New story! I did not plan to have this out so quickly, but it came rushing out of me! The updates probably will take longer, but the good news is that this will be longer! It's NOT a continuation from iKAD, so don't get those two confused! This fic will be a little bit more mature since it starts when they graduate college. It's not going to be extreme, but enough to where the rating will go up a bit. Hope everyone is okay with that;-) Anyway, hope you like it! It's brand new to me, too, so even I don't know where it's going to go! We'll all find out soon! Enjoy!
Chapter 1
At the Dallas/Fort Worth airport, in Terminal A, Gate 29, Freddie Benson slouched low one of the many gray, slightly uncomfortable chairs. Behind him, planes were coming and going from the gates and in front of him, travelers in all shapes and sizes bustled around him. He zoned them out with his earphones, which were currently pumping out the intricate beats of Kanye West.
His legs were stretched out with his carryon backpack tucked safely under them and his FDNY ball cap was pulled down over his eyes. He tried to shut down for a moment, since the traveling fatigue was finally catching up to him. Waking up at 4:00 in the morning to catch a 7:30 flight would do that to anyone.
It had still been dark outside when he left the New York apartment he had shared with his good friend, Jason Calloway, for the last two years. Freddie had met Jason on his first day at NYU, four years back when they had been randomly paired up as roommates in the dorm. The two of them couldn't have been more different.
Jason was the popular athletic jock type that Freddie had always despised growing up, while Freddie was…well…not. Freddie majored in computer science, while Jason majored in communications...and let's not forget his part-time modeling gig. Jason would stay up all night partying, while Freddie pulled all nighters at the library. The two of them shouldn't have become friends, yet, that's what they did.
They balanced each other out. Jason would pull him away from the books when he overdid it, while Freddie would shove a book in his nose when he slacked off. Jason always joked that he would have failed out his freshman year if it hadn't been for him. And he wouldn't have had much of a life if it hadn't been for Jason.
Last night was there last night as roommates and Jason had kicked his fiancé out of the apartment.
"We have to do some male bonding, Brooke," he told her. "Go away and do something girly."
She rolled her eyes. "All right, fine," she said but then couldn't help but laugh. "I don't know how you two are going to survive without each other."
"Stop," Jason said as he put a hand to his chest. "I'll get emotional."
Freddie laughed as he threw his toiletries in his bag. "You're so full of it, Jace."
He just grinned into his beer bottle. "You know you're going to miss me, too…don't try deny it."
"I'm going to miss Brooke more…she's prettier than you."
Brooke laughed and then ran up to kiss his cheek. "I'm going to miss you, too." She then gave him a hug. "You'll visit, right?"
"Of course…and you'll see me at the wedding. I am a groomsmen after all."
"I'm thinking of replacing you as the best man."
"Isn't your best man you're little brother?" Freddie asked.
"My annoying little brother," he corrected.
"Oh stop," Brooke said as she gave him a slap on the arm as she walked by. "You love him…now, I'm going to leave you boys to it…bye Freddie, love you."
"Love you, too," he called out as she walked out of his room. "I really am going to miss looking at her."
"Watch it, Benson."
He smiled now at the memory and realized that he truly was going to miss the jerk…and his pretty Brooke. But he had to say goodbye, his time in New York had come to an end and he would be moving to sunny LA in the fall.
He majored in computer science at NYU, but in the summer he took film and directing classes because that was his passion. His years on iCarly taught him that he was the happiest behind a camera, so that's what he intended to do with his life. It wouldn't be easy, he knew that, but he also knew he would never give up. He was good…damn good and he was determined to be the next Stephen Spielberg
But first, he was going to enjoy the summer before his new life began, starting with these next two weeks with his friends. He couldn't wait to see them…it had been ages since he'd seen all of them since he hadn't come home for Christmas. His mom had come to New York last Christmas with her husband George…a doctor she had met a few years back. George was likable enough, a little on the dull side, but he made his mother happy and that was the important thing.
Freddie checked his watch and then sat up in his chair and adjusted his hat on his head so he could be on the lookout. They'd have to start arriving soon since their connecting flight took off in a couple of hours. This whole thing started a few weeks ago when he got a call from Carly. He had been playing football on the Xbox with Jason when his phone went off.
"Freddie, you're phone's ringing," Brooke announced as she concentrated on putting her bright pink nail polish on her pinkie toe.
"Could you grab it real quick?" Freddie asked keeping his eyes on the screen. "I'm nearly done kicking your fiancé's ass."
Jason snorted. "You wish."
"Fine…but only because I haven't done my fingernails yet." She got up and then did a quick shimmy walk on her heels to the phone. "Hello, Freddie Benson's phone, how may I help you? Oh, he Carly! Yeah, yeah…he's right here, he's just playing some Xbox with Jason. Freddie…"
"Yeah, yeah, just tell her to hang on one sec…"
Brooke rolled her eyes. "Hold on Carly, he's in the middle of the game…so how you've been?"
"Touchdown!" Freddie exclaimed as he held his arms up in triumph. "Take that, Calloway!"
"That was offensive interference!"
"Whatever, you need glasses. Face it…on the real football field you can kill me, but you can't touch me in the virtual world."
Jason shoved him. "Nerd."
Freddie just chuckled as he got up and trotted up to Brooke and swiped away his phone. "Thanks…hey, Carls…what's up?"
"Pack your bags!"
Freddie frowned. "Well…I'm leaving for Seattle in a few weeks, so I've kind of already…"
"You're not flying to Seattle."
"But I like Seattle."
"You're flying to Dallas."
"Dallas? Why? I don't want to go to Dallas, especially in the summertime…you know how hot it gets down there? That heat wave we had to go through that one time is nothing compared to…"
"Oh, would you be quiet you big baby, we're not staying in Dallas…we're just meeting there."
"Okaay…and why are we meeting there?"
"My dad just called me and one of his shipmates from Houston has a beach house in South Padre Island. Ever heard of it?"
"Yeah, actually…Jason and Brooke went down there a few spring breaks ago."
"Well that's where we are going…my dad says he'd let us stay there for a few weeks. It's kind of a graduation present."
"Really? Well, that sounds like fun. I haven't been to the beach in…well, since I was a kid I think."
"I've looked at flights and there's one leaving DFW airport at 3:15 to Harligen, Texas…we'd rent a car and drive to Padre."
"How long is the drive?"
"Hour and a half if we don't get lost."
He laughed. "That's not so bad…I'll check the flights leaving New York on that day."
"I've already checked it out and you're not going to like it."
"How early?"
"7:30."
Freddie groaned.
"I know, I know…there's a later flight at 9:30 that would work, but it's booked solid."
"No, that's okay…I'd pick the 7:30 anyway just to be safe. Count me in, Shay."
Carly squealed with excitement…so loud in fact that he had to pull the phone back from his ear. "I think you busted my eardrum."
She laughed. "Sorry, I'm just so excited…I miss you all so much."
"I miss you guys, too…who's all coming?"
"Gibby's coming in from Portland…and Sam's coming in from San Diego."
Freddie's heart turned in his chest like it always did when he thought of Sam. "Oh, okay…great, sounds fun."
There was a slight hesitation over the phone. "Freddie…you two are okay, right?"
"Me and Gibby? Sure, of course."
Carly sighed. "You know that's not who I meant."
He smiled softly. "I know, and don't worry…Sam and I are great."
"You haven't seen each other in a long time."
"I know and I can't wait to see her."
"Freddie…"
"Carly, we went out on a few dates in high school, it's not that big of a deal."
"You had more than a few dates with her, Freddie."
He closed his eyes. "I know."
"She loved you and you loved her."
"I know…I still love her."
"Oh, Freddie…"
"As a friend, Carly…she's just a friend now."
"I don't believe that."
He laughed softly. "Of course you don't…you're the biggest Seddie fan in the world."
"And proud of it. You two belong together, you're both just being stubborn."
"Maybe…we'll see what happens. In the mean time, let's just get excited about the trip. I'll see you in Dallas, okay?"
"Okay…can't wait…love ya."
"Love ya, back." He locked his phone and tossed it on the couch as he turned to his friends. "Looks like there's going to be an iCarly reunion at South Padre Island, Texas."
Jason lifted a brow. "And how do we feel about seeing the famous Sam again?"
Freddie let out a shaky sigh as he his fingers through his hair and gripped strands. "Not sure…but I'll tell you as soon as I figure it out."
"Do you still have feelings for her?" Brooke wanted to know.
He plopped next to her on the couch. "Of course…all sorts of weird, messed up feelings."
"Those are the best kind," Jason said winking at Brooke.
She gave him an amused grin before turning back to Freddie. "Well, just take it one day at a time…just enjoy being with her as a friend and see where it leads."
He sighed. "I guess…she drives me crazy. She's the only woman I've ever known that has the talent of making me want to strangler her one minute and kiss her the next."
Brooke's eyes softened. "That's the sweetest thing."
Freddie rolled his eyes. "I forgot…you're just as bad as Carly. You've been a Seddie fan since you were twelve."
"Guilty."
"What about Patricia?"
Freddie looked over at Jason. "What about her?"
"You broke up with her, right?"
"Yeah, although she's not taking it well. She's already text me three…" His phone went off and he quickly checked it. "Make that four times today."
Brooke scowled at the phone. "Ugh…Patricia…I never liked her…want me to go and roughen her up for you? Sam taught me some killer moves when she visited that one time."
Freddie grinned. "Thanks, hun…but I'd hate for you to ruin your freshly painted toenails."
"That would be a shame. Well, she'll get over it because she's not for you anyway. She's a stuck-up snob who thinks she's all that because she comes from money."
"You come from money," Jason pointed out.
"Yes, but I'm not stuck-up, now am I?"
"No…well, maybe sometimes, but I love you anyway."
Brooke threw a pillow at Jason. "You're an ass…but I love you anyway."
Freddie chuckled. "You two kind of remind me of Sam and I."
Brooke smiled. "Did you really love her?"
"Yes…not at first…when I was a kid I thought she was the devil reincarnated, but as we grew up we started to become close friends and then much more."
"Was she your first love?" she asked with a sigh.
Freddie shook his head in amusement. "You're such a sap, Brooke…but, yes…she was. She and I shared a lot of firsts."
Jason wiggled his eyebrows. "Yyyeah, ya did."
Freddie blushed as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Cut it out, Jace."
"Aww," Brooke cooed. "She was your first?"
Freddie cleared his throat. "Er…yeah…Senior prom."
Jason snickered. "I'll take clichés for 400, Alex."
"Oh, hush!" Brooke said as she threw another pillow.
Freddie just laughed. "No, he's right, but it wasn't like that. We didn't even go to the prom together…we had different dates. We had broken up at the beginning of our senior year and went back to being our normal bickering selves It was awkward at first, but we seemed to manage to get back to where we use to be."
"What happened on prom night?"
Freddie sighed. "Sorry, I don't really want to talk about it."
"But…"
"Let it go, Brooke," Jason warned softly.
Brooke sighed. "All right…sorry."
Freddie smiled. "It's okay…I know you care, but…it was a long time ago and I'd kind of want to keep it in the past."
"I understand."
He nuzzled her head and then stood up. "I better go do some more packing…I have a lot of organizing to do."
He did do a lot of packing and a lot of organizing in those next few hours, plus he did a lot of thinking. About Sam…his first kiss, his first real girlfriend…the only girl that ever loved. He had dated the last four years, but it never got serious. A few serious make-out sessions here and there, but it didn't go much farther. He always claimed he was too busy with school to have a serious relationship, but he always knew deep down that the reason he couldn't continue on with anyone was because they weren't Sam.
He needed to get over it…over her. It was why he started dating Patricia in the first place and he definitely dated her longer than anyone else while he was in New York. He wanted it to work, he wanted to feel things for Patricia, but he never could…so he ended it before it was too late. She wasn't happy about it and would probably keep bugging him for a while, but she would eventually give up. She was too in love with herself and in the end, she would need someone who had her complete and utter devotion….and that was definitely not him.
In a few minutes he would see her…he knew her plane would be landing soon and his heart was racing. How was he going to feel when he saw her again? Does she even feel anything for him anymore? Or does she only see him as her friend? A part of him thought it would be for the best if she did and the other part…a much bigger part…prayed that she did still had some feelings for him.
He sighed as he closed his eyes and tried not to think about her…but of course he did. He tried not to think about the times they shared when they were together…but he did. And he desperately tried not to think about the Senior Prom, but of course he did…he remembered every single detail and before he could stop it…that night came rushing back…
