Stress Free Weekend?

XXXXX

"So why does he not want to get smoothies with all of us?" Carly asks again. It's the end of the day and we are at our lockers.

"I don't know Carly. I think he just is more comfortable talking one on one." I say. I haven't told her about Aaron kind of asking me on a date. I mean she is so into him and I know he said he doesn't like her, but I think he just doesn't know her that well yet. I'm sure he will like Carly the more they hangout. Carly grows on you like that.

"I think he likes you." Carly says.

"What? No." I say back.

"Well he mostly talks and texts you and now he wants to go get smoothies, just the two of you. Come on Sam this is a total boy thing when they like a girl." She says.

"Look, I'm not into him. We have like zero to nothing in common and maybe he wants to go get smoothies with me so we can talk about you." I say.

"I never thought of that." She says, smiling.

"Yeahhhh, Carly." I say. She sticks her tongue out at me. I know sooo mature right? I stick my tongue out right back at her.

"That's cute." Freddie jokes walking up to us.

"Neeeeehhhhh" I say and stick my tongue out at him. He just smiles and rolls his eyes.

"Oh Sam, just text when you are on your way over after smoothies." Carly says.

"Yup." I respond.

"Oh yeah, you're really going out with him?" He says with disgust.

"We are going to get smoothies, that's it." I say.

"Whatever." He says. Not this again.

"Yeah, whatever. I'll see you guys later." I say. I go to meet Aaron at his locker.

XXXXX

"Well sounds like you guys had a good time." Carly says from the kitchen. I'm back from Groovy Smoothie and now chilling at Carly's.

"Yeah, it was. Aaron is really cool." I say. Okay, saying he is really cool is an understatement. He is practically perfect. I can't believe how much we have in common. He likes all the same bands and movies and he even watches MMA fighting. It's crazy. It was like he was reading my mind. He even knows my favorite song! Which I never thought anyone would know because it is a really unknown band. I swear he is like a different person than before… or it was me just being paranoid, all of the weird stuff I accused him of. He is so sweet, I definitely get why all the girls are so lovey for him. BUT we are just friends, that's it… I mean Carly…. Urrrghhh, this sucks…..

"So he is coming over?" Carly asks.

"Oh yeah. I invited him; he said he will be over soon. He just stopped home for a minute." I say.

"Okay. I'm going to go change." Carly says with a smile and goes upstairs. Oh Carly…. What am I going to do? Carly likes Aaron, but Aaron doesn't like Carly; Aaron kind of likes me, and me? I have no idea. I can't do this. Nothing good is going to come from this…. I have to tell Carly and I have to talk to Aaron. It has only been two weeks since everything…. It's too soon. I need to focus on healing and the court dates. I don't want to get into any of this right now.

"Someone looks like they got a lot on their mind." I look up from the couch and Spencer is walking out from the hall.

"Hey Spence." I say. He comes and joins me on the couch.

"How is it going kiddo?"

"It's good." I say.

"I know it is." He says. "So you and Carly doing anything tonight?"

"Aaron is coming over. He was the kid from last night." I say.

"Oh right. I remember him. Blondie, right?" He says with a smile.

"Yeah, Blondie" I say with a laugh, "And Freddie is coming too"

"Sounds fun." He says. "Seems like you guys are getting back into things"

"Yeah, we are. Slowly, but we are." I say.

"I don't think you guys are moving slowly. I'm really impressed with all of you." He says, "But just know that it is okay to take your time. Acting like you guys are okay is going to work for now, but you'll see that you are going to need something more than the cover you are hiding under."

"Spencer, I don't…. it's just hard..." I say.

"I know. Just remember Sam that you're not alone and everything you are feeling, Carly and Freddie are feeling too." He says.

"I know" I say. "When did you turn into the serious adult?" I joke.

"I have my moments" He says. "I'm proud of you Sam and I don't know how long it will take, but I can promise you, everything is going to be okay." He gives me a light squeeze on the shoulder. I smile. He gets up and grabs his keys and jacket. "I'm going to hang out at Socko's for a bit. Call me if you need anything. Carly already knows. Bye Sam." He says and walks out the door.

"Ummm… bye" I say to a closed door.

"Oh and don't forget to lock this door when your friends come over" Spencer says, quickly opening the door and shouting it to me. And once again, he shuts the door before I can respond. Something interesting must be happening at Socko's.

"Is he here? I heard the door." I hear Carly yell from upstairs.

"It was just Spencer leaving." I shout back. Come to think of it Aaron should be here by now. Where is that boy? Just as I'm thinking this, there is a knock on the door.

"That's Aaron. I'll get it!" Carly shouts from her room, but I'm already up and walking to the door.

"I got it!" I shout to her. I open the door and see Aaron standing there, not looking so friendly. Is something wrong?

"Hey Aaron" I say with a smile.

"Hi" He says, almost angry.

"Dude, is something_" I turn to ask him what's bugging him, but Carly comes downstairs and cuts me off.

"Hey Aaron" Carly says, smiling.

"Hey Carly." He says all happy. What the heck? "You look really nice" He tells her.

"Awwww, thanks" She says. Did I miss something? They walk into the kitchen, I follow behind. Carly and Aaron are talking about something for a few minutes, then she turns to get punch from the fridge.

"Is something wrong?" I whisper to Aaron.

"Just forget it Sam." He says.

"Dude, what's going on? Did I do something?" I say under my breath.

"Here we go." Carly says, setting glasses of punch in front of us. "Why don't we go up to the studio?" Carly suggests, "I left my phone in my room, so I'll meet you guys up there" She says and pretty much runs up the stairs. Aaron heads for the stairs, but I stop him.

"What's up with you?" I ask.

"I don't think we should be friends anymore." He says.

"What?" Now I'm really confused.

"Let's just not even talk to each other if we don't have to. Freddie made it very clear that apparently I have to 'stop messing with you', so I guess that's what I'll do" He says.

"Freddie?" I ask.

"Yeah. I'm sorry Sam, but I can't be your friend according to him and I'm not getting into this drama. I thought you were different Sam." He says and walks up the stairs. Okay, I'm not hearing things, am I? He really did just say Freddie. What is going on? Freddie has a lot of explaining to do. I go out Carly's apartment and pound on his door. He opens it and is going to say something, but I beat him to it.

"What did you say to him?" I say. Okay, I kind of yell it.

"Sam…" He says, softly.

"Don't you 'Sam' me!" I shout, "What did you say to Aaron?"

"I asked him to stay away from you." He says, not even raising his voice.

"What? Are you kidding? How…. Why would you do that?" I yell.

"I don't like the guy" He says.

"So you ban him from talking to me?"

"I just asked him to stop harassing you."

"Harassing me? He wasn't harassing me! I like him!" I shout.

"You spent like an hour with him today!" He finally yells back. "I saw how freaked you looked yesterday when you came out of the elevator. I don't know what happened, but no one should do that to you."

"Everything was fine! I worked it out." I shout.

"Everything was not fine Sam! You looked like you were going to be sick and Aaron has been acting strange around you since you met him."

"Maybe that's because he liked me Freddie! Is that so hard to believe? That someone might actually want to date me?" I shout.

"I don't trust him. I was just looking out for you." He says, no longer shouting.

"It's not your job to look out for me! I can take of myself!" I shout.

"Sam, I was just_"

"No! I don't want some excuse! Stay out of my life Benson!" I shout. I stare at him and take a deep breath to calm down. "I can't believe you would do this." I say softly.

"Sam, I don't want to fight with you. I know you are upset about Aaron and I'm sorry. I'll try talking to him, if you want_"

"No you have done enough thanks" I say and turn back to Carly's door.

"I was just trying to help you, Sam. I care about you." He says taking a step towards me.

"Just don't Freddie. Don't" I say and go into Carly's apartment, leaving Freddie in the hall. Why is everything so messed up? I take deep breaths to try to calm down. This is definitely not a stress free weekend.