Freddie's POV

I sunk down in my chair as Principal Franklin rose. He said we weren't in trouble, yet here I was, still in his office. He must've just said that so Howard would leave and now I'd get it. Oh, cruel world…stupid frickin' Andrea girl, getting me into this mess…

"Freddie—" he started, but I interrupted in one panicky moment.

"Sir, I apologize!" I yelled, my voice cracking, "I know I wrote that love poem but I can explain!" I was trying to get back at Sam for writing me that note; I wrote an embarrassing, mushy love poem that she'd get red in the face for. Then maybe she'd crack. It was worth a shot but now I was going to get in some seriously hot water for it.

Principal Franklin merely laughed and put a hand on my shoulder. He patted it and sat me back down slowly. He said "Freddie, you're not in trouble." My heart lifted up in hope; I was off the hook…the poem didn't get me in trouble! But then why was he keeping me here?

He put on a large smile and sat down on his desk, crossing his arms. He let out chortle and shook his head, making me confused. He seemed genuinely happy by my poem, something that interested me; why would Principal Franklin be happy about me writing a love poem to a girl? Or, was it because it was for Sam…?

"Freddie, I kept you here because I wanted to propose something to you." he said. I rose a perplexed eyebrow but didn't voice my confusion.

"Okay…" was all I said.

"I see by your, um, note," he said, pointing to the desk, "that you feel strongly towards Sam." My cheeks reddened again. I wanted to tell him that I truly felt zilch towards Sam, and that this chiz was all just a bet. But my throat had grown dry to the point I could barely say my own name. Also, would admitting it was only a challenge make me lose? I couldn't take that chance.

"Sure…" I said croakily.

"Well, it reminded me of myself and my wife back when we were your age." he said, "I loved her so much then, just like now. And our relationship was pretty much the same too." He said the last sentence while laughing. So you got stuck with a Sam Puckett too? I thought, a smirk forming on my face.

"Really?" I asked conversationally. He nodded.

"Yes," he said, "and, if your note means anything, you want to be with Sam like I wanted to be with my wife." Great, he thinks I want to marry Sam for real, I thought bitterly, hating myself for writing such a poem, Well, at least it's part of the bet. "And," he continued, "I want to help you, by picking out a ring for when the time comes." My jaw dropped open and my eyes bulged. Principal Franklin wanted to buy a ring for me to give Sam? Whether or not I truly wanted to propose to Sam, why in the world would he offer to pay? I couldn't accept that.

"Sir, no, you don't need to do that." I said, standing, "Really, I have enough—"

"Freddie, you've always been my favorite student." he interjected, "And I want you and Sam to be happy when the time comes for you two. The only way I can really show that is to buy her a ring for you."

"But…but sir—" I tried again but he put a hand on my shoulder and gave me a smile, making me quiet.

"I insist." he said, putting a hand on his chest, "Please. When the time comes for you and Sam to possibly wed, I want to do this. Let me do at least this." I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out, so I ended up just sucking in air while Principal Franklin went back to his desk. I had to tell him no, but my dang mouth wasn't working. So he must've taken that as a reluctant yes, for he gave me back the poem, saying "I'll see you soon, son." He flashed me another grin and went back to his seat, waving me off. Feebly, I waved goodbye back and left for the door. My hand gripped the doorknob, wetting it with my sweat. I opened the door and stepped out, but then I remembered. Very unwillingly, I turned back around.

"P-Principal Franklin?" I said, and he lifted his head, "A-Are you s-serious about th-the…the…you know?" He smiled again and nodded.

"Yes," he said, "When you decide to propose to Sam, I'll be ready with my wallet to buy that ring." I forced a half-smile and nodded back.

"Okay," I said, "Will you meet me tomorrow?"

Sam's POV

Fredpus returned soon from the principal's office. He missed Mr. Howard (lucky boy), so he had to get a nice warm welcome from Miss Briggs; meaning, she gave him a detention. But he told her he was with Ted, and she angrily took back the punishment.

We sat near each other like in Howard's class, only next to the other, not in front and behind. Instead of passing notes, I decided just to risk it and talk to him. I'll admit I was worried the nub had gotten into hot water. Though I hate him, I have a heart when it came to Freddie; he was still my buddy, even if we weren't the best of buddies. I didn't want him to get in trouble when I started it all. But I'd never tell him.

"What happened?" I whispered, and he turned to glance at me. He shrugged.

"Oh, nothing much." he said. What? I thought, You get taken to the principal, and he does nothing?

"What do you mean, 'nothing much'?" I asked, "He had to do something, keeping you there."

"He really didn't." Freddie said, "Just…told me to not pass notes." I saw the way he suddenly tensed after saying 'just'. He was going to say something else, I just know it. I was going to pry it from his mouth if I had to.

"Uh-huh, yeah." I said, "You don't give me enough credit."

"I swear!" he whisper-shouted, "Nothing happened!"

"Shut it, something happened!" I said, shaking him, "And I intend to know!" We got in a quiet argument, me shaking his arm the whole time. It probably lasted a long few minutes before a ruler came down on Freddie's desk, making him jump. We both looked to see a seething Miss Briggs retracting her large yardstick.

"Silence!" she yelled, causing Freddork to shrink back. I rolled my blue eyes and she stomped off to the front of the room. I glared at the dork and was about to whisper-yell at him again when a piece of paper fell onto my desk from the left. I saw, from the corner of my eye, blackish-brown hair whipping back; Carly. I grabbed the note and opened it to see a message in her pink pen: Gibby and I are going to the Cheesecake Warehouse tonight. You and your BF should come too :-) I growled upon seeing the smiley face; she thought she was so funny. I had half a mind to rip the paper to shreds. But I knew, by the challenge's standards, he was indeed my "BF", so I sucked it up.

I tossed the paper onto his desk and whispered "It's from Carls." He nodded to acknowledge me and read. After he was done he laughed.

"You know, she's going to get annoying this week, doing that." he said.

"'Get'?" I said. He chuckled and gave the note back. For some reason, I smiled at his laugh. It was kind of sweet and cute, though I hate admitting it. I shook this repulsive thought away and wrote my yes reply to Carly.

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