Snow Day! Wow that was the first time in a long time that I used an exclamation point to express how I feel. I have even more time to update. I think I might be going crazy with this story but it's coming out pretty good, right? I hope so because I love writing it. This is the first time I've updated a story so frequently….

VV

Chapter Six: Not Backing Down

I exited the nurse's office to see Freddie standing by a nearby open window and taking deep breaths. He must be worse than me on the whole blood issue. I shut the nurses door behind me as quietly as I could not really wanting to disturb his moment of hyperventilation but before the door could click shut he quickly turned to look at me.

His eyes locked on me and I noticed they were still darker than before but they looked amazing; they were like a deep gold color but glazed over and distant. He stood up straight and shut the window before cracking a weak smile. I awkwardly smiled back.

"You didn't have to wait for me." I muttered flexing my now bandaged hand before starting down the hall back to Bio. He quickly followed me; walking next to me in perfect sync. The closeness let me take in his scent and I had to keep myself from sighing. He smelled like…a dozen good things at once and one of them was ham, ginger, lavender, cherry blossom…was this dude a girl or what?

"I…wanted to wait." He said cautiously. I looked towards him and quirked an eyebrow. He quickly moved his eyes away from me and cleared his throat. "Just to make sure you were okay." He quickly added. I gave him a blank stare before nodding. I really hoped he wasn't going to follow me around like Travis.

"Thanks Freddo, but I'm a big girl. I can handle myself." I said giving him a smirk as I entered the classroom. Freddie remained on my heels as we returned to our seat to "finish" our lab. Since we really had nothing to do we took the opportunity to talk with one another but the questions I asked were quickly avoided and he had me rambling about myself. He said that his life wasn't that exciting and he wanted to get to know me

I don't know if he was just trying to hit on me, which he probably wasn't because a guy as handsome as him could do so much better than a tomboy like me, but he was listening intently and he asked a lot of questions, some I didn't want to answer. By the end of Biology he was walking me to my locker and we received rude looks all the way from Travis.

"So…your mother has remarried five times and this time she wanted to move you from Seattle, Washington, to Houston, Texas?" He questioned as we approached my locker. I had gotten the proper combination this time so I had no problem getting it open.

"Yea, as soon as she mentioned her fifth husband I called up Dan." I said as I shoved my Bio book into the narrow locker. He nodded in understanding while staring at me intently. I stared back in a manner that asked "what?"

"My apologies…I-I'm just trying to figure you out…you are very difficult to read." He commented. I glanced at him confused as to why he would say that, and noticed that his eyes had gotten darker. They were now a light hazel color. I furrowed my brow and tilted my head in confusion.

"I know this may be a real subject changer but, do you have contacts because earlier today your eyes were topaz and now their hazel." I pointed out while narrowing my eyes to look at his ever-changing eyes that were now narrowed into a glare. Was he mad?

I glanced down and saw that he was clenching his fists now. How could that question possibly make him mad? He had been asking me about my entire life for the last half hour and one question sets him over the edge. He is definitely weirder than I had thought.

"Uh…yea it's just the...um florescent lighting…ugh." I stumbled over his words and shook his head before smiling at me in a bittersweet manner. What was his problem? "Listen Sam, you're a really nice person and I enjoyed spending some time with you but," His face became grim and I began to get worried. It sounded like he was breaking up with me when we weren't even going out. "It would be best if we stayed away from each other."

Without even letting me say my input he quickly walked away. I stared after him completely shocked, confused and angry. He did not just say something so stupid to me. I thought he was actually a good person; someone normal like Jeannette and Dani, but he was just one big puzzle. Right then I promised never to leave him be just like that. He started this so I'm gonna end it.

It was the end of the day and the Sheriff was late…probably doing sheriff duties. Most of the kids had left already and Travis, Aaron, and Ethan were waiting along with me while playing basketball. Their rides hadn't shown up either. I turned on my ipod to shut out their annoying laughter and I sat under the old statue that was in front of the school. I placed my hand on the thing and realized that it wasn't made of stone at all. It was pure metal painted and textured to look like stone. They probably wanted it to last.

I snorted and turned up my music a tad bit louder as I glanced around. I saw Carly and Shane sitting on a bench across the school yard and Valerie and Jake were witting along with them. I rolled my eyes and shook my head in pure annoyance. Not that far from the bench was Freddie. He was staring directly at me so I glared at him and quickly looked away. If he didn't want a thing to do with me, why was he always staring at me?

I rolled my eyes and went into my backpack for something to eat when I heard Travis yell something. I pulled out one ear bud just in time to hear the creaking of metal and part of Travis' yelling.

"…Sam!" I glanced up to see the metal statue I was sitting under coming crashing down right where I sat. I was frozen in spot and I shut my eyes awaiting for the statue to fall on top of me and crush me, but surprisingly I didn't feel the painful crushing of my bones or a tremendous weight on me.

I slowly cracked my eyes open to see what had just happened and why I wasn't gasping for air only to Freddie staring back at me. My eyes widened as I saw him holding the statue up with one hand and his other arm was wrapped securely around my waist. I took in a deep breath as I heard Ethan call my name. Freddie quickly placed the statue back in its spot before rushing off. I blinked in shock. He was just on the other side of the school yard…wasn't he?

"Sam? Are you alright? How did you get the statue back in place? That thing is like 500 pounds of pure metal." Ethan said coming up next to me. I blinked again trying to let my mind process what had just occurred.

"500 pounds? You didn't see him?" I questioned quickly glancing between Ethan and Travis. Aaron was staring at me with the most guilty look ever.

"See who Sam?" Travis asked. I gave him a confused look.

"I'm so sorry Sam! I was playing around on the statue and the thing just gave…" Aaron said frantically. I was too shocked to yell at him for being so stupid as to play on an obviously old statue that looked like it would have given away any second. I was confused as to why none of them had seen Freddie…he had just held up the statue with one hand!

"How could you not have seen him!?" I exclaimed. "He was there a second ago." I said. Travis and Ethan exchanged looks before Travis pulled out his cell phone and dialed something.

"It's alright Sam we'll just call the paramedics so you can get checked out." He said. Did he actually think I was crazy? I know what I saw because I'm not crazy.

"How irresponsible can you be!? First of all you shouldn't be climbing on school property! I should bring you in for this!" Dan scorned Aaron who was completely ignoring him to apologize to me as I sat on a bed within the local hospital. It was smaller than the actual Lewiston hospital…or at least that's what Dan told me. This place was called Mercy Hospital.

"Sir, would you mind taking this outside?" I nurse asked sweetly. Dan nodded and took Aaron by the sleeve out of the room. I couldn't help but chuckle at the situation Aaron had gotten himself into.

"Alright Ms. Puckett, let's see how you're doing today. The boys you were with said you took quite a fall because you were talking rather strangely." A man said entering the room with a clipboard in his hands. He glanced up at me and smiled kindly and my jaw dropped slightly.

He was the definition of gorgeous. He had shaggy brunette hair and the brightest yellow eyes I had ever seen; they reminded me of Freddie's eyes. His skin was slightly pale and his smile was simply entrancing. I read the tag on his doctor's coat and understood why he looked so perfect. This was Dr. Shay.

"I'm fine Dr. Shay really…" I muttered as he took a small flashlight from the pocket of his coat and pointed it in both my eyes. He chuckled as he scribbled something down on his clipboard.

"I know Ms. Puckett. Your x-rays came back fine and you just might experience slight shock. I'm just checking for any head trauma. Now could you follow the pen?" He asked me. I rolled my eyes before following a pen that he was waving in my face. He smiled brightly and I couldn't help but stare. "Well you seem perfectly fine…"

"Thank you Dr. Shay." I said out of proper mannerism. He flashed me another smile; he seemed to like to smile and dazzle people a lot because he was dazzling me beyond belief. I thought the Shay five was perfect but he was the icing on the cake. Dani was right, he looked way too young to be a doctor…he was more on the lines of high school senior.

"Please call me Spencer." He said before heading out the room. The nurse that had been in there the whole time, watched as he walked away and I couldn't help but feel sorry for Spencer. He must have girls on his case all the time. Luckily he was married with five perfect kids.

I jumped down off my bed and straightened out the hoody I had been wearing. I walked past the nurse and out the room in hopes of finding my father. Hospitals weren't exactly my favorite place to be because it was filled with sick and/or dying people. I only walked a few feet before I heard voices talking from around the corner. I stopped to listen.

"Freddie could you get any more stupid! What you did could jeopardize everything!" I recognized that melodious voice. It was Valerie. I narrowed my eyes as I peaked around the corner to see Freddie, Valerie and Dr. Shay…I mean Spencer, having a conversation.

"What did you expect me to do? Let her get crushed?" Freddie snapped back at her. Something made me happy that he was defending me and I was right about him being there holding that statue. He had stopped that statue from crushing me.

"It would have been better if you had!" Valerie scoffed crossing her arms over her chest. My hate for her grew. "This puts not only you in danger but the entire family! Are you risking all that for this one girl!?"

"I understand what I've done Val…it's just that I couldn't just let that happen…I can't just leave her to get hurt." Freddie said as his gaze lowered. He shouldn't be feeling guilty for saving me. He should be proud of himself.

"Freddie, what you did was the right thing but you have to think things through before acting out like that." Spencer said. Freddie nodded and Valerie rolled her eyes. I found that as my cue and I walked around the corner, putting on my best oblivious face. Valerie glared at me before turning to leave without a word.

"Um…Dr. Shay…could I speak to Fredward, alone." I asked as sweetly as I could. I hated acting all sugary and sweet. Spencer glanced at Freddie before smiling in my direction and nodding. He went in the same direction that Valerie had just stalked off in and Freddie hesitantly approached me.

He nonchalantly leaned against the wall and he put on hiss blank façade that he had been wearing the day I first saw him. I let out a sigh as I stared at my feet for a moment as his smell hit me again. It seemed to have changed from last time. It smelled more like Vanilla and hot chocolate…but the smell of ham was still evident.

"How'd you do that?" I blurted out getting straight to my point. I kept my tone low in case anyone was listening.

"Do what?" he questioned back. I narrowed my eyes into a harsh glare and placed my hands on my hips in my annoyance. He knew what I was talking about!

"You know what!" I exclaimed. I glanced around to see if anyone had heard the outburst and luckily no one had. He continued to give me an innocent, confused look and I was tempted to slap the memory back into his head, but instead I went along with his game. "Today in the school yard, how'd you get to me so fast?"

"I was standing right next to you Sam." He chuckled as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. He was lying. I was with Travis, Aaron and Ethan, not him.

"No, you were with your family across the field yard staring at me." I said sharply hoping to have him blush from embarrassment. He simply blinked as his cheeks remained as pale as they normally did.

"No I wasn't" he said simply. I gave him an incredulous look.

"Yes you were." I countered.

"Listen Sam, Travis said you hit your head so you must be a bit confused." He said carefully while crossing his arms over his chest. I shook my head at him

"I know what I saw." I growled pointing an accusing finger at him. He leaned in towards me and I swallowed.

"And what exactly did you see?" He asked making himself look interested in what I had to say. I pulled away from him a bit before crossing my arms over my chest.

"I saw you holding up a 500 pound statue with one hand and I think I saw a hand print in the statue…" I stated in a matter-of-fact tone. He stood up straight and shrugged.

"Nobody is going to believe you." He said in a low tone that sent a shiver up my spine. I glared at him for having such an effect on me.

"I didn't plan on telling anybody. I just wanted to know the truth." I said firmly. He shook his head as a sarcastic smile spread across is lips.

"Why can't you just thank me and leave it at that." He laughed sarcastically. I gave him a disgusted look as I kept my anger tame. I was so going to punch him…

"Fine. Thank you." I growled through clenched teeth. I was not going to let this slide so easily. He was acting way too strange for me to just walk away like that. I had already promised myself that I wasn't going to just give up. Sam Puckett never gives up.

"You're not going to let this go are you?" he asked me suddenly. There was a hint of annoyance in his tone. I smirked and shook my head.

"Nope."

He chuckled and lean into me once again. His face was mere centimeters from mine and my face began to strangely heat up as his cold breath tickled my face.

"Well prepare yourself for great disappointment." He muttered before pulling away from me and walking down the hall in the direction that Spencer and Valerie had just went a few moments ago. I groaned and rolled my eyes.

He had left me standing there alone and confused for the second time that day.

I typed this for one hour straight. I had to keep thinking things through and rereading and I hope it came out as good as I wanted it to be. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter because it was another close encounter with Sam and Freddie. Things get a bit more interesting from here I guess. Now do what ya know ya gotta do and Pweez review

V i D a V e N d E t T a . . .