Lecturer
"It's so strange to think that we're done," Carly said as she adjusted her graduation cap in the mirror that hung in her and Sam's living room. "I feel like these past four years have just flown by. It kind of seems like it was just yesterday that we were freshmen moving into our tiny college dorm…now we're graduating."
"Yeah, you're right about that," Sam sighed, fixing her gown as she stood next to her best friend. "It's almost…sad."
"Of course it's sad; this huge chapter in our life is coming to an end!" Carly said. "College was the best experience we could've ever asked for! And now it's done. No more pulling all-nighters, no more spontaneous road trips, no more fun parties, no more lectures-"
"Pfft, I will not miss lectures, that's for sure," Sam scoffed. "But…yeah, I guess I will miss that other stuff. So what time do we have to leave for the ceremony?"
"I'd say within the next hour," Carly said. "My family's already at the campus now finding their spots. Well, most of my family. My cousin Tabitha is meeting us here."
"You have a cousin Tabitha?" Sam frowned.
"Yes, I've told you about her," Carly said. "She's a veterinarian in Fresno. Do you ever listen to me?"
"Occasionally," Sam smirked.
"Well is your family here yet?" Carly asked.
"Yeah, my mom and Melanie are already in their seats," Sam said. "Any my Uncle Carmine and cousin Hank are just waiting for their parole escort to pick them up."
"That's nice," Carly said.
"Yeah, it's cool that they all came," Sam nodded. "I just wish…never mind."
"You wish Freddie was coming, don't you?" Carly said knowingly.
"Well…yeah," Sam admitted. "But I know he's super busy up at MIT finishing up his own finals….he'd be here if he could."
"You'll just have to make sure you take lots of pictures so you can show him later," Carly told her best friend. She picked up her phone from the nearby coffee table and glanced down at the screen. "Oh, Tabitha just got here. I've got to go down to the lobby and meet her."
"Alright," Sam nodded, picking up her hairbrush and carefully running it through her hair. "I'll just keep getting ready. I should be ready to go in a few minutes."
"Sounds good," Carly said, grabbing her keys and hurrying out of the apartment.
Once Carly was gone, Sam set the brush down and sat down at the couch. Nobody would've ever thought she'd get to this point in her life. Heck, people were surprised that she graduated from high school. Yet here she was, about to officially get her college degree. She felt proud of herself. There had been nights, when she had been drowning in papers and exams, when she had thought about just giving up. Normally when she felt overwhelmed, there had been one person who had been able to talk her through everything: her boyfriend, Freddie.
Even though he had been across the country for her entire college experience (save for a few fun visits and summer vacations), he still managed to be her rock. He was the one who would tell her that she was capable of more than she thought, that she was going to be alright, and that could do anything she put her mind to. And that's why even though Sam had told everybody that she was fine with Freddie not being able to attend her graduation today, she still felt as though there was something major missing.
He'd be here if he could, Sam told herself for the thousandth time.
Just then she heard the apartment door open again; Carly must've just gotten back with her cousin.
"Hey Carls, do you care if I borrow some of your lip gloss?" Sam asked. "I think I left mine down in my car, and-"
Her mouth dropped as she saw who was standing with Carly in the doorway. It wasn't Carly's cousin.
It was Freddie.
"Surprise!" Freddie smiled, stepping forward.
"You-You're here?" Sam said softly, hardly daring to believe what she was seeing. "I thought-I thought you couldn't make it-"
"You really thought I'd miss one of the most important days of your life?" Freddie said wrapping his arms around her as he leaned down and kissed her. "There's no way I'd let that happen!"
"But-But you told me that you had a huge final to study for," Sam said, her surprise slowly beginning to be replaced with glee.
"I do, but some things are more important than studying," Freddie chuckled. "And you are definitely one of them."
"He wanted to surprise you," Carly said as Sam leaned up and kissed Freddie again. "So him and I arranged for him to come. It was so hard keeping it a secret from you, but it was worth it, wasn't it!"
"Yeah…it was worth it," Sam chuckled as Freddie hugged her tighter.
"Alright, well I'll give you two a few minutes alone," Carly smiled. "But we've got to leave soon, so don't get too comfortable."
"I can't believe you're here!" Sam beamed as she kissed Freddie again.
"Baby, I wouldn't miss this for the world," Freddie said. "I'm so proud of you…you deserve this."
"I wouldn't have gotten here without you, you know," Sam whispered.
Freddie laughed. "Sam…I didn't get this degree for you. This was all you. You did this. This is your moment…I'm just glad I get to share it with you."
Sam rested her head on his chest, finally feeling complete. "So am I."
….
Four weeks later
"All of them are grounded?"
"Yeah, every single plane leaving from this airport is grounded," Sam groaned into her phone as she slouched down in her seat in one of the airport's waiting areas. "Apparently they can't take off in severe thunderstorms."
"Oh," Freddie said on the other line.
"This is insane!" Sam continued to fume. "It's been raining for two days straight here! I'm really starting to get sick of Seattle!"
"Well maybe once the rain finally stops you can catch another flight," Freddie said.
"Maybe," Sam sighed. "But the lady I just talked to at the information desk said everything's so backed up because of the delays that it might take a few days to get out to MIT. Your graduation is tomorrow. Baby…I'm really sorry, but it looks like I'm not going to make it."
She could feel Freddie's disappointment even through the phone.
"Well…that-that's okay," Freddie said. "You tried your best."
"I wish there was something I could do to make this rain stop," Sam said heavily.
"You can't control the weather," Freddie chuckled. "Look, it's okay. Really."
"It's your graduation," Sam said. "It's kind of a big deal."
"Eh, I'm just walking across the stage," Freddie said. "And giving a speech…but seriously, it's fine."
"But-"
"Maybe I'll see if I can get someone to set up a livestream or something so you can watch online," Freddie continued. "Anyway, I should get going. I'm sure my mom's going to be calling me about this soon; she was supposed to be on the plane that left three hours after yours, but I guess she's not going to make it either."
"So no one's going to be at your graduation?" Sam frowned.
"No, I have a few cousins from the east coast who are coming," Freddie said. "Plus some friends I made up here. Don't worry about me, baby. I'll see you in a few days, okay?"
"Okay," Sam mumbled. "Love you."
"Love you too," Freddie replied.
Sam hung up with a heavy sigh. She felt terrible that she'd be missing her boyfriend's graduation from MIT. She knew graduating from that school was a dream of his, and she wanted more than anything to be there with him.
Stupid rain, Sam thought to herself miserably as she started towards the front of the airport to leave. Stupid Seattle. Stupid airplanes that can't fly in the-
"Grounded?" she suddenly heard a hysterical voice cry. "What do you mean these planes are grounded? I have to go see my son graduate!"
Sam spun around and saw none other than Marissa Benson standing at the ticket counter. Apparently she had just gotten the same bad news that Sam had.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do," the man at the desk said. "The weather is simply-"
"I don't care about the weather; my precious son is graduating from college tomorrow!" Marissa snapped. "Unbelievable! I finally decided to throw all my cautious and fears about airplane travel to the wind and this happens?"
"Marissa!" Sam said, coming over to her boyfriend's mother.
"Oh, it's you," Marissa sighed. "Hello, Samantha. I suppose you've heard the news too?"
"Yeah, that it looks like we're not going to be able to fly out to Freddie's graduation?" Sam said. "Sucks, right?"
"Well, I would never use such language to describe this situation, but yet," Marissa said. "It certainly…sucks."
"I just got off the phone with Freddie," Sam continued. "And he says he's fine with us not being there, but I think he's still a little upset."
"Of course he is!" Marissa said. "He's been dreaming of having his mother at his college graduation for years! And I suppose he'll miss you too."
"Right," Sam said, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, I wish there was something I could do, but unless you know how to magically stop this rain, we're not flying anywhere."
"I knew Freddie shouldn't have gone off so far for college," Marissa said, shaking her head.
"He said something about a live stream of the ceremony," Sam told her. "So maybe we can-hey! I've got it!"
"Got what?" Marissa asked.
"We can't fly out to MIT for Freddie," Sam said slowly. "But maybe we can still get there another way…"
"What do you mean?" Marissa frowned.
"All the planes may be grounded," Sam said, a smile creeping onto her face. "But if there's one thing I've learned from dating Freddie, it's that trains can run in all types of weather; rain or shine. Look, if we hurry, maybe the two of us can catch a train out there! Or we can at least take the train to an airport that has planes that can still fly!"
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but Samantha, that's a brilliant idea!" Marissa said. "Now let's get to that train station."
….
"I wish we could've come out there to see you graduate, but we just wanted to make sure you knew how proud we were," Carly and Spencer said to Freddie over his phone as Freddie anxiously paced back and forth in his small studio apartment. In just a few short hours he'd be at his MIT graduation, an event he'd been dreaming about since he was a kid.
"Thanks, you guys," Freddie smiled.
"Have Sam and your mom gotten in yet?" Carly asked.
"Actually, they can't make it," Freddie sighed.
"What? How come?" Spencer asked.
"Apparently you guys are having some really bad weather over in Seattle," Freddie said. "All the planes are grounded."
"Oh man, that's horrible!" Carly said. "I'm sure Sam's devastated she can't come. She was really looking forward to being there for you."
"I know, but there's nothing she can do," Freddie said. "She can't stop the rain. Anyway, I feel bad for you guys. My mom's probably going to be so upset that she'll be unbearable. I'd lock your door if I was you."
"Thanks for the warning," Carly chuckled. "Well, we'll let you go. I'm sure you have a lot to do. Good luck out there!"
"Thanks," Freddie said. "I'll see you both when I come home in a few days."
Freddie hung up his phone and let out a long breath. He knew it wasn't their fault, but he really wished Sam and his mom would've been able to make it. Especially Sam. This day seemed somewhat less significant without her there, making fun of the other MIT nerds.
She'd be here if she could, he told himself
Just then there was a knock at his apartment door.
Wonder who that could be? Freddie thought as he headed to answer the door. When he opened up, though, he nearly fell over in shock. Standing in front of him were Sam and his mother.
"S-Sam!" Freddie exclaimed. "You-What-How-"
"Surprise!" Sam beamed, stepping forward to hug him. Before she got the chance, though, Mrs. Benson shoved past her and threw her arms around her son.
"Freddie!" she exclaimed. "Don't worry, I made it! I'm here!"
"Er, that's great mom, but-but I can't breathe!" Freddie gasped.
"Well that's probably because of all the dust follicles you have floating around this place!" Marissa said, releasing him and looking around the apartment.
"I-I think it may have something more to do with the fact that you were strangling me," Freddie said. "But holy chiz, I can't believe you guys are here! But…how are you here? I thought you couldn't get a plane out of Seattle."
"Well there are other ways to travel," Sam smirked, moving past Mrs. Benson and finally greeting her boyfriend properly. "Your mom and I took the train to Chicago, and then hopped on a plane from there."
"Whoa, seriously?" Freddie said. "You did all of that?"
"Of course we did, you don't think I was going to miss seeing my dorky boyfriend get his dorkier degree from the dorkiest university in the country, did you?" Sam grinned. "It would take more than a little rain for me to miss out on this, baby."
"I-Wow, I still can't believe you went through all of that," Freddie said. "It must've been such a long trip."
"Twenty-one hours of travel," Sam nodded. "But it was all worth it. Although…" she leaned up to his ear. "I'm never going on a trip like that with your mom again! Do you know how many times she tried to sanitize the seats in the train station? I thought she was going to get arrested! And she tried to get me to sing show tunes with her the entire way! How did you live with that woman for so long? She's the worst!"
"You know, not many girls would endure over twenty hours of that just to see their boyfriend graduate," Freddie grinned, leaning down to kiss her.
"Guess their boyfriends aren't as incredible as you then," Sam chuckled. She wrapped her arms around him. "I'm so proud of you, Freddie. This is such huge moment for you and I'm just glad I'm not going to miss it."
"I'm glad you're here too, Sam," Freddie said. "It makes this day even more special for me."
…
AN: Fun fact, I writing this shortly after my own college graduation! Also, thanks so much to everybody who has read/reviewed/supported this story; you all are the best!
