iReach Out

It had been a week since Carly and Sam had started dating and already Sam Puckett knew that she was in this for the long haul. How could she not be? This was Carly. Carly Shay. How could anyone else be right for her?

Sam sat in the far corner of the Skybucks coffeehouse a block and a half from Bushwell Plaza, sipping an overpriced cappuccino and fumbling for her cell phone. She scrolled through her list of recent calls and dialed the most recent call not from her Cupcake. It connected and was answered on the second ring.

"…Good Morning, Samantha…"

Sam was, as usual, very direct. She didn't mince words.

"Mel, look, we need to talk…"

ACROSS STATE LINES…

Sam Puckett's identical twin sister sat in the A Concourse of Denver International Airport, awaiting her departing flight home to the Emerald City of Seattle. She attempted to be as discreet as was possible. It was never easy to discuss one's sexual preferences, particularly your twin's, at nine-thirty in the morning. She was, of course, very much in public.

"What's the matter, Sam?"

Melanie Puckett could tell that her sister was nervous… or perhaps in juvie. This was a tone she'd heard before, in those phone calls where Sam would subsequently swear her to secrecy.

"Do you need money? I'll call Uncle Carmine…"

"…I don't need bail, you Nub… I need my sister… I think I'm kinda… in… you know… love…"

Melanie's mouth gaped slightly. She was happy for her sister, if slightly taken aback.

"You're in… are you sure, Samantha?"

Sam Puckett's nerves were fraying on the other end of the line. It wasn't her intention to abuse her sister and closest confidante, although it simply came out that way.

"…Well, Holy Chizz, Princess, it's something… YES, I'M SURE!..."

Melanie wanted to cry, but kept it inside. She knew Sam didn't mean anything by it. Melanie, in truth, was at a loss. She didn't have much experience – certainly none that were applicable to Sam's situation – but she did her best.

"Okay, Sam, Jeez… well, I don't know what to tell you besides 'Be Safe'…"

A blue streak of obscenities ensued. Sam had completely misunderstood.

"I meant with your heart, Samantha! You're my only sister… I don't want you hurt…"

For all of her twin's faults – of which there were many – Melanie loved Sam more than anything in the world and they would only say so between one another, in their own way. She spoke a childish gibberish that she knew only her sister would understand. It was their thing.

MEANWHILE, IN SEATTLE…

Sam was careful not to say too much, even to Melanie. Life as Pam Puckett's second-born had taught her to always keep your guard up. Saying goodbye to her sister, Sam's phone began to chirp. She had a text message. It was from Carly. She quickly replied.


TO : Carls

Fat Cakes. There soon. I luv U, Cupcake.


Something was eating at Sam, though it could simply have been a mix of sugar and bad cappuccino. She knew that she'd left something unsaid, and she found it distasteful. She fired off another text message.


TO : Mel

Sorry for being such a stub rag. I know you were tryin' to help.


Within a minute, Sam got another text message. Even minus the header, the sender was apparent, given the tone.


NEW MESSAGE

FROM : Mel

Sent: 9:39 AM, PST

Kiss, Kiss... I love my sis! ~ M


Sam rolled her eyes. The relationship she had with her sister was beyond Love – Hate. The sisters had a Love – Hate – Indifference relationship, complicated by the baggage of their dysfunctional childhood. Sam would always blame Melanie for getting all the breaks, the scholarship, the private school, the uncomplicated life.

She grumbled quietly to herself, punched a few buttons on her phone's keypad, and headed for the door.

A SHORT WHILE LATER, AT BUSHWELL…

Sam's voice broke Carly's absentminded daydream.

"I… I… uh…" Carly stammered.

"Love. Me. You love me, Carls."

Carly laughed. That laugh was an elixir to Sam's soul. She wrapped Carly into a suffocating bear hug.

"Anything you want, Cupcake."

"I'm scared, Sam…" her lip quivered.

There was no room for talk like this in the Puckett household. Fear had no place in Carly's world, especially if Sam had anything to say about it.

"Sam, you don't understand. My fath—… uh, The Colonel is not a nice man. He's cruel, Sam… "

Sam laid her finger across Carly's lips.

"Hush, Cupcake… None of that…"

Sam pulled back, allowing Carly to speak.

"But…"

Sam stroked Carly's hair. It was so soft. She wanted Carly to understand.

"Who am I, Carls?"

"Sam."

"Whose Sam?"

"My Sam…" Carly said, suddenly flushed with embarrassment. She stared down at her toes. Sam grinned. Carly was so cute when she was anxious.

"And you are?"

"Sam's Cupcake…"

Sam stared deep into Carly's warm, inviting chocolate eyes, loving them all the more. She spoke coldly, matter-of-factly. Carly needed to understand.

"I will always protect you, Carls. You're too important. Now, Upsy Daisy, Cupcake…"

Sam slid her hand down Carly's back, over her butt, and behind her knees. It was her responsibility to protect Carly every minute of every day. She didn't give a damn about Carly's dad, his military buddies, or whatever holy hell Colonel Shay wanted to bring down on her head. What didn't kill you made you stronger – gave you the fuel you needed for the fire – and if Pam's boozing and outbursts couldn't kill that spark in her chest, she'd be goddamned if her girlfriend's daddy would break her.

The couple crossed the room in stride; Sam laying Carly down in the center of the bed. She didn't even bother with the blankets. Sam took them by the fistful and pulled. Nothing mattered anymore.

"Shhh, Cupcake… Sam's here… It's just you and me…"

Sam Puckett wasn't happy. She wasn't nervous. She was simply contented. Whatever was going to happen was going to happen. The one thing she knew for certain, however, was that nothing would happen to Carly. If it was War that the Colonel wanted, Sam Puckett would bring it.