Grass

"-And so then my professor didn't even check to see if anybody did the reading he assigned," Sam said, looking at her laptop screen, which she was using to web chat with her boyfriend, Freddie. "So that means I wasted about three hours of my life doing homework for nothing. So from now on-"

"Sam, just because the professor didn't check to see if you read, doesn't mean you shouldn't be reading," Freddie said knowingly. "If he assigns you something, it's obviously important to the class. Besides, your professor's probably assuming everybody's doing the readings, so when he makes your final exam, he's going to use information from them."

"Ugh, how can you still be this annoying from all the way across the country?" Sam moaned.

"The same way you can still be so cute all the way across the country," Freddie chuckled.

"Smooth," Sam smirked, rolling her eyes.

"Anyway," Freddie said. "You got any big weekend plans?"

"Nah, I was just gonna relax," Sam said. "Maybe do some more reading, even though it's totally pointless."

"Sounds great," Freddie smiled. "But aren't you gonna hang out with Carly?"

"I dunno, maybe we'll get lunch or something," Sam shrugged. "But she's been all busy with Dominick lately."

"Oh right, the new boyfriend," Freddie nodded. "I thought you said he was a cool guy."

"He is," Sam said. "I guess it's just weird seeing Carly in a serious relationship for once. I mean she's been with Dom for a whole month now. You know that's her record? She really likes him."

"Well good for her," Freddie said. "Hey, maybe if they're still together come Thanksgiving time the four of us can go out on a double date."

"Please, you think Carly already hasn't roped us into that?" Sam grinned. "We're not gonna have a choice."

"Right," Freddie laughed. "Oh, I need to run. The coffee stand across from my dorm is about to close, and I need more caffeine to finish up this coding project I'm doing."

"MIT closes its coffee stands at eight?" Sam frowned. "That's kind of early."

"Four hour time difference, baby," Freddie told her. "It's almost midnight here."

"Oh yeah," Sam nodded. "Well, I'll talk to you tomorrow. Love you."

"Love you, too," Freddie said.

Sam closed her laptop and grabbed a bag of chips. It was Friday night, and she figured she had earned the right to stay in and do absolutely nothing.

Just then her dorm door opened and Carly came in.

"Oh, hey!" Carly smiled, setting her bag down on her desk chair. "I thought you were web chatting with Freddie."

"We just finished," Sam sighed. "Man…I miss that nub."

"I know you do," Carly chuckled. "Hey, you doing anything tonight?"

"Nope," Sam said. "Why? What's up? I figured you be hanging with Dominick."

"We just got back from dinner," Carly said. "Now he's hanging out with a few of his guy friends. He invited me to join, but I thought it'd be nice for him to bond with his bros."

"Carly, please never say 'bro' again," Sam frowned.
"Yeah, that was weird," Carly agreed, sitting down on her bed. "But I was thinking the two of us could stay in and hang out. It will be just like our old sleepovers!"

"Hey, I'm down," Sam said. "It's been ages since we've done something like this."

"I know, I've been busy with Dom lately," Carly sighed.

"Don't worry about it, kid," Sam said. "You dealt with me dating Freddie all of last year. You know what? I'll even let you have a whole twenty minutes of gushing about how great he is without making any gagging noises!"

"Wow," Carly laughed. "Thanks. I kind of did want to talk about Dom. It's sort of serious though."

"What?" Sam frowned. "What'd he do? Do I need to hit him, Carls? Because I have the butter sock and-"

"No!" Carly said quickly. "No, he didn't do anything! That's not what I meant."

"Oh," Sam said. "Well good. Ugh, but now I really want to use my butter sock!"

"Sam…"

"But I won't," Sam assured Carly, rolling her eyes. "So what's up, kid?"

"Well, Dominick has been my longest relationship, you know?" Carly said. "And I really like him. He's sweet and funny and cute and totally romantic."

"Yeah, he's a cool guy," Sam nodded.

"And, um, it's just…I really like him," Carly continued. "Like, a lot."

"Yeah, I know," Sam chuckled. "You two always act all mushy around each other."

"Excuse me, I had to endure a whole year of walking in on you and Freddie making out in my house," Carly smirked. "I'll be as mushy as I want, thank you very much."

"Fine, fine," Sam said. "Go on."

"Anyway," Carly said. "I-I…I don't really know how to say this, but…I think I'm ready."

"Ready for…?"

"Ready for…you know," Carly mumbled, her face bright red.

"Oh!" Sam laughed. "Oh, you mean sex?"

"Keep your voice down!" Carly hissed.

"Okay first of all…who else is here?" Sam pointed out. "These walls aren't that thin. Second of all, you're in college, Carly. You're an adult! You're allowed to talk about sex."

"I know," Carly nodded. "I guess I'm still used to living with Spencer, where he'd practically collapse if I even mentioned holding a boy's hand."

"Fair," Sam said. "But holy chiz! So you think you and Dom are going to have sex?"

"Yeah, I think so," Carly said. "I mean we've been together for about a month, we've done plenty of other stuff, and, well, I really want my first time to be with someone like him."

"Well have you told Dom you're ready?" Sam asked.

"No," Carly said. "I-I sort of wanted to talk to you about this first. I have some…questions."

"Do you need me to explain the birds and the bees, Carly?" Sam joked.

"No," Carly said, rolling her eyes. "I know all that stuff. I paid attention in health class. But, um, apart from the, um, mechanics of everything, I'm kind of clueless. You and Freddie have had sex before…right?"

"Carls, that ship sailed a while ago," Sam smirked.

"Right," Carly nodded. "So…what-what was it like? You know, your first time?"

"What do you mean?" Sam frowned.

"I mean was it nice?" Carly asked. "Was it amazing and breathtaking like in the movies?"

"Oh," Sam said. "Oh God, no."

"Really?" Carly said, looking disappointed.

"Yeah, Carls, the people in the movies are actors," Sam said. "They're acting."

"So-So that's not what sex is like then?" Carly said. "I thought-"

"Well, okay, eventually, yeah, it gets there," Sam told her. "Trust me. But your first time? That's nothing like that. I mean with me and Freddie…You really want to hear this? I mean Freddie's your best guy friend."

"Eh, I have two months before I have to look him in the face again," Carly said. "And it's girl talk hour! So go ahead."

"Alright," Sam said. "Well…our first time was a few weeks after we got back together last year. And we had done all the important stuff; we talked about it, I got on the pill, all that. Anyway, one night when his mom was out of town I went to his place and we went to his room and got into bed, but, well, neither of us really knew what we were doing. We knew what was supposed to go where, but, um, it's a little more complicated than you would think. We had to stop a lot to try and make sure we were, um, doing everything right."

"Oh my God…" Carly said, trying to hold back a laugh.

"Hey, watch it, Shay!" Sam snapped.

"Sorry, sorry," Carly said quickly. "I'm sure we'll be just as clueless…I've never done it before, and neither has Dom. So go on…"

"Well, I mean, we obviously figured it out," Sam said. "But, um…just be aware, Carls, it-it's probably going to hurt for you a little."

"I've heard that," Carly said. "I was hoping it was just a myth."

"It's different for each person, I guess," Sam shrugged. "But for me, it was a little painful at first, which of course got Fredwad all freaked out. But after a few minutes I was fine and we…resumed."

"And then everything was amazing?"

"No!" Sam laughed. "I told you, it takes a while to get to amazing! Even after the pain went away it was still just kind of…eh."

"Eh?" Carly frowned. "Gee, never heard 'eh' as a way to describe sex."

"It was over kind of fast," Sam chuckled. "Don't tell Freddie I told you that, though."

"Ah…" Carly nodded thoughtfully.

"But hey, like I said, it gets so much better," Sam said. "Like, a hundred times better. Now I would definitely never use 'eh' to describe it. Especially when Freddie does this one thing where-"

"Okay, okay, officially too much detail!" Carly exclaimed.

"Prude," Sam chuckled.

"Alright, so…it just takes some time before you get to 'amazing,'" Carly said. "Good to know…Thanks, Sam."

"No prob," Sam said. "But, just so you know, your first time still is amazing."

"But you just said-"

"Yeah, the physical part takes practice," Sam said. "But…okay, this goes against everything I usually believe, but…the emotional part afterwards is the best."

"Emotional part?"

"Yeah," Sam said, her face going red. "After our first time Freddie and I just kind of like…cuddled and held each other. It was like we both really realized just how much we loved each other."

"Aw," Carly smiled. "That's so sweet."

"I know," Sam sighed. "It's nauseating…"

"I hope that me and Dom can have what you and Freddie have some day," Carly said. "Anyway, thanks for talking with me about this. I know you hate these kinds of conversations."

"Well now you owe me a night filled with junk food and terrible movies," Sam said. "That'll make up for it."

"You got it, Puckett," Carly laughed. "Just let me run to the bathroom first, though. I think the good stall might finally be free."

As Carly left the room, Sam glanced over at the framed photo on her dresser of her and Freddie at prom a few months ago.

I miss him so much, Sam thought to herself, pulling out her phone. Even though he made me a total chick with my emotions.

She quickly sent a text to Freddie reading: Did you get your coffee?

A moment later: Just made it :) I decided to be daring and try a pump of caramel in it.

Sam rolled her eyes. Real daring, baby.

It's actually really good, Freddie's next text said. I see why you get fifteen pumps of this stuff in your own drinks.

And you always told me I was being unhealthy, Sam replied. Me and Carly are having a 'girls night' so I'll let you get back to your lame homework. Love you.

You told me you loved me twenty minutes ago, Freddie texted back. Jeez, Puckett; who's the sappy one now?"

Dude…

Just playing with you, Freddie texted. I'd never get tired of you saying you love me. I love you too, baby.

Sam smiled as she read those words. She'd never get tired of hearing them either.