Chapter 6 - Still flashing back to Freddie and Melanie April/May, 2013-Freddie had just talk to Gibby and Melanie had just talked to Sam.
Freddie hung up with Gibby and set about to returning the call to Sam. Her phone rang several times before she answered. Seeing who it was it took her a few seconds to compose herself before picking up.
She wasn't even sure if she wanted to talk to him right then. The news she had just been given by her sister made her feel funny but she knew he had seen her missed call and if she didn't answer he'd just call back until she finally did. The last thing she needed was some nerd stalking her via phone.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the sister dating nub." Sam answered. "What's up, Fredweird?"
He cringed at her tone, sensing she wasn't happy. "I'm guessing you talked to Melanie."
"Just hung up. So were you gonna tell me you asked my sister out or just wait and invite me to the wedding?" Obviously, she was going to be more passive aggressive than usual. This was bad.
"Sam, for God's sake, it was one date. We saw a movie, had food, and I got attacked by your deformed cat. I haven't even asked her to prom yet."
"So you're not going out with her again then?" She smirked. "Maybe you're smarter than I give you credit for."
"Well, yeah. Um, I like her. We have fun together. Why not? It's not like I've had a decent date in months. Really since . . . " He trailed off before saying the phrase 'since you and I went out' which he was thinking. "It's actually kind of nice to have someone like me, that way again. And we have a lot in common. Did you know she was president of her a.v. club, too?"
"Figures. Nerds are drawn together." Rather than make more snide comments, Sam simply was concerned. She left out a deep sigh. "Just be careful, Freddie."
He couldn't help but taunt. "You actually sounded sincere there, Sam. You feeling OK?"
"I'm serious." She replied. "Look, I might bust your chops but you're a good guy. Thing is I consider you a good friend and she's my twin sister, she might be a pain in my butt, but I still love her. Sorta. Although if you tell anyone I said that I'll wedgie you in half."
"What are you getting at then?" She could hear the grin he wore on his face at her admission.
"I care about you both, ya nub." Sam snipped. "I don't want to see either of you get hurt, but, especially you." She said the last couple of words barely loud enough for him to hear. "You know, because you're all girly and fragile and chiz."
"Sam, that means a lot to me. And I promise we're not getting in over our heads. But I really don't think I have anything to worry about. Mel's such a sweet girl, she wouldn't hurt anyone. And we'll go slow and if it starts to get weird, I'm sure we can both be adults about it and not take things too far."
"You don't know her like I do." She snipped but when into no more details.
The call with Sam got cut short by his mother's barging in and insisting that he be inspected for lice.
The new couple had gotten into the custom of walking between classes together and spending free time at school doing the same things. In just a few days, Freddie and Melanie had become the most talked about couple at Ridgeway. Their inner circle of friends considered them to be an exclusive couple even coming up with the tag 'Felanie', though both of them hated the moniker.
It was the next weekend on their dinner date when Freddie finally asked Melanie to their spring formal dance. The two had been together every day at school, and at her house afterward most days. Saturday, they decided on pizza and a stop at the park, where they currently were sitting on a bench holding hands.
"So, Mel. I know it's really last minute and you just started at Ridgeway and all but did you maybe want to go to prom? Like, with me?" He suddenly turned nervous.
"Of course, Freddie. I'd love to. But don't you already have someone you're going with?" She was curious, thinking that he had probably made plans months ago. "I don't want to be that girl."
"No, not really. I wasn't even figuring on going for a while but the girls talked me into it. Then after Sam and Carly left, I thought maybe I'd just go by myself but now you're here and we've kinda been doing a lot of stuff and I guess you're sort of my unofficial girlfriend, so I'd really like to take you. If you're OK with it."
"Unofficial girlfriend?" She raised an eyebrow. "I know I'm not all that worldly but I wasn't aware there was such a thing."
"Yeah, I mean, everyone thinks we're a couple and I thought since we, you know, have been hanging out and doing stuff and all." He was unsure about the whole thing. "And I really like being with you, we could maybe just, like, go together."
Melanie was thrilled at his thought process. "Well, if we're going to prom together, let's make it official, then. Would you be my boyfriend?"
"For real?" He was shocked. "Yeah, yes, certainly. It's not too soon?"
"We've been practically glued together for almost two weeks. You know, I've never had an actual steady boyfriend before. I never thought I'd find someone before I got to college. I would like to meet your mom before too long if we're a couple, though."
Freddie was too ecstatic to not agree. "How about tomorrow? To meet my mom, since we're officially a couple now and all."
She hugged him tightly. "Alright, then. It's all settled. I guess I'd better see what I can do about a dress since we're going to a formal dance. Did you maybe want to come along shopping? I suppose we could go tomorrow, then maybe go back to your place, if your mom's going to be home."
"I think she has the whole weekend off. I'll pick you up about 1 and then we can hit the mall or wherever you want to go for your dress."
With their plans intact, they made their way back to the Puckett home where he walked her to the door, got a good night kiss and headed for home to try to prepare his mother for meeting his new girlfriend.
"Mom. Mom? You home?" Freddie asked, not seeing his mother in the living room when he got back to the apartment.
Marissa came out of the kitchen, long yellow gloves on, holding a scrub brush. "Oh, Freddiekins. I'm so glad you're home. I was just cleaning the oven. Could you help me by talking out the trash, please?"
"Sure, Mom. I'll gather everything up and take it down right away." He agreed and began to gather things up.
"I'm surprised you're home so early." She said as he walked into the kitchen to get the can from that room. "Were you out with Melanie again? You know, I would really like to meet a girl who you're spending so much time with. But as long as she's not that terrible blonde you dated last year or miss sassy pants from across the hall, she can't be all bad."
He sighed internally. "How about I bring her by tomorrow? We're going to the mall so she can find a prom dress. I suppose we could stop in here once we're done."
"That would be wonderful, dear. I should bake some cookies to make her feel welcome."
After shuttering at the thoughts of his mother's sugarless sugar cookies and summoning the courage, he decided it was best to make a revelation to his mom so it was not quite so much of a shock when she first saw Melanie.
"Did I ever tell you that Melanie is Sam's sister?"
The idea of Sam Puckett never crossed the woman's mind for some reason. "Sam who? Is that a boy in your class or train club?" Marissa wondered why she never heard of this person before. "You're not fencing again, are you?"
"No. And Sam's a girl. You remember her. We did the web show together." He failed to mention that there was much more to their complicated relationship than that.
"What! You're dating the sister of that - that blonde delinquent? Let me guess this one's been away at military school or in prison or something. How old is she? You shouldn't be spending time with a girl that's not your own age. Oh, Freddiebear why do you take up with these horrible females? First there was your crush on that sassy brat from across the hall. Thank God she moved away."
Freddie just stood silently as his mother took off her gloves and grabbed his shoulders. "Then you took up with that other thing, the one who constantly bullied and demeaned you. And physically assaulted you. She pushed you out of an airplane for Pete's sake!"
"Mom!" He pulled away from her grip.
"There are plenty of nice, wholesome girls in your class. What about that sweet little red head, Julie who works at the grocery store, or Marlene in the smoothie shop? Or that beautiful Teresa from church who's home-schooled? She's a nice girl. Her father is a lawyer, did you know that?"
The young man pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Mom, Melanie was actually at an all girls' prep school in another state because she's super smart, she wasn't in juvie. And she's a really nice girl, too. She's polite and kind and she just moved home to finish senior year because her old school had a fire."
"She probably set it!" Marissa huffed and crossed her arms.
"I doubt that." He argued. "Please try to keep an open mind, Mom. I think you'll really like Melanie."
"No I won't! And you don't need to bother bringing her around because she'll only end up breaking your heart just like her trashy sister did. Although that was certainly a blessing in disguise if you ask me."
He sighed. "Well, maybe you feel that way but she really wants to meet you. In fact, she's been asking about coming by ever since we started hanging out. She's the first girl who I've even liked in a long time, since the Sam and Carly left. Please don't ruin this for me."
"So you mean to tell me this is who you've been spending so much time with after school lately. That needs to stop right now, Fredward. You'd be better off alone than with a girl like that."
"Mom! I am eighteen years old. I'll be graduating from high school before long. College is only a few months away. You can't tell me who I can and can't date. Or hang out with either."
The two stared at each other for a few seconds before she conceded. He was an adult after all, technically. "Fine. I suppose I can't stop you from dating whomever you wish. And heaven knows you'll have access to all sorts of unsavory girls when you're at college. If you want to bring this girl around to introduce her, alright. But you are to never allow her in your room."
Freddie openly rolled his eyes. "Mom! I'm not in middle school."
"Fine, she can be in your room, but your door has to remain open. And there is to be no loud music or anything to cover up sounds. Sounds that I don't want to hear. Sounds that you shouldn't be making until you're married."
"That's actually reasonable." He replied. "I promise the door will be open."
His mother still had to get in the last word. "And I am not making cookies! Or making her feel welcome."
The next day, right on time, Freddie picked Melanie up and the two made their way to the mall to look for her prom dress. After spending hours searching and fitting, she finally found the perfect one and they made a quick stop for smoothies before going back to his place to see his mother.
"Mom. I'm home." He announced. "There's someone I'd like you to meet."
Marissa came out from the bedroom area with a sneer on her face like she was eating something sour and smelling the cat box at the same time. She hugged Freddie pensively, watching Melanie with a cautious side eye.
"Hello. Nice to meet you Mrs. Benson." Melanie politely, but shyly, extended a hand to the nurse. "Freddie has told me so much about you."
