Chapter Twelve: Something about this moment
It had been a few days since senior prom and Freddie hadn't spoken to Sam having left her with a proposal to consider. He had no idea where she stood on moving to California with him so all Freddie could do was continue his own preparations, he would be moving with or without Sam so he would have to be ready. Everything Freddie owned currently sat in various piles in his bedroom as he tried to determine what would be making the trip with him to California, what would be staying behind and what he no longer needed. He hadn't considered what a life-changing event going to college was until it had come to pack up his life into boxes. Everything was going to change and while he was excited for the journey ahead, he couldn't but mourn the part of his life that was coming to an end.
Freddie heard a knock at the door and the sound of a muffled conversation coming from outside his door. He ignored the sounds and continued to pack items away into boxes until his concentration was broken by the sound of his mother screaming his name from the living room. "FREDDIE!" Freddie threw the items he had in his hands onto the bed and went out into the living room.
"What?" He asked as he entered the living room but she didn't need to answer, Sam Puckett's presence in their living room told him everything before anyone had said a word. "We can talk in my room," He said, ignoring the disgusting look on his mother's face.
"LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN," She screamed as Freddie turned and led Sam into his bedroom, closing the door behind them.
"Sorry about the mess," Freddie said as he positioned himself between Sam and the majority of his boxes. There was an awkward energy between them as both knew there was a lingering question in the air and they were both holding their breath until it was answered.
"I talked to my mum about what you said, she was surprisingly having a good day yesterday," Sam said, fidgeting with the cuff on her jacket.
"Sam…" Freddie began, his voice sounding defeated as he expected her to shoot his proposal down. It had been a long shot, whatever Sam had planned for herself after high school it had been unrealistic for him to expect her to move across the country with him.
"No Freddie let me finish, I spoke to my mum because I can't just pack and leave without giving her a heads up," Sam struggled to hold back a smile as she got her words out. For Freddie, it was as if a weight had been lifted from him. The prospect of a difficult conversation had been avoided, they wouldn't have to decide between a long-distance relationship or a breakup.
"I'm a little surprised, taking off without a word sounds exactly like something you'd do," Freddie laughed.
"You really want to poke holes in my character when I just agreed to move across the country with you?" Sam raised her eyebrow at Freddie and smirked. Freddie held up his hands in mock surrender and laughed.
"Okay fair point, but since you're coming with me you can help me pack," Sam laughed at the suggestion.
"Nice try Benson, I've got my own crap to sort out," Sam moved forward and planted a quick kiss on Freddie's lips before she darted towards his bedroom door. "Besides, your mom's gonna freak out if I stay in here much longer with the door closed, catch you later Benson,"
"Bye Sam, I love you,"
"Love you too,"
Carly felt like she had been in limbo ever since the senior prom and their time at high school had come to an end. Things between her and her two best friends felt over and there might be a time in the future when the trio came together again, things had felt finale the last time she had seen Freddie and Sam wasn't the most forgiving person at the best of times so stealing her boyfriend was a good way to get in the blonde's bad books. Carly sat alone in the groovy smoothie picking at the pile of napkins that lay on her table while her smoothie went untouched. Whatever happened next Carly knew her life wouldn't be the same, maybe it was a good thing with everything so up in the air that she was heading out of state for college. She could reinvent herself, as much as a mild internet celebrity could reinvent herself. For the first time since she had started her web show, Carly hoped that where she was heading, no one had seen it.
The bell above the shop door rang and Carly instinctively looked up, half expecting, half hoping that it was Sam or Freddie and she would have a chance to make things right. It wasn't, rather it was Jennette. The two girls waved at each other and after getting herself a smoothie Jennette returned to Carly's table. It was a curious situation that Carly found herself in as she and Freddie's ex had become better friends after the pair had broken up. Jennette of course was not aware she too had recently confessed feelings for Freddie, giving them something else in common. "Hey Jen," Carly smiled at the girl as she took her seat.
"Hey," Jennette responded quietly as she took a few quick sips from her smoothie.
"What's wrong?"
"I've heard something that's making me reconsider my college decision," Jennette sighed.
"What?"
"Sam is going with Freddie when goes to college,"
"WHAT?" Carly yelled not realising how loud her voice would be. "She's doing what?!" Jennette grimaced as she nodded along with Carly's reaction.
"Yeah, so now not only do I have to go to college with my ex-boyfriend, but the girl he left me for is gonna be hanging around," She sighed as she placed her smoothie on the table with a soft thud. "College," She said with a mock cheer.
"So much for getting away from my problems," Carly sighed. "It was one thing when it was just Freddie in the next city over, but Sam too, I might as well not be moving," Jennette laughed.
"We'll have our own happy reunion in California," Jenette scoffed and a silence fell between the two girls as they contemplated what awaited them when they got to college. Jennette envied Carly, for as much as she talked about it being harder to avoid Freddie and Sam, she would be in a different city. Jennette would be on the same campus as Freddie, and physically running into him would be a very likely possibility, when it had just been him it would have been difficult but she had convinced herself she could live with it, but the idea that she could run into Sam in her new daily life was a whole new ball game. She will be given a constant reminder of why she and Freddie were no longer together and worse, she'd have to see Freddie and Sam flaunt their new relationship.
"What is Sam even gonna do in California?" Carly asked, breaking the silence after a long few minutes. In response Jennette simply shrugged her shoulders, Carly thought she looked like she was reconsidering all of her life choices at that moment.
"Ask her maybe?" Jennette suggested.
"Yeah, maybe," Carly had been thinking about the best way to speak to Sam before she left. She suspected her former best friend wouldn't want to speak to her but after everything they had been through Carly didn't want to just pack up and leave without a word. Now Sam would be close by when she went to college, making speaking to her all the more important. Proximity meant hope and Carly wasn't quite ready to give up on her oldest friendship. "I gotta go, I'll hopefully see you before we leave right?" Carly said, getting out of her seat and grabbing her coat.
"Yeah sure," Jennette seemed too deep in her own thoughts to really know what was happening.
"See you around," Carly smiled at the girl and made her way out of the groovy smoothie, leaving Jennette alone to consider the decisions she had in front of her.
