Okay, so I am trying to convey that being with Sam has boosted Freddie's confidence and self-esteem, just as being around her used to have the exact opposite effect. I think I did okay…. Oh, and bonus points to whoever can figure out what I have been watching, which Freddie is quoting from, and why what Carly says triggers the monologue.
After Sam and I put all our clothes back on, we helped Carly and Griffin get stuff out of the car so we could eat lunch. After setting the table up, Sam and I took our seats on one side, while Carly and Griffin sat across from us. We ate in silence for a few minutes before Carly had to say something.
"So… now what? I mean, how did this happen?"
I put down the sandwich I had been working my way through and collected my thoughts. "It was kind of inevitable, wasn't it?"
Sam scooted closer to me "He couldn't resist my feminine wiles."
"That's not how I remember it." I turned to Sam and she punched me in the arm.
"I have a rep to maintain. Shut up." She said in mock anger.
"Long story short, we got tired of dancing around the obvious. Sam made her move, and I made mine."
"The shower incident… the whole cuddling thing. Faking a leg injury to get you back up here alone. Why all the games, though?" Carly reasoned, turning to Sam.
"I have a rep to maintain. Couldn't have you all thinking I had gone soft over some nub. No offense." Sam kissed me on the cheek. "I wasn't sure how you would take to the news of your sidekicks getting it on." Sam smiled deviously at Carly.
"Getting it…. You? oh my God." Carly stood up, near hysterics.
"Saw this coming." Sam turned to me, and buried her head in my shoulder, stifling a fit of laughter. I nodded my head towards the blankets that were still lying at the end of the table. Confusion flared in Carly, as awe overtook Griffin again. He eyed Sam, as if sizing her up.
"Eyes up, friend." I reached across the table and forced his chin up. "She's mine."
"Hey, hey, didn't mean anything by it, just… thinking."
"Dangerous pastime, that." I took another bite of my sandwich, satisfied with my show of bravado, however unnecessary. Carly sat down forcefully across from me, the confusion in her eyes still smoldering. She looked at Sam.
"I really do not understand. Where did this come from? You… and him?" Carly looked from Sam to me, then back "and YOU!" She pointed at me "You never stand up for yourself, let alone anyone else. When did you get all manly and impulsive?"
"Thing is, there's this woman nearby who makes me do all manner of crazy things. This…" I waved my arms in front of me to indicate the two women "is an unhealthsome gig. It's stupid. Doing something stupid so you can be near the woman you love- well, that's the kind of stupid I don't mind." I stated, smiling self-assuredly
This little outburst made both Sam and Carly fall silent and stare at me.
"Sorry, something you said reminded me of something I read a while back… can't remember what. Proximity to this one…" I put my arm around Sam and pulled her into my side "may have fried my brain a little."
"You are such a nub." They said in unison.
"So you two…." She pointed at the blankets.
"Oh, yeah." My smile spread over the entirety of my face as I recalled the events of a half hour ago.
"I'm going to regret this, but how was it?" Carly asked in a flat tone. Sam and I both cocked our heads in confusion.
Sam began speaking "…Pervert."
"What? I'm curious."
"No, you're a pervert." Sam laughed.
"Ah, give the girl a break. She sees two people as attractive as us, having fun sexual adventures and can't help but be curious." I turned to Carly "and you had sex in a MOVING vehicle… a very quickly moving vehicle… That kind of trumps the great outdoors, as far as sexual deviancy."
"That is true. But that's not what I was talking about. I mean, you two. How was it?"
"He's okay." Sam piped up.
"Just okay?" I asked, hurt.
"Okay, you're great. Really great. But, you never 'finished'." Sam turned to me, using air quotes on the last word.
"Whatever. It's no big deal."
Carly reached across the table and grabbed my t-shirt, and then locked eyes with Sam. "Never let him out of your sight. You found the perfect man."
"Hey lady. Hands off the merchandise. You had your chance." Sam put her hand around Carly's wrist. "More than once."
Carly sat back, hurt in her eyes. "I was joking. Jeez."
"Now girls, There is no need to fight over me."
"Seriously though, what do you see in each other that you didn't before?" Griffin asked, finally adding constructively to the conversation.
"Honestly, we both knew it was there." I answered quickly. I turned to Sam, as if asking if she wanted to continue. She did.
"He's watched my back since the beginning. He never judged me, like everyone else did." Sam looked at Carly, apology in her eyes. "Every chance I gave him to run away, everything I did to drive him off, he came back for more. I thought he was just too obsessed with you to care that I was making his life hell. What's that old saying? 'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em?'."
Carly started to respond, but I interrupted her "Honestly, I don't feel that we have to justify anything. Even to you. But, I feel I have to get this out in the open, before it starts a fight between any of us. Sam," I turned to the girl next to me, taking her hand in mine and looking into her eyes "You will never be just a consolation prize. What I feel for you is real, and is a reaction only to you, not driven by jealousy, or a need to 'keep up with the Jones'. We will never be anything but us, and that's perfect as far as I am concerned." I turned back to Carly "satisfied?"
"I am still confused. That's a lot of talk, but none of it was an explanation. This is just…"
Sam stood up angrily. "He already said we were not going to justify this to you, and we don't need to. We don't need your permission. God, Carly; Maybe you could be happy for us?" Sam climbed over the bench and started walking towards the path to the cliff. I jumped up to follow her, but Carly ran over and grabbed Sam before I could get to her. "I'm sorry, all right. This is just all so sudden. Two days ago, I thought you hated each other. I am happy for you, I promise." Carly turned around and looked at me "I'm just worried. It's what I do. I worry."
"And take long showers." Sam added, near whispering. Carly laughed and pulled Sam into a hug. "Yes. That's my job, to worry about you guys and to take long showers."
I walked over and wrapped my arms around both girls. After a few seconds, I spoke. "Maybe we should work off some of this tension with some physical activity."
"Okay, I can't tell if you're being a nub, or a pervert." Sam chimed in.
"Just a nub, this time. What I mean is we should go hiking. It's a beautiful day, and we don't have any other plans, or reason to leave."
I need ideas for Truth or Dare for Freddie to answer/perform a couple of chapters from now. Please leave some in the reviews. Or message me directly if they are a bit more on the "mature" side.