The Complicated Relationship

Chapter 12

That week I don't go to school. I'm afraid seeing Freddie will cause me to break down again. Carly has tried to get me out of the house. But I don't leave.

"Sam! Open this door!" Carly yells.

"No!" I scream back. I don't want her to see my appearance. I haven't brushed, washed or combed my hair this past week. It's tangled and gross. Heavy bags lay under my eyes from lack of sleep. Eyes red from the tears. My cheeks and clothes are tear stained.

I can't let Carly see me like this. I can't let anyone see me like this. If they see me they'll know I'm weak. And no one can know that.

"Sam! Please! I'm your best friend! I can help you feel better."

"No you can't!"

"What if I said I have fried chicken?"

"No!"

"Come on Sam! Open up the door!"

I sigh. Knowing Carly she's going to rant about us being best friends and wait for me to open the door.

I gently get up from my bed and walk to the door.

"Sam, please open up!" Carly continues to talk. "We've been best friends for as long as I can remember. We help each other through the thick and thin. We especially help each other during breakups. You wouldn't let m-"

I yank the door open and Carly comes tumbling in.

"Thank you." She says, gent king brushing off her clothes.

"No problem." I say walking back to my bed.

When I'm on the bed I look over at Carly and take it in the look she has on her face.

The look I've been trying to avoid.

Her mouth turned down into a frown and her eyes filled with pity.

"Stop staring at me like that." I tell her.

"Sam. Please talk to me." She begs.

"No."

"Why not?" I can tell Carly is annoyed.

"Because some people don't always have to talk about how they feel."

"Sam, don't be this way."

"What way?"

"This way!" The frustration is starting to rise in her voice. "Sam, you can't shut people out. You've been through a hard break-up. You need to talk about it instead of avoiding this. Just talk to me."

"Do you really think I want to talk to you about this?" My voice cold and harsh.

"Of course you would. I'm your best friend. Why wouldn't you?"

I stare at her for awhile. The answer obvious.

"I just broke up with my boyfriend because he loves you."

"Sam-"

"Carly, I'm not done. Do you have any idea how much it hurts to look at the guy that you thought loved you, loves someone else? And that person happens to be your best friend." I can feel the tears coming but I try my best to hide them.

"Sam, please-"

"Carly, I told you I wasn't done!" I pause before I continue. "It's so hard. Especially when I come to you for pretty much everything. I can't come to you about my boyfriend being in love with some other girl, when you are the other girl. Not to mention it shows how weak I really am."

"Sam, you aren't weak."

"But I am! Look at me! I'm sitting in my room crying over a boy. Have you ever seen me do this before?"

Carly doesn't speak.

"Exactly," I say. "Now, I'm here crying over Freddie. Acting like a girl. I'm weak." A single tear slides down my cheek.

"Sam..." Carly says, walking toward my bed.

"Could you please go?"

"Sam, I don't want to leave you. Not like this."

"Carly, just please?"

"Fine. I'll go Sam." Carly begins to walk towards the door but stops once she gets to the door frame.

"For what it's worth Sam, I don't think this makes you weak. I think it makes you a bit more human."

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Freddie's P.O.V

*earlier that day*

I'm worried about Sam. She hasn't been to school all week.The way Sam reacted when we broke up, I've never seen her act that way before.

It makes me feel terrible. I broke Sam Puckett, someone who only shows three emotions ever. Hunger, happiness and anger. But thinking about her words I did bring out a side of her I rarely ever saw.

Sam is not the type of girl people would say was a gooey romantic and loved cliches, but yet when we were together as boyfriend and girlfriend she was that kind of girl.

But she would never be that girl again.

All because of me.

"No, that's not true. You can't date me because Carly knows. You still love her. I'm just the second choice aren't I?"

Are those words true? Is that why I was mad? Because a small part of me is still in love with Carly?

So many questions run through my mind all day. I feel bad and guilty and all I want to do is run to Sam and tell her I'm sorry. But she probably wouldn't want to hear it.

As the school day comes to an end I see Carly.

"Carly!" I call her. She turns around and begins to make her way over to me.

"Yes Freddie?"

"Have... Um have you talked to Sam this week? Do you know if she's ok?"

Her face falls and she looks down.

"I don't know if she's ok. I haven't talked to her since... What happened."

"Do you think you could talk to her today?" I want to know how she's doing. I want to know if she's mad at me. I can't lose her. I just can't.

A smile begins to form on Carly's face. "Of course I'll talk to her. Would you like to come with me?

"I don't think I should come. It's probably for the best."

"Yeah... Yeah. I guess you're right. Well, I think I'll go home before I visit Sam. You want a ride?"

"You still love her." Sam's words echo in my ears.

"I'm good," I tell Carly. "I think I'll walk home."