Wade
"Why is this happening to me?" Sam moaned as she flopped down on the Shay's couch.
"Um, rough day?" Spencer frowned, looking up from the sculpture he was working on.
"No," Carly said, closing the front door behind her and hanging up her coat. "Sam's just being dramatic."
"I am not being dramatic!" Sam snapped.
"How many times do I have to tell you, this isn't a big deal," Carly said, rolling her eyes. "If anything, you should be excited! I would be."
"Excited?" Sam scoffed. "That would be like getting excited for a root canal."
"Wait, what's going on?" Spencer asked.
"Sam's upset because Melanie's coming home to visit for a few days tomorrow," Carly explained.
"What's wrong with that?" Spencer asked. "Shouldn't you be happy to see you sister?"
"Thank you!" Carly nodded. "That's what I've been telling her."
"And I've been telling you that having her home is like living with a dolled up daffodil that just wants to hug you and giggle stay up all night gossiping," Sam shuddered. "It's the worst."
"Come on, you love each other," Carly said. "You know, deep down."
"That doesn't mean I have to be thrilled about dealing with her," Sam mumbled.
"It won't be so bad," Carly said. "Especially if Freddie and I are with you guys-"
"No way," Sam said at once. "I am not telling Freddie she's coming."
"Why not?" Carly asked. "You can't tell me your sister isn't dying to meet your boyfriend."
"She did meet him," Sam reminded her. "And she kissed him. Remember?"
"Oh, but-but that was years ago," Carly said. "And she told you after that she didn't like him like that and that during their entire 'date' he was convinced that she was you anyway! And as far as he knows now, she doesn't even exist."
"Exactly," Sam said. "Freddie thinks she was just some prank. Why ruin that?"
"Don't you think eventually Freddie is going to have to find out you have a twin?" Carly said, rolling her eyes.
"Not if nobody says anything," Sam shrugged.
"I once dated a twin," Spencer spoke up. "It was great."
"Yes…thank you for that relevant input," Carly said, shaking her head at her brother. She turned back to Sam. "Sam, you and Freddie have been together over a year. Don't you think your relationship is kind of serious?"
"Yeah," Sam nodded. "But-"
"Do you not see yourself having some sort of future with Freddie?" Carly continued.
"I-Maybe," Sam said lamely.
"Well then Melanie's going to meet him eat some point!" Carly said. "Wouldn't it be better if it was now rather than later?"
Sam took a deep breath as she got up and looked her best friend in the eye. "I say later."
"But-But why-That makes no sense!" Carly sputtered as Sam walked into the kitchen to the fridge. "What if Freddie had an identical twin? Wouldn't you want to know about him?"
"Freddie doesn't have the skill to keep something like that from me," Sam scoffed. "Look, I get it. One day I'll probably have to tell Freddie about Melanie, but for now I just don't want to have to worry about it."
"I-Fine," Carly finally conceded, knowing she wasn't going to get anywhere by pressing the issue with her stubborn friend. "What time does Melanie get in tomorrow anyway?"
"Six," Sam mumbled. "And then my mom's making us go out for a family dinner afterwards."
"Well maybe that will be nice," Carly said.
"And maybe Spencer will finally land a date with the stock girl from the Pottery Barrel," Sam smirked.
"Why'd that sound so sarcastic?" Spencer frowned. "I'll have you know I said hi to her last week!"
Just then the front door opened and Freddie walked in.
"Hey," he said pleasantly.
"Hey!" Sam said, thrilled for a reason to change the subject.
"Guess what?" Freddie said to Sam as he walked over to her, giving her a quick kiss. "I just made us reservations at that new Indian place you've been dying to try."
"Really?" Sam said. "I thought you said you were afraid to try Indian food."
"Yeah, but I know you really wanted to go, so I thought I'd give it a try," Freddie shrugged.
"Aw, baby, that's so sweet," Sam grinned. "Look at you expanding your food horizons."
"Only for you," Freddie chuckled.
"So what time are we going?" Sam asked.
"Well, I couldn't get a table for tonight," Freddie explained. "So the reservations are for tomorrow night. I'll pick you up around six?"
Sam's smile faltered. "Tomorrow at six?"
"Huh…" Carly said. "Would you look at that?"
"Look at what?" Freddie asked, confused.
"Nothing!" Sam snapped, glaring at her best friend. "But, um, it's just…I-I can't make it then. I-I have this thing then and-and well, I-I just have to do something."
"Oh," Freddie said, still looking confused. "Well, um…that's fine, I guess. We can just go some other time. It's no big deal. What thing do you have to do?"
"Just-Just…my homework," Sam said lamely.
"Your homework?" Freddie repeated.
"I do it occasionally!" Sam defended.
"Well…alright then," Freddie said slowly. "I mean I'd hate to discourage you from doing your homework for once."
"I'm sorry, Fredbag," Sam said, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Nah, don't worry about it," Freddie said. "Let me just go and cancel the reservations then. I'll be back in a sec."
Sam waited until Freddie had retreated back across the hall before letting out a loud moan. "Man! Melanie's already wrecking stuff before she even gets here!"
"I can't believe homework was the best excuse you could come up with," Spencer said. "Aren't you some world class liar?"
"She can't lie to Freddie," Carly smirked triumphantly. "It's her one weakness."
"Watch it, Shay," Sam snapped.
"I still don't know how you expect Freddie not to find out about Melanie while she's down here," Carly said. "What? Are you just gonna use lame excuses like homework over and over?"
"Maybe!" Sam said. "You're not going to tell Freddie…are you?"
"Of course not," Carly said. "Not if you don't want me to. But I just-"
"Then let's just drop it," Sam said firmly.
…
"It's so good to be back here with you and mom!" Melanie said, beaming as she set her bag down in Sam's room. "Can you believe me and you used to share this place? I forgot how small it is."
"Well if you want, you can sleep down on the couch," Sam said, rolling her eyes.
"No, that's okay," Melanie replied. "This will just make the bonding experience even better. I mean it's been ages since we've seen each other in person. We have so much to catch up on. Hey, I know! Why don't we stay up late tonight, watch a movie and eat cookie dough like a sleepover while we talk!"
"That sounds…fun," Sam said through gritted teeth.
"Oh! And how is Carly?" Melanie asked, sitting down on the camping bed that had been set up in Sam's room. "I can't wait to see her again."
"She's good," Sam said. "Her usual Carly self."
"And what about Freddie?" Melanie brined. "You know, your boyfriend?"
"Freddie's fine," Sam said simply.
"It's so crazy," Melanie continued. "Last time I was here, all you'd do is insult him and prank him, and now you've been with him for a whole year! That's so great, Sam!"
"Yeah, well…"
"I can't wait to see him too," Melanie went on.
"Actually, Freddie's kind of busy this week," Sam said quickly. "He's busy with this huge school project. So, um, you-you might not get a chance to see him."
"Aw, that's too bad," Melanie said. "I was looking forward to seeing him again."
"Yeah, I bet you were," Sam mumbled.
Melanie frowned. "Wait…are you still upset about the date me and Freddie went on last time I was here? Because I told you Sam, Freddie was not into me. And I'm not into him. I thought he was cute for about ten seconds and then I realized he wasn't for me."
"I'm not still upset about that," Sam scoffed. "That was years ago. What kind of person would still be upset about that?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!" Sam snapped. "But seriously, um, Freddie does have that project this week, so-so I really wouldn't count on seeing him."
"Um, okay," Melanie said. "Well be sure to tell him I said hey."
"I will," Sam nodded.
"Speaking of boys, though," Melanie said. "I've got to say, these Seattle guys I've been seeing are way cuter than the boys back in Vermont. I'm thinking about maybe talking to some of them tomorrow."
"Why?" Sam asked. "You're leaving in four days."
"That doesn't mean I can't go on a few dates," Melanie shrugged. "Hey, maybe if Freddie decides to take a break on his project, we can all go on a double date."
"I highly doubt that's gonna happen," Sam said.
Just then her phone began to ring, and she looked down to see Freddie's name flashing across the screen.
"Um, hang on, I'll be right back," Sam said, hurrying out of the room.
Once she was safely in the hallway, Sam pressed the phone to her ear. "Hey," she answered.
"Hey," Freddie replied on the other line. "I just wanted to call and see how the homework was going."
"Oh, um, it-it's going good," Sam said.
"Well, I'm glad," Freddie said. "It's nice to see you take an interest in your schoolwork for a change. Still…I've missed you today, though."
"I missed you too," Sam said softly, leaning against the wall.
"Well…if you're up for a study break, I could swing by," Freddie offered. "I'll even bring smoothies."
"Um, actually baby, I-I'm kind of beat right now," Sam lied. "You know, from all the homework. I was actually just gonna go to bed."
"Oh," Freddie said. "Oh, um…well okay."
"But you wanna get lunch or something tomorrow?" Sam asked, hating hearing the disappointment in her boyfriend's voice.
"Yeah, lunch sounds good," Freddie said. "El Guapo Taco at one?"
"It's a date," Sam grinned. "I'll see you then. Love you, nub."
"Love you too, demon," Freddie chuckled.
…
"I always like how the guacamole tastes with Mountain Fizz," Sam commented, taking a bite of her nachos and washing it down with a swig from Freddie's soda the next day.
"You have some taste buds," Freddie chuckled.
"So what did you do all day yesterday?" Sam asked, continuing into her nachos.
"Eh, just hung around," Freddie said. "Played a little War of Warlords with Spencer and Gibby, talked my mom out of installing a new disinfectant mister…the usual."
"What happened to her first disinfectant mister?" Sam asked.
"You shoved a butter knife in it."
"Ah, right," Sam nodded. Just then her phone buzzed, signaling she got a text. She looked down and saw it was from Melanie.
Mom wants you home so we can take a family picture. She's already changed into her fancy bikini.
"Well, I'm gonna go get a refill, since somebody decided to finish this," Freddie said, getting to his feet and grabbing his cup. "Want me to get you another Peppy Cola?"
"Um, actually, I have to get going," Sam said, standing up as well. "Um, my-my mom just texted me. We're going to go visit my cousin Chaz down at the prison."
"Oh, well I can walk you home," Freddie said.
"No!" Sam said, a little too quickly.
Freddie frowned. "You-You okay there?"
"Yeah," Sam said. "It's just…you know my mom. Whenever she sees you she just tries to milk Pear Store discounts out of you, even though I've told her you haven't worked there since last year."
"I don't mind," Freddie said. "It makes up for all the times my mom tries to check you for ticks."
"No, really, it's fine," Sam said, stuffing the last of her nachos in her mouth. "You still have half you quesadilla left."
She leaned down and gave him a short kiss. "I'll call you later."
"But-" Freddie started, but Sam was already hurrying out the door.
…
"-So then I told the health inspector that he should try washing his hands after every time he takes out the trash," T-Bo told Freddie the next day as the teen sat alone at a table in the Groovy Smoothie. "So he could see how inconvenient it is. And do you want to know what that wazbag did?"
"Gave you a D plus inspection rating?" Freddie guessed boredly.
"Yeah!" T-Bo exclaimed, outraged. "Isn't that insane?"
"Sure," Freddie mumbled, sipping his smoothie. "Real insane."
"Hey, why are you so gloomy?" T-Bo asked. "Your moping is bad for business!"
"Sorry," Freddie shrugged. "It's just…never mind."
"Oh no," T-Bo said. "You can't just dangle something like that in front of me and then not tell me!"
"Don't you have smoothies to make or something?"
"Right!" T-Bo nodded. "Good call, Freddie Benson."
As T-Bo retreated back behind the counter, Freddie, rested his chin in his hand. He supposed he did appear gloomy, but he felt he earned the right. Maybe he was just reading to far into things, but these past few days, Sam had been acting very…strange towards him. He had barely seen her at all, and when he would ask her to hang out, she'd come up with one bizarre excuse after another. That morning, when he had asked her if she wanted to grab a donut with him at Amazing Glaze, she had blown him off, claiming she wasn't feeling well. But when he offered to go by and bring her soup instead, she insisted against it.
Did I do something to make her mad? Freddie thought to himself miserably. I don't think so…but what other reason would there be for why she's suddenly avoiding me? I mean…I know we've never been one of those couples that spends every second together, but she's been distant lately, even for us.
He sighed as he took another sip of his Strawberry Splat, hearing the bell on the door behind him ding as it opened.
Maybe I should try talking to her…maybe this all really is nothing. Maybe she'll tell me I'm crazy and-
He nearly gagged on his smoothie. For just then, across the restaurant, a couple sat down at an empty table.
Only that wasn't any couple. That couple had Sam in it!
Freddie's eyes widened as he continued to stare, determined to realize that he had made a mistake; that the blonde girl who was sitting at the table, laughing as she touched the shoulder of some guy he hadn't even seen before wasn't his girlfriend. But there was no denying it…that girl was definitely Sam.
Okay…Freddie told himself, trying to stay calm. This-This doesn't have to be what it looks like. Maybe…maybe that's her cousin! I-I haven't met all of them!
But just then Sam flirtatiously flipped her hair over her shoulder and leaned closer to the boy and took his hand in hers.
That-That's not how you act with your cousin…Freddie told himself, feeling his heat beating out of his chest. That's-That's how you act when you're on-when you're on a-No…No, this-this can't be right. Sam wouldn't be on a date with this guy. She-She's dating me. She…unless…unless that's why she's been acting so weird lately! Oh my God…that makes perfect sense! She doesn't want me coming over to her place, she barely even talks to me for days…she-she's cheating on me.
Freddie felt a numbing pain course through his body as this realization dawned on him. Never, not in a million years, would he have suspected Sam of cheating on him. He trusted her one hundred percent! He loved her, and he had thought she loved him too. But there was no denying what he was seeing with his own two eyes in front of him.
For one crazy moment, Freddie thought about storming across the restaurant to Sam's table and shoving that guy away from her, but just then, the boy leaned closer to Sam and gently pressed his lips to hers, and that was all Freddie needed to make himself feel absolutely nauseous. So quickly, before Sam could spot him, Freddie hurried out of the Groovy Smoothie, feeling a strange mixture of anger and sadness that he had never experienced before.
…..
"I can't believe you!" Carly yelled angrily at Spencer as the two siblings entered their apartment. "How do you get banned from the pool? Do you want to have any place in Seattle left to go?"
"Well I didn't know you couldn't do cannon balls in the wading pool!" Spencer defended. "There was no sign!"
"Well they assumed any sane person would realize you can't when there's only three feet of water in the pool!" Carly snapped.
"Well whose fault is that?"
"It still amazes me how you're in charge of me," Carly said, shaking her head just as her phone began to ring. She looked down at the screen. "Oh, it's Sam." She pressed the phone to her ear. "Hey, Sam. What's up?"
"I finally shook Melanie off," Sam said happily on the other line.
"What do you mean?" Carly asked.
"When we were at the clinic with our mom this morning, she met some cute guy in the coffee shop parking lot across the street," Sam explained. "So she's on a date with him right now."
"Why's she on a date?" Carly asked. "She's leaving for Vermont in two days."
"Because it's Melanie," Sam said simply. "She feels the day is wasted if she doesn't flirt with at least one guy. Anyway, I was thinking me, you and Fredbag could all hang out and do something until I have to get dinner with her later. I kind of feel bad; I've been sort of ditching Freddie lately with more lame excuses, so let's do something he likes. We can go to that arcade he loves or something."
"Yeah, that sounds fun," Carly nodded. "Want me to go see if he's home or are you going to call him?"
"You get him," Sam said. "My phone's about to die. I wasted all my battery playing that game with the bird while I was waiting for my mom this morning."
"Alright," Carly chuckled. "I'll see you in a few then."
As she hung up, she turned back to her brother. "You're in luck. I can't yell at you anymore. I'm going to the arcade with Sam and Freddie."
"Oh! Can I come?" Spencer asked. "I haven't played Pac-Rat in almost a year!"
"Sure," Carly sighed. "I guess since it's one of the few places in Seattle you're allowed to go."
"Sweet!" Spencer cheered. "Let me just change my pants."
Once Spencer retreated back to his room, the Shay's door suddenly opened again, and Freddie stormed in.
"Oh, hey Freddie," Carly said. "I was just about to go across the hall and get you. Sam's on her way over, and when she gets here, we were all going to go to the-"
"Sam's cheating on me!" Freddie blurted out.
Carly's jaw dropped. "She's what?"
"Cheating on me," Freddie repeated. "Yeah, that's right."
"I-Okay, there-there has to be some mistake," Carly said. "Sam-Sam wouldn't cheat on you. She loves you!"
"That's what I thought too," Freddie scoffed.
"Are-Are you positive?" Carly frowned. "I mean maybe you made a mistake."
"I wish I did," Freddie sighed. "But I saw what I saw. I was just down at the Groovy Smoothie and Sam came in with this new guy and they were talking and laughing and then-then there was kissing…I-I wouldn't ever think Sam would do this to me either, but there she was-"
"Wait," Carly said slowly. "You-You saw her just now?"
"Yes," Freddie nodded. "She was definitely on a date."
"Ohhhh…." Carly said, realizing what had happened.
"What do you mean ohhhhh?" Freddie snapped. "This is not an ohhhhh moment!"
"Um, Freddie, I-I can't really say too much," Carly said lamely. "But-But just know…Sam isn't cheating on you."
"What do you-yes, she is!" Freddie exclaimed. "Why else would she be smacking lips with some other guy?"
"Because it isn't-ugh!" Carly moaned.
"What aren't you telling me?" Freddie frowned. "I-I know Sam's your best friend, but don't you think-"
Just then the front door opened again and Sam herself walked in.
"Oh good," she said, spotting Freddie. "You're here. You ready to-"
"Sam, don't try to act like nothing's happening," Freddie said firmly, crossing his arms over his chest. "I saw you."
Sam gave him a strange look. "Ummm….what?"
"That's right!" Freddie said angrily. "With my own two eyes!"
"Um, Sam?" Carly chimed in. "You-You know that thing you didn't want Freddie to find out about? Well, um, you-you might have to tell him now because he-"
"What are you talking about?" Freddie cried, turning to Carly. "Are you saying you knew she was cheating on me?"
"Cheating on you?" Sam sputtered. "What-What are you-I'm not cheating on you!"
"Really?" Freddie scoffed. "So you just kiss random guys for fun now?"
"I didn't kiss anybody!" Sam snapped.
"Yes you did!" Freddie argued. "What part of I saw you are you not getting? I can't believe you, Sam! I-I thought we were in love! How could you do this to me?"
"Do what?" Sam retorted. "I didn't do…ohhhhh."
She looked over at Carly. "So he-"
"Uh-huh," Carly nodded.
"Okay, what is happening?" Freddie demanded. "What is with all the ohhhhs?"
"Freddie," Sam said seriously, reaching out for his hand. "I'm not cheating on you."
"Then how do you explain-"
"Just come with me," Sam said, leading him towards the door.
"I don't want to-"
"Freddie," Carly said. "Listen to her. You'll be glad you did."
"I-Fine," Freddie finally conceded. "But-But I know what I saw."
"I know you do," Sam sighed. "Just…come on."
…..
"Why are we here?" Freddie snapped as Sam finally let go of his hand a few moments later as they stood outside of the Groovy Smoothie.
"Because," Sam said simply. "You'll see. Come on."
"We're going inside?" Freddie frowned.
"Yes," Sam nodded.
"Why? So I can meet the guy?" Freddie exclaimed. "No way! Why would I want to meet the guy who ruined my life and stole my girlfriend?"
"Will you shut up for two seconds and just come in?" Sam said, rolling her eyes as she grabbed his arm again, yanking him into the restaurant.
"Sam, this isn't funny!" Freddie said as he stumbled through the door. "I don't want to-"
His sentence fell flat, though, as he stared across the restaurant at the same table that had almost given him a heat attack earlier.
Sam and the boy were still there, laughing happily together. But…how could that be Sam? Sam was right next to him…Yet that girl at the table was definitely her…
"What-I don't understand…huh?" Freddie said, looking back and forth between the two girls hopelessly.
Sam sighed. "Freddie, you remember my twin sister, Melanie."
"Melanie?" Freddie repeated. "You-Your twin? Your-You have-She's real?"
"Uh-huh," Sam nodded. "She's been in town for the past few days, but-but I didn't exactly want you two to meet. Of course now I don't really have a choice so…hey, Mel!"
Melanie turned around, spotting Sam and Freddie by the entrance.
"Hey!" Melanie beamed, hopping to her feet and hurrying over. "You brought Freddie!"
"That's right," Sam said heavily. "Um…I guess it's time you two officially met. Freddie, this is my real, not fake, twin sister, Melanie. Melanie, this is my boyfriend, Freddie, who sort of thought you weren't real until today."
"I-Um…hi?" Freddie said weakly, still utterly confused and shell-shocked.
"What do you mean he didn't think I was-" Melanie started.
"Hey, don't leave your date lonely over there for too long!" Sam said quickly. "Go back to him!"
"Um, well, okay," Melanie nodded. "But since it looks like Freddie's finally done with that project of his, how about you guys come and get dinner with Max and me tonight?"
"Sure," Sam groaned. "As long as you pay."
"Yay!" Melanie cheered excitedly. "This is going to be so much fun! I'll go tell Max!"
"Okay…I-I feel like I just got hit over the head with a hammer," Freddie said as Melanie hurried back to her date. "So…So-"
"That wasn't me you saw," Sam told him. "It was Melanie."
"Oh," Freddie said, blinking. "So-So you're not cheating on me then…"
"Of course I'm not!" Sam said, thumping the back of his head.
"I-I'm sorry," Freddie said. "You know, about-about blowing up on you before then. It's just…I didn't know…I-I wasn't expecting-"
"It's okay," Sam told him, giving him a small smile. "It was a pretty honest mistake. I mean, we are identical."
"But…why'd you let me think she was fake all these years?" Freddie asked.
Sam shrugged. "I guess…I guess I was a little jealous about the fact that you two did go on that date that one time. I mean…you see how flirty Melanie can be. She's ten times worse than Carly! I guess…I guess I was just afraid that if you found out she was real, you'd start to like her more than me."
"Aw, Sam, that's ridiculous," Freddie told her. "There's no one in the world who I like more than you. I love you."
"I know," Sam said. "It was stupid."
"Nah…don't say that," Freddie said, putting an arm around. "Actually…in a weird way, it's kind of cute that you were so jealous that you tried to hide the existence of your own sister. You know…a really weird way."
"Yeah, well, you know upstairs, when you were all jealous," Sam smirked. "I've got to say…you looked kind of hot. It was kind of sexy."
"Really?" Freddie grinned.
"Really," Sam nodded. "Hey…we still have time before we have to endure the most annoying double date of our life. Wanna go find some way to entertain ourselves until then?"
"Absolutely," Freddie nodded.
