Sam and Carly walked into school that day, huge grins on their faces.
It was February 14th and they had great things planned for the day. It had been Carly's idea to surprise their boyish friends and Spencer and with a little convincing she got Sam to help her, too. Chelsea, Spencer's fiancée was out of town, so there was no problem in stealing him away for the night.
Carly gave Sam a nod as they spotted Freddie, Gibby and Brad waiting for them at their lockers, Sam turned around and quickly dissappeared into the hallway.
"Hey Carls. Where's Sam going?" Brad greeted the brunette.
"Oh she has to find Wendy to give her back some homework." Carly replied nonchalantly.
Sam was actually on her way to Brad's, Gibby's and eventually Freddie's lockers to slip their first hints into. They had planned a little treasure hunt that would give them enough time to prepare everything in the loft. Carly had taken care of Spencer, sending him throughout town after he came back from the junkyard that afternoon.
"Why are you grinning like Sam, Carly?" Freddie asked anxiously.
"Yeah, why do you look like devil herself?" Gibby furrowed his brows.
"What? Oh nothing, I was just thinking about my plan to get a date with Shane tonight." She replied smoothly. The girls had it all planned out perfectly. There was no question that she couldn't answer with a smooth lie, Sam had trained her.
"Ah." Freddie replied, clearly showing his disinterest and Brad frowned.
"Do you still need anything from your lockers? Or are we ready to go?" Carly asked, closing her own locker.
The boys shook their heads and they headed towards their first period.
Sam stood by her locker after second period, waiting for the boys to come to her. She would provide them with their second hints for the day, sending them off into different directions.
Gibby was the first to come to her. He looked deeply confused.
"Hey Sam."
"Hey Gib." She replied smoothly.
"Listen, I've got this card, I think it's a fake, telling me to come to you an-"
"No, that's right. It's no fake. It's a little treasure hunt Carly and I set up for you boys." She grinned.
Gibby smiled. "Really? That's sweet! Thanks, Sam!"
Gibby had broken up with Tasha about three month ago, because she had been too over-protective and super jealous.
"Here's your hint." Sam handed him a card with his name on it.
The chubby boy took it and hugged her quickly, beaming down at her, then walking off.
Sam chuckled.
"Oh and Gib!" He turned around.
"Yeah?"
"You didn't hear anything I just told you!"
"Didn't hear what?" He grinned back at the blonde.
"Good boy." She laughed. "Now go!"
She was still shaking her head and grinning like an idiot as she looked after him. She didn't know it would make him that happy. She grew to really like the weird boy and his ways. He was nice, kind and loyal. Not any less weird than in sixth grade when they first met him.
Gibby would find his next hint in the cafeteria, which would then take him to the gym, where he would have to do 20 push-ups until Carly would waltz in and hand him his next hint.
The next boy to find her was Brad.
"Hey, honey pie." He smiled at her and gave her a tight hug. "Happy Valentine's Day."
"You, too." She smiled. Brad was special to her. Not only did he make the best fudge in the world and provided her with free masses of it, no, since they were cooking together he had grown to be her best friend. She liked to think that he was the twin brother that Melanie never was. She wasn't scared to show her affection towards him, even though the school thought they were secretly dating or something. She didn't care. She had never cared much what people thought about her, but after staying with her friends for so long, she came to be more affectionate towards Carly, Freddie, Spencer and even Gibby, too.
"You found the hint?" Sam asked.
"Of course I did. Everyone looked at me like I was crazy when I started laughing like a mad man."
"Why were you laughing like a mad man?" Sam raised an eyebrow.
"You signed it with 'Honey Pie & Cupcake'. Kinda clichée, don't you think?" He grinned down at her.
"...Maybe." She gave in before laughing along with him. They hadn't thought of that.
"So you're doing what? A treasure hunt? For me?" He looked curious.
"Maybe us. Maybe someone else. Take your hint and find out." Sam smiled sweetly.
Brad took the hint, pressed it to his chest and bowed before her.
"Yes, m'lady!" And with that the light brunette boy took off running towards his history class, where he would find the next hint, sending him to the Groovy Smoothie.
The blonde looked after him, still smiling. Then, a movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention.
Sam turned to her left and saw Freddie leaning against the wall that led to his locker, seemingly unsure what to do. People were passing by between them, but Sam didn't break their eye-contact. Freddie looked kind of sad, she registered. Sam squinted her eyes and tilted her head to the side in confusion, then, when he wouldn't move, she sighed and eventually walked over to him.
"What's up, Fredward? You look sad. Nobody gave you a gift for Valentinte's Day?" She grinned at him.
"Haha." He said. "I got plenty."
"Of course you did." She said sarcastically and he pointed towards his locker that was bursting with pink and red little cards.
Sam's face fell. She had once again forgotten, that he was the quarterback now. He was hot. And popular with girls. The blonde bit her lip.
"Well, did you-"
"I found yours and Carly's card." He said.
Sam's face lit up in relief. "What? Then why didn't you come and find me?! We told you to!"
Freddie sighed and a look of hurt seemed to cross his face.
"I saw you and Brad and didn't want to interrupt your... whatever." He said.
Sam looked at him quizzically. Whatever? Why was he behaving so weird?
"Well... okay then. Here." She held out a little card adressed to him. His second hint. It would lead him to his chemistry class, where Mr. Eisenberg would do a little chemistry-trick and finally hand him his third hint. The third hint would lead him to the pear store, where his ex-chef, Nathalie, would hand him the next hint, which would lead him to the fire escape.
Sam had planned Freddie's treasure hunt all by herself. She wanted it to be special. She knew for a while now, that she had started to like him ever since their first kiss three years ago. She wasn't ready to tell him how she felt yet, so she wanted to make this treasure hunt that was hers and Carly's at least a little personal for him. Carly had been okay with that. She had been assuming Sam's feelings for Freddie for a while now and was sure for her assumptions to be correct when Sam had asked her to do Freddie's all by herself.
Freddie looked at it. He looked more than confused.
"What is this?"
"Well, you won't find out, until you open it." Sam said in a 'duh'-tone.
The brunette slowly took the card and opened it.
"What's that supposed to mean: 'Congratulations, you've found me! Was about time, nub! Now go and hurry off towards your next class. Don't get blown up'?" He asked a little anxious.
Sam grinned.
"Bye, Fredward!" She waved and hopped off, leaving a confused Freddie.
Sam grinned like a maniac as she entered Carly's apartment.
"Helloooo Miss Shay!" She yelled.
"Hey Sam." Carly smiled. "You ready to cook?"
"Momma's always ready! You've gotten everything at the grocery store?" Sam smiled and threw her backpack next to the door.
"Yes. You can start right away." She looked at the clock. "Oh! I have to go and give Brad his next hint at the Groovy Smoothie! And Spencer his at the art's centre! You know where to find everything?"
"Sure, just go!" Sam laughed at her friend and put the rose apron on.
She was cooking one of her favorites. A waffle bouquet filled with heart-shaped waffles, heart-shaped cookies with everyone's names on them, a watermelon-owl, self-made sushi, heart-sandwiches and, of course, her one and only honey pie. She was usually not up to all that hearty stuff, but today was different. This was for people she loved with all her heart. To show them how much she cared. So she put all her energy into preparing the food.
It would take her several hours, she really hoped Carly would keep the boys distracted until she was done.
Halfway through her work, Carly came back and announced everything was going as planned. Sam grinned and Carly started to decorate the apartment, humming happily.
"Wow, Sam, that looks gorgeous!" She exclaimed as she came to the kitchen and looked over Sam's shoulder. Carly tried to sneak a bite, but Sam slapped her hand away.
"No nibbling, Shay."
"God, you're so weird when you cook yourself." The brunette giggled and walked away. Sam smiled. If she was cooking herself, everything she cooked was a master piece that needed to be perfected. She allowed no nibbling or stealing, not even to herself.
Freddie stepped onto the fire escape and spotted the little pink card taped to the emergency ladder immediately. He smiled. He knew that this had to be a message that was directly from Sam. Not from Sam and Carly. It had to be from Sam and only Sam. They hadn't told Carly where they had had their first kiss. It meant much more to him than to her, but she didn't know that of course. He liked Sam, he liked her more than any girl before. Maybe, maybe he even loved her. And it had all started on this fire escape. But he couldn't tell her that. She was so close with Brad... it would only be a matter of time until she realized that she was in love with the boy and it made him sad. It made him sad to see the looks Sam gave him, but more than anything he wanted her to be happy. If Brad made Sam happy and smile like that, then he was okay with that. Well, maybe not okay, but he could live with that.
The brunette sighed, sat down on the window sill and opened the card.
Nub. Congratulations, you found your last hint. Didn't think you'd make it.
Well, maybe I did, because otherwise, I wouldn't have lead you here. Here. Onto the fire escape. Actually, to me - as sappy and mushy as I may sound now - it feels like our fire escape. Because... well, you know what happened here. I know we still fight a lot, but you know I love you, right? You're my best friend and what happened on this fire escape is still one of the best memories I have of us. I'm glad that you remained your nubby little self, although you're quarterback and girls are all over you now. Keep it that way - or else.
Love, Sam
Freddie smiled. He hadn't thought that Sam would write him such a personal card. He was happy and smiled like an idiot. Then, he spotted the little note at the end of the page.
P.S.: Now get your nubby butt over to Carly's, quarterback!
Freddie chuckled. This was so Sam.
He gently folded the card and put it into his pocket as he stood up. He turned and made his way over to Carly's.
He opened his apartment door and found no one else than Brad standing before him.
"Hey." He smiled.
"Hey." Freddie greeted back.
"Good that you're here. My note says I have to wait for you guys until I enter." Brad said.
"You've got those hints, too?" Freddie looked confused and a little hurt, that his two best friends didn't do this little treasure hunt only for him. But on the other hand, he should have known better.
"Yeah and it seems like Gibby and Spencer did, too." Brad pointed towards the Shay's door where three more pink envelopes could be found.
Freddie grabbed the one with his name on and read it.
"Yeah, mine says I have to wait, too." He said and sighed.
"I wonder how long we will have to wait-" Brad started but was interrupted by two voices coming down the hall.
"Ah, you guys are here, good." Gibby said.
"What? Why are you not surprised?" Freddie questioned.
"Sam told me this morning that Carly and her were doing a little treasure hunt for us." Gibby shrugged.
"What? Why did she tell you, but neither of us?" Brad asked a little upset.
"I don't know."
Freddie sighed. "Here, take your envelopes. Does any say other than to wait for us and then enter the apartment?"
Spencer and Gibby grabbed their envelopes and read them quickly.
"No."
"Nope." They replied.
"Good, then let's enter. I'm curious." Spencer said.
Freddie nodded, knocked on the door and opened it. They stepped in, but were stopped by the sight before them immediately.
There was no electric light, instead, there were myriads of candles on the floor, on the table, on the shelves, on the kitchen counter and on the stairs accompanied by thousands of rose petals. Everywhere. The couch and couch table were moved out of sight, replaced by a huge amount of pillows and blankets. In front of the TV was a huge amount of food. Freddie could see sushi, cake, sandwiches and something that looked like an... owl?
"Happy Valentine's Daaay!" Carly and Sam jumped out from behind the kitchen counter and made the thunderstruck boys jump violently. Carly had her and Sam's hair curled gracefully, she wore a dark pink, asymmetric dress with quillings on the side that held the dress over her shoulder. Sam wore a red dress with a little skirt on her waist and black tights. They looked perfect for Valentine's Day.
"Carly, Sam!" The boys smiled.
"W-What is all this?" Spencer asked a huge smile on his face. The girls could tell he was deeply touched, he had a little too shiny eyes as he looked back and forth from the food to them.
"This is for you." Sam smiled. "We wanted to thank you-"
"And show you how much we appreciate what you do for us." Carly continued.
"You're all awesome and we love you so much." Sam said with so much love in her voice, it was more than unlikely for her.
"You do so much for us and support us and we just wanted to give at least a little bit back to you." Carly said, her voice was getting thick and emotional.
Spencer was the first to move forward and hug his little sister.
"Thanks Carly. Happy Valentine's Day." He smiled.
Gibby walked forward, too and wrapped Sam in a giant bear-hug.
"Thanks Sam. No one ever did anything like that for me. You two are the best." He told her quietly. Sam smiled into the chubby boy's shoulder.
"No problem, Gib. You're the best, too. And the weirdest." She grinned and he laughed, releasing her.
"And proud." He smiled back.
"You should." She told him and patted his arm.
Then Spencer turned towards her and Gibby went over to hug Carly.
"Sam, you cooked all this?" He asked as he leaned down to hug her tightly.
"Of course I did! Since Carly has inherited your special ability to set everything on fire..." She laughed.
"Even in heart-shape!?" He said questioningly, as he stepped back from the blonde.
"Of course. Even Sam Puckett can get girly if it's for a special occasion. And if she wants to thank her almost-big-brother for letting me ... well... live here with you." She smiled at him.
"No problem, kiddo." He grinned his goofy grin and pulled her into another hug with one arm.
"I love you, Spence." Sam said and squeezed him tightly.
"I love you, too, kiddo." He said and ruffled her hair.
She laughed and shoved him away.
"So am I gonna die, if I eat any of this?" He said as he looked at the food on the floor.
"Spencer!" Carly and Sam exclaimed at the same time and laughed at the weird adult.
"Is that honey pie I see on the floor?" Brad asked smiling brightly as he stepped over to Sam.
"It sure is, fudge-boy." Sam grinned. "And it's better than ever."
"How's that possible?" Brad scoffed disbelievingly.
"It's made with love." Sam smiled lovingly, looking over towards the pie.
"Thanks for setting all this up, girl." Brad said and hugged her.
"Thank you for being yourself and helping me so much." She could feel him smile into her hair.
Brad pulled back and kissed the top of Sam's blonde hair.
"Stay awesome." He said smiling genlty and walking over to Carly, wrapping her in a shy but tight hug.
Sam grinned. Would he ever have the guts to tell Carly, that he liked her? Maybe, if she build up enough courage to tell Freddie how she felt. She could just hope for Brad that his hopes weren't turned down like hers would.
She turned around and found Freddie standing a few steps away, watching her closely.
"Fredward." She said. Oh great, now she remembered what she wrote on his last hint and felt the heat rush to her cheeks.
"Samantha." He said, slowly walking over to her.
"Happy Valentine's Day." Sam said awkwardly.
Freddie half-smiled at her. "To you, too."
There was a heavy silence settling between them and Sam was determined to not let that happen.
"So... you found all the hints, huh?"
He grinned, remembering her last card as well. "Yeah. Pretty girly for someone like you, leading me there, don't you think?"
Sam blushed even harder and she glared at the brunette in front of her angrily.
"Oh, you know what, Benso-" She started, but was interrupted by Freddie stepping forward and hugging her, pulling her close against his chest.
"Thanks, Sam. It was the best part of my day up until now." He whispered into her hair.
She smiled and hugged him back, squeezing him.
"And I love you, too." He whispered almost inaudible.
But Sam caught it. She knew exactely what he meant, but couldn't keep the butterflies that were erupting in her stomach to stay in their little cage. A giant smile grew on her face and she pressed herself against him, never wanting to let go of that boy that she had known for so many years, the boy that had always been by her side to support her and who had never really changed.
"Thanks for everything, Freddie." She told him and unwillingly stepped back from him.
"So who's ready to eat?" Carly, who had sensed an awkward silence about to settle upon them said.
"Me!" Spencer yelled, Brad raised his hand.
"Gibbay!" Gibby exclaimed. Freddie and Sam just laughed at their crazy little bunch.
"Okay, we got a waffle bouquet filled with heart-shaped waffles, heart-shaped cookies with everyone's names on them, a watermelon-owl, self-made sushi, heart-sandwiches and, of course, my one and only honey pie." Sam pointed towards each food.
"Additionally," Carly said, walking over to the fridge, careful not to knock any candles over, "we have rude beer, Wahoo!Punch, lemonade and Peppy Cola."
The boys grinned, ordered their beverages and plopped down on the pillows, pulling the plates towards them, filling them with food.
Carly and Sam sat down next to each other, watching the boys pile huge amounts of Sam's delicious food on their plates. Their surprise had been a complete success. The four guy's eyes were shining happily in the candle-light and their faces were plastered with wide grins.
Sam turned towards her best friend and held her hand up. Carly smiled and high fived the blonde, before pulling her into a girly hug, too.
"I love you, Sam."
"I love you, too, Carls."
They grinned at each other and then helped themselves to some of the delicious Valentine's Day Menu.
"Woah, I'm stuffed." Brad said and leaned back onto the pillows next to Carly.
"No surprise, since you ate almost half of that pie!" Freddie laughed at him and Sam, who was leaning on his propped up knee rolled her eyes.
"Didn't you taste it? It was sooo gooood!" Brad exclaimed, rubbing his full stomach.
"Yeah, you've gotten kind of round tonight." Carly said, rubbing his stomach with him.
Sam, Freddie, Spencer and Gibby burst out laughing at the sight of Brad's face.
His eyes were huge in shock and his mouth formed a perfect O.
"Sorry, just kidding." Carly giggled.
Brad didn't move.
"I'm sorryyy!" She said and leaned down to hug him.
Brad's face lit up and Sam laughed even more. That confused Freddie, but he didn't care, he just laughed along with her. He loved how her curls bounced when she laughed and how her eyes sparkled.
It was a great night, they were talking, watching some terrible movies and eating all night long. It was the best Valentine's Day ever.