A/N Wow, over 120 reviews and almost 15 thousand hits. 64 people have the story on alert and 48 have favorited it. I'm beyond humbled. And stoked that this many people are reading and liking my story. Thank you all for taking my hobby and giving me constructive criticism on how to make it better and positive feedback to keep me motivated. Thank you doesn't begin to cover it….

I'd also like to thank the Academy….oh wait, wrong speech. :P

Thanks to my FUCKING AWESOME Beta, Aussiemma, who makes a cameo in this chapter. She's so awesome, guys, for reals, she makes me giggle like no tomorrow. Also, she's a GREAT writer, no matter what she tries to tell you, so go convince her that she needs to write something so we can all bask in her angsty Seddie glory. (Called you out Emma, didn't I?)

Also, a shout out to Axel100, who sends me the most fucktastic PMs. You're witty puns and sexy double entendres make my life complete.

Ok, ok, sorry for the wordy A/N…Let's get to it, shall we?

Chapter 21

SPOV

Random boys

I was done before the doorbell even rang. My eyes started to tear up when she opened the door. My stomach churned and threatened to spill its contents when she leaned in to kiss him. I couldn't watch; I needed to get out of there. I sprinted off the couch and pushed past the perfect couple as I kept my eyes focused on getting the hell out of there.

I heard Freddie calling after me, but paid no attention to it as I kept going, my legs carrying me further and further away.

I was still picturing my best friend looking absolutely gorgeous as she opened the door for my boyfriend, who would inevitably fall in love with her. Just like it was supposed to be. I couldn't be upset with her though, much as I wanted to blame this one on her. Carly knew nothing about my feelings for Freddie, and I know that if she did know, she wouldn't be on this date with him right now. But that would be selfish and Freddie deserved her. It didn't make it any easier to accept, though.

I hadn't even gotten a chance to deal with the fact that I'd admitted to loving the boy out loud for the first time ever. Poor Spencer, his head must be reeling right now. I chuckled when I thought of how Freddie must look to him right now. With the way Spencer is with women, I wondered if he would give him the "guy stamp of approval" or if he'd be pissed as hell, given that one of the girls is his baby sister. Heh.

I continued running until I couldn't run anymore and then I just walked. I didn't pay attention to anyone or anything and just followed where my feet wanted me to go. I thought about Carly and all the wonderful things she'd done for me in our friendship. I thought about Freddie and how good he'd been to me this last month, and really, in our whole friendship. I even thought about Spencer and all the things he'd done for me as well. I owed it to all of them to let this happen. To step aside and let fate run its course.

Before I knew it, my feet had taken me to Lou's. I smiled at my internal GPS. Cheeseburgers must be home base.

I walked in and Emma smiled at me and gave a big wave. She was the waitress that worked the late shift into early morning. I hated the shift. I'd worked it a couple of times and it was nothing but drunks and truck drivers, but Emma loved working it. She was from Australia, and no matter how hard she tried, she could not convince her body to get on American time, so her internal clock was about 10 hours off.

"It's heaps awesome!" She'd said. "On my 'days off' I wake up at 4 in the arvo and go all night without getting tired!"

Then I'd look at her like she had twelve heads and she's explain that arvo meant afternoon.

I had to admit, sleeping all day and partying (or working) all night did have its perks. She always knew about the best parties and met the coolest people. I mean, most rock stars don't have bacon and eggs with coffee at 6am with the rest of the business world.

I slumped down in a booth and shrugged off my hoodie.

"Evenin' Sam!" Emma exclaimed as she plopped down on the opposite end of the booth.

"Hey" I said flatly, not in the mood for friendly conversation.

"What's up your bum?" Emma asked intrusively. She wasn't one to mess around with small talk. I liked that about her. We never talked weather or random chit chat. Neither of us cared about that bullshit.

I shook my head. "Bad fucking day."

She nodded. "Been there. Last night was my night off, ya know? So I went to this rave downtown, and this bloke had the nerve to grope my ass three different times!" She exclaimed loudly.

I laughed. "Did you kick his ass?"

She smiled, "Better. I met up with his girlfriend in the bathroom… at least I thought she was his girlfriend, they were making out all night… anyway, I met up with her and told her to watch out because he had given me herpes. Girlfriend or not, the look on her face told me he wasn't sleeping with her that night." She laughed.

I smiled wider. I knew I liked this girl. "Thatta girl!"

She nodded. "So what's your bad day about?"

The smile fell from my face. "I guess you could say its boy troubles."

She nodded. "Freddie, aye?"

I looked up, surprised that she knew.

She shrugged, "The arvo girls were talking about it. I don't know why they're all so surprised; I seen it coming since… well, since I've known ya."

I stared at her open mouthed. "Oh... yeah… wait, you did?"

She chuckled. "Yeah, all the other girls swore it'd be him and Carly, but not me. I knew it'd be you. Lou knew too, ya know."

I huffed a little. "Well, the other girls were right."

Emma blanched, "What?"

I sighed again, "I guess-" My voice cracked and I cleared it and started again, "I guess Carly had some major realization when she was gone about how she never saw what was right in front of her, and that she had this epiphany that he was the man of her dreams."

Emma shook her head quickly, "So what? He's with you now. She missed her shot. You snooze you lose Carly!"

I shook my head. "No. They deserve each other. She's exactly what he wants. She's who he's always wanted."

She looked horrified. "So he dumped you? That miserable, good for nothing piece of sh-" She started yelling, other customers were starting to notice her volume.

"SHHH! NO! He didn't dump me!" I whispered loudly. "He just… he doesn't think it's a date, this dinner thing that they have tonight, and it totally is, and that's okay. I'm just… letting her have him. I'm stepping down." I said, defeated.

"You have got to be fuckin shittin me, Sam." She said disbelievingly. "You're 'stepping down'? What are you, the fuckin dethroned Miss America? You don't 'step down' as girlfriend to a guy, that's fucking ridiculous!"

I puffed out a breath, not knowing what to say and seeing her point a teeny, tiny, little bit.

"Sam! Are you listening to yourself? This isn't you! If someone came in here and tried to steal your shoes, would you let them?" She said, getting angrier by the moment.

"No." I mumbled.

"Then why the fuck are you letting someone come in and steal your boyfriend?" She accused.

"It's not 'SOMEONE', it's Carly! And "it" wasn't mine to begin with! He's always belonged to her, whether Carly knew it or not!" I said loudly.

"Bloody hell, Sam! Wouldya cut out the martyr bullshit! Yes, Carly has done a lot for you, and yes, she is a good person and deserves good things, but does that mean she deserves to take away the one good thing that's ever happened to you?" She questioned.

I pondered it for a while.

Emma sighed. "Listen, I gotta get back to work. Can I bring you something?" She asked.

"My eushe would be great." I said.

"Cheeseburger with extra pickles and chips with mayo. C'min up!"

I frowned and was about to correct her when she said, "Sorry. Fries. Really gotta get used to that." She punched me lightly on the arm.

No awkward hugging either. I think I might really like this girl.

I sat back and contemplated Emma's comments. Was she right? Did I really think it was okay to give Carly the one good thing that has happened to me since she became my best friend? Would she really back off if I told her I had feelings for him, or would she hold her ground and fight for him, like I was too weak to? Was I too late to fight for Freddie or was he already head over heels for Carly?

Emma brought my food and I lost myself in the greasy goodness for a moment. I was brought out of my revelry by a group of guys laughing loudly across the restaurant. I'd seen them in the diner before. I didn't know them very well; they usually came at the end of my dinner shift. They were older than me, maybe in their early 20's. There were four of them. A big, bulky redhead who looked like he was a body builder, a super thin guy with long blonde hair pulled into a pony tail, a guy with a buzz cut wearing a marine T-shirt, and a dark-haired guy wearing a Seahawks hat. As I looked over at the table, I noticed the guy with the hat glance over at me several times and then look back at his friends quickly and then turn red.

He reminded me of Freddie. He even had the cute scruff like Freddie gets when he doesn't shave for a day or two.

I caught him looking at me two more times before I called Emma back over.

"What's the deal with that crew over there? Do you know them?" I asked and nodded with my chin to the party in question.

"Oh yeah, they come in here all the time. Sometimes they come in before they go out drinking; sometimes they come in after they've had too much. I've actually been out with them a few times. The redhead there is kind of dodgy with the pickup lines, but they're all harmless." She said.

I nodded. "Who's the one with the hat?" I asked.

"Ummm… that's Steven. Nice bloke. Real shy, very sweet. In school to be a cop, I think." She said, taking my empty plate off the table and rushing off back toward the kitchen.

"Thanks." I said after her and she raised her free hand in a wave of 'no worries'. After the guy with the hat looked at me again, I decided what I was doing that night. Throwing some money down on the table, I got up and walked toward the boys.

I pulled a chair out from a nearby table and sat down at the end of the booth.

They all stared, waiting for me to say something. I just smiled.

The big redhead spoke first, "Did you need something?" He asked and then cocked his head to the side. "Cuz I think I got what you need."

The rest of the guys at the table groaned and rolled their eyes, and I burst into laughter.

"That's amazing! Does that actually work on live girls?" I asked.

The boy in the hat, Steven, let out a sarcastic "Ha! He wishes."

The redhead retorted, "Oh, cuz your ladies man skills are so epic."

Steven grumbled and blushed again, while the other two guys were still shaking their heads.

"Well, I was wondering what you guys were doing tonight." I looked at all of them, but looked at Steven last, letting my glance linger. He was even cuter up close. He had big green eyes, and a sweet smile, and the most adorable dimple on the left side.

All of the other guys looked at each other and shrugged. "We're just gonna go grab some beers and play pool. You should come with us!" Said marine T-shirt guy.

"Yeah, definitely, I can show you how to hold the stick." Said the cheesy pick up line redhead.

"Just ignore him, we all do." The blonde ponytail guy said.

I nodded, "Okay. I… I'm not really old enough to drink though… is that a problem?" I asked, seriously hoping that it wasn't.

Cheesy redhead chuckled. "Nah. We got you covered. Steve's not 21 yet either. I'm Andrew, by the way." and he stuck his hand out for me to shake it.

"Sam" I said, shaking his hand, and then the other guys introduced themselves. Matt, the blonde ponytail guy, Jeremy, the marine T-shirt guy, and Steven shook my hand last.

There was an awkward moment as we all sat there in silence, but only lasted a few seconds before the guys started talking about the food and where they'd had the best thing they'd ever eaten. I easily joined this conversation and even got a few suggestions for where to go for some kick ass BBQ.

Emma dropped off the check and pulled me aside.

"Do you really think this is a good idea?" She asked.

I shrugged. "What?"

She raised her eyebrows. "You know what. You're trying to rebound from a relationship that both parties aren't even aware is over?" She said disapprovingly.

I shrugged again. "I'm not rebounding from anything. I just want to get drunk and these boys are gonna help me do that. You said yourself that they're harmless." I said, pulling my hoodie back over my head.

She tsked.

"Fine, Sam. Get completely off yer face. Lord knows you deserve a drink, but don't make any rash decisions when it comes to boys tonight, okay?" She said.

I rolled my eyes. "I promise I won't head to Vegas." I said and walked off.

"I'm serious!" She shouted after me.

We pulled up to the bar and the guys opened the glove box and pulled out a black sharpie.

"Ok, you two stay here, I'll be right back." Andrew said.

Andrew, Matt and Jeremy got out and walked inside the bar.

I sat in the car, looking around and wondering what they were doing.

"So, why the sudden need to go drinking with random guys?" Steven asked me from the passenger seat.

I sighed. "It's a long story."

He shrugged, "I got time."

I was about to tell him when Andrew came back out of the club and sat in the backseat with me. He pulled out the sharpie and grabbed my hand. I yanked it back and he laughed.

"Feisty. I like that in a woman." He said, wiggling his eyebrows

I rolled my eyes.

"I'm gonna draw the stamp that I have on you and Steve-o's hands. Then you two are going to go around back and wait for a bunch of smokers to go back inside, you flash the bouncer your stamp and he'll think you just left for a cigarette." He said expertly. Something told me they did this often.

I nodded, kind of impressed by their ingenious.

After the artwork was complete on both mine and Steven's hand, Andrew went back in, and Steven and I walked around to the back of the bar where there was a large group of smokers.

"Oh good, we just have to wait till they're done and we can get in behind these guys." Steven said, pleased.

I nodded and we stood there awkwardly for a few moments.

"So… you were going to tell me that long story?" He asked.

I huffed. "My best friend thinks she's in love with my boyfriend, except she doesn't know he's my boyfriend because she's been out of town for the last month, and this boyfriend and I have always seemed to hate each other, so my best friend thinks we still hate each other, so she didn't think it was a big deal to go on a date, which is where they both are right now, except my boyfriend doesn't think it's a date and it totally is, and he's been in love with her since the 8th grade, so chances are he will fall head over heels for her, and that's why I need a drink." I finished and sighed again.

"Wow. That's a lot of information to get in 30 seconds." Steven said with a chuckle.

I scoffed. "That's a lot of information to get in a lifetime." I said.

He nodded. "You work at that diner, right?" He asked, shuffling his feet back and forth.

I nodded.

He continued. "Well, I think I've seen the people you're talking about. The guy has brownish hair, about this tall?" He said and gestured Freddie's height with his hand.

"Yep. That's Freddie." I said.

"And the brunette girl is-" He trailed off.

"The gorgeous one that I can't hold a candle to? That's Carly." I finished.

Steven shook his head. "I can already tell you vastly underestimate yourself." He smiled.

"No. I'm a realist. She's gorgeous, am I wrong?" I asked.

He scoffed a little. "My opinion on Carly is irrelevant to what I just said."

I raised my eyebrow. "See?" I said, using his avoidance as an answer.

"'See' nothing. Just because your friend is pretty doesn't mean you 'don't hold a candle' to her." He said, shrugging. "You don't give yourself enough credit."

I shrugged, "So what… are you saying you think *I'm* pretty?" I asked, kicking the ground a little. I realized I was fishing for compliments, but I couldn't seem to care.

He chuckled. "Yes. I think you're very pretty. Beautiful, even…" I looked up at him, biting my lip, wishing so much that it were Freddie saying these things to me, or wishing that I didn't care that it wasn't Freddie standing here with me in the misty Seattle weather.

He sighed deeply, "Okay, I think they're going in, let's go."

We followed the smokers into the bar without any drama and I breathed a sigh of relief once we were in.

"STEVE-O! SAM! OVER HERE!" Andrew yelled over the crowded bar.

Steven grabbed my hand as not to lose me through all the people to the other guys at the bar. He held my hand a little longer than necessary after we got to the other guys and I had to break it away.

"So, Blondie, what's your poison?" Andrew asked.

I raised my eyebrows and clicked my tongue. "I'll have 2 vodka shots and a strawberry daiquiri, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't call me Blondie, kay?" I asked with my teeth clenched.

"No problem, doll face." He said and walked over to get the bartender's attention.

I blew out my breath. "That guy's gonna get punched in the face by the end of the night."

The guys laughed.

"THAT- I'd like to see." Jeremy said, smirking.

The conversation was easy and light as I pounded shot after shot and then washing it down with the tasty daiquiris. I beat every single one of those guys at pool, and they turned around and whipped my ass at darts.

After my 4th… or was it 5th daiquiri, I don't know I'd lost count, I the guys were giving each other worried looks.

Steven pulled me aside. "Maybe you should slow down, Sam. You've had a lot to drink." He said gently. I wanted to be angry with him for telling me what to do. I wanted to tell him to fuck off and do another shot. But instead, I felt like this is what Freddie would be telling me if he were here. He'd be taking care of me the same way that Steven was.

UGH! I just wanted Freddie out of my head for one fucking night! Well, if this much alcohol wasn't going to do it, then I might as well stop now.

I nodded slowly. "You'reright. I'vad too much." I plopped down on a bar stool and rested my head in my hands. Steven sat beside me.

"I'm sorry you don't think that you're as pretty as Carly, Sam. I'll bet you anything that Freddie doesn't think that way." He said.

I felt so frustrated. Here I was sitting next to this gorgeous guy who was sensitive, sweet and telling me all the right things. And all I could do was feel sorry for myself that it wasn't Freddie.

No. Fuck that. I would get over the bastard. Here and now. I would force myself to like this cute boy.

I looked up at him and smiled. "Thanks."

He smiled back and I leaned in to kiss him.

He pulled back and I was left puckering up to air. Humiliated doesn't begin to cover how I felt.

I put my head on the bar and prayed that the earth would just open up and swallow me right then and there.

"Sam. It's not that I don't want to kiss you. There are just too many reasons-" He started.

I lifted my head. "Jus. Stop. Rightthere. I dontneed to hear your reasons." I slurred.

"Listen to me. First of all, you're drunk. Like, really, stupidly, ridiculously drunk. Second, you're in a relationship, whether you think you are or not. And thirdly-"

"How muchlonger is this fuckin list?" I complained.

He smiled. "Thirdly- even if the relationship IS over, you still love him. I don't kiss girls who are in love with other guys." He shrugged. "Been there, done that. Too much heartache."

I nodded. Even if I thought his first two reasons were dumb, I had to respect the last one. I should have set a similar rule myself.

I started losing pieces of the rest of the evening. I remember throwing in a few bucks on the bar tab and Steven shoving the extra 20's back in my back pocket telling me I had paid too much. (True sign of a good friend, right there.) But I don't remember leaving the bar or getting into the car at all.

I remember pulling up the apartment building and the guys all giving me their numbers in case I ever wanted to go out again. Andrew told me I was a "fun, sexy, bitch" and I'm pretty sure the guys had to hold me back from climbing over the backseat and punching him in the face. Steven was laughing pretty hard. He told me that I should call him if I ever wanted to talk about anything and I hugged him good-bye.

As I was approaching the building, I saw Freddie's car pull up and he got out quickly and rushed for the apartment. Was he finally coming to find me? How long was their fucking date?

I hid in the bushes to see if I could overhear some of their conversation.

I couldn't hear anything because the fucking apartment I was hiding under had some sort of enormous air conditioning unit right above my head.

I sat and watched and it looked like Carly told Freddie to wait. He turned around to face her and she leaned in to kiss him. I couldn't stand it anymore. He was MY boyfriend, and Carly needed to get her prissy, little, perfectly glossed lips off him.

I pushed through the bushes and intended on making a grand scene, but I tripped over the roots and instead just made a lot of noise.

"Who's out there?" I heard Freddie say, sounding kinda pissed.

"Sam?" Carly asked.

"Yeah, Carly, it's me. Sorry I interrupted the goodnight kiss." I said, my voice dripping in sarcasm.

"Sam, you're drunk." Carly said, annoyed.

"Ding Ding Ding! Carly's a geeeeniusss!" I said, pointing my finger in the air.

"Sam-" Freddie said, like he was trying to warn me about something. I didn't care right now. I was pissed.

"Oh, Freddie" I said, touching his smooth cheek. "You're not a nice boy." I said, hitting him hard, but not nearly as hard as I had wanted to.

"SAM!" Carly admonished, and then huffed. "Let's get you inside."

"FINE." I said, wanting this night to be over. But before I could move, I could feel the nausea catching up with me. This was not going to wait until the bathroom upstairs. "Hang on a sec."

I bent over and took aim.

"Sam, no!" Carly yelled a second too late.

Perfect aim. Right all over her shoes.

Ha! That's what you get for kissing my boyfriend. I internally mused.

"SAM!" Carly screamed.

Then I missed some time again, because the next thing I knew, I was laying down on Carly's couch, with Carly brushing a warm washcloth over my face. I must have said something, but the voice I heard correcting my assumption that it was Carly, shocked my eyes open.

"Oh! Why are you here?" I asked

"I… I could go if you want me to." He said.

I told him it was fine. It was more than fine. I was beyond happy that he was here. He told me to take the pills and I did, even though the instinct was still there to tell him to stop bossing me around.

I leaned my head against him, just wanting to go back to yesterday, when there was no Carly, there were no guys at the bar, and it was just me and Freddie.

When he asked me where I went, I immediately got defensive. What right did he have to ask where I'd been?

I shrugged, "Bar."

"What bar served you?" He asked, skeptically.

I shrugged again, this time being honest. "Dunno. The guy bought me the drinks."

"What guy?" He asked, sounding REALLY pissed. I tried to stay calm.

"The guys. You know, the guy with the hat." I tried to clarify. For the life of me, I couldn't remember any of their names right now.

Freddie got up and started walking around the room, looking even madder.

"No, Sam. I don't know which guy with the hat." He answered, seething.

I lost my cool. "Oh, so you're Mr. I Can Date Whoever I Want, But You Can't."

I looked like I'd slapped him with my words. "It was a date?" He asked softly.

I calmed down a little. Well, good. At least he doesn't like the taste of his own medicine.

"I dunno fit wassa date. I dint really like em." I said, being truthful. I don't think it was a date, and I couldn't get Freddie out of my head long enough to consider whether I could like him like that.

Then Freddie asked why I went to the bar. Was he really so ignorant?

"BECAUSE FREDDIE. You were on a date with Ms. Perfect Ass." I stated.

He sat down in front of me on the coffee table. "It wasn't a date, Sam. I told her that first thing. She cried and ran to the bathroom."

I looked up, surprised. "Really?"

He smiled that adorable crooked smile that I loved so much. "Really."

I smiled back. Good. He didn't want to date her. Good. Good. Good.

Wait. I had seen them kissing!

"Then why was she kissin you?" I said, poking him in the chest.

He put his hands up, "I know that looked bad, but I swear that was her kissing me, and she had the wrong idea. I was about to tell her so before you made your presence known."

Fairly sated with that explanation, I leaned back in the couch and closed my eyes.

My state of consciousness fluctuated for a while. I remember puking violently and the next thing I knew I was standing topless in the guest bedroom with Freddie looking at me in a very, very good way.

He licked his lips and I pushed up against him.

"You can have me… if you want me." I whispered in his ear, nearly begging him.

"I don't think that's such a great idea, Sam." He whispered back, his breath giving me goose bumps.

Fucking rejection. Twice tonight. No good. No good.

I flopped onto the bed and lifted my foot. "Fine. Shoes. Off." I huffed.

"Please?" I asked, after he gave me a look.

After he was done, I lifted my hips so he could help me get my pants off. He hesitated.

"I won't give any funny stuff. Jus help me." I said, still pissy that he wasn't caving in.

He pulled the jeans off my body and his fingers were like hot trails on my legs. It made me want him so fucking badly.

I pulled him down by his shirt to kiss me, hoping to crack his self control.

After a second of feeling his tongue in my mouth, he groaned. "Not here, Sam. Not tonight. Get some rest. I'll see you in the morning." He said, kissing my forehead.

"I love you." I said loudly, before slipping into unconsciousness.

A/N

Sooooo. That's what Sam was doing that night. Sorry this chapter took so long. Sickness and injury came to every single person in my family. (I'm currently on vicoden for pulling a neck muscle. Owww.) Hopefully everyone heals and I can get the next one out faster.

Leave me some love… in the form of a lengthy review.