Setting up the unique and oh-so-Seddie dynamic these two have now (and back then) with these next chapters.

"The more things change, the more they stay the same."

You're everything I think I need here on the ground.

"No."

"Please?"

"Nope."

"Pretty please?"

He sighed. "Sam, I told you, I can't. I have AV after school and I won't be out 'till after five-"

"Oh, come on, Benson – how often do I ask you for a favor?"

Freddie laughed loudly into the phone over her exasperated huff. Was the girl kidding? "I don't know, how often would you call every other day?"

He knew he'd cave, she knew he'd cave; he always did.

But that didn't mean he couldn't give her a hard time about it.

"That is neither here nor there," she hot back, and he rolled his eyes. "Now are you going to pick me up from rehearsal or not, man?"

"Be there in fifteen."

"And hey, if you'd want to stop at like...Chili My Bowl or something on the way -"

"Not happening, Samantha." And he'd hung up, fighting back a smile.

...

Sam sat in the back corner of the library with her –– blank –– notebook and Algebra II textbook and groaned.

She might as well be reading Russian for all the good that this studying has been doing.

If it weren't for her brilliant nerd of an ex-boyfriend, Sam would never have even set foot in the school library. (Actually until he suggested they have a study-date one day she didn't even know where their library was).

He bribed her with a sandwich and soft kisses on her earlobe and neck, and needless to say they ended up having that study date.

And just like that the library was one of their favorite places to be. Quiet. Cozy. Lots of high shelves to make out behind...Occasionally some studying did in-fact occur.

Occasionally.

Sam sighed and ran her hand through her curls. Now, however, without him looming over her shoulder whispering in her ear that she needed to concentrate, focusing seemed like less of a possibility than usual.

They had planned to meet here so he could help her get ready for the exam on Monday, but somehow she didn't exactly see that happening now.

...

Exactly eighteen minutes later he was parked outside of her dance studio with the engine running.

And a bowl of Chili waiting for her.

This hold she had on him was kind of ridiculous and more than a little irrational.

Whatever the status was of their relationship (or really, lack there of) saying no to her never really ever seemed to be an option.

He looked up from switching the dial on the radio to see her walking towards the car with her dance bag on her shoulder, and her blonde hair in a messy bun on top of her head.

Though he never said it out loud, he always thought she looked amazing after dance practice. Glowing almost.

She smiled and gave a tiny wave approaching his mom's old Acura and sliding in. "Yo, yo."

"How was dance?"

She shrugged. "Eh."

He shook his head, and motioned for her to buckle her seat belt. Though she insisted she only started performing again to get some non illegal extra-curriculars on her applications, he could tell how much she actually loved it.

"Here," he said, handing her the bag of take out, and turning to see her face light up. She grabbed the bag and was finished eating in two minutes flat.

"What? Dancing makes Mama hungry."

He just smiled; as if she ever needed an excuse to chow down food.

They drove in silence the rest of the way, occasional humming (on her part) to the radio, before they finally pulled up to her house. She grabbed the duffle bag from the floor and kissed his cheek.

"You are my favorite ex, you know that?"

"Oh, I bet you say that to all of your exes."

"True. But I only mean it with you."

She got out of the car, a quick look back with a half smile –– leaving him behind with the trash from her food.

It wasn't exactly a thank you...But he'd take it.

...

"Hey, there you are."

She blinked up from the textbook that she was seriously contemplating throwing against the wall behind her.

Shaking her head in confusion at the brown eyes starring intently back at her, she put her pen down before raising an eyebrow at him. "Uh, what are you doing here, Freddie?"

He shrugged in that lax way he always did and swung the chair next to her around to sit. "Um, as far as I can remember we were supposed to prep you for the exam, no?" He met her stare and smiled, before pulling out his own textbook.

"Yeah," she answered slowly. "But that was before-"

Freddie smirked at her and handed her back her pen. "So? Just because we're not together anymore is no reason for you to fail math."

Instinctively she rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smile. "Shut up."

Twenty minutes into the study session and her attention span was seriously wavering.

"Here."

She turned to face him when he pulled out a small zip lock with a ham sandwich inside. Her eyes grew and she whispered a quick thank you before opening her book again.

A few moments of silence later and he lightly placed his hand over arm to get her attention again. "Hey, you know I'd never...not be there for you, right?"

She took a breath before looking back at him. "Yeah, yeah. I know." She smiled and stopped to elbow him before handing him the other half of her sandwich.

But you're neither friend nor foe, though I can't seem to let you go.

Actual plot coming your way, folks, promise. Stay with me! ;)