Dance Puppets Dance

Freddie laid in bed going over his next move. 'So Spencer thinks I'm not the master planner. Well he's wrong and I'll show him.' He got up and made his way to the Shay apartment, Pearphone in hand. He started browsing the internet. As he entered, he saw Carly and Gibby engrossed in one of their 'tutoring sessions'. He spotted Spencer in the kitchen and walked over to him.

"Hey Spence, what's up?" he spoke in a hushed tone as no to disturb the couple on the couch. He didn't look up from his phone.

"Freddo. What brings you to my humble abode?" But Freddie didn't answer. Spencer paused from making his sandwich and watched as Freddie continued paying attention to the phone. "What cha doing?"

Freddie looked up and appeared a bit dazed, "Oh, uh, I was checking out some stuff. Do you know there are people that formed these French clubs just to meet up and converse in French?"

Spencer frowned, "That I didn't know."

Freddie put his phone away and gave the older Shay his full attention now. "How's the tutoring going?" he indicated towards the living room.

"Great! They're using all these French words and stuff that I don't understand but she sounds so fluent when she speaks that I think its working." Spencer nodded and looked very proud of his sister and the progress she was making. He finished off making his sandwich and cut it in two.

Freddie hated to burst his bubble. "Too bad they're only limited to what they see in the book though…" he mumbled.

Spencer frowned as he went to the cupboard to get a second plate. "What do you mean?" He put half of the sandwich on the new plate and handed it to Freddie.

"I learn better when I physically see what I'm learning about," Freddie stated.

Spencer appeared puzzled, "I don't understand. Explain." He started eating his meal.

Freddie started munching as well. He paused before he responded. "It's like algebra, if you just talk about it, you'll get lost in translation. But if you write it down, it's easier to understand."

"Ahh. I see. So you think Carly should be doing some algebra?" Spencer asked. Freddie hung his head in frustration.

"Um, no. If you hear a term and use it in context, then it'll be easier to recall." Freddie looked up as he explained.

Spencer stared off to the distance and rubbed his chin. "Interesting concept."

"Yeah. I tried to get Carly to do that but she refused. Said it was too dorky," Freddie said flatly. Spencer chuckled.

Spencer thought for a moment, then his face lit up. "A light bulb just clicked in my brain!"

'That light bulb in your brain needed changing some time now,' Freddie thought.

Spencer continued, "Hey Freddo, where's the closest Frenchy Clubby thingys?"

Freddie pulled out his phone and pulled up the website. "Tacoma," he answered, "oh and they have a meeting this Saturday!"

"Don't worry my boy, I got your back." Spencer patted Freddie's shoulder then looked towards the couch, "Yo, Carly!"

"Yo, Spencer!" she replied.

"French Club. Tacoma. Tomorrow. Take Gibby," he ordered.

Carly looked confused. "Okaaay." She returned her attention to Gibby.

Spencer looked at Freddie and smiled. He tapped the side of his own head with a finger, "I am a genius. I bet you couldn't have come up with that plan yourself." He grinned while going to the fridge for a soda.

Freddie rolled his eyes and thought, 'One puppet down, one more to go.'

Later that day, Carly and Sam sat on the beanbags in the studio with Carly talking about some random boy and Sam bored senseless. Freddie glanced at them through the glass door. 'Perfect,' he thought.

He entered the studio. "Hola, chicas."

Carly smiled. "Hey Freddie."

"Nub," Sam grunted.

"Demon," he replied. Freddie went up to the tech-cart and started checking some websites until he finally found what he was looking for. He looked over at the girls and saw the tormented expression on Sam's face. 'She looks as if she'll do anything to get away from Carly right now. Time to put my plan into action.' He looked down at the screen and snickered just loud enough so that Sam would hear.

She peeped at Freddie. 'What the hell is that dork laughing at?' Her curiosity grew. Not once did Freddie look up or say something. This was driving her crazy! She had to know what he was laughing at. "What's so funny Benson?" she demanded from the comforts of her beanbag.

Carly stopped and glanced back and forth between them bracing for trouble. Freddie looked up and smirked. "Nothing," he said. He continued what he was doing and chuckled again.

Sam was going nuts! 'There is no way he's going to ignore me and get away with it. Worse yet for him if I have to get up from here.' He continued ignoring her. She narrowed her eyes and marched up to the tech-producer.

He smiled as she approached him. 'Predictable.'

"I said, what are you laughing at?" her voice now louder.

Freddie pretended to flinch a bit before pointing at the screen which showed an advertisement for the Annual Tacoma Steak Cook-off. Sam read the screen. The event was tomorrow.

"What's so funny about that Dishrag?"

"We live less than one hour away from there, and you can't make it. Besides, it's thirty bucks a person. Imagine all that yummy steak, and no Samantha Puckett there to revel in the festivities. I guess all the other visitors may actually get a chance to taste the food." Freddie broke out into uncontrollable laughter.

Sam's face turned deep red with anger. She grabbed Freddie by the collar and pulled him towards her until their noses were mere inches apart. She growled. He gulped. Sam hissed through clenched teeth, "Firstly never call me Samantha again. Secondly, not only will I find a way to get to Tacoma tomorrow, but you're coming with me to buy me that ticket."

Carly witnessed the on goings and spoke up, "Sam let Freddie go!"

"Why should I?" She kept glaring at Freddie.

"It so happens Spencer ordered me to take Gibby to Tacoma tomorrow for some French thing. You can get a ride with us," Carly offered.

Sam eased her grip on Freddie but continued looking at him. "Fine."

Freddie chuckled nervously. "Sounds like a plan. You guys enjoy yourselves tomorrow, I have some homework I need to catch up on. See you later." He tried to leave but Sam's grip on his shirt held firm. He looked at her.

"Where do you think you're rushing off to?" she asked.

"I, uh, home?" he whimpered.

"You're coming tomorrow pay for my food," she reminded him.

"No I'm not. You can't make me," he protested.

"Oh yeah?" She grabbed the back of his underwear and yanked upwards. Freddie screamed in agony.

"SAM! STOP! OKAY I'LL GO!" he hollered in pain.

She let him go and pat him on the head. "Good boy. Now run along to your psycho mother."

Freddie scowled, "I'm not your dog."

She folded her arm and raised an eyebrow. "Yes you are. Now leave." She waved him off.

Freddie turned as ordered and left. As he walked down the stairs he smiled and thought to himself, 'That went easier that expected, I could have done without the wedgie though. But I AM the master. Dance puppets dance.'

A/N: Hope you likey...