iHave a Girls Day

Carly awoke the next morning, Sam unconsciously curling her hair in her fingers. She drew Sam close, pressing her nearly bare chest into Sam's back. She knew, despite all the darkness and vitriol they would undoubtedly face, that each and every day forward needed to begin just like this.

Try as she might to forget, the events of the previous day flashed back to her. They had left Bushwell in a rush, with no real plan of action once they hit the door. Taking Sam's advice, they had stopped to split a large Hawaiian pizza. It seemed like a natural choice – pineapple was sweet and Canadian Bacon because, well, Sam loves ham. They had spent the rest of the night wandering Seattle aimlessly, stopping only occasionally to assure Spencer – via text message – that they were safe and to leave the door unlocked. They would be home late.

The scream of Carly's alarm clock caused the fog of sleep to lift as both girls bolted upright in bed. It was 7:15 AM.

"Carls…" Sam whined. "Make it stop…"

"Rise and shine, Ham Lover, you've got Saturday detention this morning, remember?" Carly said with a laugh.

Sam most certainly remembered. Of all the detentions in her life, this one – above all – was worth it. Say what you would about her. She was Sam Puckett. She could take it. Call her Cupcake a dyke? Then it was time to die. She hadn't thought twice about throwing the elbow that snapped Scott Schroeder's nose. He had it coming – that and more. She needed to be there in an hour, so, as much as she hated to, she needed to get going. She kissed Carly's cheek, got to her feet, and made her way towards the bathroom.

"Brush your teeth! You smell like bacon!" Carly teased, watching Sam's boxer-clad backside as she sauntered towards the door. Carly heard the shower run, but before she could allow herself to collapse back into her pillows, she heard a familiar ping.

An email had just been forwarded to her phone. She reached for it on her bedside table and tapped the screen. Her heart sang when she saw the sender and the subject line.

FROM: Melanie Puckett SUBJ: COMING HOME

She clicked to open the message.

FROM: Melanie Puckett [mythicalMel pearmail . com]

TO: Carly Shay [carly icarly . com]

SUBJECT: Coming Home….

Carly!

I saw your show last week, and all I can tell you is that you were incredibly brave. I'm proud of you.

I just moved back to Seattle, thanks to having the GPA I needed to graduate a semester early. It will be great to spend time with you, Sam, and especially Freddie again. I'm free pretty much anytime now. What do you say to a day out on the town, just us girls?

Call me!

~Mel

Carly was giddy and petrified simultaneously at the prospect of a day with Melanie. Granted, they had known each other since childhood, but everything had changed now. People, of course, would naturally assume that Melanie was Sam, and since Melanie couldn't possibly know the details of the shift in her relationship with Sam, it could be … uncomfortable. Regardless, the need for some time to herself, for all intents and purposes, caused her to text Melanie.

TO:Melanie Puckett

Mel, it'd be great to see you. Sam has detention. My place 9:00? - Carly

Her phone began to chirp moments later.

NEW MESSAGE

FROM: Melanie Puckett

Sent: 7:48 AM, PST

Carly, it's a date. See you soon. ~ Mel

Carly glanced at the time.

"SAM! You're going to be late!"

As if on cue, Sam emerged from Carly's bathroom, rumpled, but clearly clean and fully dressed.

"Yes, Dear…" she quipped sarcastically.

Carly's heart skipped a beat. That was a first.

Against her better judgment, Carly stood firm.

"Sam, you've got to go. You'll be late!"

Sam didn't protest, but simply craned her head to Carly's, kissing her forcefully, but briefly, on the mouth.

"Love you, Cupcake… Gotta go!"

"Later, Bacon Babe!" Carly said with a smirk.

Sam Puckett bolted out the door and down the stairs, an uncharacteristic bounce in her step, as Carly Shay made it to her feet and plodded barefoot across the room, to the already steamy bathroom.

A short while later…

Carly was into her third episode of Girly Cow when the buzzer went off. She got up to answer it, crossing the floor in stride. She hit the button without a second thought.

"Yeah…"

"Carly, it's Melanie…"

"C'mon up!"

A moment later, the elevator opened into the Shay living room, and out stepped Melanie Puckett. Sam's twin greeted Carly with great enthusiasm.

"Carly! It's so good to be back!"

"Hey Melanie! It's good to see you. I was surprised to hear from you, really. I didn't realize that you were graduating early."

The pause was slightly awkward, but Carly couldn't think of what else to say, without bringing up the fairly prickly topic of her girlfriend, who also happened to be Melanie's twin sister.

"I know! I didn't expect it either, but when grades came out, I realized I could graduate a semester early, so I decided to do it and come home. I've missed you all so much, It's just so good to be back."

Carly couldn't immediately come by a witty or charming reply, so she just smiled.

"You know, I wanted to tell you," Melanie began, "that I was so proud of you for having the courage to do what you did on the show last week. It was really amazing."

Carly had no idea what to say. It was then that Melanie noticed Carly's left ring finger.

"Nice ring. When Sam told me, I gave her one just like…" She stopped cold. "Wait… is that?... Oh. My. God… Are you and Sam? Are you guys a couple?"

Carly, a horrible liar, flushed an awkward shade of magenta.

"Carly!" Melanie squealed. Carly thought she would die on the spot.

"Mel, look… If it's a problem, I'm sorry…"

"Problem? I so should have seen it coming. I mean… well, nevermind. I'm happy for you and I promise I won't say another word about it, but I just…"

Melanie pulled Carly into an overly enthusiastic hug.

"Oh….kay…." Carly said awkwardly. "Shopping?"

"Shopping." Melanie agreed, as she turned and headed back to the elevator, Carly in tow.

Before entering the elevator, Carly whipped out her phone, sneaking a text to Sam.

TO: Sam

Melanie back in town. Gone shopping. Back soon. Luv U. ~ CC

Three Hours Later…

When the elevator yawned open again, each girl stepped out, burdened by armfuls of shopping bags. The most obvious of these belonged to Carly and bore a highly distinctive BAB, Build-a-Bra. Sam's initial instinct, anger, subsided immediately.

"Hey…"

Melanie sensed her sister's tension, and jumped in to deflect it.

"Hey, Sis…" Melanie sang, wrapping her arms around Sam's neck from behind.

"Why does she have to be so goddamn perky all of the time?" Sam asked herself. Maybe there was no answer.

"So, did you have a good day with Me Two Point Oh?" Sam took a swipe at both Carly and Melanie in the same breath.

Carly's lip quivered. Sam knew she needed to backpedal.

"Kidding, Carls… I was kidding…"

Carly chose to believe her. She spoke cautiously, afraid to be hurt.

"I… I didn't realize we'd be gone so long. I'm sorry."

Sam didn't want a fight. She loved Carly too much. The truth was that she loved Melanie, of course, but she had never been good with the emotional stuff, except around Carly. She got up, walked over to her twin sister, and threw her into an honest-to-goodness hug for the first time in a long time.

"Glad to have you home, Mel, really. I take it you and Carly had 'The Talk'?..." she asked, euphemistically asking whether her sister knew the whole truth.

"We talked. I'm very happy for you both, I truly am." She squeezed Sam tight, as if to say 'It's okay, really, you can trust me' before breaking her sister's heartfelt embrace.

"I have to take Mom to her appointment, so I'd really better get going. Carly, can I leave my things here and pick them up tomorrow, maybe?"

Melanie flashed a knowing smile to Carly, like some joke only the two of them knew the punch line to.

"Sure, Mel. Just come get them whenever."

She crossed the floor, stopping at the front door before turning to face Carly and Sam again.

"I'll call you tomorrow… Maybe we can double-date sometime?"

Sam knew she meant with Freddie, but she ignored it.

"Sure." Carly and Sam said in unison.

Sam Puckett knew there was nothing to fear from her twin sister, but a lifetime of being a Puckett taught her never to take anything at face value.

Except for Carly Shay. She knew being even the slightest bit annoyed about Carly spending time away from her was ridiculous.

As Carly rounded the sofa and took her place at Sam's side, she knew the ice would thaw and she would have her Sam back before the end of the next episode of Girly Cow.

Carly could hardly wait until tomorrow night. Sam had seen nothing yet.