AN- This chapter is a sequel to chapter 618, where Sam and Freddie get locked in a Pottery Barrel together. Enjoy!
….
Witness
"Hey, hey," Freddie said, letting himself into Sam and Carly's shared apartment. "What goes on?"
"Freddie!" Carly smiled, looking up from the salad she was eating at the kitchen table. "What are you doing here? It's a Monday, I figured you'd be at work until midnight."
"Well…I-I actually had a real heart-to-heart conversation with Sam about that, believe it or not," Freddie said. "And she actually convinced me that-that I really needed to slow down at work. I mean she was totally right; I've been blowing you guys off to spend hours and hours at my office and you know what? Enough is enough. So tonight, I'm not pulling any overtime. I was thinking the three of us could catch up with a movie and pizza or something."
"Oh, Freddie, I-I wish I could," Carly sighed. "But I-I sort of made plans for tonight. I have a date with a guy from work."
"Oh," Freddie said, his face falling. "Well…okay, that-that's cool. It's my fault. I should've called instead of just assuming you'd be free."
"Well, maybe you and Sam can do something," Carly suggested. "She gets home from work soon. I don't think she has any plans."
"Yeah, I-I guess that could work," Freddie nodded. "We did have a pretty good time last weekend when we were trapped in that Pottery Barrel."
"I still can't believe that happened to you guys," Carly chuckled. "But listen, maybe this Friday we can all hang out."
"Yeah, I think I can do that," Freddie smiled.
"Great," Carly said. "Anyway, I've got to run. I'm meeting this guy at some sushi restaurant on the other side of Seattle. Have fun tonight! And who knows; if this date is a dud, I might be back here pretty soon."
"Well…as much as I'd like to wish you good luck, that would be nice," Freddie laughed. "But seriously, have a good time."
"Thanks, I'll see you later," Carly said, grabbing her purse and headed out the door.
Freddie headed into the living room and sat down on the couch. He hoped Sam would be home soon. It had been so long since his Monday evenings had consisted of anything more than staring at a computer screen until three A.M. He was really looking forward to this. Maybe getting locked in a giant store filled with throw pillows and tablecloths with Sam that past weekend was just the wake up call he needed.
Suddenly he heard the front door open and Sam came into the apartment carrying a large bag with her.
"Hey," Freddie said, jumping up to help her.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Sam asked as she dropped everything in her arms onto the kitchen table. "Don't you have work?"
"My day ended at five," Freddie replied. "So I stayed until five-thirty to finish up the last of my work and then I decided to call it a day. I was thinking about what you said when we were trapped in that Pottery Barrel and…you were right. I-I have been letting this job run my life. And I told you I was going to work on it, so here I am! I know Carly has a date, but maybe you and I can still hang and-"
"Wow, nub, way to go," Sam said, rolling her eyes.
"What?"
"You decide to take my advice and drop your work for once on the exact day when I'm buried in stuff," Sam said. "You know how much I have to do tonight?"
"You have work from the restaurant?" Freddie frowned. "That's a thing?"
"Yes," Sam snapped. "My boss wants me to put together a new menu for this business function that's being held there tomorrow. I have to go through a million recipes and figure out what's good and what's not. I'm probably going to be up all night."
"Oh," Freddie said, trying not to look too disappointed. "Well…I guess that's karma coming back around for me. I'll just let you work in peace and-"
"Hold on, wait a second," Sam said. "Have you eaten?"
"Huh? No."
"Well good, then you're gonna help me sample these new recipes so I can see if they're any good," Sam said.
"You want my help?"
"Well you know me, I think anything's edible as long as there's enough barbecue sauce," Sam said. "But if it pasts your picky tastes then it must be a real winner…"
Freddie laughed. "Okay. Sounds like a plan to me. What are you going to be making?"
"Um…three types of salads, this new soup, a few chicken dishes, some fancy fish thing and steak," Sam replied. "So get ready for a long night."
"Your boss is seriously making you put together this whole menu by yourself?" Freddie frowned as Sam began going through the bags she had brought up with her for ingredients. "That's a lot of cooking for one person."
"I know," Sam said. "I don't know why I agreed to it…I guess hanging around with you last weekend rubbed off on me. But hey, if I do this right, I can probably get back into his good book. I kind of made him upset the other day when I accidently set his hat on fire."
"You set his hat on fire?" Freddie repeated. "What, you taking lessons from Spencer now?"
"It was his own fault," Sam said, rolling her eyes. "He left it right next to the stove I was working at. Okay…these salads look pretty easy. We've got a simple Ceaser, a blue cheese wedge one and an almond vinaigrette…"
"Those all sound nice," Freddie commented. "Need any help making them?"
"Yeah, no offense or anything, but everything you cook kind of tastes…bad," Sam said slowly. "It's not your fault; you grew up not knowing what real food tastes like."
"Hey! You've eaten food I've made you before!" Freddie defended. "Remember that time I made you cupcakes when we were dating in high school?"
"Alright," Sam sighed. "I was never going to tell you this, but…I used those cupcakes as ammo for the soccer team."
"You threw the cupcakes I spent a whole day making you at soccer players?" Freddie exclaimed.
"Well…I-I was going to eat them," Sam said as she began preparing the salad. "Honest. But, um, the sugar substitute you used kind of made them taste like chalk. Carly even said so."
"They did?" Freddie sighed. "Oh…sorry."
"Hey, that was like, six years ago," Sam said quickly. "Don't beat yourself up. And I did lick all the frosting off; that was good! Besides, it was still nice of you."
"Well maybe my lack of dates lately is because of my lousy baking then," Freddie chuckled.
"Nah, I can list a ton of different reasons for that other than your baking," Sam smirked.
"Thanks," Freddie said, rolling his eyes.
"Okay," Sam said. "The salads are done!"
"All three of them?" Freddie said, impressed. "Whoa, that was fast. That was like, five minutes!"
"Well, you work in a restaurant with a million customers a night, you gotta learn to be quick or you'll drown," Sam shrugged, setting the bowls in front of him. "Alright, taste them and tell me which ones are more appropriate for a business dinner. I have to pick two for the menu."
"What sort of business dinner is it?" Freddie asked, tasting the first salad.
"I don't know," Sam said. "All I know is there's gonna be people in suits showing up at the place around six tomorrow. So come on, help me out. You've probably been to a lot of things like this; which ones would you find there?"
"I'm usually too busy trying to keep my eyes open during all the boring dinner conversation to pay attention to the food," Freddie said, taking a bite of the last salad. "But…well, all of them are delicious, but I like the first and second the best."
"Alright cool," Sam said, scribbling something down on a notepad. "Now I'll start the soup to have going while I start seasoning the chicken. Finish off those salads too. I need the space."
"All of them?" Freddie said.
"Well I told you that you were gonna have to eat a lot," Sam smiled. "Come on, just do what I do when I'm starting to get full during a big meal-"
"You can get full?"
"Watch it," Sam snapped, thumping the back of his head. "But just drink a lot of water and don't think about your stomach filling up. Just pretend it's an empty hole."
"Oh, is that your secret to managing to eat over a hundred wings?" Freddie asked.
"Yes it is," Sam said proudly. "And if you ever reveal it to anybody, I'll have you in a headlock so fast…"
….
"Okay," Freddie announced, pushing away his final desert plate. "I think I'm officially stuffed. No amount of pretending my stomach is some empty hole is going to make be able to put another crumb in my mouth."
"Well, that was the last of it," Sam said. "I finally figured out what to do for this menu thanks to you. Way to go, Benson. You were finally useful."
"I still can't believe how fast you got all that cooked," Freddie said, looking at his watch. "You must've made a dozen dishes in only three hours."
"I told you, working at a restaurant like mine forces you to be quick," Sam said. "But, you know, I think I did beat my personal record. I thought this would take longer. But hey, now we have the rest of the night! Wanna go get ice cream?"
"Um, would you like me to explode?" Freddie said.
"Well…"
"Never mind!"
"Come on, let's go get some coffee or something then," Sam said, taking a piece of chicken and popping it into her mouth. "That might help your stomach."
"You think?" Freddie said.
"Do I know food?"
"Well considering how good everything I just gorged myself on way, I'd say yes," Freddie chuckled, slowly getting to his feet. "But you're gonna have to drive. I don't think I can lift my hands long enough right know to use the steering wheel."
"Amateur," Sam said, rolling her eyes as she grabbed her car keys. "Well let's move then."
Once they got to Sam's car, the two drove to the small coffee shop about ten minutes from the apartment building.
"What kind of coffee am I supposed to drink?" Freddie asked as he sat down at an empty table.
"Black," Sam said. "No cream, no sugar."
"But that's gonna taste so icky," Freddie frowned.
"Man up," Sam said. "Do you want to have room for the donuts we're gonna get later or not?"
"We're getting donuts?"
"Did I not mention that?" Sam said simply. "Whoops. Hang on, I'll go grab our dinks."
As Sam went up to the counter, Freddie couldn't help but smile. Even if his stomach did feel close to bursting, this was definitely the most fun he had had in a while. Who knew getting locked in a Pottery Barn with Sam last weekend would be the best thing to ever happen to him. If she hadn't made him realize how much he was missing, who knew if he ever would've slowed down.
"Here," Sam said, returning with his coffee.
"Thanks," Freddie said, reaching for his wallet.
"Eh, keep it," Sam told him. "You helped me out with that menu thing."
"Trust me, that was entirely my pleasure," Freddie said, forcing the dollar bills into her hand. "Take it."
Sam gave him a small smile as she stuffed the money into her pocket.
"So…you're really gonna start cutting back on work?"
"I'm going to try," Freddie nodded. "I-I figure there are going to be some nights when I have to stay late, but that shouldn't be every night."
"No," Sam agreed, sipping her own drink.
"But anyway…what should we do for the rest of the night?" Freddie asked. "We could go see a movie. I hear there's a pretty good one about a guy in the witness protection program who-"
"Aw man!" Sam moaned suddenly, looking down at the table.
"What?" Freddie frowned. "Did you see that one already or-"
"No," Sam said softly. "You-You see that guy that just walked in? With the red sweatshirt?"
"Yeah…"
"Well I've kind of been trying to avoid him," Sam mumbled.
"Why?" Freddie asked slowly. "What'd you do to him?"
"Nothing!" Sam hissed. "He-He's this regular at the restaurant and he's been bugging me for ages trying to go out with me. Some stupid waitress even gave him my number and he keeps texting me to hang out…I've told him no a million times, but he can't get it through his head! Come on, let's leave before he sees me and-"
"Sam!" the man said, spotting Sam just as she was about to get up from the table. "Whoa! What are the odds running into you here?"
"I was just asking myself the same thing," Sam said, rolling her eyes.
"Wow, you look super hot tonight," the man grinned. "Hey, since you're all dressed up, why don't you and I hit the bar next door?"
"Dude, I've told you a million times," Sam snapped. "I'm not interested in going out with you! So leave me alone!"
"Oh come on," the man grinned. "Why won't you at least have one drink with me? What could it hurt?"
"I'll hurt you if you don't get out of here," Sam said simply.
"Just give me one good reason you won't go out with me," the man said. "You're a pretty girl…I can't just give up without a fight."
"Um, she doesn't want to go out with me because she's dating me," Freddie said as Sam opened her mouth.
"You?" the man scoffed.
"Yeah," Freddie said, putting his arm around Sam. "Right, baby?"
"Um, yeah," Sam said quickly, picking up on what he was doing. "This is Freddie. My boyfriend."
"You've never mentioned a boyfriend," the man said suspiciously.
"Well we don't like to flaunt our love around," Freddie said. "It tends to make other people jealous."
"How long have you been dating?" the man frowned.
"A year," the two replied simultaneously.
"A whole year?"
"That's right," Sam said, taking Freddie's hand. "We're totally in love. So unless you'd like me and my boyfriend to kick your butt, I suggest you get out of here and stop bugging me to go out with you."
"You-You're lying," the man said. "You're not with this loser, Sam."
"I'm not?" Sam said. "Well, would I do this if I wasn't with him?"
She leaned over and before Freddie even knew what was happening, she was kissing him. After he recovered from the shock, Freddie quickly responded, kissing her back.
After a moment, the two pulled apart, both staring at one another.
"Fine!" the man said, bringing Sam and Freddie's attentions back to reality. "You-You win. I'll leave you alone, Sam! But you ever dump this moron, give me a-"
"Yeah, not happening," Sam said, rolling her eyes. "Now leave!"
The man hurried out of the coffee shop, and Sam turned back to Freddie.
"Dude! You're a genius!" Sam exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. "That was brilliant!"
"Yeah, well," Freddie chuckled. "I did graduate top of our class. Hopefully that jerk will leave you alone now."
"Hopefully," Sam nodded. "He's harmless, but he's just obnoxious. Oh, um, sorry about, you know, kissing you an everything back there…I was just-"
"It's cool," Freddie said. "I mean…we've done it before."
"Yeah," Sam smiled. "Guess you're right. Though…it was six years ago."
"Well was it any different?"
"No, actually, you kept your technique the same," Sam said.
"Is that a good thing?"
"Maybe," Sam replied, her eyes sparkling. She stood up from the table. "Alright, well, um, let's get out of here."
"Where do you want to go?"
"Maybe the Pottery Barrel…"
"Funny," Freddie said, rolling his eyes. "I told you; I'm never stepping foot in that store again. I know…there's a mini golf course not far from here. What do you say you and I pick up some meatballs and go have some fun?"
"You're on, Benson," Sam laughed.
