Twelve Days of Christmas-
Chapter Three: The Third Day of Christmas
It was another day closer to Christmas, and she wasn't getting any closer to Freddie. She sat in front of her vanity, brushing her long brown hair. She looked at herself in the mirror, with a look that said 'Carly Shay, don't you give up!'. Her momentary excitement lasted only that, a moment. She relived the scene from the prior night, in which Sam was experiencing an intimate moment with their brown-haired technical producer.
Freddie had looked to be massaging Sam's feet, and by the looks of it, Sam was having quite the experience. Her head was back, and she was moaning softly. Carly shook the image out of her head. Jealousy crept under her skin, as she unwittingly began to brush harder. She put the brush down on the table, in order to save her hair any more torture. Letting out a long sigh, she wondered if what she was suspecting were true. She could only posit what Sam was trying to tell her the other day.
"Is she...?"
"Hey, Carls, you here?" a feminine voice called from down the hall.
"Yeah, I'm here, Sam!" She watched in the mirror as her door opened, revealing her blonde co-host. The reflection waved to her. She turned to wave back. "What's up?"
"Nothing, much. Just thought that I'd hitch a ride with you guys today." She waltzed into the room, wearing a pair of blue jeans and a brown peasant girl blouse, large winter coat draped over her.
"Really, why?"
"Ah, no reason." Sam leapt onto Carly's bed, uninvited.
"I see." Carly felt that she might know what the reason was. "Hey, about that thing that you wanted to talk about, yesterday, what was it?"
"Oh, that. Right." Sam drew circles on the bed sheets with her finger. She had a worried look on her face.
"Was it important?" The intonation in Carly's voice was high at the last word.
"Important? Um, kind of."
"You want to tell me?" Carly sat facing her friend since forever. She didn't want to speculate anymore. Though, she was afraid of what Sam was about to say. She didn't want to hear what she thought she was going to hear, but she needed to hear it. It was a moment that could possibly change everything that they had become used to.
Sam sat up, crossing her legs on the bed. "Carly, I—"
It was then, that they heard a low voice. "Hey, Carly, are you up yet?"
The footsteps approached the door, which had been left open when Sam had come in. Sam immediately shut her mouth, and both girls stared at the doorway. Soon, a boy with brown hair appeared in the doorway, wearing dark blue jeans, and his newly-become-signature black pea coat, completely buttoned up for maximum warmth. He was smiling, as per usual.
"There, you are. Morning." He noticed the blonde curls on the bed. "Oh, hey, Sam. What are you doing here?"
Carly instantly smiled. "Hey, Freddie."
"Hey, Fredwart, just wanted to go to school with you guys." She smiled at him. Carly noticed. There was a light in her eyes. The same glint that Carly had in her eyes when Freddie had stepped in the room.
"Is that so?" Freddie asked, smirking. "Doesn't that involve getting up early?"
Sam smiled back. "Some things are worth getting up for."
Carly jumped up. "We'd better get going, or we'll be late for school!" She grabbed Freddie's arm, pulling him along.
Freddie looked at his watch. "You're right, the bus will leave without us!"
Sam leapt from the bed, following the two out. They went down the stairs, Carly picking up her red cap, and throwing her red coat around her blue blouse and black jeans. They ran through the living room, where they took the lift down to the lobby. The ride down was quiet. Carly felt a little guilty for interrupting the eye contact from earlier. She rationalised that they would have been late, so it was all right. Maybe, though, she was just seeing things. She set it to the back of her mind. Keeping her arm wrapped around Freddie's, she neglected to notice the jealous stare that Sam gave them.
They barely made it to the bus stop on time. They raced onto the bus, just as the door closed. They scrunched together on one bench seat. The ride was quiet, as the bus rumbled through town. The snow had begun to fall once again, powdering the people on the streets, passing by. The bus ride was interrupted by some ribbing from Sam. Freddie was the target, of course. The blonde playfully poked him, causing him to make a less-than-masculine yelp. Carly was too distracted, a storm of thoughts fogging her mind. She continued to look out the window, the snow falling from above.
"Hey, Carly, you all right?"
She turned towards Freddie. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"You don't seem fine."
She noticed that Sam was staring as well. She smiled to the both of them. "Yeah, I'm fine," she reiterated.
"Okay," said Freddie, unconvinced. Sam had a similar look upon her face.
The bus continued on its way to the school. Sam knocked Freddie on the head, giving him an exclamation of 'worrywart'. Though, she too, was worried.
Once at school, the teens went to their lockers, getting their books for the next class. The hallway was busy, and there were students everywhere, bustling about, rushing off to class.
Carly shut her locker. "I can't wait for winter break."
"Yeah, baby," Sam danced around. "break! Break!"
"Calm down, Sam." Carly laughed. "We have a few days."
"Not just a few days, tomorrow. Then, break!"
"Celebrate later, Puckett." Freddie threw his sling bag on. "We still have class, today."
"Yeah, yeah, Fredwart. I know." She smiled at him. She punched him in the arm, going off in a separate direction. "See you guys, later."
"Later, Sam." Freddie waved.
"'Bye, Sam." Carly smiled, since they had a moment alone. "Hey, Freddie, would you mind walking me to class?"
He smiled. "Not at all, Ms. Shay." He held out his arm. Carly took it, once again.
As he escorted her up the stairs, she could only let out, "So, gentlemanly, of you."
...
Sam roamed the halls of Ridgeway School. It was afternoon, and she didn't fell like going to class, anymore. She wandered around, exploring the building. Creeping silently, she made sure as to not make her presence known. The last thing that she wanted was to be thrown into detention that day. Finding a nice, quiet spot, she sat down. She leant back, relaxing, as she wondered what she and her best friends were going to do after school. Then, she remembered what happened outside of Bushwell Plaza. A worried look crossed her face. They had been holding hands, Freddie and Carly. They had been getting nice and cosy. She remembered the jealousy in her eyes as she gazed down on the two.
Her heart beating quickly, her thoughts immediately leapt to the prior day, in which, Freddie held her, as well. Well, not in the same way as he did Carly, mind you, but he held a part of her. They may have been her feet, but there was still some physical contact. She recalled how he held her cold feet, his hands warm. She smiled at the thought. It was a nice moment, until he said that her feet smelt. Her feet didn't smell, they truly didn't.
She had yet to tell Carly about how she felt about Freddie. She really didn't know how to go about it. After what Carly had told her, how could she lay down such a surprise. Though, she couldn't just let it go like that. She had promised Carly that there would be no more secrets between them. The question was, how would Carly react to the little tidbit of information. She shook her head; whatever would happen, would happen. She couldn't keep it a secret anymore.
The bell rang, signalling the end of the day. Students piled out of the classrooms, getting ready to go home. Sam got up, dusting herself off. She ran over to the main hallway, in which her locker resided. There, she put her books away, and awaited Carly and Freddie. She did not have to wait long, as they soon appeared, talking and laughing.
"Hey, guys." Sam waved.
"Hey, Sam." They said in unison. Sam cringed.
"What's up?" she asked, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Nothing, much, how was class?" asked Carly.
"Ah, didn't go," Sam responded, pulling a half-eaten Fatcake out of her pocket, "I was feeling lazy."
Freddie laughed. "Since when do you ever not feel lazy?"
"True, dork."
"Sam Puckett!" a loud voice called from across the hall.
"Oh, great, it's Mr. Howard." Sam awaited her scolding.
Mr. Howard came up to them, scowling. "Sam Puckett, you were ditching class!"
"What proof do you have?" Sam took a bite of her Fatcake.
"I saw you come out of hiding when class ended!"
"So what?" Another bite taken.
"Detention, that's what!" Mr. Howard grabbed her arm. She struggled against him.
"Mr. Howard, it's the holidays," Carly pleaded, "could you please let Sam go, this time?"
"Hmm, let me think about it," He posed, mock thinking. "No!"
As he dragged Sam away, Freddie and Carly could hear her calling to them, "I'll meet you guys later, and the Groovy Smoothie!"
A sudden jerk made the Fatcake fall from her hand. "Hey, my Fatcake!"
They looked at each other, and shrugged. It seemed as though, they were going to the Groovy Smoothie. They put away their books, shutting their lockers, and boarded the bus to go home, where they would walk to the shop.
The bus ride was quieter without Sam there, and that meant the there was time for Carly and Freddie to be alone. They made their way to the Groovy Smoothie, the cold wind blowing, and the snow falling. They were welcomed by the warmth of the shop as they entered through the doors. The atmosphere was festive and jubilant as they looked at the holiday decorations strewn all over. They took a seat at their usual table, Carly sitting across from Freddie. Carly dropped he bag on the floor with a 'thump'.
Freddie smirked. "That sounded heavy."
"Yeah, it was." She massaged her shoulder. "They give way too much homework before break."
After watching her rotate her shoulders, and crack her neck, for the tenth time, Freddie pulled up a seat beside her.
"What are you doing?"
Freddie merely smiled at her. "Let me take care if that."
He gently placed his hands upon her tired shoulders, his fingers, though warmed by then, still sent shivers down her spine. He began massaging, loosening the tension throughout her petite frame. She nestled into it, enjoying every nuanced moment. She found her breathing to become slower, and more relaxed. She move her head to and fro, feeling his fingers dance across her muscles, his hands soothing away the stress of another school day. He moved his thumbs to rub the area by he crook of her neck, and she almost melted. She wondered where he had learnt to give massages like that. He slid down to her back, ridding her shoulder blades of the tension stored there. She was in heaven, and she showed it. Her eyes rolled back, she closed her lids, blocking out any visuals that would distract from the moment.
He could hear her let out a soft moan, loud enough for only him to hear. The rest of the shop was not included in the little intimate moment that they were having. In Carly's mind, it was just the two of them, and nothing could pull her away from the moment. What was happening, was something that she had always hoped would happen. Freddie was giving her something special, pleasure. She could wallow in that feeling forever and ever. He had her in such a way, that, he could have done anything he wanted to her, and she would care not. The thought gave rise to heat in her cheeks, and she swallowed. She broke out of her trance to realize that they were doing something very intimate in a very public place. Her cheeks became redder. She hoped it would never end. Breaking the silence that was their special moment, a voice called out.
"Hey, get a room, you two!"
A chorus of wolf whistles and clapping echoed around them, and she opened her eyes to find everyone staring at them. Freddie blushed, dropping his hands from her back and shoulders.
The owner of the establishment came up to them, holding a stick with food on it. "Want to buy some soup?"
"No, thanks, T-Bo." Freddie said.
"Could we get some smoothies, though?" Carly asked.
"Sure, what do you want?"
"What have you got?"
"We got some new flavour for the holidays, eggnog smoothies."
"Eggnog?" Freddie looked at Carly, questioningly.
"Sure, why not?"
T-Bo nodded. "Two eggnog smoothies coming up!"
Freddie moved back to his seat, across from Carly.
Carly tucked some long hair behind her ear. "Well, that was nice."
"You feeling better?" Freddie scratched the back of his head.
"Yeah, I guess so, thanks." She blushed.
"You're welcome," he said, blushing as well.
"Where, um, did you learn that?"
Freddie shrugged.
"Trying to be mysterious, Mr. Benson?"
"Maybe."
She leant forward on the table. "Well, it's working."
"Is it?" He wiggled his eyebrows. They laughed together.
T-Bo called to them that the smoothies were ready. As Freddie got up to pay, Carly stopped him, saying that she would get them. She picked up the smoothies, returning to the table. She handed one to Freddie, keeping one for herself.
"I could have paid, you know." He took a sip. "Hey, this is pretty good."
"It's for the massage." She had some of her smoothie, it did taste good. "Thank you, again."
"Sure thing." He smiled at her, drinking more smoothie. An empty echo came from the bottom of his cup.
"You're done, already?"
"I guess it was too good to stop."
Carly stood up. "I'll get you another one."
He watched as she walked over to the counter. He was happy, spending time with Carly. He enjoyed giving her the massage. It was nice to get to touch her. He couldn't believe that she had let him. From the looks of it, she enjoyed it, as well. It was something that he had never thought would happen. He flashed back to the moment with Sam the other day. Another thing that he never thought that he would do was to touch the blonde demon in an intimate way. Carly came back with his smoothie. He shook it out of his head. He should focus on Carly, since she was the one that was there with him.
They laughed and talked, winding down the hours while the snow blew around outside. Freddie was enjoying the talk with Carly, and they talked about a myriad of things. They also spoke of the webshow, which they were going to be doing the next day. Freddie thought of Sam once again, but brushed it out of his head. She wasn't there. Before he knew it, he had finished yet another smoothie. Shaking her head, Carly went to get him another one. The door to the Groovy Smoothie opened, a cold wind rushed in. Sam entered in from the cold. She waved to her friends.
"Heya, peeps. What's happening?"
"Hey, Sam." Freddie sipped his cup, then realised that there was nothing there. He shook his empty cup. It was taken out of his hand, and replaced with a fresh cup.
Carly smiled. "Hey, Sam, out of detention?" She offered Sam a seat.
"Yes, Carls, I am." She took a seat. Followed by Carly.
"I don't know if I can finish another one," Freddie said, letting out a sigh.
"Then I don't mind if I do." Sam grabbed the cup out of Freddie's grasp.
"Hey!"
"You said you didn't want it," Sam defended herself.
"No, I said that I didn't know if I could finish it."
"Same thing."
"No, I was still going to try."
"Too bad." She took a long sip.
"Give me that, back," He reached for it. "Carly bought that for me."
"For what? You have money."
"For the massage," replied Freddie.
"Massage?" questioned Sam.
Freddie watched as Carly shook her head.
"Nothing, it's nothing." He lifted his hands as Sam came up to him, grabbing his collar. "It was nothing, I swear!"
"Spill it!"
"Freddie just gave me a shoulder rub," Carly explained, not wanting Freddie to get hurt, "that's all. It was nothing."
"You gave her a shoulder rub?" Sam looked hurt.
"She had sore shoulders, I just helped relieve the tension."
She looked at Carly, who nodded. She let him go. "Okay, if that's all it was."
She sat back down, and Carly wondered why Sam was acting so upset about the massage. She said that she supported her going after Freddie, so what was the problem? She whispered in her ear if things were okay, and Sam whispered back that she had a bad day at detention. Sam also said that she 'did good' getting Freddie to massage her. Carly was happy, and relieved, that Sam was all right with it. Still, she had her doubts about whether Sam truly had a bad day at school, or that there was something else that troubled her. That in turn, troubled Carly.
"Hey, what are you girls whispering about?" Freddie asked, taking the chance to grab his smoothie back.
Both girls turned towards him, and said, "Girl talk."
"Of course," he sighed, taking another sip of his smoothie.
By the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
three smoothies,
two mismatched socks,
and a snowman shaped like Freddie.