She just has a different way of showing that she cares."

"Oh really? How?"

"How?"

"Yeah. How does she show that she cares about you?"

"Well she stands up for some people… when she isn't the one hurting them. She is very dedicated to paying off her debts… once she finds out that they exist. The debts, I mean."

"That's great for those people. But what about you?"

What about me? I don't remember her ever standing up for me. Wait she did try to pay me back that one time, "I'm in the group of people she paid back."

"It was just you she owed? And no one else?"

"Well, no. She owed Carly, too. We summed the total."

"Mm-Hmm. And do you think that she would have paid you back if she didn't owe Carly?"

I don't know. I don't have an answer. I'm trying to defend her… but I can't think of anything else. At least nothing that doesn't sound too crazy. I mean… I suppose that it is within the realm of possibility that she has been fending bullies off in secret… but, like I said, that would just be crazy.

Besides, if she was… Why would she have to hide it? Lord knows, it wouldn't hurt my pride or dignity. My mom saw to that a long time ago. And Sam doesn't really hide it, when she beats people up. As a matter of fact she takes pride in it. No, I'm pretty sure she isn't beating up anyone.

"Freddie… listen. I know we just met, and I don't even know Sam, but it seems that you're at the bottom of her list of important people… if you're even on it at all." She's right I'm probably not on that list. Not that Sam even took the time to make one. In fact I'm pretty sure she didn't.

"I know, but that's another issue I was hoping to resolve. I was hoping that this whole thing would show her how it is without me around… maybe make her…" Saying it out loud would just sound stupid.

"You're trying to make Sam miss you?"

I was right it does sound stupid. Sam doesn't need me. "I was. What can I say? I'm a dreamer."

We're finally at the park. Now to find… Scrappy? Sappy? Strappy? Spanky? Yeah that's it, Spanky. Now the general rule is… that: you don't find the hoboes the hoboes find you. So I guess we'll just…

"Umm… Freddie?" Huh?

"Hey let her go!"

"I'm sure you know the rules kid. You've found your way to our part of the park. That means that you owe us a little somethin'. Otherwise, we'll have to take somethin' else."

"You must be Spanky." He looked like a standard hobo. Smelled like a standard hobo. Dressed… like a standard hobo. The only thing different about him was his hair. It was still gray but it had a few streaks of black mixed in. the weirdest thing, though, is that his hair is slicked back. Like James Bond, slicked back. I don't know how he got his hair to do that… and I certainly wasn't about to ask.

"I see my reputation precedes me." Weird, scratchy throat. I wonder if he has a cold or if that's just the way he talks. "Well then… you know how this works. Watcha got?"

"Well I've got a four blueberry muffins… and a box of Fiber O's." What? I had already gotten them down. I wasn't gonna climb that stupid step ladder again and put them back on the top shelf.

"Yeah… that's a pretty good haul. It'll go very well with the stuff that other girl gave us." The organizational skills of hoboes, fascinates me. He was obviously the leader. He had two guys with him… it seemed that they were his right-hand men. He didn't eat the food right away so that would mean that they had a place to put it so that they could eat it later. Hmm… these hoboes are a lot more organized than Rufus' hoboes were. Oh well, none of my concern.

I wonder who the other person was that gave them food before. Probably Carly. Maybe she can help me find… "Sam."

"Sam? Where?"

There she was. Over by the gate in front of the old river. She's staring at her phone. Must've gotten a bad call or something. Well here goes nothin'.

"Wait. Freddie I want you to keep your expectations realistic." What does she mean? "Remember… she turned everyone against you. She wanted to see you fall and she wants to watch you squirm."

"Look that'll all change once we smooth things out."

Ok here goes nothin', "Hey Carly. Sam… can I talk to you for…"

"What do you want fudge-wad!"

"Sam, calm down. I just wanted to say…"

"Look! I've got nothing to say to you! You've obviously made it clear how you feel about everything!"

"Sam that's what I wanna talk about."

"There's nothing left to talk about! You just be ready for whatever's gonna come down on you!"

"Sam."

"And trust me, Loser… When it comes down, it's gonna come down hard! Maybe then you'll wish I was there."

And with that she's gone. "Freddie."

"Carly, what was…"

"Freddie, I don't know what game you were playing, but I sure hope that it was worth it." And with that, she was gone with her.

What just happened? I came here wishing to end this whole thing because it's not worth it. Then she blows up at me because of it. There's no way she's forgotten what she did to me. Not just with Kayla, but with the jocks and the bullies. What gives her the right to blow up at me?

Still through all of it…

'Maybe then you'll wish I was there.'

I do wish she was here...

I've always wished she was here.

Well there it is.

Umm… I don't think there is any pressing matter that needs to be addressed.

Thank you to: Tech-man, Pigwiz, JamesTheGreater, and Axe100. You should give their stories a gander. They will not disappoint: especially the main attractions:

Back in Seattle – Pigwiz
iJust Don't Know – Tech-man
JamesTheGreater – The Seddie Zone

I believe that is all for this chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Review if you'd like (I hope you do), if not Thank you guys for takin the time to read my humble little fic.
Until next time
Deuces
KL21