Author's Note: The "Genesis" for this story came when I was listening to my favorite band, and the title came to me. Thanks to Hayden Lucas for suggesting I pursue it.
This is a Cam story. If that pairing offends you, don't read it, and please don't review.
If you're still with me, reviews and constructive criticism are always appreciated.
"Carrrrlyyyy! Sam's here!"
Standing in front of her mirror, Carly Shay checked herself over once more. Yes, she had definitely chosen the right prom dress. She answered her older brother's cry with one of her own, "Send her up!"
Carly was almost as nervous about what Sam thought of her dress as she was about what Josh, her prom date, thought of it. While it might seem like her best friend didn't give the slightest chizz about things like prom dresses, Samantha Puckett was a former beauty pageant queen and she was surprisingly knowledgeable about such matters. Who else was she going to ask, Spencer? She shuddered at the thought. Her brother was an artist, and he certainly appreciated the female form, but if it was up to her overprotective sibling, Carly would be going to the prom in a nun's habit.
The door burst open and her blonde friend burst into the room with "Hey Carls, how's it shaki… Oh Wow!" Sam had caught sight of Carly's long, floor length silver/grey dress. It showed off just enough of the brunette's cleavage to make her look sexy, rather than slutty, and it hugged her slight curves perfectly.
Carly thought the look on Sam's face was priceless. "I take it you like it?"
"When Josh gets a load of you in that dress, I think you're going to break him," her friend smiled.
Joshua Strayer had transferred into Ridgeway at the beginning of their senior year. He was smart, attractive, and a running back on the Bulldogs varsity football team. He took an immediate liking to the iCarly gang, whom he recognized from their web show, and to Carly in particular. Even though, in theory, he was what every girl at Ridgeway wanted, Carly regarded him as just a friend, like Freddie, and much like the tech producer, she had rebuked his efforts to ask her out. With Prom approaching, though, and no one else to go with, she eventually relented and let him take her – with the clear understanding that it was just as a friend.
"I wish you were going," Carly commented to Sam with disappointment evident in her voice.
"Why? You think Josh is gonna put the moves on you at the prom? I'll kick his ass if he tries it," the blonde demon replied, jumping to the wrong conclusion.
"No, nothing like that," Carly replied, wistfully. "It would just be more fun if my best friend was there."
Sam sighed, "Sorry, Carlotta, Mama's got no one to go with. Even Gibby's taking Tasha."
"You could always go with Freddie. I don't think he's got a date," Carly suggested.
The blonde chuckled, "You don't think that would be a little awkward since I dumped him and crushed his nerdy little heart last year?"
"Freddie told me the truth," Carly countered. "He said it was a mutual break-up."
"That little nub! He was supposed to go along with…" Sam grumbled. "Doesn't matter anyway, he's going with Patrice downstairs."
Both girls got quiet as Carly let the matter drop. She was really disappointed, however. This was the Prom, the social culmination of their thirteen years of school. She wanted to share it with the person who meant the most to her, Sam Puckett.
Sam would have liked to have gone to the prom as well, if only to be there with Carly, but even if she'd had a date, she couldn't afford a prom dress. Of course, she could always make do with the ugly bridesmaids dress from that wedding they went to in Wisconsin. Maybe it was a good thing her mother couldn't find a buyer for it on Ebay. Spencer might be able to help her out making it less hideous, or maybe he could get Socko's brother Taylor to help. Then she snapped back to reality, she didn't have a date anyway. She sighed softly.
Eventually, Carly turned around and looked in the mirror again. "You don't think it's too much?" she questioned.
"Nah, it'll be perfect for the ballroom theme they're having this year," her friend responded.
Carly looked panicked. "What ballroom theme?" she stuttered.
"You didn't hear the announcement on Tuesday?" Sam replied. Carly shook her head as Sam continued. "That stupid fudge ball sale we did last year didn't raise enough money to pay for the Parker-Nichols Hotel, where they usually have it. Fortunately, the Schneider School of Dance offered to host it, but only if it was traditional ballroom dancing. Briggs is the faculty advisor for the Prom Committee and she agreed."
Carly sounded distraught, "Sam, I can't dance!"
"What do you mean you can't dance?" The blonde asked, trying to calm her friend down. "I've seen you at school dances before. You're not the greatest, but you'll pass, and you do Random Dancing all the time on iCarly."
"I can fake my way through modern stuff, sure," the skinny brunette ranted, "but real ballroom dancing? I don't even know where to start."
"Well, just let football boy lead," Sam suggested. Her relationship with Josh was almost as antagonistic as her relationship with Freddie had been a few years ago.
"Who do you think he is, Hines Ward?" Carly retorted sarcastically, referring to the pro running back who had won on Carly's favorite TV dance competition a couple years ago. "He dances worse than I do. Didn't you see him dancing crazy with that cheerleader at Homecoming?"
Sam chuckled, remembering. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
They went silent for a few minutes, and then Carly shouted, "I know! You took four years of dance back when you were a pageant girl. You could teach me!"
Sam was afraid Carly would say that. "That was a long time ago. Besides, it sounds like a lot of work," she complained.
The brunette wouldn't be deterred, though. "For me?" she pleaded, her big brown eyes blinking at Sam.
Now I know how Freddie feels, Sam grumbled internally. "Okay, we'll start after school tomorrow" she finally sighed. "But you owe me ham!"
"Yay!" Carly cheered, like a little girl who had just talked her mother into a new toy.