2.

Monday morning before classes Carly was at her locker, feeling like crap. She'd only gotten a couple of hours of sleep, after working late into the night on her history paper. That elusive A still haunted her. She was determined to catch it this semester.

"Ugh. I'm so tired," she grumbled, laying her head on top of the book pile inside the locker. "Freddie, wake me up when the bell rings."

"Sure thing," the boy said from beside her, tooling around on his phone.

"I don't get it. I drank coffee like crazy this morning. I'm talking five, six cups!" Her voice echoed ominously from inside the metal box. "Why won't it help, Freddie?!"

"I wouldn't know. My mom won't let me touch caffeine. She says it's a gateway drug."

"Yeah, a gateway to an ENORMOUS DISAPPOINTMENT!" Carlie shouted, banging her forehead down on the books once, before retreating out of the locker and shutting the door. "Next time I'm going with speed. Stupid, jinky coffee..." she whined, letting her voice trail off.

Freddie put away the phone and turned to face her, "So, hey, can I come over tonight? We could work on the show."

"I don't know... No. I still have to finish that paper," Carly kept complaining, "I'm so miserable right now."

"Oh, cheer up. At least..."

"Carly, Fredward. Morning. " Sam snuck up to them, sounding unusually chipper for a non-morning person.

"I'm so miserable right now," Freddie said, letting his gaze fall to his feet.

"Well, that was easy," Sam smiled, directing her attention to Carly, "What's the matter with you?"

Carly found herself perking up a little at the sight of the blonde. At least Sunday had cleared off all residual awkwardness she might've harboured from the kiss. Sam's proximity didn't make her uncomfortable at all, and while she wasn't exactly craving for a hug from the girl, she wouldn't have put up a fight had one been offered either. It wasn't, though. Sam just kept staring at her.

"Tired." Carly shrugged, returning the smile. "How were your visitations? Or do I even want to hear about it?" she added, remembering the girl's sickening parting words from Saturday.

"Surprisingly good, considering what I had to work with," Sam said, tilting her head to the side. There was a dreamy, distant look in her eyes as she went on, "Oh, I wanted to tell you about this one fine piece of..."

"I don't think I want to hear this..." Carly tried to stop her friend.

"Lamb chop... I had?" Sam got a little confused by the interruption.

"What...? Oh, meat. Great, go ahead, tell me about it." Carly stumbled a little on her response, relieved to have Sam talking about food.

"Well, it was delicious. Firm but tender, and so, so juicy... When I put it to my mouth, it was like the whole world melted away and it was just the two of us."

Carly frowned first at the odd imagery, but okay! Sam'd always been weird about her food. She fixed a pleasant smile on her face and placed her hand on the blonde's shoulder. "Aww. I missed my hungry little friend."

Sam smiled back, but only briefly. "You do know that when I say 'lamb chop', I really mean 'Grandma', right?" she said, furrowing her brow.

The smile froze on Carly's face, and she tightened her grip on Sam's shoulder. "You complete and utter bastard," she deadpanned.

"Ow." Sam winced, trying to wriggle away from the hold Carly had on her, "Carls, you're hurting me. Please let go."

"Not until you promise never, ever, ever, EVER to mention your grandma to me again."

"Fi-"

"Never!"

"-ne." Sam let out a short chuckle despite the pained expression on her face. When Carly let go, Sam lifted her own hand to the shoulder and started rubbing it. "Wow, you're stronger than you look, girl."

"I'm sorry," Carly replied, leaning forward and blowing twice in the general vicinity of Sam's arm. "But you had to be taught," she went on, shaking her head. "If this grandma business continues, I won't be able to be your friend anymore."

"It's okay. I was beginning to gross myself out, too."

Carly exchanged looks with Sam, and let out a short giggle. Even at her worst, there was no one she'd rather spend time with than Sam. No one else had the ability to make the most horrifying, stupid, boring, insane events so enjoyable.

"I didn't even think that was possible," Freddie put in from the side.

Sam sneered, glancing at the boy. "Just because you can't do something, doesn't make it impossible. Case in point: kissing Carly."

Carly cleared her throat and let her gaze roam around the hallway awkwardly, while Freddie began stammering out half-eaten words. Wasn't it about time for classes to start? Sure felt like it to her.

Finally the boy took a deep breath and started anew, "You said it wasn't even a kiss!"

"We should be going," Carly said, turning to head for the staircase.

Sam set out to walk beside Carly, "You can't hold me accountable for my words, Dweeb. Half the crap I say contradicts the other half, anyway."

"But that's exactly why you should be held accountable!" Freddie started ranting, infuriated by the blonde's illogic.

"Whatever," Sam shrugged, ignoring the guy. "Oh, hey, can I come over tonight, Carly? I've kinda had all I can take of my mom for a while."

"Sure," she nodded.

"What?! Why can she come over but I can't?" Freddie asked, still clearly frustrated.

Carly gave him an apologetic look. "Well, I need Sam to keep me awake, if I want to finish that history paper. She's good at that."

"I could help you stay awake," Freddie said, sounding so pitifully hopeful.

"Tsk. You?" Sam laughed while Carly was still thinking of her response. "You couldn't keep awake a speed-freak, hooked up on an electroshock machine."

"Oh my god, I was just talking about speed a minute ago!" Carly shouted excitedly, stopping at the bottom of the stairs and turning to Sam.

"You were?" the blonde grinned back.

"Totally!"

"Awesome work, brain twin!" Sam lifted her closed fist between them.

Carly began laughing as she bumped her knuckles against Sam's, and then turned to ascend the stairs just as the bell rang.