Andy set his lunch tray down on the table across from Carrie. How come they served only spaghetti on Fridays? Andy hated spaghetti, especially school cafeteria spaghetti. Oh well. He glanced at Carrie, who was watching him somewhat intently. Rather than watch her stare at him, he decided to open his carton of soymilk.
ìWhereís Sam?î he asked her, managing at last to open the stupid thing. Today was just not his day. And he didnít want Carrie watching him like that. It made him feel uncomfortable. Carrie was one of his best friends, but he had a feeling she wanted something more than that.
Carrie rolled her eyes. ìPsssh, like I care.î Her tone was so sarcastic that Andy wondered why exactly she even bothered to hang out with Sam. The two of them had been dating, but that had ended two weeks ago. Unfortunately, it was obvious that Sam still liked Carrie. Unfortunately for Carrie. And for Andy.
ìMaybe he got lost or something,î Carrie said, beginning to snicker.

Andy frowned slightly. ìThatís mean.î Why did she feel the need to dis Sam all the time? He wasnít a bad guy, he justÖ Andyís thoughts were interrupted as Carrie dug into her spaghetti. His stomach churned at the sight. Or maybe it wasnít the spaghetti making him queasyÖ
ìWell,î Carrie muttered around a mouthful, ìthereís a reason we broke up, you know. He justÖî she took a sip of her soda. ìHe just isnít what Iím looking for in a man.î
Obviously, thought Andy. He didnít need Carrie to tell him that. He could always tell what she meant, what she was feeling, what she thought. Thatís what made them so closeó the unnatural bond they had somehow formed over the years.

ìIím gonna go look for Sam,î Carrie announced suddenly, rising. Andy just nodded and continued trying to force his spaghetti down. He felt a slight tugging at the edge of his mind, as if somebody had attached a string to his brain and was pulling on it. It didnít help that Carrie seemed to slow down as she walked past Andy, almost as if she wereÖ well, breathing him in. Is my cologne particularly strong today? He wondered. He also wondered if it would bother Sam.
Carrie didnít need to worry about anything, however, as Sam was already approaching with a new can of root beer. He sat next to Andy and pulled open the tab. Andy felt his heart swell, just like the carbonated sweetness in that can, rising up and threatening to bubble over. He watched as Sam started in on his salad.
ìCarrieÖ did I ever tell you you look real nice in that sweater?î Sam asked, stuffing his mouth full of limp salad drenched in runny Ranch dressing. Andy felt a slight pang of jealously, although he did not know why.
She sipped her cola. ìYes, Sam. Thanks,î she muttered through clenched teeth. She glanced over at Andy. Why are you looking at me? He wondered to himself. What do I have to do with any of this?
Sam looked hurt. ìHey, I was just tryiní to be nice and thoughtful and all.î
ìYou canít blame him for complimenting you,î Andy whispered, leaning closer to Carrie so Sam wouldnít hear him. ìHe meant well.î
As he leaned over, he noticed she was staring at him again. What was she thinking? Girls were totally confusing. The way she was fluttering her eyelashes, ever so slightlyÖ and was it his imagination, or was she leaning in as if forÖ a kiss!? Andyís heart leapt into his throat. What should he do? How could he get out of this? He began to panic, his heart beating wildly. No, no, no, this isnít what should be happening!
Andy backed away as quickly as he could. ìI, uhÖî he stammered, too flustered to finish his sentence. Besides, he couldnít give himself away. Not now. He changed the subject, turning to Sam. ìSo, SamÖ how are you doing these days?î
Carrie seemed irked that he had backed away. ìAndy,î she half pleaded, ìDo you want to come get some ice cream with me?î Andy, whose heartbeat still wasnít quite back to normal, began to feel anxious again. He knew Carrie, and he knew that she had an ulterior motive now. How could she do that to him? They were friends, nothing more. Thatís all Andy wanted to be.
ìThatís okay, Carrie,î Andy dismissed her. ìI havenít gotten to talk to Sam all day.î Well, it was true. He sincerely wanted to know how Sam was feeling.
Carrie dropped back down into her seat, sighing angrily. ìWhatís up with you, Andy? Donít you want to come get ice cream with me?î
ìLook, Carrie,î Andy, who rarely lost his temper, could feel his face becoming warm with frustration. ìYou can get ice cream by yourself, canít you? I was hoping I could maybe hang out with Sam a little more since you arenít taking up all his time anymore!î
Sam slammed his fork down onto the table. ìHey!î he interjected. ìDonít talk about me like Iím not sitting right here! And she was never taking up all my time. I loved her. I still do.î He glared at Andy. ìI donít know what your problem is. Why the hell do you want to talk to me?î

Carrie rolled her eyes. ìHe does not have a problem. Youíre the one with the problem. We broke up, get over it already!î
Andy wanted to cry out so badly, to defend poor defenseless Sam. It didnít matter that Sam had practically insulted him not two seconds ago. Andy couldnít let Carrie get away with being so mean. Before he could speak, however, Sam cut in.
ìWhy canít you just give me one more chance?î Sam pleaded, the anger not completely gone from his voice.
ìYou self-centered bastóì Carrie began, seething, when Andy interrupted her.
ìLook, this is stupid,î he said forcefully. Why did things have to get so out of control? This wasnít even an issue worth getting upset over. He didnít want Carrie to be angryÖ and he didnít want Sam to be, either.
Carrie lowered her eyes, her cheeks becoming flushed with embarrassment. ìIím sorry, okay? Just forget about it. Calm down, everyone,î she begged.
Andy took a deep breath, forcing the calm that usually came so naturally to him into his voice ìYouíre right, Carrie. That was really stupid. Iím sorry too.î He threw a glance at Sam. ìAre you okay?î
Sam just looked confused. ìI donít see what just happened here. But Iím sorry too.î He smiled helplessly.
Carrie began to chuckle, and as she did so, she made eye contact with Andy. ìIsnít he pathetic?î she mouthed, hoping that Sam wouldnít pick up on what sheíd said. Andy shook his head ìnoî. How could she say that? Didnít she realize that, underneath his seemingly ìpatheticî appearance, he was a sweet, caring guy who knew how to treat his girlfriend? Andy sighed quietly. He wished with all his heart he could tell Carrie how he felt. But who knew how sheíd react when she learned that he would rather date her ex-boyfriend? Ñ ýúøøøøøøøøøøøøøøø úøøøøøøøøøøøøøøø Normal Normal Heading 1 Heading 1 Default Paragraph Font Default Paragraph Font Body Text Indent Body Text Indent HalloranKdata:Personal Folders:Mara Jade:School Stuff:Level 13:3characterscene# HalloranKdata:Personal Folders:Mara Jade:School Stuff:Level 13:3characterscene# HalloranKdata:Personal Folders:Mara Jade:School Stuff:Level 13:3characterscene# HalloranKdata:Personal Folders:Mara Jade:School Stuff:Level 13:3characterscene# HalloranKdata:Personal Folders:Mara Jade:School Stuff:Level 13:3characterscene# HalloranKdata:Personal Folders:Mara Jade:School Stuff:Level 13:3characterscene# HalloranKdata:Personal Folders:Mara Jade:School Stuff:Level 13:3characterscene# HalloranKdata:Personal Folders:Mara Jade:School Stuff:Level 13:3characterscene# HalloranKdata:Personal Folders:Mara Jade:School Stuff:Level 13:3characterscene# HalloranKdata:Personal Folders:Mara Jade:School Stuff:Level 13:3characterscene# Halloran]OSX System:Users:halloranfamily:Documents:Microsoft User Data:AutoRecovery save of 3character Halloran]OSX System:Users:halloranfamily:Documents:Microsoft User Data:AutoRecovery save of 3character HalloranKdata:Personal Folders:Mara Jade:School Stuff:Level 13:3characterscene# HalloranKdata:Personal Folders:Mara Jade:School Stuff:Level 13:3characterscene# Halloran]OSX System:Users:halloranfamily:Documents:Microsoft User Data:AutoRecovery save of 3character Halloran]OSX System:Users:halloranfamily:Documents:Microsoft User Data:AutoRecovery save of 3character HalloranROSX System:Users:halloranfamily:Documents:Microsoft User Data:Word Work File A_902 HalloranROSX System:Users:halloranfamily:Documents:Microsoft User Data:Word Work File A_902 HalloranROSX System:Users:halloranfamily:Documents:Microsoft User Data:Word Work File A_518ÿ??Ð Times New Roman Times New Roman Symbol Symbol szF4xzf Margie Halloran Margie Halloran Halloran Halloran Halloran Halloran Margie Halloran Halloran Normal Halloran Microsoft Word 10.1 Margie Halloran Root Entry 1Table 1Table WordDocument WordDocument SummaryInformation SummaryInformation DocumentSummaryInformation DocumentSummaryInformation CompObj CompObj Microsoft Word Document .8