Rainbow

"Where the heck are Sam and Freddie?" Carly asked as she paced back and forth in Spencer's apartment.

"I don't know," Spencer shrugged, looking up from the game of headbands he was playing with Gibby. "You live with Sam. Why didn't she just come over here with you?"

"She slept over at Freddie's. Again," Carly sighed.

"Well can we just eat already?" Gibby asked. "I'm starving! The pizza's been here for an hour already."

"No, we can't eat until Sam and Freddie are here too," Carly said firmly. "The plan was for all of us to sit down and drink hot cocoa and eat pizza while we watch the finale of America Sings which, by the way, starts in about ten minutes! I swear, if they make me miss seeing that girl with the rainbow hair lose to Tate Awning…"

"Just call them and ask where they are," Spencer said, rolling her eyes. "Jeez, you're acting like a crazy person. Alright, Gibby, am I a fairy godmother?"

"No," Gibby said. "Am I a churro?"

"Dude!" Spencer exclaimed. "I said you float in water! Churros don't float!"

"Oh, they don't?" Gibby snapped. "Then explain to me why last night while I was in the bathtub-"

"Gibby!" Carly snapped. She looked at her phone again. "Ugh! They were supposed to be here an hour ago. You know, I expect Sam to be late, but you would think Freddie would manage to get them to places on time!"

"Pfft, come on," Spencer chuckled. "Freddie's punctuality has gone down hill ever since he started dating Sam."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Carly sighed. "You remember that little mantra he used to have in high school? Before him and Sam got together? Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable."

"Yeah, and now he doesn't even get to movies with enough time to watch the previews," Spencer agreed.

"You know what's sort of funny though," Spencer pointed out. "Freddie's punctuality may have gone down hill a little, but Sam's gotten a little better with it."

"Hey, that's true," Carly agreed. "You know I only had to wait an extra five minutes for her to pick me up from the car place the other day? I told her I needed her there to drive me home at twelve, and I didn't expect her until at least twelve thirty. But there she was."

"Man, that's sort of weird, don't you think?" Spencer said. "The way they rubbed off on each other."

"Hmm, I guess you have a point," Carly agreed. "They've been together for five years and Freddie has become a little more…Sammish. And Sam's become a tiny bit more Freddieish."

"I don't think those are real words," Gibby frowned.

"Oh, that reminds me!" Spencer said. "The other day when Freddie and I were at the mall, there was a guy dressed up as a wiener handing out free wiener nugget samples And guess who went back for thirds?"

Carly gasped. "But that totally goes against Freddie's strict one-per-customer policy on free samples!"

"I know!"

"Wow," Gibby said, crossing his arms. "Way to invite me to the mall."

"Yeah, well, wait to you hear what Sam did the other night at our apartment," Carly told her brother. "We were doing our nails and some of the red nail polish spilled on the kitchen table, and she cleaned it up!"

"Without being asked or bribed?" Spencer asked, his eyes widening.

"Uh-huh!"
"Wow…" Spencer said, shaking his head. "They've really corrupted each other, haven't they?"

"Totally," Carly chuckled. "I wonder if that's what happens to all couples when they're together for so long."

"Too bad none of us have been in a relationship that long to compare," Spencer said.

"Yes…thanks for that," Carly said, rolling her eyes. "Well, I guess they still are a pretty cute couple. Actually, I think they're one of the best couple's I've ever seen."

"They are great together," Spencer agreed.

"Sam does hurt me less when Freddie's around," Gibby nodded.

Just then, the front door of the apartment opened and Sam and Freddie entered, hand-in-hand.

"Finally!" Carly exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "Where were you guys? You were supposed to be an hour ago for America Sings!"

"Relax, Carls, the show doesn't start for another three minutes," Freddie shrugged.

"Yeah," Sam nodded, hanging up her coat on the coat rack instead of simply tossing it on the floor like she used to. "Besides, Fredgut and I were sort of…busy."

"Making out and losing track of time doesn't count as a liable excuse," Carly said, planting her hands on her hips.

"We weren't making out!" Freddie defended.

"All of the time…" Sam finished lamely. "But, um, we-we do have to tell you all something."

"What's up?" Spencer asked.

"Is this about my new cologne?" Gibby sighed. "Man, I knew I should've stuck to the bottle with the mountains on it!"

"No one cares about your cologne," Freddie said, shaking his head.

"Well!" Gibby said indignantly.
"Alright, what are you going to tell us?" Carly asked. "And could you please tell us within the next two minutes before the show starts?"

Sam and Freddie exchanged quick glances before Sam slowly held her hand out, revealing a beautiful, simple diamond ring.

Carly's jaw dropped and Spencer's pants fell to the floor. "No way!" the siblings both exclaimed.

"Hey, nice ring," Gibby said. "Now what were you going to tell us?"

"You idiot!" Sam said, thumping the back of his head. "That ring means we're getting married! That's what we were going to tell you!"

"Oh my God, oh my God," Carly squealed, throwing her arms around Sam. "Okay, forget America Sings, you have to tell me everything. How did he do it? Was it romantic? Did you cry?"

"No!" Sam answered.

"Pfft, yes," Freddie chuckled. "I had to wait for her to stop before she actually said yes."

"Can it, nub!"

"Hey, congratulations, you guys," Spencer said. "You know…I've seen a lot of marriages in my day-"

"Just not your own, right?" Gibby said.

"Gibby!" Spencer snapped. "Anyway…I just wanted to say that you guys have one of the strongest relationships I've seen. You really are a great couple. I know you two really will last forever."
"Spence…you don't have to give a cheesy speech until the actual wedding," Sam said, hugging the man.

"I'm just too emotional right now!" Spencer said, pulling Freddie into the hug as well. "I had to get it out!"