I sigh as I here my phone ring for the fifth time today. I know who it is, judging by the ringtone 'Something I Can Never Have' by Flyleaf. Usually, I'd pick up right away but I can't.

Once the ringing stops, I continue to work on my drawing. That's right. The Great Sam Puckett is an artist. Crazy right? My phone starts ringing again, with the same ringtone. I roll my eyes. "Geez, when is Carly gonna quit?"

I think for a moment before answering myself. "Never." I shrug before picking up the phone to answer it. "Hello?"

Carly's voice sounds heartbroken as she answers. "Sam? I've been trying to reach you for days. Why haven't you been answering? You haven't been talking to me, Freddie hasn't been talking to me, Spencer hasn't been talking to me—"

I furrow my eyebrows as I interrupt her. "Whoa, wait, kid. Spencer hasn't been talking to you?"

She sounds close to tears as she answers. "I told him what happened. He's disappointed in me. Everybody's mad at me, and when I really need my best friend, she ignores me and gives me the silent treatment?"

"So that's all I am to you? After everything, I'm still just your best friend to cry to when the world doesn't like you? Do you know what we did to Freddie?! We ripped his heart out and fed it to a pack of wolves. I never wanted to do that to him. I don't even know what YOU want. Were we just for the fun of it? Just to hurt Freddie? Just for cheap thrills, Carls? I don't even know because I don't know you anymore," I finally snap. I hang up before I can say something REALLY hurtful. I growl as I throw the drawing to other side of the room. "I need some chicken."

I storm out of my room to witness my mom half-passed out on the couch. "Where're you going, Sammy?"

I try my best not to take my anger out on her as I throw my jacket on. "Out."

She lets her head fall back on the couch, ready to pass out. "Okay. Be back before 12, bring back booze."

My mind briefly goes back to the drawing I was working on of me, Carly, and Freddie laughing and having a good time. I guess those times are over.

...

I look up at the sign on the building. Dan's Bar And Grill has been my safe haven when Carly's house couldn't be. I stomp into the building and head straight to the bar. I'm only 18, but if you flirt with the bartender enough, he'll give you just about anything. "Three shots of Vodka and a side of hot wings."

The bartender smiles at me. "Coming right up, Puckett."

I come here often so the staff know my name. They know I only come here when my life gets really sucky. I turn away from the bar to look at the restaurant portion, friends and family creating good memories to look back on in the future. They don't know what they have is truly precious. I turn back to the bar, grateful that my Vodka has finally arrived. I hate when I get mushy and touchy-feely. I glance around at the other patrons in the bar section until they land on someone familiar. "Freddie?"

He turns to look at me. His eyes are soulless and it looks like he hasn't shaved in a few days. He grunts when he looks at me. He's only a seat away from me so I jump into the seat next to him. "...Hey."

He looks forward, determined not to look at me. "What do you want?"

"Aren't you a little young to be drinking alcohol?"

"Aren't you?"

"Well, yeah. But when have the rules ever bothered me?"

His eyes start to form a hard glare. "You mean the rules of friendship? The rules that say you're not supposed to fuck your best friend's girlfriend?"

I knew he'd be angry but not to this extent. I glare at the side of his face. "Why don't you turn around and look me in the eye? Show me that you have the balls to say that to me to my face?"

His tone is venomous as he responds. "I can't. Every time I look at you, I see you and Carly..."

The anger flows out of me at the sight of his defeated face. His eyes start to tear up. "Can you please just leave me alone?"

I nod and return to my original seat. The bartender walks up to me. "Here are you wings. Is there anything else I can get you? Like, my number?"

I glare at him as I pick up my wings and start to stand up. "Yeah. Two bottles of beer. To go."

...

"Sammy! Is that you?"

"Yeah, Ma."

"Did you get the booze?"

"Yeah, Ma."

"That's my girl. A true Puckett."

I toss her a bottle and head back to my room. I sit on my bed and start to tear into my hot wings. When I finish them, I crack open the bottle of beer and start chugging. There's a banging sound coming from the front door but I ignore it. My mom will get it. "Sammy, get the door!"

Guess I was wrong. I put down my beer bottle and trudge to the front door. I yank it open, intent on cursing out whoever interrupted me and my beer but pause when I see who it is. Carly's giving me the most venomous look she can make. "We need to talk, Puckett."