Chapter 75
"So, what do you wanna talk about?" Freddie asked.
"I'm sorry again about telling people you never kissed anyone, and about putting blue cheese dressing in your shampoo bottle, and about sending your cell phone to Cambodia," Sam said in one breath.
"So this means you're not gonna mess with me anymore?" Freddie asked cautiously.
"No, I'm still gonna mess with you," Sam admitted. "I'm just gonna apologize every few years so I can start fresh again."
"Good," Freddie said.
"Good?"
"Yeah."
"It's so dumb," Sam muttered.
"What do you mean?"
"You know, how people get all freaked out over their first kiss. Stupid."
"So you weren't lying? You've really never kissed anyone?" Freddie asked.
"Nope," Sam replied.
"Sometimes I just wish I could get it out of the way," she continued.
"Yeah, you know, me too," Freddie said.
"Right? You know, just so I can stop worrying about it."
"Yeah."
"What?" Sam asked, noticing his hesitation.
"Nothing. It's--"
"Tell me," Sam insisted.
"No, it's dumb."
"Say it."
"Okay. I was just gonna say--"
"That we should kiss?" Sam finished for him.
"You're gonna break my arm now, right?" Freddie asked.
"No."
"Well, should we? Just so both of us can get it over with?"
"Hmm," Sam considered.
"Just to get it over with," Freddie repeated.
"Just to get it over with," she agreed.
"And you swear we both go right back to hating each other as soon as it's over?"
"Oh, totally."
"And we never tell anyone."
"Never."
"Well, when?"
Then, Freddie kissed Sam. A normal kiss.
"Well, that was--" Freddie began.
"Nice?" Sam offered.
"Yeah, nice."
"Good work."
"Thank you."
"You too."
"Hey, I hate you," Freddie said.
"Hate you too," Sam replied.
Then, without another word, they each turned and walked off in opposite directions.
—
I turned to Cher.
"They are so cute together," she said.
"Right?" I replied, smiling.
Then I added, "Don't tell anyone about this, alright?"
Cher smirked and nodded. "Their secret's safe with me."
I grinned. "Let's pick up where we left off."
"Gladly," she said, and we both smiled.
—
The next day, the quartet was back together again.
Sam and Freddie were bickering again, but Carly was smiling at it. After school, we all gathered at Carly's house.
As we sat on the couch, Carly suddenly asked, "Sam, you've seriously never kissed anyone?"
Freddie choked, but both girls ignored him.
"You're shocked?" Sam said.
"Well, yeah," Carly replied, raising her eyebrows, "but just because you always seemed so willing."
Sam rolled her eyes, but there was a trace of a smile on her lips.
I glanced at Carly and thought, Oh man, I really want to tell her... but I shouldn't.
Then Carly turned to me. "What about you?"
"Me neither. Never kissed," I said without even blinking.
The three of them stared at me for a second. Then, all at once, they grabbed the couch pillows and started throwing them at me.
"Hey! Hey! I'm just being completely honest!" I laughed, shielding myself.
After some laughs, I looked at Carly and asked, "What exactly were you trying to find out, Carly?"
"Who was your first kiss?" she said with a grin.
"Because we know about Amy, Regina, Cher..." Sam added, counting on her fingers.
"Okay, okay, okay," I said quickly, holding up my hands to stop her.
Then I added with a crooked smile, "Her name was Rory Gilmore."
That got them all to stop for a beat. Sam raised an eyebrow, Carly blinked, and Freddie looked completely confused.
"Never heard of her," Sam finally said.
"I'd be really surprised if you had," I replied. "I met her on a trip to New York City."
They just kept staring at me, waiting for more.
Then Carly leaned forward and said, "Oh come on, now you need to tell us more."
"Well," I began, leaning back a little with a smile, "she's a pretty brunette, with stunning blue eyes. One of those proper good-girl types."
I paused for effect. "She kind of ignored me at first."
Then I smirked, tossing a pillow up and catching it casually. "But Jake's charm is unstoppable," I said with my most pompous attitude.
The three of them exchanged looks, then nodded in silent agreement. Each grabbed a pillow, and in perfect coordination, they launched them at me.
"Let's kick this smug bastard ass!" Sam shouted with a grin.
—
After the shenanigans, and a good round of laughter, we were all sprawled out on the floor. Well, Sam and I were sitting. Carly and Freddie were lying flat on their backs, clearly wiped out.
After a while, Carly sat up and looked at me. "Now finish your story," she said.
"So, I won her over with a beautiful song. And then..."
I puckered my lips and made exaggerated kissing noises.
Without missing a beat, Sam grabbed a nearby pillow and smacked me in the face again.
"Serves you right," Carly muttered, trying not to laugh.
"Hey, sing us the song," Sam said.
"Nah, I need a piano."
"You play piano?" Sam asked, astonished.
I replied deadpan, "That's my best instrument."
"Spencer has a guitar," Carly said, already jumping to her feet and running off to get it.
Moments later, she returned and handed it to me.
I tuned it roughly and looked at them. "I still prefer the piano version, but here we go."
Then I began to play and sing Shallow, letting the acoustic melody fill the room.
Carly and Sam looked at each other. Carly said, "Well, I see how it could've happened."
Freddie, oblivious to the girls' reactions, asked, "Have you ever thought about becoming a professional singer, Jake?"
"Yes," I said with a nod, setting the guitar down gently. "And that is something I want to talk about."
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A/N: I made an Auxiliary chapter few days ago. If you have any doubts about someone, leave a comment there. I plan to update it from time to time.
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