AN- this oneshot is based on the episode that's apparently about Sam and Freddie both working at the Pear Store that's supposed to be coming out within the next few months. It sounded like a really interesting episode, so I figured why not do my take on it before it comes out? Hope you like it, even though I'm sure whatever Dan has planned for it is much better.
….
Employer
"So let me get this straight," Freddie said, trying to make sense of this whole situation. "You got the same job I have here?"
"Uh-huh," Sam nodded, sitting on the counter of the Brilliance Bar.
"How?"
"I filled out an application, just like you," she shrugged. "And they hired me."
"So-so you and I are going to be working under the same employer?" Freddie asked nervously.
"Looks like it," she grinned wickedly. "Sounds fun, doesn't it?"
"You're just trying to get me to quit, aren't you?" he frowned, crossing his arms. "You've talked to my mom and the two of you came up with this crazy little plan together, didn't you?"
"Um, I try to have as little contact with that freak show as possible," Sam said. "I just needed a job, and this was the only place hiring that didn't involve manual labor."
"You can't just sit around here and play on the pearpads," Freddie told her. "You have to help customers with their computers and take inventory in the stock room and-"
"Relax, Fredwad," Sam said, rolling her eyes. "I'll behave."
"Fine," Freddie said. "The store opens in ten minutes. You'd better be ready by then."
When the doors of the store finally opened, a customer strolled up to the Brilliance Bar.
"Hello, can I help you?" Freddie asked politely while Sam simply gave him a "'sup?"
"Yes," the man said, pulling out his pearphone. "I can't seem to get any text messages or phone calls or send any out."
"Hmm, have you updated your software recently?" Freddie asked.
"Yes, just two days ago."
"Well let's see if you have any sort of virus," Freddie said, taking the phone and connecting it to a computer. "No, doesn't look like it…I'll run a system check, and if that doesn't work we'll contact your service provider to see if-"
"Let me see," Sam said, picking up the phone.
"Sam, no!" Freddie hissed. "You're going to-"
"It's on airplane mode," Sam said. "That's all. Here, it works fine now."
"Wow, I guess I must've changed it on the settings page," the man said, taking his phone back from Sam. "Thanks a lot, ma'm!"
"I-I was just about to check his settings," Freddie said as the man left the store.
"Sure you were," Sam grinned. "Face it, nub, mama's got some tech skills of her own."
After the workday was through, Sam and Freddie went to the employee area to gather their belongings before they headed home.
"Sam, you can't eat other people's food," Freddie said as Sam rummaged through the fridge that stood by the door.
"Hey, if people leave it, it's fair game," Sam said as she took a chocolate pudding cup.
Freddie sighed as he picked up his backpack. It had been a stressful day. It turned out that Sam was a natural at working at the Brilliance Bar. She was actually fairly tech savvy, and since the majority of their customers had been men that day, she got for more attention from them as they watched her fix their computers with a glazed look in their eyes; something that bothered Freddie, seeing as she was his ex-girlfriend.
"Hey, do we have to work tomorrow?" Sam asked.
"Yes," Freddie said.
"Ugh. You think I could just skip? My cousin has tickets to see this alligator wrestling thing at the zoo."
"No, you can't just skip," Freddie said. "You have to clear absences a week in advance."
"For real? Dude, that's totally jank!"
"That's part of a job, Sam," Freddie said, shaking his head. "You have to be responsible. It takes a lot of-" he stopped talking as he suddenly remembered something. "Holy chiz!"
"What?" Sam frowned.
"I forgot to lock the cash register!"
"Who's responsible now?" Sam said, smiling happily as she ate her pudding.
"The manager gets really upset when we leave it unlocked," Freddie said. "He fired the last guy who did that. Maybe I can get back there before he-"
The door swung open and the manager, a tall, middle-aged man with a beard, walked in. "Alright, which one of you two left the register unlocked?"
"Um," Freddie started nervously. "See, I-I sort of-"
"I did," Sam said. "Sorry about that."
"Ms. Puckett," the manager said. "I have a very strict policy when it comes to my cash register. It was in you employee manual."
"Yeah…I didn't read that," Sam shrugged.
The manager sighed. "I hate to do this, since you seemed to have a real rapport going on with the customers today, but I need to stand by my rules. I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to let you go."
Sam shrugged. "I still get paid for the entire week, right?"
"Er, yes."
"Then whatever," she said.
"All right, Mr. Benson," the manager said, turning to Freddie. "Looks like you'll be pulling double duty tomorrow. Make sure you're here bright and early."
"Uh, yeah, sure," Freddie nodded.
Once the manager left, Freddie faced Sam. "Why'd you do that?"
"I figured you cared more about this job than I did," Sam said. "And, I was probably going to quit in a couple weeks anyway. This job beats working at some fast food joint, but it still involves standing for too long. I only needed to a hundred dollars to pay for some Chinese fireworks, and I got that from today, didn't I? So we're both winners."
Freddie blinked. "Wow. Sam, that was-that was really nice of you."
"Eh," she said nonchalantly. "It's no big deal." She grabbed her bag and turned to head out. Before she stepped through the door, though, she looked back at him. "Despite what you may think; I do care about you."
And with that, she left a very confused Freddie standing alone in the room.
