After finishing up a taping of iCarly, Freddie wrapped on the glass door of the studio finding Carly in the room.
"Knock, knock." he said.
"Hey Freddie." she said turning to him standing over the beanbag chairs.
"You got a minute?" he asked.
"Yeah sure Freddie, what's up?" she asked. He seemed to hesitate for a minute before walking in.
"I was wondering if I could ask you a favor?" he answered meekly.
"Like what?" she replied.
"I was wondering if I could take a week off from iCarly?" he asked.
"What's wrong?" she asked concerned.
"Nothing's wrong, I just want to try some other things." he said placing a pair of pliers on his cart.
"Well sure you can take the week off if you want...what kind of things?" she asked walking over to him. Freddie shrugged as he picked up the pliers again and tapped them against his hand coming towards her.
"I just...kind of like doing more guy stuff. I hang out with you and Sam all the time, seems like I'm always doing what you guys want. And I just need some me time." he said.
"You dont have to do everything with us Freddie. I mean we dont take you to Build A Bra." she said softly.
"And I'm grateful you dont." he muttered as she smiled and laughed.
"You hang out with Spencer sometimes, I've seen you guys do it." she said playfully pushing his shoulder.
"Yeah I know, it's just I always seemed to get pegged with you guys. And that kind of hurts how guys see me sometimes." he anwered in a low voice.
"Well what do you mean?" she asked.
"Nevermind, forget it." he muttered.
"Do they pick on you becuase you hang out with girls?" she asked.
"Kind of yeah, that's why I need this time off. I need to get into something a little more guy centric, like sports." he answered. The burnette couldnt help but laugh at his statement.
"You dont play sports." she teased.
"Yeah I do actually. Fencing is a sport remember?" he replied unaffected.
"You didnt even know you were good at it till Spencer took you." she said.
"Yeah and you know I'm glad he did. That was back when I really needed to feel like one of the guys. It's just different for me Carly. How would you feel if you had to hang around dudes all day doing guy stuff like gaming, and racing and having belching contests?" he asked.
Carly sighed and shifted her right hip out as she pondered this.
"I guess that would be kind of hard. I'm sorry you hang out with us." she apoligsed sitting down.
"You dont have to apologise for anything. I hang out with you guys because your my friends. Well part of the reason anyway, Sam's kind of an optional friend." he joked making her giggle.
"You should go out and do more guy things. It'll be good for you." she smiled patting his leg.
"Thanks Carly. So you think you and Sam will be good for next week?" he asked.
"Well who did you leave us with?" she replied tilting her head.
"Well seeing that you guys didnt like Germey. I'll have to ask one of my other AV friends...one that you wont argue over." he surmised.
"That only happened once." she said.
"Yeah well he's still in the hospital. Seems like anytime a good looking guy comes up here you two go to pieces." he replied sardonically.
"Oh and you dont do the same thing around chicks." she teased gently wacking his chest.
"I'm just saying." he replied before getting up.
"So what kind of activities do you plan on taking up?" she asked before following him. Freddie turned and shrugged as he faced her.
"I dunno, I guess whatever seems fun first. Actually there is something else I need for you to do for me." he said gently grabbing her hands.
"Promise me you wont let Sam or my mom know about this. Especially my mom." he said with emphasis.
"I'm not going to tell your mom. I've seen how crazy she gets." she said changing her voice slightly.
"If mom knew half things I was doing she'd never let me out of her sight again." he replied sternly.
"I promise I wont tell." she said.
"Cool. Well I better get going then." he said grabbing his jacket infront of her.
"Thanks again Carly." he said kissing her cheek, catching her off guard midsentence.
"Yeah no prob...lem." her face turned bright red as she clasped her cheek and looked back at him.
"Uh I should probably..." he stammered.
"Go." she finished.
"Yeah uh..." he made a B-line for the and turned back to apologise.
"Uh listen I didnt really mean for you to take it like that...I'm sorry." he said and closed the door behind him.
Out in the hallway Freddie berated himself for his less than professional advance.
"Stupid, stupid, that was so stupid. I mean I always wanted to and she kissed me before. I didnt expect her to take it like that. That was just a little peck on the cheek, oh man!" he muttered as he walked briskly down the hall.
Carly remained as she was still staring at the door with a hand on her cheek seemingly in shock by what had transgressed. She always knew Freddie loved her and always brushed it off, but never took into account how he really felt. Was it just a kiss of friendship on his part or something more? Outside the apartment Freddie continued down the hallway shoving his way past Sam who was on her way up.
"Hey what's up?"
"Not now." he answered brushing past her. The blonde spun around seeing him off, shook her head slightly and continued on to Carly's. Downstairs in the lobby the elevator opened as he stepped off and left the hotel with a dufflebag over his shoulder.
At the Seattle Sports Complex several blocks away Freddie came through the front door and checked in with the front desk. An African-American woman looked up from her computer as he approached her.
"Hi, what can I do for you?" she asked.
"I was wondering what all you have here?" he asked setting down his bag.
"We have batting cages, there's a martial arts class, basketball, ultimate frisbee anything the greater Seattle area needs." she replied kindly.
"I guess I'd like to take a crack at a few of those. Sign me up for the batting cages first." he said.
"Sign here sir." she said handing him a form. Freddie scribbled down his name and handed it back to her.
"Through that door, you'll find everything you need." she told him.
"Thanks." he said taking off through the double doors.