iCall It The Way I See It

Sam heard a faint ringing and realized that Carly had left her cell phone on the coffee table the night before. She took one look at the Caller ID and knew that she – not Carly – needed to take this call. Colonel Steven Shay was a persistent Son of a Bitch, she'd give him that much. Given that their relationship had recently thawed, Sam didn't want Melanie to see her be ruthless, but this was unavoidable. This was her Cupcake they were talking about. Carly and the Colonel hadn't spoken in months, which is exactly how Carly wanted it. If he couldn't accept her as she was, then he had absolutely no place in her life. Sam snatched the phone from the table and pressed TALK.

"Look here, Old Man… Carly and I've both told you you've got no business with her anymore! She doesn't want you… I'm a what?... Well, well guess what? I warned you. I told you we'd go to the police if you bothered her again… Oh yeah, well blow me!"

Sam ended the call before she crushed Carly's phone with her bare hands.

Melanie didn't even need to ask. She simply ran to Sam, instinctively pulling her into a hug. She was a girly-girl, but this wasn't something she could just let be. This was her family. This was her blood. Sam needed her and she knew it.

"Sam, I'm… just know that I love you, honey… If you want to talk…" She snaked her fingers gently into Sam's fly-away curls, taking special care not to get caught in the tangled mess.

"Mel, it's cool. I'll be okay; I promise… it's just… That Man…"

Melanie shushed her.

"I know. I remember. I lived through it too."

They both could hear Carly's naked, wet feet hitting the floor, making the sweet little slapping sound that gave Sam butterflies. Carly turned the corner, coming into view for the first time. She was wearing her most comfortable PJ pants and a very rumpled Cuttlefish t-shirt, her hair wrapped in a towel.

Melanie squeezed Sam tight and whispered into her ear.

"I'm going to go out… You two deserve some alone time. I love you, Sis…"

Melanie did the thing Sam would never expect. She leaned in and gave Sam a forceful peck on each cheek, like they had seen Uncle Carmine do years earlier, never understanding why until much later. Sam, try as she might, couldn't help it. She came unglued, throwing a tantrum. All she wanted in the world was Carly. Her tone was somewhere between paranoia and panic. She began to flail her arms, like she had just touched something disgusting. For a split second, Sam Puckett had become Carly Shay. She had become instantly girly.

"Eww…Eww…Eww…Eww! Carls! Carls! Carls! Come here quick… Kiss me… Eww… Twin Cooties!"

Carly crossed the floor quickly and laughed at her love. She was the queen of melodrama and Carly loved that about her. Melanie had wandered into the kitchen to make a phone call, so Carly wrapped Sam into a loose hug, kissing her square on the mouth.

"There, you bacon bit… no more twin cooties. God forbid your sister loves you."

Carly could feel Sam squirm against her. It was as though she was trying to figure out how to fit together, like a puzzle piece. Carly knew what needed to happen. She leaned in and whispered into her ear.

"It's okay, Mama… it's just you and me… whatever's bothering you… it'll all go away, I promise…"

Carly felt her dirty blonde slump in her arms, contented. She could feel the stress leave her. No matter what the problem was, it would all be okay now. There was nothing else in the world that mattered; it was just the two of them – Carly and Sam.

Melanie skipped in from the kitchen, giggling. Carly knew this had to be good.

"So what's so good this early in the morning that you're all giggles, Miss Puckett?"

Melanie blushed.

"Freddie… He'll be over… We're going out. Going to get out of your hair… I know you probably don't need me underfoot all the time…"

Carly was happy for her, but just a little hurt.

"Mel, honey, you're not underfoot… this is as much your home as ours… Just have fun."

Melanie smiled. She felt like the third wheel, the backdrop to The Carly and Sam Show. It was good to know that Carly didn't feel the same way.

A HALF HOUR LATER…

Freddie Benson bounded up the front steps and into the house, again, like he owned the place. Maybe it was a little forward, but Melanie was his girlfriend, and Carly and Sam were his oldest friends. If it was a problem, surely someone – namely Sam – would've said something by now. Sam would have said it with her fists.

He entered the house to see Melanie sitting on the far end of the sofa, giving Carly and Sam a wide enough berth to do … Carly and Sam things. Freddie didn't even want to say much, not that they made him uncomfortable, because they were his oldest and dearest friends. He simply wanted to slip away with Mel so they could spend some time together, doing Freddie and Mel things. She ran to him, wrapping herself in his arms. She laid her head on his chest. She was complete. She kissed his chest through his shirt. It had been too long. She knew what Carly and Sam felt. She just needed to take a minute to put her arms around her very special someone. She took a deep breath, drawing him into her lungs. Freddie was a little concerned.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah… yeah… I just missed you."

Freddie chose not to think anything of it, since Mel seemed fine. He took her hand in his, giving it the slightest squeeze. He loved her in a way he couldn't describe.

"You ready, Babe?"

She nodded. They turned to leave, embarking on their day, on their own terms. They needed it. Even though he was only a half-hour away in normal traffic, Melanie only got the chance to see her man every few weekends. When he wasn't working or studying, she was tied up. They needed to get away. She shut the door behind her, leaving arm in arm with handsome, young Mr. Benson. She wondered if her sisters even noticed.

LATER THAT AFTERNOON – THE OMNIPLEX, WESTBROOK MALL…

The theater was dark. Melanie feigned interest in the movie. She and Freddie were there with other intentions. His fingers snaked their way up her shirt, tracing the outline of her navel.

"Freddie! Don't! That tickles…"

"Kind of the point, Gorgeous…"

Giggling quietly¸ Melanie whispered to him. It was something she said far too infrequently. It hurt her.

"I love you, Freddie..."

"I know, Mel… believe me, I know…"

He knew, but he truly had no idea how much. She knew he would once he listened to the CD she'd given him. He was a predictable creature of habit. Her beautiful little Tech Boy would listen to it the first chance he got. He'd be blown away, she knew. He knew that she could sing. He had heard her in the shower that morning at Carly and Sam's, a half hour before Sam had threatened to kill him. He lay there, down the hall from the bathroom, listening to Melanie sing in the shower. He was captivated. Melanie nestled her head into Freddie's chest. They were both content.

BACK AT HOME, LATER THAT DAY…

Melanie kissed Freddie goodbye at the door. Carly pretended not to notice. Sam pretended the Nub didn't exist. It was just easier that way. Melanie walked into the living room beaming.

"Why the hell are you glowing?"

She ignored her younger sister.

"So…" Carly began, "how was your day?" Her relationship may have been with another woman, but that didn't preclude her from knowing the way Freddie made Melanie feel.

Melanie just flushed, fidgeting with her purse as she made her way to the sofa, sitting next to Carly. She didn't want to speak.

Melanie handed Carly and Sam a CD case. This was the second time, except the note on this one was different.

For Both of You. I love you. ~ Mel

Carly slid the disc into the computer, which was on the coffee table, a reminder of the paper she had put off all day. Like before, it spun up and started to play. She recognized it as an extremely well-known track from the Eighties – with a twist.

"…If they say Why, Why?..."

"…Tell 'em that it's Human Nature…"

"…Reaching out to touch a stranger…"

"…Electric eyes are everywhere…"

"…See that girl?..."

"…She knows I'm watching…"

"…She likes the way I stare…"

Carly felt overcome. She had no idea how to even tell Melanie how amazing she was. Only she didn't have to. She knew.

"…If they say Why, Why?..."

"…I like livin' this way…"

"…I like lovin' this way…"

Without saying another word, Melanie produced a canary yellow sheet of paper from her purse, folded in quarters.

AMERICA SINGS OPEN AUDITIONS

KEYARENA, SEATTLE

The date was next weekend.

She had wound herself up to the point of shaking. She looked to her sisters for advice.

What they would say was a foregone conclusion. She looked up, her eyes meeting her sister's on the far end of the sofa. Tears were streaming down Sam Puckett's cheeks. They were tears of pride. Melanie had her answer. She knew what she needed to do.