Success

"So you excited?" Carly grinned as her and Sam leaned against their lockers one morning. "You're birthday's in four days!"

"Eh, I have one every year," Sam shrugged.

"But Sam, you're going to be eighteen!" Carly pointed out. "You're officially an adult."

"Yeah, that's pretty cool," Sam admitted. "And since I'll be an adult, I won't have to listen to Briggs or Howard anymore! I'm never going to do another homework assignment in my life!"

"Um, it doesn't exactly work that way, Sam," Carly frowned. "You do still have another month until we graduate. Until then you still kind of have to listen to adults. Remember when Freddie tried to use the eighteen card on his mom last month to try and get a later curfew?"

"Oh yeah," Sam chuckled. "She wound up locking him in his room for a week."

"Speaking of Freddie," Carly said, raising an eyebrow. "Do you know what he's doing for your birthday?"

"Nah, he hasn't said anything yet," Sam replied.

"Well whatever it is, I'm sure it's going to be super romantic," Carly told her.

"Yeah, the nub's mushy like that," Sam sighed, though a small blush crept onto her face.

"Morning," Freddie yawned, coming around the corner.

"Whoa, you look exhausted," Carly said as Sam gave him a quick kiss.

"Were you up all night again?" Sam asked.

"Yeah," Freddie nodded. "I fell asleep around six and then I had to wake up an hour later to come here."

"Why are not sleeping?" Carly questioned.

"He's doing his application for that Young Brilliant Minds scholarship," Sam explained.

"Yeah, it's this huge scholarship that they only reward five people with in the whole country," Freddie said. "If you get it, your entire college tuition is paid for, plus you get to go on a free trip to D.C. to meet the president. The thing is, since it's such a prestigious scholarship, the application is intense. I have to write four essays, fill out ten pages of questions, complete a perfect resume, get letters of recommendation and prep for a phone interview…it's really stressful. Plus it's due next week so I'm running out of time."

"Eh, you'll be fine," Sam assured him. "You're the biggest nerd I know."

"Thanks," Freddie smiled. "I just hope the scholarship people think so."

"Are you almost done with the application?" Carly asked.

"I still have two essays to write," Freddie sighed. "Plus I have to fluff up my resume a little more. A couple more all nighters should do it."

"Come on, baby, you need to at least sleep a little," Sam reasoned. "Especially since you're doing something so boring. The only reason I ever stay up all night is to watch World's Worst Cooking Fiascos. One time they had this chef who accidently served up part of his thumb in the chicken parmesan!"

"Aw Sam!" Carly moaned. "I was going to have that for dinner tonight! Now all I'll be able to think about is finding Spencer's thumb in it!"

"I'll take it off your hands," Sam offered.

"Well I'm gonna go grab a soda before I head to class," Freddie yawned. "Maybe the caffeine will wake me up. I'll see you girls at lunch."

"Bye," Sam said as Freddie went off to the vending machines.

"I hope he gets that scholarship," Carly said. "I've never seen him work so hard on something."

"I know," Sam agreed. "But he's smart, he's got this in the bag."

"True," Carly nodded. "Anyway, back to your birthday…How about we have some people over to my place? We can get food, cake…ham. It will be a party, so I'll be happy, and it will also be low key, so you'll be happy."

"Okay," Sam nodded. "As long as you break out the good honey glazed ham."

"Only the best," Carly laughed.

….

"So the party should be over by midnight," Carly told Spencer as she slid a giant ham out of the oven on the day of Sam's birthday. "So don't come home until after then."

"Why can't I stay for Sam's party?" Spencer frowned. "I'm a hoot!"

"This is a party of teens," Carly said.

"So?"

"Ugh, we seriously need to find you some friends your own age," Carly said, rolling her eyes.

"So where is Sam?" Spencer asked, ignoring his sister's comment.

"Probably with Freddie," Carly told him. "I can't wait to hear what he did for her birthday. I told him to be over here by eight, though, so if his plan went over, he'll hopefully just finish it up tomorrow with her."

"What did he do for her?"

"I don't know," Carly shrugged. "But you know Freddie. He probably bought her a bouquet of her favorite flowers, took her on a romantic picnic at their special spot in the park and got her some piece of fancy jewelry."

"Aw," Spencer said.

"I know, they really are cute," Carly said. "Nauseating at times, but cute."

"Hey, hey!" Sam said happily, letting herself into the apartment.

"Happy birthday!" Carly exclaimed, running over to her best friend and wrapping her arms around her. "I can't believe you're officially an adult!"

"Yeah, you'll see how awful it is," Spencer said, giving Sam a hug as well. "Happy birthday, kid. Your present is drying upstairs, so don't go upstairs!"

"Thanks," Sam grinned.

"Everyone will be here in an hour," Carly said. "And since I know you won't be able to wait until then to start eating, I made you a pre-party ham."

"What? Carls, you're the best!"

"I know," Carly laughed. "I have your present in the kitchen too."

"Awesome, that's my favorite part of my birthday," Sam said excitedly. "Hopefully it beats what my mom got me. She bought me a gallon of hot mustard."

"Oh…" Carly frowned.

"It's better than any other birthday present she's gotten me," Sam shrugged. "Besides, I made a mean sandwich with it today."

"Well, I promise my present is better than hot mustard," Carly assured her. "But I don't know if it will beat whatever Freddie got you…Spill, what did he do with you today? Was it romantic? Did he make you feel like a princess?"

"Um, I, um, actually haven't seen him yet today," Sam said slowly.

"What?" Carly exclaimed. "But it's your birthday!"

"Yeah, well, he's busy with that scholarship thing," Sam said quickly. "But he's coming here tonight, right?"

"I told him we're having a party at eight and he said he'd be here," Carly nodded.

"Great, so I'll see him then," Sam said. "So let me see that ham, Shay."

…..

"Sam?" Carly said later that evening as the party began to dwindle down.

"Yeah?" Sam asked, looking up from her piece of cake. "Oh, hey Carls. Great party! You invited my detention crew!"
"Yeah, well, I know you like them," Carly said. "But, um, are you okay?"

"It's my eighteenth birthday and my best friend just threw me the best party ever," Sam said. "Of course I'm okay!"

Carly bit the corner of her lip. "Maybe-Maybe I should try knocking on Freddie's door again."

"No, don't do that," Sam said. "He was busy."

"He's your boyfriend and he hasn't acknowledged one of the biggest birthdays of your life!" Carly exclaimed. "He hasn't called you or even texted you and he didn't come to your party! And now it's almost midnight. You're day's practically up!"

"It's just a birthday," Sam mumbled. "I'll have one again next year."

"But Freddie should've been here with you," Carly said. "I don't care how many applications he had to do. You're his girlfriend."

"Carls, it's fine," Sam said. "But, um, I-I think I'm gonna head home now. I ate too much cake…Thanks for the party though. It was the best."

"You sure you don't want to sleep over here?"

"Nah," Sam sighed. "I should go home. I think I forgot to feed Frothy."

"Oh, well, okay," Carly nodded.

"Hey, thanks again," Sam smiled. "And when Spence comes back, tell him I said thanks for the Boogie Bear sculpture. When my cousin Lou makes parole next weekend I'll bring him over to help me get it home."

"Okay," Carly said, giving Sam one last hug. "Call me if you need to talk."

Carly watched as Sam headed out of the apartment. She couldn't believe Freddie! What kind of boyfriend didn't even send his girlfriend a text message on her birthday?

Silently fuming, Carly began to clean up the mess from the party. A few moments later, though, the front door opened and Freddie walked in looking tired, yet happy.

"Well, it's done!" Freddie said. "It took every ounce of energy I had, but I finished my scholarship application! All four essays and million questions are done."

"Well isn't that swell?" Carly snapped, narrowing her eyes.

"Oh, sorry I couldn't make your party," Freddie said. "I just needed to get that application in. But how was it? Did you make it hobo themed again?"

"It wasn't a hobo party," Carly told him coldly.

"Oh…" Freddie frowned, a little taken back by Carly's tone. "Well did you have fun?"

"Yes, I had lots of fun!" Carly exclaimed. "And I'm sure Sam would've too!"

"Where is Sam?" Freddie asked. "Is she still here?"

"No! She left! I can't believe you, Freddie Benson!"

"Okay, what is your deal?" Freddie frowned.

Carly crossed her arms. "Really? What is my deal?"

"Yes!"

"Freddie," Carly asked in a harsh voice. "What day is today?"

"Um…Friday?" Freddie replied lamely.

"Just Friday?"

"Carly, will you just tell me what's got you so mad at me?" Freddie moaned.

"What's the date?" Carly demanded.

"What?"

"The date," Carly repeated. "What's today's date?"

"Well for the next eight minutes until midnight it's April 17th," Freddie answered. "Now what does that have to do with-No! No, no, no, no!"

"Oh, did you remember?" Carly snapped.

"Today's Sam's birthday!"

"Yeah, it is!" Carly yelled, thumping the back of his head. "And you couldn't even step away from your precious application to wish her a happy birthday! How could you forget your girlfriend's birthday?"

"I didn't forget! I-I knew it was coming up!" Freddie defended. "I had it all planned out! I was going to take her out for a romantic dinner, we were going to go to the fair and I was going to win her the biggest teddy bear there and when she wasn't looking, I was going to slip a beautiful and very expensive necklace around it! It was perfect! I-I can't believe I lost track of time! I'm such an idiot!"
"Yeah, no kidding," Carly scoffed.

"Okay, I have…seven minutes until midnight when Sam's birthday is officially over," Freddie said, panicked. "I-I can't take her out for dinner…all the restaurants are closed. So is the fair…I can give her the necklace I got her still! I just need to sprint to her house!"

"Sam lives almost ten minutes away," Carly pointed out.

"I'll make it!" Freddie cried as he turned and raced out of the door.

….

Sam sat on her bed, leaning against the pillows. She looked at her phone. It was 11:59, and she still hadn't heard a word from Freddie.

She tossed her Pearphone aside. She knew she told Carly she didn't care that Freddie had apparently forgot her birthday since he was busy with that scholarship application, but she was in fact very hurt. Was some scholarship really more important to Freddie than her?

But then again, she didn't want to look like someone who threw a fit because someone didn't fuss over her birthday.

Suddenly, she heard pounding on her front door.

She quickly got up out of bed and looked through the peephole of the door, spotting Freddie on her front step, dripping sweat and out of breath.

"Dude, are you okay?" Sam asked, opening the door.

"No-I'm so-I didn't mean-it's your-" Freddie gasped.

"Sit down before you pass out," Sam said, helping Freddie over to a chair. She grabbed a bottle of water and tossed it to him.

"Sam," Freddie finally managed after gulping down half the water. "I am so sorry I forgot about your birthday today."

Sam shrugged as she sat down in the chair next to him. "You've been busy," she mumbled.

"That doesn't matter," Freddie said at once. "I-I can't believe I let myself get so involved in that stupid scholarship application that I actually forgot one of the most important birthdays of your life."

"Yeah, well…" Sam mumbled. "That scholarship was important."

"But I still shouldn't have let that get in the way of us celebrating your birthday together," Freddie told her. "That was unforgivable of me. I'm so sorry."

Sam didn't reply.

"Um, can you yell at me or something now?" Freddie asked, confused at Sam's lack of response. This was the girl who threw his cell phone in the toilet for changing the channel on her, after all.

"Look, you obviously cared a lot about that scholarship," Sam said. "We can just celebrate my birthday tomorrow."

"But-"

"Hopefully you'll at least get that scholarship," Sam said.

"Sam," Freddie sighed. "I-I screwed up. Like really screwed up. Why aren't you more mad at me?"

Sam looked down at her lap. "Because," she said. "I-I guess I just need to get used to this if we're gonna stay together. I mean, you've always been super successful. And now that we're about to graduate you've really about to hit your peak. You already got accepted into MIT, you have that summer internship at the Pear Company and now you'll probably get this scholarship. I just have to deal with the fact that my boyfriend's gonna be busy being some big shot."

"What? Sam, no, that's crazy," Freddie said. "I don't care how successful I am in my life, I never want you to think that I would put any of that stuff above you. Listen, today was a mistake. It was completely my fault and I was a moron. But I never, not even for a second, thought that scholarship was more important than you. Nothing is. If someone came up to me and gave me the choice between going to MIT and having you in my life, I'd pick you in a second. I never want you to feel like you're on the back burner in my life. I love you."

Sam gave him a small smile. "You'd actually give up MIT for me?"

"Absolutely. And that scholarship. And my internship. Anything."
"Well thanks," Sam chuckled. "But you know you don't have to."

"But just know…I would," Freddie said, stepping closer to her to and leaning down to kiss her. When the couple broke apart, Freddie rested his hands on her waist. "Hey, I hope you're ready to have the best day-after-your-birthday celebration ever tomorrow."

"Can't wait," Sam smirked.

"But I want to give you part of your birthday present now," Freddie continued. "There's a catch though…"

"Catch?" Sam repeated.

"You only get it," Freddie told her. "If you yell at me like I deserve. I'm your boyfriend and I didn't even call to wish you a happy birthday! What kind of guy does that?"

"You want me to yell at you?" Sam said, raising an eyebrow.

"I deserve it," Freddie said simply.

Sam rolled her eyes, holding back a grin. "Fine…but you asked for it." She cleared her throat. "Benson! I cannot believe you forgot my birthday! My birthday! It's one day out of the stupid year and you couldn't even put down your dang application to get me a piece of cake? What kind of jerk are you, huh? I should hit you so hard you wake up on my next birthday! You're such a nub!"

"Wow," Freddie said, blinking as he massaged his ears. "That was…something."
"Felt good," Sam smirked. "Now…I was promised a present?"

"Right," Freddie chuckled. "Close your eyes."

Sam complied and Freddie reached into his pocket and pulled out a golden chain and gently placed it around her neck.

"You can open them," Freddie said, and Sam's eyes flew open.

"What is-Oh…" Sam whispered, looking down at the necklace. On the chain was a simple heart charm. "It's beautiful."

"Turn it around," Freddie smiled.

Sam turned the charm around to see a tiny engraving.

"Sam, you will always have my heart. Love, your Nub," she read. She looked up at Freddie. "Thank you."

"I hate that I'm giving it to you a day late," Freddie said.

"I don't care," Sam said at once, lacing her arms around his neck and kissing him senseless.