I looked down at the piece of paper in my hand and sighed, I wasn't sure why I'd kept it or why I was staring at it now but something about it wouldn't let me get rid of it. Instead I pulled out my phone, ignoring a curious glance from Carly and typed in the number, saved it as 'Jade' and put my phone back in my pocket as my mind wandered to about two hours ago.
We'd been preparing to leave for Seattle, our work done and Steven humiliated, when I'd been approached by a girl black hair that had a green streak running through it, "Benson right?" she asked.
"Um, yeah.."
"Jade." she said simply and thrust a piece of paper into my hands, "Call me if you need something, and I'll be there." she said, and glanced back to the brunette in the corner (Tori if I remembered right) and scowled.
"Uh, thanks." I said, slipping the piece of paper in my pocket and smiling, "I'll keep it in mind."
I still wasn't totally clear on why she'd given me the number, but I figured it couldn't hurt in case I needed someone to talk to and lately I felt like Sam and Carly, my best friends and co-hosts of our web show iCarly, were drifting away from me and I was stuck with Gibby. Gibby was our odd friend who sometimes guest appeared on iCarly and had started hanging out with us. He was a nice guy, don't get me wrong, but I missed the days when it was just the three of us.
We didn't get home until the next day, it is an 18 hour drive after all and we needed sleep. When I got home I went straight to my room to avoid my mother, ( though I realized she might still be taking care of my aunt) I did that more and more often these days, and pulled out my phone and went straight to the contacts and stopped at Jade's name, my finger hovering above the call button. I took a deep breath, should I call her already? And what was I so eager to call her?
My finger slipped and I hit the call button "Crap.." I mutter before putting my ear up to the receiver.
"What?" came the voice of the girl I'd just met.
"Hey Jade I uh, just called to say hi.."
"Benson?" she asked in surprise.
"What? Didn't think I'd call?" I ask with a smirk that I know she can't see.
"No... I actually didn't." she said.
"You owe me ten bucks!" A girl's voice called.
"You bet if I would call?" I ask.
"Yeah, Vega bet you'd call, I didn't think you would."
I can't help but laugh a little, "Well sorry to disappoint."
"No actually... It's okay."
"Oh yeah?"
"I'm kind of... Glad you called, which doesn't happen very often."
We ended up talking for the next two hours about this and that until I found myself opening up about everything: How I'd been in love with Carly since I was eleven, how I'd almost died for her and we'd been together until Sam had convinced me I was just bacon (Jade had promptly called me an idiot for believing her) and I even ended up telling her how Sam was becoming crueler towards me every day
After I was finished ranting, which made me feel so much better, My new friend went silent for a moment, "Seems like you do actually need someone." she commented.
"I guess so... I mean, it never really bothered me much but once I got talking to you it was like I just couldn't stop.."
"Don't worry about it." she said, "It was...Sort of nice to listen."
"Sort of nice?"
"That's the best you get Benson." she growled.
"Alright, I can live with that."
We talked a little bit more until she had to go, we talked for almost three hours that day, and when she hung up I couldn't help but feel like a load had been lifted off my shoulders.
Over the next few days Jade and I talked more and more and Carly, Sam, and I talked less. The day of the school lock-in I went over to the Shay apartment "Hey guys."
"Hey stranger." Carly said with a smile, "Where have you been?"
"Oh sorry I just... I've just been busy."
"Well I've missed you." she said softly and my heart skipped a beat, when she did she ever miss me?
"I've missed you too Carls." I say.
"Hey Carls I need" she stopped when she saw me, "Look what the cat dragged in." she said angrily, "Just remember we existed?" She asked before heading upstairs.
"What's with her?" I ask.
"No idea.." She said with a shrug, "She's been acting weird since we got back from Seattle, keeps asking about you."
"Me?" The surprise on my face must be evident because Carly smirks.
"Yeah, you... You should go talk to her."
I sigh and head for the stairs, "Better have 911 on speed dial." I tell her.
She giggles, "Duly noted."
I trudge up the stairs like a man on death row and enter the iCarly studio quietly. "Sam?" I ask curiously.
"What do you want nerd?"
"I came to check if you're okay."
"So now you care?" She asked bitterly.
I look at her strangely, "Of course I care! It's you who doesn't give a damn."
"I don't?" she asked angrily.
"Sam, you HATE me" I pointed out, "Even my birthday cards say HATE, Sam, not Love Sam, HATE."
"Maybe I don't hate you anymore.." she mumbled.
"Of course you do-" I was cut off by her launching herself at me and grabbing my by the shoulders before locking her lips with mine. When she released me from the hold she looked at me expectantly and I did the only thing my confused brain could think of: I ran.
"Hey Fr- What's wrong?" The brunette asked me.
"Can't talk, gotta run." I said quickly and headed out of the apartment and Bushwell Plaza to the one place I knew I'd be safe: The old 'apartment' I'd rented from Lewbert once upon a time. My hands were shaking and my mind was racing as I called Jade.
"Freddie?"
"She kissed me!" I blurt, "S-She kissed me."
"Slow down, who kissed you."
"S-Sam!"
The line went silent for a minute, "She did?"
"Y-Yes."
"Sam who bullies you, hates you, and makes your life miserable?"
"YES"
"Okay, Calm down... Damn, she has an odd way of telling you she likes you."
"Yeah I know but... Jade I don't like her."
"You're in love with Carly still aren't you?"
"Of course I am!" I snap.
"Alright alright, so obviously you need to be tactful about this."
"Yeah..."
"Or y'know, you could crush her and show her how it feels"
"Jade!" I said in shock
"Well, it's an option." she finally said.
She was right, I could humiliate her right then and there... I could pay her back for all the chizz she's done to me over the years... The idea is so tempting, so amazingly evil... But I can't.
"Yo Benson." I hear on the line
"Sorry I.."
"What're you gonna do?"
"I can't humiliate her, I just have to let her down easy."
"You should humiliate her, it's what I'd do."
"I probably should.." I admit with a frown, "But I can't."
"You're a good guy Benson."
"So they tell me."
"Nice guys finish last."
"Aint that the truth?" I asked dryly. We said our goodbyes and I prepared myself to tell Sam how I felt.
I went back to the Shay apartment, where my blonde and brunette friends were watching T.V "Sam.. We need to talk."
She looked at me nervously and nodded while Carly just looks confused. I lead her up to the iCarly studio and sigh "Sam..."
"It's okay." She said with a soft smile.
"What do you mean?"
"I just mean... I'm not Carly."
I couldn't help but blink "You knew?"
"Oh come on Freddie, it felt like I was kissing a dead guy, and I know you can kiss better than that."
I feel my cheeks heat up and I smile, "You're a good friend... But I love her."
"I know." She said and smiles in amusement.
Before I can ask what's so funny I hear, "Love who?"
My blood runs cold and I freeze, no.. no..
"I heard my name, and then 'I still love her'" Carly said.
"I uhm.."
"You're still in love with me.." She said, and it sounds like she's accusing me of something but before I can explain she walks over to me "It's okay.."
"I.." My brain feels like it's turned to mush and then she kisses me, "You were never just bacon to me..." she whispered.
My throat feels dry but I smile and kiss her back, "That.." I say, "Is the best news I've heard all day."
She just shakes her head and giggles at me.
The next year flies by without me even realizing, Jade and I don't talk as much since I've started dating Carly and she's back with Beck (Something I regret; I must admit to missing talking to her but haven't had much time to call her), and suddenly Carly is offered a chance to go to Italy with her Dad. I don't want her to go, but at the same time this could be a great opportunity for her so I did what I always do when I'm conflicted, I turned to Jade.
"Her Dad want's her to go to Italy, but you want her to stay" Jade summarized after I told her what was going on.
"Pretty much."
I could almost feel the sarcasm in her voice, "And it didn't occur to you to tell her how you felt?"
"But this could be a great opportunity for her." I pointed out.
"Maybe, but sometimes you have to be a little selfish." She paused for a moment and just as I opened my mouth to reply she started talking again, "Look you're a great guy, but if you don't be a little selfish you're gonna lose her."
I nodded then realized I was on the phone and sighed, "You're right..."
"Of course I am, now go get your girl."
I hung up the phone and walked across the hall, I'd excused myself from the crazy hat party after Carly had agreed to go to Italy with her Dad, and pulled my girlfriend aside.
"Everything okay?" she asked worriedly.
"Sort of.." I tell her, "Listen, I know I said you should go but... I don't want you to go."
Her eyes light up and she looks... Relived "I was hoping you'd give me a reason to stay" she whispered and I said a silent thank you to Jade as we kissed.
The next four years went by quietly, Jade came to stay with us after she and Beck broke up again ("I was an idiot to think anything had changed" she told me one night during a movie) but she left, going back to Hollywood to focus on her singing and acting.
On our fourth anniversary I had reservations at the best restaurant in town and had the evening planned out. When I got home, Carly and I had moved into our own apartment in Bushwell Plaza last year, and I froze when I saw my girlfriend
She had dressed in a simple black dress that showed off her legs amazingly, and had applied just enough makeup to make her look even more beautiful than usual (if that was even possible which I didn't think it was) "Like what you see?" she teased.
"Y-Yeah..." I finally said when I could speak English again.
She giggled and shook her head, "Get dressed and we'll go."
I run into the bedroom and change into the black suit I'd bought just for this evening. I take a moment to smile, I'm 21 years old and am bout to graduate college and I have my dream girl. My life seems perfect and I couldn't be happier, but part of me wonders when it will go wrong.
We get to the restaurant and I open the door for her and wait until she's inside before slipping in. They take us to the table in the back and we engage in small talk, like how our day went and things like that. After dinner I grin as I pull out a small black box and kneel down on one knee "Carly Shay.."
She gasps "Freddie..."
"Marry me?"
She's crying now "Yes!" she says as I stand up and slip the ring on her finger and she kisses me.
The next day I text Jade and let her know I'm engaged, to which I get a congrats in reply, and then focus my sights on helping Carly plan the wedding.
We get married about a year later (after graduation); despite the headaches, the arguing, and the stress of trying to plan the damn thing and it's a beautiful day. She looked amazing in her white dress as she's walked down the aisle by Spencer. Her white dress complements her perfectly, though I think she always looks perfect so I can't judge, and I notice out of the corner of my eye Jade in the second row. She actually smiles at me, and I smile back though it looks like I'm smiling at Carly, and I exchange my vows with my fiancee.
"I do." she says, words I've been wanting to hear since I was eleven years old.
"I do." I reply and I kiss my wife (a title I thought I'd never use for Carly). The future is looking bright, and I can't wait to meet it head on.
Note: So this was inspired by the Megadeth song I'll Be There, Which I highly recommend looking up, so I don't own anything in this story except the idea to combine em. This was going to be a one shot, but I've decided to split it into a two shot and I'll upload the next chapter asap I promise. Please read and review!