Chapter 20
"Freddie still at work?" Carly asked Sam, who walked into apartment 8-C while the dark haired girl was working in the kitchen. The two hadn't seen much of each other the last couple of days since Sam had been working a lot.
"Yeah. One of the other guys' mother is sick and Freddie's been covering for him. A lot I might add. I've hardly seen the dork except for the kitchen table and in bed in almost a week."
"Sam!" Carly gasped.
"Just for sleeping. Relax Shay, you know I like to cuddle with my nub. And get your mind out of the gutter." Sam replied, looking around and taking a seat at the bar after grabbing a drink from the refrigerator. "Where's Spencer?"
"Groovy Smoothie. Him and T-Bo are trying to come up with some kind of new display rack to show off all the things you can buy on a stick."
"T-Bo really is obsessed with ramming wooden sticks through everything, isn't he?" Sam chuckled.
"Yesterday he spent the whole afternoon putting French fries on sticks while I made smoothies by myself." Carly frowned. "And get this, he says I'm not experienced enough to the sticking. Seriously, how much skill does it take to jam a stick in food?"
"Maybe that's a good thing. You need a hand with that, whatever it is you're doing?" Sam asked, seeing Carly's frazzled look trying to interpret a recipe.
"No, I'll be fine. Well, maybe. Do I have to peel this thing before I put it in? I hate trying to peel onions" Carly sighed, holding up an onion.
"You're worse than Melanie in the kitchen, I swear. Like, seriously, she has trouble making toast."
"Speaking of which, did something happen with Melanie and Gibby?"
Sam raised an eyebrow and got up to help, ignoring the question.
"It's just yesterday when we were rehearsing, the way they looked at each other and the way they're acting and by the sounds of their conversation, it almost thought it sounded like they had been on a date."
"I don't like to use labels. Date is such a harsh word." Sam simply said and grabbed the vegetable Carly was struggling with. "It works better if you sit in on the fuzzy part, lop it in half long-ways and then rip its hide off." She began to demonstrate. "Easy-peasy."
Seeing how she did the typical Sam Puckett thing and changed the subject , Carly knew something was up and forgot about the cooking. "Sam? What's going on?" She asked, hands on hips.
The blonde left out the breath she was holding and stabbed the knife into the cutting board, making Carly's eyes go wide.
"They went to the mall together last weekend or some chiz, I would hardly call it a date unless they were in seventh grade. Now you want help with your dinner or not? And are you really making pot roast with no carrots?"
Meanwhile, Gibby had stopped by the place where Freddie works in a panic.
"It won't be that bad, Gibbs." Freddie assured his friend. "We'll put it in this bag of rice for a couple of days. Then just charge it up and it should boot, if it doesn't let me know, OK? Either way, I'll help you take care of it."
"Will it be dried out by Sunday? Oh man, my mom is gonna freak if she comes home and this thing is janked up. She just got him this phone a couple of weeks ago. I tried to tell Guppy not to take it with him when he went for a bath. But he is so obsessed with that Brain Crush game it's not funny."
"These things happen, dude. And it usually can be dried out, especially if it wasn't there for too long. Just be glad he didn't drop it in the toilet."
"You mean like Sam did with your phone that time in school?"
"So, how was your date with Melanie?" Freddie asked, glad the store wasn't busy and he could talk to Gibby while he installed software on a new laptop for a customer at his work counter.
"I don't know if it was really a date-date, man." Gibby frowned. "We were just getting to know each other."
"Isn't that the core definition of a date?"
Gibby shrugged. "It was good. I just - I like her but I can't seem to see her like a potential girlfriend. We walked around the mall and spent an hour in Glitter Gloss. Do you know they sell scented hand sanitizer? I'll be there every week from now on. And then we got take out and ate in my car, since the food court isn't allowed to be sat in apparently. There aren't any tables or chairs or anything in there."
"Oh yeah. Sam's really wazzed about that, too. Carly dragged her down to build last week and she darn near went off the rails when she found out she couldn't sit down and eat a family size Stromboli while they got their new shoulder straps to get padded. She called me at work just to tell me about how it cramped her lifestyle to not be able to eat the Stromboli while it was hot."
"I know she's completely different, and she'd never do the kind of chiz Sam does to me, even if she thinks it's only harmless fun. And I don't mind usually, she's just being Sam. I just, I don't know, with college starting soon and all I'd rather not be tied down. But I do like her. I don't know,maybe some day."
Freddie simply shrugged.
As the weeks progressed, everyone received their instructions about beginning their freshman year of college. Sam already knew her class schedule ahead of time since she was attending community college for two classes which she chose. Carly would need to leave to get to her school by mid-August, Melanie would be allowed to move into her dorm shortly after that, although she'd probably still be spending a lot of time with her sister and Freddie.
It was decided that even though the web show could continue without Carly as it had during the time she was in Yakima, they would put it on hiatus because everyone else would be busy with the new chapter of their lives. One last episode was planned out and only occasional specials would be put together after that whenever they had breaks and could get together.
"You know, this is sad, I finally got into doing the show with you guys and it's coming to an end already." Melanie said as they were sitting around in the studio working on the lineup for the extra-long final show.
"It's not the end, Mel. We'll still do reunion shows when I come home for holidays and stuff and there's always next summer." Carly tried to explain.
"Don't be sad, Melanie." Gibby reached out and took her hand.
She smiled at him and wrapped her fingers into his. The might have decided not to date, but they were still flirty and friendly with each other.
"Will you guys please stop that!" Sam huffed.
"Excuse me, Miss PDA, you two hold hands constantly. And you're sitting in the same bean bag chair." Melanie sneered at her twin.
"I could give a chiz about that. I've gotten used to it. Not happy about it, but used to it." Sam replied. "I was referring to acting like this is the last iCarly ever. Like Carls said, we'll do this again when we have time, but with you three starting a heavy class load and Carly on the other side of the country, we just can't do it for a while."
"And you're going to be busy too, baby." Freddie told her. "You're taking classes and working both."
"So, we still have the clip of Spencer being chased by the Chihuahua to fit in. Maybe after Gibby's weasel doing the high-wire act." Freddie suggested.
"OK. That'll give us time to get ready for the song and then it's the messing with Lewbert clip while we get ready for the idiot farm girl sketch." Melanie added.
"You mean the idiot farm girl and ditzy bleach-blonde." Melanie giggled, since she now had a part in the act.
"I don't want to end wearing that goofy mustache." Sam argued.
"We still have that Baby Spencer segment we did months ago that we never aired." Freddie chimed in. "We'll run that afterwards to give you time to change back."
"Alright." His girlfriend nodded.
"No wardrobe malfunctions, anyone." Sam glared at Gibby.
"Poor Jimmy Kimmel." Carly shook her head.
Two weeks later . . .
"I am really jealous, you get to ride a train clear across the country. That would be so awesome, you get a sleeper compartment and everything." Freddie said in wonder as the five teens and Spencer moved through the train station.
Sam rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, spending two days trapped on a train instead of seven hours on an airplane is just so luxurious. Do they even serve food on those things. I mean, it's not like they pull it up to drive-in window at MacRonalds."
"I think it's a good idea. Trains aren't nearly as crowded as planes and there are individual compartments to keep people away from each other." Melanie defended Carly's choice of travel method.
"Well, either way we'll all miss you, Carly." Gibby hugged Carly, followed by Melanie for what would be at least the tenth time that day.
"You guys take care of each other." Carly sniffed. "And you behave yourself, Sam. You won't have me around to keep you out of trouble."
"No. But I've got the nubbiest, lamest and most boring boyfriend in the world to keep me grounded." Sam smirked.
"Hey!" Freddie scowled at her, trying not to be too offended.
"Not to mention my goody two shoes sister to sit on my shoulder and be my conscience."
"Alright, someone's aggressive today." Melanie huffed, arms folded.
"I'll make sure the they don't all kill each other, Carls." Gibby told her, siding up to Melanie and taking her hand to calm her down.
"And I'll help." Spencer added, putting an arm around Gibby's shoulders.
The announcement came that it was time for Carly to board and she said her final goodbyes and was soon gone.
The other five made their way back to Bushwell. Spencer left to get ready for a date, Gibby went home to check on his brother and Melanie soon left for a late shift at work.
"Guess it's just you and me." Sam plopped down on the sofa next to him with a strip of beef jerky in hand.
"Yep. And mom's gone until morning." He added, turning to her.
"What are we gonna do so we don't get bored? Since we both have the whole weekend off work." She was already standing up and pulling him up with her.
"If we try real hard, we might be able to think of something." He shrugged, now leading her back the hallway toward his bedroom.
Nearly two weeks later, it was time for Freddie, Melanie and Gibby to have freshman orientation day at college. Freddie and Melanie were getting themselves together and reluctantly Sam was already up and ready to see them off.
"Melanie, we don't have to be there until one. What's the rush?" Freddie questioned, seeing Mel holding her bag and obviously ready to go.
"We told Gibby we'd meet him at twelve and then grab a quick lunch."
"And it's a quarter after ten. We have maybe a half hour drive if traffic's bad, including parking. We don't have to leave yet. Next week, we'll have to be there for early classes, and you'll be on campus at the dorm but we all purposely chose afternoon orientation so we didn't have to be there so early."
"I want to scope the place out, alright?" She begged. "I've only ever been to my dorm building and the student services office. There's nothing wrong with being early. Early is on time, and on time is late."
"You've been around my mom too much." The boy shook his head.
Marissa Benson came in the door right that moment.
"Speaking of which." Sam mumbled, playing with her phone, sending a text to Carly.
"Oh, Freddiekins. I'm glad you're still here for me to see you off." She said with excitement. "This is a big deal. Your first day of college. Are you sure you don't want me to drive you down there."
"No, mom. It's fine." He told her. "We don't need a replay ninth grade."
"I remember that." Sam smirked, remembering how Marissa followed him to all his classes the first day of high school and took a picture of him in all the different classrooms. And spent lunch with him just so she could cut up his food so he didn't choke on any big pieces.
As the time drew near for him and Melanie to leave, Freddie went into the kitchen to say goodbye to his mother. He found her with the stove pulled front, cleaning behind it. She had done the same routine less than two weeks ago, and behind the refrigerator, too.
"We're leaving now, mom." He said. "Why don't you take a break and let Sam fix you some lunch."
"It's fine, dear. I had a cup of low fat yogurt and half a banana a bit ago."
He nodded and hugged the woman, who found it hard to let go until Melanie came into the kitchen in search of him. "Freddie, are you about ready to go?"
"Oh, Melanie." Marissa now hugged the peppy blonde. "This is so exciting. I am so proud of you kids. You're all growing up so fast."
Sam stood in the doorway and made a loud slurping sound with the straw in her juice box before tossing it in the trash can.
"And you too, Sam." Marissa added, smiling at her.
"I'm just going to community college." Sam shrugged. "No biggie."
"Still." Marissa hugged her. "I'm proud of you, too."
Sam groaned inwardly and found an excuse to get away after just enough time to not be insulting to the woman. "Come on, you guys. I'll walk you down. I think I left my ear-buds in Freddie's car last night."
The three left the apartment with Marissa welling up tears. Ten minutes later after another round of emotion in the lobby from Melanie, admonishment from Lewbert for not staying socially distant and countless hugs, Freddie was finally able to pull Melanie off her sister and the two went to the parking lot to drive to the school.
"You know, we'll see each other after I get off work tonight, right?" Sam cracked, not appreciating the affection from her twin. "No one is going to Mars."
Sam went back upstairs after 'accidentally' spilling a cup of coffee all over Lewbert's desk when she retrieved the mail.
She walked into the apartment to find Marissa still cleaning frantically and looking frazzled. She said nothing, sat the mail on the coffee table and silently went back the hallway toward her bed. The sound of the washer and dryer could be heard from the laundry room. Sam closed the door and laid down for a few minutes, wondering what she was going to do until it was time for her to leave for work at two, listening to the hum of the vacuum cleaner. She put in her ear buds to drown out the noise but still felt restless.
A few minutes later, she walked out into the living room. She watched for a moment before approaching her boyfriend's mother, making sure to be loud enough to let the nurse know she was no longer alone.
"Samantha! Sam, I didn't know you came back." Marissa jumped slightly. "I thought you'd be spending the day across the hall with Spencer."
"Nah. I was gonna grab a nap before work but I, um, don't really feel tired." The melancholy look on her face betrayed her tough act.
"You miss him already don't you?" Marissa asked, returning to her chores. "I understand. I feel the same way. I just thank goodness he chose a school close to home."
Sam shrugged, not wanting to admit the middle aged woman was right.
A moment of silence followed as Sam watched Marissa clean.
All of a sudden, Sam spoke. "Say, Mrs. B. How about I give you a hand?"
Marissa nodded and smiled at the young woman.
Sam picked up a feather duster, not really sure what to do with the thing. "Maybe you can tell me about work last night."
I wanted to end this thing on a Sam/Marissa bonding moment. I was hoping when I started this story that if I wrote enough, the world might be back to normal by the time it's over. Guess that's not happening, because I figured it was time to wrap this one up. Thanks for going along on the ride, hope to get something else up before long, but it'll probably be shorter stories for a while.