So . . . have you guys been hanging off your chairs in suspense? I sure hope so. That was my intent.
"So Carly, we're not that great at drama, are we?" I say, reciting my eTeen Awards script from memory. Carly pokes me in the ribs playfully, then twirls a lock of her freshly straigtened hair.
"Oh, I don't know Sam. We've put on some great dramas on iCarly," she laughs, her voice full of half-sarcasm.
"Yeah, but these guys really know how to put on a show," says Freddie. "They add the secrets, the lies, and unknown children to our lives on the web"
The nominees for best Web Drama are . . . The Moonlight Saga . . . New London . . . Half Life . . . and Brought to Life," I add, pausing carefully between each nominee so the eTA tech guys can flash their cast pictures onto the giant screen behind us. With the big night just two weeks away, we're in rehearsals almost every day after school. Not that I mind. It's an excuse to not go home or do homework. But it hasn't left me much time to talk to Freddie either. He still won't agree with me and has been acting tense since our little spat last week.
"And the winner is . . ." says Carly, pretending to open the envelope we'll have at the show. We all lean into the microphone. "Half Life," we chime in unision, then clap like all great awards show hosts do. I'm actually getting into the spirit of the show now. Then again, maybe it's because we have four noms.
Michelle stands up from her seat and claps excitedly. "That was great you guys! Just super. Why don't you take a five minute break while I talk to the lighting guys and then we'll run through the second half." The three of us let ourselves down the stairs once she walks away.
"I have to go to the bathroom," Carly says, walking up the aisle. "Be back in a flash!" I watch her hot pink ruffled top disappear into the darkness of the back of the auditorium, then turn to Freddie.
"We have to talk," I say flatly. He sits down.
"So talk." I sit down in the seat next to him
"Dude, this is a bad idea, keeping it a secret from her." Freddie leans in towards me. He smells like peppermint and orange Tic Tacs.
"I don't think she's ready to know, Sam." His voice is practically a whisper, and he keeps glancing around, even though no one is anywhere near us. I lean my head in closer.
"It's serious chiz, Freddie-bear," I say - in my normal tone- using my new nickname for him, "You saw how mad she got when she found out we kissed and didn't tell her. Imagine how much her heart would be broken if she found out that we had been dating behind her back!" We both hear the drop of a Diet Cherry Peppy Cola can. We look up to see Carly standing there, a look of disbelief on her face.
"You guys are . . . dating?" she exclaims. I can tell if she's mad, upset, excited, or pissed. Most likely, it's a combination of all four.
But even more likely, Freddie and I are so dead.
Okay, SYTYCD is on! I must go watch, but review your pants off!
xo, Chantal