"Sam."
"Freddie."
I stared at her, my eyes drinking in her face. Surely, she was a mirage, likely to disappear as soon as I averted my gaze. There was simply no way that Samantha Puckett could be here of all places. Not after seven years. Not after everything that had happened. I had finally accepted that she had wandered out of my life, unlikely to ever return. Yet here she was in front of me.
She looked different, though still eminently recognizable. Her hair was shorter, a little more tame. Her clothing was more mature and more grown-up, with less personality than I remembered. Of course, she seemed a bit older, but I could still see the girl I'd known reflected in her blue eyes, which were identical to those in my memory.
"Sam," I repeated, still dumbstruck.
"Yes, you've said that already," she said. She glanced away from me and towards the ground, her brow furrowed in confusion. She wasn't expecting to see me any more than I was expecting to see her. "I didn't think I'd see you... here. I mean... it's been so long."
"That's what I was thinking," I replied, finally gaining control of my tongue. I was at last able to communicate with a word other than her name. "You're a teacher?"
"Yes. Music," she said. I smiled as my ears absorbed the sound of her voice. I'd gone without for so long. "I know, I'm surprised too." Her eyes flitted down the hallway. "Well, it's lunch time. As I would say before, mama's hungry. I'll see you later." Then she started her path down the hallway, her heels clicking on the floor. She was so different. She was wearing high-heels for god's sake! I wanted to call after her, but I didn't. I would have time later, after all. We were working together now it seemed.
After composing myself, I walked down the hall as well to acquire my own lunch. I still felt in a daze as I pulled open the cafeteria door and collected my food. I was so distracted that I put a slice of pizza, a ham sandwich, iced tea, barbeque sauce, and French dressing on my tray. The lunch lady gave me a rather odd look, but I still didn't understand what was so strange about my food choices until I returned to the faculty room.
"Interesting meal," Sam noted as I set my tray down on one of the tables. She was sitting a table away with her pizza and flavored water bottle.
"Yes..." I said, wrinkling my brow. Where was I supposed to put this dressing? I spread some on my sandwich, to look like I had planned on picking it up. A few bites later, I realized that the combination wasn't so bad at all.
"Hello, Freddie," said Mr. Thatcher, a minute later as he entered the room with his tray. He placed it down beside me and turned to Sam. "Hello, Sam." He took a bite of his turkey sub before saying, "What are the odds? Two of my favorite students joining this school as teachers the very same year?"
"Long odds," said Ms. Briggs suddenly from another nearby table. Her salad looked barely touched. "But not as long as the odds for them both surviving a year at this school."
"Why do you say that?" Mr. Thatcher asked.
"Well, look at them. So inexperienced, so young. If our school has to make some cuts, they'll be the first to go," she replied, an evil grin on her face.
"That's an valid point," Sam said, her old fire creeping in again. "but I'd think that someone as old and decrepit as you would be pretty likely to go as well. I mean, you and Mr. Howard are as old as Freddie and I are young."
Ms. Briggs gave her a poisonous look. "You know, Puckett, there are certain rules about teacher behavior. I have a feeling what you just said to me is frowned upon, as well as what you are doing with Benson after hours. I wouldn't want anyone higher-up to find out about that."
"You can't prove anything," she said. "Besides that, Freddie and I haven't spoken in seven years. We aren't doing anything that's 'frowned upon'."
"That's what she said," muttered Ms. Briggs under her breath.
Sam and I stared at her before we resumed eating our food. Ms. Briggs was one strange old lady, that was for sure.
"Sam is here! She's at the school!" I said to Carly over the phone, as I nervously paced my apartment. By saving all of the money I'd ever owned, I succeeded in acquring a place away from my mother. It wasn't that I didn't love her... But if I could help it, I would never live in the same home with her for one more day. Didn't I deserve that after eighteen years of near torture?
"Sam didn't say anything about working at the school," Carly said, quietly. "I mean, she came by a few days ago for a visit. I knew she had a job in Seattle, but I didn't know it was at Ridgeway. I wonder why she didn't tell me."
"Probably it's because she's embarrassed or something. I mean, Sam is a teacher now."
"Maybe that's it... Have you talked to her at all?"
"Well, yeah. When we first saw each other, I was basically speechless at first. She said that she was surprised to see me, but she was hungry and went to lunch. Then she kind of argued with Ms. Briggs. It wasn't pretty."
"That old lady's still there?"
"Yep, as cranky as ever," I replied. "Actually, she kind of tried to hit on me."
"Well, that's disgusting."
"I know, right?"
"But Freddie, you need to talk to Sam. If you're going to be working together, you need to at least get on the same page. Seven years is a long time, but there are still some things you need to work out. Invite her to dinner or something, just so you can catch up. Or maybe all three of us can hang out?"
"You're right. I've missed you too, Carly. I'll ask Sam about it tomorrow at work. Where do you want to meet?"
"How about my apartment? I'm sure Spencer would love to see you guys too. I can catch you guys up on all that went on in Seattle while you were gone. Some crazy stuff went on. You won't believe what happened to Gibby..."
"What?"
"I don't want to spoil anything. You both have to be at my apartment before I'm telling anything. Ask Sam about Saturday night, okay?"
"Okay. See you later, Carly."
"Bye, Freddie."
June, Junior Year of College
"You miss her still, don't you?" Carly said, softly. We were sitting in on the grass at the old playground we all played at when we were younger. She'd packed a picnic lunch of sandwiches, chips, and soda, and we'd finished eating it. Now, I was seated cross-legged in the soft, emerald grass, staring into space and the blue horizon.
I snapped back to reality and glanced back at Carly. I wanted to deny it. I wanted to say I'd succeeded in moving on, but the truth was that I was sick of lying every single time. "I miss her more than everything." I'd meant anything, but somehow, everything fit even better. Because she was practically all I cared about.
"I'm sorry," she said, looking at the ground, not meeting my eyes. "I asked her to come visit Seattle as soon as Junior year ended, but she said no. I think she knew you'd be here."
"I don't want to force anything. It's fine."
"But this is ridiculous. You guys... you loved each other. I think you still do. I don't know why you can't at least talk to each other and be friends."
"I tried to talk to her. I called her once."
"When?"
I paused, before admitting, "Two years ago."
She looked at me for a long while, then said, "What happened?"
"I... Sam seemed just frustrated, annoyed with me. She said everything was fine. I think she moved on, and I was the only one left wishing we could be together. She said we had nothing left to say to each other, and it was better this way."
"But... Sam isn't like that. She doesn't have a boyfriend, nothing. I would know."
"Maybe she lied. She did to one of us."
"Well, she didn't have a boyfriend two years ago, I know. But I think she does now... Alex or something. He plays guitar and is in some band. We don't really talk about him much, though."
"See? She's completely fine without me. He's probably perfect for her. He sounds it."
"Freddie... I just want things to end up the way they're supposed to. You and Sam, and me and... Kevin."
As soon as she said the name of the boyfriend she told me so much about, I knew something was wrong. The tone of her voice had abruptly changed without warning. "Is something wrong, Carly? Between you two?"
She shrugged and looked unwilling to answer, but she eventually admitted, "I don't know what went wrong. Things were so great. We'd been dating for almost eight months, but then he just seemed... different. He said we needed to take a break or some other stupid excuse like that."
"I'm sorry," I said. Carly looked so deeply hurt. Then I knew that she could at least relate to how I was missing Sam.
"I don't get what went wrong. We were so happy." She paused and looked like she was trying not to cry and then said, "Do you think he was cheating on me? That must be it. But... why? Was it something I did? Freddie, I need your help."
I didn't know how to respond. "Listen, Carly, I don't even know Kevin. I wouldn't know what to say."
"But you're a guy."
"Yeah, but..."
"I need to get him back. I know I sound crazy, but..."
"It's not crazy. I know how you feel, buy you and Kevin go to college together. You'll win him back if you belong together as much as you say. When it comes to me and Sam... Who knows if we'll even meet again?"
"You're right. I don't even touch your feelings." She ran her hands through the grass, then looked at me again. "We're practically a broken heart's club. We should go out somewhere, try to heal. Then, we can go back to feeling sorry for ourselves, but for now, let's just try to forget and be happy."
I hesitated, then nodded. Because everyone knew I could use a little happy right about now.
Present
It was the next day at school. Only Tuesday, but my life felt immeasurably different from Sunday, just 48 hours ago. I was a teacher. I had students. I had responsibilities. Most of all, Sam had drifted into my orbit once more.
I greeted Sam as I strolled towards the front door. She'd parked her car, a compact purple (probably custom-painted) model, a few spots away from my gray hybrid. "Hey, Sam," I said with a slight wave. It felt so strange to be saying her name again.
"Hello, Frednerd," she replied with a small smirk. Really? She was resorting to childish nicknames now?
I rolled my eyes at her, and she laughed softly. I said, "So, I have a proposal for you."
"This is very sudden. I don't know if I'm ready," she said in mock horror, her blue eyes wide.
"No, it's nothing like that," I said, laughing. "I think we need to catch up, along with Carly. She asked me to invite you to dinner at her house Saturday night. Are you free?"
She paused for a few seconds, racking her brain. "Yeah, nothing except endless amounts of grading and planning. Sounds good."
"Okay, I'll see you then."
"Guess you will."
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. I just got caught up with stuff and didn't feel like editing. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I think the next one will be good and interesting. So, review and I'll probably feel more motivated to get it out faster. Thanks!