Chapter 9

Freddie walked into 2nd period algebra class the following Monday morning, and made his way to his seat. He was waiting for Sam, so they could talk about when and where to meet for their study "session".

It was a bright sunny morning outside. The weekend had been rather uneventful for him. Since he wasn't talking to Carly much these days he either was at home this past weekend, or he hung out with Jeremy. He couldn't quite remember a weekend where he wasn't constantly hanging out at the Shay apartment, but he was still rather upset with Carly over the pain she caused him. What frustrated Freddie more was that this Danny guy she was with wasn't really that much different than him. Carly had told him that she wanted to date a guy that was different than her. Yet, Danny was nice, smart and cute. Doesn't look like he's different to me, he had thought.

He was trying hard not to think about Carly or Danny, when he looked up to see Sam finally make it to the classroom and take her seat next to Freddie's.

Sam put her book bag on the floor quickly. She was finishing eating a powdered doughnut that she got out of a vending machine. History had been very dull for her this morning. First period on Mondays she was always just fighting to stay awake through the class. Now here she was in algebra a little more awake now, and more nourished.

Her weekend wasn't all that more exciting than Freddie's was. She and Carly had gone shopping Saturday helping Carly find something for her date with Danny. She then went to the movies that evening. She sat in the same movie as Carly and Danny did, but she didn't sit anywhere near them. Sam spent Sunday morning at the Shay's apartment hanging out, but left after lunch because Carly wouldn't stop talking about her date with Danny. It drove Sam ill just hearing Carly ramble on and on about it, so she spent the afternoon and evening at home with her mom who was surprisingly at home.

Sam only spoke to Freddie briefly during history, and that was to get his help on the homework that they had over the weekend, that she didn't do of course.

She looked over to him now, hoping that he could assist her with some algebra answers. Freddie rolled his eyes and hissed at her, "Did you do any homework at all this weekend?"

Sam was too busy looking at his paper for the answers to look up at him, "Would I be asking you for the answers if I did do my homework, duh!" She replied to him.

Freddie grabbed his paper from her, which caused her to hiss, "Hey!"

"Am I wasting my time helping you get your grades back up?" Freddie asked as he held his paper as far away from Sam as he could.

Sam tried to reach across Freddie to grab his paper, but had little success. When Freddie asked her about him wasting his time, she slowly backed off and said firmly, "Please Freddie, I just need to understand what I'm doing here with these math problems."

"Did you even bother to do…" he started.

"Yes! As a matter of fact," she said angrily as she showed him her paper, which showed she had indeed tried to do the homework.

Freddie looked at her paper and was scanning through her answers. He looked up at the clock and saw he still had a couple of minutes before class started. He brought his paper back down next to hers, and slid his desk cover so it was next to Sam's. "Here," he said softly, "let me show you how I got some of these answers."

Sam calmed down. She sat there and tried to understand what Freddie was trying to tell her about how to do some of these problems. She worked with him until the bell rang. Freddie moved his desk back to where it originally was.

Class began. Mr. Perry asked for the homework, and everybody handed in their papers. Sam was a little upset with Freddie because only some of her answers were right, and had he let her copy his paper they would have all been correct.

Mr. Perry began the next lesson. Freddie was watching the teacher show them how to do the next assignment in their algebra book. From time to time, he glanced over at Sam to see if she was paying attention. Sam looked at first as though she was trying to pay attention, but when she got lost trying to comprehend what she being taught, she started to lose focus, and she began staring off into space.

Mr. Perry gave them their assignment to do; then he went to sit down at his desk to grade papers. Freddie began doing the assignment work; he looked over to Sam and saw she was just kind of sitting there. Freddie raised his hand to get Mr. Perry's attention, and when he was able to get his attention, Freddie walked up to Mr. Perry's desk.

Sam saw Freddie raise his hand and get up and go to Mr. Perry. She watched palely as the teacher was looking at her while he was talking to Freddie. When Freddie walked back to his seat, she bent towards him at her desk and hissed, "What did you tell the teacher?"

Freddie sat back down, and moved his desk back over next to Sam's. "I told Mr. Perry that you were having some problems with the assignment, so I asked if I could help you with it. He agreed, as long as we didn't bother the other students." He answered.

"Freddie, this is hopeless," she whispered, "I'm probably never gonna understand what I'm doing."

"I won't let you fail." Freddie said, as he began to explain how to do the first question to her.

Wow, Sam thought as she listened to Freddie explain how to do the first problem, this is the first time in so long that anyone has taken an interest in my education, or my future for that matter. She nodded at Freddie, indicating that she understood how he came up with the answer. So she tried the second question herself, and when she made a mistake, Freddie politely came to her aid. He could be a great teacher, she thought, and for as much as he truly sounds like a nerd, I can actually understand what he's teaching me, and it makes sense. She almost did the third question correctly by herself, Freddie pointing out one little mistake. She corrected it and went on to continue the assignment.

Freddie was impressed on how quickly she caught on. He went ahead and began working on his own homework. He stole glances over to Sam's paper to see if she needed assistance, but she was actually doing quite well.

They sat there for the remainder of class finishing the assignment. Freddie finished his homework first, and he put his paper in his book and closed it. Then he turned to see what Sam had left to do.

Sam was on the last problem trying to complete her work, while Freddie looked over her answers. He smiled at her when she completed her assignment; she looked up at him and smiled back.

"Great job," he said quietly but excitedly, "I didn't see any mistakes, it looks like all your answers are the same as mine," then he added, "and you didn't have to copy them off of me."

Sam snickered at him, but said warmly, "And I got done before class is over. I think that's a first this year." Just then the bell rang.

Freddie got up from his desk and grabbed his books, "Hey, I guess I'll see you in science."

"Wait, Freddie," Sam said as she got her book bag and followed him out of the classroom, "we never decided when or where to meet tonight."

"Oh, yeah," Freddie replied as he proceeded to walk with her to her locker. He had gym class next, so he wasn't in any hurry to get to his locker. "Let's study a couple hours after school every night…if that's okay?"

Sam nodded, "Let's study at my place Monday's and Wednesday's; study at your place Tuesday's and Thursday's, and maybe we can study at Carly's on Friday's before we do iCarly." Sam and Freddie had reached her locker.

He grinned, "Yeah, that'll work. I better get to gym." And with that, he took off down the hall.

Sam opened her locker and put her books away, if he can be that good of a teacher in all my other subjects, she thought, I might actually become an "A" student myself!

She had health class next, so she grabbed her health book out of her locker and shut the door. She stopped for a second to daydream, He didn't try to tease me with my learning or put me down in any way, and he showed a lot of patience. Is it possible that he might actually like me? I wish I knew what is going on in that freakish head of his.

Sam's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of giggling voices approaching her. She looked over to see Carly and Danny approach her locker. "Oh great," Sam muttered to herself sarcastically, "here comes the annoying duo."

"Hey Sam," Carly called out with Danny smiling right there at her side.

"Oh, hey Carls," she replied quickly as she began to start walking to class, "I got to get to class, but I'll see ya next period." Sam took off for class without even acknowledging Danny.

"Okay!" Carly hollered back. She shrugged at Danny, as if indicating to him that she didn't know why Sam just brushed on by him. Carly opened her locker, and got the books out for her next class.

"Wow, is she still mad about last week?" Danny asked Carly trying not to be hurt by the fact that his girlfriend's best friend just blew him off.

Carly smiled palely, "You just have to get to know Sam. She'll get over it in time." She shut her locker and reached up and gave her man a kiss on the lips. "I don't think I could ever get mad at you though," she smiled dreamily.

Danny smiled, and took Carly's hand. They both hurried down the hallway to their classes.

XxXxXxXxXx

Sam waited outside the school for Freddie. The rest of her school day didn't go too badly, although she got bored in health and English class because she couldn't concentrate on anything the teachers were saying. Science was a little better, since her friends were in there with her. Although Carly was her best friend, and her science partner, Sam kinda wished that Freddie was her partner so that they could work together. Science was one of Sam's favorite subjects (if she could pick anything about school that was the least bit fun) outside of lunch and gym class. She had a creative mind for the subject, and it didn't bore her like everything else in school. Carly didn't share Sam's interest in the subject, but Sam knew that Freddie did. Sam hoped that later in the week, when they would start a new project, that she could team up with Freddie.

Freddie finally made it out of the school, and caught up with Sam.

"Geez, slowpoke," Sam complained, "I could have been home by now."

"I'm sorry," he moaned, "but I forgot that I hadn't called my mom to let her know that I'd be going to your place to study." They started walking to Sam's place.

"Aw, man," Sam said, rolling her eyes, "how'd your freak-o mom react when you told her you'd be studying with me?"

"Oh, she freaked out all right," Freddie answered raising his eyebrows, "that's kinda the reason I was running behind, because I had to argue with her for a while, then I had to reason with her for a while, then so on, and so on…"

"Okay," Sam chuckled lightly, "I get it."

They made their way to Sam's house. Both of them were chatting to one another about their day. They had reached Sam's front door as their conversation was beginning to wind down.

Sam opened the door to the house, and she and Freddie walked in. "Mom," she hollered as they made their way to the dining room area, which would be the ideal place to study, "are you home?"

There was nothing but silence in the house. Sam motioned for Freddie to sit down at the dining room table while she went to the kitchen for some snacks. "Hey Freddo," she asked, "want a snack?"

"Sure," he answered, "just whatever you're having."

She came back in a couple of minutes later with some chips, a bowl of popcorn, and some Peppy Cola. She sat down. "I think I probably need more help with history than anything." Sam told him as she got her history homework out.

"Yes, let's start with history," Freddie replied as he got his homework out, "After all, you've already got your algebra homework done, and yours and Carly's science project is at school, so you can't really work on that."

"Oh, that reminds me Fredward," she spoke up suddenly, "when we finish this science project, and start the next one, will you be my science partner for the project?" Sam was turning her attention to her history book as she spoke.

Freddie looked at Sam and blushed lightly, "You want me to be your partner?" He asked surprised.

Sam looked up from her studies at Freddie, "Yes dork, that's what I'm asking." She said rather curtly.

Freddie's blush vanished, and his face was now red from disgust. "Fine, I guess I'll be your partner." He said like he didn't really want to now.

Sam smiled at him, "Great, now's let's start this history homework!"

So, they spent the next hour and a half working on history, health and English homework. Freddie reviewed the algebra they had learned for the day, and discussed their science projects.

It was approaching five o'clock, when Freddie stated, "I better get going. I think we got a lot accomplished this afternoon."

Sam got up and began clearing the table. "Yeah, it's amazing that I actually understand what I'm doing," she grinned to herself.

"You're very smart, Sam," Freddie stated as he got his books together and was getting ready to walk to the front door, "I really believe that we can get your grades up pretty quickly."

After Sam took the food and dishes to the kitchen, she caught up with Freddie at the front door. "Yeah, it'll be nice to go to school tomorrow, and not have to worry about copying homework from someone." She said proudly.

"Yeah, that will be different for you," he smiled faintly. He began to walk out the front door, when he turned to face Sam, "your mom is still not home," he said worriedly, "are you gonna be okay here by yourself?"

Aw, she thought, the dork is worried about me, he really does care, how nice. "Dude, I've been use to my mom showing up any hour of the night, it's not a prob," she said reassuring him.

Freddie kinda wrinkled his face, "Oh, okay then, I'll see ya at school tomorrow."

"Yep, see ya." She answered as she closed the door after he had walked out. She stood at her window and watched him walk away. I'll bet he would have stayed if I asked him too, she thought, for such a nerd, he's probably the nicest, caring guy I've ever known. I'm not sure what I would do without him…

XxXxXxXxXx

Freddie had looked back at Sam's place every now and again as he was walking back to his apartment complex. He was thinking about his study "date", I really enjoy being around her when she's not being so mean to me. She actually does listen to me when she wants to. As he continued to walk, he began to really think about her. I love to watch her do her work, he thought smiling to himself, he hadn't realized it, but his daydreaming had caused him to close his eyes, she's so beautiful, her long flowing hair, those eyes, man, I love her eyes. And she always smells so good; I don't know if it's her perfume or soap or shampoo or maybe even…

"Ow!" Freddie hollered as his daydreaming caused him to walk right into a telephone pole. He rubbed his forehead for a second for he had smacked it on the pole. He brushed himself off; then continued his walk, and his thoughts.

But I can't have feelings for Sam now, he thought to himself making sure he was watching where he was going this time; I'm probably feeling this way because of what I felt for Carly. I definitely can't tell Sam how I feel, because she'd think I might want her because I can't have Carly. She'd feel like she was my second choice, and I don't want her to feel that way, because I don't know what I'm feeling.

Freddie was still rubbing the little sore on his forehead, I need to spend some time with Sam and see what it is that I actually feel for her, and if I do want to be with her I can tell her at that time.

He reached his apartment building and went inside the lobby careful not to bother Lewbert. He got into the elevator and took it to his floor.

As he got out of the elevator and walked down the hallway to his apartment, he concluded his thoughts, Sam has been a pretty good friend to me right now while I've been uncomfortable being around Carly. I'm not sure what I would do without her…

Author's Note: I know, this was a really long chapter. Freddie definitely has a lot on his mind, doesn't he? There is a reason in the upcoming chapters as to why I'm having Freddie wait to tell Sam his feelings. I like it better that he wants to explore the friendship first anyway. I hope you're still enjoying the story. Let me know what you think.