Alas! I have not abandoned you I promise heh. I've just had an extreme lack of creativity lately and haven't been in the mood to write. I began reading what I've already written of this story and got a burst of pride (cocky? Me? Nahhhh!) and had to post a new chapter for you. Not much happens, but its important and longer than the previous two.

Bare with me while I take my time writing, please. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 03 – Week 2

She felt like crap. It was third period, gym was next, and Sam would have done just about anything to get out of it if she had the energy to do so. All night she had been tossing and turning, pretty much sweating her butt off, trying to fall asleep to no avail, and today she was paying the price.

"You look beat, is something up?" Carly asked, sounding concerned, as they changed in the locker room.

"I couldn't sleep last night, so I'm just really tired. I can't wait to get home and pass out," Sam answered honestly as she threw her shirt over her head.

"Too busy thinking about a certain someone?" Carly said, giving Sam a playful jab in the stomach.

"I have better things to think about than a geeky nub," Sam lied easily, since Freddie had been on her mind most of the night. "But poke my stomach again and I might not be able to hold in my real feelings about Fredweird. I honestly don't feel good, like I said."

While Carly was unconvinced by the Freddie-bashing she figured she'd give Sam a break today. "It stinks that it's running day today. Maybe if you tell Coach Redd that you don't feel well she'll let you off easy."

Sam snorted, "Oh yeah, that'll be the day. Remember when I put glue in her shoes freshman year? Well I'm pretty sure she hasn't. I bet if I told her I was sick she'd make me run twice as much as you."

Carly giggled at the memory but nodded in agreement. "Yeah, probably not the best idea then."

They made their way out to the gym and sat next to each other on the floor to stretch while Redd took attendance. Sam really hated Tuesdays and Thursdays. Also known as gym days, also known as torture days for Couch Redd. If she had any other coach it probably would be her favorite class – there were no tests or essay in gym! But no, she wasn't that lucky. The only perk to gym class was that Carly was there to be her sidekick during the miserable fifty minutes.

After the first ten minutes of running in circles, Sam was winded. The five-minute walking break gave her some time to recuperate but it didn't last for long.

Five minutes into the second ten minutes of running and she was seeing spots. She stopped her jog (which had been as slow as her grandma, seriously!) and began to walk, trying to regain her balance.

"You okay?" Carly stopped beside her and patted her back a bit for comfort.

"Puckett keep it moving!" Coach Redd yelled from the sidelines on the opposite side of the gym.

"Yeah, I just have to walk a second," she said with a wave of her hand. "Keep going or Redd's going to kick your butt too!"

"I'm not just going to leave you, you look like you're going to fall over!"

"Nah, I'm good!"

"Puckett, Shay get moving!" Redd sounded more impatient. Carly gave a little growl but sighed and continued running, moving a little quicker so she could make a lap around to catch back up with Sam.

Sam picked up her feet a little more as she half-ran, half-walked around the gym. As she shuffled past Coach Redd she even managed a sarcastic smile and wave in her direction. Just as Carly caught up to her the coach blew the whistle, signaling that it was time to walk for five minutes.

"Maybe you should sit down, Sam," she said seriously.

"And give her the satisfaction? I don't think so." Sam nodded towards the coach not bothering to hide her contempt.

"Puckett! Since you think you're above the rules why don't you run the rest of the time! It's either that or you get a zero for the day!" Redd's stupid voice rang out over the gym so everyone could hear. A few other students snickered, but Carly's jaw dropped in surprise.

"Can't she see you don't feel good? What's her issue?"

"She's a control freak, that's what. I'll get her back for it, don't worry Shay!" Sam said with a smirk, but sighed before picking up her feet a bit and continuing her shuffle while everyone around her walked. Considering she didn't get the best grades in her other classes, she really needed to keep a B in gym. Even if she didn't care about her grades as much as Carly, it's not as if she wanted to completely bomb out.

She easily shuffle-walk-ran the three minutes remaining in everyone else's walk, even chatting with Carly as she lapped her twice, never forgetting to wave at Redd when she went past. When Redd blew the whistle to signify the final ten minute running period Sam looked around to see where Carly was, noticing that she was only a few feet behind her already. Carly laughed as she slowed her pace to match Sam's snail-speed.

"Nice one, Sam. Technically you're running so I guess she can't give you a zero."

"Yeah," Sam replied shortly, because she was trying to focus on run-walking in a straight line. She wasn't out of breath, but she was definitely a few seconds away from breaking a sweat. Why was this stupid gym so hot? Why did she have to get assigned stupid Coach Redd? Why did she have to be sick today, of all days?

"I'm going to go around one more time and then I'll go slow with you. Sorry, I just want some points ya know?"

"No problem," Sam nodded best she could, sending a smile that fell from her face almost as soon as Carly looked away.

"PUCKETT! Move or fail!" Redd yelled from behind her suddenly. Sam stopped her stupid fake running all-together and looked up at the ceiling, trying to catch her balance. She looked back at Redd, who made a "get going!" motion, glared, and started back up in a normal jog.

Carly caught up to her quickly but didn't say anything, only giving her a worried side-glance. Sam ignored her and focused on moving in a straight line. She could not give stupid Redd the satisfaction and stop. Maybe she was too stubborn for her own good, but better stubborn than a pushover.

When she stumbled the first time Carly grabbed her arm to stop her from moving forward anymore.

"Sam cut it out, just sit down!" But she didn't really hear here. She wasn't sure if she was even moving forward anymore. All she could see where the stupid black foggy shapes or something and ugh! The next thing she knew she was on her stupid hands and knees, not even moving but the room was still spinning.

"Coach!" Carly said from her side, sounding a little spazzy.

"Chill out, Carls, I'm fine, I'm fine," Sam said as she tried to push herself up but failed and slipped back down right onto her knee. As she sat motionless for a few more seconds the stupid black fog cleared away and she noticed that there was a second pair of feet standing beside her. A giant pair of shoes that probably smelled as terrible as the owner did.

"Get up, Puckett, the charade is over," Redd's annoying voice rang out.

"No, she said she wasn't feeling well in the locker rooms, Coach. I told her to sit this one out but she kept saying she-,"

"Zip it, Shay, I know how this one works," she snarled. "Zero for the day, Puckett."

"That's not fair, she-!"

"You want a zero, too, Shay?" Carly instantly shut her mouth.

"Good." Redd's whistle echoed around the gym and the steady sound of feet against the gym floor stopped. "To the locker room guys, good job."

"C'mon, Sam." Carly grabbed her upper arm and helped Sam stand, despite her protests.

"Look I'm fine, I'm just really hungry! I'm having ham withdraws, that's gotta be it," Sam said good-naturedly, even though she was walking a bit slow.

"Maybe you should go to the nurse's office and head home."

"Not until after lunch – my favorite period!" Sam's eyes lit up a bit as she seemed to regain some composure and they walked towards the locker rooms.

"Nice one, Puckett, getting coach all peeved," Brant, one of the guys in our class, said as he walked into the boy's locker room. Sam gave him a nod and smirked to herself.

"You didn't even tick her off on purpose, Sam. You're actually sick!" Carly sounded a bit annoyed that she was taking advantage of the situation, but honestly it was a good cover for why she, Sam Puckett, had actually fallen over in gym class. Apparently Sam wasn't the only one who didn't like Coach Redd!

"Being sick has its perks, obviously," Sam said with her nose upturned as she walked to her locker proudly. Carly just rolled her eyes.

"You fell over?" Freddie repeated suddenly, looking up at Sam seriously. It was the first thing he had said all day, right in the middle of Carly's recount of what happened in the period before.

"Yeah, but you should have seen Redd's face! Totally worth itttt!" Sam said in a sing-songy voice as she sat back in her chair in the cafeteria.

"So you did it on purpose?" Freddie asked slowly, trying to figure it all out.

"No! She didn't! She was all dizzy and fell over because the stupid coach wouldn't let her stop running when she obviously had to!" Carly announced with a huff.

"That's besides the point. The real story is that I was able to tick her off in the process."

"No, you being sick is the point. Maybe you should go to the nurse, Sam," Freddie said as that stupid crease between his brows began to form. Sam narrowed her eyes at him, getting annoyed.

"Why are you worried about me? I thought I told you that it wasn't your job anymore, nub. Just stay out of it!"

"Sorry if I care that you're sick. Obviously you don't so someone has to!" he said defensively.

"Oh shut up and mind your own business, will ya?" Sam sneered at him as she threw a grape from her untouched plate at his face. She stood up from the table and stalked out of the cafeteria.

"She didn't eat anything!" Gibby said in surprise, gesturing at the meatball sandwich and side of grapes on the tray that had been left behind.

"She said she would go to the nurse after lunch. I'll text her to make sure that's where she went."

Sam's real destination was the nearest girl's bathroom though. And she seemed to have made it just in time, because as soon as she was kneeling in front of the toilet the contents of her stomach were in the bowl.

Thankfully Freddie had given her an opening to leave and she was able to rush to the bathroom without any more attention. Carly was already all frazzled about gym.

She felt her phone buzz in her back pocket and she sat back away from the toilet when she was positive she was finished.

Did you go to the nurse?

Carly.

Yeah I'm going home now. See ya tomorrow unless I stay home again.

Well, it wasn't a total lie. While she wasn't at the nurse's office, she definitely didn't plan on staying here the rest of the day. Sam let her head lean against the side of the bathroom stall as she reached out and flushed the toilet.

What was wrong with her? She couldn't sleep thanks to stupid thoughts of Freddie floating through her mind all night. She was falling over in gym class. She was throwing up in the girl's bathroom…

All she could do was sigh. She just had to get the flu right now, didn't she? Right when everything else was going on. She forced herself up off of the floor, feeling her stomach cramp as she did so. It had been hurting all day, probably due to this stupid flu.

She stayed in the stall a few minutes longer, just in case, before deciding she was good enough to walk to the nurse's office and beg to go home so she could get some much-needed sleep.

It had been a long day, and it was only noon.