Sam-centric; slightly future-fic. Seddie.

Summary: Inspired by the song "Lately" by Stevie Wonder. Sam jumps to some conclusions.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. It seems pretty obvious to me, but just to be on the safe side….

iHave the Strangest Feeling

Chapter 1

"Aw, Spence, are you ready to go yet?" Carly paced the floor behind the couch, her impatience evident in the tone of her voice.

"Yeah, I'll be out in a sec!" he called out from his bedroom. A moment later, he stepped out, and grabbed his jacket from the coat tree. Pulling the jacket on, Spencer asked, "So, what're we supposed to be getting again?"

"I told you, Christmas presents for Sam and Freddie. Freddie and Mrs. Benson are at some mother/son class, and Sam went straight home after school today, so I wanna take advantage of them not being around."

"Hmm, that is a rare occurrence." Spencer walked over to the kitchen counter and grabbed his car and house keys. As he passed Carly to pull open the door, he asked, "And, what about a present for meeee?"

"Already taken care of," she answered with an air of confidence.

"Reeaally?" he asked excitedly. Spencer quickly glanced around, now distracted from leaving the loft. "Is it here somewhere?"

"Come on, cut it out. We don't have time for this," Carly insisted. She playfully swatted him on the arm and continued, "And anyway, you'll have to wait 'til Christmas for it." She headed for the door and added with a sly smile, "Actually, you'll have to wait until the day after."

"What? Why?"

"Thaaat's all I have to say about it," Carly sing-songed.

"Ugh! That's so mean of you." Spencer reached the door, and turned towards Carly, his lips scrunched up in a child-like pout.

"You won't think so on the twenty-siiixth..." In retaliation for her teasing, Spencer grabbed her and started poking her sides. Carly screeched, and tried to quickly pull away from him. "Ack! No tickling!" she yelled. "I won't tell you what it is! I won't tell!" A knock jarred the door. Spencer's and Carly's eyes shot up at it and they stilled their movements. Spencer released Carly, and she went to answer the door. "Saved by the knock," she said with relief. Carly straightened out her shirt, and pulled the door open to reveal Sam waiting on the other side. Sam strode in, making a bee-line for the kitchen.

"Oh, hey," Carly said following her, "what're you doing here?"

"Are you serious? I'm always here," Sam stated.

"That is true," Spencer added.

"Ooh, you have cookies!"

"Gee, Sam, would you like a cookie?" Carly chuckled.

"I'm pretty sure I'll have 'em all." Sam stuffed a Christmas Tree-shaped cookie into her mouth.

"I looked for you after school, but Gibby said he saw you leave with your mom."

"Yeah, she needed me to sit in the car while she went to pay our cable bill; there's never any parking downtown," Sam replied. She lifted a star-shaped cookie off the plate. "Hey, is it okay if I order a movie?" Sam quickly devoured the cookie, same as she had the one before it. She set the plate back down on the kitchen counter and headed for the refrigerator. Sam opened the refrigerator and retrieved the milk carton from one of the shelves on the door.

"Why can't you just watch something at your place?"

"Carls, my mom just paid the bill...And, she usually post-dates the check." Sam opened the cabinet above the sink and got a glass. She poured the milk into the glass all the way up to the rim.

"Of course she does," Carly dead-panned.

"So, you wanna pick out the movie?" she asked, headed back towards the living room. She picked up the plate of cookies on her way past the counter. Sam slowed as she passed Carly, the action was imperceptible to her friend, but Sam noted the now familiar fragrance Carly had been wearing for the past several days. She wasn't fond of it, but never said anything – not before, and not now; Sam continued moving towards the couch.

"Well...actually, we were just about to leave," Carly said. She looked from Sam to Spencer and back to Sam.

"Where're you guys going?" Sam asked surprised.

"Well, no place special," she began, looking pointedly at Spencer. "We're just gonna go to the mall."

The look was not missed by Sam. "Will you be back soon?" Concern seemed to shadow Sam's face, and it disarmed Carly.

"Uh...I don't know." Carly looked at Spencer, who's only response was to shrug, and back to Sam. "I guess – well, you can come with us."

"Nah, it's okay. I'll just wait 'til you get back." Sam was mildly suspicious of the siblings, but masked any discomfort.

"It could be a while."

"I don't have any money. Besides, if I get tired of waiting, I'll just leave. It's fine."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I have this fine plate of cookies, Pay To Watch at my disposal; what else could a girl want? Go ahead. Have a good time."

"Well, okay." Carly and Spencer headed out, but not before Carly reminded Sam to not use the stove.

"Ugh! Geez, it was just that one time."

"Yeah, and Lewbert made sure that the landlord put that new clause in our lease." She glared at Spencer, who was already waiting for her out in the hall, "Four fires in four years."

"Okay, okay. I won't use the stove," Sam acquiesced, hands up in mock surrender. "Bye," she said as Carly pulled shut the door.

She could hear Spencer's muffled voice say, "Only three of those were mine..."

And, then she was alone.