Hey all. Big things are happening in Sara land ATM so bear with the erratic updates. Sara still loves you, I promise, she's just got a million things happening.

Chapter 6, simple, easy. I don't own 'em, I just write 'em. I love your comments and favs as always.

I had just sat everyone down and put the plates on the table when there was a knock at the door. I went to open it. I really shouldn't have.

"Spencer, I thought that with all of this, you could use a little help so I brought you this fruit salad for break-Sam?" Ms. Benson finally snapped out of her rambling when she realized that I was definitely not Spencer.

"Sam why are you not at school?" She put down the fruit salad as she came in and closed the door, all the while staring daggers at me.

"'Cause I'd rather be here?"

"Nonsense. Carly has a very good reason to be out but you need to get your education, young lady." She spoke quietly enough that Spencer and Carly could not hear, but she spoke sternly. Even though they could not hear, Carly and Spencer were looking curiously at the scene.

"You don't know me very well do you, Ms. B?"

"I know you well enough, Samantha Puckett and we are going to drive you to school right now. Get your things."

"No way! I don't want to."

"You'll come with me or I will report you for truancy! What will your mother think of that?" She looked so smug. I just wanted to smack her one.

"Sam?" I heard Carly call. I could feel my face soften when I remembered that Benson and I were not the only ones here. I walked to Carly and ignored Ms. Benson.

"What's up, Cupcake?"

"Why don't you just go? You know she wont leave you alone until you do."

"But...you guys..." I saw her look away for a second, but long enough for me not to fully believe her when she said,

"We'll be alright for a few hours." She kept looking away. I knew that she was lying, but she was Carly, this is what she would tell me to do no matter what. Half the time that I go to school its only because she convinces me to go in. I didn't want to leave her and I was pretty sure that she didn't want me to go but I hugged her tight and kissed her discretely on the cheek before I went back to Ms. Benson and stared her in the face with a not-so-happy look.

"Fine. You win. Let's go." I ran up to Carly's room to get my bag and before I knew it, I was headed to third period with a late pass. I knew I was scowling. Gibby mentioned it and I almost hit him. I didn't though. I was good. I knew that Carly wouldn't want it any other way.

It couldn't stay that way for long though. Freddie was surprised when I sat next to him at lunch.

"Sup Fredwad?" I said, trying to sound normal.

"I thought you were staying with Carly and Spencer? What happened?" I turned to him and scowled.

"Your mom happened, Benson."

"Yah, haha, that's such a funny, not over used piece of sarcasm." He said using his own stupid sarcastic voice.

"No, you nublet. It really was your mother. She forced me to come deal with this place. Dragged me here in her stupid car and everything."

"Oh." He said quietly, knowing.

"Hey Sam, where were you this morning? I didn't see you in first period. What are you scowling at, Sam? Its kind of freaky." Wendy had come up behind me and begun commenting and I couldn't take it anymore. I spun up and out of my seat and grabbed her by the collar of her shirt.

"What the fuck do you want? What is your issue? Why wont you idiots just leave me alone for one day!" I screamed. I had lost control and I was grasping within myself to get it back because I knew this would not end well. Of course, it didn't. I was soon being grabbed by several teachers and wrestled onto a wall. Wendy looked a little stunned, but nothing tragic. Meanwhile, I was being dragged out of the cafeteria backwards by my hands behind my back. I didn't really resist. At least this was normal. They usually didn't pull me with my arms behind my back though. Before I knew it, I was hearing Principal Franklin's secretary tell him that he had an emergency meeting and I was thrown into his office. He looked at me as I slumped into the chair in front of his desk. He didn't look upset or even disappointed as he usually did when I was pulled in there.

"Sam, you don't want to be here, do you?" He asked me calmly and with more concern in his voice than he usually used for me.

"When do I ever want to?" I tried to sound distant and I looked out the window.

"Today is a little different though, isn't it? I understand that you have been staying with Miss Carly Shay and helping her and her brother with their current... situation. I would expect something like that to take a toll on a person, even someone as strong as you are."

"So I've been helping them out. What's the problem here?" I tried my hardest to sound angry. Principal Franklin is one of the few people who I usually feel comfortable with, but today I just didn't need his pity or disappointment.

"There is no problem, Sam. Well, I mean there is. You did assault your fellow student, but I suspect that the problem is deeper than that or at least fueled by something deeper. How are you, Sam? What's going on here?"

"Nothing. I just...don't want to be here right now." I couldn't continue to sound angry. I wasn't. I mumbled as I spoke and I thought I sounded really weak. It made me cringe. Principal Franklin leaned over his desk and onto his hands.

"Sam, here's the thing. You did assault Wendy, so I am going to suspend you. I do suspect that your motivation was not malicious however, so I am not going to put this on your record or call your home. You are not to come back to school for say... four school days?" I noticed a light, sympathetic smile on his face. He knew what was going on. He knew how crazy it was in my head lately and he understood. I took a deep breath and nodded.

"Gotta learn somehow." I shrugged, but I tried to sound appreciative.

"Alright, Miss Puckett. You are free to leave the school for the day. I will contact some student ambassadors to collect your assignments and Carly's. I'll see you in a few days." He held out his hand. I couldn't help but smile a little. Principal Franklin really did get it. He was a great guy.

"Thanks, Ted." I said as I took his hand in both of mine. He chuckled very lightly as he nodded.

As I left, no one bothered me. Almost everyone was in sixth period classes so I was able to get out without a scene or questions. I ran half the way back to Carly's and walked fast the other half. When I got to the door, I entered slowly and cautiously. Spencer was napping on the sofa so I walked carefully toward the stairs. He startled me a bit when he moved and sat up.

"Sam?"

"Hi." I said, putting on a little smile.

"I thought Ms. Benson made you go to school?"

"Four day suspension." He rubbed his eyes and leaned over the back of the sofa.

"What'd ya do?"

"Assaulted Wendy." His eyes went wide.

"Why?"

"'Cause they were all pissing me off. I didn't want to be there today."

"Oh. Well you should be careful with that."

"I know. I'll see you in a few, 'k Spence?" I started to climb the steps but he stopped me.

"Actually...can you come here for a sec first?" He turned around on the sofa so I went to sit next to him. He leaned his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands and he looked like he was thinking really hard.

"Sam, I'm really sorry about this morning."

"Oh. Its no big deal."

"It is too a big deal. I know I really scared you and I could have really scared Carly if you weren't there. I just...I feel all kinds of crazy lately and I don't know what I'm doing..."

"Spence, you should be a little out of it, this is a big thing. I was scared because I thought bad things happened to you, but you're okay and it actually seems like you're doing a whole lot better than you were this morning."

"You really helped, I want you to know that. Both me and Carly are going a kinda loony and you're making it seem not so crazy. So, I guess thank you. I mean it." I hugged him. He squeezed me in a hug back and it felt like the good old Spencer.

"Hey, I'm just doing my job." I said lightly. He giggled as he let me go.

"Okay, Carly's waiting for you to get back from school so she's in her room. I'm gonna order Chinese food later, tell her that."

"Got it."

I felt good as I was going upstairs. Spencer was so normal again. I hoped that it would last and didn't think about it not lasting. I took a deep breath before I went to open Carly's door. I peered around the door cautiously as I went in.