Sam:

"What did you think about the kiss?" I asked, terrified about the answer. I don't even know why I asked. I know the answer. But when he smiled like he did when I complimented his limited quanity of shirt, it kinda gave me hope. I don't know, maybe i'm crazy. Heck, i'm crushing on Freddie, I AM crazy.

His smile faded and he played with his hands for a little, thinking about how he was going to deliver his answer in the least painful way.

"Don't anwer that." I get up, "I'll just leave."

He get's up immediately and blocks my way, "Wait."

"I know your answer, Freddie, you don't have to tell me." I try to get around him but he comes with me, once again, blocking my way.

"It's complicated Sam. Please hear me out?"

I didn't want to. All he was going to do was explain himself then let me down easy. I wasn't going to take that. I punched him as hard as I could in the stomach and watched as he doubled over in pain.

"Agh!" he cries as I step around him and go to the door. "Sam!"

I icnore him and leave the room. I wouldn't be able to take the humiliation of proclaiming my love for him then him turning me down, or worse, letting me down easy. I go down stairs to the living room and sit on the couch, trying to make sense of all this. Being all riled up like this won't allow me to go back to sleep any time soon. I realise i'm hungry, and go to the refrigerater to look for something to eat. I settle on some pie and bring the whole thing back to the couch with me.

I soon hear stomping on the stairs and Freddie is here, pissed, once again. He rounds the couch and picks me up by my arm, dragging me out to the hallway.

"Samantha Puckett!" he yells.

"Be quie-"

He intrupts me and continues to yell, "Don't talk! I thought we we're getting somewhere up there, but as soon as you didn't hear what you wanted you threw a tantrum! And I thought you we're actually changing and getting feelings, but I was wrong! You're still a little brat that only thinks of herself and," he pauses, "and fried chicken! And i've had it up to here with it! You'll never change! You're just a miserable little girl who keeps her emotions bottled up." he makes a tisk and ends with, "You'll always be a Puckett."

For the first time in a long time I agree with him. I look down ashamed. I am a brat. I do throw a tantrum when something doesn't go my way. I kick, and punch, and scream. I don't think about anyone but myself. I always will be a Puckett...

And for the first time in a long time, I feel a tear roll down my cheek. Then another, and another.

I see Freddie's head move to a lower angle to see what i'm doing, "Uh- Sam..." his tone has totally turned from pissed Freddie, to simpathetic Freddie. "I didn't me-"

"Just," I stutter, "just don't talk."

I walk back into Carly's apartment, close the door and lean on it, unable to stop my tears. It takes Carly walking up and hugging me to realise Freddie woke up both her and Spencer. I push her away and sit down on the couch. She sits next to me and rubs my back in circles.

"This is all my fault..." she says. "I never should have texted you from Gibby's phone. I'm so sorry. I thought that-" she tries to go on but I cut her off.

"It's not your fault, it's mine. He's right. I am a brat who only thinks about herself. I was crazy for thinking he would ever go for me..." I stare at my hands in my lap and feel tears fall to them.

I can see Carly look up at Spencer and I hear him take a few steps to the door, "I think i'm gonna go talk to him." he doesn't wait for an answer and just leaves into the hall.

I lean up against Carly and she wraps her arms around me, "What got into him to say all that stuff about you?" she asks, mostly to herself.

I answer anyway, "My fist... I don't want to talk about it."

She just continues to rub my back as the wimp that I am, sobb into her shoulder.

Freddie:

Oh God, she started crying. I've only seen her cry once before, when we we're little. When her grandpa died. She needs to be really hurting to cry. Now i'm sitting here, against my door, where only earlier tonight, Sam and I had sat.

Spencer walks out of his door then. I immediately feel shame and drop my head.

"Keep it down dude! I'm tryin to sleep in there!." he says jokingly and sits down with me. I don't respond. "What's goin on, dude?" he tries again, "That wasn't you."

I shake my head, still not able to look at him. Spencer is different. He's like, the guy I look up to, since my dad isn't exactly around. He's never judged me, he's always trusted me. I feel like i've disapointed him.

"It's just-" I stop, and try to think of what to say, "she just-" There was a pause.

"Makes you speechless?"

I swallow hard.

"Girls are complicated, especially at your guy's age. I know how it is." he get's closer to my ear and whispers, "But it's not the best idea to blow up and call them little brats with no emotions," I look up at him and he leans back. "because obviously she does." he kinda leaned toward his apartment, signaling he was talking about Sam.

I look forward, "I know. It wasn't cool." I shake my head, "But, it's like, the second I tried to tell her how I felt, I had the littlest hint of doubt in my voice and all of a sudden she didn't want to hear it."

"Dude, she's scared." he said so fast I looked back up at him confused. "If you haven't noticed, she hasen't been in many relationships, look at her life. Her dad left, pretty much anyone she's gone out with went after Carly, she's learned not to trust guys." he saw I was suprised at what he had to say and smiled a little, "Yeah, I know things!"

I laughed a little and he continued, "And thnk about it; you're her constant. You've stuck by her the longest, no matter how much pain she inflicts on you"

I thought about this. He was right.

"And I bet it really hurt her when you said all those things about her." his tone got serious.

I put my head in my hands, trying to take this all in, "I screwed up."

"And I'm gonna let you fix it buddy." he says as he get's up. I follow, "I trust you'll do the right thing.

"Thanks man." we slap hands then touch knuckles.

He smiles and messses with my hair, "Now get to bed!" he turns around and turns the knob for his apartment while mumbling, "Crazy teenagers and their crazy romance drama..."

I smile and laugh quietly and go inside my own apartment, already drumming up my own plan to fix everything.