Noon

"I really love this new skirt I got for my New Year's Eve party," Carly said happily, admiring the skirt as she proudly hung it in her closet. "It's going to look great with my cute boots."

"Yeah, and it only took her two whole hours to pick out," Sam said, rolling her eyes as she lounged on the ice cream sandwich love seat.

"Two hours to pick out a skirt?" Freddie frowned, looking up from his laptop.

"Be lucky you weren't there, Benson," Sam mumbled darkly.

"Well I needed to find the perfect outfit!" Carly defended. "Wess is coming and I want to make sure I look good for our big New Years kiss."

"So are you too like, officially a thing now?" Sam smirked.

"Well…not exactly," Carly said. "We've gone out a few times, but he hasn't brought up anything about us becoming a real couple. That's why I want this party to go perfectly."

"It will," Freddie assured her.

"Speaking of the party," Carly said. "Who are you guys bringing?"
"What do you mean?" Sam asked. "Why do I have to bring someone?"
"I mean you don't have to," Carly said. "It's a New Year's Eve party though…don't you want to have someone to kiss at midnight?"

"Eh, I'm not that into those lame traditions," Sam shrugged. "As long as you have decent food, I'll be just fine at midnight."

"Well what about you?" Carly asked, turning to Freddie.

"I actually am making real progress with a girl in my Physics class," Freddie beamed. "Her name is Kayla. I was thinking I'd ask her to come to the party with me."
"Ohhh," Carly grinned.

"Is that that weird chick with the giant butterfly barrettes?" Sam scoffed.

"No," Freddie said, rolling his eyes. "That's Kayla Williams. My Kayla is Kayla Harrison."
"Your Kayla? She's not your Kayla," Sam said. "You probably haven't even said three words to the chick!"
"She happens to laugh at all my science jokes in class!"

"Those are pity laughs!"

"They are-"

"Alright!" Carly said loudly, breaking up the argument. "Could we go at least one week without one of the neighbors making a noise complaint because of you two? Freddie, Kayla seems like a really nice girl. And Sam, since you're not bringing a date-"

"Hold on, who said I'm not brining a date?" Sam interrupted.

"Um, you did," Carly frowned.

"I did not!" Sam said. "I just didn't know that-that there would be enough space in your apartment, so I thought I'd be a good party guest and not crowd the place. But I totally have a date."

"Who?" Freddie demanded.

"Julio Fisher," Sam replied. "From my detention crew."

"That thug?" Freddie exclaimed. "He's probably in Juvie!"

"He made parole last week," Sam snapped. "Just in time to be my date."

"You barely talk to him outside of detention!" Freddie said. "You're just bringing him because I'm brining Kayla!"
"Why would I do that?" Sam asked innocently. She turned back to Carly. "So it's cool if I bring Julio?"

"Er, yeah it's cool," Carly nodded.

"But not as cool as it is for me to bring Kayla, right?" Freddie said.

"Um, do you guys think it's just a tiny bit possible that you're acting a little crazy to make each other jealous?" Carly asked.

"Ew, gross," Sam cringed, looking at her ex-boyfriend.

"Yeah, not a chance," Freddie agreed.

"Okay," Carly sighed. "If you say so…"

"Come on, why can't I be at your party?" Spencer asked Carly as she worked on cleaning the living room New Year's Eve morning.

"Because it's a party for teens," Carly said, rolling her eyes. "You're in your thirties."

"Barely!"
"I thought you had plans with that one girl you were seeing," Carly said. "What was her name…Gloria?"

"Oh, me and her aren't really a thing anymore," Spencer said. "Apparently she got all offended when I took her out for dinner last week."

"How come?" Carly frowned.

"Beats me!" Spencer said. "Inside-Out Burger had a great deal on fries!"

"Uh-huh…" Carly said shaking her head.

"Anyway, the point is I'm single and alone and have absolutely no plans for the night!" Spencer said cheerfully. "So can I come to your party?"

"Fine," Carly conceded. "But you can't be all goofy or weird, got it? I have a cute boy coming to this party!"

"Got it," Spencer said, pumping his fist into the air.

"Hey, hey," Sam said, letting herself into the apartment. "How goes set-up?"

"It's going well," Carly replied. "Can you just give me a hand moving the couch out of the way and-"

"Sure," Sam said. "I'll do it in the kitchen."
"How are you going to help me move the couch from the kitchen?" Carly asked.

Sam did not respond, though, for she was already rummaging through the fridge.

"Alright, well I'm going to go get a haircut," Spencer said, grabbing his jacket.

"Why?" Carly asked.

"For the party, duh," Spencer said. "I'll see you guys later."
"Wait, before you go, can you help me move the couch-and he's gone," Carly sighed as Spencer ran out the door. She turned towards the kitchen, where Sam was currently eating ice cream right out of the container. "So, you excited for the party? I am. I just need to get my nails done, decide on a lip gloss color and figure out which perfume to wear and then I'll be all ready for Wess."

Sam rolled her eyes just as the front door opened again and Freddie walked in.

"Oh good," Carly said. "Freddie, could you help me with this couch? I need to-"

"So where's your date?" Freddie asked, ignoring Carly as he headed into the kitchen with Sam.

"It's noon!" Sam defended. "Julio still has nine hours before he needs to be here. Where's your date?"

"Kayla happens to be at the children's hospital volunteering," Freddie said. "Isn't that sweet? Even on a holiday she just can't stop giving back."

"So am I just gonna get zero help with this couch?" Carly called from the living room.

"Well how nice," Sam spat.

"Isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is!" Sam said, shoving her empty ice cream container into the trash. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go find one of Carly's dresses to wear for Julio tonight!"
"And I have to go have my mom pick out a shirt for Kayla!" Freddie retorted.

"You guys?" Carly said as Sam stomped upstairs and Freddie headed back out the door. "Are you seriously leaving me alone to move this couch?"

….

Later that evening, the Shay's apartment was filled with people dancing and having a good time.

"Hey, this is a really awesome party, Carls," Sam said, stepping away from a conversation she had been in with Wendy and a few other girls.

"Thanks!" Carly grinned. "And Wess really seems to be having a good time."
She nodded over across the room where Wess was standing, laughing with a group of friends.

"I saw you talking with him this whole time," Sam smirked. "Way to go, kid."
"I think he might actually really like me," Carly beamed. "Which means, if everything goes according to plan, at midnight we should have our first kiss of the New Year! Oh my God…that's only a few minutes away! I need to find a mint or something."
"Hey, Carls, wait," Sam said before Carly could turn and rush away. "Um…you-you haven't seen Freddie around, have you?"
"Actually no, I haven't," Carly said. "I saw him right when the party started but that's it. I assume he's off somewhere with that Kayla girl he said he was bringing here. Hey, speaking of which, where's your date?"
"Julio couldn't make it," Sam mumbled.

"Oh, Sam," Carly said sympathetically. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Sam shrugged. "Don't worry about me. Go get your kiss with Wess."
"You sure you're alright?"

"Yes, I told you, I'm not really into these things," Sam said.

"Well-"

"Hey everybody!" Spencer suddenly called out. "Only three more minutes until midnight!"

"Go on," Sam said, giving her best friend a smile.

Carly smiled back before turning and hurrying back over to Wess.

Sam watched as the rest of the room began to couple off in anticipation of the big moment. And though Sam had said she wasn't into all of it…she couldn't help but feel a little left out. She had never had someone to exchange the infamous New Year's Kiss with, and now it looked like that streak would continue.

Should've waited a few more months before Freddie and I broke up, Sam thought bitterly. Now he's off making out with that Kayla chick and I'm here by myself.

At the very image of Freddie entwined with another girl, Sam felt a pang in her stomach.

"Two minutes!" Spencer called out again.

Letting out a soft sigh, Sam stepped out of the crowd and sat down on the ledge of the stairs away from everybody else.

"Hey, mind if I join you?"
Sam looked up and saw Freddie standing next to her.

She shook her head, scooting to make room for him. "What are you doing here?"

"I was invited, remember?"

"No, I mean here alone," Sam said. "Why aren't you with your date? Kayla? It's almost midnight."
"I didn't come here with her," Freddie admitted. "Um, she-she kind of laughed in my face when I asked her."
"That's kind of rude," Sam commented.

Freddie raised an eyebrow. "That didn't sound like the mocking I was expecting."

"I don't have too much room to mock," Sam said. "I'm here dateless too."
"What happened to Julio?" Freddie asked.

"He got arrested for trying to steal a cop's pepper spray," Sam replied.

"Ah."

"Yup…" Sam said.

"One minute!" Spencer yelled.

"Well it looks like we're both gonna miss out on the New Year's Eve kiss then," Freddie sighed. "Too bad, I was sort of looking forward to it. I-I've actually never gotten to have one before."
"Really?" Sam grinned.

"Gonna tell the whole Internet?" Freddie asked, rolling his eyes.

"Not this time," Sam said. "Especially since I haven't had one either."
"Seriously?"

Sam nodded.

"Thirty seconds!" Spencer announced.

"You know…" Sam began slowly. "Everybody else at this party has someone to kiss at midnight. And-And it is supposed to be a huge tradition. And we've both never-"

"Are you saying we should kiss?" Freddie cut her off, smirking.

"Don't make me break your arm," Sam chuckled, playfully swatting him. "But, um…I mean we're both just gonna be sitting here while everybody else does it."
"Twenty seconds!"
"Hmm," Freddie said thoughtfully. "I guess it would be rude if we just sat here and watched."
"Fifteen seconds!"

"Exactly!" Sam said. "And it's supposed to be good luck apparently. And we graduate this year; I'm gonna need all the luck I can get out in the real world!"

"Ten seconds!"

"Excellent point…" Freddie nodded. "So, um, are we-are we agreed then? We-We're really going to do this?"

"Why not?" Sam said. "It's just one kiss."
"Just one kiss," Freddie echoed. "Right."
"Five!" the room began to count down. "Four! Three! Two! One!"

And from outside the apartment fireworks erupted and the entire room cheered as they leaned in and kissed the person they were with.

Sam looked at Freddie who promptly leaned in, pressing his lips to hers.

Neither was aware of how long they stayed that way, but when they pulled apart, both were gasping for breath.

Freddie smiled at her. "Happy New Year, Princess Puckett."
"Happy New Year, nub," Sam smiled back. She looked down at her lap, clearing her throat. "So, um…that's it then. Just one kiss…good work."
"You too," Freddie nodded, clenching his hands together. He waited for a moment. "You know, we could go for two…"

"Two works," Sam said at once, leaning back in as Freddie wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer.