Okay, so it's cool if you hate me for not updating in months, but with me being gone all summer and having extremely tough writer's block and lack of inspiration, it happens. I'm really proud of this chapter so I hope you enjoy.

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How Long Can You Keep A Secret?

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"Hey guys." I say and take my seat next to Carly with Freddie sitting in front of me.

"Hey. How was Franklin?" Carly asks.

"Boring." I say. I don't want to tell them about seeing the school therapist, not yet. I mean they both shot down the offer without a second thought and I don't want it to seem like I am going to be talking to the therapist, instead of them. We are supposed to be silently reading, but our teacher is on his computer, hardly paying attention; so we quietly talk and joke about random topics. I feel my phone go off. I check it, one new text message.

Principal Franklin now finds it necessary 2 give me a tour of the school. Did you know that we have a basement? It's kinda creepy, gives me the chills. :) -A I smile and chuckle a little. Man, this kid is random. Why not play along?

Oh I no. I heard Franklin buries the body of bad students down there. BEWARE - S

I must have been smiling the whole time because when I look up Freddie and Carly both have the "we want to know why you were all smiley" faces on.

"What?" I say.

"Who were you just texting?" Carly asks. She is grinning. Why is she grinning? She is kind of creeping me out.

"No one, just this kid." I say. Carly is not going to accept that as an answer.

"What kid?" Freddie asks, somewhat rudely. I just look at him like "what's your problem?".

"Yea? You had your cutie smile on." Carly says.

"My what?"

"Her what?" Freddie and I both ask equally confused. Did she just say cutie-smile? What in the world?

"You know, your cutie smile. The smile people make when they are flirting or like who they are talking too." Carly says like it is the most obvious thing in the world.

"I don't even think Sam was born with one of those." Freddie says, trying to make it sound like an insult. I just shoot him a glare. He looks down and I turn back to Carly.

"Okay you have seriously lost it Carls." I say. My phone goes off again, another text.

Well then I guess you will be down here soon :P - A

Nice. What to reply? Ummmm….

Nah… I do bad things, but I'm 2 skilled 2 get caught and I can take Franklin, U on the other hand don't stand a chance - S

I look at Carly and Freddie again, Carly is still smiling.

"You did it again! Who are you texting?" Carly asks.

"Okay, it is this new kid, Aaron Peters." I say like it is nothing. Which I guess it is, I mean I'm just texting the guy. I see Carly gasp and Freddie clench his jaw. What is his problem?

"The new blonde hottie? Sam he is gorgeous! How are you texting him?" Carly asks. It looks like she wants to jump out of her chair with excitement.

"He was in the office when I was and we just started talking and he wanted to exchange numbers so we could talk again." I say. Carly giggles all giddy and I hear Freddie scoff.

"What's your problem?" I ask.

"That is just so lame, one of the cheesiest pick-up lines ever." He says.

"Okay, first off what could you possibly know about pick-up lines? Don't you still spend your nights playing checkers with your mom?" I say, sounding rude. I don't know why I got angry, but seriously who is he to judge? The bell rings and everyone gets up to leave. I get another text as I walk out the door.

You don't even know me -A

Yea, like I did not see that one coming. Totally cliché. I decide to end our conversation there. Now, I just need to make it through the rest of the day.

It feels like the day took forever, but finally the last bell rings and I go to my locker and put my books away. Principal Franklin told me that I should stop by the school therapists office after school to "get comfortable". I guess it wouldn't hurt. I don't even know this chick's name, I think it is Ms. Harris or something.

"Hey Sam." I turn around and see Carly and Freddie walking over.

"What's up?" I say.

"We are going to Groovy Smoothie, you want to come?" Carly asks.

"Can't. I got detention." I lie, but I mean that's pretty much my escape for everything.

"You have only been back for one day!" Freddie says.

"I know, but in my defense Gibby missed my wedgies." I say. I smile and they shrug it off. Smooth, Sam.

"You want to meet us there, then?" Carly asks.

"Yup. I'll text ya." I say and walk down the hall towards the detention room. I wait until they are out of sight and turn the corner heading to the therapists office. I'm walking slowly to make sure if anyone I know sees me, I have time to think up something or just hide. Of course right as I'm thinking this Gibby comes walking my way, I quickly open the nearest door and end up hiding in the janitor's closet. I wait a few minutes until I'm sure that he is gone. I peer out of the closet and look up and down the hall to make sure it is clear. I step out of the closet and shut the door. Whew, that was close.

"What are you doing?" I hear a voice behind me say. I freeze, you have got to be kidding me! I was so close!

"Well I was just….." I begin to explain myself as I turn around to face the person. When I realize who it is I stop explaining.

"You were just mysteriously walking out of the janitor's closet?" Aaron says smiling. I smile and let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness it is him instead of Gibby or someone.

"Yea….. I was…. I kind of had to hide." I say.

"Avoiding someone?" He says. Almost in a teasing sort of way.

"Psssshhhhhh….. No." I say. All he does is cock his eyebrows. I'm wasting time, "Don't you have someplace to be?"

"Do you?" He asks. Why is he so interested? He is defiantly not like Freddie, I can tell you that. Which I mean is a totally good thing, right? God Sam, stop comparing everything to Freddie. What is wrong with me? Nothing has changed. That's the way it should be, the same Sam and Freddie frienemies relationship.

Man, at this rate I will never make it to Groovy Smoothie; then what am I going to tell Carly and Freddie?

"Actually you're right, I do have to be somewhere, sooooo bye." I say and turn to leave.

"Therapist's office?" He says. What? How can he possibly know that. I face him with half a "how the heck did you know that" and half a guilty face. Shoot, I did not want anyone to know about this. He better not tell anyone, I'll be sure of that.

"When I walked in Franklin's office this morning, he was on the phone with the therapist, telling her that you are going to start seeing her. He hung up, then realized I was in the room, but I played it off like I did not hear anything." He says. I watch his expression noting that he looks scared because he overheard something that he shouldn't and yet there is something else there…….. Sorrow? Compassion? Maybe? I have only known this kid for one day and he seems to care more than many others in my life. Still does not explain why he followed--- not followed that sounds too creepy, why he showed up here. I'm not letting my guard down. I can't. So I grab him by the shirt and look him straight in the eyes.

"You do NOT mention this to anyone, ever! Got it?" I say with my put-on tough Sam voice. The one where you know if I am talking to you, you're going to get it; but when I look at Aaron, he is completely unphased. He gently grabs my hands off his shirt.

"Don't worry. You can trust me." He says. I don't even get the chance to respond because he turns around and walks away. What…… What just happened? I can't handle trying to figure him out right now. I push the thoughts aside and continue to the therapist's office. I reach the room, standing outside. It's not too late Sam, you can just walk away now and forget about this now……. Do I even need this? Seriously, what is the point? I can just----- just---- I softly knock on the door before I sike myself out even more. I want this. I need this.

"You can come in." I hear a lady say from the other side. I open the door, Whoa was the first thing that came to my mind when I see the room. It is brightly colored with posters and pictures on the walls, there are a few beanbag chairs, a pop machine, and a couch. Dude, this is awesome! How could I have not known about this room?!

"Hello Samantha." I turn and see a woman sitting at the desk. She is definitely not what I pictured a therapist to look like; she appears young, early 30s if you ask me, and she does not seem shrewd so that's a good start.

"Hey. It's Sam by the way." I say.

"I'm Ms. Harris." She says. What do you know, I was right about her name. She gestures to a chair, but I can't stay long and if I sit down my back will tighten up and then it will almost be impossible to get back up.

"No thanks" I say.

"So would you like to talk about anything? Get to know each other more?" She suggests. She seems sweet, well I guess she has to be since she is a therapist and all. I'm just not in the mood for small talk.

"Ummmm….. Can we actually do that later? I just came to check this thing out and I have someplace I need to be." I say.

"I understand. Can I just ask you one thing?" She says, putting down the pen in her hand. I simply nod. "Why are you here, Sam?" Why am I here? That seems like such I simple question. Why are you here? Why? Cause I can't get over the fact that my best friend got kidnapped? That I can't believe I was a second away from death? I don't understand the change in me and Freddie's relationship? Because I am tired of feeling weak? Will I ever forget this moment? The anger I have towards my mom for not even caring about me? WHAT IS IT?

"I don't know." Is all that I manage to whisper out. She genuinely smiles at my response.

"Good." She says. I just give her a look of confusion. "Not knowing is a good thing, it means you know you don't have all the answers in your life. It's just the beginning." I can't help but to smile, I think I needed that.

"Kay, I will see you tomorrow." I say and walk out the door. I take sigh of relief, that was not so bad. Now to the Groovy Smoothie. This day is turning out better then I thought.

After 10 minutes I finally reach the Groovy Smoothie, I walk in and take a sit next to Carly.

"What's up, chicklets?" I say, taking a sip of Carly's smoothie.

"Nothing" Carly says quietly.

"Lacking the energy there, aren't we Carly?" I joke. Neither Carly or Freddie even come close to smiling. "Are you guys okay?" I ask.

"Why did you lie to us?" Carly asks, her tone a bit harsh, yet more of a mother-ish kinda way.

"What?" I ask. They can't know. There is no way they could know……. Unless, AARON!!!! He wouldn't, would he?

"You did not have detention today Sam, we know." She says. They both look at me, waiting for an explanation.

"You guys I don't know what you heard but------"

"Gibby was here." Freddie finally says. He sounds really upset, why are they getting so peeved over this?

"You guys I----" I begin to say quietly.

"He told us that you never gave him a wedgie today, in fact he said he did not even see you at all. So you did not have detention." Carly says.

"I know." I say simply. Maybe if I just leave I can just get out of this. Nah, they will probably stop me and then who knows if we would start a scene; and I really don't want everyone in here to know about my business.

"Where were you? And why did you have to lie to us?" She asks. Gosh, this was a bad idea. I should have known this was going to happen. Maybe I should just tell them, even though they will probably not like the idea of me talking to someone else when I could talk to them . They just don't understand. Hell, I don't even understand.

"Promise that you won't get mad. I was-----"

"With me" I hear a voice say, cutting me off. I know it is Aaron immediately. Aaron places a hand on my shoulder, at first I think its strange, but maybe he is just playing up his story. Make it more believable, I guess? Carly and Freddie sit there speechless.

"Yea, Aaron needed my help cause he had to---- had to---" I'm struggling with what to say. Luckily Aaron picks up on this and jumps in.

"I had to get acquainted with the school and all the teachers and since I met Sam earlier today, I just asked if she would help me out." He says, without missing a beat. Nice job. Carly finally snaps out of shock and into the realization that Aaron, the new school hottie is standing right by her. She quickly puts on a nice little smile.

"Oh of course, I totally understand, I mean new school and all. Sam we didn't you just tell us that and maybe Freddie and I could have helped too." She says, eyes locked on Aaron the whole time, even though she was speaking to me.

"I told her not to tell anyone because I'm quite embarrassed, you know being the new kid and all." He says. What a joke. That hardly even sounds plausible.

"Yea, of course" Carly says sweetly. Man, she has not taken her eyes off of him once. Carly definitely has the hotts for him. I could always ask him about her in a few days, cause I'm sure hanging out with Aaron will help Carly take her mind off things. Ya never know.

"Kay, well I better get going. I'm stop home before coming over later Carls." I say standing up.

"Cool. Hey Aaron, you can stay and chill with me and Freddie if ya want." Carly says.

"Nah, I actually got to get going too. I just came here cause Sam left her notebook." He pulls out my red scribbled on notebook and hands it to me. That's weird I don't remember dropping this in the hall; in fact I don't even think I had this with me, did I? No I'm sure I left this in my locker today. I give him a half smile, not really knowing what to think of it. He turns and walks out of Groovy Smoothie. I grab my book bag and say one last goodbye to Carly and Freddie, as I leave I hear Freddie whisper, "Didn't he spend all day with Franklin showing him around the school?" I wonder how long this is going to work and I still can't take my mind off how Aaron got my notebook……….

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Whew! That ends this chapter :]

I just realized that I made Aaron sound like a total creeper. Oh well, I don't think I'm going to get too into if he is stalker or not, that might be going a little off topic for this story, but we will see.

-J