Twelve Days of Christmas-
Chapter Two: The Second Day of Christmas
The Girly Cow alarm clock rang on her nightstand. Reaching out from under the covers, she tapped the head, setting the snooze. The petite mound of blanket rose from the bed, and the blanket fell away to reveal golden curls. Sam stretched out her arms, yawning. She scratched the top of her head, and let out a sigh. She looked over to her nightstand, seeing the picture of Freddie, Carly and her. Picking it up, she looked at them, a year ago, smiling faces with nothing bad between them. Getting out of bed, she walked over to the window in her room. She looked out onto the snowy landscape. The city of Seattle looked beautiful, covered in what looked to be white velvet.
Still a bit groggy, Sam went into the bathroom. She turned the tap on, splashing cold water on her face. She began to brush her teeth, toothpaste foaming up in her mouth. As slovenly as she usually was, when she actually did brush her teeth, she took great pains to do it well. Nobody wanted to see Sam Puckett with 'jank' teeth. She was going to have to talk to Carly about how she felt. It just wasn't fair to lie about it anymore, to Carly, to Freddie, and especially, to herself. She knew that she felt a twinge of jealousy the day before, and she felt slightly ashamed. She spit out the rancid taste in her mouth.
She cleaned herself up, lazily picking out what to wear for the day. She would have to pick out something warm, for the snow may have stopped, but the wind was blowing freely. She chose some dark jeans, a yellow, long-sleeved t-shirt, and a hooded sweatshirt. Going down to the kitchen, she put some toaster pastries into the toaster. As they were heating, she went to put on her coat. Zipping up her coat, she heard the pastries pop up. She walked over to her kitchen, taking up the pastries. They were still hot, so she tossed them between her hands, waiting for them to cool down. Grabbing them in her mouth, she picked her plaid muffler off of the floor. She grabbed her schoolbag on the way out. She didn't bother to say farewells to her mother, as her mother would still be sleeping. She made her way to the bus stop in the winter morning. It was a block away, but she didn't mind the walk. She threw her backpack on, and started moving.
The wind rustled her scarf as she walked along the snow-covered pavement. She looked at the rows of houses along the block. They were quite beautiful, all covered in snow. There was just something peaceful about the entire scene. As if it were out of a Christmas card. Sam smiled, hands in her pockets, her shoes leaving footprints in the snow. The snow had been ploughed from the streets, and traffic was up and running.
She saw the bus on the corner, and she rushed to make it on. Three metres away from the closing door, she slipped on a patch of ice. At first, she lost her balance, but quickly regained it. Keeping her centre of gravity low, she slid over to the door, arms out wide like a surfer. She kicked her foot into the way of the door, preventing it from closing all the way. The door opened back up, and she smirked to the bus driver. The driver smiled back. She got on, finding an open seat in the middle of the bus. Settling herself down, she held her backpack on her lap.
She watched the scenery go by, as the bus moved along the road. It had yet to start snowing again, though the grey clouds hung up above. It looked as though a large, downy comforter was covering the Seattle skyline. She cracked her neck, stifling a yawn. Mornings weren't her best time. The cold winds helped wake her up, though, as she made her way to school.
The students were once gain piling into Ridgeway school, as the bus pulled up to the parking space. She hopped off the bus, walking through the small amount of snow on the pavement. She watched as she made more footprints in the snow. Sam entered the school, going over to her locker. She opened it up, placing books into it. She emptied her bag, stuffing it full of Fatcakes, which she always kept in her locker. Looking in the mirror hanging on the locker door, she combed her fingers through her blonde locks. Her fingers got caught on some knots in her hair, and she regretted not brushing it. She saw two hands cover her eyes, then nothing.
"Guess who?" a low voice asked.
"Fredamame, if you don't take your hands away, I'm not giving them back."
"Aw, if you wanted to hold hands, you should've just told me."
"I meant, that I'll break them off." She waited patiently, as he weighed his options. A moment later, he removed his hands. She smiled. "Good dork."
Sam turned around, smirking. She found Freddie there, also grinning. He was still wearing his black pea coat, that time with khaki pants. She knew that she never would have hurt him. At least, too much. He held up his hands. "I decided to keep them."
"As well you should." She continued going through her locker, taking some books out, and putting them in her backpack.
"So, what's up?" He held the strap of his sling bag.
"Nothing, much." She shut her locker. She looked around a bit. "Where's Carly?"
"Oh, she'll be here in a second." He looked around, himself. "Ah, there she is."
"Hey guys." She waved to them. She opened up her locker, placing her books in there. She was dressed in her red coat and hat, again. The coat, she took off, placing it inside her locker. She hung her hat on the hook, as well.
"Where were you?" Sam asked, watching Carly going through her locker.
"She was with Adam." Freddie went over to his own locker, opening it up, stuffing his coat inside best he could.
"Adam? You mean, the Adam we left behind at Webicon?" Sam zipped up her backpack.
"Yeah," Freddie said, closing his locker. "That one."
Sam was curious. "What did he want to talk to you about?"
"He asked me out, again." Carly gave a forlorn look to her.
"What's wrong with that?" Sam asked.
Freddie walked up to the two. "Yeah, I don't get it, either." He looked at his watch, realising the time. "Oops, I was supposed to meet Gibby before class. I'll see you guys, later."
Carly and Sam watched him run up the stairs. Carly motioned at him with her head. "He's why."
"Oh," Sam realised. "Yeah, you like him."
"So, I said 'no' to Adam."
"Because of Freddie?" asked Sam.
"Yeah." Carly bit her bottom lip. "Did I do the right thing?"
A fierceness appeared in the blond's eyes. She grabbed Carly's shoulders. "Of course, you did! You love the nub, right? Then fight for him!"
Carly was surprised as to what had possessed Sam at that moment. "Fight for him? Sam, what are you talking about?"
Blue eyes widened as she realised what she had said. Dropping her arms, she looked down to the floor, at her feet. "Nothing..."
"Uh huh, okay." Carly looked at her friend, worried.
Sam looked up again, with a scene of seriousness playing out on her face. "Carls, there's something that I need to talk to you about."
"What is it?" Carly was definitely getting worried. At that moment, the bell for class rang. "Um, can this wait 'til later? We've got to get to class."
"Sure, Carlotta, it can wait." She watched as the brunette waved farewell, running up the stairs to her class.
Not wanting to get detention, Sam decided to actually go to class. She wondered to herself what the outburst was about. Fighting for him? Was it directed at Carly, or herself? Adjusting the strap of her bag, she walked off to her own class.
She spent the entire morning trying to parse the words and feelings that had come out earlier. She was never really worried about paying attention in class, anyway. She had let her feelings get the best of her, and she almost spilt her secret. At least, waiting 'til later would allow her some time to plan out how she was going to tell her best friend that they were in love with the same guy. At lunch, all three sat together, again. They were talking and laughing, forgetting their cares. Carly turned towards Sam.
"So, Sam, what did you want to talk about?"
"Oh, I'll tell you that later, okay?" Sam took a bite of her lunch.
"Are you sure?" Carly took a sip of peppy cola.
"Yeah."
"Is something wrong?" Freddie asked, before eating his sandwich.
Carly looked at Sam, who shook her head.
"Nothing, don't worry about it."
Freddie smiled at the two. "Don't tell me, girl talk."
"Something like that." Carly tucked a strand of brown behind her ear.
"All right, whatever you girls want." He took a drink of milk.
The rest of the lunch period went on as usual. Though, Carly could sense that there was something going on with Sam. She was worried. They continued as if nothing were the matter. Freddie didn't want to press the matter further, as he respected the two, and if they weren't going to speak of it, he wouldn't ask.
Later that day, they decided to once again go to Carly's apartment. They took the bus home, the cold winds not worth the walk. Along the way, Freddie was once again sandwiched between the two girls, he did his best not to seem overheated. They bus ride was quiet, with the sound of the winter wind in the background. The bus rambled down the road, stopping by Bushwell Plaza. The trio hopped off, finding the snow cleared from the front steps of the building. They entered, heat flowing out of the lobby. They walked in to find the doorman, sitting with his feet propped up on the front desk.
"So, Lewb, you finally got around to shovelling the walk." Sam tried to tame her wind-tousled hair.
"Yeah, no thanks to you!" Lewbert yelled, the hairs on his wart bristling. "My poor back!"
"It was your job." said Carly, pointing with her mitten-clad hand.
"Get outta here!" The doorman screeched at them.
They shrugged to each other, going up the stairs to hopefully have them warm up along the way. They made their way to the front door of Carly's apartment. Carly opened the door, and they went in to find Spencer setting up the Christmas Tree by the kitchen.
"Hey, guys, what's up?" Spencer popped up from beneath the tree.
"Hey, Spencer," The teens call out in unison.
"Setting up the tree?" Carly asked, Freddie closing the door behind them.
"Yuppers. Only eleven days 'til Christmas." Spencer went over to a large cardboard box, picking out ornaments.
"Shouldn't you be working on your ice sculpture?" Sam leapt onto the couch.
"I worked on it all morning," He put some ornaments onto a branch. "I figured I'd take a break, at least set up the tree, do the heavy lifting."
Carly patted her brother on the shoulder. "What would I do without you?"
Spencer responded, "You'd be lifting a tree, duh."
Carly rolled her eyes. She took her beret and her red coat off, hanging them on the coat rack. Freddie took off his pea coat and his muffler, as well. Sam lay there on the couch, lightly dozing. She was cuddled up in her coat.
Spencer went over to the coat rack, taking his coat and a long stocking cap from it. Putting his coat on, he stuck the cap atop his head.
"Where are you going?" Carly questioned as Spencer slipped on his gloves.
"Out to finish my sculpture, of course." He zipped up his jacket.
"What about the tree?"
"Aw, you guys can finish it." He opened the door.
"I'll go and help." Carly went to get her coat.
"Nah, have fun with Freddie and Sam. Later." He left, with a shut of the door.
"Okay," Carly shrugged. "you guys want to help me decorate the tree?"
"Sure." Freddie walked over to the ornament box.
"Sam?" Carly asked, placing a snowman on a branch.
The blonde let out a yawn. "Maybe later, mama's sleepy."
"Suit yourself." Smiling, Carly placed a Santa Claus to keep the snowman company.
Freddie picked out a few ornaments, placing them on the other side of the tree. As Sam snoozed on the couch, Freddie and Carly continued to decorate the tree. They put on small trinkets, and ropes of tinsel. Each grabbing an end of a string of lights, the two mobile teens ran in opposite directions around the tree. Going up and down, the two began stringing up lights.
Lazily opening an eye, Sam watched from the comfortable contours of the couch. She watched as her two best friends circled the real fir. It was real, due to the fact that Spencer could not be trusted with an artificial tree. They just kept bursting into flames. Closing her eyes again, she heard the laughing that was occurring by her. She felt a little on edge. Letting out a silent sigh, she tried to drown out the sounds with her own thoughts. Though, the only thoughts that she could come up with included her and a brown-haired tech weenie. She grunted, opening her eyes once more. She watched as Carly and Freddie had fun without her. Granted, it was her fault, for they had invited her. She wished that something would come up, so that the moment would just end. That was such a selfish thought, there was no way that—
There was a buzzing sound.
Carly pulled her mobile out of her pocket, looking at it. "Oh, I should take this. I'll be upstairs."
"Okay." Freddie hung another snowman, that time skiing, on the tree.
"Hello?" Carly answered as she ran up the stairs.
"Hey, Carly," the voice on the other side called.
"Hey, Adam."
"What's up?" Carly shut the door to her room.
"I just wanted to know about this morning."
"This morning?" She sat down at her vanity.
"Yeah, I thought that you liked me. So..."
She tucked a lock of brown tress behind her left ear. "I like you, I really do. It's just that there's someone else."
"Someone else?"
"Yeah, I'm sorry."
"Hey, that's cool, don't worry about it." She could hear the disappointment in his voice, he hid it poorly.
She smiled. "Thanks so much for understanding."
"Um, hey, I was wondering."
"What is it?"
"I was just wondering, if maybe, it was Freddie."
Her breath hitched in her throat. "W-why do you think that it's Freddie?"
"Just a hunch. He's the only guy you really hang out with."
"I guess."
"Is it him?"
She tugged on a strand of hair. "Yeah, it is."
"So, the 'Creddie' stuff is true, huh?"
"Kind of, something like that, sorry." She felt bad, she truly did. After all the things that she did to get his attention, when she had it, she no longer wanted it. It made her feel guilty.
"Hey, it's okay." He was attempting to make her feel better, she realised. It should be the other way around.
"I'll see you at school, then."
"Okay, 'bye."
"'bye, Carly." she heard him hang up on the other end.
Sighing, she took the phone away from her ear. She looked at the home screen on her PearPhone. It was a picture of the three of them, Freddie, Sam, and her. She didn't know it, but it was the same picture as on Sam's nightstand. She looked at it, smiling. Things were so much simpler when they had taken that photograph. They hadn't let 'those feelings' get in the way of the show, and their relationship. Things had become different. They had grown, and 'those feelings' had become stronger. She had wondered when she had fallen in love with Freddie. It seemed that it would eventually happen, with they way they were, how close they were. It was inevitable. She sighed, exiting her room. The sound of it shutting echoed in the bedroom.
Meanwhile, Freddie was still decorating the tree. He was having trouble trying to get the ornaments in their proper places. He believed that there were proper places. He looked at the tree, in it's Christmas finery, trying to achieve a balance.
"Hmm, maybe this one should go here."
Sam tossed on the couch.
"No, that won't work." He held the ornament out, imagining it on the branch.
"Just put the stupid ornament on the stupid tree," Sam yawned, sitting up. "Why do you have to be a dork about everything?"
"Everything has a proper place, that way things don't go to waste," he sang, mimicking his mother.
The blond shook her head. "Such a dork."
"I could get it done quicker if you helped me."
She got up from the couch, walking over to him. She took the snowflake from his hand, placing it on a random branch. "There. Done."
"I don't know, maybe it should—"
"Maybe," she interrupted him, "it should stay where it is."
"Fine." He surrendered, not wanting pain that day.
"Good boy." She patted his cheek.
"Want to help me with the rest of them?"
"Sure, why not?" She shrugged, picking another ornament out of the box. It was a gingerbread man. She tried her best not to bite it.
"That should go there." He pointed at a barren spot on the tree.
"Don't tell me what to do, Fredward."
He held up his hands. "Sorry."
"Help me out here, Freddork." She placed another one on the tree.
"Okay." He picked one out of the box.
They spent time hanging up the decorations. They took some cotton, placing the tufts on the branches. The tree was beginning to look respectable. They took some strings of lights, wrapping them around the green tower. Sam started to have fun. Though, she would never admit it. Tossing the string of tinsel around Freddie's neck, she created for him a boa. He laughed, taking it off and draping it on her shoulders. She enjoyed the smile on his face. Blue eyes met brown, as they continued to decorate the tree. She smiled at him, and he smiled back. She knew that it was just for her. It made her happy.
They took a string of lights, running around the tree, as he and Carly did earlier. Sam tried not to think of Carly, as the moment was only for her and Freddie. The tree was coming along well. She was pleased that things were going so well. She was also secretly pleased that she got time alone with Freddie. With Carly stating that she was in love, she thought that she may never get any chance with him. Luckily, Carly received that phone call. So, right then, Freddie was hers. A pang of guilt ran through her, and she stopped for a bit. Was it really right to try and go after Freddie, when she knew that Carly liked him. Especially since Carly didn't even know about how she felt? There was no time to think about that. Private time with Freddie was precious. As more and more girls started noticing Freddie, he would be more likely to forget her as a possibility. She couldn't let that happen. There must have been something there. Ever since their first kiss together. They were connected. That would never change.
"Hey, Sam, you okay?"
She shook out of her reverie. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Okay, let's keep going."
"Sure."
At that moment, Carly silently walked down the stairs, she saw that Sam was up and about, having had taken her place as Freddie's partner.
"Hey, I got you something." She began searching herself for a present.
Carly stopped on the steps, staying quiet. She slipped up to hide at the top of the stairs. Watching. Wondering.
"What? It's not Christmas, yet."
"Well, so what?" She sat down, pulling her shoes off.
"Sam, what are you doing?" Freddie wondered, as she untied her laces.
Pulling off her shoes, she grunted. She peeled off her socks, standing up to face him, once again.
"Here." She held her hands out, socks within them. "These are for you."
"Um, socks?"
"Yeah, just take 'em."
He reached out, taking the socks. They were Christmas themed, though there was one thing odd about them. The weren't matching. One was covered in snowmen and candy canes, the other with penguins with Santa hats and red-nosed reindeer.
"Um, these don't match."
"So, what?" Sam shrugged. "They're for you."
"Um, thanks, I guess." He held the small socks in his hands. "What are they for?"
"I don't know." Sam looked down, hiding her blush, the feel of her cheeks heating.
"Well, they won't fit me, I know that," he said, holding them up, inspecting them.
"Sorry," Sam whispered, embarrassed.
He laughed. "Don't be."
"Do you like them?"
"Of course, I do," he said, reassuringly. "I'd just like to know why."
"Oh, um, well, it's because... I owe you some socks."
He raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Well, they're to make up for the socks you've been missing."
"Wait, how did you know that I was missing socks?"
"Well, it's 'cause, I've been taking them."
Freddie's mouth opened wide. "You've been stealing my socks?"
Sam looked at her feet, scratching the back of her head. "Just the left ones."
He slapped himself on the forehead. "So, that's where they've been going!"
He had thought that it was just his imagination.
"It's kind of like how I used to sneak into your house, and put blue cheese dressing in your shampoo bottle," She admitted, looking back up at him to see him smiling.
"It's okay, I accept." He held up the socks. "Though, they're kind of stinky."
She quickly grabbed them out of his grasp. Turning around. "If you don't like 'em, then forget it!"
He quickly stepped up to, and around, to face her. He took her hands, gently taking the socks from her. He smiled, shaking his head.
"I said, I accept."
He received a smile in response. "Really?"
"Sure, why not?" He walked back to the tree. "I know just where to put it."
"Where?" She watched as he took an extra set of hooks, threading them through the socks, and hung them on the tree. That made her smile. "Really?"
"Yeah, I'm sure Carly wouldn't mind."
At the mention of her friend, she once again felt guilty. She noticed Freddie looking down. "What?"
"Your feet." He pointed. Her feet were there, on the wooden floor, bare. She wiggled her toes.
"They're kind of cold," she admitted.
"Sit on the couch," he instructed. She did so, and he grabbed her feet.
"I learned this the other day." He took her feet in his hands. They were warm to the touch. She sighed. He held them in his hands, rubbing them to warm them up. She sat there on the couch, melting into his hands. She was in heaven, feeling Freddie's fingers dance all over her feet like that. Not just her feet were warming up. She began to feel warm, down to the core. She could let it last forever. She tilted her head back as he continued to hold her feet. She let out a small purr.
Carly watched from the top of the stairs. She didn't know what to make of the scene in front of her. There were her two friends, in an intimate moment. What was she to do? It would be awkward to interrupt them. She hid herself around the wall, taking a deep breath. She could hear them talking.
"This feel better?"
"Wow, your hands are warm. It feels... nice."
"You warmed up, yet?"
"Not yet," Sam answered.
"I think that's enough." He smiled. Freddie gently placed her feet on the ground. "You know, you have small feet."
Sam smiled, she took pride in how petite they were.
"Still smell, though."
She kicked him in the face.
"Ow, what was that for?"
"For telling me my feet stink."
"They do!"
"Want me to kick you, again?" She began to chase him around in her bare feet.
It was at that moment, in which Carly decided to descend the staircase. "Hey, guys. Miss me?"
Freddie was in the midst of having his hair pulled, down on the ground, with his leg folded in half, Sam on top of him. They both looked up at her with surprise on their faces. Sam smiled, innocently.
"Carls, what's up?"
"Nothing, you two okay?"
"I'm fine," Freddie said from below.
"Everything's okay, here." Sam pulled Freddie's hair. Receiving a yelp from the boy.
"Okay, anyone want hot cocoa?"
"Sure," the blonde said, getting up off of her captive. She followed Carly to the kitchen.
"Coming Freddie?" asked Carly, preparing to make hot chocolate for the trio, a million thoughts swirling through her mind.
"Yeah, I'll be right there. Just give me a few minutes." He continued to lay on the floor, in pain.
By the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
two mismatched socks,
and a snowman shaped like Freddie.