Prompt Request from ChallengeKing: iGoodbye never happened but Freddie moves to LA for college and gets into a fight with Sam and Carly because of it. Tori has to show him around the city before classes start. Pairings are Tori/Freddie, Jade/Cat, implied Sam/Carly.
I apologize this is short and not very obvious with where I have in mind for the story to go but before I write more I want to see what kind of demand is out there to even have this story written so bare with me and this broad beginning. Hope you guys can kind of see the David in the stone slab (not to draw parallels between myself and Michaelangelo or anything) :) Thanks!
"…the fuck is wrong with you?! I mean, shit, you could at least fucking give a damn smoke signal you're even alive anymore! After up and fucking leaving us here with next to no warning you just ignore us? Fuck you, Fredwad, fuck you… Sam, give me the phone. No, he needs- Sam! Sorry, Freddie, she's just upset you left. Please call us or text us so we know you're okay, please. We miss you… Bye, Freddie." 'To repeat this message press 3, to save this message press 4, to delete this message press 7- Beep. Message erased."
Freddie shook his head and placed his phone back in his pocket. It's been some 4 weeks since he moved to LA but he hasn't gone a day without some sort of threatening message or text from Sam. She's taken it a lot harder than Carly has, it seems. Sighing to himself, Freddie heaved himself out of bed and into the bathroom to get ready for the day. His mom went back to Seattle last week finally, after hours of convincing on Freddie's part, but left him with a small fund for new school clothes, books, and anything else they might not have gotten while she was helping him settle into his new loft. Stepping out of the bathroom, Freddie looked around with a content smile.
It wasn't huge, but it was home. A small kitchen was off to the left of the door, the hallway leading to his room and bathroom to the right. The living room was just past the kitchen, separated by bar area with three stools. His mom had helped him pick out a modest leather couch/love seat set and he later mounted his TV on the wall across from the kitchen with a small entertainment set for his film and audio equipment, of course. The part that sold him on the whole apartment was the balcony. California was vastly different from Washington, the weather being the biggest change, and that balcony let him appreciate the sunny days and warm nights in a private setting.
Scratching at his head, Freddie meandered over to the frig, pulling out a carton of eggs, spinach, and cheese for a quick omelet for breakfast. After cooking up his meal and plating it, he slid the glass door open and stepped out into the morning air. It was warm already at 8:15 in the morning, but summers in southern California tended to be like that he was coming to realize. Even though his apartment complex was on the opposite side of campus as the 405, morning traffic could still be heard through the muggy air. Freddie sighed again; that was something he would miss about Seattle, the slower pace and more relaxed environment. He pulled out his phone once he was done eating, figuring he should actually make an effort to reach out to his friends and at least try to reconcile their tenuous friendship. His thumb hovered over the contact's name for a few moments before pressing the green 'call' button. Freddie swallowed and licked his suddenly dry lips as he listened to it ring over and over…
And then he was dumb struck. "Hey, Freddie," the soft voice on the other line murmured.
"Uh.." Freddie cleared his voice before stuttering out more nonsense, "What- uh- h-hey, Carls. Um, what's up?" He could feel his face grow warm as his embarrassment colored his cheeks.
"Oh, you know, just hanging out. Waiting for Sam to get ready so we can go get our schedules and look around the campus some. How are you?"
Freddie was still so shocked by the soft spoken girl, young woman at 18 now, on the other end of the line. Carly was never as loud or obnoxious as Sam was but she was rarely this quiet, something had to be going on with her.
"I'm okay, good. Mom left last week finally and with classes starting in a few days I'll likely do what you guys are and go check out campus some more on my own, figure out where my classes are and how long it'll take me to get from one to the other." There was a long pause after Freddie spoke that continued on to be awkward but it didn't seem to bother Carly. Finally Freddie cleared his throat again, coughing uneasily. "Hey, look. I'm sorry for not talking to you guys earlier. It's just been crazy since the move and with Mom here and everything, I kinda just needed a clean break to start this new part of my life, ya know?"
Silence filled the space between them for several long moments before a whoosh could be heard, likely from Carly breathing in deeply. "I understand, Freddie. It's new and exciting and different and you have to throw yourself into it."
"Yeah, exactly. It's a great experience getting this scholarship to UCLA and I have to grab the bull by the horns right now and make everything count because this is my future we're talking about and I can't mess this up. But it's going to be amazing and this school is going to be just the stepping stone I need to really get the foundation and instruction I never got back home. There are opportunities around every corner here unlike at home where I was just the film nerd who happened to hang out with you guys. It's time for me to make something of myself and show everyone I'm so much more than that!" Freddie finished in a rush of excitement, nearly bouncing in his seat out on the patio still.
Carly was much more subdued. "I'm really proud of you, Freddie. I'm sure you'll do great things out there." There was a short pause again before, "I gotta go. Thanks for letting me know you are okay, Freddie. And good luck."
"Wait, Car-" Before he could finish that thought, there was a click and then silence again. Pulling his phone away from his ear, Freddie could see Carly clearly hung up on him. With a frown, he rubbed his face oils off the screen on his pants before putting it back in his pocket and gathering his dishes to wash back inside.
After washing his dishes and tidying up the kitchen a bit, Freddie jumped in the shower, hoping to help wash away the uncomfortable feeling his short conversation with Carly left him with. As he was starting his second cycle of shampoo and conditioner, he let his mind wander over his friend's demeanor this morning. In the 8 years he'd known the girl, he had only seen Carly that somber a handful of times and those were when she had her heart broken or she was fighting with Sam the one or two times they had a full on blow-out. When he'd left Seattle Carly was still happily single and according to her plans for the day, she and Sam were just fine, so what was wrong with her? By the time Freddie was done man-scaping (as Sam so lovingly named it) and had rinsed off, he still hadn't come up with an answer. Shaking off the thoughts, he threw on some shorts and a red polo, grabbing his phone, keys, and wallet on his way out the door he slipped on his Aviators and picked a random direction to begin exploring.
XXX
Carly glanced nervously next to her, eyeing her blonde companion anxiously. She knew she shouldn't have said anything to Sam, but she deserved to know Freddie finally reached out as much as she did. Now she just had to deal with the consequences.
She was livid. If she was a cartoon, there would be steam billowing from her ears and the whites of her eyes would be tinted red. But she wasn't a cartoon so instead, Sam was stalking across campus with a scowl etched into her face and her arms rigidly crossed over her chest. If she were honest with herself or anyone else, she'd admit she's not really mad more than hurt. Freddie was her friend; sure their relationship was a little unorthodox and most people wouldn't consider what they have a friendship but it worked for them and always had. Freddie knew her biting remarks were a defense mechanism and more habit than anything else, and Sam knew Freddie hid behind his cameras and computers to keep from exposing his vulnerabilities and weaknesses. It was how they worked, so why the hell was he changing it?! And why didn't he call her after he called Carly? Was she not as important to him anymore? I mean, sure she and Carly were living together and spent nearly every waking (and sleeping) moment together but it still coulda been the considerate thing to do!
It wasn't until a slim hand lightly squeezed her bicep that Sam stopped stomping around and looked up from the sidewalk. They were at the admissions building already. When the hell did we get here? Where was the rest of this campus? I thought it was a good 15 minute walk from Brewster to here? Isn't Eastern some 300 acres or some shit? Sam glanced up at the large building in front of her and, for the moment, her anger and hurt was forgotten. Chesney Hall was a sizable brick building with lots of windows and several people milling around its doors. It was the epitome of their existence at this University and frankly, kind of intimidating, though Sam would never admit this out loud.
"Whelp," Sam shrugged, "C'mon, let's get this over with and then explore this hellhole that is now our home for the next 4 or 5 years." Carly just nodded and linked arms with the blonde, pulling her inside the air conditioned building. 45 minutes and one long line later, the girls found themselves comparing prices for the books "required" for their classes.
"You think I really need 3 different books for my Intercultural Communications class?" Sam asked distractedly, skimming the back of one of the books.
The brunette looked up from her own search. "No, it's not likely. Spencer suggested we wait 'til a few days into class before getting books 'cause a lot of books "required" you can just get from the library if you don't have to use them in class and once the professor gives out the syllabus you should know which ones you need to own and which you can get from the library."
Sam rolled her eyes and sighed, exasperated. "If we are waiting until class starts, why are we down here again?"
Brown eyes met blue before looking away bashfully, "I don't know. I guess I'm not really all here right now, I'm sorry."
"It's cool, Carls." Sam put her books back, doing the same with the ones stacked around Carly's feet, before pulling the taller girl up and towards the stairs. "C'mon, Mama's hungry."
"You just had breakfast not even an hour ago. And when are you going to grow out of calling yourself 'Mama'?"
XXX
"Lalalalala I love lollipops and lilies and ladybugs and les-"
"Cat! Enough already, good Lord!"
The small redhead instantly stopped skipping, a pout forming on her lips. "Sorry," she squeaked quietly.
"Really, Jade? When are you going to stop being a bitch?" Tori asked, shooting the taller brunette a dark look.
Jade just smirked, not missing a beat. "When you stop trying to kill us all via bleeding from the ears with your innocent farm girl voice," the taller girl mocked.
Cat covered a giggle with her hand and ducked her head into Jade's shoulder when Tori's glare turned in her direction. Tori threw her hands up in the air before turning and striding off towards American Eagle, not caring if the other two followed her or not, but knowing they would. Linking her fingers through Cat's, Jade just smiled and headed into the far too bright clothing store.
The three girls spent hours flitting from store to store trying on various outfits and modeling them for each other. Even the ever moody Jade smiled more frequently, in between spats with Tori (though she secretly loved mocking the girl). Eventually they all started to slow down.
"I'm hungry, Jadey, can we get food soon?" Cat asked, turning large brown eyes up at her girlfriend.
Jade tried to mask her smile with a bored expression, flickering her eyes to Tori who was watching the couple with a small smirk on her mouth. "I'm sure Tori has bought the entire mall by now so I think food should be in order. Sushi?"
"Yay!" Cat jumped up, excitedly clapping before pulling both girls by their arms to the restaurant down the street.
Colliding with something solid, Tori stumbled a bit before righting herself and glaring at Cat. "Jeezes, Cat! I'm not a doll, don't be so rough, the sushi will be here all day." Tori finally turned to see what she was dragged into after Cat squeaked out a 'sorry' only to be met with a guy slightly taller than herself, looking to be around her age.
Instantly, Tori blushed. "I am so sorry about that, she gets a little excited when it comes to food sometimes," she chuckled awkwardly, kicking her shoe against the ground.
"No problem, I have a friend back home who would plow just about anyone over to get to food so it's not really surprising," the guy replied with a charming half smile tugging on one side of his mouth.
"Oh, okay, right… Well.. I guess I should go keep an eye on those two. Sorry again for running into you."
"Don't worry about it, have a nice lunch." With a small wave, he turned and walked down the street and around the corner.
Tori stood watching the mystery guy even after he was out of sight, until Jade roughly flicked the side of her head. "Ow! What was that for?!"
"Stop being a creeper catching flies out here and come order so we can eat, my girl's hungry."
The shorter girl turned and followed Jade back into the restaurant mumbling under her breath. "I will never understand how you guys got together."
Jade smirked, overhearing her grumbling. "I'm great in bed." She just laughed at the disgusted face Tori pulled, no doubt having mental images of her two friends having sex.
XXX
The darker young guy cast another questionable look at his friend, raising an eyebrow at the subtle yet ever present smile on his face as he watched the action on the TV in front of him, though anyone could tell he wasn't really paying attention to the screen. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. "Okay, what's wrong witya face, man? It's like a constipated toddler finally gettin' ta go finally or some shit." His friend's smile immediately dropped to be replaced with a repulsed look causing him to laugh. "Did somethin' happen earlier when you were out?"
Freddie just shrugged noncommittally and took another bite of his pepperoni, olive, artichoke pizza. Dark eyes scanned his face and body carefully before suddenly lighting up. Freddie groaned internally, this is gunna be good.
"Oh my God, you got laid didn't you?!" Andre yelped like a highschool girl, nearly vibrating with excitement for his friend. When the boys met 3 weeks ago just after Freddie moved in down the hallway, they immediately hit it off. Andre has been on a mission ever since learning his single status to get Freddie out more and meeting more people. Thus far, it hadn't been going well due to his awkward shyness, but based on the blush traveling up his pale friend's neck and face, it seems Freddie got some on his own. Andre looked on with a proud smile. "I knew LA would loosen your tight ass up a bit eventually, I'm impressed you got on it so fast, bro!"
Heat spread across Freddie's features again as his friend clubbed him on the shoulder rather hard and continued to praise his "dawg-edness", whatever the hell that means. Sure, Freddie is not the most experienced guy out there sexually, especially considering his only experience was a rough time with Sam last year, but hey he's no prude… Generally. After a couple more minutes of basking in Andre's apparent surprise and praise, he set him straight.
"Sorry to burst your bubble, Dre, but no, I didn't get laid," Freddie said, shoving more pizza in his mouth and not watching the excited smile drain from his friend's face.
"Dude, what do you mean? You've been practically glowing since you got back earlier from shopping, what else could it be?" Andre questioned, actually making air quotes around the word 'shopping'.
"I was shopping, I needed another pair of pants and a few more polos to buy before school next week, okay? But no, I ran into this girl when I was leaving Soko's Sushi after lunch."
Andre interrupted excitedly again, "Oh! And you got her digits huh? Fred-dawg you get em!"
"Uh, no. I literally ran into her, or she ran into me from her friend pulling her into the restaurant. But she was beautiful and super sweet and seemed like a great girl from the few awkward minutes of conversation we had." That wistful smile was back, only to be crushed by Andre's quick response.
"'A great girl' and 'super sweet'? Dude, stop soundin' gay. No one cares if they're sweet or not, just if they got a nice body! C'mon, didn't they teach you anything way up north?"
"Well, I care about that stuff," Freddie mumbled.
"'Course you do, 'cause you don't know how we do things here in SoCal, ain't that right Beck?" Andre elbowed his long-haired friend who was busy thumbing attacked in a first person shooter game, not paying the other two any attention.
Beck shoved Andre over after his elbowing started to mess with his game. "Yeah, yeah. We'll get you a hot chick soon, Fred, no worries there man. Maybe we can invite Tori and the girls over later, I'm sure they got friends we could introduce you to."
"Whatever, not like I'll see her again anyway."
"That's the spirit!" Andre exclaimed, swinging his arm around Freddie's shoulders, not noticing the other boy tensing from the unfamiliar contact. "Hey, Beck, let's play teams and show Freddie here how it's done Cali-style."
What have I gotten myself into, Freddie sighed but picked up a controller, trying to understand the weird sequences his new friends were showing him.
AN: Okay so this is kinda the set-the-stage chapter. Not sure how I feel about it but I've had a few of those scenes running around my head for several weeks and just finally put them down. Not sure if I'll tweak this first chapter any (probably) but I wanted to get a feel for this story. I haven't written a hetero story in years so not sure how this will be received. So I guess just let me know how you feel on the set up, if y'all think there's story potential, 'cause if not I'll scrap it and wait for other inspiration. As always, thanks for reading! xox B