6. #Awkward

Cat wasn't sure what she was doing wrong.

She was being flirty. She was flattering Sam. Usually, this stuff worked with boys. Of course, she knew Sam wasn't a boy, but she did have a bit of a tomboy streak in her. Cat thought that might mean she'd enjoy the flirting and the flattery. But instead of enjoying it, Sam was turning aside every effort Cat made to show her she was hoping for more than just friendship.

So she either doesn't get it, or she doesn't want it.

The first thought didn't seem likely. Sam was smart. Not if you looked at her grades, but she was street smart. She was smart about people and how they really were. Cat didn't believe Sam just didn't get it.

Which means maybe it was the second thing, that Sam didn't want to be more than friends. That made Cat sad. She loved Sam, and she thought she had picked up on signs that Sam maybe felt the same way. But unlike Sam, Cat wasn't so good at being smart about people. So maybe she was the one not seeing things correctly.

But then why would Sam go through the trouble of hiring a limo? Or buying a dress and doing her hair and makeup? She hated all of that stuff.

Probably for the same reason she managed to get all the props and furniture from That's a Drag into our apartment for me. She cares about me. But maybe just as a friend or a sister. Like Jade and Tori. They do a lot for me, too.

Cat was always grateful for her friends and their help. And if Sam just wanted to be friends, then Cat would learn to be okay with that. But by gosh, Cat wanted to be more than that with Sam, and she was going to keep trying until she knew for sure.

The outdoor cafeteria looked amazing. Silver and gold decorations were everywhere, the raised stage was packed with gear, there was a Deejay set up underneath it, and there were dozens of students looking amazing in their formalwear and having a great time. Just being amid all that energy got Cat excited as she led Sam to their table.

"Maybe we can dance later!" Cat said, batting her longer-than-usual eyelashes.

Sam broke eye contact, looked around the place. "I'm not much of a dancer," she said.

"I know for a fact that's not true," Cat said. When Sam shot her a questioning glance, Cat deepened her voice and playfully said, "Random dancing!"

Sam's cheeks turned red again—they were doing that a lot tonight—and she laughed. "That was less dancing and more flailing arms and swinging hips."

"So you're gonna take a lady to her prom and not dance with her?"

Cat decided she enjoyed trying to coax the red out of Sam's cheeks—and that remark might have won the day.

"I didn't say I wouldn't do it," Sam said. "Just that I'm not very good at it."

"I'm not either," Cat said. "But it's about having fun. You gotta learn to let go and not care what people think."

"I don't care what people think."

The pair reached their table and found their name cards sitting amongst cards for Tori, Jade, Beck, and Andre.

"I know you try really hard to make it seem that way," Cat said. "But I think you care a little bit."

"I really don't, Cat."

"Okay. So if someone came up to you and said, hey I heard Sam Puckell is a big wimp, what would you do?"

Sam smirked. "First, I'd hit them with a sock full of butter for calling me Puckell. My name is Puckett."

Why do I keep mixing that up? Cat thought. It's not that hard.

"You know what I mean. You'd pound them if they said that to you. So you do kind of care. It's important to you that people know you're tough."

Sam sighed. "Okay. Fine. You're right. I do take pleasure in scaring people. Happy?"

Cat smiled. "I'm happy because we're here together." She reached out and put her hand on Sam's. It was warm, and softer than she expected it to be. The touch made her ears ring and her heart race. Sam looked at their hands, and Cat waited for her to pull away. But she didn't.

Not until Jade and Beck showed up. Once Sam realized there were other people nearby, she quickly (yet subtlety) slipped her hand away from Cat's.

Cat was disappointed, but she wasn't going to let it bring her down. She was enjoying just being there with Sam, and now her other friends were arriving.

Beck looked dashing in a black and white tux, his beautiful, long hair tied back for once. Jade's dress was a deep shade of purple with black trim that showcased her…well, her assets…very well. Her hair was done up in a classy-looking beehive. She was stunning, quite frankly, catching the attention of all the guys and maybe half the girls in the place.

"Hey, guys! You remember Sam, right?" She proudly presented her beautiful date.

Sam nodded to Jade and Beck. "S'up?"

"Hey, Sam," Beck said. "Nice seeing you."

"Wow, look at that, you showered and everything," Jade said in her customary, dour tone.

Sam laughed. She knew just how to handle Jade's ribbing. The two honestly could have been twins. "Yeah, a full week early, can you believe it?"

"Gee. You must think this is a very special night, then." Jade's sly grin seemed to encourage further comment from Sam, but the beautiful blond just nodded absently and took a drink of water.

"I'm getting some punch. Anyone want some punch?" Sam stood quickly and hurried away without actually getting an answer. Which was unfortunate, because Cat definitely wanted some punch. She watched Sam disappear into the crowd.

Jade leaned over to Cat. "How's it going so far?"

Cat didn't want to answer, but she knew Jade would keep asking until she did it. "Um…it could be better, I guess. I mean, she got a limo and got all dressed up and that's like…a big deal. But every time I try to flirt with her or talk to her, she kind of shuts down, or shuts me down. I dunno, I think this was a bad idea. Maybe it would have been better just not knowing and dreaming about it."

"What? The eternally optimistic Caterina Valentine is having doubts? What's this world coming to?"

"Jade—"

"I'll talk to her. Maybe I can get a feel for what's going inside her Sam-brain. I mean, you're right, she wouldn't do all that stuff without a reason."

"You'd do that for me?"

Jade arched an eyebrow. "Why do you keep sounding surprised when I want to help you?"

"Have you met you? You're terrifying beyond the capacity for words, and it's even scarier when you're being nice."

Jade smiled—at least, it looked like a smile—and put an arm around Cat's shoulder. "That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me."

Cat believed it.