AN- Happy Birthday Jennette McCurdy and Arianna Grade!

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Backing

"Well, I have some more statistics for you," Carly said, letting herself into Sam and Freddie's apartment.

"Carly," Sam moaned, piling plates into a large cardboard box. "Don't you have a job or something?"

"Eh, it's not that important," Carly shrugged, pulling a sheet of paper out of her pocket. "Okay, statistic number one: did you know that people in Chicago weigh 12.4 percent more than people in Seattle?"

"So you're telling me," Freddie said, setting a box of books down on the ground. "That whoever wrote that statistic weighed every person in Seattle, then went to Chicago, weighed everyone there, and then-"

"Statistic number two," Carly continued, ignoring Freddie. "A package of Fat Cakes cost on average twenty-three cents more in Chicago than in Seattle."

"Wait, are you serious about that?" Sam frowned.

"Yes I am," Carly nodded. "See? That's one reason why you shouldn't move all the way to Chicago and stay here in Seattle with me."

"Carly," Freddie said. "We've been over this a million times. Sam and I-"

"I know, I know," Carly moaned. "You got that big job at the Pear Store headquarters there and Sam's going to be working as a choreographer at some fancy dance school nearby. It's perfect for both of you. But do you know how lonely I'm going to be here by myself?"

"You won't be by yourself, though," Sam told her. "You'll still have Gibby and Spencer."

"Plus it won't be like we'll never visit or call," Freddie pointed out. "We promise, we'll video chat at least once a week, and I'm sure you and Sam will be on the phone with each other everyday. And we'll be flying back here for holidays since both our families are here."

"Please, that won't be the same," Carly scoffed. "You guys are my best friends! I just can't believe you're really moving halfway across the country.

"It could be worse," Sam reasoned. "We could be moving to Canada."

"Canada's like two hours away," Carly said. "Why would that be worse?"

"Would you really want to go around saying that your two best friends are Canadians?"

"Okay, maybe you've got a point," Carly sighed. "But what am I going to do here in Seattle all by myself?"

"Hunt down all the hot guys," Sam suggested. "That seems like a Carly thing to do."

"Cute boys can only take me so far," she said sadly. "I'm going to need a girl best friend to talk with and go to Build-A-Bra with, and make fun of the models in magazines and-"

"Carly stop," Sam said. "You're making me feel bad."

"I'm sorry," Carly sniffed, wiping a tear from her eye. "It's just going to be so different without you both here."

"Hey, it's going to be weird for us with out you there," Freddie said. "But…it's just something we'll all have to get used to."

"Yeah, I guess," Carly nodded glumly. "Well, what time does the moving truck get here tomorrow?"

"Six in the morning," he replied.

"Oh…well, I-at least we still have your big going away dinner tonight," she said. "Spencer's making spaghetti tacos and T-Bo's going to let us be the first to try a bunch of new smoothies that he's bringing up."

"We can't wait," Sam grinned. "We'll be over as soon as we finish the rest of this packing."
"Great," Carly said. "You guys need some help?"

"Yeah, actually, could you run down to our lobby and pick up the last of our mail?"

"Sure, I'll be back in a sec," Carly said, turning and heading out of the apartment.

"Wow," Freddie sighed once Carly was gone. "She's really making this whole moving thing hard; I almost cried during that."

Sam nodded silently.

"Chicago's not too far away, though," Freddie said. "Especially by plane."

"I'm still going to miss everybody," Sam mumbled softly.

"Yeah," Freddie said, pulling his wife into a hug. "So am I."

"I mean, I'm really excited for our new jobs," Sam said. "And our house down there's huge; perfect for starting a family, but…"

"I know," he said understandingly. "It still won't be Seattle."

"Yeah," she said. The couple was quiet for a moment. "Well," Sam finally said. "There's no backing out of the move now."

"Who knows," Freddie said. "Someday we may move back here."

"Someday, maybe," Sam agreed.

"Here's your mail," Carly said, walking back into the apartment. "Just some bills and a few ads."

"Thanks," Freddie said, taking the mail from her. "Hey, Carly, I was thinking. Sam and I are pretty much done with all the packing. Why don't the three of us head down to the Groovy Smoothie one last time?"

"Really? That'd be awesome," Carly grinned. "Let's go."

"One bad thing about Chicago," Sam said, grabbing her bag. "There's no Groovy Smoothie. The only smoothie joint near us is some place called Juno Juice or something."

"That sounds gross," Carly cringed. "Hey, you think I could overnight you guys smoothies?"

"Doubt it," Freddie laughed. "But thanks for the offer."