Freddie just laughed (at his mother's strangely precise measure of temperature) and stepped back inside the apartment building, glad for the distraction from his memories of the girl who got away.

#

Three months, three weeks and six days ago.

Freddie met Katherine.

Katherine was pretty, brown eyed, thin lipped. She had dark hair that was always neat and tamed; much like she was herself, Freddie supposed. She was often concerned about cleanliness and liked things to be ordered and in their correct place. OCD had been suspected a few times (but was only down to some exaggerated characteristic…)

Her life was neat, she was tame and to most people she was boring.

But she was safe, and that was what Freddie needed. Someone who wouldn't just get up and go.

What Freddie really needed though, was someone he loved. But she'd been missing for years.

Katherine made the first move at the end of sixth period on a Wednesday. She walked over, black hair swaying mid-length, and stopped just in front of his desk with a flirty smile on her face, curling a strand of hair around one finger.

"Hey Freddie", Gathering his book, he looked up at her and stood, smiling politely back.

"How goes it?" He asked.

"Oh, you know, just the usual", There was an awkward pause as Freddie adjusted his bag strap on his shoulder and Katherine fluttered her eyelashes some more as though any second now her eyeballs would just drop out of her head.

"So… I was wondering," Katherine fluttered her eyelashes some more, "If maybe," And some more, "You wanted to go and get a coffee… Sometime?"

Eight months, three weeks and four days ago.

Katherine and Freddie 'got a coffee'.

It was awkward and uncomfortable every time their hands brushed or their feet nudged the other's and Katherine's consistent analysis on the sanitary condition of the Skybucks they'd sat in was irritating Freddie, to say the least.

So irritating in fact that Freddie ended up kissing her, just to shut her up.

Could've also been partly because he hadn't had a girlfriend in well over two years and he was pretty desperate…

Since then, Katherine has told Freddie she's loved him (He hasn't been able to return the statement) on numerous occasions and they've been dating the past three months; even though Freddie had never formally asked her and it makes him feel bad every time they do something 'couple-ish' together and yet he knows he can't confidently say he has any romantic feelings towards this girl at all…

Freddie found himself in a safe (awkward) relationship with someone who often coddled him and had many similar characteristics to his mother…

Freddie still missed Sam though. Missed her fire, her unpredictability, the life she had and the happiness she left in the people who really knew her. He really missed the excitement Sam brought; something that Katherine lacked tremendously, he just didn't have the heart to break up with the girl.

If anything, Freddie was a coward. If he broke up with Katherine there was no telling what the girl was capable of. She could be very sneaky… I guess that was one thing her and Sam had in common.

However, Freddie's life was boring.

One week ago.

"Hi, Katherine."

"Freddie! Hey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, just calling to let you know I'm going home to Seattle for Christmas-"

"When?"

"Um, Wednesd-"

"Wednesday? I'll be able to come. What will I need to pack?"

"I didn't invi-"

"And I'll get to meet your Mom, finally! I've never been to Seattle before. It's cold, right? I'll bring sweaters. Hey, I'll call you back, okay?
"But Kath-"

"I need to pack. We'll discuss plane times later. Bye."

Then she hung up before Freddie could argue that he had intended to go alone. He just shook his head and sighed.

#

A/N: So sorry it's been a while since I last updated but I was busy with Christmas and such, hope you all had a great day c:

So as always, reviews are greatly appreciated. What do you think about Katherine?
I immediately don't like her 'cos she's dating Freddie. I'm biased like that...

Anyway, THE PLOT THICKENS. A little… Next chapter we'll be finding out what's been going on with Sam.

Please try to contain your excitement.

REVIEW!