The heavy metal guitar strumming was enough to knock anyone off the bed and onto the floor; in fact it had done so every morning so it seemed fit that I would use it as an alarm clock. Today however, I was dumbstruck as to how I had managed to completely sleep through it. Sure I was a deep sleeper and extremely lazy but if there was any day to pull my shit together today was it. "Carly's going to fricking murder me!" I groaned jumping out of my bed and thrusting myself into a quick shower before blow drying my blonde curls. When finally satisfied with the state of my hair I let them fall from the loose bun that separated the dry stands from the wet ones. "Shit!" I cursed in pain as my hair fell over my collar bone causing a sharp pain to be felt. "What the hell?" I questioned as I pulled my hair to the other side and examined my left clavicle. I noticed a small cut, as thin as a paper cut but was spread out in length causing the entire bone to look swollen. "Shaving accident?" I asked myself but quickly realized it was stupid, who shaves there collar bone? I quickly gave up on trying to find the origin of the cut and instead cleaned the cut with an alcohol swab and covered it with a bandage. I then quickly threw on black shorts and a white V-neck and literally ran to Carly's house.
"I'm so sorry I'm late!" I yelled expecting to be out of breathe from the six block commute I'd just ran, but surprisingly wasn't.
"What do you mean late?" Carly laughed, "You're right on time!" She said ushering me into her house. "Freddie isn't even here yet!" She continued as I raised my wrist to check the time before scolding myself only nubs carry watches, and mama is no nub! I thought.
"I guess that why my alarm didn't go off," I laughed taking out my phone and realizing it was seven thirty, exactly when my alarm clock was expected to ring.
"So," Carly said staring at me intently, "how do you feel?" she asked.
"Exactly the same as yesterday and the day before that, and the day before that and every other day of my life," I said with an eye roll.
"Oh come on Sam!" she started but was cut off by a certain nub entering the room.
"Buongiorno," Freddie called as he entered.
"Fredhead don't kill the Italian language," I stated turning away from him, but catching the quick blush that rose to his cheeks.
"I guess I'll stick to Spanish then," He said awkwardly rubbing his neck.
"No, don't even do that," I laughed as he simply rolled his eyes.
"Tell you what I'll give up on Spanish when you give up on English," He laughed and I smiled ever so slightly when I noticed his self-confidence that seemed to have disappeared with his previous statement had returned. "Any way," He said while reaching into his bag and pulling out a small box wrapped delicately in yellow wrapping paper with green and red stripes. "Here" he said extending his arm to me.
"Oh man you didn't!" I whined.
"Happy Birthday Sam!" Carly called as she picked out an equally nice decorated but much larger box from behind the Shay's sofa.
"You guys have got to be kidding me!" I whined, I had specifically told them not to get me anything for my birthday. I'd rather they just save up and by me a car for my eighteenth really, of course they weren't so thrilled about that idea. .
"It's not every day a girl turns seventeen," Carly stated.
"Yes but it is every day a girl gets older, what's the big deal?" I asked.
"We already bought them," Carly pouted.
"And I can't return mine," Freddie stated.
"You better not have gotten mama something of the sales rack Benson!" I said as my eyes turned to slits glaring at him.
"Just open them Sam!" Carly said lowering her eyes and sending a glare that could rival my own.
"Okay," I finally whined before opening the gifts Carly had bought me. Her large box seemed to be filled with clothing, and by clothing I mean things I would never wear. Dresses, skirts and high heeled shoes seemed to explode as soon as i opened the box. "Thanks Carls" I smiled half-heartedly.
"You'll wear it all right? At least once?" She asked and her tone so innocent I couldn't say no.
"Sure Carls, once," I agreed and she beamed.
"Alright nub, let's see what you got in that tiny box there," I said taking the gift box from his hand and discarding the lid quickly. "Oh my god," I said in utter shock as I stared at the gift he got me.
"It's beautiful!" Carly said as she stared at the Silver chained necklace where a sapphire was held in place by a silver plate with flowers embroidered onto them. "Well what are you waiting for? Put it on her," Carly said physically shoving Freddie into my direction.
"No, I'm sure Sam doesn't want to wear it, at least not right now," Freddie mumbled.
"No," I argued. "It's perfect I'd love to wear it now," I said handing him the necklace and pulling my thick blonde curls onto one side of my neck to aid him in placing the necklace. He locked the chain so quickly I hadn't even realized he'd started. I expected something electrifying, some sort of magical moment when I felt his fingers on the back of my neck, something like they showed in those chick flicks Carly made us watch. Instead I was met with nothing, not that I was anticipating an electrifying moment between Freddie and I, I had just expected… something. "Ow!" I finally whined as he removed his hands from my neck and accidently hit my collar bone.
"Sorry!" he whispered afraid I'd retaliate from the pain and hurt him in some way, and if I hadn't been in so much pain I likely would have.
"It's not your fault," I growled showing them the bandage coated lightly with blood.
"How'd that happen?" Carly asked and I shrugged honestly.
"It was just there when I woke up,"
"Must be from scratching yourself in your sleep," Carly shrugged.
"Most likely," I agreed surprised I hadn't come to such a simple conclusion myself.
"Girls," Freddie said interrupting our conversation. "Were going to be late unless we get going now," He stated.
"We could stay and chat for another ten minutes before leaving and still be on time for school if you let me drive," I said smirking at him.
"No way in hell Puckett," He said and I laughed.
"S'not like I'd want to be seen driving that soccer-mom-mobile you call a car anyway Benson," I stated as we exited the Shay apartment.
"Gum anyone?" Carly said before Freddie could respond obviously trying to keep from a fight starting.
"Don't mind if I do," I said taking a stick of gum and placing it in my mouth before rolling the wrapper and tossing it at Freddie.
"Is that anyway to treat the guy who just got you the best present in the world?" He asked and I shrugged.
"It's the correct way to treat a nub," I said before yelping in pain.
"Bite your tongue?" Freddie asked with a small smirk playing on his lips.
"No dorkwerd, it's my tooth, well teeth actually they're really sore," I mumbled massaging my teeth through my gums.
"If it still hurts later I'll take you to the dentist," Carly said as she led us to the parking lot.
"You're tooth still hurting?" Carly asked as we'd all met up for lunch. As Carly Freddie and I grew up we'd quickly realized we have very different plans for our future. Carly with law, Freddie and medicine, and I was surprised to find myself interested in journalism. These revelations however resulted in us having fewer classes together and the only time were able to see each were during mandatory classes for Ridgeway juniors like maths, English and biology as well as lunch, after school and ICarly rehearsals.
"You should take her to the dentist," Freddie concluded after staring intently at me massaging my mouth. "It's probably a cavity,"
"No I don't think so," I thought out loud. "Feels more like a growing pain,"
"Wisdom teeth?" Freddie asked and I simply nodded.
"Sam you liar!" Carly finally shouted in shock.
"What?" I asked annoyed. "I really think it may be my wisdom teeth," I said though it wasn't the truth. The pain was closer to the front of my teeth nowhere near the back where wisdom teeth would normally grow. However it was easier to agree then to speak, it hurt too much to try and argue.
"What's Notte?" Carly asked.
"What?" I asked completely confused.
"Notte" She repeated.
"Yes I heard you, I just have no idea what you're talking about," I stated wanting to end this conversation so my mouth would stop throbbing.
"Okay," Carly said in disbelief. "But why didn't you just tell us you got a tattoo?" She asked.
"What?" I asked once again in disbelief. I loved Carly, but at times she was just so, so persistent.
Carly then let out a laugh and continued "I mean scratching in your sleep? Yeah right. Why didn't you just tell us? We would have come with you!" She said.
"Yeah, it's no big deal," Freddie said with an encouraging smile.
"What are you two freaks talking about?" I asked completely lost. Carly simply let out a huff of frustration before reaching into her bag and pulling out a compact mirror and handing it to me.
I examined the bone where the bandage once laid, yet seemed to have fallen off. Where the thin scar once laid, was now replaced by large calligraphy "Notte" my clavicle read still red and swollen looking oddly similar to a new form of body art. "What the fuck?" I wondered but the pounding in my mouth caused me to rethink my response. "Oh this?" I laughed. "Yeah it was a surprise," I lied before going back to massaging my gums.
"What's that?" Freddie asked pointing slightly left of my new found tattoo. I held up the mirror once again, getting a look at a small purple picture that stayed even further left then the letters. It was a soft purple colour, and due to the discoloured state of my entire left side at the moment it was hard to distinguish what it was. But, after carefully examining it I was able to make out a bird that was drawn on its side with its wings spread, seemingly in mid-flight. Astonished I reached to touch the bird and the writing but as I pressed my finger against the drawing I winced in pain, it was still tender. "It's a crow," I concluded.
"You get it last night?" Carly asked and I simply nodded. Another lie.
The room seemed to be clouded in a heavy mist. But through the mist I saw a pair of eyes so similar to mine, except instead of the deep blue, I was met with bold red coloured eyes, too red to be natural. "Melanie?" I questioned but I knew instantly it wasn't. My eyes followed there's before falling to their neck, then to their collar bone. Where a crow matching mine laid. I reached out to touch it but was met with a low.
"No Sammy," And as tried to explain that Sammy was most definitely not my name, my mouth refused to cooperate. As I slowly felt myself regain control of my body I was laying head down in photography class.
"Class dismissed," were the only words i'd seemed to remember that entire class but the image of those red eyes didn't leave me. After the final bell had rung I sent Carly a quick text explaining that I wouldn't be coming over to her house directly after school as planned as I had a killer headache, which seemed to be the only truthful thing I'd told Carly all day that she seemed to accept. I felt as if my head had been drained of blood and now all the blood in my body was rushing back to my brain. I stumbled into my house calling out for my mother to send Tylenol up to my room with a class of water, and just as I'd prepared to launch myself onto my bed I found myself face to face with a man who's dark hair was gelled back and wore a ridiculous black robe and red cravat wrapped around his neck.
"Hello, Sammy," Came the low hiss accompanied by the smile I'd tried desperately to forget.
"Dad,"
So this is probably the most lighthearted you'll see this story for a while. The Action begins soon, and let me tell you i am excited to write more!
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See you soon!
