Sam's POV
I feel really happy whenever I'm with Jake. I mean, he gives me a bag of bacon everyday, he helps me clean the house (what, I told him not to do it, but he insisted...) and he feeds me. But it just doesn't feel right. Somehow, my conscience is bugging me. Sure, my conscience has been hibernating since I was born, so it's really big news that it has awoken.
"Sam, hurry up!" Carly yelled through the house. Ever since she knew that I was taking part in the pageant, she took a month off her 'princess duties' to help. "Come on, we're going to be late!"
"Ugh..." I groaned. "I'm coming!"
I actually cancelled my date with Jake for this. It better be good or she's going to offer me a lifetime supply of ham as compensation.
"Why do I have to wake up so early anyway? Can't we just go there in the afternoon or something?" I asked.
"It's 2pm in the afternoon!" she exclaimed. "And I can't believe you just woke up!"
"Sometimes I wonder if you've been replaced with an imposter. You do know my habits, I assumed."
She rolled her eyes. "Let's just go."
She led me to the horse carriage outside the courtyard, which reminded me of a familiar tale called 'Cinderella', when the protagonist is offered a ride to the palace ball by her fairy godmother. Clearly, I am not the protagonist and Carly is definitely not a fairy. Thank god for that or I would have to wear glass slippers.
"Okay, when we reach there, just tell Freddie you're sorry and you want to get back together with him, okay?" she instructed.
"What? That wasn't part of the deal!" I exclaimed.
She placed her arms on her hips. "Oh, come on, Sam. Just do it!"
"No!" I declined. "The deal was that I go to the palace with you, and we trash the ugly princess on her butt so that she and Freducinni will never get married."
"Okay, forget about the deal!" she whispered loudly, which I thought was not possible until she actually did it. "Just go and tell him that you want him back."
"No way," I frowned. "It's either follow the deal or no deal."
She sighed. "Fine. We'll go in and get rid of the princess."
"That's more like it."
- SEDDIE -
So, here we are in front of the 'oh-so-magnificent' palace. I could get used to a scene like this. Yup, I'm used to it.
"Finally!" I yelled into the fresh afternoon air, which smelled something close the scent of bacon and fries. "We're here! If the horses could get any slower, it would have taken us days to reach here."
"Sam, it barely took half an hour," Carly stated.
"Yeah, and to think I could have used that half an hour for a proper date with Jake."
I stepped out of the carriage, feeling the rush of excitement that filled me as I harbored thoughts of actually pounding a princess.
"Now, Sam," Carly started. "We only start the violence when we reach her room. We wouldn't want any guards complaining about you in the palace to the king, would we?"
"You sound like my mother," I said, yawning. "Come on, let's go!"
I pulled her up the palace stairs, but her dress was not helping in any way. The skirt was too long and her tiara was about to fall from her almost perfect hair. I once asked her why she wouldn't dress like a commoner after she becomes a princess. All she replied to me was 'Sometimes, a girl's gotta get pretty'.
"Where's the princess's quarters?" I asked the palace guards.
"I am sorry, but I am not allowed to reveal any information about this to outsiders," the guard replied nonchalantly.
I gestured to the royal highness beside me. "Does she look like she's an outsider? Hmhmm?"
He actually looked scared for a moment there. "Apologies, your highness. The princess's quarters are at the west wing. I wish you a good day, your highness. And, your friend too."
"Thank you... er..." she stared at the guard's name tag. "Hugh. It is greatly appreciated."
"Okay, okay, let's get on with it!" I dragged her away impatiently. If I get this done early, maybe I will make it for dinner with Jake.
And so, with a couple of directions from the guards, we finally arrived in front of a gigantic door with ribbons surrounding the door frame. "Whoa... Do you get doors as big as these when you're in the palace?"
"Well, Gibby and mine is slightly larger by a few inches, I guess," she shrugged.
"It sure makes me jealous, Carls. It sure does..." I remarked. "Okay, time for the action. Are you ready?"
"Sure, I am, why-" she was interrupted by my actions.
With a powerful kick at the door, we gained access to the room. And guess what. What an awful sight it was.
"Freddie? Valerie?" Carly asked, trying to confirm their identities. "What are you guys doing?"
I was speechless. Utterly speechless. It was like a 1000-ton mass had fallen above my head and made me dumbstruck.
Freddie and Valerie. Making out?
"What's going on?" Carly inquired further, as they pulled apart from embarrassment.
"Erm... nothing," Freddie seemed guilty, but firm.
"Is this supposed to be a joke?" I was really disgusted. "What's going on in here? I thought you didn't want to marry her?"
Freddie frowned. "Why would you think so?"
"I don't know, because CARLY TOLD ME SO?" I yelled. "I can't believe I actually cancelled my date with Jake just to see you guys smooching here! What are you guys gonna do next, huh? Bring forth the wedding to tomorrow?"
"Actually, I was going to suggest that, but he insisted on having it one month later," Valerie stated. "But now that I've got proof of his love to me, I'm not afraid of having it at a later date."
"Freddie, is that true?" Carly asked, with hope in her eyes that he would say no.
He had a firm expression on his face. "Yes."
"What? But you were the one who told me to get help from Sam so that you'll-" she was interrupted by the dork.
"I changed my mind," he stated. "I got over Sam and fell in love with Valerie. Sometimes, the only way to get over someone is to fall for someone else."
"I don't get it," I approached. "What made you think you can just tell me that you want me back one minute ago, and the next instant, you fall for another girl. Who do you think you are, Freddison?"
He smirked. "And who do you think you are?"
I was dumbfounded by his question. Fredgeek Benson retaliating me? With verbal assault?
"You always thought that you were high and mighty, but you're not! After we broke up, I realized how stupid I was to cling onto you and not let go. You're abrasive, aggressive, hot-tempered and worst of all, you have a huge appetite that not even the royal funds can feed! You're not worth my time, commoner."
It hurt. With every single word he said. It was as if the words had transformed into arrows and were piercing through my soul, poking holes so bring that my heart was visible. And I felt naked.
Fredward Benson was lecturing me. No, Fredcrud would never do something like that. He wouldn't even dare break my heart. Why would he rip it off my chest and step on it like it's just a sheet of paper? Why did his attitude change 180 degrees? Why is he acting like this?
And then it struck me. This thing was not Freddie Benson.