~*Three Weeks Later*~
It was the night of Sam and Melanie's 18th Birthday Bash. All their family and friends had been invited. There was going to be a DJ, Karaoke, and lots and lots of booze. Sam was so excited.
Over the past three weeks since their move back to Seattle, things had been crazy and busy for Sam and Freddie. First they had the agonizing experience of Gibby's mom's funeral, and then the adjustment into their new home. And with Melanie now living in Seattle as well, all thoughts had turned to college which would be starting in less than 2 months. Sam and Freddie both wanted to attend, yet had to pass the GED exam first. Sam hadn't told Freddie, but she was worried she wouldn't pass. It wasn't a question of Sam's intelligence;
but in school, she had slept a lot and hadn't really cared nor paid attention.
Her biggest fear was failing the test and disappointing Freddie.
At least one of them had found work since their return to Seattle. Sam was working at the Groovy Smoothie, helping out T-Bo. She didn't mind the job all that much. T-Bo was kewl to work for and always made her laugh. Sure, when he demanded she put random foods onto sticks and attempt selling them, that was pretty annoying. Sam would rather eat the foods than impale them. As for Freddie, he was still looking for a job. She knew he would find something soon as Seattle was a big city with lots of opportunity for work.
Sam was standing behind the refreshment table at the party next to Freddie and Carly. The DJ had played a slow, romantic song and she watched as her sister went to dance with Spencer. "Whoa!" she gasped, her blue eyes growing large when she saw how awfully close the two of them were dancing.
"Carly, you should go ask Gibby to dance," Sam suggested to her best friend as Gibby was sitting at a nearby table all alone and looking unhappy.
"Alright... I'll go over and talk to him," Carly replied, though not committing to the 'asking-him-to-dance' part. She wasn't sure if Gibby would be in the mood for dancing considering all he had been through lately.
Sam stuck her finger in the cake, getting a dab of the frosting. She looked over at Freddie, just to see if he had noticed. She couldn't help it; all this delicious food was so tempting and as usual, she was practically starving.
Freddie was glad that Sam and Melanie seemed to be having a good time. Carly had walked off to talk or dance with Gibby. That's when he noticed Sam putting her finger in the cake and licking the frosting off her finger. "Impatient much?" he asked with a smirk.
Sam gave Freddie a sweet smile, trying her best to look innocent as she continued to lick her finger. "T-Bo doesn't feed me at work," she said with a small laugh as she had been working before coming here to the party. It had been a busy day at the Groovy Smoothie... and for one reason or another, T-Bo wouldn't allow Sam eat all the profits. "It sucks I had to work late and we missed our little trip to Robin's Weiners," Sam said with a little pout. "I probably could have eaten 5 or 6 of them."
"Actually," Freddie said with a grin. "Carly and I got something for you because we knew that you would be upset about that missing out on Robin's Weiners," he said. The second he said that a delivery guy from Robin's Weiner's walked in. "Who's Sam Puckett?" the dude asked as he walked into the room with a delivery box of food from Robin's Weiners.
A smile lit up Sam's face as the delivery guy came in carrying a large box containing half a dozen piping-hot Robin's Weiners. "Ohhh wow," she said with excitement, hugging Freddie before going to grab the box, nearly tackling the poor delivery guy to the ground.
"By the way," she told the delivery boy before she began stuffing her face with a Robin's weiner. "My name is Sam Benson. I married that hot, handsome dork over there..." she said, glancing over to Freddie.
"You and Carly are the best," Sam said happily to Freddie after the delivery guy had left. "This has got to be the best birthday ever!"
Melanie walked up, Spencer on her arm. "Having a good time, Sis?" Melanie asked her twin.
"Yes," Sam replied, still in a state of bliss as she was munching on a Robin's weiner. "How about you?"
"It's the best birthday ever," she said, gazing dreamily at Spencer.
Sam looked over at Freddie, her mouth half-stuffed with a weiner. Would she ever get used to seeing her sister staring at Spencer with mooney eyes?
Freddie tried not to laugh at Sam's antics. He loved that Sam was enjoying the hot dogs. He saw her look over at him with her mouth half-full. He just shrugged as he wasn't sure he'd get use to Spencer and Melanie either.
Spencer had gone to other side of the refreshment table to get himself a cold beer, leaving Sam, Freddie, and Melanie standing there alone together. "So,
Sis, did you enjoy your dance with Spence?" Sam asked her twin.
"Yes," replied Melanie. "Spencer is a great dancer."
"The two of you were dancing REALLY close," Sam observed.
"We like each other... A LOT," Melanie said with a girlish giggle.
Sam would have commented, but Spencer was back, a beer in his hand. He took a sip of his beer, then smiled at Melanie. He put his arm around Melanie's curvy waist and pulled her in close to his tall, lean body.
"Great party, Freddio," he said, giving the host of the party a grin. "When does the Karaoke start?"
"I wanna know, when are we gonna eat the cake and open gifts?" Sam spoke up.
"Looks like you already stuck your finger in the cake, Sam," Melanie said to her sister knowingly.
"Momma loves the cake," was Sam's reply.
"Thanks, but Carly helped al ot too," Freddie said to Spencer, then he laughed.
"Why don't we have cake first and let Sam open her gifts, and then we can do the Karoke?" Freddie suggested. "That way she'll be happy because cake will be in her tummy."
"Do I get to open my presents, too?" Melanie asked excitedly.
"Of course you can, Mel," Sam laughed.
"Yayyy!" Melanie squeeled with excitement.
"Everyone! Listen up!" yelled out Sam. "It's time for presents and cake!
So get your butts over here NOW if you want some or otherwise I'm gonna be eating it all!"
The guests started rushing over as they were pretty sure Sam was serious about devouring the cake and they too wanted a piece. Carly walked over to the refreshment table with Gibby. Gibby started serving the punch, while Carly cut the cake and put the individual servings onto plates. After everyone had some cake and punch, it was time for Carly and Freddie to say a few words.
"Sam, Melanie, I hope you both have a wonderful birthday," Carly spoke up. "I love you guys... and I am so fortunate to have you both in my life!"
"Thanks, Carls. We love you too," Sam responded.
Melanie smiled and gave Carly a huge hug. "You're the best," she said, kissing Carly's cheek.
Now it was Freddie's turn to speak.
"I have to honestly say that my life hasn't been the same since Sam and Melanie came into it. Sam, I love you more than anything and I want to spend many more birthdays with you," he told her. "And Mel, you've been a great friend and a wonderful sister-
in-law. I hope both of you get everything you want tonight," he said with a smile.
There was table piled high with gifts for the twins.
Sam looked at Freddie after he made his speech, her blue eyes shining brightly with happiness. "I don't really need any gifts, because I have everything I want anyway, considering I am with Freddie now and we have an amazing baby boy," Sam told everyone in the crowd. "I'm so happy... and everything is just so close to perfect."
"And I got the best birthday present today as well," said Melanie as she was looking at Spencer.
Gibby started handing out the gifts to the twins. They both had quite a pile.
Melanie ended up getting purses, frilly clothes, and perfumes. But Sam got gifts of Fat Cakes and chocolates. Sam got really excited when she opened her cards and found a gift certificate to the Cheese Cake Warehouse and another gift certificate for Robin's Weiners. All her friends and family sure knew her well.
"Thanks everyone!" Sam spoke up. "The gifts have been great. So, who would like to sing first...?"
"Me!" Gibby called out. "I'll sing." Everyone was staring in amazement,
because no one knew that Gibby sang... but then again, Gibby was pretty drunk,
so maybe that's why he volunteered.
Gibby walked over to the Karaoke machine and grabbed the mic. "This one's for Tasha... whereever she may be... with her new boyfriend," he spoke before beginning to sing.
Everyone got quiet as Gibby ripped off his shirt and began singing these lyrics :::
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x
All alone on a Sunday morning Outside I see the rain is falling Inside I'm slowly dying But the rain will hide my crying
And you, don't you know my tears will burn the pillow Set this place on fire 'cause I'm tired of your lies All I needed was a simple "Hello"
But the traffic was so noisy that you could not hear my cry
Ah, I gave you my love in vain My body never knew such pleasure My heart never knew such pain And you, you leave me so confused Now I'm all cried out over you
Oh, you. I'm over you, oooh.
Never wanted to see things your way I had to go astray, oh, why was I such a fool?
Now I see that the grass is greener [why oh why]
Is it too late for me to find my way home,
How could I be so wrong? [Leavin' me all alone]
Don't you know my tears will cause an inferno Romance up in flames, why should I take the blame You were the one who left me neglected [I'm so sorry]
Apology not accepted, add me to the broken hearts you collected
Ah, I gave you all of me [gave me all of you]
How was I to know you would weaken so easily Ah, I don't know what to do I'm all cried out [I'm all] over you [I'm cried out too]
[Whoa, whoa...]
Ah, I gave you my love in vain My body never knew such pleasure My heart never knew such pain And you [I left you so confused, now I'm all cried out]
Now I'm all cried out...over you...
(All Cried Out, lyrics by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam)
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Freddie didn't know what to say. Poor Gibby, Tasha had really done a number on him. He began to wonder though if singing the song had made Gibby feel better as it couldbe considered therapy.
Sam winced as Gibby finished up with his heartfelt song. There was barely a dry eye in the place. Carly began walking toward Gibby and she pulled him close in an affectionate hug. As she hugged him, she whispered something into his ear.
Gibby went to take a seat at a nearby table as now Carly prepared to sing.
Before she began, Carly had something to say. "Ladies and Gentleman, tonight I'd like to sing a special song for a very special guy. A couple of years ago,
this amazing guy had a crush on me, and I turned him down... but I really regret that now. I can't tell you his name, but he's here and this song is for him,"
Carly said into the mic. After those words, her beautiful voice came forth as she sang these lyrics :::
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x
Maybe I'm wrong You decide Shoulda been strong Yet I lied Nobody gets me like you Couldn't keep hold of you then How could I know what you meant There was no friend to compare to There's a mountain between us But there's one thing I'm sure of That I know how I feel about you
[Chorus]
Can we bring yesterday back around Cause I know how I feel about you now I was dumb I was wrong I've let you down But I know how I feel about you now
I'll bet it takes one more chance Don't let our next kiss be our last I'm outta my mind just to show you I know everything changes I don't care where it takes us Cause I know how I feel about you
[Chorus]
Not a day passed me by Not a day passed me by When I don't think about you And no moving on Cause I know you're the one And I can't be without you
[Chorus] (x2)
And I know how I feel about you now Yea I know how I feel about you now
(About You Now, lyrics by Miranda Cosgrove)
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x
Moving closer to Freddie, Sam whispered into his ear, "Wow, we know who she's singing that song for."
A crowd broke into applause as Carly finished her song. Melanie cried out that she wanted to be up next.
Freddie put his arm around Sam. "I guess its a get-your-feelings-out night," He whispered to Sam. He was curious to see what Melanie might sing.
Sam glanced at Freddie, hearing his comment. "Just you wait till it's my turn to sing, Freddork," she said giving him a wink.
"Come on, Mel!" she yelled out to her sister.
Melanie started blushing. She took a deep breath, then began singing. She searched the crowd until she found Spencer. Across the room, she was gazing at him as she sang these lyrics :::
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x
I wanna be loved by you,
Just you and nobody else but you I wanna be loved by you Alone poo poo pi doo I wanna be kissed by you Just you and nobody else but you I wanna be loved by you Alone
I couldn't aspire To anything higher Then to fill a desire to Make you my own
I wanna be loved by you,
Just you and nobody else but you I wanna be loved by you Alone
I couldn't aspire To anything higher Then to fill a desire to Make you my own Tada tada ta tada
I wanna be loved by you Just you and nobody else but you I wanna be loved by you I wanna be loved by you I wanna be loved by you Alone
(I Wanna Be Loved By You, Lyrics by Sin ad O'Connor)
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x
Sam stood there, her mouth open in shock. She then looked at Freddie. "She didn't just sing that, did she?" she gasped. What the chiz? Spencer remained dazed after Melanie finished her song. The crowd went wild,
encouraging Melanie even more.
"Hold it! Hold it!" Sam cried out. "It's MY turn to sing!"
Freddie hoped Sam wouldn't try to out do Melanie now as it might just become a war of the twins. "Can't wait to hear what you are singing," he said with a smile when Sam said it was her turn.
Sam stood at the mic, ready to sing. Her heart beat fast in her chest, because this song was for Freddie. Their first kiss came back to her and the promises she had made to him on that particular day. She had promised him that every few years they would start fresh and she would apologize for all the unkind things she had done to him. It had been about 4 years now, so it was time.
"Hey, guys... I'm gonna sing a song now," Sam said into the mic. "This one is for Freddie. Here it goes." And then she began singing these lyrics :::
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x
Da da da da, da da da da Da da da, da da Da da da, da da
I don't know if I can yell any louder How many time I've kicked you outta here?
Or said something insulting?
Da da da, da da
I can be so mean when I wanna be I am capable of really anything I can cut you into pieces But my heart is broken Da da da, da da
Please don't leave me Please don't leave me I always say how I don't need you But it's always gonna come right back to this Please, don't leave me
How did I become so obnoxious?
What is it with you that makes me act like this?
I've never been this nasty Da da da, da da
Can't you tell that this is all just a contest?
The one that wins will be the one that hits the hardest But baby I don't mean it I mean it, I promise Da da da, da da
Please don't leave me Oh please don't leave me I always say how I don't need you But it's always gonna come right back to this Please, don't leave me
I forgot to say out loud how beautiful you really are to me I cannot be without, you're my perfect little punching bag And I need you, I'm sorry Da da da, da da
Da da da da, da da da da Da da da, da da Please, please don't leave me (Da da da, da da)
Baby please don't leave me (Da da da, da da)
No, don't leave me Please don't leave me no no no
You say I don't need you But it's always gonna come right back It's gonna come right back to this Please, don't leave me
Please don't leave me, oh no no no.
I always say how I don't need you But it's always gonna come right back to this
Please don't leave me Baby, please, please don't leave me
(Please Don't Leave Me, Lyrics by P!nk)
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x
The crowd broke into applause as Sam stopped singing. She placed the mic aside and began walking across the room to Freddie's side. Wrapping her arms around him, she gave him a soft kiss. "I love you, nub," she said into his ear.