Chapter 7: Rumor Has It
The door slammed shut behind her, echoing in the apartment. She'd just walked Brad downstairs. They were going on their first official date on Saturday. He wouldn't tell her where. He'd just told her to dress nice and bring her appetite. Carly wasn't usually one for surprises but she loved the idea that he was going to come up with something all on his own; she was beginning to like him more and more.
At first meeting she'd thought he was nice, even cute, but he'd struck her as a little… well…boring. Carly was a stereotypical girl in that way; a "good girl" who liked bad boys. But the last few days with Brad were showing her that there was more to him than she'd first thought. She really liked him… and she was pretty sure he felt the same way.
And if he still wanted to hang out with her, after how crazy she'd looked today, then he was definitely a keeper. She groaned and put her face in her hands. She really had looked kind of nuts standing in the hallway screaming threats and banging on Freddie's door. But what else was she supposed to do?
Spencer walked into the living room holding a giant plastic tub. "Hey kid. You alright?" He asked, struggling to talk as he carried the tub over to the sofa.
"Yeah. No. Ugh. I don't know!" she said, walking into the kitchen for a Wahoo Punch "What's in the tub?"
Spencer groaned as he dropped the tub to the floor.
"About a hundred pounds of Fun-Goo"
"Fun-Goo? Do I want to know why you have a hundred pounds of Fun-Goo?"
"Of course you do, because you, my sweet little sister, are about to witness history. I, Spencer Shay, am going to construct the most awesome sculpture that has ever been sculpted. A giant, Fun-Goo covered… Beavcoon!" he said, ending with a bow. There really weren't any words to respond to that, but that was her brother for you, his behavior often left one…speechless.
"Well…good luck with that!" She said, flopping down onto one of the kitchen chairs.
"Awe, am I sensing some teenage angst?" Spencer patted the sofa cushion next to him and Carly walked over to sit beside him. "What's going on? Is this about you screaming and trying to beat Freddie's door down?" he asked her in a more serious voice.
As goofy as he was, he was always willing to listen to her problems, and he usually had surprisingly good advice. Right now she really needed it. She was a bundle of swirling emotions, none of which felt very good. She was angry and irritated, but most of all she was confused.
Normally when she felt like this she'd call Sam, pop some popcorn and pour out her problems over an episode of Girly Cow. But she couldn't do that this time. First, because Sam was MIA. Second, it wouldn't make much sense to call Sam, or even Freddie for that matter, since they were the reason she was sitting here fuming mad. And no doubt together right now.
Naïve was something she'd been called before. And if she were honest she'd have to say she understood why people would say that. She was prone to believing the best in people and seeing the bright side of most situations. But she didn't see it as naïve. She was perky. Upbeat. Positive. Unfailing. Optmistic. Okay, so maybe her outlook caused her some problems from time to time… like with Steven. She'd had to go a thousand miles, wear a disguise and catch him, red handed, cheating on her before she believed he was bad news. And Chuck-he'd practically killed her brother before she'd believed the brat was…well, evil! But this was different; these were her best friends. Her best friends who were carrying on a relationship behind her back.
"Tell me what's on your mind," Spencer said.
"You mean besides plotting the murder of my two best friends?"
"So Sam and Freddie are the problem," he said, "You're still convinced they're together huh?" he asked.
Carly pulled the note she'd found out of her pocket and handed it to Spencer. He whistled.
"Yes! Gibby owes me twenty bucks!" He stood up and screamed.
Carly looked at him murderously.
"I mean…" he said, sitting down and lowering his voice, "I'm so surprised, when did this happen?"
Carly stood and walked angrily toward the stairs.
"Carly, wait!" Spencer said, "I was just kidding…come back!" He knelt down and grabbed a handful of Fun-Goo, "You can help me build my Beavcoon!" he called after her, as she ran up the stairs.
She threw her book bag down on her bad and then followed it, not bothering to take her shoes off as she normally would. She heard her phone ringing and smiled as she saw the caller's name.
Brad.
"Hey you!" she said, trying to sound happier than she felt.
"Hey, I just wanted to call and ask if you're allergic to any kinds of food?"
"Allergic?" she asked
"Yeah. For dinner on Saturday. I want to make sure the place I take you won't make you like break into hives or anything."
He was so sweet. Weird. But sweet.
"I can honestly say that no one has ever asked me that before a date. Should I give you my blood type too?" she joked
"It's all fun and games until someone goes into anaphylactic shock." he laughed. "So, are you okay now? Have you busted Freddie and Sam yet?"
Over the last few days she'd shared her suspicions with him…at length, and he just didn't understand the big deal. So what if Sam and Freddie were dating. And so what if they were 'hiding it'. Number one, they weren't doing a very good job of it. He was a guy, and admittedly not the type to pay much attention to body language or secret looks, but even he had to say that it was pretty obvious something was going on with the two of them. He had suspected there was something between them even before the lock-in. Number two, if they were keeping it a secret, however poorly, they must have a reason and he didn't think it was really anyone's business…even Carly's.
"Ah ha! So you admit it!" Carly cried triumphantly.
"Well…that note you showed me was pretty self-explanatory, but…"
"Ah ha!" Carly interrupted
"Will you quit 'ah ha'-ing me please?" Brad laughed, "Even if you're right and they do have something going… don't you think the fact that they're hiding it from everyone simply means they aren't ready to tell anyone yet?" he asked.
"But I'm not everyone! I'm their best friend! I know them better than anyone. And I'd actually be happy for them!" Carly whined, "They're not giving me a chance to be happy for them! I could have thrown them a 'Sam and Freddie love each other' party!"
Brad had to laugh. Carly had great intentions, but even he had to admit, she liked to stick her nose in other people's business… a lot.
"You want to have a party announcing they're together? No wonder they're not telling you!" he laughed, "If they can't even tell you… the person who knows them best, then there's no way they could be okay with telling the whole world, right?"
Carly groaned. Brad was right. She hated that he was right.
"Maybe you're right" she whispered.
"Aha!"
"Look who's 'aha-ing now" Carly laughed. "But even if you're right…"she paused.
"Yeah?"
"Even if you're right it's still hard. It still hurts that they're keeping secrets. Sam and Freddie are more than just friends to me. They're like my family. Neither of them has ever had much luck dating, and I really want them to be happy, I'm happy when they're happy and it just sort of sucks to think that they don't want to share that happiness with me; or to think that they're scared or nervous or worried about telling me the truth."
"Carly…"
"You're right Brad, maybe they have a reason for hiding that I don't know about, or understand. But I know Sam and Freddie. And even if they think that hiding this is what's best… it's not. I just…need to help them see that."
Brad sighed. He had three sisters, and with a dad in the military and gone a lot, he'd grown up around women. So he knew, better than most that once women turned on the soft voice and the puppy dog eyes, men didn't stand a chance. Even over the phone he could just see Carly's face, and he knew he was a goner. The next words out of his mouth he was sure he'd somehow live to regret.
"Okay. I get it. So what's the plan?"
He pulled the phone away from his ear as Carly's squeal echoed through it.
"Can you meet me at the Groovy Smoothie tonight?" she asked
"Sure, what time?"
Carly looked over at the clock. It was 6:30, barely enough time to set her plan in motion. But she'd pull it off. She had to.
"Make it around eight. No…better make it 9. Oh, and Brad? Is your cousin still visiting?"
"Chance? Yeah, he's in my room playing video games. Why?"
"Can you bring him with you?"
"Sure… but why?" he asked. Oh no. She could not be thinking what he thought she was thinking. "Wait a minute Carly. What is this about?"
"Well, I figure the easiest way to get Sam and Freddie to see reason… is for them to see each other… with other people" She whispered conspiratorially. "Just tell your cousin he's about to meet a great girl, and I'll see you at nine. Oh and Brad? Make sure he doesn't wear stripes."
Yep, he knew he was going to regret telling her he'd help her. This was going to end badly.
The air in the darkened theatre was cold and smelled faintly of stale popcorn and mothballs. The red velvet seats were worn from years of patrons, and the old projector made a constant clicking sound so loud that you had to strain to hear the movie. Sam and Freddie loved it here. It was the only place in Seattle where, for $10, two people could get popcorn, drinks and a movie. It was also one of the only places where Sam and Freddie could be themselves…together, without worrying about anyone else. Sitting here eating a big bucket of popcorn with Freddie's arm wrapped around her shoulder, the theatre filled with the screams of the poor teenage saps whose brains were being sucked out by zombies - Sam felt safe.
Freddie laughed out loud, pointing at the screen, where a teenage girl ran wild eyed, clad only in her underwear into a dark forest.
"Seriously! You run into the forest? Do you want to die?" This was the funniest part about slasher films to him; how completely illogical the people in them were.
The lack of light in the theatre gave Sam the opportunity to look at Freddie, undiscovered. She really liked his face. The way his hair was always perfectly shaped around his ears. The way his eyelashes lay against his cheeks when he closed his eyes, like butterfly wings. He had a few pieces of hair that stubbornly refused to stay down, no matter how much gel he used. And when he was mad or frustrated he ground his teeth, making his jawline tense.
These were all small things that she'd probably never noticed before the last few months. They were among the things she would miss the most if their fairytale bubble burst. She sighed at that thought, trying to turn her attention back to the movie.
She felt Freddie squeeze her hand and when she turned to look at him, he was staring back at her with concern etched on his face.
"What's up Sam? You alright?"
"Yeah, I'm good!" she lied, "Just hungry…I'm going to get more popcorn." She grabbed the bucket from his lap and stood.
"More popcorn?" He raised an eyebrow.
"What?" she laughed, "I'm hungry! Now move it or lose it." She moved past Freddie and began the walk up the aisle toward the old theatre's lobby putting an extra swing in her hips just for his benefit. Mama knew he was watchin'.
Walking into this lobby always reminded Sam of those old movies her J'MawMaw liked to watch. You could tell that the now disheveled building has once been beautiful. But what had once probably been ornate was now worn.
The lobby was empty except for Mattie. Mattie's real name was Mathilda but she said the last person to call her that was the priest at her wedding. She and her husband, Jerry O'Haloran, owned the place. And despite the fact that Sam figured they had to be at least 100 years old apiece, Jerry still ran the projector and Mattie could be seen on most nights in her red vest with the gold fringe, dishing out popcorn to the small groups of people who enjoyed retro gore and black and white romance. Mattie told her that she and Jerry always picked out the movies themselves; horror and romance were the only ones they could agree on.
Mattie was there now, leaning over the glass candy counter with a pencil behind her ear, a stack of papers and a calculator in front of her. She looked up and smiled when Sam approached.
"Hey there Sam… need a refill?" She asked, reaching her hand out for Sam's empty popcorn bucket.
Sam handed it to her and leaned on the counter while she waited.
"What's on your mind kid? Wouldn't have anything to do with your handsome boyfriend would it?" Mattie asked.
Sam smiled. Mattie and Jerry were really the only people who knew about her and Freddie. They'd been coming to this theatre for three months, but today was the first time they'd walked through that door holding hands. The O'Haloran Theatre was small and out of the way; they weren't likely to see anyone they knew here. There was a certain freedom in that.
"Boyfriend…I'll have to get used to hearing that I guess." Sam said.
"You'd be surprised what you can get used to if you wait long enough" Mattie said, "When I met Mr. O'Haloran he had a head full of hair so red it made me want to call the fire department. I told him I couldn't go on a date with him because it clashed with every dress I owned. But after a while I got used to it, and then I got so I actually liked it. When our daughter Grace was born with fire red hair it was one of the happiest sights I'd ever seen."
She handed the tub of popcorn, filled to the brim to Sam but brushed away her attempt to pay for it.
"It's on the house kid. You know…the two of you remind me of me and Mr. O'Haloran in our prime" she smiled with a wistful look in her eye.
"You and Jerry are like, perfect for each other" Sam said aloud, thinking of the way the O'Haloran's even seemed to look alike; like reflections of each other. "Freddie and I are so different. But I guess you could probably tell that, what with his freakish neatness and general lack of attitude."
"And that bothers you?" Mattie asked
"No. Well, not really. But sometimes…sometimes I wonder what will happen when he realizes just how different we are." It was the first time she'd said it out loud. It didn't make her feel any better than when it'd just been a thought, unvoiced, in her head.
"Tell me something, kid. How long have you two been together?"
Sam thought back. She'd known Freddie for ages, they'd been in the same class or the same school since kindergarten. They'd been something like friends since they were ten. And she'd had feelings for him for over three months now. So when did the clock start ticking, when did she start to count them as "together". He'd been there all her life. They'd always been together.
"We've only been dating for seven days." Sam said
"But you've known him longer haven't you?"
"How did you know that?"
"I'm an old woman. And in my lifetime I've seen plenty of couples walking in and out of that door. You start to get a feeling about these things." She shrugged. "I've watched the two of you. I see how you look at him. How he watches you when you aren't looking. A man doesn't look at a woman like that when he's just got something casual on his mind. That boy loves you. It's as plain as the nose on his face." Mattie paused before continuing, "But I see other things too. Like how you don't hold his hand till that front door closes, and you always look around the lobby first. Like you're scared for someone to see you."
Sam looked down at her shoes. God, was she really that obvious? Mattie studied Sam from across the counter, head tilted to the side. Sam usually hated it when grown-ups did this. Like she was a puzzle they couldn't quite figure out.
"Sam, do you know why the only movies we show here are old horror movies and black and white romances?" Mattie asked.
"I don't know. Because you like mushy old movies and Jerry likes cheesy fake blood and guts?"
Mattie laughed long and loud and when she stopped her dentures made clicking noises.
"Are you kidding? I'm the one holding the tissues during those old love stories, while Jerry gets all dewey eyed"
Sam couldn't hide her shock at the revelation.
"So you're the one that picks the horror movies?"
"I'm gonna tell you something young lady. Something I've learned in my many years of marriage. Things never have to make sense to the people looking from the outside. You have to do what works for you. For instance, I haven't cooked a meal in over 50 years… the last time I tried I burned down our kitchen. And Jerry has never once had to do a home repair…not one. If I can't fix it we call someone who can."
"And that doesn't bother you. I mean…don't people think it's sort of, I don't know, weird?" Sam asked, as respectfully as she could.
"Weird to who? It's not weird to us. It works for us. And in the end, that's all that matters. Me and Mr. O'Haloran are plenty different, believe you me. But I love that old geezer just like he is and I don't give a hill of beans who knows it…or what they think. Besides," she'd said, "he might not have been Mr. Fix it… but he was certainly easy on the eyes. Now you better scoot on back in there with your boyfriend before I have to go in there and give you some competition. I bet he misses you already." Mattie winked at Sam and went back to looking at her paperwork.
Sam started back towards the theatre, thinking about what Mattie had said. Sam really liked Mathilda, she was strong, and funny and she didn't take any crap from anyone. But something about what Mattie had said was eating at her. Normally Sam couldn't care less what anyone thought about what she said, did…wore. She was her own person. Always had been. But this thing with Freddie, it felt different somehow. Suddenly it did matter what people thought and that scared her. And she had no idea what to do about it.
She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and held her bucket in one arm as she fished it out.
Carly: Hey… where r u? U left something my house.
Crap… where should she say she was.
This afternoon after leaving Carly's house, she and Freddie had stopped at his house long enough to grab his wallet before heading out to the movie theatre. On the way out she'd had to pay Lewbert five bucks to say he hadn't seen them. Lewbert better have kept his mouth shut or she knew a certain wart that was getting removed… by hand!
Sam: a movie
There, she hadn't lied
Carly: by urself?
God! What was with all the questions lately?
Sam: yeah… Night of the Living Dead
Carly: eww… u left ur backpack
Sam: Crap… Bring it to school tomorrow?
Carly: No school… remember? Parent Teacher conferences.
Sam: oh
Carly: meet me at the Groovy Smoothie and ill give it to you…ill even buy you a smoothie
Sam: when?
Carly: 9?
Sam thought… it was eight now but the movie would be over soon. She could walk with Freddie to Bushwell Plaza and be at the Groovy Smoothie by nine.
Sam: ok. l8r
Freddie turned his head and grinned when Sam walked into the theater, grabbing the bucket of popcorn from her.
"What took you so long?"
"I was talking to Mattie. That is one cool old lady." Sam whispered, taking her seat as Freddie put his arm around her shoulders. "If I have to get old, I want to be like that."
"Loud and opinionated?" he said, laughing.
"You don't like Mattie?" Sam said, shocked.
"Of course I like Mattie. She's funny, she makes a great bucket of popcorn," he said, motioning to the bucket, "and she reminds me a little of you. Only you're cuter." he winked.
"Well thanks! And here I thought you were leaving me for Mattie and her hot, hot orthopedic footwear."
They watched the rest of the movie and gathered their things to leave. This was the only theater Sam went to where she actually picked up her trash and put it in the garbage can instead of leaving it strewn over the floor. She really did like the O'Haloran's.
As they left the theater, Mattie and Jerry stood behind the counter and waved to them. Mattie gave Sam a little wink as she and Freddie walked out the door.
Once outside the theatre, she saw Freddie reach in his pocked for his pearPhone. He looked over at Sam with confusion on his face.
"I got a text from Carly"
"Me too…I forgot to tell you. She texted me when I went to get popcorn. What does she want?
"For me to meet her…"
"At the Groovy Smoothie" they said in union.
"Jinx!" she said, attempting to slap at his cheeks.
"How did you know?" Freddie asked, swatting Sam's hand away. He loved it when she was like this, playful and funny… and touching him outdoors in the daylight. He wished it was always like this.
"Because she told me the same thing."
"This can't be good Sam."
"What do you mean? We go to the Groovy Smoothie together all the time. No big deal. You're thinking too much." She walked over to him, leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Now quit worrying that pretty little head and let's go get smoothies. Mama's thirsty."
They walked the six blocks to the Groovy Smoothie, passing Bushwell Plaza on the way. Two blocks past the theater, Sam let go of Freddie's hand. He very reluctantly let her. He didn't say anything, tried not to let it bother him, but it did anyway. Just another one of the compromises he made to be with her. Mushy in private. Only.
They arrived at the Groovy Smoothie ten minutes later than Carly had instructed and were surprised to find the outside lights off, but the shop light on. Sam shrugged and led the way inside.
"Surprise!" Carly cried when she saw them. Sam stopped in her tracks. Freddie ran into the back of her…and then saw what she was looking at.
The Groovy Smoothie was empty except for Carly and Brad, who stood in front of them, holding hands with twin dopey smiles on their faces.
But that wasn't the problem.
Behind Brad stood a brown haired, blue-eyed Brad clone—surely a relative. And beside Carly stood…Patrice! One of the airhead girls who'd fawned over Freddie when he'd played a vampire on iCarly. What the heck were they doing here? And where was everyone else?
Carly stepped forward, letting go of Brad's hand.
"What's going on Carls?" Sam asked, still standing in the doorway. She reluctantly moved forward after a gentle nudge in her back from Freddie. "I thought you told me to meet you here at nine to get my backpack. Wait a minute!" she smiled and walked toward Carly, "Are you guys on a date? You move fast my friend" she laughed and punched Brad playfully on the shoulder. "So let me grab my bag and a smoothie and Fredward and I will be out of your hair."
Carly still stood there with her goofy smile.
"Um Sam…" Freddie said. Sam turned to look at him, the smile still on her face. He shook his head. He was pretty sure he knew what was going on, he was just in too much shock to say it.
Carly looped her arm through Sam's.
"I'm so glad you guys are here! Brad and I were just talking today about how happy we are, and how we wish everyone was as happy as us…right Brad?" She elbowed him.
"What? Oh yeah, right. So happy!" he said. But he didn't look happy. He looked…uncomfortable.
"So that's when I had this great idea!"
Sam's smile fell as she looked at Freddie. Freddie stared at his shoes. It was rare for Carly's great ideas not to end in disaster. This did not feel like it would be an exception. And if this was what Sam was beginning to think it was, she knew a certain brunette who didn't have long to live.
"Freddie, you know Patrice right?" Carly said. Patrice raised one perfectly manicured hand and wiggled her fingers at Freddie flirtatiously.
"Hey Freddie" she said, in a sing song voice that made Sam want to punch her in the throat.
"And Sam…" Carly continued, turning Sam toward the boy standing beside Brad, "this is Chance, Brad's cousin from Vancouver. You know, Vancouver… in Canada…where they make your favorite bacon that's actually ham, plus have three donut stores on every block" she motioned toward the Brad clone as he walked over to Sam.
"It's nice to meet you Sam. Carly and Brad told me a lot about you. You're even prettier than she said." he blushed at that and stood in front of Sam with his hands buried in the pockets of his cargo shorts.
Freddie stiffened. Who the heck was this guy telling his girlfriend how pretty she was! She already knew how pretty she was! Freddie had just told her not thirty minutes ago!
Sam took in the scene in front of her. Empty Groovy Smoothie. Carly and Brad being all hand-holdy and coupley. Some random dude staring at her boobs and a mini-skirted skank looking at Freddie as if he was the last meal on earth.
Holy chizz! This wasn't just smoothies.
This was a date!
A/N: Dun, Dun, Dun...
