Chapter 53 (Heart matters)
Shout to Moviepal and Mike2101 for their reviews on the last chapter. Still not getting a lot of reviews. I may end this if I don't think anyone is still interested. Review and keep it going. Thanks :P
It was the next day, and Sam and Carly were getting ready to go over to Gibby's. Sam was especially excited. She always loved it when she could get a free ham and steak meal. Carly was doing her normal primping in the mirror as if she was getting ready for a date.
"Carly…ready to go…?" Sam asked impatiently.
"Almost, I just want to make sure I have everything." She said as she went to her closet.
"Carly we're going to a Bar-B-Que. All you need is your appetite." Sam said as she patted her stomach.
Carly rolled her eyes, and continued getting ready. After what seemed to Sam a very long time; Carly was finally ready, and the both of them went downstairs to wait on Freddie, who was going to drive them over. Carly and Sam weren't waiting long before the door opened; revealing Freddie wearing a pair of shorts and flip flops. Sam couldn't contain herself.
"Really…? Flip flops. Planning on going to the beach?" She asked; looking at how he seemed unaware on how to dress for a simple cook out.
"Actually…I was; but not now. Now I'm just going to go clean my room afterwards. Won't have much to do after we eat anyway." He said with a sly smile; earning him a glare from Sam.
"You two ready, or are you going to sit here and argue over clothes?" Carly asked as she headed for the door. As Sam walked up to Freddie, she pulled her waist band down a little; revealing a swim suit.
"See…we're of the same mind; ready to go get your grub on?" She asked him as she reached out for his hand.
All three of them made their way to Freddie's car and got in; Sam sitting up front; leaving the back seat for Carly.
"Why do I always have to sit in the back?" Carly asked; unhappy to be sitting on Freddie's uncomfortable back seat.
"Really…? I thought it would be obvious. Freddie needs someone to tell him how to drive, and since I'm a better driver than you, it needs to be me." Sam said sarcastically; earning a glare from Freddie.
"Funny…you haven't complained before; especially when I take you to the beach, or out to eat." He said smartly.
"Well…it comes and goes. Today you need me, and later you won't." She said giving him a cheesy smile he couldn't help enjoying.
"Got me there; but be careful, I might pull over so we can walk the rest of the way, I don't want to see that pretty blonde head of yours damaged." He said smartly.
Sam didn't say any more; just enjoyed the wind in her hair, and sitting next to her nerd. As Freddie pulled up to Gibby's, they saw party streamers encompassing the front door; as if there was going to be a birthday party. They thought it was a little odd for just having a Bar-B-Que, but given his history didn't think anything more of it. After parking the car; Freddie got out and walked around to let the girls out, and then took Sam's hand; squeezing it a little; showing how much he appreciated her. Carly knocked on the door and waited for him to answer. Dianne opened the door; big cheery smile on her face and seemed extremely happy to see them.
"Hey guys…glad you could make it." She said as she stepped out of the way so they could enter.
Sam immediately caught the scent of the meat and made her way over to the back yard.
"Hey potato boy…smells good; when do we eat?" Sam asked as she gazed down at the cooking ham.
"In a little while, I still have the steak to cook." He said as he pushed the ham around on the grill.
"I'll be right back, I have to get something. Can you watch the grill for me until I get back?" Gibby asked.
"Sure Gib, take your time." Sam said as she smiled; knowing she was going to do what all good cooks do; taste their food. Gibby wasn't there so that made her the cook, and it would be okay if she did a quick taste; just to make sure everything was edible.
When Gibby returned, his eyes got big.
"What are you doing Sam…?"
"Muffing…" She said with her mouth full, as she tried to swallow what little ham she had in her mouth.
"SAM! That's for everyone, can't you wait until we all sit down to eat?" He asked annoyed at Sam.
"Sorry Gib…it was just that the ham was calling to me, and I just headed the call. Besides I wanted to see if the ham was done yet, so you could get those steaks going." She said in a lame attempt at an excuse.
Gibby shook his head. He knew how Sam was around ham, and yet he still left her alone with it. Dianne joined Gibby in the back yard; followed by Freddie and Carly. Carly noticed a small flash on Dianne's hand, and took a closer look.
"Dianne…is that…" Carly stopped short of saying it, as Dianne grabbed a hold of Gibby's hand.
"Everyone…! Gibby and I have some exciting news." Dianne said.
"Dianne and I are going to get married!" Gibby announced completely excited, as Dianne held up her hand to show off her engagement ring.
"Congratulations Gib, when did this happen?" Carly asked; beaming with excitement.
"About three months ago; just before we graduated, we both knew we wanted to be together for the rest of our lives, so we made plans on when we wanted to do it. Shortly after graduation, I proposed…and as you can see…she accepted." He said as he gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze.
"Awe…that's sweet." Carly said walking over to Dianne; grabbing her hand so she could get a good look at it.
"I thought you were going to go to college Gib?" Freddie asked.
"I am…just not right away. Dianne and I discussed it, and we decided that Dianne would go to school first, and I would get a job until she graduated." He explained.
"Hum…well…I'm happy for you…do you plan on going to college as well?" Sam asked.
"Yes. As soon as Dianne is done, I'm going to quit my job and go to school full time, while Dianne gets a job." He said.
XXX
Sam's expression changed a little, and she slowly made her way into the living room away from everyone, because she felt odd about the news. She was happy for them, but in some way, she was jealous. Freddie had never discussed anything about their future together, and hearing about Gibby and Dianne made her think. "Does Freddie ever think about that? Does he even want to be married some day?" Sam thought to herself.
She had to admit, Freddie wasn't the only one that hadn't brought the subject up, but in a way, she had always thought he would be the one to do it first. Freddie saw Sam standing in the living room alone and went over to her.
"Hey Sam…foods almost ready..." He said as he noticed a slight change in Sam's expression.
"You okay…?
"Yeah I'm fine…why wouldn't I be?" Sam asked; trying to hide how she was feeling.
"I don't know, it's just that you seem a little different."
"I'm fine; let's eat." She said as she grabbed Freddie's hand; leading him over to the table with all the food on it.
They all sat down, and began eating; Sam with plate full ham, and eyeing the piece of steak she was going to claim next. After a few minutes, Carly wanted to know a few things and decided to ask.
"So…when are you getting married; you know…tying the knot?" She asked as she placed a fork full of potato salad in her mouth.
"August…we thought it would be nice to have the leaves on the trees changing into their fall colors; so it would remind us of the change in our lives together." Dianne said; smiling over at Gibby.
"That's sweet. Do you have your maid of honor picked out yet?" Carly asked; hoping she had a chance at it.
"Well…we have someone in mind, but haven't asked her yet." Dianne said; smiling from ear to ear.
"Who is it…?" Carly asked; dying of anticipation.
"Let's just say the person is in this room. But we're not going to ask her just yet." They said.
"C'mon…you have to let us know." Carly exclaimed.
"Okay…okay…Freddie would you do the honor of being the maid of honor?" Gibby joked.
Freddie almost choked on a piece of steak he was chewing on when they asked. Freddie saw the smirk on Gibby's face, and decided to play along.
"I would be honored." He said; acting all girly.
"WHAT…? You can't have a guy as a maid of honor." Carly said.
"Why not…? Haven't you seen the movie Maid of honor?" Dianne asked.
"Yes, and I hated it. It's just unnatural." She said.
"Alright, all joking aside, Carly would you do me the honor of being my made of honor? If it wasn't for you bringing Gibby to the prom, we may have never have had a chance. You did break up with him." Dianne said.
"Yes, and it was a mutual breakup." She said in her defense.
Carly gave Dianne a smile. She was glad she was the one Dianne had decided on.
"I would love to. When do we get started?" Carly asked; wasting no time.
"Next week if you want, I still need to get a wedding dress picked out, and I could use your help."
"What about your mom? Isn't that something a mom and daughter do together?" Carly asked.
"Oh she'll be there. It's just nice to have other opinions as well." Dianne said; knowing she would love to be there.
"Oh…yeah….Sam would you do me the honor of being a bridesmaid?" Dianne asked.
"What…? I don't do dresses; especially bridesmaids dresses."
"C'mon Sam, I think you look beautiful in dresses." Freddie said; remembering the prom dress she had on.
Sam scrunched up her face; and had a slight scowl. She didn't want to do it, but even though she didn't like to admit it, she considered Gibby a good friend.
"Fine…if I have to. But it better not be one of those ugly dresses you always see other brides make them wear." She said matter of factly.
"No worries Sam, I wouldn't want to face the furry of the great Sam Puckett. Gibby had told me some of the stories." She said with a smile.
"Oh…he's told you stories huh? What would those stories be Gibby?" She asked; looking over at him; giving him a little bit of a glare.
"Not the bad ones. Just the funny ones; you know when you broke my thumbs for asking you out." He said.
"What are the bad ones…?" Dianne asked.
"You don't want to know…trust me." Gibby said; with a nervous smile on his face.
XXX
Freddie dropped Carly off at Bushwell, and then took Sam to the beach. On the way there, Sam seemed to be distant; lost in thought. Freddie noticed she had the same look on her face as she did at the Bar-B-Que. He wasn't sure what it was about, but hoped whatever was on her mind would disappear after they had been at the beach a little while. Sam was going over in her mind what she had been thinking about at Gibby's. Again, she knew she didn't need to be jealous of Dianne. They had college to think about before they could even think about settling down. It was the idea that she didn't know exactly what the future held for them. As they pulled into the parking lot of the beach, Sam decided to push those thoughts out her head, and enjoy her time out with Freddie. Sam walked on ahead of Freddie, and found a nice shady spot to sit down and enjoy the view. Moments later Freddie came up from behind, and sat down next to her. Once again, those thoughts creep into her mind, and no matter how hard she tried to keep them to herself she needed to know the answers to the questions she had about the future.
"Freddie…?"
"Yeah…?
"I need to ask you something." She said as she took her jeans off; revealing her swimsuit.
"Go ahead…"
"How do you see us…?" She asked, as she pulled her knees up to her chest; wrapping her arms around them.
"What do you mean?"
"You know…us…the future. How do you see us?" She asked; rocking back and forth slightly; waiting on his answer.
Freddie was unsure how to answer. It was kind of a surprise question, and he honestly had never given it much thought. But after giving it a little thought, he was reminded of how Sam seemed a little different at Gibby's, and realized at what Sam was really asking.
"Honestly…?"
"Honestly…?" She replied.
"I haven't thought about it that far in advance. But I will tell you this. I can't imagine you not being there with me." He said simply.
Sam saw in him...in his eyes, that he meant it. Sam reached out and grabbed a hold of him, and all the feelings of her uncertainty vanished, because she knew it may be a while before they did think of getting married, and the thought it would happen one day, gave her something to hold onto; something she would be willing to wait for when they were ready.
Okay… Ending the story here. It has been a long run, and I want to spend a little more time on the other stories I have. So please don't be too upset. I wanted to end this on a good note. An awesome outlook in life for everyone. Please review, and thanks again for reading. All of the reviews from all the chapters have been wonderful. Some bad…But mostly good, and I appreciate that. Keep an eye out for updates from my other stories, I'll have a little more time to update now…Thanks again to everyone :P
