Last time we saw Sam, she was confessing (some of) her feelings to Freddie and then bolting! Where did she go? Will they ever speak again? Find out now...

Chapter 28: My First Heart-to-Heart

The past several hours passed through my mind in a blur. Whenever I tried to remember the events that had gotten me to this very spot, I couldn't. Some parts seemed clearer than others, but the next second, they'd seem just as confusing and vague. I was finally done catching my breath – well, I had finished with that a while ago – but I wasn't necessarily relaxed.

Sure, I had a Fat Shake in my hand and its heavenly contents were being slowly sucked into my mouth and down my throat and through all of the organs I never cared enough to remember. Other than my stomach, of course. But even five Fat Shakes later, I was still in a daze. Or maybe all of the Fat Shakes just took me into even more of a dream-like feeling.

Slurping up the last of the cups contents, I set it aside with a sigh. Having no more of a Fat Shake left was always such a sad feeling. Having no more food of any kind left was terrible. An insult to the world, really.

Luckily, I didn't have to be without the creamy, sweet goodness for very long. I snapped and a face poked out from around a bend moments later. "Ready for another already, Miss Puckett?"

"I'd be busy drinking instead of snapping if I wasn't."

"I'll be right back."

I nodded and the man dashed off.

You see, the thing is, when you do a man a favor, he owes you one in return. When you do a man a really big favor, he can't say no to providing you Fat Shakes as you sit on the factory floor after a long bus ride at 1:30 in the morning. And let's just say the Fat Shake people owe me a lot of favors. After all, I am their number one consumer. I plan to keep that title forever.

The boy returned, handing me another round and picking up my most newly-emptied cup. He seemed a bit unsure of what was going on, but I tended to deal just with the people behind the counter and the head honchos, so it made sense this guy who manned the factory on a night shift didn't really know what was going on.

"Thanks, Ralph." He didn't budge. "You can go now."

With a quick smile that seemed rather terrified, he made himself disappear as fast as possible.

Just as I went to take a sip of this fresh batch, something caught my eye and I looked over to the ground. There, sitting beside me, was a roll of duct tape.

You know how, in movies, the main character always sees an object and has a sudden flashback of events he couldn't quite remember? Well the roll of tape triggered something just like that, except without the cool camera effects.

After confessing things like the stupid, stupid girl I had become, I had broken out of the closet and gotten out of sight as quickly as possible. When I'd finally been able to think, my first thought had of course been meat. So, somehow, I had made my way to the deli. But, realizing that was an easy place to find me, I took my triple roast beef sandwich on the go, and headed to where no one would ever consider finding me: the library. Turns out, libraries are just as boring as I remember, and once my sandwich was done, there was nothing to do there other than to stare at old people reading and little kids being shushed by their parents.

Things got a bit more confusing after that, because I couldn't make my way to Carly's apartment or to my house and I didn't even have my backpack with me. All I had was a roll of duct tape I'd accidentally confiscated from the janitor's closet. What good was that going to do me? None. Absolutely none. I was about to go back to the deli for more food when I realized I didn't have enough money, and the guy working there today was still in training and didn't understand the Sam Puckett discount yet.

That had led me to remember the fact that the Fat Shake people were in serious debt to me, and so I could definitely pry some free food from them. The issue with that plan was I had to get to the factory, and it wasn't as close as I wanted it to be. Well, I wanted it to be in my backyard, but it wasn't even a ten-minute walk from my house or the school or the deli. Bad factory placement on their part.

But, when your heart is set on a Fat Shake, there's no possibility of settling for anything less, so I trekked my way to the nearest bus stop, feeling very famished by the time I got there. It turned out I had just missed the bus, and so I had to sit and wait for quite a while. Normally I buy a sandwich at the little shop nearby if I'm ever waiting for a bus, but there wasn't enough money in my pocket for that, which stunk more than Gibby after he went to play with pregnant alpacas.

Being hungry is exhausting, though I fought off sleep so I wouldn't miss the bus. The trip passed uneventfully, and there weren't even any gross hobos on it for me to stare at until I made them uncomfortable. Arriving at the Fat Shake factory had fixed all of my issues. Or, most of my issues, but whatever. Fat Shakes are too great and will probably end up curing cancer and fixing world hunger.

Hours and many Fat Shakes later, I was still sitting here, drowning my sorrows and self-disappointment in sugary goodness. Not a bad way to cope, if I do say so myself. And I do. Because they're great.

My phone buzzed and I fished it out of my pocket. A text. From Carly, of course. She had texted me nearly twenty times, presumably ever since she went to check on Freddie and me and found just a boy and a broken closet door.

Are you okay? Where are you? Please just let me know you're alive.

How did that girl always know how to make me feel guilty? Being mean to Carly, whether on purpose or not, was one thing I could never do.

Reluctantly, I replied for the first time all evening.

I'm breathing air. Don't worry about me.

It's too late for that. Where are you? I'm coming to get you.

Not at school.

I'm already on my way.

I wasn't sure if she was being serious or if she was just driving around in circles and knocking on doors. I wouldn't be surprised if she had stopped at the deli; that girl did know me well.

Since I didn't know how to reply, I picked up my Fat Shake and began sipping from it again, finding that my brain was even more confused now. But now it related more to Carly than my own stupid confessing self, which was probably a plus.

The clock kept ticking and the Fat Shake cup contents kept being emptied into my stomach. I was getting sleepy, though I tried my best to stay awake, motivating myself with the reminder that I could keep drinking Fat Shakes until I passed out. It was actually working pretty well.

I think I did end up dozing for a minute or two, because I heard the opening of a door and I straightened up, my eyes coated in sleepiness. My hair was all over and my cup was still loosely in my hand. Brushing some blonde strands from my mouth, I blinked until I could see clearly again. I pulled out my phone. It was just about two in the morning, so I wasn't sure if I had just dreamt up hearing a door or if someone other than Ralph really was here. There was a murmured discussion that was too far away for me to understand. While I wasn't scared since Sam Puckett doesn't do scared, I was confused. Who would be at a Fat Shake Factory at 2am other than me?

But as I heard footsteps approaching, I didn't even have to see the face to gain the answer to my question.

Carly.

"Sam!" a shriek escaped her and she ran over to me the second we came into each other's view. There was a clumsy but determined hug-like-thing going on for a minute until she drew away, her eyes wide with worry. "I am so glad to see you're okay. Why did you run off? What were you thinking? Please tell me you're not hurt. Did your mom evict you? What happened back at school?"

From her string of questions, I realized in relief that Freddie hadn't told Carly what I had said to him. But the fact that Carly was here at all meant that I had to come up with some sort of explanation. I am an excellent liar, but I hate lying to Carly, so framing my story requires more effort.

"Calm down, kid. It's way past your bedtime. Take a seat and have a Fat Shake."

She didn't seem like she was ready to calm down, but I figured it was worth a try. She did, however, pry herself off of me, though her gaze never faltered, and I could practically feel her trying to read my thoughts as she plopped down beside me. I offered over my Fat Shake to her but she shook her head, waving her hand in front of her.

"So, you found me." I hoped that if I started, maybe things would be a little calmer. "Nice guess."

"I know you pretty well sometimes," she shrugged, the worried look not leaving her eyes.

"That's an understatement," I took a slurp.

There was a bit of silence, and I knew she was trying to figure out how to phrase her questions. Leave it to Carly to try her best to stay polite even during an interrogation.

"I want to apologize."

Well that was unexpected. "Why?"

"I shouldn't have shut you and Freddie in that closet together. That was a really rude thing of me to do. I should have known that it would either end with you breaking Freddie's bones or breaking the door. I guess I just hoped that you two could resolve your issues somehow," she frowned. "I've just been really busy lately and the two of you were acting all weird together and it was frustrating because I didn't know what to do and I always know what to do." She sighed and looked down.

Sad Carly was never a good sign for my toughness.

"Carls," she looked up when I spoke. "It's okay. Not that being stuck anywhere with Freddie is a blast, but I didn't know we were making things so hectic for you. I should be the one saying sorry for that. So, I'm sorry. You know I never want to make you angry or drive you crazy or anything, even if I do have a good habit of doing things that made you freak."

She straightened up and shook her head, seeming to relax a bit. "No, don't worry about it. I should have just talked to you guys about it."

I scrunched up my face and made an, "ehhhhhh" sound, thinking it through skeptically. "I can't guarantee that would have made much progress."

"True, true," I swore I could see a little smile on her face.

Several moments passed and I took another slurp of my Fat Shake.

"Just," she hesitated and glanced over. Figuring it was the right thing to do, I stopped sucking on the straw of my drink. "What happened in there? All he would tell me was that you decided you needed to get out of there and so you bust down the door. But he can't have scared you into doing so or anything like that. You're not suddenly scared of small spaces, right? Because you used to like closing people in them, so I really hope I didn't freak you out or-"

"It's okay, Carly, really. Take a deep breath," I offered her a little smile, wishing she would stop blaming herself for everyone. There's no one nicer than Carly Shay. The best part is that, even in all of her niceness, she does tend to have a little snarky streak sometimes, and it's wonderful. "I just had to get out of there, is all. Getting stuck anywhere with Frednub is a surefire way to suffocate to death from boredom."

"I'm not sure boredom can suffocate you…" she nodded knowingly. "But that's not the point. Did you even make an attempt to talk, or did you just bust down the door and run?"

I grunted.

"I'm going to take that as a… yes?" she raised her eyebrows to prove she was just guessing.

"Ding, ding, ding. You are unfortunately correct." I raised my cup to my mouth again and took another drink to get out of talking.

"Did you actually discuss anything?"

I shrugged. "Not really. He said some stuff, I said some stuff." Too much stuff. "Then I decided I couldn't take it anymore and, as you said, busted down the door and ran."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

"Hm. Well, then I suppose I didn't really need to freak out on you quite so much. But you shouldn't have run away. I was worried about you," her eyes proved it again.

"I know," I set my Fat Shake down beside me with a look of defeat. "Sorry I scared you. I just didn't want to be stuck in a closet with Freddie."

"Would you ever?"

"No." But as I said it, I briefly wondered if- no. Now was not the time.

"So," she cleared her throat softly in the way she tended to when she was nervous about saying something, just like how she spoke too fast and said too much when she felt guilty. It was so Carly and I liked it. "You actually said stuff. I'm proud of you, Sam. Months ago, I wouldn't have even dared to leave the two of you alone for five minutes in fear that Freddie would need medical attention."

I rolled my eyes, though I did quickly say, "you're a smart kid." She was. I was known to cause bodily harm, especially to nubs. "But, in any case, I might as well just die because I did say stuff and it wasn't just a string of insults. I think I've officially entered the territory of old and crazy."

"You said something nice?"

"I didn't say it was nice."

"But you said something that wasn't outwardly rude without my urging."

"You did lock us in a closet to talk. That's a heck of a lot of urging if I ever saw any."

"Fine. But still."

I grumbled. "Now, enough of that."

"Are you not going to share?"

"Share what?"

"What you said to Freddie."

"This isn't story time."

"I did not come here just to grab you and take you home with me."

"You sure about that?"

"Stop saying things like that!" she made an exasperated wiggly motion with her arms.

"Stop saying things like what?"

"Like when you already know my answer. I just want to make sure you're okay."

"Momma has an endless supply of Fat Shakes and a super sleuth for a best friend."

"Well, I'm not exactly a super sleuth, but- wait, why do you have an endless supply of Fat Shakes? How did you even get in here at this hour? How did I get in here at this hour?"

"People owe me favors."

"Of course." She leaned back against the wall with a sigh. "Come home with me?" There was a hopeful look in her eyes that hurt me to reject.

"But I have an endless supply of Fat Shakes, which means I have no need to ever move."

"Not even for me?"

"Not the sad Carly eyes. That's not fair."

"So you'll go?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because you have sewer rats in your building."

"Ew, what?! Lewbert never-"

"Chill, Carls, I'm talking about the boy across the hall from you."

"Freddie's not a sewer rat," there was that scolding look.

"I know, but I was getting tired of 'nub.' He smells better than sewers and his nose isn't pointy enough to be like a rat's." Dangit. Why was I so observant when it came to him? He aggravated me with his intelligence and his tech talk and his perfectly combed brown hair and his honest expressions and his gullibility. Dang you, Fredward Benson. Dang you for making me like you. You stink. But not in a literal sense, which is even more aggravating because I have less to hate.

"What if we make a deal?"

"You'll get him to move to Idaho?"

"Only his mom can decide where he lives, but I can promise to hide you in my room."

One thing I loved about Carly was that, even while she was suggesting things that involved deals I didn't really want to make, she knew better than to suggest she could help me get back to my house. It wasn't always the friendliest environment, and she didn't even try to question that. She just offered her help. Seriously, how are people this good?

"I still say I'm fine staying here."

"What about when work starts for the day and there are more people around with less time to tend to you?"

That thought wasn't an appealing one at all, and I knew she could tell she was winning this logic-based debate (per usual) by the expression I was making.

But, even when I was giving into Carly – who was the only person I ever gave into – I still didn't like to admit defeat, so there was no immediate response.

At last I turned to her and mumbled out, "you promise you'll hide me in your room?"

"I absolutely promise. I'll even take up meat to you. Though you're going to have to return to school eventually."

"I know. I can't afford many more strikes or I'll end up in Peruvian jail eating Peruvian Puff Peppers until you bail me out," I grumbled. Stupid nub.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just reflecting on the err of my ways."

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Sam."

"I'll try to be nicer to myself than I was to that closet door." I flashed her a cheeky grin, and I could feel the tension between us melting as we at least started returning to a more relaxed setting.

Feeling pretty confident that I would go back with her, Carly got up, smoothing out her skirt and then reaching down a hand to help me. After several seconds, I finally put up my hand and took hers, leaping to my feet. I picked up my cup since there was still some Fat Shake left inside of it. Her eyes traveled over and she suddenly looked at me in confusion.

"Why is there duct tape?"

"Don't worry about it. Ralph will get it." I waved my hand and then started toward the entrance.

"Ralph?"

"Again, don't worry about it."

"I'll make sure to not ask about your secret double life as part of the Fat Shake mafia next time we're here, which will likely be never."

"Your timing's getting better, Shay," I smiled at her approvingly.

"Why thank you."

"Still needs improvement, but it's getting better."

As soon as we got back to her apartment, we slipped upstairs. She leant me a shirt from one of her young leadership conferences, which was ironic, since I wasn't leading anything, just running from them. Though I must have grown smarter recently, because 'ironic' definitely wasn't a phrase I would have used very long ago.

Anyway, we hit the hay pretty fast, and on a bed made of comfier stuff than straw, too.

Carly was, as usual, up long before I was. By the time I blinked and rolled over in a confused haze, there was just a neatly made set of sheets on the other side of the bed. I wasn't one to skip meals, and I generally ate a few extra, though I did often sleep through what some people considered 'meal times.' Every time is meal time, in my opinion. For some weird reason, not everyone agrees.

I heard footsteps coming and propped myself up just as Carly walked through the door.

"Someone's still sleepy, I see."

I groaned before attempting to puff my hair out of my face with a few weak blows of air. "Fat Shakes are delicious, but they don't help you stay up forever."

She chuckled, moving to sit on the edge of her bed. "Well rouse yourself, Miss Puckett, because your hostess is going to make you food."

"You know the way to my heart," I grinned, liking that we were able to spend time together, kind of like old times, even if we now had boobs and I was in recluse.

"I have to get you to hang out with me somehow," she teased, grabbing a pillow and throwing at me. Just as I went to throw it back, there was a knock at the front door downstairs, and we paused curiously.

It opened, which meant that whoever was there knew Carly opened her door after eating breakfast each morning, generally in case Spencer left and forgot his keys for the umpteenth time. Though she did make sure to lock it when she left. She is quite the stickler about safety.

"Carly? Spencer?" The voice was faint but immediately recognizable.

Carly looked at me with a hesitant expression. I just shrugged. She lowered her voice, leaning closer. "Did you tell him he had nice hair or something?"

"No."

"Did you say you didn't mind his mother's cooking?"

"Not a chance."

"But what could-"

"Carls," I raised my eyebrows, giving her a signature 'expectant Sam' look. "There's a nub loitering downstairs. Don't let him wander too far."

Getting what I was saying, she jumped up and combed her fingers through her hair for a second. Never one to leave guests waiting, she scurried down the steps. For a minute I just sat there. I trusted Carly, of course I did. It had been good to explain what happened. We were best friends and didn't keep secrets from one another, aside from a few minor exceptions. Like my feelings for Freddie. But, now that she knew one bit of the story, I could tell she wanted all of it, and she wasn't one to stop guessing until she learned the truth, which could prove quite problematic for me.

When the murmuring reached my ears, I tried to block it out. There was some mention of his mom. Typical. That was about all I could get out of it. But I always liked being in other people's business, and so I threw off the covers and snuck to the top of the staircase. Leaning against it since sitting seemed like it would make too much noise, I tried to hold my breath and listen.

They were talking about some weird building regulation his mom was trying to put in place. At least, that's what it sounded like. This woman is beyond nutso. I got distracted thinking of nuts and tuned out their conversation.

Realizing I'd done so, I snapped back to attention, rubbing the tiredness from my eyes and trying to pay attention. Apparently, I resumed listening just in time, because I suddenly became the topic of conversation.

Freddie cleared his throat. "Have you, uh, have you heard from Sam recently?"

"Why do you ask that?"

"Well it's just, she ran from the closet and I haven't heard a thing from her since, and I wanted to make sure she was alive. Preferably out of prison, too, but we can only hope for so much."

I heard Carly chuckle lamely. "I did get a text from her and she didn't sound like she was in prison. She's probably just dreaming of ham and avoiding school."

"Something like that. So, uh, nothing else, right? Not that she has plans for my murder or that she was actually drugged yesterday or anything?"

"Why would you think such a thing? She didn't say she liked you in stripes, did she?"

"Uh, no. Those words were not uttered." I could tell he felt awkward, though part of me was amused since Carly was never one to let something go until she figured it out, so of course she slipped in an effort to deduce what I'd told him. "But she's okay, right?"

"A meat-happy Sam is a pretty healthy Sam. Though you seem worried enough to come bearing flowers and a giant teddy bear."

"This isn't Valentine's Day. I just want to make sure I don't need to hire a lawyer."

"Did you do something to her?"

"No, but I'm sure she has all sorts of ways to convince the feds I did if she wanted me to be stuck in prison with mass murderers."

"True." I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't resist smiling. They had such faith in me, and it was a beautiful thing.

"She's here, isn't she?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You're an awful liar." He sounded somewhat amused.

"That's not true. You've never said so before."

"Has Sam?"

"Yeah…" A few seconds ticked by as I waited to hear what was said next. Not being able to see expressions and interactions was the hard part of eavesdropping. "Just… Pretend you have no idea. Please."

"That I can do." I heard him sigh. "I guess I'll be off, then."

"Thanks for giving me the heads up on your mom."

"Thanks for still being my friend even though you know her."

The two of them laughed, but when I heard Freddie's footsteps approaching the door, I hurried down the hall and leapt back on Carly's bed, spreading myself across it. For some reason, I felt kind of disappointed that he hadn't made any effort to come upstairs and see me, but then I remembered that it was Freddie and he probably figured I would break his limbs, so I moved on from that topic. I'd already said too much, anyway. There was nothing left to say.

Several minutes later, she opened the door again, and I sat up, seeing that she was carrying two glasses with her.

"I brought some of your favorite juice," she waved the glass with a silly face before handing it to me.

"Special occasion?" I teased, taking a long sip and practically gulping down the whole thing.

She shrugged, moving to sit up near the pillows next to me. "Mrs. Benson is apparently trying to petition for us to have some sort of backup fire emergency system. Freddie came to warn me before she bombarded Spencer and me with notarized documents and the like."

I bit my lip, trying not to grin at how crazy that was. "She is ridiculous."

"I hope you're not just learning that."

"Did Carly Shay just say something slightly mean and sarcastic?"

"Be quiet," she laughed, hiding her smile behind a drink from her juice glass. "The good news," she pointed at me for a minute once she'd swallowed. "Is that I think you'll be Freddie-free until school on Monday. Hopefully that will help you feel somewhat better about your apparent nice words. Though he didn't seem nearly as weird as he did for several weeks." She stopped, narrowing her eyes and humming in thought.

I fidgeted in place, reaching back and placing my empty glass on one of her bedside tables.

She shot me a weird look.

I cleared my throat dramatically, but her knowing gaze didn't move anywhere else. "It's because you locked us in a closet."

She raised her eyebrows, "that actually did something?"

"I told you we said stuff."

"And it helped?"

I shrugged. "Not a ton. But maybe a little. I think it ruined more than it fixed, but that weirdness is gone, at least."

"Did you guys manage to figure out what was making things weirder than usual? I'm not used to you avoiding each other and not making snarky comments," she curled the sides of her lips up to prove that she didn't mean to be offensive. She never was, but she over-thought everything and often worried she was.

I glanced down at my hands, running my fingers over the quilted pattern of her bedspread. "There was nothing to figure out."

"What?" I had mumbled.

"There was nothing to figure out."

"Then what did you discuss?"

"Uh, not much," I fumbled with the fabric awkwardly. "We just mentioned the fact that we knew why things were weird."

"Well, that's a good thing, right?" I couldn't meet her eyes. I could practically feel the concern in them.

"No, Carly. No it's not," I looked up desperately. "It's terrible because I'm lame and girly and it's horrible." With a big grumble, I flopped down so that my head was just in front of my lap.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I'm lame and girly."

"Sam, your face is pressed against my comforter and your hair is all over the place. I have no idea what you're saying."

I straightened up with a noise somewhat like a groan. "It means I messed all of this up because, as you well know since I was so kind as to tell you when you went on about how those might be our last minutes together, I kissed Freddie. When he came to see me after I left the tent on my birthday, we talked briefly and then in all of my Sam stupidity, I kissed him for no reason whatsoever." Okay, so maybe that wasn't exactly true, but the kiss certainly hadn't been purposeful. "So, I'm lame and girly. Sam Puckett doesn't go around kissing people, especially not nubs. She punches them."

Carly seemed shocked, and, to be honest, I was surprised I had suddenly told her all of that, but it felt good to have fewer secrets from her. She was my best friend, after all.

"Do you like him?"

"What?"

"Do you like Freddie?"

"Do you even hear yourself right now?"

"Well why did you kiss him?"

"I didn't mean to kiss him. It just kind of… happened." Skirting around answering her questions took serious effort, and I wasn't awake enough for that. Then again, this conversation had knocked the sleepiness right out of me.

She paused in serious thought. "And you talked about it when you were in the closet together?"

"Slightly. Unfortunately."

"So then things are alright?"

"I broke the door."

"Right. Right. I forgot about that," she twirled her fair nervously around her finger like she sometimes did. "You should go clear the air with him. Freddie seems like he's doing better than before, so he might be open to talking. And you're not lame and girly, Sam. You're great, and even if you're aggressive, any decent person should be able to see that."

"I have nothing to say to him. I've already said too much, and there's no real point in seeing him again. But, thanks."

"You said too much?"

"In the closet."

"I gathered. But what-"

"Anyway, it's okay. I'm fine never seeing the nub again."

She raised her eyebrows, tilting her head down slightly. Her gaze was so skeptical and knowing that I began to wonder just how much this girl knew.

"Stop giving me that look."

She didn't listen to me.

"If you're trying to remind me that I'm going to have to see him at school, you're forgetting that I'm more than fun with kidnapping you and going on the run to another state."

She still didn't listen to me.

"It's getting creepy."

"Look me in the eyes and tell me honestly that you would be absolutely fine if you never ever saw Freddie again in your life."

This girl was such a romantic, and she clearly wasn't going to give up on the notion that I had a thing for Freddie, which was dreadfully true, but no one was ever going to know that. Except for him, since I'd accidentally said it and ruined everything. "I'll go talk to him." I threw my hands up in the air. If confessing my feelings to Carly and going to chat with the boy for three seconds were my only options, I figured the second choice was less painful.

Bouncing up, I didn't care enough to change out of my pajamas – Momma doesn't leave her natural habitat for anyone – and headed to the door. Pulling it open, I didn't even have to turn around to know what Carly's face looked like at the moment. "Stop smirking, Shay, or I will come for you once I go explain to the nub that he still looks hideous in stripes."

I knocked on the door of the apartment across the hall.

"Come in!" I heard Freddie's muffled voice, but I was already opening the door by the time he gave permission.

He looked up and our eyes met and I could see he was surprised that I was there. "Sam."

"That's my name, feel free to say it whenever and with lots of praise."

He was staring at me in confusion, a dishrag in his hand.

"I know it's weird for me to be here and I'm not really one to talk about much, so let's make this short and sweet. Well, not too sweet, but whatever." I began walking toward where he stood in his kitchen. "First of all-"

"Sam-" he had raised up his hands.

"Don't interrupt me, Fredward, or I will hurt you."

"But Sam-"

"Be quiet, Benson," I got closer, beginning to regret coming here since he apparently wasn't going to make any effort to listen to me.

"But Sam, I-"

"Will you just listen to me for one second?" I took a big step forward.

Before I really knew what was going on, I was falling backward as if in slow motion, and somewhere distant I could hear Freddie. "I spilled my mom's cleaning fluid everywhere."

That would explain the slippery floor.

I went to prop myself up on one arm but collapsed to the floor in effort, groaning loudly.

"Sam, are you okay?" In a flash, Freddie was down beside me, and I could make out his face peering down at mine, but everything felt kind of light and weird. "Do you know your name?"

"Sam."

"Where are you?"

"Your apartment."

"Do you hurt anywhere?"

"Only in my heart because nubs like you still have to suffer through life."

"Very funny," I could swear his eyes hinted at a smile, but his face remained serious. "Do you hurt anywhere?"

"I can't really feel this arm," I attempted to wiggle it, but it didn't do much good.

"Shoot. Okay, hold on a minute. For once, try not to flip me when I reach around you." I didn't really understand what he meant, but it didn't take long to figure out, because only several seconds later, his arms had reached under me and scooped me up. I probably could walk, but I was dazed and didn't have the energy to tell Freddie to put me down.

I heard him yell for Carly who burst through her door and started asking all sorts of questions. With all of their fast talking finally coming to a close, I tried to figure out what was happening. I think we were headed to the parking garage. Somehow Freddie was strong enough to actually hold me for this long.

With my head feeling all dizzy, I let my eyes shut and tried to focus on something other than the pain shooting through my arm.

Oh no, Sam is injured! Luckily she has Freddie to carry her to safety haha. ;)

This chapter was super long, so I hope it wasn't hard to get through for anyone. I have several lovely reviews and PMs, and I will reply to them later tonight/tomorrow! Don't worry, I wouldn't forget about any of you lovely people.

I've been trying to be a little more consistent updating, and hopefully the absence of a post last week didn't bother you guys too much. Anyway, in the next chapter... something EXCITING and SEDDIE-RELATED is coming!

I can't say what it is and it's just a small part of the chapter but it's pretty important. O.O I hope all of you are just as excited as I am, even if I'm the only one who gets to know what it is for now and how it'll turn out in the end.

Also, in case any of you were curious (maybe you weren't at all), the list will come back into play soon, and there will be more Seddie interaction soon. The next chapter's much shorter and kind of speeds by, but after that, as a result of the important Seddie thing coming up next... there will be more!

Some of you left comments saying that you either don't ship Seddie or don't ship anything but you still read and like my story, and that means SO much to me. Thank you. It's great to hear that My List of Firsts appeals to a greater range of people than I ever expected.

Please review and keep reading and let me know what you think! :) Your support means a ton and never fails to keep me going.