To: Freddie
From: Sammy

Blew off 5 +6 went shopping, meet at the apartment l8er?

xx

I sighed putting my phone back in my jean pocket. I was currently in Science class and Sam was supposed to be in History, but apparently she decided to skip. I'd only left her ten minutes ago! Why would she skip? I thought we'd decided she was going to start taking it seriously. She told me she was going to go to her lesson, did she lie to me? Or did she just decide she wasn't going to go? I shook the thoughts off and tried to listen to Mrs Caltan, but couldn't focus.

I slammed the door shut behind me when I got home from school. I threw my keys on the side and dropped my bag by the door. Sam was on the couch, watching television,
"Hey" she smiled, when she looked up and saw me,
"Sam, what-" I started, but was cut off by her standing up and talking again,
"Wanna see what I bought today?" she asked, excitedly, getting her bags from behind the couch and searching through them,
"Sam, what the hell were you thinking when-" she interrupted me again by showing me some boots she put on her feet,
"Look, aren't they cute?" she asked, smiling,
"Sam-"
"And I got 'em on sale, too!" she exclaimed, "Only 500 marked down to350, I saved like 150 bucks!"
"For god's sake, Sam-"
"I mean they look like they're-"
"Sam!" I snapped. She lifted her eyes up to meet mine, "Why did you ditch last periods?" I asked. She shrugged,
"I went shopping" she replied,
"No, that's what you did, why did you leave during school? Couldn't you have gone after school?" I asked. She didn't answer and slowly took her boots off and slipped them in the bag, "Sam! You shouldn't have just left, you could have waited" I reasoned, "I mean you-
"I couldn't take it anymore" she whispered,
"What?" I asked, not sure I heard her,
"I couldn't fucking take it anymore, Freddie!" she yelled, tears threatening to spill over her eyes,
"Sam-" I started, softly, "You said everything was ok" I reminded her,
"Well, I lied!" she shouted,
"Wh-What do you mean?" I asked,
"I can't deal with it anymore!" she was crying now, face red, "I can't fucking deal with it!"
"Sam, calm down" I said, gently, putting my hands on her arms,
"No!" she yelled, shaking my hands off her arms, "They've-I mean they-" she struggled to get out a sentence,
"Sam, I understand, you-"
"No, Freddie! No, you don't understand!" She yelled, "You're never there! You don't-"
"Sammy, calm down!" she was close to hyperventilating, face red and tears pouring down her face,
"No! Don't fucking tell me to calm down!" she exclaimed, running her hands through her hair, "You're fine! You're a fucking hero! Me?! I'm just a whore! A skank! People who I thought were my friends are calling a me slut! A whore!"
"Sammy!" I tried to get her attention, taking both her hands, "Breathe" I said, taking her down to sit on the couch,
"What are they doing?" I asked her, after she'd calmed down,
"It's just-" she stopped herself,
"Sammy, what did they do?" I asked, more serious. She didn't say anything, just lifted up her sleeve. I gazed at her arm in anger. She had four small, but noticeable dark purple marks on her arm. My eyes widened and I slowly ran my fingers over her arm, "Jack kinda got a bit too...close and I turned to go and he pulled me back and his hands were a little tight" she whispered,
"When was this?" I breathed,
"Yesterday" she answered,
"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked,
"I didn't want to worry you" she answered,
"What else are they doing?" I asked, tucking a loose strand of hair down her cheek, behind her ear, "I can tell that's not it"
"Just...calling me names...slut, whore, the usual" she shrugged, "It's no big deal"
"Yes, Sam. It is a big deal" I corrected,
"Y'know what? Forget I said anything" she said, standing up, "I can deal with it"
"Sam, no you can't" I whispered, standing next to her and taking her arm to inspecting the bruises,
"Yes, I can!" she growled,
"Sam! You skipped your lessons today because you can't deal with it!" I snapped back,
"Freddie, I can! I will!" she exclaimed, "I have too" she mumbled,
"Baby, you don't have to do anything" I said, taking her hands,
"No, I do" she argued, "I have no friends, no social status-Oh no, wait, I do have a social status of whore but-"
"Leave it to me" I placed my hand on her cheek,
"Wait, what are you gonna do?" she asked,
"Just leave it to me, baby" I said, softly, wrapping my arms around her waist. She let out a little giggle and the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile,
"I love it when you call me baby" she smiled, biting her lip and wrapping her arms around my shoulders,
"I love it when you giggle" I replied, smirking,
"Ugh, I hate it" she groaned,
"It's cute" I told her, kissing her on the nose, "Like you" I added. She laughed,
"Cheesy lines, Benson"
"True" I corrected, kissing her.

Sam eventually cried herself out and fell asleep on the couch. I sighed and wrapped my arms around her and carried her to the bedroom. I placed her on the bed and sat next to her. I sighed thinking about all the shit she's dealing with at school. I mean why should she be penalised for falling in love? Maybe they're jealous of the fact that Sam's found someone she wants to be with and they haven't? Maybe they're mad or confused because they don't have the typical model of a popular, rich girl to look too? Or maybe they're just royally fucked up...Yeah, that's it. I looked over at her sleeping, lightly snoring. I smiled and let out a laugh. She was so cute...How could anyone call her a slut? I mean, it doesn't even make sense. She's only going out with one person...they really need to sort out their meanings. Sam's words kept running through my head. "I have no friends, no social status" Suddenly, an idea hit me. I yanked my sleeve up and looked at my watch. Only eight thirty. I slowly got up, careful not to wake Sam and made my way to the kitchen where I'd left my cell phone. I quickly sent a text my mom saying I was staying over at Gibby's to work on a project due in for the next day and dialled Carly's number.
"Hello?" she asked, when the phone was picked up,
"Hey Carly, it's Freddie"
"Oh, hey. What's up?" she asked,
"Well, I called to ask a favour..."

"Sammy, wake up" I said, sliding my arm around her waist. She let out a groan, her arm sliding out from under the pillow and over her face, "Come on" I told her. She groaned and sat up,
"I'm gonna shower" she mumbled, eyes still half closed, heading to the bathroom,
"Ok, I'll have coffee here when you get out"

I made the coffee and set it down on the table. I needed to brush my teeth but Sam was in the bathroom. I shrugged and opened the door to the bathroom,
"Freddie!" Sam scolded when she heard the door opening,
"Sorry, just need to brush my teeth" I told her, picking up my toothbrush. She giggled slightly and I smiled,
"Don't say it" she warned,
"I won't..." I trailed off, smirking, "I love your giggle though" I gave in. She groaned,
"Hey, we're having dinner with your mom tonight, right?" she asked,
"Uh, yeah" I answered,
"So...What's the dress code?" she asked. I furrowed my brows in confusion, "Uh, I guess smart" I replied, "Moms always been kinda strict at what we wear too dinner"
"Huh..." she trailed off, "I wonder what I should wear...I don't really have anything suitable..." I rolled my eyes; I knew what she was getting at...
"We'll go shopping in our free classes five and six and I'll buy you something to wear" I said, just as she was getting out of the shower and wrapped a towel around herself. She kissed my cheek;
"You're the best" she smiled. I smiled back and put my arms around her,
"I know" I replied. She hit my shoulder playfully. She tried to pull herself away to get ready but I tightened my arms around her,
"Freddie, lemme go!" she whined whilst smiling,
"No" I replied, smirking,
"We only have ten minutes!" she argued,
"Well, if we have ten minutes..." I trailed off, smirking,
"Freddie" she said, sternly,
"Well, it's not fault you're all wet covered in...nothing but a flimsy towel..." I trailed off,
"You didn't have to come in here!" she exclaimed,
"I'm glad I did" I replied, before kissing her and slipping my finger in the front of her towel so it would fall off. She giggled and smiled against my lips,
"Mm, we'll be late" she mumbled, while kissing me,
"We can afford to be a few minutes late" I replied, picking her up, her wrapping her legs around my waist and carrying her to the bedroom.

We finally made it to school...half an hour before the lunch bell, and Sam had gone off to the remainder of her Social Studies lesson and I was in Math. I was sure Sam's teachers were fine with her being late but me on the other hand; I had a detention to attend to at lunch break.

I walked out of my math classroom to find Sam to tell her I couldn't make lunch. I didn't need to search any further than outside the classroom as she was waiting for me,
"Hey Baby" she greeted, kissing me,
"Hey" I smiled, "Listen..."
"Oh, that doesn't sound good" she commented,
"I've got a detention and I can't make lunch" I told her,
"The Freddie Benson? Got a detention?!" she asked, fake gasping,
"Yeah, cause I was at home with you" I said, tapping her nose with my finger, "But I don't regret it" I smiled, kissing her, "So, you gonna be ok?" I asked,
"No" she answered, "But I have to be"
"It's gonna be better than you think" I smiled,
"Right" she rolled her eyes,
"Nah, it will" I smiled, "I'll see you in twenty, ok?" I asked. When you had a detention at Ridgeway, the teachers let you go ten minutes before classes so you could eat your lunch,
"Ok" she smiled.

SPOV
I grabbed my lunch tray and headed over to mine and Freddie's table, only difference being, no Freddie. I sighed and sat down. I started to eat my lunch and I noticed someone sit opposite me. I looked up and saw Carly,
"Hey" she greeted in her perky voice,
"Hey..." I trailed off, confused. Why was she here? I figured she'd be hanging out with Collette and the girls. She took her bag off her shoulder and set it down on the bench next to her. She picked up her fork and smiled at me before beginning to eat,
"Um...Carls?" I asked,
"Mm hm?" she asked, smiling,
"Don't take this the wrong way but...what are you doing here?" I asked, "I mean you're gonna ruin your social status by sitting with the whore" She shook her head,
"You're not a whore" she said, "And you're my friend and I've decided to sit with you despite what anyone else thinks"
"Wow..." I trailed off, "Thanks Carls. But I don't want you to risk your social life just for me, I mean-"
"Samantha, listen" she said, "I'm going to stick by you, ok? Even if your old friends won't. Friends look out for each other"
"But...I mean after the way I've...treated you over the last few years, I mean, why would you-"
"Sam, I'm your friend" she stated, "Friends have loyalty" she said and carried on eating. I blinked,
"Thanks, Carls" I smiled. She smiled back, "So, what did I miss?" I asked,"How badly have Colette and the other girls been slagging me off?"
"Well..." she hesitated,
"Carls? Its fine"
"Well, they can't understand why you've left them for-"
"Freddie" I finished,
"Yeah" she agreed,
"They're just a bit..."
"Resentful?" I offered,
"Well, they think they are" she laughed. I looked past her and saw Colette and the others glaring through Carly's back,
"Uh, Carls?" I asked,
"I know" she sighed, "They've been glaring at me since I got up" she replied, "Leaving them just makes me see they have no...morals, Y'know?"
"Yeah, I know" I agreed. We spent the next fifteen minutes talking and laughing, like we'd never done before. Suddenly, I felt someone sit down beside me. I turned to see Freddie,
"Hey baby" he smiled kissing me on the cheek,
"Hey" I smiled back,
"Hey Carls" Freddie smiled,
"Hey, Freddie" Carly greeted,
"You girls having fun?" he asked,
"Yeah" I replied, smiling at Carly.
"Listen, if you wanna go shopping, then we're gonna have to leave now" Freddie put his arm around my waist,
"Oh, yeah ok" I smiled,
"It was great chatting Carls" I smiled,
"Actually, Carly?" Freddie asked,
"Yeah?" she asked,
"Maybe you'd want to come with us?" he asked,
"Really?" Carly smiled,
"Really?" I asked, smiling. I figured Freddie wouldn't like us hanging out again, seeing how they acted toward me,
"Yeah, sure" he smiled, "You have frees next, right?" he asked Carly,
"No, but the chance to go shopping with my girl?!" she squealed, "Hell yeah!" I laughed,
"C'mon, cars out front"

"What about this one?" I held up a dress in front of me,
"Hmm...Not for dinner with his mother" Carly replied,
"Well, of course not, but it's cute, right?" I asked,
"Yeah, you could wear it to like-"
"Girls?" Freddie interrupted, "Let's not get off track?" he asked,
"Oh, right" I said, putting the dress back,
"How about..." Carly said, hopping over another rack of clothes, "...this!" she exclaimed, picking up along purple top and a part of black laced tights,
"Oooh!" I cooed, walking toward her and taking them from her hands, "I like them...I'm gonna try them on!" I exclaimed, running over to the changing rooms,
"Hurry! I wanna see!" Carly exclaimed. I heard Freddie sigh from behind the curtain. I yanked the top on and slipped the tights on. I looked in the mirror and smoothed myself over before opening the curtains,
"So? What do you think?" I asked Carly.
"So cute!" she exclaimed, "Not inappropriate for dinner with his mother, but could be hot if you took the tights off" she replied. I smiled,
"Freddie? What do you think?" I asked, looking over at him for his verdict,
"Beautiful" he smiled, kissing me,
"Thanks" I whispered,
"Ok, then I guess we've decided"
"Finally!" Freddie exclaimed, skulking off to the cash register. Me and Carly laughed together before I headed into the changing room to change back into my clothes.

"So, that was fun, huh?" Freddie asked me as he let us in to his apartment,
"Yeah, it was" I agreed,
"Just like old times?" he asked, "Shopping with Carls" I laughed,
"Yeah, sorry we sort of left you out there..." I trailed off,
"I didn't mind, as long as you're enjoying yourself, babe" he kissed me on the cheek. I smiled,
"You're so great" I smiled, kissing him,
"I know" he mumbled out between kisses. I smiled against his lips,
"How long do we have till your mom gets home?" I asked,
"Mm, 2 hours" he replied, picking me up and heading to his room.