AN-This is a sequel to chapter 450, where Sam begins dating a new guy.
….
Particular
Freddie Benson stifled a yawn as he flipped through channels on the Shay's television.
This certainly wasn't the ideal way for a teenage boy to spend a Friday night, but he didn't have many other options.
Carly and Spencer were visiting their granddad in Yakima, Gibby was out enjoying his dream job as the new Pini's men's room attendant and his mother was the whole reason he was over in the Shay's empty apartment in the first place, for she had just bought a new tick vacuum and was eager to test it out.
And then there was Sam, who was out with Shawn.
It still broke Freddie's heart any time he thought about him with her. They had been together a little over a month now and he knew they'd probably be together much longer than that.
Why'd she have to move on? Freddie thought miserably to himself. Why couldn't we have made it work again? Why-Why'd I let her go in the first place?
Freddie believed that this whole thing would be a lot easier for him to handle if he could at least find some reason to hate that stupid Shawn guy. But he had to admit it; Shawn was a pretty great guy. He treated Sam with respect, just like she deserved. He held doors open for her, he carried her books for her, he found any excuse to buy her flowers, and he even wrote her love poems. Plus, as if that wasn't bad enough, he was nice to him too! He didn't rub it in his face that he was now dating his ex-girlfriend; in fact, he always seemed to make sure to keep any affection between him and Sam to a minimum when Freddie was around.
At least she's happy, Freddie reminded himself. That's all that counts…that's all I want.
Freddie turned off the T.V. suddenly wanting nothing more than to just curl up in his own bed and to try and forget all about Sam and Shawn, and how much fun they must be having right now on their date.
Just as he was about to get to his feet, thought, the apartment door opened and Sam walked in, wearing a dark blue dress that hugged her body perfectly.
Freddie's stomach began to do flip-flops at once.
"Oh, hey," Sam said, surprised to see him. "What are you doing here?"
"I was just watching T.V.," Freddie replied. "I was about to go back home though."
Sam nodded. "Um, Carly here?"
"No, she's in Yakima, remember?"
"Oh," Sam mumbled. "That's right."
"Why are you here?" Freddie asked, looking at his watch. "It's not even ten yet. I thought you were out with Shawn."
"Yeah, I was," Sam sighed.
"Your date ended early?"
"I guess you can say that," Sam shrugged. "Breaking up does tend to bring dates to a close."
Freddie's eyes widened. "What? You-You broke up?"
Sam nodded.
Freddie's first instinct was to jump up in the air for joy. Shawn was out of the picture now, and Sam was single again!
But the look on her face kept his feet firmly on the ground.
"I-I'm sorry," Freddie said as she kicked her heels off. "Are you okay?"
"I guess," Sam replied. She looked up at Freddie. "And since you were probably wondering…he dumped me."
"I-I wasn't-" Freddie stammered.
"Relax, it's okay," Sam told him, collapsing onto the couch.
"Well, um, Shawn-Shawn's a jerk anyway," Freddie said, sitting back down next to her.
"Nah," Sam sighed. "He was a good guy…Is. He's not dead or anything. Besides, it wasn't exactly a bad break-up. He was really nice about it."
Of course he was, Freddie thought rolling his eyes internally.
"And we're gonna stay friends. I'm just confused," Sam continued. "I thought we were really good, you know? We weren't fighting or anything-"
Like we used to when we were dating, Freddie said to himself.
"-So why'd he end it?" Sam said. "Was it me?"
"No," Freddie said at once. "Of course not. You're-You're amazing, Sam."
As the words left his mouth, Freddie realized how awkward that must've sounded, but Sam just gave him a small smile. "I am, aren't I?"
"Um, well, I-I know I'm not Carly," Freddie said after a moment. "But, um, it-if you want, you can spend the rest of the night here with me. I can try and do all those 'break-up activities' girls like. We can eat junk food, watch cheesy movies…I think I'll have to draw the line at painting nails, but-"
"There's no way we're painting nails," Sam scoffed. "Or watching cheesy movies. But I wouldn't say no to some junk food."
"Do you ever?" Freddie chuckled. "I think I saw some brownies in the fridge. Hopefully Spencer wasn't planning on eating them."
He went into the kitchen to grab the brownies.
Why would Shawn break up with her? Freddie asked himself as he looked over his shoulder back at Sam. I thought he was really into her…
Freddie returned to the couch with Sam, handing her the tray of brownies.
"I think there's nuts in these," Freddie told her as she began to dig in. "Maybe walnuts or peanuts or something…If you don't like these there's some mix in the cabinet I can fix up for us."
"Dude, it's fine, I'm not too particular with my brownies," Sam assured him, stuffing on in her mouth.
"So, um, are you sure you're alright?" Freddie asked gently. "I-I know you really liked this guy."
"Yeah," Sam said softly. "I did. And I always figured if we broke up I'd be upset about it, but-but I actually feel fine. Not great, but…I'll be okay."
"I can send him a virus if you want."
"No, don't do that," Sam grinned. "I told you, he was really nice. It's not like he did it through a text or something. It's just…well, he did say something that I didn't really get during the break-up speech."
"What?" Freddie asked.
"He told me that even though he did really like me, he knew it wasn't fair to me to stay together," Sam said. "Because he knew that no matter what, he couldn't give me the same love that someone else could give me, and that I'd be much happier with that person than I ever could with him."
Freddie blinked. "He-He said that?"
"Weird, right?" Sam said. "It's like he was telling me to go find someone who liked me more than he did."
"Yeah," Freddie nodded slowly. "Weird."
You know, Freddie thought as he watched Sam devour another brownie. Maybe that Shawn kid isn't half bad.
…
That Monday at school, Freddie stood by his locker, flipping through a few binders as he placed them in his bag.
"Freddie?"
Freddie turned around to see Shawn standing behind him.
"Oh, um, hey," Freddie said, unsure of what to say to him. "I-I heard you and Sam broke up."
"Yeah," Shawn sighed. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Is she, you know, okay? I-I tried to be as nice as possible, I really did."
"She's fine," Freddie told him. He closed his locker.
"Good," Shawn said, relieved. "I didn't want to hurt her."
"Shawn," Freddie said slowly. "Why did you break up with her? I know you liked her."
Shawn smiled. "Yeah, I liked her a lot. She's probably one of the funniest, most original girls I've ever dated. I had a lot of fun with her. But that was the problem."
"Huh?"
"I just really, really liked her," Shawn said. "I-I knew I wasn't in love with her. And I knew she wasn't in love with me either."
Freddie simply stared at him.
"You guys belong together," Shawn continued. "I-I just don't want to stay in the way of that. You're in love with Sam. And she may not realize it herself, but I think she's in love with you too."
Who is this guy? Freddie thought flabbergasted.
"Maybe one day I'll find a girl who I love like you love Sam," Shawn shrugged. "But for now…it would be wrong to stay with her when I know I could never give her what you could."
"Sam and I already broke up," Freddie said slowly.
Shawn gave him a small smile. "Then you must realize how much you need her back then, right?"
Freddie shook his head. "Okay, can you read minds or something?"
Shawn chuckled. "Nah, I grew up with five older sisters though, and I had no choice but to sit and watch way too many romance movies when my parents would make them watch me. I picked up a thing or two."
"I'll say," Freddie mumbled.
"Look, go get Sam back," Shawn told him.
Freddie sighed. "Um, listen Shawn, it was really nice of you to break up with her for me, but-but I just don't know if it would work out again between us. I guess you already know that I still have feelings for her, but she's clearly moved on. She went out with you after all."
"Yeah, and you know what I noticed?" Shawn said. "As much as she would smile when we went out, it was never the same smile she gave when you were around. Somehow she always managed to work you into our conversations and-and when we would kiss…I could tell she didn't feel anything. No matter what she would say. Maybe…maybe her dating me was just a way for her to try and forget about you. But I don't think she ever managed to do that."
Freddie was silent for a few moments.
"You do what you want, okay?" Shawn said. "I can't force you to do anything."
Freddie took a deep breath. "You know, Shawn. I-I have a feeling you and I could be pretty good friends."
Shawn smirked. "Yeah, well, maybe some time we can hang out and watch some movie that doesn't have two people almost kissing on the cover. I've been meaning to start that Galaxy Wars series though, you know if it's any good?"
"I've heard it's alright," Freddie laughed. "Um, anyway…I should go. Um, thanks a lot, Shawn. You've really helped me out."
…..
That day after school, Sam was sitting up in Carly's bedroom, attempting to do her math homework as she promised Carly before she had run out to pick up Spencer from the junkyard.
"Stupid trig, when am I ever gonna use this?" Sam mumbled to herself as she flipped through her textbook.
Just then there was a soft knock at the door and Freddie walked into the bedroom.
"Perfect timing, nub!" Sam said. "I promised Carly I'd have this homework done by the time she got back, but that's not happening. Let me copy yours?"
"Um, Sam?" Freddie said, ignoring her question as he sat down on the sofa next to her.
"What?" Sam frowned.
Freddie took a deep breath. "You remember the other night, when-when you and Shawn broke up? You told me what he said to you…about-about him knowing he couldn't love you the same way he knew someone else could?"
"Yeah, so?" Sam shrugged. "It made no sense."
"Actually…it did," Freddie said.
"Wait, you know what he meant?" Sam asked.
Freddie nodded.
"Well what did he mean? Was it some sort of dumb boy code?"
"No," Freddie replied. "It-It wasn't. And I-I don't want to have to tell you exactly what it means…I-I want you to see if you can figure it out on your own."
"What? Come on, Benson," Sam moaned. "I've already done three math problems. I'm done using my brain today."
"Come on, you can do it," Freddie said. "Just try."
"Fine," Sam finally conceded. "Let's see…he said he couldn't give me the same love someone else could…so what? He was just saying he didn't love me. Believe it or not I gathered that. That's why we broke up."
"Think harder," Freddie said, praying Sam would piece together. "There's more."
"Ugh," Sam sighed, rolling her eyes. "What else is there? He-Okay, he said someone else could love me more. Well what's special about that? That just means he thinks I'll find some other guy."
"Um, try-try to think more specifically," Freddie said, looking down at his lap.
"Specifically?" Sam repeated. "Wait, was Shawn talking about a specific person who loved me more than he could?"
Freddie didn't reply.
"Well…how could he know that?" Sam asked, furrowing her brow in thought. "Besides…nobody's in love with me…are they?"
Freddie took a deep breath. "Really?"
"Huh?"
"No one's ever said they loved you?" Freddie asked. "Not even one person."
Suddenly, Sam's eyes widened. "Wait…it-it's not…it's you?"
"Yeah," Freddie slowly nodded. "It's me."
"But-what?"
"I didn't tell Shawn to break up with you or anything, I swear," Freddie said quickly. "He-He talked to me today. He said that he could tell how in love I still was with you, and well, that-that's true. And he said he knew he could never love you like I love you, so…"
"You still love me?" Sam whispered.
"Yeah," Freddie sighed. "Sam, I-I thought we were gonna get back together. Isn't that what we said? But now I guess you've moved on…I mean, you're already back on the dating field after all."
"You love me?" Sam said again. "Like…love me?"
"Um, again…yes," Freddie said.
Sam looked down, her cheeks flushing. "I thought…never mind."
"No, what is it?"
"Nothing."
"Tell me."
"Fine," Sam said. "I-I thought you might've forgotten about that."
"You thought I forgot I told you I loved you?" Freddie frowned. "Sam, that's ridiculous. I've probably thought about it every day."
"Well, it's just…you just said it. I thought we were gonna get back together too," Sam said. "But you never-you never did anything!"
"What?" Freddie exclaimed.
"Yeah, I wanted us to get back together you nub!" Sam snapped, her voice rising. "Didn't you notice how dang normal I was acting? I only got detention like, four times since we broke up, the only time I talked to any cop was when Gibby made Carly and me spend five hours down at the police station about his lost cat, and I haven't hit you or sent you to the emergency room once!"
"So you wanted us to get back together?" Freddie said. "And you're blaming me for us not doing that? You're the one who went out with Shawn!"
"Yeah, because you weren't getting up off your butt to take me out again!" Sam pointed out. "So I figured I better get back in the dating game! And you know what? Shawn didn't make stupid jokes like you, he didn't give lectures about the history of every place we hung out at and he didn't kiss as good as you either!"
"Wait, really?"
"Yes!" Sam exclaimed. "You've ruined other guys for me, Benson! Because if I can't even feel close to how I felt with you with a guy like Shawn, what hope do I have?"
"Well then…" Freddie said slowly. "It looks like you'll just have to get back together with me."
"Yeah, well, I guess I have to!" Sam said loudly. "Because it looks like I'm gonna be in love with you for the rest of my dang life!"
"Well right back at you!" Freddie said, a bit confused at what was happened. "So I guess we're a couple again!"
"I guess we are!"
"Then we should probably kiss!"
"Yeah, we better!" Sam said, grabbing his shoulders and crashing her lips to his.
Freddie quickly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer.
How have I been able to function without this for so long? Freddie thought to himself as he deepened the kiss.
"Okay Sam!" Carly suddenly said, letting herself back in her bedroom. "How's that homework coming-Oh my God!"
The couple didn't even to seem to notice Carly as they continued to kiss on another passionately.
"So…that homework's not gonna get done, is it?" Carly said, though a small smile appeared on her face.
