chapter thirty-four

Carly and I are strolling down at the mall, looking at stores as we pass by while I'm still feeling awkward hanging out with her. Why would she want to hang out with me? Does she know my, and feelings about her? Is she suspecting something from me?

I don't know what she knows but right now she's just smiling as ever while carrying three shopping bags of Christmas presents she told me she bought. As for me, I'm carrying two shopping bags of my parents' gifts as I couldn't buy one for Melanie since I ran into my ex-boyfriend at the store.

My day is getting better and better...

"So, Sam. Are you excited about Christmas coming up?" Carly asked with a perky voice while watching where she's going straight ahead.

"Uh... yeah I guess," I answered quietly.

"I'm excited about Christmas. My brother and I would usually spend it together because my dad is stationed overseas, but it doesn't bother me that much since we get to call him and wish him the holiday." She said smiling.

Huh, so she has a brother and her father is stationed overseas.

"So, you guys don't spend it with your mom?" I asked as we turned a corner towards the food court. She got quiet while walking near Burger 'n Out and I felt the air being thick as the silence got more awkward.

"She passed away when I was three..." she muttered.

I turn my head to her with my eyebrows raised by her reply. "Oh... I-I'm so sorry to hear that." I said wistfully not knowing what else to say at the tragic news.

"It's okay," she shrugged. "My dad talked about her all the time when we were little and it feels like she's here with me, you know? He said I'm just like her; I have her black hair, brown eyes, and cheerful personality." She giggled.

No doubt about that.

"Yeah... so it doesn't bother me that much. I wish sometimes I could see her in person and experience life with her." She whispered looking dazed walking by a table.

My mind travels to Freddie and how he doesn't have a second parent in his life. The difference is Freddie's dad left him when he was a kid and Carly's mom passed away when she was only three years old. They both have that in common about not having a second parent in their life, and hearing about Carly's story has got me thinking differently about her.

"Do you want to sit?"

I go back to earth as I find her standing beside an empty table with two chairs at the food court. I didn't realize we stopped walking. After a minute of thinking about it, my feet need to relax from all the walking.

"Yeah, sure," I replied.

Carly and I sit in the empty chairs across from each other and set our bags down on the polished white tile floor by our feet so we could relax our fingers.

Once we sat on the black plastic chairs, I rest my hands on the table while she strengthens her body structure in her seat. We're sitting together in silence as everyone else in the food court is eating the food they bought while talking in unison making the chorus ringing in the room.

After a few minutes, Carly leans forward while leaning her elbows on the table staring at me with a small grin on her face. "So, how long have you and Freddie been friends?"

I stare at her feeling a small lump forming in my throat as I remember Freddie and our fight last night because of her. I don't know what had gotten into me when I started the conversation. My mind was boiling with displeasure thinking about how they were working together, and it made me crazy.

I still don't know anything about this girl and I hated her at that moment when she was taking Gibby's place at work. She seems like a sweet girl, but I'm not certain if she's pretending to be that way.

"We've been friends since we were babies. Our moms were friends in college so... here we are." I answered grinning at the memory of our first meeting. We were nothing but pathetic little babies who didn't know what was going on and now here we are being adults with no life whatsoever.

"Aww, that's so cute! So that means you guys went through everything together?" She asked cupping her hand on her cheek while her elbow is leaning on the table supporting her head.

"Yeah, pretty much." I nodded thinking about asking her a question of my own. "I have a question for you."

"Oh, what is it?" She smiled.

"How long have you've known Freddie?" I asked curiously.

"Well, his friend, Gibby? He and I have psychology together so one day he got sick and asked me if I could fill in for him until he gets better. I accepted it because I didn't want Freddie to be alone." She smiled as she lets her arm fall on the table.

"Really..." I muttered.

"Uh huh! And it's so nice hanging out with Freddie too because he's really smart. I don't know any person who's obsessed with computers like Freddie does." My throat feels tight as I feel my hands turn into fists on the white table, giving her an evil eye. I don't think she noticed my wrathful structure as she's still smiling at me with her big grin. "And when I met him after class that day, he talked about when I should be there for work, told me how you're a great friend to him. Plus, he was so patient with me when he helped me on my first shift because I was so nervous."

Once I heard her say about how Freddie talked about me, my fists started to loosen, and my face fades to a frown thinking if Freddie even wants to talk to me anymore. He told him how good of a friend I am and I probably blew that relationship for being a bitch to him.

What person pushes someone away after finding out news you never knew about?

Sam Puckett that's who.

I knew this feeling thing was going to go downhill, but I didn't know it was going to go down that badly. I just wish I can find out what these feelings are so I can tell Freddie and hopefully, he would understand why I was rude to him before.

"Sam?"

I tilt my head up finding brown eyes in front me with concern and her eyebrows scrunched together. "Did I say something wrong?" She asks concerned.

"Uh..." I shook my head. "No, sorry... I must've zoned out." I murmured.

"Sam... is there something wrong you want to talk about?" Carly asked as her voice got soft. Her tone of voice sounded so motherly like she wanted to help me out with something. I'm still puzzled if she's playing with me, but by the look on her face, I have to admit that she's not playing around. She looks concerned as if a mother is worried about her child or a friend worried about their best friend that won't open up.

She's seemingly capable of helping me out with this problem even though I'm still unsure if I should still talk to her.

"Just... having some personal problems, that's all. Nothing I can't handle." I replied as I shrug my shoulders.

"Oh, well if you want to talk about anything you can come to me. People say I'm great at giving advice since I am a psychology major." She laughed.

Huh, I guess she is.

She acts like the type of person I can come to if I have problems because of her major. But I don't think it's the right time to do so. "Sure. I'll come to you if I have a problem." I grin gratefully for once talking to her.

"Great! Give me your phone for me to add my number to text sometime."

I raise my brows as I steadily shove my hand in my pant pocket, taking out my pear phone. Her hand is out as I put the phone on her hand and she takes it carefully. Her fingers fly over the keys as she types her number in my phone, then she aims the phone two inches away from her face as I hear the camera shutter from the device.

She extends her hand back to me with the phone in her hand and I take it back looking at the screen. She added Carly Shay on the name bar including her phone number and a selfie picture of her on the profile picture selection.

So her name is Carly Shay.

"So again, if you want to hang out again or something you can just text me." She smiles.

All of a sudden, I felt the ends of my lips lift to a big smile. That means I'm pleased about something, for real this time. I guess my brain is telling me Carly is trying to befriend me and my gut actually wants Carly to come into my life and be a friend to me. I never had a girl-friend before because I was always with Freddie. So having a friend that is a girl probably wouldn't be so bad.

Don't worry, things will become ugly later xD