Here's Chapter 13! Remember to review because it lets me know what you like (and what you hate) so that I can make future chapters even better! Enjoy!
Sam POV 10:00PM Day 5
I lay on my back and stare up at the ceiling, thinking. Freddie wasn't perfect. He had to have flaws, right? I was going to have to get over him and finding his flaws seemed like the best way to start. The first thing that's wrong with Freddie is that he's a complete momma's boy. I frown, already discounting this because it's not really his fault that his mom is insane. Plus he had recently began to stand up for himself and gained more independence than I would have thought possible. I think about how Freddie's a complete nerd and he knows way too much about computers. My frown deepens. I tried to imagine a stupid Freddie that was technologically crippled, failing completely. I rise into a sitting position and push myself to lean against my headboard. I realize that I actually like that Freddie was smart and I had learned a lot about computers from him. Of course I hadn't admitted it, but I actually found computers pretty interesting. I laugh quietly to myself, realizing how much of a hypocrite I would be if I held the computer thing against Freddie. My eyes catch on a photo sitting on my dresser. I rise to my feet and pick it up carefully. Here was the deepest evidence, the most obvious reason why Freddie wouldn't ever see me as the way I saw him. Freddie's only flaw was his never say die attitude towards love. My hands squeeze the picture frame and I stare down at the reminder I had placed in my room exactly for this reason. Freddie and Carly, back when they were dating, his arm around her shoulders and Carly leaning into him. I hear a roaring in my ears and I set the picture down roughly, almost breaking the frame. Staggering back to my bed, I collapse and bury my face in my pillow. I don't cry, instead suffering silently as I remember every moment since I ran outside the theater yesterday. For some reason, my brain takes me back to Romeo and Juliet. To my intense surprise, I find that I'm actually jealous of Juliet. Even though so many things separated them, Romeo loved her enough to risk everything. Juliet got the guy, a guy that was willing to die for her. My laugh is off, but then again so is my entire life right now. I, Sam Puckett, was jealous of Juliet Capulet.
Freddie POV 6:00PM Day 6
I pick up my camera, focusing it on Sam and Carly as I begin to count down.
"In five, four, three, two…" I cue them and Carly greets the audience. I keep my eyes on Sam the entire time, shifting the camera as needed. They do a few bits, mostly improv because we didn't meet to come up with ideas this week. My thoughts distract me, pulling me away from the present. I had always thought that I had loved Carly and was just going to wait until she came around. Getting over Carly had been hard, but anything I had felt for her had faded to friendship soon after I had kissed Sam and we had broken up. Comparing my current feelings for Sam and my old feelings for Carly, I find small differences that make me wonder if I had ever truly loved Carly. With Carly, I used to have a passing thought about her or only think about her when I was with her. With Sam, it was a constant flow of thoughts that barely allowed me to focus on anything else. With Carly, it had been pleasant to hug her and look at her whenever I was with her. With Sam, it was like I needed to see her and touch her, just to reassure myself that she was real. When I had saved Carly's life, it was because I couldn't stand the thought of being without her. I hadn't felt any of the anger that I had felt when Sam had almost died, instead only relief. When I had saved Sam's life, it had been like I was the one that was dying. I was still furious that she had risked her life like that, trying to hide it until it went away. To be honest, all the little differences scared the crap out of me. If it was hard to get over Carly, than it would be almost impossible to get over Sam. I'm jerked back to the present as Sam starts to sign off.
"Well that's it for tonight." Sam says sadly, pouting at the camera. I discover a goofy smile plastered on my face from her cute pout. I shake my head, shifting the camera to Carly.
"Actually, we have one more thing tonight." Carly says. Sam and I look at her in confusion. "Thursday afternoon, Freddie saved Sam's life." she tells the camera seriously. Sam glares at her and I feel embarrassment sweep through me.
"Uh…it wasn't really like that." I say, pointing the camera at myself briefly. I shift the camera back and Carly rolls her eyes. Sam's glare slowly fades into a look of annoyance as Carly continues.
"Can you die of hypothermia?" Carly asks, trying to prove her point.
"Well, yeah but-." Sam begins, but Carly cuts her off.
"Freddie saved Sam's life." She says, smug to be proven right. I shake my head. "Do you want to tell them how it happened?" Carly asks Sam. Sam's murderous glare is back in full force.
"I ran out in the rain and Freddie made sure I didn't freeze to death." Sam says sarcastically. A chuckle escapes me and Carly turns to look at me, annoyed.
"Switch to the B camera, Freddie." Carly tells me before turning back to look at Sam. I shrug, switching the shot and walking to stand between Carly and Sam. The pull to be near Sam is so strong that I feel like I'm lopsided. I give a little wave to the camera and look down to see Sam fold her arms across her chest stubbornly. "Now, since Sam gave such a terrible explanation, I'm going to tell the story." Carly announces. I look at her uneasily.
"Maybe that's not the best idea…" I trail off, not exactly sure why it's a bad idea. Carly nods her head, acknowledging my protest before continuing.
"Well, we had just finished rehearsing for our school play." Carly casts a sidelong look at Sam and I, clearing her throat. "A very sudden ending to rehearsal." Sam's face is pale and she's obviously thinking back to the last scene we did. I feel light headed and my heart beats double time as I remember as well. "You see, Sam and Freddie are the leads in the play. We're doing-." Carly gushes before being cut off.
"Shay." Sam says, the word a threat and a plea at the same time.
"Oh, what's the big deal Sam?" Carly's eyebrows raise to her hairline. "Unless it means something to you?" I look at Sam, hope barely rising when it's crushed.
"It doesn't mean anything." Her eyes flicker up to my face and I hide the hurt with a nod of agreement. She flinches away and shifts to stare intently at the ground.
"Our school is doing Romeo and Juliet and Sam and Freddie are the leads!" Carly gushes like only a girl can.
"Guess which one Freddie's playing." Sam says mechanically, the insult almost out of instinct. I frown at her but she keeps her eyes glued to the ground. Carly ignores Sam, continuing to gush.
"So we had just finished rehearsal and Sam wanted to get back to the apartment so bad that she ran out into a thunderstorm! I swear, the rain was so thick that you couldn't even see your hand in front of your face! Freddie went after Sam." Carly turns to look at us. "Now, I could explain the rest myself, but I'd rather see Freddie tell us." I clear my throat and try to hide my surprise.
"Uh…I guess. I ran after Sam for a few blocks before I caught up to her. Once I made sure she wasn't going to run away again, I was actually really mad at her. I mean she was just so stupid! What if something had happened to her? Does she ever think about anyone but herself?" I gag on my words when I realize that I'm ranting. I try to catch Sam's eyes to apologize, but she studies the floor carefully. I sigh, looking back at the camera. "Once I got her back to Bushwell-."
"Freddie! You skipped my favorite part!" Carly whines. Sam's eyes dart to my face quickly, absorbing my confusion. Her gaze quickly return to the floor when I try to get her to look me in the eye. "Freddie carried Sam-." Carly begins.
"Ten blocks." Sam says tonelessly. Her eyes lock on mine and we return to our easiest way of communication. I read her eyes, finding gratitude expressed clearly. I look closer, knowing that she's hiding something. Was it guilt? Hurt? Resentment possibly? I'm not really sure how I'm feeling, so I can't tell what she sees in my eyes.
"Can you show us how you carried Sam?" Carly asks, her voice far away. Sam's eyes flicker for a brief second. I nod my head in understanding, the bizarre protectiveness striking me again. If there was one girl on the planet that needed no protection, it was Sam Puckett.
"No. Sam doesn't want to." I say firmly, cutting off all possible protests by Carly. Sam nods once in gratitude, dropping her eyes to the floor again. I tear my eyes away from her and look into the camera. "Sam was cold from the rain and I put some blankets on her, the end." I press the off button on the camera and Carly huffs in disappointment.
"Anyone up for smoothies?" Sam asks, heading towards the studio door. Still disappointed, Carly grabs her jacket and we follow Sam.
So...some deep thinking in this chapter. Did you think it was completely awesome? Did you think it was completely lame? How am I supposed to know if you don't review? :(
Thanks to my marvelous reviewers from last chapter! You're the best! Thanks to: Gabsikle, xx-SamxFreddie-xx, Clara Powell, Ironish Rose, Seddielovergrl, Kpfan72491, icecoffee18, Autumn, and CandyRox12!
TO AUTUMN: There were some Shakespeare references in this chapter, but it will be a few more chapters before we get back to rehearsals.
My fav part of the chapter? I don't know if you guys (and girls) caught it because I didn't have Sam's POV for the webshow, but it's so sad that Sam says that it means nothing to her because she's convinced that it's what Freddie wants to hear. Freddie agrees with her because he thinks that it's what Sam wants to hear. I also liked writing Sam and Freddie's thoughts. Did you like these parts? Did you hate them? One word: REVIEW! :)
Hope you liked this chapter! Thanks for reading!