'AND THAT IS THE QUESTION'

Chapter Thirteen: Wake Up Call

Photographs.

All assorted on the face of her mirror. Some with her and Carly, and some with her, Carly and Freddie, together, having fun. Smiling. Being way too happy. An emotion Sam had not felt in five whole days.

It was getting too depressing without her friends.

But. She couldn't go back. She couldn't go crawling back to school, begging for them to forgive her rash behavior, or harsh treatment. After all, she'd ignored the both of them for so long. Just because she was… for a lack of better word… jealous.

Jealous. Really?

Yes. Jealous. The girl had the bad case of the green monster, lurking in the depths of her despairing heartbreak. It was the cause of the hurt, pain and anguish she felt.

Why would she need to feel this way? The same question kept circling around in her head.

After all, best friends don't steal best friends boyfriends. That was one of the basic rules in the girl guide. Not that there actually was a girl guide in the first place. Beside the point. Best friends don't lie, cheat, steal, or do anything bad against their best friend. Sam held a hand to her stomach, and felt really ill.

Something didn't add up. Maybe she'd jumped to conclusions too soon.

Carly couldn't do something like this to her. And Freddie. Oh Freddie. He was too kind-hearted to even think about cheating on her. No. There had to be another simpler explanation. For everything she'd heard and witnessed.

But what?

Meanwhile, in his bedroom, Freddie was contemplating whether to send Sam a text or not.

It had been five days. Five. Whole. Days. And he thought being locked in his room for just one day sucked. This tore him apart even more.

The way she ignored him, and refused to speak to him, was almost like she was jealous. He shrugged this thought off immediately. There was no way Sam Puckett could feel any sort of jealousy. No way. No. Impossible. She didn't feel guilt when hurting him, so how could it even be remotely possible that she thought he loved Carly?

Jealous? Nah.

Picking up his cell phone, he scrolled through his names and stopped when it got to Sam's name. His finger hovered over the 'call' button and sighed, pressing down on it. It rang once. It rang twice. It rang three times. No one answered.

Hanging up, he tried again. It rang.

Please, thought Freddie, as if trying to send out psychic vibes or something. Pick up. I need to talk to you. Pick up the damn phone Puckett!

It rang. And rang. Still rang. The sound embedded itself in his brain. Until it started echoing through his mind. It got annoying. No response again.

A third time, he called.

This was ridiculous. Sam hadn't picked up her phone the last two attempts, and now she wasn't even going to-

"Hello Freddie."

"Sam! Hi. You picked up, this time."

"What do you want?" Her voice was croaky sounding but still didn't lack the demanding tone.

That was a good question. What did he want? For her to stop ignoring him and Carly, for her to talk to him and tell him all her problems, for her to speak to her best friend, for her to say the three most important words, everyone wanted to hear sometime in their life.

But this was Samantha Puckett he was talking to. She was fiercely stubborn and amazingly feisty. Unlike any other girl he ever did meet. No frills. No bows. What you see, is what you get.

"I'm waiting."

"Why won't you tell me what your problem is?"

A pause. He heard her pace of breathing increase slightly. It was almost as if she was freaked out about it all.

"If you don't know what you did. I can't help you." Her voice spoke seriously.

"Now you're just being stupid." He replied, scoffing.

Another pause.

"Stupid? Stupid? STUPID?"

Uh oh. Now he'd gone and dug himself into another hole. One that was deep enough to trap him in there. Freddie was going to need a really, REALLY big shovel. Unfortunately, he couldn't find one.

"You're the one who's been IGNORING me. And Carly!"

"So. You're saying it's my fault. Typical boy."

There was a break in between their conversation, which sadly, had taken a turn for the worst.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?"

"WHY DON'T YOU ASK 'MISS FAVORITE GIRL' SINCE YOU OBVIOUSLY ARE STILL IN LOVE WITH HER!"

"I don't…. understand."

"Understand this jerk face. We're THROUGH!"

"Sam-

The other end of the line cut off before he could say anymore.

Freddie groaned loudly and threw his cell phone against the wall. It chipped some paint but the phone was in need of repair. Lying on the ground, battery separated from the actual inside of the phone.

That could wait. Something else, more important was in need of repair.

But he had no idea, or no hint of a clue where to begin. Their less than civil conversation once again, replayed through his mind. Over ad over again. Like a broken record. He couldn't forget.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Why don't you go ask Miss Favorite Girl!"

The blonde sure had a way of insulting people. Miss Favorite Girl? Whatever will she come up with next?

That's when something clicked.

"I'm just… worried…" Carly said, in a small voice.

"I don't believe this," he replied, with a slight smirk. "You're actually jealous."

"What? No! I'm just-"

"Seriously. You have nothing to worry about Carls. I'll always have time for my favorite girl."

Favorite girl. 'Miss Favorite Girl'.

If Sam was angry at both him and Carly, and she had over heard his and Carly's conversation about a week ago, than that would mean that she'd think…. And that he…

Oh no! Oh chiz!