AN-Thanks so much for the love, you guys!
Harp
"Hey, Spencer?" Carly asked, coming downstairs, where her older brother was working on a sculpture. "Have you seen my cute little black bag?"
"No, why?" Spencer asked. "I thought that was your fancy date-night bag."
"It is," Carly nodded.
"What?" Spencer exclaimed. "You got a date? No way! See, I told you if you were patient, some guy-"
"I'm not the one going on the date!" Carly snapped.
"Oh…well then why do you need that bag?"
"It's for Sam," Carly explained.
"Really? I didn't know she was seeing someone," Spencer said. "Good for her."
"Um, what do you mean you didn't know she was seeing anyone," Carly frowned. "You do know who she's going out with tonight, right?"
"Um, in case you forgot, I'm a busy adult," Spencer said. "I can't always keep up with all your teenage drama and love lives!"
"Sorry, I just assumed since you leave the apartment like, three times a week, you were up to date," Carly chuckled.
"Hey! I went with Socko to the junk yard this morning!" he defended. "Now hurry up and give me the deets on Sam's new dude!"
"Um, he's not exactly a new dude," Carly said, rolling her eyes. "It's Freddie."
"Freddie?" Spencer frowned. "But-But I thought that they broke up six months ago!"
"Yeah, but they got back together a few weeks ago," Carly said. "Have you seriously not noticed?"
"No!" Spencer exclaimed. "How did they-Why did they-You didn't think to mention this?"
"I told you! I thought you knew!"
"Well I'm oblivious! There, I said it! You happy?"
"A little bit, actually," Carly smiled. "Anyway, I'm gonna go back up and try to find some cute dresses for Sam to borrow for tonight."
….
A few hours later, Spencer was still working on his sculpture. Just then there was a short knock at the door and Freddie walked in.
"Hey," he said. "Wow, that sculpture's looking great, Spence."
"Um, yeah, thanks," Spencer nodded.
"Anyway," Freddie continued. "Do you have a tie I could borrow for my date with Sam tonight?"
"Uh…possibly," Spencer frowned.
"You okay?" Freddie asked.
"Peachy!" Spencer said quickly.
"You sure?" Freddie said. "Because you're acting sort of-"
"Okay!" Spencer conceded. He set down the paintbrush he had been working with. "I just-do you know what you're doing?"
"What? You don't think I should wear a tie tonight?" Freddie said.
"No," Spencer sighed. "I'm talking about with Sam."
"With Sam?" Freddie repeated.
"Yeah," Spencer nodded. "You know, I just don't want to see you make the same mistakes that you did last time, now that you're back together."
"Well, I don't think we really made too many mistakes per say, last time," Freddie pointed out. "We just decided at the time we weren't really ready to deal with our contrasting personalities. But after a few months of being apart, we realized that's what we liked best about each other."
"Okay…" Spencer said hesitantly. "Just-Just don't hurt Sam again. When you two broke up, she didn't take it as well as she pretended, you know."
"What do you mean?" Freddie frowned.
"Um…I sort of swore I'd never tell you about it," Spencer said.
"But you just-"
"Do you want a tie or not?" Spencer exclaimed.
"Yes!"
"Well then go get one out of my closet!"
"Okay," Freddie said, giving Spencer a strange look.
As Freddie disappeared into Spencer's room, Sam came downstairs, wearing a navy blue dress and carrying Carly's black purse.
"Hey Spence," Sam said. "Fredwad here yet?"
"Um, yeah," Spencer nodded. "Listen, Sam. Can I talk to you first?"
"I guess," Sam shrugged. "Cool sculpture, by the way. What it is it? Some sort of platypus?"
"It's a dolphin!" Spencer said indignantly. "Can't you see the dorsal fin and-never mind!"
"So what did you want to talk about?" Sam laughed.
"You know what you're doing tonight, right?" Spencer asked.
"Yeah, I'm going to dinner with Freddie," Sam frowned.
"No, I mean…" Spencer sighed. "I just don't want you to get hurt again, with Freddie. Last time I know your break-up was mutual and all, but you still-"
"Hey, we agreed never to bring that up again!" Sam hissed.
"I wasn't!" Spencer said quickly. "But I just want to make sure that-that you've really thought this through, that you didn't get back together with him on a limb."
"We've been back together for three weeks," Sam pointed out. "And we're doing fine. Why didn't you give me this awkwardlecture then?"
"Because some of us were out of the loop!" Spencer snapped. Then his voice softened again. "I just hated seeing you all, you know...after you and Freddie broke up the first time, and I'd hate for you to have to go through that again."
"Hey, I'll be fine," Sam smiled.
"Okay, well-"
"Sam!" Freddie said, coming out of Spencer's room as he was tying a red tie around his neck. "Wow, you look amazing."
"Well Carly's been going crazy dolling me up for the past hour," Sam shrugged.
"Aw, you guys look adorable," Carly grinned, coming downstairs. "Don't they Spence?"
"Yeah…real adorable," Spencer nodded as Freddie put his arm around Sam.
"You guys are just going to that new restaurant, right?" Carly asked.
"Yeah, and then depending on what time we finish, we might try and catch a movie," Freddie said.
"Fredhead's got to be home by nine-thirty, otherwise Crazy will come looking for him and drag him home," Sam explained.
"I thought she finally agreed to let you stay out until ten," Carly frowned.
"She did," Freddie sighed. "But then she found out that Sam and I stayed up until three in the morning last week web chatting, so now it's back to nine thirty."
"You're lucky you're worth dealing with her," Sam smirked, giving Freddie a quick kiss.
"You know I'd deal with your own batty mom anytime," Freddie chuckled. He looked down at his watch. "Oh, we'd better get going, baby. If we're not at the restaurant at exactly seven, then they'll give away our table and who knows how long it will take for us to get those reservations again."
"Crab, then let's go," Sam said.
"Have fun!" Carly called after her best friends as they rushed out the door. She turned to Spencer. "Hey, do you mind keeping it down while you work on your sculpture? I'm supposed to be web chatting this cute guy, and hopefully, if everything goes right, I'll be the one using my date night bag next week, and-"
"Yeah, yeah, that's real nice," Spencer said quickly. "Do you know which restaurant Sam and Freddie are going to?"
"Um, The Moonlight Lounge," Carly replied. "But why-"
"Later!" Spencer cut her off, grabbing his jacket and running out of the apartment.
…
"Sir?" one of the waiters said to Spencer as he tried to walk back to the booths at The Moonlight Lounge. "Do you have a reservation?"
"Huh?" Spencer frowned. "Oh, no see I just wanted to stop by really quick and just check on another couple's date, and make sure that-"
"I'm sorry," the waiter said firmly. "But unless you have a reservation, I cannot allow you back there."
"Look," Spencer sighed. "I'm only going to be a minute. I just want to make sure that a teenage girl doesn't get her heart broken again by a well-meaning, but sometimes stupid teenage boy. See, I'm the older brother of their best friend, and I sort of consider myself the wise guardian of all of them, so if I could just take a quick peeksie, I'd really appreciate that."
"Aw, that's a touching story sir," the waiter said.
"So you'll let me go back now?"
"Absolutely not," the waiter said. "Now leave before I have you escorted out by restaurant security." He held up a walkie-talkie menacingly.
"But you just said-"
"Javier," the waiter began speaking into the walkie-talkie. "Bruce, we have a bit of a situation up-"
"I'm going! I'm going!" Spencer snapped.
As Spencer turned to leave, a waitress ran up to the waiter, looking frantic.
"Has the band arrived yet?" she asked.
"No! They were supposed to be here ten minutes ago!" the waiter snapped. "Oh, this is just awful!"
Spencer rolled his eyes as he headed out of the restaurant. He was about to go back to his car, when suddenly a white van pulled up.
"Come on people, let's move!" a man in a fancy tuxedo said, jumping out of the van and opening up the back, revealing several cellos, flutes, and a harp. "We're running late; we can't have those poor patrons eating without music in there! There is one thing that separates us from the animals, and that is fine dining!"
"Hmmm," Spencer said thoughtfully. "That could work…"
…
"I've got to say, I'm usually not a fan of fancy restaurants, because the food's weird and they barely feed you anything," Sam said, taking a bite of her chicken. "But this place is pretty good. Decent portions, normal food…nice choice, Freddicini."
"I thought you'd like it," Freddie grinned. "It's got all the elements of a classy restaurant combined with the elements of normal restaurants."
"Hey," Sam said, looking over towards a small stage, where a group of musicians was setting up. "This place even has music?"
"Yeah, they hired some classical music group to play tonight," Freddie nodded. "To make this night even more fancy."
"Nice," Sam grinned, clinking her glass to his.
"That harp player seems a little…off, though," Freddie commented, watching the heavily bearded harp player ungracefully heave his instrument onstage, straightening the dark sunglasses he was wearing.
"Eh, musicians are weird sometimes," Sam shrugged. "Like my cousin Joe who plays the banjos outside that sandwich shop in Connecticut."
"Yeah, well, I think there's more wrong with Joe than his banjos," Freddie chuckled. He took a sip of his water, still looking at Sam. "You know, I told you this earlier, but I'm just gonna say it again. You look beautiful."
"Thanks," Sam said, blushing. "You don't look bad either."
She leaned closer to him, their lips almost touching.
"Hey!" a loud, strangely deep, voice, suddenly yelled, surprising them both. They looked up and saw the eccentric harp player at their table, leering down at them.
"Um, can we help you?" Freddie frowned.
"Do you two think it's respectful to be engaging in lip activities in a five star restaurant?" he snapped.
"There's no rule against kissing here," Sam pointed out.
"There may not be a rule, but it's a common courtesy, missy!"
"Missy?" Sam repeated, confused.
"Hey, Craig?" the violinist called from the stage. "Are you ready or not? We have soothing music to play here!"
"I'm coming!" the harp player exclaimed. He turned back to Sam and Freddie. "I'm watching you two!"
"Okay…" Freddie said, shaking his head as the musician ran back on stage. "That was-"
"Bizarre?" Sam finished.
"A little bit, yep," Freddie nodded. "Let's just hope he plays better than he acts."
But as the band's conductor stepped up on the stage and the group began playing, it turned out that the harp player did not play any better than his odd behavior would suggest.
"Well," Sam said, cringing as the harp player played a particularly off note. "He sucks."
"What's wrong with that dude?" Freddie asked.
"No clue," Sam said. "But…I think he sort of looks familiar, don't you think?"
"A little, yeah," Freddie agreed. "You think maybe he's a hobo we passed on the street or something?"
"What hobo knows how to play the harp?" Sam chuckled.
"Um, clearly this guy doesn't know how to play the harp, so that's my point," Freddie said. "Anyway, I know we don't exactly have the most romantic music playing right now, but how about you and I still try and make the best of this date?"
"I could get with that," Sam grinned, leaning over to try and kiss her boyfriend.
"Hey! What'd I tell you two about the smooching?" the harp player bellowed, grabbing a roll from a nearby table and hurling it at the couple, hitting Freddie's square in the eye.
"Ow!" Freddie cried, clutching his eye.
"Are you okay?" Sam asked, looking at her boyfriend, concerned, but also taking a bite of the roll.
"No, not really!" Freddie mumbled. "I've got crumbs in my eyes!"
"Well maybe that will teach him about setting young girls up for heartbreak!" the harp player said, marching down towards the table.
"Craig!" the conductor snapped. "We're in the middle of a song! And might I say you were awful-"
"Dude, what's your deal?" Sam demanded.
"Yeah! Why'd you chuck bread at my face?" Freddie asked, annoyed.
"Because you don't need to be setting Sam up for something that's just going to hurt her later!" the harp player said harshly
"How'd you know my-" Sam began, but then she shook her head. She slowly stood up and pulled off the harp player's sunglasses and beard, revealing Spencer.
"Imposter!" the conductor exclaimed. "He's not Craig! Where is my harp player you fiend?"
"He's fine!" Spencer yelled, turning towards the stage. "He's safely locked away in the kitchen storage room!"
"Spencer?" Freddie frowned. "What are you-Why'd you-"
"I can explain," Spencer sighed.
"Don't bother," Sam muttered, glaring at the man as she got to her feet, heading towards the exit.
"Sam!" Freddie started, but Spencer ran after her before he could get out of the booth.
"Sam?" Spencer called, running after the girl as she stormed out of the restaurant. "Sam, listen, I-"
"What's you problem?" Sam frowned, crossing her arms. "Huh? Why'd you go to all that trouble just to ruin our date? Do you have a problem with me dating Freddie?"
"No," Spencer said. "Well…maybe."
"Why?" Sam demanded. "Do you not like him or something?"
"No! Of course I do," Spencer said. "I've known him for years, and he's a great kid-"
"So then why are you acting like a freak about me getting back together with him?"
"Because," Spencer explained. "I-I hate what he did to you when you two first broke up."
"Dude, it was mutual!" Sam said, rolling her eyes.
"I know," Spencer nodded. "But…he wasn't the one who I woke up to find sobbing on my couch at three A.M after it happened."
Sam looked down at her feet. "You promised you'd never bring that up again," she mumbled.
"And I haven't, not to Freddie or Carly or anyone," Spencer told her. "But I'd never seen you like that…and I knew that you were really hurting. You know I think of you as a second little sister, Sam."
Sam looked up. "You-You do?"
"Of course," Spencer nodded. "How could I not? You practically live at my place. And I care about you a lot, and if there is anything I could do to make sure you never have to feel what you did that one night, I'd do it. I guess that's why I came here to spy on you guys…"
Sam gave him a small smile. "Well…thanks for looking out for me then," she said softly. "I've never really had anyone do that for me before…but, I know what I'm doing with Freddie. We're not going to make the same mistakes we did before. And if we do wind up breaking up again…at least we'll both know we gave it our best shot this time. But now that me and Freddie took that break, I think we're really going to last awhile this time."
Spencer took a deep breath. "Okay…if you're sure you know what you're doing. But if you ever need someone, you know where to find me, right?"
"I think I can find my way over," Sam grinned.
Spencer laughed and pulled her into a hug.
"Hey, I should go in and apologize to Freddie," Spencer said when they pulled apart. "And how about I pick up the check for you guys?"
"Since when do you have the money to be buying fancy dinners?" Sam asked.
"Oh, the dude who I'm making my sculpture for right now paid me a fortune," Spencer said.
"Right, the platypus," Sam nodded.
"Dolphin!" Spencer exclaimed. "Seriously, how does my beautiful dolphin look anything like a flat, ugly old platypus?"
