Freddie-

My mother somehow talked the ER into admitting me for the night. Admitting me! I had hairline fractures in two ribs, a cut along the inside of my left cheek, a black eye, and a pair of bruised kidneys from the tackle. It could be a lot worse. The ribs weren't even out of place, they would have healed easily, quickly, but I'm wrapped up tighter than a corset with this bandage to keep everything in place around my chest. It's a bit uncomfortable, but I could be in a body cast. The mere fact that I'm not is all thanks to Sam and her quick actions.

I miss her, though. I miss the way she was with me just then before my mother had to go and screw everything up again with her big mouth. Shaking my head I feel my eyes wanting to close, the world around me going bleary with exhaustion. I'm so damn tired, especially after everything that's happened.

I can feel myself drifting to sleep, the warmth of the darkness wrapping around me as my breath grows more and more shallow. Until I feel a weight shift next to me on the bed, making it creak and groan. A slender yet strongly toned arm wraps around my waist and pulls me against its owner. The light slightly bubblegum, cotton candy smell that's mixed with the smokiness of bacon belongs only to one person. One beautiful, unique, bad-ass tomboy. It belongs to Sam.

My eyes open slowly but I feel her press her lips to my ear, "Shhh, just go back to sleep, Freddie. I'm here."

This felt right. It felt good. It feels perfect. Falling into her touch, I curl up as much as I can and let her spoon me. The warmth and softness of her body comforting, but the rhythm and sound of her breath are what lulls me to sleep again. The soft rise and fall of her chest syncs with mine, and before I know it, she's asleep next to me. I don't sleep too well, fitful because my ribs ache, and my mouth throbs with pain.

But I feel safe and oddly complete with her laying there next to me. Holding me. I always was the girl in our relationship. The one nitpicking things, and complaining, correcting, whining. Always been the kind of person I was until I learned the damage it could do. It was toxic and once I almost lost Sam to all those arguments I knew I had to quit. But that night on the elevator was... I both wanted that to happen and didn't want it to happen. Because there was so much opposition and so much work to go into making us work. That I was scared and lazy to go on with, and I knew Sam felt the same way at the time. I could see how tired it made us, and how we had started to separate from one another just to get a reprieve from it. Neither of us liked to talk, I know Sam's still not fond of it.

But I'm willing to put in the work now. I have to be if I want to keep her a part of my life, because it's far too easy to just drift apart, and I can't let that happen with any of us. Everyone here means too much to me to just let them disappear and become memories I look back on with regret because I let them disappear from my life after graduation. Which is so much closer than I'd like it to be.

I finally stirred awake when I heard them talking. Spencer was there, probably to check in on me because my mother was too busy. I could hear them trying to stay quiet, but laughing all the same. "When did I become the girl boys fight over, Spencer? I mean, like seriously, not that I don't enjoy it because Mama loves it! Don't get me wrong, but... I've never been that girl, Spencer, and you know that."

"Yah, you are. You always have been, Sam! You've had them fight over you before," He speaks softly, and I can tell his hands are probably in the air in exasperation. A typical Spencer thing to do, "Didn't we go over this the other night! You've always been the girl guys have wanted to date, you just... you put up a heck of a show of warding people off!"

"I mean... yeah, I've had hoodlums fight over me, that's no big deal!" Sam laughs, her back pressed against mine. Her hips giving a little energetic wiggle as she laughs, "But boys like Fredward here, and Billy... these are good guys and I'm like that tom-boy girl from the other side of the tracks! I'm not a cheerleader or anything."

I can hear Carly scoff at Sam's remarks. "I don't even know what you two are talking about, but I know that's a load of bull! Quit putting yourself down!"

There's a soft smack from Carly's hand to Sam's shoulder as I feel Carly's weight join Sam's on my bed. Finally jostling me a bit that I hiss as my ribs creak in my chest. Groaning I turn over, my right hand going to gently tap Carly on the back, "You mind being more careful, Carls?"

Everyone kind of freezes, quiet falling over them as they wonder how long I've been listening, or if her jumping onto the bed woke me up. Smiling while I do my best to sit up, I shake my head, "Don't worry, I barely heard anything because Carly tried to sit on me!"

"I did not!" Carly gasps, slapping at my legs as Sam falls back next to me with a cackle. Wrapping my right arm around her, I pull her against my chest. An effortless smile finds its way onto my lips as I bury my face in her hair. "Wait... Are you two a thing, again?! And you've not mentioned it yet!"

Carly tries slapping at Sam but she catches her hands with a laugh, "We've not even talked, I just snuck in here a few hours ago to make sure, Nubby here, was okay. So, chill out, yeah?"

Resting my chin at the top of Sam's head, I nod softly, my eyes locking with Carly's as she sighs, "Good, at least I'm not being left out of anything again! And I better not be if... ya know... that happens again! Because I swear I will throw a fit!"

"You mean like you are now?" Spencer asks and quickly dodges one of Carly's shoes as it smacks the wall next to his head, "HEY! Not cool!"

I want to ask if we are going to talk about it, but I don't. Not yet. It isn't the time nor the place to begin this discussion for either of us. Not after what just happened, not so close to the relationship, she was thrust into with Billy. I know better than that, at least. I'm not about to push her into anything, yet. I'm not even sure I'm ready for that talk yet, either. But it'll come, I just have to wait, and there's one thing I know to do very well- and it's waiting for Sam.