Ruined Puzzle Pieces

Part 2

Later that evening at the bookstore Edges.

"Gibby, relax… The Nickel Fortune releases at midnight regardless of how badly you want it." Freddie was currently waiting in line with Gibby and Jeremy (Germy for those fond of his nickname) for the premiere of the eagerly awaited sequel to The Penny Treasure. It was one of those books that Freddie felt nearly obligated to get on opening night if only to avoid people spoiling the story for him by the time he returned from vacation.

"We still have 10 more minutes of waiting, and you look like about to start dancing… Please don't by the way." Freddie had been standing in line with his friends for the last 4 hours, most of it spent with a constant fear of waiting the rest of the night with a shirtless Gibby and catching something nasty from Jeremy's constant sneezing at close proximity (though it caused the crowd to give them a nice comfortable bubble of distance)

I probably would have been better off with just hours of simple boredom…

"I know Freddie! It's just that, first pennies, now nickels, what will they think of next?!" Gibby began jumping up and down to get a better look at the front of the line (which was so hopelessly far away, I don't know why he even tries)

"I don't know Gibby… maybe dimes?" Freddie humored. With people like Gibby in his school, it was a wonder how Sam managed to fail so many classes in comparison.

"AH-CHOO!!! That would be awesome!" Jeremy added. Freddie felt something wet and a little slimy on the back of his neck.

I give up… Please end my existence now…

*SMACK!* (A/N: That would be the sound of Freddie's face hitting the cement…)

"MOVE!!! OUT OF MY WAY, DORK-FACE!!! YOU THINK I WON'T GRANNY!!!" Freddie looked up slowly, his nose slowing bleeding out of one nostril as he watched a small figure in a hoodie and jeans that didn't cover the ankles (girl for sure…) weed-wack her way towards the front of the line.

"Who wears a hoodie in the middle of summer?" Gibby asked. He was helping Jeremy up to his feet as everyone else was recovering from what looked like a human hurricane.

"AH-CHOO!!! Freddie, your nose is bleeding… AH-CHOO!!! I have tissues… AH-CHOO!!! They're the reusable kind… AH-CHOO!!!" Jeremy pulled some slightly discolored tissues from his pocket and offered them to Freddie.

"Ummm… Oh look, I hear my mom calling. Bye" Freddie quickly the followed the cries of falling people until he had reached the checkout counter of the Edges bookstore. Suspicions confirmed, he found Sam wearing a hoodie, sunglasses, and pretorn jeans leaning against the counter staring at the nervous employees who had probably done nothing to deserve this.

"Sam! You can't just cut in line in front of people who have waited for hours!" Freddie hissed. Sam turned around slowly and put a hand on his collar.

"I'm sorry Freddie, What is it exactly that I CAN'T DO…" Sam was using her threatening voice. (Or was her normal voice, it's hard to tell, when it's used so frequently)

"Nothing… Lovely night… Moonlight makes those sunglasses look lovely." Freddie wiped his nose just in case it was still bleeding, still confused over Sam's attire but no longer quite brave enough to ask about it."

"Besides its not Sam tonight… Call me… Jennette." Sam looked around to check for any unwanted listeners.

"I'm sorry… Why?" Freddie reminded himself to write a will sometime soon. Being friends with Sam was a constant safety hazard with bonus amounts of craziness.

"I'm in disguise." Sam (err Jennette, err nevermind) responded as if that was all the explanation that was needed.

"Again… Why?"

"It has come to my recent attention that only geeks and dorks read this series and I didn't want my reputation to get soiled." Sam answered. The employees behind the counter were whispering to each other, probably about what to do with Sam. They all sighed simultaneously all of a sudden, and Freddie knew that they had probably surrendered to ignore Sam's blatant disregard for any store regulations and just sell her the Nickel Fortune, if only to be rid of her as soon as possible. Freddie was very familiar with that sigh.

"And yet here you are Sam…" Freddie quipped softly, almost to himself feeling a little braver after seeing all the people cower in Sam's presence. It's always good to know you're not the only one.

"Ummm reservation for the Nickel Fortune?" the checkout clerk asked Sam without looking into her eyes.

"Yes, under Jennette McCurdy" Sam pulled out a wallet that looked very similar to his own…

Wait a minute! Don't tell me that when she grabbed me, she took…

"Yes, that will be $20." Sam quickly handed over a twenty, took her book and threw Freddie's wallet back into his hands.

"Wait, Sam, that's all the money I have on me." Freddie added in futility as Sam was already walking away reading the first page. After a few steps, she stopped as if hesitating before turning around.

"Don't worry Benson, we're friends right? I'll let you read it after I'm done, and I promise this time there won't be any grease stains on the pages." Sam smiled and softly patted Freddie on the shoulder. "Now I've got something to read on the trip, and I'm going to go finish packing." Freddie watched incredulously as Sam walked away humming to herself.

"I need to start chaining my wallet to my pants." Freddie said to himself as he could only watch in wonder at the girl who had just plowed through hundreds of people, purchased the most desired book in the entire world at the moment for free and with no waiting, and walked herself calmly to her home humming as it was just a normal day.

"Excuse me, Sir. Your nose is bleeding…"

A/N: If you've ever wondered how Freddie manages to stay friends with Sam despite her "aggressiveness", I ask only to look at Freddie's alternatives lol. I really enjoyed adding Gibby and Jeremy to this scene even though it was only after I realized that Freddie has no male friends his age that he spends regular amounts of time with. Fellow fans of anime will hopefully laugh with me on my nosebleed joke, and I apologize if the story seems to be moving slowly (it is). I promise to make up for it with very frequent updates. Maybe twice or three times a week. Next is the car ride! Carly is shotgun which leaves Freddie and Sam in the backseat lol.