DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ICARLY!
WARNING: This chapter is different compared to the show version, so be prepared to read the differences.
chapter twenty-one
About half an hour of driving, we finally make it to our destination.
Pini's
Is this a new restaurant?
"We're here." Freddie announced, parking at an open parking spot, killing the ignition.
"Is this place new? Because honestly, I've never heard of this place." I ask, taking my seatbelt off.
"Yeah, I actually found this while driving home from work one day. They opened it two weeks ago," He unbuckled his seatbelt. "Well, let's go inside." He smiles then gets out of the car.
I get out of the car and slam the door close, following him inside the restaurant. As we walk in, the inside looks magnificent. There are chandeliers on the ceiling, purple and silver chairs and booths, glass tables.
I've never seen a restaurant so beautiful before.
"Wow," I said in awe.
"It's beautiful, huh?" He smirked turning his head over his shoulder, looking at me.
"It's amazing!" I look around at the beautiful masterpiece in the restaurant, looking at the tables, booths, couples and family members eating their dinner. "Are you sure we should eat here?" I ask, walking closer to him.
"Yeah, we're fine. Tonight is my treat anyway." He shrugged.
"But I should pay half for my dinner."
"No," He turns around and looks straight at me. "I'll pay for both our meals, okay?" I part my lips about to say something, but he beat me to it. "And I don't want to hear how it's not fair that you can't pay for dinner because this' my gift to you, so I'll pay for everything." He gives me a stern look. "Alright? Don't worry about it."
I sigh in defeat and just nod my head at his statement.
"Good. Now just enjoy the experience and have fun for once."
"What do you mean 'for once'?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest, giving him a stern look.
"You're so uptight; you never have fun."
"I do have fun and I'm going to kick you in the ba–"
"Table for two?" The maître D' at the front asks both of us, cutting me off.
"Uh yes, reservation under Freddie Benson." He says to the woman.
The lady scrolls through the desktop for his name. "Ah, yes," She picks up two menus and walks towards us. "Follow me."
We follow her to the dining area and follow her to our table. We walk to a booth and she places the menus on the table. "Here we are." I take a seat on one side of the booth while Freddie sits across from me. "My name is Brenda by the way, so if you need anything, you can just call me. Your waiter will be here shortly."
"Thank you." We say in unison. She walks away with a smile on her face.
"So..." Freddie breathed out, "What are you going to order?" He says as he picks up the menu and unfolds the leather complexion.
I picked up the menu, opened it and glanced through the food choices on each page. I look at the price on the side of each meal, and I just wanted to throw up.
"Oh, my God," I whined. "What the hell is with these prices?"
"Sam, can you calm down? I'm paying for this remember?"
"But why would they have steak for eighty dollars?!"
"That's cheap." He waved off.
"Cheap my ass," I mumbled.
"Listen, please just look through the menu and not worry about the prices. I'm set from the paycheck I get every month." He leaned in, placing his hand on top of my hand. "So don't worry about it."
His remarkable brown eyes and warm hand on top of my hand makes me calm down and less stiff. "Okay, sorry..."
"Good, you worry too much." He chuckles. "I thought I would never see Sam Puckett go all soft about food prices."
I give him a death glare and he just smiles at me. "Now, I recommend you getting the lasagna because it's the best thing ever. Well, that's what I heard from critics." He commented.
"Okay, I'll have whatever you have." I close the menu and drop it on the table.
"Alright." He nodded, confirming my order and closed the menu shut.
A young girl walks to our table with a notepad and pencil. "Hello, my name is Molly, I'm your waitress for this evening." She gives us a polite smile, "Are you two ready to order?"
"Yes, we are," Freddie speaks before I do. "We'll both have the lasagna, one with a Peppy-Cola and the other with–" he points at me for what I want to drink.
"A root beer," I tell the woman.
"Alrighty," she writes our order down on the notepad and puts her pencil and notepad in her apron pocket. "I'll take your menus," she grabs our menus and rests them under her armpits." And I'll bring your food to your table." She smiles and leaves our table.
"This place really looks nice," I confirm again.
"I know, it's really extravagant." He nods, curling his fingers together on the table. "So, how do you like your surprise so far?" He smirks, wiggling his eyebrows together.
"It's something I didn't expect as a surprise. But I do have a question for you." I lean my elbows on the table.
"Ask away."
"Why did you bring me here? I mean I know you said it's for finishing finals, but I have a feeling it has something to go with it." I finally asked.
"Well..." He shifted in his seat looking uncomfortable. "I thought about how we always - have sex all the time that we should, how should I say it? Relax...go out...have some fun! Because we need a little break now and then." He smiled.
I chuckled while shaking my head, "I guess that's one way of putting it."
"Yeah, a friend kinda date. It might sound uncomfortable, but I'll tell you right now that it'll be over soon."
I let out a soft laugh. "Yeah, but I'm still waiting for the magic to happen." I do jazz hands like he did earlier.
"What magic?"
"The food."
"Oh." He chuckles with his nose.
Now, the silence between us feels thick. People around us are chattering and clinking their utensils and glasses together. I never thought I would have dinner with Freddie like this. Especially, this thing he calls a friend date.
For some reason, I have a feeling that he has something on his mind that leads to why we're in this position.
"Sam, can I tell you something?"
Oh shit.
"Uh, yeah, sure."
He sighs, "You really...look beautiful tonight." I felt my heart skip a beat. He said I was beautiful... again. Out loud. To me. With people. I was lost for words I can't even say thank you.
"Uh..."
"Did I freak you out?" He asks, concerned.
"I uh... I'm just shocked you would say that to me again." I laughed nervously.
He chuckles from my reaction, "It's okay to take a compliment." He smirks.
"But it's weird coming from you."
"Why is it weird?"
"Because you are a nub who practically takes my vagina and strangles it to death. So it's kind of weird hearing it come out of your mouth because of what we're doing." I said shrugging my shoulders.
He stares at me looking bewildered from what I said. "Wow...way to describe what I do to your body." He smirked.
"Don't get any ideas, Benson." I glared.
"You are so RUDE! Why can't I strangle your happy one?" He whined causing random people to stare at us.
"Dude, do you want everyone to hear about this dirty conversation?!"
"Unless they like to watch porn," he shrugged.
I cringed, disgusted by his choice of words. What the fuck is happening?
He starts laughing and his laugh makes his smile grow bigger, forming dimples on his cheeks. "Okay - you did that on purpose." He breathed out trying to catch his breath.
"Why are you laughing at me?" I complain.
"Because of your face." He snorts.
Oh, my god, he just snorted like a pig.
I shook my head, taking a sip of the water they provided for us before our food arrives.
He calms his laughter down and leans towards the table. "I... I really appreciate you coming with me tonight." He said silently.
I stare at him while setting my glass of water back on the table. "Of course...why wouldn't I?" I ask curiously.
"I don't know..." He chuckles then clears his throat. "I guess because no one would want to be with me for so long. They would leave me behind."
I stare at him feeling confused. What does he mean by that? "Why do you say that?"
He moves his eyes towards the table, not looking at me as he exhales a big breath. "... Like my dad, for example, I remember when I was little my mom and dad would always fight about certain things and I would listen, not knowing what's going on,"
Freddie hasn't mentioned his father in years. The only thing I remember was how he was furious at his dad for leaving him and his mom when he was little. I was there for him when he cried that his hero left him for gods knows what. That was the last time Freddie was upset about anything.
"Then just like that, he...left. I don't know where he went." He lowers his head down, and his hands clench into fists.
I lower my head a little trying to find Freddie's eyes. His eyes look intense, yet they look so heartbroken at the same time.
He must've felt lonely for so long because of his father not being in the picture anymore. Freddie hasn't spoken the full story about his dad to me before, so I don't know how he really feels inside.
I wish I could tell him that everything is alright, but I know that's not the case.
I reached my hands towards his and rest the palm my hands on top of his. His hands loosened, feeling calm. Freddie looks up at me, looking speechless. "Freddie, I can't imagine what it's like to not have a father around," he nods his head slowly. "But you have people who you can count on."
"Like who?" He grinned lightly.
"Seriously? You have your mom, Gibby, Brad. You even have my parents to count on even though they give out worst advice." I chuckle silently.
"...and I have you." He said delicately.
How he said it felt so...real. In his eyes are shown with passion, truth, sadness and guilt in them. Why is this affecting me so much?
I can feel my hands beginning to sweat on top of his hands. "Are you sweating?" He asked snickering, feeling my hands on his.
"U-Uh..." I stutter.
Now, he changes position as his hands are on top of mine. "Don't be nervous." He rubs my knuckles with his thumb slowly.
His touch is so soft; it's giving me goosebumps. "I-I-I'm sorry." I shake my head angry at myself for stuttering.
What the hell is wrong with me tonight?
"Don't be. I get that you're nervous because you're having dinner with me." He smirks.
I roll my eyes at his cockiness. "Not even close, you nub." I shake my head at him.
"Aww, now that hurts." His smirk becomes wider making me laugh.
"Listen...I know I can be stubborn, a bully, and a bitch sometimes–"
"No doubt there." He said under his breath.
"Anyway!" I glared. "You know you can talk to me about anything...maybe you can talk to me about your dad," his eyes turn serious with his eyebrows scrunched together. "Whenever that time comes for you, I'll always be there for you. I would never leave you...ever. Ever since we were babies, we were inseparable so I won't force you to say anything you don't want to say." I said truthfully.
He might have some deep things on his mind that are hard for him to talk about, but he needs to know that no matter what happens, I'll always be there for him because he means everything to me.
Freddie looks at me with intensity and curves a small grin on his face. "Thank you, Sam." He murmured. "I don't know what I would do without you."
It was my turn to show a small grin on my face at his appreciation. Whenever he smiles, my mouth seems to smile back because his smile is contagious. "Don't make this a mushy scene, okay."
He laughs and puts his hands up in surrender. "Sure, Princess Puckett."
After our little small talk, the waiter finally brings out our food and the food looks so delicious. Hopefully, it tastes good.
I take a bite out of the lasagna, and it tastes like heaven. Oh my fucking god! I just wanted to savor every bite.
Once we finished our food, Freddie paid for everything like he said he would. We left the restaurant, heading home, laughing about random stuff.
We walked inside our apartment around ten o'clock, with my heels off. Those shoes can hurt after wearing them for a few hours. UGH!
"I had a great time tonight." He said closing the door behind us.
"Me too, to be honest." I laughed.
"That's great." He chuckled.
Tonight was actually amazing being with him. We laughed about certain kids and teachers at our school, different types of subjects. Freddie and I usually just hang out on the couch and watch some movies on movie night, but we never went out to eat like what we did tonight. So it was really different to experience that with him.
"Well, thank you for paying for my meal even though I wanted to." I muttered the last sentence.
"You're welcome," his smiles.
His smiles then fade away as he stares at me with a weird look in his eyes.
"What?"
Without answering me, he leans down towards me and I look at his lips.
Is he going to kiss me?
He leans to the right side of my face and kisses me on the cheek, lingering there. I get stiff from his touch, but it feels...nice.
He pulls away slowly and smiles at me. "Goodnight, Sam." He walks away from me before I said anything.
Oh my god. He fucking kissed me on the cheek. His lip touching my skin felt amazing... I might sound so cliché, but it's true.
My heart feels tight and it's beating so fast. What are these feelings? They're the same feelings I had for Jonah once. They're starting to scare me and I don't like it one bit.
When I was with him, I felt safe and wanted. I'm glad I didn't deny this night because I would've regretted it myself. This dinner was the best thing I could admit to.
I shake off the weird feeling and start getting ready for bed.
Weird night, but definitely worth it.
The next chapter is going to be really good... ;)