Leotard

"So you really booked the flight?"

"Yes, nub," Sam smiled as she switched her Pearphone to her other ear. "Everything's all set. I'm flying over to your nerdy school to spend your birthday with you."

"I can't wait, I'm so excited you're coming," Freddie said on the other line. "I've missed you so much. It feels like forever since we've last seen each other over Winter break."

"I know, I miss you too," Sam said softly, taking advantage of the fact that Carly wasn't in their shared dorm to let her softer side show a bit. "Long-distance relationships suck, baby."

"Well in three weeks we'll finally get to see each other again," Freddie said. "I've got to start a countdown to this on my phone. We can get dinner, I can give you a tour of the school, we can-"

"Lock ourselves in your dorm room for a few hours?" Sam grinned.

Freddie chuckled. "Well obviously. Thank God I don't have a roommate. It was great visiting you last semester and all, but with Carly sharing the room with you…"

"Hey, she gave us a little while on our own," Sam reminded him.

"I know, I know," Freddie said. "Still, it will be much more convenient not having to worry about anybody bursting in over here."

"Definitely," Sam agreed. "Oh hey, before I forget, Carly and I are going to go to the mall later on this weekend. What do you want for your birthday?"

"Huh? Sam, just having you visit me is enough," Freddie said.

"Cute, but don't pull that with me, Benson," Sam smirked. "You're getting an actual gift whether you want it or not. So tell me, is there like, some new comic book I can get you at the geek store or is there something at the Pear store or-"

"First of all, the comic book shop is not a geek store," Freddie corrected her playfully.

"I beg to differ," Sam scoffed.

"And there's nothing I really need from the Pear store right now," Freddie continued. "Seriously, what I wanted most was to spend my birthday with you."

"Dude…" Sam chuckled, her cheeks flushing. "Come on, seriously, I want to get you a gift. We weren't a couple last year on your birthday, so my present to you was totally lame."

"You got me an eight-dollar gift card for the Groovy Smoothie," Freddie said. "That wasn't lame."

"Fredwad…"

"Alright, it was kind of lame," Freddie admitted. "But seriously, I don't-"

"Just tell me what you want before I reach through this phone and give you a wedgie," Sam snapped.

"Fine, fine," Freddie said quickly. "Um, let me think…Hey! I-I know something I've kind of always wanted."

"Good, what is it?" Sam said.

"Well, it-it's not exactly something you can buy at the mall," Freddie said.

"What is it?" Sam asked again.

"I-I'd kind of like it if you would, um, you know, dance for me," Freddie said awkwardly on the other line.

"Dance for you?" Sam repeated. "Hmm, kind of kinky, isn't it? But I guess if that's what you really want-"

"No, that-that's not what I meant," Freddie said quickly. "I mean if that's a possibility, let's table that idea and discuss it later, but no, what I meant was I wanted to see you dance. You know, like you used to."

"Huh?"

"Well you've always talked about how you used to dance a lot when you were younger," Freddie said. "About how you did tap dancing for like, nine years."

"Right…"

"Well the last time you did that I completely missed it," Freddie said.

"That's because you were too busy with that dumb game with Spencer and your dates," Sam pointed out.

"I know," Freddie said. "But from what Carly told me, you were amazing. And I hear they way you sound when you talk about dancing…you sound so passionate."

"Well yeah, I loved dancing," Sam said. "Sometimes I wish I never gave it up…But you seriously just want to watch me dance? I dunno…I-I've never danced for just one person before. When you dance on stage in front of an audience or something you can just block everybody out."

"Hey, if you don't want to, you don't have to," Freddie said quickly. "I don't want you to be uncomfortable."

"Well maybe if you don't want to make me uncomfortable we should have a little chat about those Galaxy War pillowcases you've got on your bed," Sam smirked. "Don't think I haven't seen them when we've web chatted."

"Cute," Freddie chuckled. "Fine, I'll make sure they're gone when you come to stay. But just so you know, those things are real collectables! I got them online in an auction for two hundred bucks."

"Oh, so you have two hundred bucks to shell out on geek pillowcases, but not on your girlfriend?" Sam said playfully. "You have any idea how much jerky you could've bought for me with that kind of money?"

"Baby, these pillowcases have NugNug on them…"

"I'm dating the world's biggest doof," Sam smiled, rolling her eyes. "Hey, I've got to go. I promised Carly I'd meet her for coffee."

"Alright, I'll talk you later," Freddie said. "And I can't wait to see you, Sam. I love you."

"Love you too, Fredhead," Sam replied.

As she hung up her phone, her eyes wandered over to her messy closet across from her bed. At the very bottom, underneath piles of dirty clothes and various food wrappers, were her tap shoes. When she had been packing for college, she had debated whether or not to take them up with her. She knew they would most likely just sit around and never be worn. But in the end, she had found herself tucking them away in one of the bags.

When she danced, Sam didn't feel like the girl with the Juvie record who everybody thought would amount to nothing. She didn't feel like the girl who everybody overlooks while they chased after her best friend.

When she danced, Sam felt graceful and proud and, most importantly, she felt like she could be somebody worthwhile.

And being with Freddie had always made her feel the same way.

….

"It's freezing here," Sam said as her and Freddie stepped into Freddie's dorm room a month later. "Like seriously, what's the temperature?"

"Probably six or seven degrees," Freddie said. "This winter has not been fun. Seattle usually got pretty cold, but it's nothing compared to this. I'm hoping by the end of the month it starts to warm up at least a little. If you want to see the campus, I suggest we wait until the afternoon when the sun comes out."

"Good thinking," Sam nodded, dropping her bag down on the floor and kicking off her boots. "Besides, what I really want to do right now involves us staying right here in this room."

Freddie grinned as he quickly locked his door behind him, and Sam wasted no time in wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning up to kiss him.

"Happy birthday, baby," she whispered. "I love you."

"Love you too," Freddie smiled back. "I'm so glad you're here. Really glad."

"Yeah, I can tell," Sam smirked as Freddie quickly sat down on his bed and quickly began untying his shoes. "But slow down, Fredwash. Don't you want your present first?"

"What are you talking about?" Freddie frowned. "You gave me my present at the airport. That Galaxy Wars poster signed by the members of the original cast. I can't wait to hang it up!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I contributed to your geekiness," Sam said, rolling her eyes. "But that was only part of your present. Remember a while ago when we were talking about what you wanted for your birthday and you told me you wanted me to dance for you?"

"Yes…" Freddie said slowly. "Wait, you don't mean-"

Sam bent down and opened up her bag and pulled out her tap shoes.

"Whoa!" Freddie beamed. "You're seriously going to dance?"

"Well I didn't bring these shoes just for the heck of it," Sam said, sliding them onto her feet.

"Baby, wow, that-that's-wow," Freddie said. "But hey, listen, if you're not comfortable doing this, you don't-"

"Hey," Sam said softly. "I want to do this for you. And…it won't be uncomfortable or weird for me, don't worry. I'm always comfortable around you."

"Wow, it really is my birthday," Freddie chuckled. "There's no way you'd say something as corny as that any other day."

"Not a chance, so you better savor the moment," Sam nodded, straightening up. "Well…alright. Just so you know, I haven't danced since the pageant three years ago, so I'm probably a little rusty."

"Doubt it," Freddie said, leaning back against his pillows.

Sam rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. She began to perform a few basic moves, surprised at how easily everything was coming back to her. She looked up at Freddie who was watching her, absolutely transfixed.

She danced for about five minutes before finally stopping, slightly out of breath.

"I forgot how much energy that takes up," Sam said, wiping her brow. "Well, at least I'm not freezing anymore. So…what-what did you think."

"You were amazing," Freddie said softly.

"Eh, I'm alright, I guess," Sam shrugged. "A lot of my moves were a little off, and that last turn I did was totally off center."

"You looked like you were having the time of your life," Freddie said.

"I like to dance," Sam said.

"How come you stopped then?" Freddie asked gently.

"I dunno," Sam sighed. "I guess once I started getting into trouble and stuff, I thought being into dance didn't really fit my reputation anymore. Girls who can flip a truck driver and eat three hams on their own aren't supposed to be into things like dance."

"Well that's what makes you so amazing," Freddie said as Sam sat down on his bed next to him. "You are a girl who can eat three hams and dance like a star."

Sam smiled. "So I take it you liked your present then?"

"Sam, you have officially made this the best birthday ever," Freddie said. "You came out to MIT, got me a super-rare Galaxy Wars poster-"

"-Already regretting that."

"-And let me see you doing something that clearly makes you so happy," Freddie finished. He leaned down and kissed her. "Baby…thank you so much."

"Yeah, well, it's your birthday," Sam reasoned. "But hey, enough with this mushiness. We have to get to the last part of your present."

"Last part?" Freddie repeated. "Okay, what else could you possibly have planned?"

"Dude?" Sam said, raising her eyebrow. "Come on."

"What?" Freddie frowned. "What do you-oh right, right."

"Nub," Sam smirked, shaking her head as she moved onto Freddie's lap and pushed him back against his pillows and kissing him deeply.