・ Notes ・
The events of this chapter occur before what happened in iSpeed Date. I recommend watching the episode again, as many details will be modified in the next chapter. So, don't worry, the entire chapter will be Seddie.
Songs I listened to while writing: "Cry for Me" (Twice - English version), "Just Like Fire" (P!nk), "On My Way" (Alan Walker, Sabrina Carpenter, Farruko), "Just a Dream" (Christina Grimmie and Sam Tsui), Stranger Things (Kygo, OneRepublic, Alan Walker) and "Cheerleader" (OMI, Felix Jaehn). Although the lyrics don't necessarily match what's happening in the chapter, these songs helped me a lot, especially 'Just a Dream' & 'Cheerleader'.
Spotify list:
playlist/7crncM3BTjotuD0zgwY3Mt?si=815349de4ae94037
Note: If you're reading this outside of Wattpad, you can search for the story in that app or on the web and check out the commentary.
Note 2: The story is also available under the same name on , Ao3 & Quotev.
Well, I won't keep you any longer here. I hope you enjoy your reading. Blessings!
૮₍ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ ₎ა
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[- iWanna go to the dance -]
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The following days were quite busy for Sam and Freddie, preventing them from spending time alone together. Despite this, they managed to exchange occasional messages and spend some time with Carly. Though they couldn't be as affectionate as they would like, they found joy in their playful teasing. It was a peculiar way of spending time together, but neither of them really minded.
That particular day, they were at Carly's house rehearsing for the next iCarly episode. After the rehearsal, the three of them decided to relax by watching a movie in the studio. Carly made the popcorn while Sam and Freddie went to buy drinks and chips. Once they were back and settled in, a small problem arose: they couldn't agree on which movie to watch. Well, Sam and Freddie were "arguing" about which movie genre was superior. To an outsider, it might have seemed like a genuine disagreement, but for them, it was just a playful tug-of-war, an act they found amusing.
However, both of them forgot that Carly wasn't aware of this. From her perspective, her friends were having another senseless argument. Eventually, she gave up on trying to get their attention and reached for the water spray she had kept for them in the studio. She proceeded to spray each of them twice until they both turned to her, looking bewildered.
"Hey, what was that for?" Sam complained, using her shirt to wipe the water from her face.
"Yeah, why did you do that?" Freddie asked.
"I can't believe you're even asking," Carly responded, placing a hand on her hip. "I did it because you've been arguing like an old married couple for over five minutes."
"It's not my fault he talks so much nonsense," Sam defended herself.
"I wasn't talking nonsense, I was just trying to suggest a movie to watch," Freddie retorted.
"One of your nerdy, silly choices, you mean."
"Just because you don't like a movie doesn't mean it's..."
"Okay, enough!" Carly cut them off, grabbing a random movie and handing it to Freddie. "Just put this on and that's it. I don't care. Once you're alone, you two can argue all you want without driving me crazy in the process."
"Fine," Freddie said, taking the disc. When he saw the cover, he grimaced in disgust. "Aw, but it's a romantic movie. Those things are for girls."
"Excuse me? I'm a girl, and I hate them," Sam protested. Freddie shrugged as he placed the CD in the player. Seeing that her comment was ignored, Sam turned to Carly. "You know, the nerd has a point. Why did you choose that when you know we both hate that kind of stuff?"
"I didn't do it on purpose; I picked it randomly. But I'm not changing it, so don't keep insisting," Carly explained as she arranged her blanket on the floor. Once everything was ready, Carly looked at her friends with a more relaxed expression. "Look, it's not that I don't enjoy spending time with you, but sometimes these arguments stress me out a lot. So, could you try to get along while we watch the movie, please? You can keep arguing later if you want."
Sam and Freddie exchanged glances, sharing their thoughts silently. "I think we went a bit overboard," Freddie signaled with raised eyebrows. Sam nodded in agreement. Then, they both said "okay" to Carly in a synchronized manner they no longer bothered to hide.
Sam settled into one of the poufs on the floor, and when Freddie started the movie, he took her bowl of popcorn and sat down next to Sam. Carly wouldn't have been surprised if it weren't for the fact that Sam seemed to have positioned herself a bit closer to Freddie, but maybe she was just getting comfortable, and Carly was just reading too much into it.
The movie started, and the three of them remained silent. The first fifteen minutes were so cliché that Carly was surprised her friends hadn't started complaining and criticizing it. It looked like they actually intended to behave this time, which would have pleased Carly if the movie hadn't been so boring.
After half an hour, Carly asked if they wanted to change it, but both strangely refused and continued watching. Carly couldn't understand what they found interesting if it was just another film where the protagonists argued and then fell in love—the usual formula. However, she didn't say anything and excused herself to go get more popcorn in the kitchen. She took a bit longer than expected because she got distracted watching TV in the living room. Then, she received a notification about school on her phone that excited her, so she decided to share it with her friends. She grabbed some chips and drinks in a bag, hoping they wouldn't question her delay.
When Carly returned, she found them completely engrossed in the movie. With a playful smile, she approached them just as the final scene played out.
And I thought they didn't want to watch it, Carly thought, smiling to herself. She said nothing and went back to her spot next to Sam, who immediately grabbed one of the chips she had brought without taking her eyes off the screen. Carly felt that Freddie glanced at them briefly, but since he didn't comment, neither did she.
When the movie ended, no one spoke a word. Carly glanced at them, expecting some kind of comment, but they remained silent.
"Hey, why the sudden silence?" Carly questioned
"I thought you didn't want us to argue," Sam said.
"Yes, but you don't have to be so quiet either. You can talk."
"I can't think of anything to say right now," Freddie admitted.
"Same here." Sam ate one of her chips before offering some to Freddie, who took one and ate it calmly, missing Carly's confusion. Since when did Sam share her food, let alone with Freddie? Her confusion went unnoticed by Sam, who resumed chatting with her friend. "So, what took you so long downstairs? Did Spencer need you for something?"
"No, but I got a message from Wendy that really excited me." Carly pulled out her phone and showed the message to her friends. "Here, read it for yourselves."
"'I was talking to the student council president, and he said there's a dance coming up at school. And guess what, the girls are asking,'" Sam read, looking at her friend with a bit of disbelief. "That's what got you so excited?"
"Yes! It's been a while since they did any fun activities at school, aside from the locker thing. So I'm really happy about the chance to go to the dance."
Sam and Freddie exchanged a look and smiled softly, knowing that their friend was probably more excited about the chance to go with someone specific rather than the dance itself.
"And I guess that excitement is because you have someone in mind, right?" Sam guessed.
"Is it that obvious?"
"A little bit, yes," Freddie replied. "So, who is it?"
"He's a cute guy from one of my classes. Sam already knows who he is."
"Wait a minute. Are you talking about that guy?" Carly nodded, and Sam gave her a pat on the shoulder. "Aw, that's my brave girl. You two will make a cute couple for sure."
"Thanks, but I have to ask him first. I just hope no one else asks him before I can see him again, or that he doesn't reject me. Whichever comes first."
"Excuse me? Of course, he'll say yes. Who could possibly turn down my girl?" Sam said, offended as if she were a mother defending her daughter.
"He'd have to be crazy or already have a girlfriend," agreed Freddie, supporting his girlfriend.
"Well, it's not like it's mandatory to accept, so I've to consider that possibility," Carly reasoned. Seeing that Sam was about to say something else, she added, "And what about you guys? Do you have anyone special in mind?"
Freddie thought it would be fun to go with Sam, but he didn't voice it. After all, the girls were the ones doing the asking, and it wasn't like Sam would admit that they might go together, at least not without discussing it privately first.
"Nope," answered Sam, leaving both her friend and secret boyfriend puzzled.
"Really? Not even with..." Carly stopped herself, remembering Freddie was present and gave Sam a knowing look."You know who."
Though Carly whispered, Freddie heard and was even more confused. Who was Carly referring to? A guy Sam had liked months ago? Or maybe Sam had invented a fake interest, like he had, to mislead Carly. He knew the latter was the more reasonable option and that he should stay quiet, but he couldn't help but say something (and feel a bit jealous).
"Who's 'you-know-who'?" Freddie asked. Carly gave Sam an apologetic look because she hadn't intended for him to find out, but instead of being angry, Sam looked at Freddie with curiosity.
Was he a bit jealous? It wouldn't be new; she'd seen Freddie get jealous over guys involved with Carly before, but rarely about her. Maybe she'd tease him about it later.
"That 'you-know-who' is a guy from school that I'm seeing every now and then," Sam explained slowly, pointing at Freddie, who understood that it was just a cover for both of them. "But I'm not really interested in going, so there's no point in inviting him."
"But I thought you liked him," Carly commented.
"I did, but we agreed to just be friends, so it doesn't matter," Sam insisted. "And as I said, I really don't feel like going anyway."
"But why? Is it because you don't have anyone to go with, or do you think it will be boring?" Sam didn't answer her friend but shrugged, indicating that she wasn't going to respond. "Alright, I won't push it. If you don't wanna go, don't, but promise me that if you find a guy who's worth it, you'll invite him," Carly asked, extending her pinky. Sam sighed and made the promise. "Good. Now what about you, Freddie?"
Freddie, who was staring at the ice left in his glass, looked at Carly, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Come on, don't play dumb," Carly pressed. "Don't tell me you're planning to just sit on your hands about your mysterious girl."
"Mysterious and bad," Sam added, getting up with another bag of chips in hand. "Well, if you want to keep talking about Freddie's bad girl, go ahead. I'm going downstairs to nap" she announced, heading for the elevator.
"Wait, are you going to sleep on the couch or in my room?" Carly inquired.
"I was thinking of the couch, but your room sounds better."
"Fine, but don't eat in my bed!"
"No promises!" Sam responded as the elevator doors closed completely.
I guess I'll have to change my sheets tonight, Carly thought, turning to Freddie. She crossed her legs and looked at him expectantly, as if she were his love therapist.
"So, where were we?"
Freddie adjusted himself, trying to recall their conversation before Sam's interruption.
"You mentioned something about 'sitting on my hands,'" Freddie reminded her. "But I don't get what you mean. If girls are supposed to invite guys to the dance, it's up to her to approach me. There's nothing I can do about it."
"Not with that attitude," Carly replied. Seeing his confusion, she continued, "I'm talking about the attitude of just waiting for something to happen. I get that girls should invite, but if you just sit back and wait for her to approach you, it might never happen. You need to take some initiative and let her know you want to go to the dance with her—or at least that you want to spend time with her."
Freddie listened carefully, considering how to apply this advice to his situation with Sam. She had already said she wasn't interested in going, and she knew he was somewhat interested. But what if Carly was right and Sam didn't know he wanted to go with her? Maybe he should tell her or do something to change her mind. The question was, what could he do? He decided to ask Carly now that they were on the topic.
"I understand what you're saying, but I'm not sure what I could do. Any ideas or advice?"
"Since I don't know her, I wouldn't know what to advise you. Unless you stop being so mysterious and tell me who she is," Carly tried to persuade him, but Freddie just shrugged, so she continued, "Well, since you're not sharing, here's some general advice: try buying her something she likes, be a bit more friendly, I don't know. You know her better, so you'll figure out what will work."
"And wouldn't it be weird if I suddenly started doing all that this week? I don't want her to think I'm pushing things."
"No, because it's not about forcing a connection, but about showing her that you care and that you're interested."
Freddie nodded slowly, starting to understand. He stayed silent for a moment, thinking about what he could do to convince Sam to go with him. But what if she still said no?
"And if she says no?"
"Then try asking someone else. Just because she's your 'date' doesn't mean you're a couple. You can always go with a friend if things don't work out—or with Sam and me if he says no."
"That sounds like a good backup plan, but I thought Sam said she didn't want to go," he reminded her. Besides, unknowingly, Carly had given him the perfect excuse for why he was going with Sam and not with 'his girl.' Of course, if Sam agreed.
"Oh, she'll come. You'll see."
"And how are you so sure?"
"As much as she tries to act indifferent, she really enjoys dancing and having fun, or even just pulling pranks at events like this. It's unlikely she'll miss it," Carly explained. "Though I have to admit, I'd like her to at least make an effort to invite someone. And if it's a nice guy who's never been to juvenile detention, even better."
"Yeah," Freddie replied, hoping she'd say yes. If she didn't, he'd suggest an alternative plan for the night—maybe dinner at a restaurant or a movie at the cinema.
But before planning everything, I need to talk to her first, Freddie reflected. Then he remembered he was still at Carly's house and needed to leave if he wanted to make any progress. So he talked with her a bit more about the topic, then said his goodbyes, thanking her for her suggestions and advice.
Carly was really a good friend, and Freddie was already looking forward to telling her about the change in his relationship with Sam. He didn't like lying to her, especially given how much she trusted them, but he knew it was only a matter of time before he could tell her the truth.
Once home, Freddie went straight to his room and pulled out his notebook. He wrote down all the ideas he had and then organized his plan on a sheet of paper. Glancing at the calendar on the wall, he felt a pang of frustration at how little time he had and wondered why the dance hadn't been announced sooner. But he pushed those thoughts aside. What mattered now was getting his plan together as quickly as possible and executing it without delay.
That night, at the Shay's house, Carly woke Sam up for dinner. As they went downstairs, Carly asked if Sam was planning to have her mom pick her up and take her home.
"I don't think so. She's been out a lot with someone lately, so I doubt she's even home right now. I'll just text her to let her know I'll be staying here tonight," Sam replied. "If that's okay with you, of course."
"That's fine. I wouldn't want you out alone at night."
"Great." Sam walked over to the kitchen, looking for dinner, but nothing was prepared. "And dinner? You said it was ready."
"No. I said I was going to make it and needed your help opening a few things."
"What things? Just give them to Mama, and she'll handle it."
Carly found what she needed, and Sam helped her. Then Carly took advantage of Sam being there to give her instructions on how to prepare dinner. At first, Sam was reluctant to help, but since it was her dinner too, she had no choice. During the process, Carly remembered their conversation about the dance and decided to bring it up again.
"Hey, about the dance,"Carly began, ignoring the tired look Sam gave her, "I'm still curious and have a couple of questions. Can I ask them?"
"Do I have to answer?"
"Obviously."
"Then keep them to yourself. I don't want to talk about it."
"Why not?"
"Do I really have to explain?"
"Of course. We're best friends, right? Best friends share everything. Or at least trust each other."
Sam fell silent, feeling a bit guilty. Carly had said she could trust her, and here was Sam, fabricating stories about a fictional guy to cover up her secret relationship—something she herself had suggested. Sam knew it was only a matter of time before she told Carly the truth, but lying to her weighed on her conscience.
At that moment, though, she wasn't lying entirely; she genuinely didn't want to go to the dance. After all, weren't all dances essentially the same? The same food, music, photos, and repetitive activities. Plus, she had no one to invite. She and Freddie couldn't show up as a couple, and Sam wasn't interested in going with any other guy. Not even with a friend. First, because she'd feel like she was betraying Freddie; second, because she really wanted to go with him and no one else. Not just because he was her boyfriend, but because she truly enjoyed his company. They could joke around, stay at the food table all night, or simply be together. But she knew that wouldn't be possible for now, so she didn't see the point in going to the dance.
It's not like Freddie seemed very excited to attend anyway. Maybe for the same reasons she had.
"Alright. You don't have to tell me why you don't wanna go," Carly said, seeing Sam quiet and thoughtful, hoping she hadn't invaded her privacy. "But could you at least tell me what happened with the guy? The other day you were so excited talking about him, and now you say you've decided to just be friends. Did he hurt your feelings or something?"
"No, it's nothing like that," Sam quickly replied while putting the juice in the blender. Once it stopped, she continued, "We just didn't get to see each other much this week, and we realized we're better off as friends. So, we decided to keep it that way."
"Are you really okay with that?"
"Yes. So don't worry so much about me and focus more on yourself. You still haven't told me how you're going to ask out your future husband."
It was a very obvious attempt to change the subject, but Carly took the hint. She shared her plan about how she intended to approach the guy she liked and how she planned to be casual about it when she saw him. As Carly spoke, Sam promised herself that once the month passed, she'd be more open and honest with her friend.
Meanwhile, Freddie had already drafted his plan and was now sitting down to dinner with his mother. As she spoke animatedly about some new bacteria discovered by scientists, he barely registered her words. His mind was preoccupied with the anticipation of the next day, eager to set his plan into motion.
The next day, Sam and Carly went to school together. They were chatting in front of their lockers when Freddie approached and greeted them in Spanish. Although Sam wouldn't say it out loud, she found it a bit ridiculous and oddly charming to hear him speak that way. But what really caught her attention was the undeniable happiness radiating from Freddie. Normally serious, his cheerful demeanor at that early hour suggested something positive might have happened—perhaps he'd won some money or had a breakthrough in his nerd club.
"'Hola' to you too, Mr. Bilingual," Carly greeted him, mirroring Freddie's enthusiasm. "Why so happy so early?"
"Did your mom buy you a new pacifier?" Sam teased, but to her surprise, Freddie's smile only grew wider. She found it quite odd, as normally that would be enough to annoy him. Why did he keep grinning like that?
"No, Sam," Freddie replied, shrugging. "I just woke up in a good mood, that's all."
"And does this good mood have anything to do with a 'yes'?" Carly asked, leaving Sam even more confused.
"No, because I haven't said anything yet, but I plan to follow your advice later," Freddie replied.
Sam looked at her friends, puzzled. Had she missed something?
"Can someone fill me in on what's going on?" she asked. Carly was about to respond, but Freddie jumped in.
"Nothing important, so don't worry about it." At that moment, the bell rang, and students began heading to their classrooms. "Well, it's time to go. Since we have classes together, let me carry these for you, ladies," Freddie offered, taking their backpacks with a gentlemanly flourish that surprised and amused them as he walked in front of them.
"Wow, Freddie's really being a gentleman today."
"And sappy. I wonder what's gotten into him," wondered Sam.
"Maybe it's because of his girl," Carly speculated, without adding more on the subject.
The two friends continued to their classroom, but Carly's words echoed in Sam's mind. Could Freddie's happiness be due to a girl? To her, specifically. Had she made a mistake thinking he wasn't interested in going to the dance? Sam wasn't sure, but she didn't want to get her hopes up too soon. For now, she decided to wait and see what happened. If she found the courage, she might ask Freddie directly when they had a chance to talk alone.
Throughout the day, Sam noticed that Freddie was behaving unusually. His happiness hadn't waned at all; he maintained his good mood throughout the morning and was exceptionally willing to help with everything. In particular, he was very attentive to anything she needed. Others might think it's normal because "they're a couple," but Sam knew Freddie well enough to realize that he didn't usually act this way without her asking.
Whenever Sam mentioned something like, "I left my book in my locker" or "I'm thirsty," Freddie would magically appear with the book or a bottle of water in hand. Each time, Sam observed him quietly, feeling a growing curiosity about his sudden attentiveness. Despite her urge to question his motives, Freddie's genuine happiness and kindness made her hesitant to disrupt his upbeat mood or make him think she didn't trust him. So, for now, she decided to keep her questions to herself.
At noon, Sam arrived late for lunch due to an extended reprimand from Mrs. Briggs. When she entered the cafeteria, she found a long line. Knowing Carly would also be late because she was busy with something, Sam figured she'd either have to wait in line or threaten someone to give up their spot. Probably the latter.
She was choosing her target when she heard someone calling her name. It was Freddie. Still, she decided not to turn around to keep her focus.
"Sammy, what are you doing?" he asked quietly.
"Shh, not now, babe. I'm figuring out who I'm going to cut in front of," Sam replied, still focused on her mission.
"Why?"
"Because I want my lunch, duh. Now stop asking such dumb questions so Mama can concentrate."
"I mean, why bother, since I already have your lunch?" Freddie clarified. That's when Sam turned around to look at him. "Since I knew you'd be tied up with Ms. Briggs for a while, I took the liberty of getting your lunch so no one else would suffer the consequences."
"I see," Sam said, unsure of how to feel about it. "Thanks for the gesture, I guess."
Freddie smiled sweetly at her, just as he had all morning. Sam couldn't help but smile back, though she had to resist the urge to cover his face in kisses at that moment. How could he be so cute and considerate?
"It's nothing. So, let's go before our food gets cold."
They made their way to a table, and as they started eating, Sam noticed that Freddie had brought extra food that wasn't on the cafeteria menu. It seemed like he had brought homemade food in one of those containers that keep it warm. What Sam didn't quite understand was why. Was it just a boyfriend gesture, or was there another reason behind it? And if so, why had he lied? It was more than obvious that that food hadn't come from the school cafeteria.
Unfortunately, she didn't have much time to ponder this, as Carly joined them and started a conversation that distracted Sam from her earlier thoughts. By the time they returned to class, she had forgotten what had happened.
Finally, it was time for Sam's favorite class: physical education. She wouldn't have to memorize the names of historical figures, learn complicated theories, or solve math problems. She would just exercise and move around. And on this beautiful day, they were playing dodgeball, which meant Sam could hurl balls at her classmates without getting scolded (at all).
She didn't care who was on her team; the moment she had the ball in her hand, Sam aimed at the easiest target on the opposing team and threw it, successfully knocking them out. The only person she hadn't been able to eliminate on her first try was Freddie, but that was because he had experience dodging and avoiding everything thrown at him. Sam almost felt proud seeing how Freddie skillfully dodged the balls thrown by others.
Almost.
Because at that moment, they were opponents, and Sam couldn't afford to feel any sympathy or slack off. With renewed energy, Sam continued to throw the balls back and forth. At some point, she had the chance to throw another ball at Freddie, but he dodged it and grabbed another ball to counterattack, which Sam easily avoided. They stayed like this for a while, forgetting about everyone else. It was as if it were just her and Freddie, competing as usual.
Distracted by their back-and-forth, Sam didn't see a ball coming her way until it was almost too late. She managed to dodge it in time but tripped over a teammate and fell to the ground. She tried to break her fall with her hand but ended up twisting her wrist awkwardly, sending a sharp pain through it. Sam complained loudly, drawing the coach's attention and causing him to halt the game to check on her. But before the coach could reach her, Freddie was already by her side.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" Freddie asked softly. Sam nodded as she stood up with her boyfriend's help.
"It's nothing, just a fall," she lied, feeling embarrassed. Not because Freddie had called her "beautiful" in front of everyone (in fact, she didn't even notice), but because her classmates were watching her with concern and curiosity, and hated showing weakness to people she didn't fully trust.
The coach, however, was not convinced.
"I'll be the judge of that. Let me see your wrist," the coach said firmly. Sam reluctantly extended her wrist, trying to suppress her discomfort as he examined it. The pain wasn't a big deal, but it was still annoying.
"As I thought, it seems to be a bit twisted. You'd better go to the nurse to get it checked. Who's going with her?"
"I don't need..."
"I can go with her, coach," Freddie volunteered.
"Great. Go quickly," the coach said, handing them passes to the nurse's office. He then turned to the rest of the class, blowing his whistle. "And you! Who said you could take a break? Get back to your positions!"
Sam felt Freddie's arm gently guide her as he softly said, "Let's go." She stayed quiet, letting him lead. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed her classmates, especially the girls, whispering and glancing at her. It was clear they were talking about how "the great and strong Sam Puckett" was going to the nurse's office for a simple sprain.
"Is something wrong, princess?" Freddie asked, bringing her attention back to him. "Does it hurt a lot?"
"A little. Especially if I move it."
"I see. Then we better hurry."
She nodded, letting Freddie guide her. At least she knew she could trust Freddie and that he would never see her as weaker for something silly like this.
What Sam was completely unaware of was that their conversation wasn't really about her but rather how attentive Freddie had been towards her when they were almost always arguing. Also, about the affectionate nickname that the guy had "supposedly" called her.
"Luckily, it's nothing serious. It seems to be just a minor sprain," the nurse reported as she began treating Sam. She mentioned a few other details that Sam didn't quite catch due to the pain. She sighed with relief when the nurse finally finished wrapping her wrist. Although it still felt uncomfortable, the pain wasn't as intense as before.
"How long will it take to heal?" inquired Freddie, standing by Sam's side.
"Not long, probably a few days to a week, depending on how well she takes care of it," the nurse replied, glancing at Sam.
The nurse then went over a few recommendations: apply ice, rest the wrist, and do some mobility exercises. But what stood out most to Sam was the name of the painkillers. The nurse handed her a pill with a glass of water, which Sam swallowed immediately. As she swallowed, she realized that her dominant hand hadn't been affected. Fortunately.
As they left the nurse's office, Sam noticed Freddie looking thoughtful. He seemed like he wanted to say something but was struggling to find the right words.
Deciding to encourage him, Sam said, "If you keep staring like that, you'll burn out your brain's circuits."
Freddie looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Tell me. You've got really quiet all of a sudden," she pointed out. "What's on your mind?"
"It's nothing, I just felt a bit odd being in the nurse's office."
"Why's that? "
"Well, because the last time we were here was when we started… you know, our thing."
"I hadn't thought of that," Sam admitted. Honestly, she was more distracted by how uncomfortable it had been when the nurse moved her wrist to apply the bandage.
"With your wrist like this, anyone would get distracted. Does it hurt much?"
Sam moved her wrist slightly, assessing the pain. "Not too much, but I guess it's gonna be annoying for the next few days."
"If you want, I can help you with some things so you can rest. You know, like…"
"My personal servant?" Sam completed with a playful smile.
"I was thinking more of a butler or assistant," Freddie replied with a gentle smile, "but I guess you get the idea, Miss Puckett."
Taking advantage of the fact that they were alone in the hallway, Freddie took her uninjured hand and gently rubbed it. It seemed like he was going to kiss it, as he used to, but instead, he just stared at her knuckles.
"Do I have something on my hand or what?"
"No, I just thought maybe I could give your other hand a kiss for good luck, to help it heal faster."
"Do you realize how cheesy that sounded?"
"Yes." Freddie admitted with a smile. He moved his hand closer to her wrapped wrist and, without breaking eye contact, asked softly, "May I?"
Sam found herself nodding without much thought. And how could she refuse? Freddie looked so sweet, tender, and attentive in front of her. How could she say no when his brown eyes sparkled with such enthusiasm? It was impossible.
With her approval, Freddie carefully took her bandaged hand and gave it a gentle kiss on the wrap. Sam's cheeks flushed, and to hide her nervousness, she hugged him tightly and buried her face in his neck. Freddie embraced her and began to sway gently from side to side, as if he were silently rocking her. Sam moved in rhythm with him, and for a moment, it felt like they were sharing a slow dance.
She didn't want to pull away, but when the class change bell rang, she had to. At least she would have the next class with Freddie and Carly. Plus, with her wrist bandaged, she had a perfect excuse not to write anything in her notebook.
The rest of the day passed with shared classes with Carly and Freddie. Before one class, both of them explained to Carly what had happened while she was in the nurse's office. Carly, always worried, offered for Sam to stay over at her house that night, but Sam kindly declined.
"Don't stress too much. It's just a sprain," Sam said, trying to downplay the issue. "With some pills, I'll be fine, you'll see."
"Just try not to overdo it with those," Freddie warned. "Also, follow the nurse's instructions. You remember what they are, right?"
"Of course I do, I'm not a little kid," Sam replied with a slightly sharp tone. It bothered her that her friends were so concerned over what she saw as a minor issue.
Hearing this, Carly and Freddie exchanged a knowing look. Then, both crossed their arms and looked at her with an incredulous expression. They seemed like two synchronized twins.
"Tell us one," Freddie challenged.
"One what?"
"One of the nurse's instructions," Carly clarified. "Just to make sure."
Sam blanked out. She tried to recall more than just the painkillers, but nothing came to mind. Frustrated, she sighed and shot a glare at her friends.
"I don't need to tell you because I know how to take care of myself. I'm not a little girl," she said before turning in her seat, resting both arms on the table. Maybe a bit harder than necessary, as her wrist throbbed with pain, but she swallowed the groan that almost escaped her.
If her friends had anything more to say, Sam didn't know, because the next teacher arrived and started the class. They didn't comment on it when the classes ended either, and Sam decided to head home as quickly as possible.
As usual, she didn't find her mother at home when she arrived, but there was a message from her saying she would be late, as always.
Feeling hungry, Sam looked for something to eat but found nothing. She briefly considered going back to Carly's house, but she had insisted she'd be fine alone, so she didn't want to go back out of pride.
Sam weighed her options. She could try cooking something herself, but there weren't many ingredients, and her injured wrist made things complicated. Ordering takeout was an option, but she didn't have enough money. She thought about borrowing from Freddie but dismissed the idea for the same reasons as with Carly.
At that moment, Sam realized how pathetic the situation was, how she always ended up depending on her two friends in one way or another. It frustrated her. Since when had things been this way? Wasn't she the strong, independent girl who had learned to live even without her mother?
Or rather, she had survived, she thought, wiping away a single tear that ran down her cheek. She wasn't going to cry now; she wasn't the type of person to break down over trivialities like the lack of food at home or the pain in her wrist, now that the effect of the medicine was starting to wear off. She rummaged through her wallet and all the drawers in the house until she found some hidden money. With that, she went out and bought food from a cheap place, though it wasn't enough for more medicine. She figured she'd have to tough it out until her mother came home that night.
.
.
Her mother didn't come home.
.
.
Freddie lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling and replaying the day's events in his mind. He couldn't stop wondering if his actions that day had been the right ones. His attentiveness towards Sam, his efforts to care for her, and his plan to ask her to the dance—all seemed like the right steps at the time. He had even thought about inviting her for ice cream or a milkshake in the afternoon, but he never imagined she would end up spraining her wrist or that his gestures have offended her in some way.
He had considered apologizing that same afternoon but decided it was best to give Sam space. So, he occupied himself with other things: did his homework, checked his closet for formal wear, and played some video games. However, he couldn't resist and ended up sending Sam a message to check how she was doing.
Freddie: Hey, Sam. How's your wrist?
He waited patiently for a response, but none came. As the hours passed with no response to his messages, Freddie began to think maybe she didn't want to talk to him. To be sure, he texted Carly to see if she knew anything about Sam, but Carly assured him she hadn't heard from Sam and that she might just be at home with her mom. Freddie wanted to believe her, but something inside him told him things weren't that simple.
Around 12:30 a.m., as he was preparing to go to bed, he decided to text Sam again, this time to apologize.
Freddie: Samantha Puckett.
Freddie: I'm really sorry if I came off as too insistent or clingy earlier. I know you're strong and don't need anyone else, but I still can't help but care for you because…
Why? He wondered to himself. Was it because he wanted to convince her to go to the dance? Or was it because he was so concerned about her? Partly yes, but he realized it was more than that—there was something deeper.
Freddie: I'm fond of you and truly hope with all my heart that you're doing well.
He meant every word. His actions weren't just about his 'new' feelings for her; they were driven by a genuine care and love that had been there even before they started dating. Now, he was simply expressing it in a different way.
Feeling that sleep was beginning to take over him, he sent one last message with the little mental coherence he had left.
Freddie: So, if you ever need anything, just lemme know, okay? And when you have it, don't overthink it, just accept it. That'll make me happy too...
Freddie: Sorry if I'm a bit cheesy, but it's what I think, so...
Freddie: Good night, princess. I hope you feel better in the morning.
After sending that last message, Freddie settled into bed. Two minutes later, out of pure curiosity, he checked his phone and saw that Sam had replied.
Sam: I might need bandages, painkillers, and maybe some money tomorrow.
Sam: And ham.
Freddie: Your wish is my command, Your Majesty ;)
Freddie: But seriously, I'm glad you replied. How are you? Feeling any better? I'm sending you a big virtual hug.
Sam felt her eyes well up with tears as she read the messages and blinked to wipe them away with the edge of her shirt. She had left her phone aside all afternoon, and when she opened it, she found an avalanche of concerned messages from Carly and Freddie. She first replied briefly to Carly's messages, feeling a bit touched by her friend's kindness, but nothing prepared her mentally for Freddie's messages.
She didn't know if it was the pain in her wrist, the hunger, or something else, but after reading those sweet words, she couldn't hold back her tears anymore. She felt like she didn't deserve all that.
Sam: First off, I'm doing okay. The pain is awful, but I've been resting, so it's not that bad.
Sam: So don't worry, you won't have to go out in your Galaxy Wars pajamas to see me.
Sam: And thanks for the hug. I'm sending you a loving kick ;)
Freddie: As sweet as ever, Your Highness.
Freddie: And since I'm almost falling asleep, I want to know something before I go to bed: Do you want me to bring the stuff to school or would you prefer to meet somewhere else?
Sam: Better somewhere else, I'll tell you where later.
Sam: So go fulfill your duty, sleeping beauty.
Freddie: Yes, ma'am :)
Freddie: Rest well, Princess.
Sam: Same, Fredward.
Freddie and Sam decided to meet before school at a place near Sam's house. There, Freddie handed her painkillers, bandages, and breakfast for both of them. To Sam's surprise, he also brought a wrist brace. She immediately protested, saying the bandages were enough, but Freddie insisted the brace would be more comfortable. He explained that he didn't need it himself because his mom had a stockpile of them for any "accidents," along with bandages and other supplies. Reluctantly, Sam accepted, and silently—and just this once—thanked Freddie's mother for her overprotectiveness.
After breakfast, they walked to school holding hands in silence. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, but a peaceful one; at least that's how Sam felt. The night before, they had discussed the matter somewhat through messages. Well, it wasn't like they needed to go into too much detail. Both Carly and Freddie were aware that Sam's mother was very careless and that Sam often lacked many things, so there was no need to bring it up again.
Sam tightened her grip on Freddie's hand, grateful he hadn't brought up the topic again. She felt incredibly lucky to have him and Carly by her side, and she didn't know what would become of her if that ever changed.
.
.
.
Okay, maybe that sounded a bit melodramatic (and sappy).
To avoid dwelling on it, she decided to start a conversation with Freddie. At first, she thought about saying the first thing that came to mind, but then she remembered his unusually kind behavior from the previous day. Although she understood that they were a couple and it was normal for him to treat her with affection, she felt there was something more he was trying to convey that she didn't quite grasp.
Clearing her throat, she called his name, trying not to smile when he looked at her with those beautiful brown eyes. How could Freddie be so cute?
"Yes, princess?"
"I wanna ask you something and I need you to be completely honest."
"Sure. You have my word," he promised, linking his pinkie with hers.
"The thing is, you were acting a bit weird yesterday."
"Weird in what way?"
"Weird as in clingy, cheesy, and overly affectionate." Before Freddie could object, Sam added, "I know it's normal for us to be affectionate now that we're a couple, but you have to admit that you went a little overboard. Especially considering we were at school."
"Did I… make you feel uncomfortable?"
"What? No, I don't mind it at all. I just want to know why you were so extra lovely yesterday, you know?"
"Yes, from the first time you said it, actually. I'm just a little embarrassed to say it."
They stopped in front of a bakery, and Sam crossed her arms, trying to ignore the smell of freshly baked bread behind her to focus on the conversation.
"I'm listening."
"First of all, I want you to know that even though I had a reason for acting that way, I forgot about it because I genuinely wanted to take care of you, okay? And because..."
"I'm charming and you're fond of me, I get it," Sam interjected with a sigh. "Just get to the point and say it."
"But it's so silly."
"Don't make me count to three, Fredward Benson."
"Alright, you win," he replied, raising his hands in defense. "The truth is, I wanted to encourage you to ask me to the dance; or ask you myself. So I did all that stuff to change your mind, since you said you didn't want to go."
Freddie kept talking, but Sam barely listened to his words. She was amazed by the amount of things he had done for her. Not just yesterday, but in the days before and likely in the days to come.
It was then that Sam realized two things.
First, although it was nothing new, that 'giving', whether gifts or favors, seemed to be Freddie's love language. In other words, it was his way of showing affection. It was a somewhat contradictory thought, given that he could be quite stingy at times, but it made sense considering that, with every girlfriend or romantic interest he had, he made an effort to do favors or give gifts.
Second, she discovered that the idea of going to the dance with him didn't bother her at all. On the contrary, she was happy that he was thinking about going together, despite their agreement to keep their relationship a secret. Although she would have to scold him for overdoing it so much when he could have simply asked her.
"So, don't worry if you don't want to go," she heard Freddie say, refocusing on him and what he was saying. "I completely understand, and I'll be just as happy if we have a date somewhere else and—"
"I'll go," Sam interrupted, cutting off his endless speech. Freddie stopped talking and looking at her with a mixture of confusion and surprise; as if trying to decipher a hidden meaning in her words.
"Sorry, sweetie. What did you say?"
"I said I'll go to the dance with you."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Do you wanna go or not?"
"Well, yes," he replied.
"Then, we're going. End of story."
"But..."
"But nothing. I've already decided and you're not going to change my mind," Sam stated firmly. "Although, now that I think about it, we would have to come up with an excuse to explain why we're going together and not with someone else."
"I already have one," he commented timidly. "When we were at Carly's house the other day, she told me that if 'the girl' turned me down, I could go with you or with her, if the boy rejects her. So it wouldn't be too suspicious if I say we're going together."
"I think it would. Because, why would I agree to go with you among so many boys?"
"One, I'll pretend it didn't hurt to hear that," Freddie said, making a face of mock pain. Sam smiled at his bad joke. "And two, I guess you have a point, but I'm not sure what we can do."
"Don't overthink it and let's just say you bribed me with food because you were desperate."
"Can we take away the 'desperate' part?"
"How about 'crying and heartbroken'?"
"You know what? Let's keep the desperate part; it sounds like something you'd say."
"Now you got it, babe," she said, patting him on the shoulder. "By the way, next time you want to ask me something, just say it instead of going around in circles, please."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Good. Now, let's get out of here before that smell drives me crazy." Sam glanced through the bakery window, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the food inside. "Geez, I'm craving some donuts right now."
"Me too," Freddie confessed beside her. He checked his wallet and then looked back at her with a slight smile. "I still have some extra money, so let's buy some for the bus ride."
Sam's eyes sparkled with excitement. If this was how Cinderella felt with her prince charming, she would gladly be Freddie's Cinderella. (Thank goodness no one can hear her thoughts).
"Have I told you I'm fond of you?" she blurted out with a smile, half-jokingly, half-seriously. Freddie's cheeks flushed a pretty pink as he smiled back.
"Not much, but I think I could get used to hearing it."
And if he kept blushing in that charming way, Sam was sure she could get used to saying it more often.
As expected, they both arrived late to school, but although they were scolded, neither of them was really upset about it.
Here is Chapter 6! I'm really sorry for the delay, but I was very busy in June and July, and things got a bit complicated. I can't promise that the next chapter will come out soon due to my continued busyness, but I will continue to publish until the fanfic is complete.
I hope the Spotify playlist for this chapter has added to your reading experience. Blessings, and read you soon!
(づ๑•ᴗ•๑)づ