𝐢𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝘚𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘦

003; TONIGHT WE ARE BRIGHTER

third one-shot (003)

❝I know we're still young and it's past your bedtime... but I wouldn't change how soon we fell in love.❞

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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐘 is over; Spencer has a fireproof suit, Carly's singing on stage, and in between the love fest is Sam with Freddie feeling alone. Beside her Freddie is smiling like an idiot; unlike Sam he enjoyed these events— it was the first day in years that he had a father figure in his life. Marissa Benson was married to none other than Spencer Shay after three years of dating. "I love her, she's crazy, but in a good way. I can show her what it's like to have fun." Spencer told Sam once; before he proposed to her, and asked for Freddie's blessing.

Sam wasn't with her friends agreeably feeling the wedding like them. It was dumb, and maybe even a gentle subject but tonight she missed her father. Beside Carly, her father reassured her that he loved her performance on stage, and Spencer silently smiled at Freddie now and then. Where was her parents right now? Pam (Sam's mom) went to Vegas last week to meet an old friend of hers; on the other hand Sam's father wasn't anywhere— he left her.

At age eleven years old Sam didn't have a father, or a mother who cared about her. There were no divorce documents, and the entire Puckett family had no idea where he was; he just left without telling anyone. "I love you princess." He tucked her in bed, and was out of the house by midnight.

Pain crossed her path, and she used up all her attention on not crying— Sam wouldn't cry in the corner of a wedding because of something that happened years ago. As people interacted with each other around the wedding Sam noticed that this was another sign she was alone in a relationship too.

Freddie had a girlfriend, and Carly had a crush she was sure would be her boyfriend soon by the signs... Sam on the other hand still had no boyfriend after Freddie had broken up with her. Was she stuck in the past? Watching the brunette boy beside her, he got another diet cola from the mini fridge close to him. How could he be alone with her right now? Didn't he have a girlfriend to celebrate this with?

"Why are you still here? That girlfriend of yours has been dancing without you for ages, Benson." Sam nudged him on the arm and pointed to the dance floor where indeed his girlfriend was dancing with another man close to his age.

Sipping his diet soda Freddie shrugged. "I'm not a very good dancer. Jess thinks I might step on her new shoes if we dance." He clicked his tongue, obviously irritated. "That guy she's dancing with is my cousin; he's definitely into her."

Concerned for Freddie Sam looks over her shoulder, and to the boy. "Hey, don't tell me you think she likes him back." Sam waited for any reply from him, but he nodded instead. "Are you kidding me? Dude, I know this isn't your wedding, but this is a wedding you should be happy about! Come on, cheer up a bit will you?" Sam sighed; Freddie didn't say anything.
"Do you want to dance with me?" She asks.

A warm hand holds onto Sam for dear life and she doesn't pull away, because she knows it's Freddie's lingering hope that she won't leave him tonight. "You don't have to do this for me. I'm just trying to process everything— Spencer as my stepdad... and Jess."

"Spencer cares about you Freddie, there's nothing to worry about. I've known him longer than you, and he'll be a good father. I'm sure of it." She didn't hesitate to tell this to him as he stared into her eyes. "He's almost a father figure to me."

Freddie's eyes lit up and he turned to Sam. "You really think so? I'll believe you; I just can't imagine that anyone but you would understand." He gave her a small smile.

He knew about her father, and though he didn't have it in full detail Freddie was there for Sam. "Come on Fredward, you need to dance tonight. So let go of your diet cola, and move those legs, will you?" Sam practically dragged him to the dance floor.

"I told you I don't know how to dance well." Freddie whispered into her ear as a slow song came on. "What if I step on you, or-"

Sam rolled her eyes. "I don't care, dork. You see? Haven't we known each other long enough for this?" She set his arms, and made sure his feet were moving the right way. "I used to dance professionally— now I just have to master teaching a nub how to slow dance."

They laughed together, and Freddie got comfortable realizing this dance wasn't about whether he was good enough to dance with Sam, or if his girlfriend was still over his cousin; it was about having fun with the one girl who knew how to cheer him up with a few words. "Thank you," He let Sam put her hands around his neck. "Looks like tonight wasn't that bad."

"It's not over. We can dance a few more songs." She whispered into his ear, a soft piece of her hair touching his cheek. She's gorgeous, he thought— this was a rare night that Sam had worn a dress.

"I like the sound of that." Freddie loved weddings so suddenly; he would have to remember to take Sam to them more often if it meant seeing her in a dress.

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𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: I couldn't help myself. Could you notice? ⍨