(Carly's POV)

Man, I hate January. Even more now than the years before. Why you ask? Because it's the end of first semester at school. This means only one more semester and four more months until Graduation. The one day which every high school student look forward to. And if I don't get my act together then I don't get to walk and get my diploma.

That's why I'm here, trapped in my room. Surrounded by mountains of books. Learning everything I can. Geometry, Economics, Intro to Business, everything form my classes so I don't fail.

Kicking my feet at the headboard of my bed and tapping the eraser from the pencil on my red lips, I let out a breath of surrender. Laying my head down on the unbreakable surface of my text book, letting my brain take a break. Having it expand to its original form.

"I quit." I say out loud to myself, since nobody could come over since Spencer put a ban on it. Saying that I needed time to study. He went to an art exhibit and will be gone all day. So you think I can have people come over, right?

Wrong!

Spencer has Freddie's mom, Ms. Benson, keep checking up on me. And that's something I don't want to deal with. Even though she is a nice lady, there are times I just can't take it.

I look down at my notebook. Nothing but the aggrandizement of vacant spaces. I have to write a paper about how General Motors is set to debut the new 2010 Cadillac SRX at the next Detroit auto show. Wow, so much enjoyment.

Pulling out my cell phone, it was 3:45pm. Winter break was over which means school starts again tomorrow. At least I get to see Sam tomorrow. That's always fantastic. Even if she can be unbearable at times. But she is still my best friend. Speaking of which.

Where was she? I've been texting her all day and so far got no response. She always texts me back, no matter what. I open the paper back up and look under the Crime/Law section to see if her name was listed again. Nothing. At least I know she's free. For now.

"God, I'm so bored," I cry out while loading up my backpack. Lying on my back and spreading myself out on the bed, letting myself intermingle in with the flower blanket that I lay upon. Starting up at the ceiling I begin to think about life after high school until everything goes black. My eyelids lost the battle to sleep due to boredom.

I open up my eyes and look at the clock on the nightstand. 6:45pm. Three hours I've been out for, but it doesn't feel like I got any rest. You can insert that to the things I hate. Sleep with no rest.

Getting out of bed I begin to strip the clothing off my body. First starting with my Cuddlefish t-shirt, then my blue jeans. Leaving my bra and panties on.

"Spencer!" I call out my bedroom door. "You home?"

No answer.

I undo my bra and glide my panties, leaving me naked as I walk out of my room. The only thing to save me, if Spencer was home, was a quick scurry to the bathroom. But nobody was home. So I had nothing to worry about. Even if I do have a gut feeling somebody was watching me. Like Freddie had some secret cameras wired up for times like this.

I turn on the shower and wait a minute. Letting the shower get hot and steamy, like some of my dreams. Stepping inside, the water washes away all the deceased skin off me, revealing a new layer with shine. I put some apple-lime scented shampoo in my hair, giving it some life. Running my fingers through my hair, I begin to think about Sam again. This time so much that I swear I can hear her voice.

"Don't you see the writings on the wall? You're in way over your head." I can hear her attempt to sing. "The time has come for no more words. A thousand threats I've hear before." This time it sounded too genuine to be true.

Peaking my head out the fish cartoon curtain, Spencer really has a thing for fish, I see Sam dancing around the bathroom. Shaking her butt around and bobbing her head up and down.

"Sam!" My voice causes her to squeal and jump around, pulling out her earbugs from her ears.

"Hey cupcake." She smiles from ear to ear, showing me all of her teeth. Even her two front ones that remind me of bunny teeth. "I didn't think you were home."

I let out a scowl, "Like you didn't hear the shower going?"

"Oh, right." Her eyes move their sights downward.

My eyes follow hers and finds out what she was staring at. My leg was showing, which left little to the mind's eye of what was only inches away of being exposed. Acting on intuition, I jump behind the curtain, making sure my head was the only part of my anatomy was showing.

Sam sticks out her bottom lip and pouts. "Aww." Her face becomes more solemn. "Mama wants a peak."

I couldn't help but laugh, which of course, makes Sam laugh. "You wish." She shrugs. "Go wait downstairs. I'll call you back up when I'm dressed."

Sam lets out a grumble and scruffs her feet across the floor as she leaves. But not before she turns back to me and tells me to. "Hurry up."

I couldn't help but look at her. Couldn't help how her long, blonde hair hanged at the sides of her face. Almost covering her face from me. Couldn't help how I enjoyed the way she looked in her clothes. The blue tank top/grey flannel shirt hanging loose from her body, not showing how fit she is but got better by the way her skater jeans fit on her like skin. Hugging her in all the right places.

Sam sat on the edge of my bed; her legs folded Indian-style, eating some popcorn that she made. "Next time you get popcorn. Make sure you get extra butter."

"You're not supposed to be here." I continue to remind her as I take some popcorn out of the bowl. "If Ms. Benson catches you here—"

"We are fucked." I squirm every time Sam uses vulgar language. "Besides, she won't bother us anyway."

"How can you be so sure?" I tilt one eyebrow up at her.

"She's giving Freddie a bubble bath. Remember? Every night at seven, Freddie's mom gives him a bubble bath."

"How can you remember that but not do your homework?" I move back so I was leaning against the headboard.

Sam sets the empty bowl on the floor and does the same. "Ok, what did I say about using the H-word around me?"

I roll my eyes. "Every time you say the H-word a Fat Cake loses their wings." Like there is a Fate Cake paradise.

"Right. And I remember that because it's important."

"Why?"

"Because it guarantees me alone time with you." She says snuggling against me.

I stroke her head, letting her know how charming that is. If I didn't know better, I would think that Sam and I were dating. But we weren't. We just act this way to keep the other from feeling lonesome due to not having a boyfriend. I don't mind doing this; it's just for fun really. Nothing serious.

"Can I spend the night? My mom has some fisherman over and I can't stand the smell of tuna." She says in my chest.

"Sure. You're already here."

School was the same as always. Just that after being gone for so long it feels like the first day of school again. Catching up with old friends, asking them how their vacation went. That's what fills the hallways.

I stayed at my locker, looking at my refection in the mirror that I had placed on the inside door. My hair was done up in a ponytail, showing the high bone structure of my neck. Something a vampire would love to feast on. The sunlight golden t-shirt complemented my skin by making it brighter. Designer jeans hanging off my petite hips. I felt like this was the first day of school and I even looked like it.

"Good morning, Carly." Freddie Benson, my neighbor and tech producer from iCarly, greets me as he leans a shoulder against one of the lockers.

"Hey Freddie," I grab some books and shut my locker. Freddie had grown up some. He got taller, voice a little deeper, and his dirt brown hair a little shaggier. Any girl would be blessed to hook up with him. But he is still holding on any hope he has left of hooking up with me. No matter how many times I tell him no.

"You ready for finals?" He asks flashing a smile.

"I guess," I put some of my fingers to my lips. They still smell like strawberry, the aroma of Sam's shampoo. I couldn't help but grin when I think back to this morning. The way we woke up, our legs wrap up in one another. Our faces pressed together, sharing one breath.

"You guess?" Freddie asks breaking me out of my daydream. "Carly, it's our senior year. You just can't guess anymore."

He was starting to sound like Spencer. What is with everyone and me passing? Who do I look like? Sam? No offense to her but I have, by far, more advanced grades than her. But I still love her.

"What are you so worried? Did a dork convention get cancelled?" I smile. But he doesn't.

"No! Call me crazy, but I would like to graduate with you. So you better not blow off first semester finals."

The way he was acting, I wanted Freddie to blow off.

"Alright!" I hold my hands up. "I'm ready. There you glad?"

"Now? Yea."

Finally, one person off my back. The warning bell rings, as everyone starts to head for their classrooms. Freddie begins to walk away.

"I got to go. Advance English can't wait." He says waving.

"Have fun." I tell him, waving back before heading of to my class, Geometry.

I didn't see Sam at school today. This was bizarre because we arrived at school together. But after we arrived, she went her own way. No good byes. No hugs. No I'll see you later. Nothing. Just out of the car and left.

"Hey Carly," Spencer, my older brother and care taker, greets me as I enter our home. He was on the couch, working on some wires that were connected to some black box. "How was school?"

"It was ok." I place my backpack on the floor next to the door and go sit next to him. "Did Sam stop by or call?"

"No, why? You guys had a fight?" Spencer sets down the box.

"No." I wipe my palms on my kneecaps. "I was just wondering."

"You sure? She's been acting really out of the ordinary lately."

I squint my eyes at him. "What do you mean?"

"Well, this morning she wanted to borrow my law book. Said something along the lines of keeping her mind busy."

"Whoa! What? Now I'm scared! What?" The thought of Sam trying to keep her mind busy in truth did scare me. For the years we've been friends, the only time Sam keeps her mind busy is when she waits for food. And that's only last five seconds. Ten if we're lucky.

"You don't have to fret, Carls." Spencer rubs me on the shoulder. "Maybe she is making her brain stronger. You know, studying. Like something you should be doing."

I let out a cry. "Come on, Spencer. Can't you just give me one night to rest? You know, the suicide rate goes up due to older brothers making their little sisters study to their death." I rest my head upon his shoulder and in the most over theatrical voice, "You don't want that to happen to your sister, do you?"

The incorporation of my words was getting to him. Making him think long and hard. "Oh ok. Just tonight though."

"YES! Thanks Spencer. I'm going to my room. Call me when dinner is ready." I gallop up the stairs to my room. Not knowing if he heard me since he was now working on putting the fire out from his black box.

Lying on my bed, looking up at the ceiling, it was just like yesterday. But this time I don't think Sam was going to stop by. Not with her being "busy" and all. I picked up my cell phone and dialed her number. No answer but I got her voice mail.

"Hey Sam. It's me Carly. I hope everything is going great since you wouldn't talk to me. I hope I didn't piss you off or anything. Please call me back. I love you my cupcake." I hang up the phone and look at the time.

I dial her number again, to listen to her voicemail. Just to hear her voice.