7. iLove You, Caterina Valentine

Sam knew she was being an ass. She hated it, but she couldn't seem to help it. She was always kind of an ass, but tonight was the worst night to go to the extreme with it. She'd done everything right: dressing up, the limo, all that stuff. She wanted to see Cat happy. But then her crippling self-doubt would creep in. It seemed like Cat was making overtures toward her, hinting that she was open to more. The lengthy glances, the constant touching, the eyelash batting...it was all there.

But there was a part of Sam's brain that rejected those signs. They didn't line up with Sam's plan to get the hell out of town, so they had to be ignored.

But throughout the evening, Sam felt her resolve crumbling. She started thinking crazy thoughts like maybe it was okay to stick around. Maybe Cat felt the same. Maybe there was a possible future here with her. Maybe she wouldn't bail like everyone else.

Maybe.

Then again, maybe her mother would sober up. Maybe Sam would wake up tomorrow and suddenly hate bacon.

Sam was never an optimist; nope, give her blunt-force realism any day. Life was a bitch and happiness was fleeting. Most of the time it wasn't even real happiness. She probably wouldn't know real happiness if it would smack her across the face.

So maybe it really was smacking her across the face. Maybe whatever this was with Cat could lead to that kind of happiness. Maybe it was time to quit running and just let things play out.

Sam stayed at the punch bowl for a long time. She didn't drink any, she just stood there, lost in her thoughts. She saw some people she recognized; Cat's friend Tori (that Shelby Marx look-a-like with the damn impressive cheekbones), her buddy Andre, Robbie and his creepy, weird muppet. She kept her distance from all of them. She watched Cat laugh and have fun with her friends and she wanted to join her and be a part of that.

But she couldn't. And she couldn't stay away forever, either.

Cat kept looking for her. She'd stand up, look around the room, sit back down, then do it again. She was getting fidgety and nervous.

This is ridiculous. Go sit with her. Stop trying to plan for the worst and just go be with her.

That, of course, was the exact moment Tori took Cat away. She saw the leggy brunette bend down and whisper something to Cat, and then the two of them rushed off towards the stage. Sam figured it was probably time for Cat to sing. She hurried back to her seat so she didn't miss the performance, although she felt much less welcome at this point, based on the blank stares of Beck, Jade, and Andre.

"Have trouble finding the punch?" Jade asked.

"Um…yeah. I guess."

Jade slid over, into the seat Cat had vacated. When she spoke it was in a hushed tone.

"Look we've known each other for a little while now. You don't seem to be the type that would screw with Cat's feelings."

Sam shifted uncomfortably. "Of course not." She leaned in closer. "I really care about her. I know it doesn't seem like it—"

"It definitely doesn't seem like it. It seems like you bailed on her."

"This isn't easy for me," Sam said.

"It's not easy for her, either. Nothing is. But you know that. I just wonder if you know what you are to her?"

"I don't," Sam said. "I really don't. I know what I want to be, but what I am—"

"What you are is safety. And security. And encouragement. And happiness and joy and butterflies and rainbows and whatever other girly shit pops into her brain. That's what you are to her. She loves you. Not the platonic love she has for the rest of us. She adores you in ways I don't even think I understand."

Sam's hands were physically trembling as Jade spoke. The brunette noticed and leaned closer.

"You're going to hate this, but—" Jade reached out and took Sam's trembling hands in her own, "you can trust her. Just be honest with her. And maybe listen to her."

Jade nodded to the stage, where Cat now stood. She eagerly searched the crowd and when her eyes landed on Sam, they immediately began glowing. She jumped up and down and waved at Sam. Sam smiled and waved back.

The music started. Sam settled back to listen to Cat's song. The angelic redhead took her seat at a baby grand piano. Sam didn't immediately recognize the tune, but she certainly recognized the lyrics as Cat began to sing.

That old dog has chained you up all right
Give you everything you need to live inside a twisted cage
Sleep beside an empty rage
I had a dream I was your hero
Damn! I wish I was your lover
I'd rock you till the daylight comes
Make sure you are smiling and warm

That might have been the very first time Sam ever heard Cat swear, even though it was barely a swear word. With the damn, she rose from the piano and the rest of the band kicked in and the song took on a much harder edge. She sounded good. She sounded great. It was the best performance she'd ever given, and Sam had seen her give many.

Cat's lithe body glided across the stage, her hips and legs moving fluidly and seductively. There was something in her eyes and her voice, a sultry, sexy edge Sam had never seen before. She writhed around, moving her hips, gazing at Sam with an intense lust in her eyes that raised her skin to goosebumps and set the hairs on the back of her neck to standing.

Damn! I wish I was your lover
I'll rock you till the daylight comes
Make sure you are smiling and warm
I am everything, tonight I'll be your mother
I'll do such things to ease your pain
Free your mind and you won't feel ashamed

Shucks! For me there is no other
You're the only shoe that fits
Can't imagine I'll grow out of it
Damn! I wish I was your lover…

Sam's stomach was practically on fire as the song drew to a close. Her cheeks were burning. It was hard to breathe.

Jade shot Sam a knowing glance. "Not sure she can get much clearer than that, Puckett."

Maybe it was time to let go of this stupid plan and admit that, for once, things were going to work out.

Jade pointed to the right of the stage.

"If you hurry, you can catch her backstage. Good luck."

Sam was gone in an instant. She wound her way through the crowd and reached the backstage area. Her hands were sweaty and she could feel more sweat forming under her arms and breasts. What are you going to do, Puckett? Confess your undying love? Or tell her you're leaving? Or something else?

Cat smiled and rushed to Sam's side when she saw her waiting. Despite her having been on stage under hot lights, she hadn't even broken a sweat. Sam was insanely jealous of that just then.

"Did you see it all?" Cat asked excitedly.

"I did, and I have to talk to you," Sam said. She gently pulled Cat further backstage, away from the crowd and any chance of being overheard.

"Okay. I just need to—"

"Cat, listen. I'm not good at this stuff. You were right earlier. I do like to act tough and I love it when I give that impression to people. But there's more to it than that."

"Sam, this might not—"

"Let me get this out, please. See, I don't like connections. My mom, well you know she's never been reliable. And my only other real connection, Carly, she left me too. And ever since then I've just had a real hard time connecting and staying in one place. And then one day I ended up in LA and I see this…amazing, crazy, beautiful redhead jump into a garbage can to save a cat and then get picked up by the garbage truck…and the next thing I know I'm diving into the truck after her."

"Oh, I remember that," Cat said with a grin. "Well I remember I fainted and you carried me out. But Sam, I need to—"

"The thing is…I've only ever really loved one person in my life."

"Carly?"

Sam swallowed hard. "Yeah. But now I know that's not true. Because I love…someone else."

Cat's eyes went wide and her previous train of thought seemed abandoned. "Waitaminute. Are you saying…"

Sam placed a finger over Cat's lush, red lips. "I'm saying I love you, Caterina Valentine."

"Shut the fridge!" Cat squealed. She launched herself at Sam and embraced her. Sam had expected it but was still caught off guard as Cat's normally gentle embrace became nearly desperate.

"I love you too, Sam Puckell," Cat whispered into her ear.

Sam gently pulled back just enough to see Cat's sparkling eyes. "It's—" Cat blinked, and Sam forgot everything she was about to say. "Fuck it."

"I thought your name was—"

Sam pressed her lips against Cat's. There was an explosion of light and color and then a wave of dizziness. Cats lips were the softest she'd ever kissed. They tasted like strawberries. Sam was overcome with a wave of heady desire, and she quickly flicked her tongue across Cat's lips. Cat opened her mouth to receive it, and Sam lost her breath the moment her tongue and Cat's wrapped around each other.

Her hands were everywhere, caressing Cat's back, her cheeks, slipping through her hair. She felt Cat's hands across her back and run through her own hair. If it weren't for the fact that she was dangerously light-headed, she might have found a closet and torn through Cat's prom dress on the spot. Even when she finally managed to pull her lips away, they found their way back to Cat's lips, and her cheek, and down her smooth neck. The sigh Cat made as Sam slid her lips down that dark neck was exquisite.

After a moment, the two managed to pull their lips away from each other. They stood in each other's arms, foreheads touching, breathless smiles on both of their faces.

"Wow, kid," Sam gasped.

"Was it okay?"

"It was better than okay. It was better than a tub of chicken with a pile of bacon." Cat giggled, and Sam's heart melted. "If I'd have known it would have been like that, I'd have done this a long time ago."

That was when Sam heard the applause. Cheers seemed to erupt from outside. Sam laughed nervously. "Um…do you hear that too, or was that so amazing my subconscious is giving it a standing ovation?"

Cat's brown orbs got wider for a moment. "Oh, right. I tried to tell you. I actually had another song to do, so my mic was still live."

Sam's heart sank into her feet.

"You mean…everyone out there heard all that?"

"Uh-huh."

"So the speech…"

"Yep."

"And the confession…"

"That too."

"And the…making out…"

"No."

"Really?"

"They heard it all, Sam. I'm sorry. I tried to tell you but to be honest, you kind of caught me by surprise, and now I don't even remember what song I was supposed to sing."

Sam took half a step back, trying to process for a minute. It had taken everything she had to open her soul to Cat like that. And now all of Hollywood Arts High School, people she didn't even know, knew those details about her. Sam felt furious and vulnerable and frustrated and…

Cat gently took her hand. She smiled softly at Sam. "Do you need to hit something?"

The moment her eyes connected with Cat's, all of Sam's rage just…faded. It seemed distant and unimportant. It didn't matter. Who cared about those people? She'd probably never see most of them again anyway.

"No, kid. I don't need to hit anything. But I would like to claim a dance with my date."

Cat's cheeks glowed brighter. "Really?"

"Is the mic still on?"

"Probably. Sinjin's pretty nosy and I'm pretty sure this will all be on the Slap in like ten minutes."

Sam slid closer to Cat, almost touching but not quite. She slid her lips down Cat's neck until she reached the lapel mic. She heard Cat's breath catch in her throat as she spoke. "Well if the deejay is listening and knows what's good for him, he'll put on something we can dance to right now. Or he can face the wrath of the butter sock."

After a few minutes, the speakers out front came to life with a slow song that Sam didn't immediately recognize. After a moment, she picked up on what it was and frowned. "Ugh, the best he's got is Ricky Martin?"

Cat giggled. "It's Marc Anthony. I like this song. It's about singing your love to someone. Come here."

Cat pulled her mic off and switched it off, then wrapped her arms around Sam's neck. Sam pulled her close and her arms closed around Cat's slender waist. The two swayed back and forth slowly. Cat's dress swished, causing her to giggle as they danced.

"See? It's a sweet song," Cat said. She held Sam close and sang softly along.

Sam's cheeks were warm. It was a force of will not to melt into a puddle at Cat's feet. She felt good. So good, she expected something to go wrong any minute.

On inspiration, Sam gently led Cat towards the stage. "Come on," she said.

"Kay, kay."

Cat let Sam lead her, and Sam was overwhelmed at how much trust she showed. In a moment, they emerged on the walkway that led to the raised stage. Below, dozens of couples were dancing.

"Why are we out here?" Cat asked.

"Because I've got the most beautiful date here, and I want to show her off."

Cat giggled. "Oh, Sam. You're so cheesy. But I love it."

The two resumed their dance. Cat laid her head against Sam's shoulder and they held each other close. Sam happened to catch Jade dancing with Beck below. Jade smiled and gave her a thumbs-up.

"Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"Your name's not really fuck it, is it? I know I always get it wrong, but I didn't think I was that far off."

Sam laughed.