Seriously?

"Sam? HELLO, you there?"

"Huh? Yeah— what were you saying?" Carly snaps me out of my daze and I continue to shove books into my locker.

"What's wrong with you today? You have been totally spacey since last night." She says.

"I'm fine." I mumble back and shut my locker to face her. I can see on Carly's face she knows I'm not fine. I really have been out of it since Freddie and I talked last night and we haven't seen each other since. I'm not looking forward to seeing him today either. I mean can you say awkward?

"Come on, I've known you long enough to know when you're not fine" She says and ruffles my hair like she does sometimes. She folds her arms across her chest waiting for me to spill and tell her what's on my mind.

"Urrrggghhh, Carlllyyyyy! I just don't see why things can't go_"

"Hey guys" Freddie says walking up to our lockers interrupting me. Carly throws him a glare for interrupting me, the look said go away, but Freddie didn't get it. Nub.

"Uhhhh… What's up?" He says, looking confused to Carly.

"Nothing, Freddie" Carly says sweetly, no longer upset he butted in our conversation. She turns back to her locker, grabs a notebook, and shuts the locker. "Oh now that both of you are here. Spencer said you two can come over for dinner, we're making pizza."

"Where else would I be?" I say.

"Sounds good. My mom has got book club tonight."

"Book club?" Carly laughs at the idea, "What books can your mother possibly read that other people actually like? I don't think How to Protect Your Teen from 108 Different Bug Bites is going to work." She says mockingly. I smile, that's so true.

"I don't know…. It's some romantic- comedy—son—thing. The point is it took me 2 hours last night to finally convince her to go. This is the first time she has left me alone since…." He trails off. I mean it's not like we don't know what he's talking about.

"Cool, then its all set." Carly says, "Kay, I have to go ask Mr. Henning a question on our last quiz. He didn't even give me a grade, the quiz just said 'The earth spins south' or something. What does that even mean?" Freddie and I just give confused looks. There are no words to describe that man. What a freak. "I'll see you guys in class." She smiles and walks away, heading to class.

"Hey" Freddie says softly, like I'm a fragile child or something. Geeezzz Freddie, seriously? But this is the first time we have talked since last night. I'm not even upset anymore, there really is no point. After everything that we have been through, these stupid little things shouldn't even matter anymore. I just want to go back to normal, but I know we can't… which sucks. I'm trying not to focus on it, but the court dates are going to be soon. Talk about trying to move on right? I don't even know how this official law thing works, I just want that lying, sneaking, Roy to get what he deserves.

"Hey." He says again.

"Hey." I say back with the same softness might I add. I hate this, I feel like we are tip toeing around everything lately. I lean back on the locker. God, why isn't he saying anything? I feel like the air is suffocating.

"How's it going?" He says.

"It's fine, getting ready for a nap in math." I say with a fake laugh trying to lighten the mood. Freddie smiles and chuckles a bit.

"Sam, I really want to apologize for yesterday. I never_"

"Hey Sam, Freddie" I turn and see Aaron walking towards us. I see Freddie scoff and roll his eyes.

"Hey Aaron." I say. He smiles at me, a kind of unsettling smile that makes a chill go down my spine… weird, but it's probably just me, everything has been unsettling to me since what happened. Come on Sam, he is just smiling at you.

"Hey. What's up man?" Freddie says. Aaron acts like he doesn't even hear Freddie and keeps his gaze on me. I look at Aaron. I can see why all the girls, including Carly, are into him. He has that "ideal teenage dream boy" look with his blond hair and blue eyes, but still the way he is looking at me now is just not… right.

Uhhh… Aaron?" Freddie says again. I look at Freddie, who has this worried or freaked out look on his face. I give him a shrug like "I have no idea why Aaron is looking at me like that. Creep"

"Yeah, Sup Freddie?" Aaron finally says and his focus moves to Freddie.

"So how do you like Ridgeway so far?" Freddie asks.

"It's nice you know. Just another school." He says.

"Have you been to many other schools?" Freddie asks.

"Yeah, I move around a lot…" He says. Well, thanks so much for that insightful conversation.

"Cool." Freddie says, I think he just didn't know what else to say… I mean cool? Really? "Sam we should really be heading to class."

"Yeah" I say and take a step towards Freddie.

"We'll see you later Aaron." Freddie says.

"Later." I say.

"Uhhh… actually Sam I was wondering if you could show me to room 248? I'm still not quite sure where everything is" Aaron says with a shy smile.

"Oh well yeah, sure." I say, kinda confused. He has been here for over a week now and he doesn't know where his class is?

"Didn't she show you around after school yesterday?" Freddie asks. Oh crap not this again.

"Oh yeah, but I just want to be sure." He says.

"Our school isn't that big. I'm sure that you would find your way." Freddie says. Why is he acting like this? I know he doesn't like the guy, but he doesn't have to be so rude, I mean he doesn't even know Aaron. Well, I guess I don't either, does anyone really know him?

"It's cool, Freddie." I say, "I'll meet you in English. Let's go Aaron."

"Yeah." Freddie says and walks towards our English hall.

"So why did you really want me to take you to class? You know where your class is dude, I know you do." I say to Aaron as we walk down the hall together.

"Ha, yeah. I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"Ummmm… I'm fine." I say. What's with everyone wanting to know how I'm doing? I mean I can see Carly and Freddie, but this guy, I don't get at all.

"So how's meeting with Ms. Harris going?" He asks.

"Shhhhhh….. Dude. What did I say about that, you don't even mention it at all." Can this guy talk about anything other than me?

"Ha-ha… okay okay" He laughs and joking throws his hands up.

"So what about you?" I ask, "What brought you to Seattle?"

"Oh… my dad's job makes us move around a lot. I'm used to it now." He says.

"Annndddd?" I say waiting for more of the story. Aaron just looks at me confused. "Come on, there has to have been more to your life than that."

"Not really, just a boring little life." He says. This guy is more locked up than I am, but I guess it's none of my business.

"Hey, you know what? Why don't you come over to Carly's tonight and hang out with us?" I suggest.

"Really? You sure? I mean I don't even know Carly that well." He says.

"Yeah, it will be great and you'll love Carly, everyone does." I say. This will be great. Carly is totally into this guy so she will be psyched and everyone can get to know Aaron better. Hopefully this will also get him to talk about something other than me.

"That sounds like fun. Sure I'll be there."

"Cool. See you later." I say. Tonight is going to good. We need this. Carly is going to flip when she finds out.