You get this chapter a day early because I'm staying at an RV park with NO service. I decided to update while I have service (at my grandparents) so… you're welcome.

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Memories

(plural noun)

Remembrances or thoughts of what has happened

EX: They had good memories of her, but those memories didn't yield the whole truth.

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Sunday (two weeks later)

…

I actually studied for finals that year. Most years, I didn't even try, relying on my existing grades to keep me from being held back. This year, though, I wasn't taking any chances. Being a super-senior was embarrassment enough, but going down in high school history as the pregnant super-senior would be the ultimate embarrassment. I wanted to be remembered as the tough chick that I used to be. Frozen in people's memory as the girl who did what she wanted and gave everyone hell just because she could. I wanted people to look back and see that girl, not this one. Not this pregnant bitch who'd lost everything.

I'd received my blue cap and gown on Friday. I hadn't opened the box yet, although I was supposed to try it on to make sure it fit. When I had ordered my graduation attire, I'd been several sizes smaller, and also not pregnant. And Freddie and I had been on speaking terms.

Freddie. It had been almost three weeks since the last time we spoke. We'd done iCarly with Brad in his absence, and Brad was smart enough not to ask questions. I suffered through detention, which was abnormally full, due to senior pranks and kids just going stir-crazy waiting for summer. Mostly, I hung out with Max. It was strained at first, seeing as I was lying to him about his early parenthood, but gradually I adjusted and we were able to become friends, which was really all I could handle anyways. Freddie always sat as far away from Max and I as he could, and he kept his nose glued in a book, but the rarity of him turning pages seemed to suggest that he wasn't really concentrated on reading. I'd realized that he might think we were planning some kind of future together. He didn't know that I had told Max that it wasn't his baby, so he may have just naturally assumed that he would be involved.

I rolled over on my bed and tried to concentrate on my flashcards for all the stupid vocabulary we had to memorize for our English final. Thinking about Freddie was NOT going to help me study.

I shook my head, pushing all worries away, and pulled out my history textbook.

I had some serious studying to do.

…

Wednesday

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Carly curled my hair and adjusted the slightly tight blue fabric of my graduation gown. It fit, but just barely. I was extremely grateful for the baggy nature of the gowns that allowed enough room for my 8-week pregnant belly. Plus, as long as you didn't look from the side, you couldn't really tell that I was pregnant. My reputation as Ridgeway's badass would survive and flourish. I had passed my finals, and school was over.

I almost didn't go to graduation. Carly, of course, would not stand for that. She and Spencer convinced me to go, and I suppose that was the right thing to do. I mean, I wanted to remember this day. Even though I was pregnant, I'm sure I'd want to look back at pictures of my graduation someday.

"Sam, you look so pretty!"

I let myself smile.

"You look pretty great, yourself! Brad will be excited to see you."

Carly smiled, and her eyes got a little cloudy.

"Oh no. Carly…"

"I can't believe we're graduating! I… I'm going to college! And you're having a baby and… oh, where did the time go?"

"Carly, don't cry! We're not leaving the planet, we're just leaving Ridgeway."

She sniffed a little, but the clouds in her brown eyes receded.

Spencer came in and glanced at us. He whistled.

"You gals look great!"

Then his face tomatoed slightly, "I mean, you know, in a brotherly sorta way."

I rolled my eyes.

"We know what you meant, Spencer. Now come on, we've got to get to Ridgeway or they'll start without us!"

Spencer's eyes clouded over and I groaned.

"Not you too!"

"I can't believe you guys are graduating! My… my little sis is leaving me! And my other little sis is… is…"

"Spencer, shut up and quit blubbering. Carly won't be gone forever and I'm not going anywhere. Let's GO!"

He quieted and we headed toward the Shay's car, though it was mostly used by Carly, since Spencer had his motorcycle.

Graduation, here we come.

…

"Max McGuffe!"

I smiled as I watched Max cross the small stage. He bore a grin a mile wide, and I was so thankful for his support the past few weeks. It would be lonely without him. He would be leaving as soon as graduation ended, because he wanted to have his car at Brown University and it was a long drive to Rhode Island.

He took his diploma and paused for a few camera flashes, then exited the stage.

His family waited for him with open arms, and my heart filled with emotion, knowing he had so much. I had made the right choice. Now and then I doubted myself, but every time I was near Max, my decision to hide the truth and let him go was reaffirmed.

I waited as the rest of the M names, N names, the few O names, and the first of the P names crossed the stage to their future.

I did my best to not think about Freddie, who'd crossed with a generic smile that was not as energetic as it should have been. I hated that this couldn't be perfect for him, because that's what he deserved, but there was nothing I could do now.

Finally, Principal Franklin called out, "Samantha Puckett!"

I took a deep breath, fidgeted with my gown, and walked up the stairs to the stage. I was careful to stay diagonal to most of the audience as a climbed up, and thanked God for the fact that I didn't get sick this late in the day any more. How awful would it be to throw up on the stage before I got my diploma?

Principal Franklin smiled at me in a way that made me wonder if he would miss the iCarly gang. Not that we had been really close, but Principal F. had been supportive of us and had nearly gotten fired for guest starring on our show once. I guess we had a weird bond, and I contemplated visiting him after my due date.

"Congratulations, Sam!" he said loud enough for the whole room to hear.

In a tiny whisper, he added, "Sorry I announced you as 'Samantha'. I didn't mean to."

I quirky grin caught at the corners of my mouth.

"It's okay", I muttered before flashing a grin for cameras.

There was an abnormally large amount of flashes for me, maybe even more than for the jocks and cheerleaders, the populars. I imagined it was due to the fact that most of the school's population, students and teachers, didn't think that I would ever get out of high school. Well, screw them and their expectations! They've got nothing on me.

I bet none of them expected me to get pregnant either.

The flashes stopped and I stepped off the stage and plodded down the stairs. The only person who really came for me was Spencer, who suffocated me in a big-brother hug.

"I'm so proud of you, Sam."

I sighed into his t-shirt. Was this what it felt like to have a family that loved you? I didn't think I'd ever get to experience that. I mean, Melanie graduated a year ago and my mom flew several hundred miles to get to her graduation. She wasn't even willing to drive three miles to come to mine.

I sat with Spencer and watched the rest of graduation. It was pretty boring in all honesty, but we whooped and hollered like mad when Carly came on stage. The lights glinted off her eyes, and I could tell that she was keeping tears in, both happy and sad.

She joined Spencer and I until the end of the ceremony. I excused myself so that I could say goodbye to Max.

He was handing his gown off to Principal Franklin, who was nodding and smiling, clearly proud of Max. I mean, who wouldn't be? I trotted over as he was heading to his car.

"Hey Max!"

He turned around and grinned.

"Sam! What's up?"

I caught up to him and he slowed his walk.

"You didn't think I'd let you leave without saying goodbye, did you?"

He flashed a smile.

"I guess not."

We reached his car and Max hugged me. I sank into it and wished him luck, even though there was a part of me that wanted him to stay.

"Take care of yourself", he murmured, with a glance at my belly. He'd felt the bump there, I knew, but it didn't really matter.

"You too", I replied.

With that, he got into his car and left. I waved until he left the parking lot. I watched until he disappeared from sight. I felt a sense of loneliness settle over me, and decided to head back to Carly and Spencer, and probably Gibby.

On my way there, a hand grabbed my upper arm.

I whirled around fast, preparing to punch the jerk in the face. Or lower, depending.

I struck before his face registered in my mind. He knew enough to block the punch.

Those damn brown eyes stared at me from behind dark shaggy hair. My breath caught in my throat.

Three weeks. He hadn't spoken to me for three weeks. He'd hardly even looked at me.

"Freddie?"

"We need to talk."

…

CLIFFHANGER! Man, we haven't had one of those in a while!

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UPDATE ON WEDNESDAY!