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"How lucky is it that Freddie's mom got scheduled to work the graveyard shift the same as your three-month anniversary?" Carly said as she painted Sam's nails in the middle of her bedroom. "You'll be able to have the entire apartment to yourself."
"Luck had nothing to do with it, Carls," Sam grinned. "Freddie hacked into the scheduling system at the hospital and worked his magic."
"The perks of having a tech genius as a boyfriend," Carly laughed.
"His skills do come in handy sometimes," Sam nodded. "And are done with my nails yet? I'm starving!"
"Well you can't eat until they're dry," Carly warned. "But I think I'm just about done. Now you'll have pretty nails for your date tonight."
"Oh good, because I was real worried about that," Sam chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Thanks and everything, Carly, but Freddie and I aren't really going out anywhere fancy, so."
"Well it will still be nice to have your nails all done for your boyfriend," Carly shrugged. "It is a pretty important date. Three months…kind of a big deal."
"Yeah, I guess," Sam shrugged. "Technically it's four months if you want to count that month we dated before we broke up last year. I can't believe we've made it this far."
"So things are going better than last time then?"
"Oh yeah, much better," Sam nodded. "I guess being apart made us realize how much we actually wanted to be with each other."
"That's sweet," Carly said.
"Yeah…" Sam smiled. "It just sucks that we took such a long time to realize that. We could've had more time to spend with each other. Now that we're basically done with high school and going off to two different colleges, it's gonna be rough."
"I'm sure you'll manage," Carly said. "Besides, you still have the whole summer."
"Eh, that's true," Sam agreed.
"So…" Carly said, screwing the cap back on the nail polish she had been using. "You and Freddie are just staying in tonight?"
"Yeah, neither of us really want to go out, so we figured we'd just order pizza and sit around watching movies all night," Sam replied. "Should be fun."
"Uh-huh…" Carly grinned. "I'm sure it will be."
"What?" Sam said.
"Come on, you're just going to watch movies?" Carly said knowingly.
"Well obviously not," Sam chuckled. "But I thought it grossed you out to hear about us making out."
"Right…that's all that's happening tonight," Carly smirked knowingly.
Sam frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you guys have been dating for awhile now," Carly said. "It's a special day for you two…"
"So?"
"So, I-Um, never mind," Carly said quickly.
"No, tell me," Sam said. "What are you talking about?"
"It-It's nothing, really, I-I shouldn't have brought it up," Carly said.
"Well you did, so spill," Sam replied.
Carly sighed. "Fine. I-I was just thinking that, well, since you and Freddie are getting pretty serious with your relationship and with tonight being your anniversary and all, that tonight would be the night that you two, well, you know…"
Sam's face reddened at once. "Oh…"
"But it's totally none of my business," Carly said hurriedly. "That is between you and Freddie."
"I-I actually hadn't thought of that at all," Sam said slowly. "Do-Do all couples do that once they hit this mark in their relationship?"
"Well…all couples are different," Carly reasoned. "Some do it sooner, some do it later."
"Yeah, but clearly it's a pretty common thing if you were so sure we were going to do it tonight," Sam said, starting to feel a little nervous. "You-You think…oh…that-that's why Freddie was so eager to get his mom out of the apartment for tonight. He's thinking the same thing. He's thinking tonight's the night that him and I are gonna sleep together for the first time."
"Well, um, do you think you're going to then?" Carly asked. "You know, if he does want to?"
"I-I don't know," Sam answered honestly. "I-Maybe? Should I? We have been together for awhile now…I love him…It's our anniversary. Would you do it if you were me?"
"You know, I-I'm not really sure, to tell you the truth," Carly said. "I've never really been in a relationship long enough to get to this point. I almost did with Steven last year, but, well, you saw how that turned out, so I'm pretty thankful I never did."
"Right," Sam said heavily.
"But listen, this isn't about what I would do," Carly said. "It's about what you would do. Yeah, it's your anniversary, but that doesn't mean anything. If you're not ready to have sex, then you don't have to."
"But what about Freddie?" Sam mumbled. "What if…What if he is ready, and he planned on tonight being the night?"
"Sam, Freddie loves you," Carly said. "And you know he'd never make you do anything that you're not comfortable doing."
Sam didn't reply.
"It's your decision," Carly said. "Just remember that."
…
Later that evening, Sam stood in front of Freddie's door and took a deep breath before knocking.
Freddie quickly opened up.
"Hey," he grinned, wasting no time in wrapping his arms around her and kissing her deeply.
"Hey yourself," Sam chuckled when they pulled apart. "So is your mom gone?"
"Would I have kissed you like that if she was still here?" Freddie asked.
"Good point," Sam nodded as she stepped into the apartment. She looked around and saw that most of the lights were dimmed and that Freddie had set out several candles throughout the room, creating a very romantic atmosphere.
"I thought I'd spruce the place up for tonight," Freddie smiled, hanging Sam's jacket up for her. "You like?"
"Yeah, it looks real nice," Sam said.
"Thanks," Freddie replied. "Anyway, the pizza is on its way, so in the meantime, how about you and I start this date off our usual way…"
"Sounds good," Sam grinned as the couple sat down on the couch.
Once more they began making out, things getting more and more heated as time went on. And all the while, Sam couldn't get the conversation she had had with Carly earlier that day out of her mind. Finally, unable to take it any longer, Sam pulled away from Freddie.
"What's wrong? You okay?" Freddie asked.
"Yeah, I-I'm fine," Sam nodded. "But, um…"
"What's up?" Freddie asked, concerned.
"I just…I need to ask you something," Sam sighed.
"Okay, what is it, baby?" Freddie asked.
"Well, um, it-it's our three-month anniversary, right?" Sam said.
"Yes…"
"Right, and, um, apparently a lot of couples, at-at this stage in their relationship, they-they um…" Sam started awkwardly, trying to figure out how to bring up the issue tastefully. But after stumbling around with her words, she decided to through tact to the wind. "Did you think we were going to have sex tonight?"
Freddie's eyes went wide and his face immediately flushed crimson. "Um, I-I-"
"Sorry," Sam mumbled. "I-I just wanted to know."
"No, it-it's cool," Freddie said, slowly recovering from the shock of Sam's bluntness. He took a deep breath. "Okay, um…honestly Sam…I-I actually was, um, planning on bringing up the idea of, um, us doing, er, that, tonight."
Sam nodded. "Ah. So-So you're ready for that then?"
"I-I think I am," Freddie said softly. "I love you Sam."
"I love you too…" Sam whispered, looking down at her lap.
"But hey, listen, that-that doesn't mean we have to do anything tonight," Freddie said. "We're not going to do anything unless you're ready too."
Sam nodded.
"So, um," Freddie cleared his throat. "Are-Are you ready? You know, since we're on the subject?"
Sam looked up at him and took a deep breath. "No. No I-I don't think I am." She looked back down. "I'm sorry baby. I-I do love you. Really. I-I just don't-"
"Sam, stop, you don't have anything to apologize for," Freddie said, taking her hand.
"It's just, I-I've never been in a real relationship before," Sam said. "Not with anybody but you. And-And I've loved every minute of it so far. I just…I just want to enjoy this part of the relationship a little longer. Before we go any further."
"Alright," Freddie nodded. "We can do that."
"Thank you," Sam said softly. She squeezed his hand. "But I do want to…Soon. Just-Just not right now."
"Whenever you're ready," Freddie smiled, leaning down to kiss her.
