xxxxx

The bus station benches were hard and not exactly clean. Sam wriggled away from a glob of what looked like petrified gum, hugging one of her bags close to her chest. In spite of her bravado, she was scared and doubtful this plan would work the way Carly swore it would. The fact that Spencer tacitly agreed to the idea had heartened her a little and she couldn't help but be grateful that they were willing to stick their own necks out like this for her.

Not to mention the three hundred dollars in cash Spencer "didn't" give to her. She'd stuffed the money in various parts of her clothing, lining the inside of her sneakers with twenties. That made her nervous as well, having that much cash on her, but she'd deal. She could do this. A part of her couldn't help but worry about her mother; how'd she react to find out that Sam was missing but if that's what it took to shake her out of this ...

"Hey."

She ignored the voice to her left. Probably just a hobo wanting money and she was sorry, but there was no money to spare.

"I said, hey."

Sam sighed and rolled her eyes. "Look, pal ..." she started, turning and gaping when she saw who was sitting next to her, backpack in hand. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Freddie shrugged. "Waiting for the bus to Olympia."

Sam's expression went from boggled to irritated in minus ten seconds flat. "Are you a doofus or the *biggest* doofus on Earth? No, wait ... don't answer that." She blew out a long, frustrated breath. "Go home, Benson. I don't know what's gotten into you but whatever it is let Carly deal with it. I'm not in the mood."

"Sorry, but no. I'm coming with you."

Freddie coming to Olympia with her. How ludicrous and Sam couldn't help but laugh. "Right. Because you're such a free spirit. You'll be crying like a baby in a wet diaper about ten minutes into the bus ride."

"I don't think so," Freddie said with a strange confidence. He put his backpack on the floor and leaned back in the chair, fingers laced behind his head. "In fact, I think me coming with you is the best way to make sure this insane plan works."

"How do you figure that?"

"I can help you budget, use whatever technology is available to keep in touch with Carly without giving away your location and ... " He paused, looking like a batter about to hit a home run. "Once my mother finds me missing, she'll conduct a search all her own."

Sam thought for a minute, letting his words sink in. "How is that a good thing?"

"Do you want to be that guy when my mother decides to go over your house to look for me?"

Sam's eyes widened. "Oh ... my ... god," she breathed. A wicked grin spread over her face. "That would be *sweet*."

Freddie smiled. "It's the revenge that will keep on giving."

"You know Fredward," Sam said, smiling broadly for what felt like the first time in months. "Sometimes, you're okay."

"I know," Freddie rejoined smugly. They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes before Freddie's grin faltered slightly. "Um, they have bathrooms on this bus, don't they? My bladder is kinda ..."

Sam sighed. "Jesus."

"Oh, I'm just kidding," Freddie insisted weakly. The announcement crackled over the station intercom that the bus for Olympia would be leaving from Terminal Six in ten minutes. "That's ours, right?"

"Yep," Sam said, rising and slinging her backpack over her shoulder, watching as Freddie followed suit. She put her palm against his shoulder. "Listen, just because I'm letting you come with me doesn't mean that we're going to be some great buddies on this trip. You have to deal with whatever happens yourself and I'll do the same. And as for the food ... " She paused. "It's mine. All mine. As long as you remember that, we'll be fine."

"You're a real pal," Freddie said with a grimace. "Don't worry, I won't snipe your bologna."

"You better not," Sam replied, sauntering toward Terminal Six. "Because I bite."

xXx

It was an hour and a half ride from Seattle to Olympia and Sam slept nearly the entire way, snoring loudly in her seat. Freddie refrained from nudging her -- she was tired and needed the rest. He wondered vaguely what the apartment was like and a tiny bit of excitement filled his heart at being on his own for the week.

It was a real adventure, the first one he'd ever had and while he knew his mother would freak, it wasn't really all that bad. It was like a vacation, minus the tick baths and Freddie watched the scenery fly by the windows, smiling.

Not only that but how impressed would Carly be when he came back with Sam safe and sound, money not all spent, food not devoured on the first day? She'd wonder how she'd ever lived without him and then ...

He felt something heavy fall onto his shoulder and winced as Sam's snoring suddenly became almost unbearably loud.

"Hey!" Freddie turned around to see Sam's head on his shoulder, snoring, her mouth wide open. There was a little drool on her cheek, making its way down to his shirt but he made no move to dislodge her.

She looked very young and very sweet, something he couldn't normally say about her. Her soft hair tickled his cheek and Freddie found it impossible to resist the urge to lean back against the top of her head. It was easy then to close his eyes and he hardly knew what he was doing when he took her hand in his, lacing their fingers together.

He slept then, as the road rolled by beneath them, the sun rising higher over Olympia.

xXx

to be continued ...

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