Chapter Eleven: Have to Say Goodbye
The difference between Sam and Carly was something that had been to Sam her entire life. She was always called too aggressive, too unapproachable and just generally unpleasant next to Carly who was bubbly, beautiful and a delight. Sam only met new people because of Carly, and the new people didn't usually take to her. Freddie was the only person who ever stuck in there to find out what lay just beneath the surface. Sam always knew that he stuck around in the early days because of his crush on Carly but she liked to think that over the years they became genuine friends and what started out as bullying soon became gentle banter between good friends. Sometimes, Sam would take a good look at it, and wonder if she and Freddie had ever truly been friends or if she was just someone she put up with for the sake of being around his true crush. That trail of thought was only ever explored after therapy. Her therapist had a way of making her take a good hard look at her life, generally she could look as close as she wanted and it wouldn't make too much difference, she would see herself as an aggressive slacker with a best friend and a possible friend of convenience. Now, when she examined her life what she saw was frightening. She saw a vulnerable young girl on the brink of starting her life with no plan, a boyfriend she didn't trust with his old crush, a best friend she pushed away out of jealousy. What did she really have? Not much at all.
High school was almost over, college was just around the corner and for the first time Freddie was unsure about his plans. He had wanted to go to Caltech for as long as he could remember but now he felt himself dreading the idea of moving out to California. Carly had always held a similar desire to go to USC, he didn't know why but the image of going had always been embedded in her mind. Freddie had always assumed that by the time they went to college they would be dating, or at the very least she had become more open to the idea and being together in California would be the tipping point. At that point he had never imagined he would in fact end up with Sam who as far as he knew had no college plans and would most likely be staying in Seattle. Freddie didn't want to leave her, but he couldn't not go, not after he had worked so hard for so long to be in his position.
Sam wanted to go with Freddie, it took her so long to admit her feelings about him to herself and then to him. After all it took for the two of them together it seemed wrong that the timing of their relationship and the distance about to be put between them would be their downfall. "It's not fair," Sam muttered as she paced up and down in her room. She picked up her phone and held it in the palm of her hand with Freddie's contact profile on screen. She hit dial, "Freddie we need to talk," She paused for his reply. "Can't say it over the phone, meet me at the Groovy Smoothie," She hung up and flung herself on her bed. She had no idea why she had called this meeting or what she was going to say to him, but she knew they had to talk. Waiting for the end was driving her mad.
Freddie didn't want to go without Sam. He couldn't just ask her to go with him, there was no way he could drag her to California then fob her off while he went to college. After all that time, wanting, waiting, dating Jennette, stealing glances in class, it was unfair that it had to end like this. Freddie's phone began to ring and he fished it out of his pocket. It was Sam, "Hello," he answered. "Talk about what?" He asked with worry in his tone. "Ok, I'll see you there," She hung up. Freddie swallowed hard, Sam wanted to talk and she wanted to talk now. He couldn't begin to imagine what they would say to each other but they did need to talk, neither of them could sit around waiting for his departure and hope for best. Something had to be done, something had to be said, something had to be decided.
Freddie sat nervously at a table in the Groovy smoothie. He nursed his smooth with numb hands as he waited for Sam to arrive. As she walked in he took a good look at her, he took in her beautiful curly blonde hair and piercing eyes and wondered how he ever over looked her. He waved at her and she made her way over. "Hey Freddie," She almost whispered as she sat down. She didn't lean in for a kiss, she had Freddie worried already.
"You sounded so urgent, is everything okay?" He asked.
"Freddie, we've been tip towing around the subject for weeks now but we need to talk about this, your leaving me soon,"
"Why do you have to put it like that, I'm going to college not walking out on you and the kids," He said, he notice the corner of her mouth twitch and that was enough. She wasn't all business.
"We can put it however you want but you are going, come late August you'll be in California and I'll be here," She said.
"It doesn't have to be that way,"
"What do you mean?" She asked raising her eyebrow.
"Come with me," Freddie couldn't believe he had said the words and from the look on Sam's face neither could she.
"What?" She asked dumbstruck.
"Come with me, you don't have any college plans do you and as far as I know no post high school plans at all, come with me to California, enrol at one of the colleges, or even community college or get a job, hell," He chuckled, "lay around in your underwear until I come home whatever, just come with me," Freddie held his breath and waited, he couldn't believe what he had just suggested, Sam was looking back at him with the same tinkle in her eye he assumed Juliet had when Romeo proposed and the smile on her lips that made him fall in love with her in the first place.
"Freddie..." Sam began to say. Freddie reached out and cupped her hand stopping her in her tracks.
"It's crazy, I know that. Just think about it, sleep on it, tell your mom, just take some time," He smiled and she smiled back. Freddie's smile always had a calming effect on Sam and that was a time she needed calming. Freddie got to his feet and slipped on his jacket. "Just think about it," He leant down and kissed her cheek. Sam was left with her fingers tracing the outline of his lips of her cheek for sometime after he left. 'What now Sam Puckett?' She thought to herself. Her phone vibrated in front of her and she read her new message. I love you, know think. Freddie xx.
