Sam Puckett never usually listened to music. She was either sleeping or eating, but since she got her new pearpod last week, she hardly took her earbuds out of her ears.
"Sam?" Carly said to her, as Freddie watched the conversation. She realized the blonde, who was lounging on the couch in Carly's apartment, couldn't hear her over the music. "Sam!"
"Yeah?" Sam replied, pausing her music.
"Whatcha listenin' to?" Carly asked curiously in her sweet voice.
"Music." Sam replied cockily.
Carly giggled. "What kind of music?"
"The music kind."
"Well, can I listen?"
"No."
"Don't be so stubborn, Sam." The brunette teased.
Freddie interrupted into the conversation, "Can I listen?"
Sam shot him a glare. "What do you think, dipwad?"
"Why so protective, hm?" Freddie questioned.
"It's my pearpod!"
"You borrow our stuff all the time!" Carly rejoined the conversation.
"Doesn't mean I want you listening to my songs!"
Freddie looked at her suspiciously. "Just let us listen! It's not a big deal!"
Sam, clearly annoyed, got up off the couch where she was previously laying, and marched out of the Shay's apartment. She knew exactly where she could go and listen to her playlist without being disturbed.
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"Woah, what's her problem?" Carly wondered after Sam left.
Freddie shook his head. "I don't know. We just wanted to see what she's been listening to all week."
Carly sighed. "I'm going to talk to her."
"No, wait." Freddie stopped her. "Let me."
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"Hey." Freddie said as he stepped onto the fire escape.
"Would you just leave me alone, Fredward?" Sam rolled her eyes, wanting him to leave.
"Nope." He took a seat beside her.
She brushed a strand of blond curls out of her eyes, and groaned. "Well then could you at least shut up so I can listen to my music in peace?"
He shrugged.
Together, they sat there in silence for a few minutes, observing the lights of the Seattle skyline.
Freddie took out his PearPod too, but before pressing play, he nudged her gently. "Wanna see what I'm listening to?"
She grabbed it out of his hands, scrolling through the playlists. Workout Playlist. She smirked at that, and scrolled by. She had to admit, Freddie had been getting stronger. Memories. She selected it, then looked through the songs. Sam spotted some familar songs, I Don't Wanna Be In Love by Good Charlotte, a few David Archuleta songs, Our Time Now by the Plain White T's, Meant for Me by Chrissy Chase. Immediately recognizing the song that Carly and Freddie danced to, she threw his PearPod back at him and started to put her own earbuds back in.
Freddie studied her facial expressions. He saw her lips form into a frown that she attempted to hid as soon as she saw the song. "What? What was that for?" He questioned when she handed back the PearPod.
No reply. Sam ignored him, trying to focus on the music.
"Sam."
After a few attempts to get her attention, Freddie finally got her to look at him. "Why are you so upset?"
"I'm not upset. I just don't like that song, okay?"
"You look like you're going to cry."
She slapped him across the face forcefully.
"Sam! What was that for?"
"I'm not crying!"
"You sure?"
"Shut up."
The pair sat in silence for a few more minutes, before Freddie interrupted Sam's song. "I have more songs on that playlist, you know."
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure you do. I'm sure they all express your love for Carly."
"I've told you a billions times. I don't love Carly. Just keep looking."
"Fine." She snatched the PearPod out of his hand and scrolled down the playlist. "But there's only one more song."
"Yeah, I know."
She read the title. Running Away by AM. Sam knew this song. It was the song. The song that played when they kissed. "Oh. You have that song." She raised her eyebrows, surprised that he actually remembered the song and handed the PearPod back to him.
"Yup." He smiled, "I like that song. So.. uh, can I see your songs now..?" Freddie asked hesitantly.
Sam considered it for a second, then placed her PearPod in his hand.
He studied the playlists, but chose the one titled, "January 3rd."
"January third?" Freddie's chocolate brown eyes studied her intently.
"Yeah, I guess." She shrugged, pretending to be enthralled by the fire escape, so she wouldn't have to make eye contact with him.
He scanned the songs. Some he was familiar with, like Rihanna's Hate That I Love You, Things I'll Never Say by Avril Lavigne, or You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift. There was also some songs he didn't know. The last song on the playlist was Running Away by AM.
He smirked, "You have that song too."
"Yeah." She replied solemnly, snatching her PearPod back. "It's stupid, I know. So don't tell anyone about it, and I won't pound your face in, deal?"
"It's not stupid."
"Yes it is."
"Sam, it's not... but why is it called January third?"
She shrugged, and mumbled, "None of your business, Fredweird." Feeling a bit disappointed that he didn't remember, the thoughts came rushing back to her. January third was the night of their kiss, in this exact spot. "Whatever, I gotta go." Sam stood up, brushing the dirt off her skinny jeans.
"Hey, Sam, wait."
"Later." The blonde completely ignored him, stepping back into the apartment building through the window frame.
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Freddie sat on the ledge of the fire escape for a while, then went back to Carly's apartment, to say goodnight.
"Everything good?" The brunette questioned.
"Um, yeah. I'm going home. Night."
"Wait! Freddie, I need details."
"Yeah, yeah, tomorrow."
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As soon as Freddie got home, he quickly scanned the iCarly archive. December 31, January 1, January 2, January 3. Here it is, he thought to himself. The webcast from that night popped up, and began playing.
"I'm Sam!" Sam's voice played through his speakers.
"And I'm Carly!" The peppy girl chimed in.
"And this is iCarly! It was Sam's voice again.
Freddie watched a bit longer, until the mysteries started to unravel a bit. After proclaiming the beginning of a meatball war, Sam started to talk. "But, um, before we start our meatball war, I wanna say something. On the last iCarly, I told you guys that Freddie never kissed anyone. And that was really personal, and I shouldn't have said it on the show, and for all you people out there who have been teasing Freddie about it, lay off! Cause I bet a whole lotta you haven't kissed anyone either... including me. Yeah, that's right. I've never kissed anyone. So if you wanna tease someone about it, tease me. Which is a bad idea, unless you live near a hospital!"
Freddie blankly stared at the computer screen. How could he be so stupid? How could he not remember his first kiss? But most importantly, did Sam really like him enough to make a playlist about him? The questions soared through his mind. He had to text Sam.
Grabbing his PearPhone, his fingers slid across the keyboard. I'm sorry I forgot.
Her reply came within a few seconds. Forgot what, Benson?
Freddie sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. I forgot what January 3 was.
Sam proved to be a fast texter. Whatever. It never mattered anyway.
Intently, he focused on the bring phone screen. Yeah, it does matter. I'm sorry.
She replied in a very Sam-like fashion. I don't accept apologies from losers.
A smirk formed across Freddie's lips as he replied. If that playlist was an example of what you thought of me, then I'm pretty sure that you don't think I'm a loser. Sam, I really like you.
Freddie should have expected a harsh response from Sam. And I really like fried chicken. What's the big deal?
Skidding across the keyboard, he quickly typed. You know what the big deal is.
Sam was stubborn and hard to persuade, even when texting. You're just saying that. You love Carly. Now would ya quit texting me?
All Freddie could do was to hope for the best. Nope. Meet me at Groovy Smoothie in 15.
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Freddie arrived a few minutes early, ordering two blueberry banana blitz. He really hoped that Sam would show up. They needed to do some serious talking.
After finally walking through the door 10 minutes late, the petite, curly headed blonde sat down at Freddie's table. Freddie slid the smoothie across the table to her.
"Hey." He said first.
"Sup, Fredifer?" She tried to be enthusiastic, but it wasn't working.
"We need to talk."
She raised her eyebrow. "Kay, talk."
"I told you I liked you, and you told me you liked fried chicken!"
Sam shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, so?"
"I. Like. You." He took exaggerated pauses between words.
She studied him for a while, hoping to mess with him. "I. Like... Fried. Chicken."
He stood up, slamming his drink against the table. "God, Sam! I just told you I like you! I like you as more than a friend! And what do you do in return? You act like Queen of the jerks, and you don't even have the guts to properly reject me! Whatever! I'm done with this!"
Thank God they were the only two in the Groovy Smoothie.
Shocked, Sam felt a pang of guilt in her stomach as she watched Freddie walk towards the exit. "...wait, Freddie... just let me explain..."
He slowly turned around, seeing her staring at her scuffed Converse, upset. "If you tell me you like friend chicken again, I'll be so mad."
Sam bit her lip, "Yeah, I know, I just... I'm sorry, okay? I know I'm a jerk to you. You're like... you're one of my only friends... and I'm always so mean to you. After that kiss, things were kinda.. different..." Her voice began to display the pain that she felt, "...but I just hid my feelings, because you love Carly, and we can't be together...you know?"
Freddie paused for a second, taking in her words. "No, Sam, I don't know, I don't-"
The fiesty blonde interrupted, "You brought me here to make me confess how I felt, and then you tell me no? Whatever, Benson. I'm gone." She started for the door.
"Hey!" Freddie's strong hand grasped ahold of her wrist. "You didn't let me finish." He looked at her, loosing his grip on her small hand and hoping she would stay to hear what he was going to say. "I was going to say that I don't know why we can't be together?"
She groaned. "You better not be messing with me, or I'll hurt you."
"I'm not, I swear."
"Legit?"
"I really like you."
"You know, Fredalupe, You're not so bad yourself."
He grinned widely at her comment.
"So..."
"So..."
"I hate you, dork." She grinned flirtatiously.
"Hate you too, Princess Puckett."
Sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes.
Opinions? Should I write another chapter? xx