"Just three more weeks until the wedding!" Carly said excitedly.
"I know; Ella's been going insane," Sam nodded. "Man, what is it with chicks and weddings?"
"Oh come on, Sam, it's nice," Carly laughed. "When you get married don't you want to have a fancy wedding?"
"You've known me how long?"
"Right," Carly laughed.
"Hey did mom leave yet to pick up grandma?" Melanie asked her sister.
"I think so."
Pam, while winning the parking lot fight, ended up having to drive to Texas because it turned out that Ella's mom had an outstanding warrant in Texas.
"You guys, I got an idea last night," said Carly.
"What?"
"Okay, so Sam, you know you and I are getting our college paid for, and Melanie you got a full scholarship?"
"Right," Melanie nodded.
"Well, I was thinking; why don't we use the money we had saved up for college to get an apartment? We could all be roomies!"
"Actually, that sounds like a pretty good idea, Carls," Sam smiled.
"Yeah," Melanie agreed.
"I even found the perfect place," Carly continued, pulling up a site on her pear pad.
"Whoa. How long have you been planning this?" her best friend laughed.
"Well I came across it when I was on Chad's List looking for a new desk lamp and it just seemed perfect."
"It does look nice," Melanie commented.
The picture showed a large one-roomed apartment with a spacious living area and kitchen, and a huge bedroom with a nice bathroom.
"It's only about fifteen minutes from here," Carly read. "And about ten minutes from our college, and about twenty from yours, Melanie."
"I like the size of the fridge," Sam said. "Wait; the fridge does come with the place, right?"
"Yes, Sam," Carly replied, rolling her eyes. "It comes with the fridge, dishwasher and stove."
"Good enough for me."
"Can we check this place out?" Melanie asked.
"Yup. I already made an appointment with the building owner for this afternoon."
"Jeesh, Carly, what if we said no?" Sam laughed.
"I would've thrown a temper tantrum."
"Only I can do those!"
"You'd be surprised," Carly grinned.
….
"This place really does look great," Freddie said as him and the girls walked into the apartment.
"It's the fridge, right?" Sam said, staring happily at the large appliance.
"Yes, Sam, that's got to be it," he chuckled.
"It even has a balcony!" Melanie pointed out. "Wow, look at that view; you can see half of Seattle from here!"
"Okay, I officially love this place," Carly said, looking around. "Plus the doorman's nice! It's so weird! He has the same uniform as Lewbert but he actually smiles!"
"We've got to get this place," Sam said. "It's got everything! Giant fridge, good location, a pool."
"You guys should," Freddie agreed.
"Are we sure?" Carly asked.
"Definitely," Melanie nodded.
"Okay then," Carly smiled. "I'll got get the papers from the landlord." She rushed out of the apartment, leaving Sam, Freddie and Melanie.
"Are you going to be living at home, Freddie?" Melanie asked.
"Yeah, my mom kind of just assumed that, and I didn't want to crush her dreams."
"You're afraid of her," Sam laughed.
"I am not. I'll move out eventually."
"Sure you will."
…
Carly, Sam, and Melanie were now the official occupants of their dream apartment. They were scheduled to move in the week after Spencer and Ella's wedding. Sam and Melanie's mom was fine with her daughter's moving into the place; she would still see them, after all. Spencer was a little surprised by his sister's decision, but once he found out it was close by, he was okay with it. Carly planned to pack up most of her furniture from her room and bring it with her, since all three liked it. Sam and Melanie had decided in order to save space in the room the girls would be sharing, they would buy a bunk bed, something that they had each wanted when they were younger but never got. The rent for the place was actually very reasonable, and between the three of them, they had enough saved up to keep them going until Sam and Carly got their jobs.
As the wedding drew nearer, relatives began arriving. Carly's aunts and uncles were staying at various hotels, with the exceptions of the Dorfman's , but they would be arriving last. Sam's family also began coming in, staying at Sam and Ella's houses' and run down motels.
"So when Faye's staying in my room," Carly told Spencer. "Make sure she knows not to go through my stuff. I don't care if she watches the T.V. or uses the hair dryer, though."
"Sure," Spencer said.
"Just a little over a week until the wedding," Carly said. "You nervous?"
"A little," Spencer nodded. "But good nervous, you know. Besides, Socko's throwing my Bachelor's party tonight!"
"Oh God. What are you guys going to do?"
"Nothing inappropriate," he replied. "We're going to camp out at the junkyard. By the way, if you see Freddie, tell him to be here around eight."
"Okay. I can't wait for Ella's party tomorrow!"
"Oh yeah, where are you girls going?"
"Just dinner and a dance place. Don't worry, it won't be crazy; Ella said she got all her wild partying out of her system in college."
"Good to know."
"Hey when you're at the junkyard, do you think you could pick me up some cardboard boxes? I need to start packing up my stuff to move to the new apartment."
"No problem. I can't believe you're leaving, though. The place is going to be so empty without you."
"But Ella's moving in," Carly reminded him.
"I know, but still, I'm going to miss you."
"Aw, I'll miss you too," she smiled. "But don't worry; I'll still be popping by."
"Yeah, you better," Spencer said, playfully hugging his sister.
…
"Thanks again for letting me stay here, you guys," Carly said to Sam and Melanie as she dropped her bag in their room.
"Don't mention it," Melanie replied sweetly.
"So what excuse did you give the Dorfman's when you told them you were staying here?"
"I just said that I thought it would be too cramped. Besides, they were too exhausted from that Raisin Parade when they got in to really notice. Hey when does your cousin Stella get here?"
"Probably in a couple hours," said Sam.
"She's going to sleep in that bed," Melanie told her, pointing to an inflatable mattress in the corner of the room. "And you can sleep on the camping bed over there, which is way more comfortable."
"Hey, any of you seen my anti-fungal cream lying around?" a large women with bleached hair asked, coming into the room.
"No, Aunt Maggie," Sam said, rolling her eyes.
"Who are you?" she asked, spotting Carly.
"That's Carly," said Melanie.
"Is she related to me?"
"No, she's Spencer's little sister."
"Who's Spencer?"
"The man Ella's marrying."
"Oh, right, right, the 'artist'. Well, let me know if you find my cream."
"Well, she's pleasant," Carly said as Aunt Maggie left.
"Do you guys want to grab some smoothies?" Melanie asked. "We still have a few hours until the rehearsal dinner tonight."
"Sounds good," said Carly.
"Yeah, I'll text Freddie and tell him to meet us there," said Sam.
"Aw," Carly and Melanie said in unison.
"Oh can it," Sam snapped. "I just want him there because I can get him to buy my smoothies now."
"Then why are you blushing so much?" asked Melanie, grinning.
"Shut up," she muttered, turning even redder.
