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SAM POV
I had decided to fly up to Seattle for a day, and then go to Chicago. Carly was probably already gone by the time my plane got in to Seattle, so I probably couldn't see her until tomorrow. I wanted to come to Seattle for a day for two reasons: one, so I could brag in my mother's face that I could finish college, and two, so I could brag in Spencer's face that I finished college. Spence sent me care packages and called me sometimes, and I had seen him last Christmas. But I still wanted to tell him the news, in person.

I know it wasn't a great reason to go back. Bragging isn't the reason you visit people, but I don't really care. Sam Puckett does what she wants to do.

It was about 10 in the morning when I entered my house. Except it never really was my home. My home used to be the Shay apartment. Then it was my dorm with Riley. Now I'm done with college…is my home here? Yeah, right.

I entered the house tentatively. The house looked shabby as always. It was fairly clean inside, just some bottles and old magazines on the coffee table.

"Hello? Who's there?" My mother abruptly screamed. I didn't see her; she must be upstairs.

"It's meee!" I screamed back.

My mother stood at the top of the stairs. "Well, look what the cat dragged in. You get kicked out already?"

"Hi, Mom," I said, fake cheery look on my face. Some things will never change. "Actually, I just wanted to come by to tell you that I graduated from college. I've got my diploma to prove it."

Mom scrutinized me with her hard eyes. "Is that so? Well, I just wanted to tell you that I got engaged. I got my ring to prove it." Her voice is dripping pure sarcasm, and she wiggles her fingers (which do not have a ring on them) in my direction. I roll my eyes and rip out my diploma, fresh from graduation last week.

"Here, mother. Look what I've done. Not Melanie. Me." She snatched it from my hand and read it, eyes growing wider and wider. I smirked triumphantly.

"Jeez. You actually went to school. That's a first."

My smirk faltered, but I came back with a strong comeback. "Well, it's certainly not your first engagement." I took the paper from Mom. "I'm going to Chicago for two weeks with Carly and Freddie and Brad. But you don't care, do you?" I walked towards the door, but my Mom stopped me in the doorway.

"Kid, I'm … proud of you. I never thought you could actually do it." Her voice is quiet and her eyes don't meet mine.

"You're proud of me?" I look up. Mom smiles.

"C'mere, kid." She hugs me, a short hug, but it's sweet. I started to walk down the steps. "Have fun in Chicago."

"Will do." I smile, and she smiles back. As I climb into my car, she watches me from the doorstep. I waved to her. Did I actually just wave?

I guess I've missed my maniac mother more than I've thought.

XXXXXXXXX

"Samantha! What are you doing here?" As I got on the 8th floor of Bushwell Plaza, I heard a familiar voice calling me. I whipped around, about to enter the Shay's apartment when the voice beckoned me. It was Mrs. Benson, still in her apartment across from Carly's.

"Hey, Mrs. Benson. Actually, I was about to tell Spencer that I graduated."

"Well, that's very impressive. Good job." I would have never thought I'd heard those words come from Crazy's mouth, directed to me.

"Well, thanks." And I would have never thought I'd say that, ever, to her. I've grown up more than I've thought.

"Samantha-"

"Please, Mrs. Benson. It's Sam."

"Well…" she pauses. "Ok, Sam. Would you like to come in and talk for a bit? I even have some organic sugar-free cookies." I really don't want to go and talk to her. And I really don't want her gross cookies. Maybe I can make up an excuse.

"No, I better-" She cuts me off with a little 'humph!' and drags me inside the apartment. The first things I see are the pictures of Freddie and Mrs. Benson in the hallway. I cringe at the size of the portraits. They practically covered the wall!

I look around the living room and can immediately tell Mrs. Benson is still single and lonely.

"So, Sam. I heard you are going to Chicago with my little Freddie-bear," Mrs. Benson said in a curt voice. She still calls him that? He's twenty-two!

"Uh, yeah. I'm excited to go."

"Are you and Fredward still boyfriend and girlfriend?" She suddenly asks me. I look at her funny. That came out all of a sudden.

"Uh, no, we're just friends. We haven't dated since our junior year of high school."

"Oh. It's just…I knew he liked you a lot. And he hasn't had a serious girlfriend in a long time."

I hate talking about my feelings, especially with relationships, especially with Freddie. "Well, like I said, we're just friends now." I pause for a moment and decide it's time for me to leave. "I better go now." I stood up headed to the door, and she reluctantly followed me.

As I got to the doorway, Mrs. Benson said, "Freddie still loves you, Sam." I froze in my steps, my breath short.

"Well, he'll have to find someone else to love," I said, my voice squeaky and un-Sam-like. "Bye." I ran out into the hallway, slammed the door, and ran into the Shay's apartment. I was breathing hard, not because of my run.

"Hey, kiddo!" Spence was in the kitchen, ironing peacock feathers.

"Mrs. Benson just said that Freddie still loves me," I told him straightaway.

"Well, he does." What? I thought he was over me. I sat on the counter and looked around the apartment. Still wacky colors and wacky trinkets. Same old Spence.

"How do you know?" I demanded.

"Just by looking at him when you're in the room."

"But you haven't seen me with him since Christmas." This can't be happening. Freddie still loves me? I can't wrap my mind around it. I've gotten over him since forever. Why can't he?

Spencer wipes his hands of feathers and came over to the counter. "Freddie came here for a day or two before his finals. He wanted to talk about you." My mouth dropped open.

"Dammit! How come I don't know about this?"

"I don't know!"

I threw my hands up in the air. "This is such a crappy welcome I'm getting in Seattle." I began to grumble.

Spence looked at me with a suspicious eye. "Did you come to Seattle to talk about Freddie?"

"No!"

"Did you come to borrow money?"

I eyed him with annoyance. "No, Spencer."

"Then did you come to visit me because you miss me?"

"No. Well, kind of." I fell silent, and Spencer went back to his feather-ironing. I went into the kitchen.

"I came to tell you that I graduated," I told him.

Spencer's face broke into a smile. "That's great, Sam! I'm proud of you, kiddo." He hugged me.

I smiled up at him. "Thanks, Spence." A glance at the clock tells me I should leave to check into my hotel. I want to get something to eat first, though. Maybe I'll go to the Groovy Smoothie.

"I better take off, Spencer. See you soon." He hugs me again. When I pick up my bag, I ask him, "What should I do about Freddie?"

Spencer shrugs. "Follow your heart, Sam. Think about it, and you'll find what your future will hold. With or without Freddie."

I smiled. "Wow. That was pretty thoughtful, Spencer. You think it up yourself?"

He grinned at me. "Actually, I got it from some Disnick movie. But you know. It fits." I laughed. (Haha. Disney + Nick. I'm so original!)

"Bye, Spencer. See you soon." He followed me to the door.

"See you, kiddo. Have fun in Chicago."

Yay! Chapter three is up!

Oh, if any of you readers out there are HP fans, look up "harry potter friday." It is a Friday version of the Deathly Hallows. It is amazingly catchy. (That's why I'm mentioning it to you, even though you probably don't care. It's stuck in my head!)

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