iCall A Truce

It was a busy, disjointed Saturday morning. Sam, her head still pounding from the night before, was in the downstairs bathroom, while Carly had gone upstairs to check on Melanie.

Melanie was simply content that she had gotten some sleep. She hadn't even heard Carly at the door, which was partially ajar. Carly couldn't help but stand there in awe.

Melanie Puckett looked remarkably well put-together for this hour of the morning. She was sitting at the edge of her bed, lost in thought. Carly was amazed. The voice she heard sounded nothing like the Melanie Puckett she thought she knew. Gone was the bubbly girly-girl twin to her better half. Instead, the voice Carly Shay heard was deep, throaty, and soulful. She was taking an old song and making it her own.

"…Loneliness was tough…"

"…The toughest role you ever played…"

"…Hollywood created a superstar…"

"…and pain was the price you paid…"

Carly hated to interrupt. Those Puckett girls never ceased to amaze her. She knocked gently, peeking inside the door.

"Mel? Are you decent?"

Turning to Carly, she laughed, as though she'd never heard something so funny in all her life.

"You sleep with my sister and you want to know if I'm decent? You're asking the wrong Puckett, Carly Shay… Yeah, Come on in.

Carly laughed. She knew it was all in good fun.

"Mel, I just wanted you to know… breakfast…"

Melanie flushed a deep shade of red. She was significantly embarrassed. She had never let anyone hear her sing before. She had never even mentioned it.

"How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough. You're really good. How come you've never told me you could sing like that?"

"I don't know… I'm not really that good…"

That was a lie, if Carly had ever heard one.

"Uh… Yes you are!"

Melanie smiled and playfully shut the door in Carly's face.

"'Be down in five…" she called through the door.

Heading down the stairs, Carly Shay could only shake her head and smile.

Melanie Puckett descended the stairs and made her way to the kitchen. She was greeted by a sight the likes of which she'd never known growing up. Carly Shay had gone 'Domestic Diva' in the kitchen. There were only three of them, but from the looks of the table, Carly had cooked for thirty.

She had set the table with a large bowl of scrambled eggs, a plate of well done bacon, potatoes, and to top it all off a bowl filled with warm blueberry muffins. Melanie wasn't stupid. She knew that all of this was meant to appease Sam. It was meant to appease Sam and get her to agree to whatever Carly had in mind.

As if on cue, Melanie's twin sister wandered into the kitchen, throwing herself into the nearest chair. Even if Sam didn't care, Melanie loved her. Giving her the once-over, Melanie could only think one thing.

"Sam, you look like Hell…"

Her hair was slick, wet, and stringy. She was wearing a Seattle Cobras Football t-shirt that was easily one size too big, along with boxers and white socks. God, Sam was butch.

Rounding the table, Carly leaned in and kissed Sam, on the cheek for Melanie's benefit. Last night was uncomfortable enough. There wasn't any need to flaunt their relationship.

"Good Morning…"

"Love you, Cupcake"

Sam's voice was hoarse, her eyes swollen.

Melanie's heart suddenly hurt. Regardless of how deeply she had been wounded, she wanted to hold her sister. She wanted to wrap her arms around her neck and tell her she was sorry. She wanted to do whatever it took.

"What's the Barbie doll still doing here?"

Carly dropped a plate. It clattered on the table, but did not break. She gave Sam the 'Serious Girlfriend' look. Sam knew she was in trouble. She began to stammer.

"Look… Look, Mel… I'm… I… I wa—… I was wr—wr—wro…"

Carly glared at her. She was not happy.

"Sam…" Carly prodded, insistent.

Sam Puckett stared across the table at her sister. This was uncomfortable. She was Sam Puckett. She didn't do emotions – not when they didn't involve her Cupcake. She did what she knew she had to.

"Mel, look… I was…wrong." the words came like pulling teeth. "I know I'm hard on you, but I just don't know how to be… you know…"

Carly still wasn't happy, but it wasn't worth another fight. She leaned in, as though she were going to kiss Sam again, but didn't.

"Be nice…" she whispered in her ear, annoyed, but reasonable.

Melanie looked at her sister across the table. She wanted to be upset with her, but she couldn't.

"Truce?" Sam offered, still hoarse. Melanie gave her a coy little half-smile, as though she were seriously considering better offers. Carly, now seated next to Sam, shot Mel a puzzled look.

"Truce."

Carly smiled. She decided to lay out her plan. She figured they needed some time together, but out of the house. Her suggestion was some very simple retail therapy.

Mel was fine with that. Sam groaned.

"Cupcake?"

"Mmm-hmm…"

"Pass the bacon."

The rest of the morning passed relatively quickly. Not surprisingly, Sam had polished off the remainder of the bacon while Carly and Melanie got ready in separate bathrooms. After all these years, this was something that never quite added up for Sam. Why they felt the need to look drop-dead gorgeous for a simple trip to the mall was beyond her. Well, Carls could get as dolled up as she wanted. That was one of the perks of her being Carls – Sam's own personal eye candy. She couldn't care less about Mel. If she wanted to see that, she'd just look in a mirror.

Melanie was clunking her way down the stairs, purse in hand. It would be too easy for Sam to say exactly what she was thinking, besides which, Carly would lecture her about how she needed to treat Melanie better, be a better sister… it wasn't worth a fight with the Cupcake.

"I'm ready…"

Carly re-entered the living room, grabbed her purse from the end table in the living room, and slung it over her shoulder.

"Okay. Before we go, am I going to have to separate you two?"

Carly Shay sounded less like a college student and more like a pre-school teacher.

Melanie shook her head playfully.

"I'll be good, Cupcake, I promise…" Sam whined, grudgingly.

Carly shepherded the Puckett sisters out the front door, locking it behind them. She was determined to have a good day.

THE WESTBROOK MALL, AN HOUR LATER…

Melanie Puckett was a devious one. She had learned well, growing up as 'The Other Puckett Girl'. She had a Masters Degree is deception, and intended to flaunt it today, whatever her motives.

They passed the OmniPlex on the second floor. It gave her just the excuse she needed.

"Hey, why don't you guys just go? Take in a movie. You deserve a little time to yourselves, without having me as the third wheel…"

"Goddamn right…" Sam thought.

"You sure, Mel?" Carly asked. She was genuinely touched that Melanie wanted to give her and Sam some time alone, but she wasn't exactly sure why.

"Positive, Carls. You guys go enjoy yourselves. I've got a few things I want to do anyway. Meet you back here in two hours?"

Carly flushed. Melanie knew nothing more needed to be said.

As soon as the happy couple was out of sight, she headed to MusicWorld. It was the only place she needed to go. They were the only people who had what she needed. She flushed, knowing that every pair of male eyes was probably mentally undressing her. She made small talk with the tall, muscular young man behind the counter, opened her purse, and passed over her credit card. This would be totally worth it. She could hardly wait.