Chapter 17: And Then There Were Two

I wish I had some root beer in my mouth at that moment because I would've done a big spit take.

"Why?" Freddie and I asked loudly in complete unison, only to make us turn and glare at each other. Why the heck do we always have to do that?

"Because he knows me well, he'll know I'm lying," Carly said. The three of us were still standing, Freddie and me in front of Carly.

I bit my lower lip, giving her an anxious look.

"Don't worry," Carly said. "He was a teenager once not too long ago. He'll understand."

"Yeah, but he isn't gonna just sit back and watch everyone freak out about us without saying a word or worrying," I explained.

Freddie took a deep breath, nodding slightly in agreement. "Not to mention he's not the best liar," he added quietly.

Carly looked upset at that moment, using her left hand to push back the front of her hair with her fingers. "I... I just wish I never did this. I feel hopeless. I just wanna go home, forget about all of this."

"But my mom kicked me out, Carls," I said softly. "And your dad came home. Nothing's ever gonna be the same. For any of us."

Carly swallowed hard. "I just need to go home. Please don't hate me. I'm telling Spencer the truth. I'll make sure he doesn't tell anyone."

"Good, 'cause you know if anyone finds out about this they're gonna come and force me into some home," I said. The thought of it killed me inside. To have to give up everything.

I saw a sad look on Freddie after I said. He touched the top part of my goosebumped arm lightly.

I saw Carly's mouth slowly curve into a smile. "Maybe Spencer can help you guys."

I started to sneer.

"Just listen," she continued excitedly. "He can bring you pillows and blankets... and food and money!"

Freddie sighed. He put his hand on her shoulder and said, "Thanks for the idea, Carly... but no thanks. Tell Spencer if you need to, but let's not get him into this. Okay?"

Carly nodded, but then she frowned. "But what about me? Can I help you guys?"

"This isn't gonna be forever, Carls," I said. "Don't worry about us. I won't hurt Fredpus..." I smirked, giving him a light pinch in his arm. "I mean, I won't hurt him too much."

Freddie smirked and rolled his eyes. He then put an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his chest a bit. "And I'll try to give her a little meat... somehow."

Carly looked through her purse, only to take out a hundred-dollar bill and hand it to Freddie.

"Oh, Carly, I can't take this..." Freddie said, staring at the money as if he couldn't believe it was real.

"I can!" I exclaimed, yanking the money out of his hand. I figured she had this kind of money still from the time she work at Groovy Smoothies. She kept that job for almost a week after she found out that she didn't need it.

"No," Carly said, grabbing the money away from me and giving it back to Freddie. "No offense Sam, but I want Freddie to be in charge of the money. For food and other emergencies only, got it?"

"Thanks Carly," Freddie said, wrapping her into a one-arm hug. "I'll pay you back when everything goes back to normal."

Carly smiled and nodded.

"If anything ever goes back to normal," he muttered.

I turned and looked up at him. Why was he here?

"Bye guys," Carly said. She spread her arms out wide in order to have a threeway hug.

After we all hugged, Carly unzipped the tent, showing the first patch of sunlight I saw that day. Carly stepped out of the tent and gave us one more sad smile. "Good luck," she whispered. She zipped up the tent and quickly walked off.

Freddie locked the tent. "And then there were two," he said.

"Benson, you need to leave. Now," I blurted.

"Sam, we already established that I'm staying no matter what you say," Freddie smiled. He sat down, leaning lightly on the wall of the tent.

I sat next to him. "Freddie, I eat in one day what you eat in three. The money won't last. We have to make a huge deal of just like... going to the bathroom. And we live in a tent. And we have one outfit each except for those shirts that you brought somehow. And we're gonna have to move around a lot and always hide. My reason for running away is because I have nobody and nothing. You have a great apartment at home with stuff and money and a big extended family and a mom who loves you. I get why you're here. You're trying to be nice. But you're being stupid. I hate saying long things like this, but you have to go."

Freddie wrapped an arm around my shoulders as we still sat next to each other, bringing me into him and making my head almost fall into his lap.

"I appreciate that you care," he said softly. "But... this might sound crazy, but it's kind of fun."

"So I say all that and you say you're having fun," I said. I picked up his arm from his shoulders and dropped it back on him.

"Sam..."

"Life isn't about fun, Benson," I said flatly. I stood up. I turned away from him.

I heard Freddie stand up too behind me. "Maybe not, but it makes the world go round," he said.

Still not facing him, I replied, "I believe that's love."

"Whatever," Freddie said. After ten seconds of silence with us both standing but me still not facing him, Freddie said, "Sam, look me in the eyes and tell me that you'd be happier on your own."

I turned around and looked him in the brown eyes. "I'd be happier on my own."

Freddie's serious expression slowly turned into a smirk, and then he laughed. "That wasn't fair, everyone knows you're the world's best liar."

"In the flesh," I chuckled.

Freddie smiled at me, bringing me into a hug. "We're doing this together," he said. I finally decided to hug him back.

Suddenly, someone knocked on, or scratched, our tent.

I quickly pulled away from Freddie. "Um," I nervously said in my over-exaggerated deep guy voice, "We're just campers."

"Sam?" the most terribly familiar voice asked.

I swallowed hard, whispering weakly, "Mom?"