A/N: And, the after math begins. By the way, DOUBLE POST TODAY!

Chapter 35

*Carly's POV*

*Monday Morning*

The weekend seemed long after prom. The girls called Sam and we all met at my house after leaving prom. They all laid with me on my bed as I cried my eyes out. I felt a little less alone with them by my side. They stayed up with me til I fell asleep.

The next day I had to practically beg them to leave. They were too worried about me, to just go home. I just wanted to wallow by myself, especially after Brad wouldn't accept any of my phone calls and wouldn't call me back. Thank God Spencer spent the weekend at his girlfriend; if he would've saw me he would've hunted Brad down.

I went into the school preparing myself to has my demons one at a time. I didn't have to wait long; Tasha was standing at my locker when I walked into the building. I took a deep breath and made my way towards her.

"Hey," I said awkwardly.

"Hey," She said back.

"Tasha I am so sorry. I never wanted you or any of you to find out especially like that." I started but Tasha grabbed my shoulders beckoning me to stop.

"Carly calm down, Gibby told me the full story. You were heart broken and not thinking clearly. I understand why you did what you did." She said. "Hell we've all done something we weren't proud of because a broken heart."

"It didn't give me the excuse to lie to you guys the way that I did." I said back. "I'm sorry for that, and none of this was Gibby's fault. I told him not to tell anyone, which is why he didn't." I continued.

"Carly its okay me and Gibby are fine now. We talked it all out and we're okay; for now at least." Tasha said. "I just wish you would've told us what happened with that bastard Steven. We could've gone to LA and kicked his ass or something."

"I guess I was ashamed, and I didn't want to ruin all of you guys' fun that night." I said back.

"Well, remember that no matter what, we have your back, okay?" Tasha said. I nodded my head and she pulled me into a hug. When we pulled apart her warm smile slowly faltered. "Have you talked to Brad?" She asked. I shook my head.

"He won't talk to me. Hopefully I can get him to today." I said. She patted me on the shoulder.

"He'll forgive you honey. He just needed sometime to think I'm sure." Tasha said back. I nodded my head, and hoped that she was write. "Now enough, of that little league drama. Did Wendy tell you the latest update with our favorite love triangle?" Tasha asked.

I shook my head and she squealed before starting from the beginning.

*Freddie's POV*

"So let me get this straight, you dumped Emma after telling her that you kissed Sam." Brad asked as we made our way through the school.

"I didn't dump her man. I told her the truth, that I wasn't over Sam, and I didn't think it was fair to her for me to continue to see her when I was confused about my feelings." I said back to him.

"And, she took that well?" He asked.

"Of course not, she told me she never wanted to see me again and a cheating asshole." I said back to him. "That was after she threw a small rock at my head."

Brad laughed shaking his head. "You know that you deserved that right?" He asked.

"Yeah," I said remorseful. "I fucked up big time. I should've never got with Emma knowing I wasn't over Sam."

"So, when are you going to beg for Sam's forgiveness and ask her to take you back." Brad asked hitting my shoulder.

"I don't know. I've been thinking you know. Even if Sam decides to take me back, we graduate in 5 weeks." I said to him as we got to our lockers.

"I don't get it." Brad said.

"Let's be honest, I have always talked about getting out of Seattle when I graduated. Do you really think Sam is going follow me? She's head strong and wants to live her own life that's been one of our issues from the beginning. I can't make her go if she doesn't want to, and long distance relationships NEVER work out." I said back to him.

Brad seemed to be deep in thought. "So, you feel like it's not worth even trying?"

"I'm just saying maybe me and Sam's fate was written in the stars the day everything went sour. I know it's all my fault, that's been hammered into my head, but it doesn't change what I did. I can't take it back, and to be honest I don't think she will ever truly forgive me. Too much has been done and said; and if you would've saw the way she looked at me the other night. It was as if she didn't know who I was anymore. Not that I blame her." I finished up.

"So that's it, you and Sam are just over like that." Brad said.

"I don't know what she's planning on doing in this next chapter in her life. If I plan it out for her she'll be pissed, and I'm not staying here Brad. I have had plans since before Sam. We knew it was coming eventually. I just hoped we would be together during all of this." I said my heart breaking a little. "I don't want to get back with her just to loose her again."

Brad nodded his head and patted me on the back. "Well let's get to class." He said.

*Sam's POV*

I searched widely for Carly. I hadn't talked to her since prom night. Class was starting soon and I hadn't had any luck. Worst of all, I was skeptical about running the hallways, because I was also trying to avoid Freddie.

After that fiasco of conversation we had during prom I really wasn't trying to talk to him right now. I needed a break from that drama.

I finally saw her rushing towards me.

We began to talk in unison. "Where the hell have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere. Looking for me? I've been looking for you! What do you need? STOP DOING THAT!" We both said in frustration.

"Carly are you okay? You haven't been returning my phone calls?" I asked.

"I don't know, I haven't talked to Brad yet, but that doesn't matter right now." Carly said back to me. "You have bigger things to worry about."

"Like," I asked. Before Carly can get another word out Emma came up to us.

"Sam," She said, her voice not as perky as it usually is.

"Emma," I said back nonchalantly.

"I need to talk to you right after class." She finished.

"Um, okay," I said. She gave me a short nod rolled her eyes and walked into the classroom.

Carly grabbed my shoulders. "Please tell me for the love of God that you did not cause her and Freddie to break up after prom?" Carly begged.

"I'm sorry," was all I was able to say back.

"According to Tasha, who heard from Wendy, who heard from Jo, who heard from Amy, who heard from Linda, who heard from Leslie, who heard from Janice, who heard from…" I stopped her realizing that this could go on for a very long time.

"Carly get to the fucking point." I said back.

"Well Chuck heard Emma call Freddie a lying cheating bastard because he kissed you at the prom." Carly finished.

"You have got to be shitting me. They broke up!" I said back.

"Are you ignoring everything else I said?" Carly said back.

"No, I'm not it's just that asshole told her everything." I said.

"So, it's true you kissed Freddie?" Carly said. Her face was so unreadable.

"No, Carly Freddie kissed me than we had this argument about everything in our relationship. Then he told me he loves me, and I sort of said it back. BUT, I specifically said he needed to take some time and figure out what he wants." I said back.

"Wait, back the hell up. When did all of this happen?" Carly asked just as the bell rang.

"Not now Carly," I said walking into the classroom. I saw Freddie sitting over by the boys obviously trying to avoid eye contact with everyone in the room.

"Well HAPPY FUCKING MONDAY to everyone." Carly yelled out before coming into the classroom.

*Right After Class*

I made my way out into the hallway followed by everyone else in the class. Freddie came out the classroom in the midst he shot me a look before looking down and continuing down the hall. I didn't know what to think about it, and honestly didn't want to over think it.

Eventually Emma made her way to the hallway she gestured for me to follow her and I followed suit.

We walked all the way down to the girls locker room she checked all the stalls and hidden areas to make sure the room was completely clear.

I sat there in silence waiting for her to come back. When she finally did make her way back she was in a huff.

We sat there and stared at each other; neither of us wanting to make the first move clearly. I, however, am not dumb, no matter what Carly may have said she knows; she wasn't hearing a damn thing from me first.

"Is there a reason you called me down here?" I finally said nonchalantly.

"I tried to be understanding about you and Freddie's situation. I tried to be okay with you and Freddie's friendship. I trusted him when he said you two were completely over. When you were together, I stepped back and waited for my turn. Not once did I fucking step out of line. And, when I kissed him it was because he said you two were through." She was pacing as she talked to me.

"So why in the hell was I not worthy of the same damn courtesy? Why would he betray me with you of all people the one person I asked him not to? HUH SAM?! Why couldn't you have just backed off?" She asked.

"Emma, I never asked for any of this." I said back. "I just kind of happened, neither of us planned for it to come to head the way that it did. And, shouldn't you be talking to Freddie about this."

"I want honesty and Freddie just kept saying it was all his fault." She said. I shrugged my shoulder. He was right it was his fault.

"It's not fair you know. I was the perfect girlfriend. I did everything that I was supposed to do; I gave him his space, I never fought with him, I watched those dumb ass sci fi movies, anything he wanted was his. HIS MOTHER LOVED ME! Yet, you treat him like shit and falls all over you." She finished pointing her finger at me.

"HEY," I yelled her direction. "I get that you're upset and I understand that you feel betrayed, but let's get the story straight before we start pointing fingers, okay." She scoffed as I continued. "Me and Freddie had our issues, but I NEVER treated him like shit."

"Sam he chased you for a full year." She said

"It wasn't a year." I said over her as she continued.

"You never wanted to do anything that he wanted to do, and charged him with guilt because he wanted what was best for you. You broke up with him out of spite and stupid pride." She continued.

"And, he kissed you what is your point." I yelled over her again.

"You two were always fighting, and you'd pout and throw a tantrum when you didn't get your damn way!" She wouldn't stop talking.

"HONESTLY EMMA, IF THAT IS ALL YOU SAW WHEN YOU LOOKED AT ME AND FREDDIE; YOU WEREN'T REALLY LOOKING AT US!" I said causing her to finally shut up.

"You were seeing what you wanted to see Emma! Like I said before me and Freddie had our issues; name a couple who hasn't. I made some mistakes, he definitely has made some mistakes. But, I loved him more than anything, and despite what you may FEEL Emma he loves me too." I said to her. She remained silent.

"You're right you are perfect for Freddie. You're smart, beautiful, have a bright future ahead of you, and Marissa does love you. But, you're forgetting something." I said to her.

"What," She barely whispered.

"You're not me. Freddie gave me his heart along time ago and no amount of bullshit that has went down between us can change that. Be honest with yourself now dear, do you think you would've been with him if I hadn't broken up with him. Honey, I told him to make sure he was completely over. Even after I fucked up big time he still wasn't going to let me go. He MADE me break up with him." I could see the tears starting up, but if she couldn't handle the truth she shouldn't of started this.

"So, because this is the way you feel you felt like you just had the right to steal him right from under me?" She commented back.

It was my turn to scoff. "Don't you get it Emma; I can't steal what's rightfully mine." I said causing a stricken looked to come across her face. "Look, I'm not saying what happen was right. You have every reason to hate the both of us, and I am sorry. I'm sorry that we kissed prom night. I'm sorry that you were even put in the middle of this drama. But, I will not apologize for loving him." I finished. We both stared each other down, neither of us making a move or saying a word. Neither of us wanted to admit defeat.

Without another word, she shook her head and head out of the locker room. Finally, I was able to breath.

*Afterschool*

"Damn Sam, that was kind of harsh." Pete said to me as he tuned his guitar.

"Well she wanted the truth." I said playing with his guitar picks. Pete called me prom night to check how things went I told him the full story and he seemed okay. Even now as we talked it felt like nothing had changed between us, just no making out in between conversations.

"The truth okay, but you didn't have to go all Regina George on her." He said back.

"Well, what else was I supposed to tell her, Pete?" I asked him. He shrugged his shoulders. "Besides it shouldn't of been a conversation she had with me anyways."

"That's true. She should've been talking to Freddie. Honestly, you both should've been talking to Freddie." He said shooting me a sly look.

"Oh don't mention that asshole to me right now." I said back in sour tone.

"Touchy much," Pete said. "I thought you will love him no matter what has happened?" He mimicked me, causing me to throw one of his picks at him.

"It's easier said than done." I said back. "I mean what kind of a person breaks up with someone for someone else, and doesn't call said person all weekend."

"Maybe he broke up with Emma because he was sick of leading her on." Pete said back.

"Even more reason why he's an asshole," I said back to him

"I'm confused now, I thought you said you didn't want him dumping her for you?" Pete asked.

"I don't," I said back.

"Then why is Freddie an asshole?"

"I don't know." I said. "I just thought this would go a little differently. I thought this wouldn't be the case at all."

"You know he loves you." Pete said.

"So I've been told; by you and Emma and even him." I said. "Hell, I've even said it myself. I just don't see it."

"Why because he's been a prick all year?" Pete asked.

"Uh duh," I said.

"You know you've had some fault in this right?" Pete said back.

"Who's side are you on?" I asked.

"The side where you get to be happy," He said back.

"I don't need Freddie to be happy." I said back.

"I know, but at the same time he makes you happier." Pete said.

"That was before he started acting like a gank." I said back.

"Okay Sam, I know you're not going to want to hear this, but he was hurt. Not excusing what he did, but at the same time he was upset and went off of those feelings." Pete said. "All he did was act without thinking."

"He kissed another girl eight hours after I said I needed some time." I said back.

"Yeah, and you haven't let him forget it." Pete said. "But, the truth is Sam, you two were broken up in guy world. He had the right to do whatever he wanted, and he wasn't out to kiss her. She kissed him."

"But, he went out with her to get back at me." I said back.

"Yeah, and you went to that party with your ex to get back at him." He said. I opened my mouth, but he cut me off. "Don't you dare say that it's different because it's not. He may have started it, but you wasted no time finishing it. And, no offense to you but you showed no mercy with it either."

I rolled my eyes. "What is your point Pete?" I asked.

"My point is that despite what you believe Freddie was never perfect. He made a mistake. He's a guy he is always going to make mistakes. You even said that to Emma in your very harsh speech. So, why can't you seem to get past it?"

"I am past it." I said. "I said that I forgave him."

"I have never heard you say that, and if you truly forgive him for it than it should be a distant memory. Not thrown back in his face every time you two have it out." He said. "And, the same goes for you and your revenge plan. I think you two can get pass this is you really sit down and truly apologize to each other."

I nodded my head. "I guess, but he has to talk to me first. I'm not making the first move this time. If he wants me then he knows where I am." I said.

"Understandable," He said back finally drawing the conversation to a close.

"Hey you two," Dakota said walking through the door.

"Hey," I said back. Pete followed suit.

"Sam, before practice starts I wanted to talk to you." Dakota said putting down his briefcase.

"Shoot," I said putting down Pete's guitar picks and moving to over where Dakota sat.

"Okay, so about your performance at prom," He started. I felt myself get nervous I knew he was going to critique it, but still Dakota can be really harsh when it comes to my vocal performances. "It was… phenomenal."

My mouth fell open. "Do you mean that?" I asked.

"Yes, your pronunciation was clear and precise, you were loud, hit every night, and your range has approved so much within this year." He said. "I truly think you are ready for your audition next week."

"Wow, thanks Dakota. I honestly thought you were going to rip me to shreds." I said back.

"That's only when necessary Sam." He said. "Now, about your audition, you go next Saturday at 5:15 pm you are one of the final performances. It is a showcase so you can invite anyone you want. I would suggest you tell them to be there 30 minutes before you go on just in case you get called early. 15 minutes after you sing you will get a meeting schedule. The schedule will allow you the opportunity to meet with the other schools that show interest in you. As for U of W you are not allowed to leave until after you meet with them because well they're the reason you are auditioning."

"Wait all of this is happening on the same night?" I asked. "I thought you said that auditioning happens two days?"

"It does, but not everyone is getting in. You know whether or not you're interested in someone attending your school or not. It's going to be at least ten schools there." He said.

"Yeah, but they only take a hand full of students a year. If they've already seen all these people won't that put me at a disadvantage if I'm one of the last people auditioning?" I said.

"Don't think about it that way. You have to think that as one of the final singers you have the advantage through being last on their minds." He said.

"Even more reason to leave an impression. I can't do that with a song that at least 30 other people are going to be singing." I said back.

"Sam, you don't know that." He said back.

"It's Defying Gravity…" I said.

"She has a point." Pete said while he sat in the corner strumming on his guitar.

"Sam, do you believe you can make it through with your SPOTLESS performance." He asked.

I sat quiet for a minute. "I believe that when those people received my audition tape they saw something different in me. I think that's why I made it through." I said back to him. "I think if I go out there and sing that song next week they won't see that."

Dakota sighed. "So, what do you suggest?" He asked clearly knowing that she was going with this.

"I think I should switch my song." I said back.

"Absolutely not, you audition next week." He said back. "Do you know what kind of practice we would have to have.

"That gives me two weeks it's plenty of time. Besides it's my audition remember?" I argued back.

"Sam, this is a big risk are you really willing to put your whole future on the table, by switching it up last minute?" He asked.

"I'm willing to put it all on the table to do what I believe is best for me. Dakota this whole experience has been a long shot, and I just want to do the best I can and be who I am at the end of the day." I said.

"Do you even have a song in mind?" He asked.

"I think I do, it's going to be a different approach, but I think the artist is someone the classical community can appreciate." I said with a smile.

"Fine, we'll do this you way, but if it goes bad remember I was against it." He said. I hugged his neck and quickly began to explain what I want to do instead.

Dakota looked as though I told him I was skipping the audition in all, but something inside of me just felt like this was the right way to go. I just prayed that it work.

*That Evening*

*Carly's POV*

"Hey this is Brad. I can't answer my phone right now, but if you want you can leave me a message and I'll get back to you. No pressure though considering your name will be on my screen. Bye."

"Hey Brad, it's Carly. I know I called you like three times already sorry about that. It's just that I didn't see you at school today. Anyways, I'm not calling for me. I'm calling about Sam. We're trying to surprise her and I need to know whether or not you can make it. Just um call me back for the details please. Um… bye, I guess." I said into the phone before hanging up.

Brad was at school today, but took extreme measures to avoid me. I really didn't understand any of this at all. I mean Tasha had forgiven me and Gibby. He had forgiven Gibby. Why couldn't he forgive me?

"Yo Carls," Freddie called out as he walked into my house.

"Hey Freddie, " He said.

"What's up? I got your message to come over here." He said.

"Hey, I just wanted to check on you. You know I heard about everything that happened with Emma." I said cautiously.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine. I mean I screwed up. I shouldn't have never gotten with Emma knowing I wasn't over Sam." He said sitting down.

"So, you chose Sam?" I asked.

"I chose to stop lying to Emma. I don't know what that means for me and Sam yet." He said back to me.

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know Carls, I just been thinking lately and I have a future to think about, and there is a chance that I'm going away Carly and Sam isn't going to come with me." He said.

"So, you're not going to even try, or at least talk to her about it?" I asked flabbergasted.

"Because talking to Sam about the future is so helpful." He said. "She has made it clear I had no say in her future and it's most likely double fold now that I'm an ex." He said.

"So, you make the same damn mistake you made last time, by not letting her make her own decision of what she wants to be involved in or not. Good job Freddie." I said back.

"Hey, why are you getting all testy with me?" He asked.

"Because, you're doing it again; you're pulling an asshole move and seeing nothing wrong with it." I said back.

"Whoa, when have ever pulled an asshole move and thought it was okay." He asked.

"Freddie you have been acting like that all semester." I said back to him. "And, although I didn't agree with it I tried to understand because I get it you don't think clearly when it comes to matters of the heart, and you were heart when Sam broke up with you. But, that only takes you so far."

"Why does this always fall on me, huh?" He said. "What about Sam's fault in this because despite what you all believe Sam played a part in all of this too." He said back.

"I never said she didn't Freddie, but why does everything between you two have to be tit for tat?" I asked. Freddie sat there in silence. "Freddie, you two have something that many people search for a lifetime to find. And, you both are throwing it away over foolishness."

"Sooner or later someone has to be the bigger person and work towards forgiveness, and do it without constantly throwing what the other did in their face." I finished. I picked up the invitation and threw it in his lap.

"What's this?" He asked picking it up and reading it.

"The reason I called you over here." I said back to him. "Freddie you have this way with Sam. Even though she seems stubborn and pig headed at times she listens to you. Well she did before all that other shit went down."

"Wait, she applied for college?" He finally asked. "But, I thought…" He started.

"She said she just needed some time to figure out what she really wanted. Freddie she heard you." I said back. "The day she found out you kissed Emma was the day she decided to apply. She was looking for you to tell you, but instead she found out that news."

Freddie looked as if he had seen a ghost.

"I know it's a lot to take in, more importantly I know that you have desciosions to make about your future. I just want you to think about coming with us. Believe it or not I bet it will mean a lot to Sam if you did." I said to him, hoping to see some kind of response, but Freddie was still in shock.

Finally he made a move. "Um, thanks for telling me Carly… I um I gotta go." He said standing up and walking out the door.

Carly sighed. She picked up her phone and called Brad again. Once again it went straight to voicemail. "Look I get that I messed up bad. I understand why you don't want to talk to me, and that you just need your space right now. I'm taking the hint. Whenever you're ready we can talk."

I hung up the phone.

A/N: I know not the Freddie and Sam reunited moment you wanted, but they still need a little more time. Auditions are next.