[Notice of Hiatus] 8/30/2013
As of the past two weeks, I've returned to school and have found myself with non-stop writer's block. Everything I write just seems like crap to me. If you disagree leave a review, but chances are if this continues, I'll just got on a total hiatus from writing until I reach Christmas break. I wanted to update all my stories before doing this.

Hope you enjoy this chapter. Sorry if it's as crappy as I think it is.

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Chapter 2 – They don't know I'm in pain…

It had been almost two weeks since he'd last been at school. Tucker slowly made his way up the front steps of the high school. It was around the middle of third period, but that was the earliest he'd managed to get himself up. Last night had been tough, with Skulker running wild in a gun range, he hadn't gotten to bed until well into the morning. His feet felt like blocks of lead as he walked down the hallway. He just couldn't get himself into the mood for school.

Literature class… Mr. Lancer… Tucker stood outside the door, his hand on the nob. Eventually he decided there was nothing else to do but go in. All eyes turned to look at him as he made his way to his usual seat. It was hard not to look at the empty desk just behind him. Sam's desk was empty also. It had hit her harder than anyone so he wasn't surprised that she'd take longer to get back to class.

Mr. Lancer said nothing and just continued with class, but Tucker didn't really hear any of it. He even fell asleep at one point, and was gently shook awake by the teacher; the room was emptied. "If you need to go to the nurse's office Mr. Foely, you take your time."

"Sorry… I'll just get to my next class."

Mr. Lancer nodded his understanding. It was good to keep busy at times like this. He watched the teen leave, a lump settling in his throat. He was one of the few that had been at the funeral. He shook his head and headed to the teacher's lounge.

Tucker stood at his locker trying to remember what his next class was. His head was so out of it that it never occurred to him to pull out his PDA and check his schedule.

"You're in P.E. next." A voice from behind informed him. Tucker turned around to see Dash and Kwan leaning over his shoulder looking into his locker. "We can cover for you if you plan on skipping. Ms. Teslaff will forget about it if we're the ones to tell her."

Completely stunned by the offer, Tucker was at a loss for words. He muttered a thank you but said he would still go, before shutting his locker and turning away. Dash grabbed his shoulder as he left. Years of experience made Tucker put his arms up to protect his face. When no punch or noogie came, Tucker opened his eyes to look at the jocks. Dash tugged on his collar nervously.

"So umm… we heard that you were… you know… every night. And we figured that if you ever need help."

"He's trying to say we'll help you catch ghosts if you need us." Kawn said, clarifying for Dash. "And that we're sorry about everything." Dash flinched a bit as if the act of apologizing to a nerd was physically painful, but said nothing.

Tucker faked a smile, for a moment looking back to his normal techno-geek self. "What are you talking about? Shouldn't you guys be shoving me in a locker or something?" but his laugh died in his throat and he looked to the ground. "Thanks, but I got it covered." Tucker hurried away before the Jocks could say anything else out of character.

The rest of the day went slowly. He took few notes, and no more moments of awkward apologies occurred, for which Tucker was grateful. He didn't much enjoy being reminded that nothing would be the same ever again.

Exiting the school building, Tucker turned to the left headed towards Sam's house. If he didn't stop by every day he might worry she was becoming more Emo than Goth, and they couldn't have that, now could they? Mr. and Mrs. Manson welcomed him at the door and let him go to Sam's room as usual. The room was dark when he cracked open the door. First thing he did was go over and throw open the heavy drapes, letting in the sunlight. Sam moaned from the bed.

"Go away Tucker."

"Sorry Sam. Can't do that." He went over to the chair next to the bed where Sam's mom had lain out some clothing, a hideous pink and rainbow dress; he took it and chucked it into the closet, pulling out Sam's usual black plaid skirt and black shirt at the same time. "I didn't eat at school so we're going to head to the Nasty Burger. I'm pretty starving so you'd better hurry up or I might have to get something big and meaty from your parents and come eat it up here. Don't want any meat juice spilling on your bed do you?" Sam groaned, but she was crawling out from the covers by the time Tucker shut the door.

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"And when she saw the gum in her hair she totally flipped out! Ahaha! Funny right!?...Sam."

"Huh? … sorry what'd you say?"

"Come on Sam you used to love hearing about bad stuff happening to Paulina." Sam said nothing. Tucker took a slurp from his drink. "So when you coming back to school?"

"Tomorrow. My parents told me this morning would be the last day."

"My parents told me that last week. I still managed to squeak a few more days out." He took an oversized bite from his burger making Sam wince a little in disgust.

"It's fine," she said, "I know I can't avoid it forever. I just don't really want to go back there and see everyone the same as before."

Tucker continued chewing. He swallowed and said, "You know… not everyone is the same. It's funny… earlier today, Dash and Kwan offered to help fight ghosts with me."

"… and what'd you say?"

"I was so shocked I just told them I'd be fine. Starting to wonder if I should take them up on that offer." Tucker paused, "have you decided if you're going to continue hunting ghosts or not?"

Sam stared down at her hands, which were folded on the table. "I've been doing a lot of thinking about that, and I've decided to help. I still don't want to believe that he's really gone. His ghost half could still be out there," She refused to acknowledge the fact that his ghost half had died that day also. Neither she nor anyone else knew that she was partly right. "And if I pulled out completely… I might miss a chance to find him."

"Sam…"

"Besides," she added, forcing a smirk, "you're hopeless without me. How long did it take you to catch Skulker last night?"

"He was in a gun range!"

The two of them laughed for the first time in weeks, but when the laughter died, they both found themselves looking toward the empty space next to Sam.

"Why did this have to happen…?" Sam buried her face in her hands.

Tucker reached forward and pulled one of her hands away, squeezing her hand, trying to be a source of comfort. "Sometimes there is no reason, things just happen…" They sat in silence while Tucker finished his food then the two friends went to find something else to occupy themselves.

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Sam was in school the next day.

After first period, Mr. Lancer asked her to stay behind. Tucker hung out by the door while waited. Kwan waved to him as the football team walked past; Dash didn't wave but he didn't make his usual techno-dweeb joke either. Passing period was nearly over by the time Sam finally came out of the room. Her eyes were red from restrained tears. She didn't even acknowledge Tucker as she walked away.

"So what did Lancer want?"

"Just the same 'don't push yourself crap' as always."

"Uhuh…"and that's what made you cry? Tucker didn't add his last thought. He saw the way she was holding on to her bag and could guess that Mr. Lancer had given her something. If she didn't want to show him what it was then he wouldn't make her. They hurried on to their next class.

Home Ec was in full swing as all the students read over the cookie recipe making sure they had their measurements right and the ovens at correct temperatures, by the time Sam and Tucker made it. Their teacher, Mrs. Salisbury, told them they would be too far behind if they started now so they would have to join other groups. Thanks to Kwan, Tucker ended up with a group of jocks, while Sam got put with the only remaining group of two, Star and Paulina.

"Oh great the princess of darkness. Don't you have someone else to annoy."

Sam scowled, "Right, like I would so come hang out with you two if I had the choice. Mrs. Salisbury told me to join your group. Now if you don't mind, can we just get this over with then forget it ever happened?"

Paulina raised an eyebrow, "getting all high and mighty on us after you called me shallow so often? Guess Miss Individuality isn't as perfect as she thought."

Sam picked up the mixing bowl and started pouring the ingredients, her old cocky smile resurfaced, "Maybe I'm not, but at least I'm not like a certain spoiled brat that can't make cookies without breaking a nail."

Paulina's eyes jerk open and she immediately looked to her hand, and flicked over her perfectly manicured finger nails. When she saw they weren't broken she scowled at Sam. Paulina let out an exasperated breath then put her hands on her hips, "well at least you still know how to be annoying."

The spoon stopped in the bowl as Sam turned to gape at Paulina. "Woah, wait… were you trying to cheer me up."

Paulina swung her head and flipped her hair out of her face, "oh please, as if I would ever care about the feelings of some annoying Goth. It was just that your face was all scrunched up and I was getting wrinkles just looking at it. Now if you don't mind," Paulina snatched the bowl away, "you're stirring that wrong and I don't feel like failing because your mind is somewhere else." Despite herself, Sam smiled and said a small 'thank you'. Paulina shrugged. "Yeah whatever."

The smells of baking cookies filled the room. Soft sobs came from an invisible green orb as it realized it would never be able to smell or taste something as simple as a homemade cookie ever again.

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A/N: So not quite as sad as the last chapter. Like I said, this chapter is kind of crappy. Sorry if you're disappointed with it but there are stages to recovering from the death of someone close to you, and attempting to get back to normal is one of them.

Review.