(Freddie's POV)

After I left the Groovy Smoothie, I found myself walking even further from Bushwell and the Seattle Strip. I found myself at Washington Square where they broadcasted Seattle Beat, and continued down to the Seattle Park. If I couldn't gather my thoughts on my balcony I would walk to the park. On one side, I did want to sing, and exercise this demon within me, but at the same time I didn't want to knowing what I knew. I should have told her why I didn't want to sing. I thought. As much as I wanted to sing and possibly get the girl I loved back. I knew it was too painful for me to try again. I knew my reason for it, and I wish I could have told someone. At least then she'd understand and not sign me up for it. Then I chuckled at my realization, knowing Sam she'd do it anyway.

"BENSON!" I heard a familiar voice yell my direction, I then saw Sam run to the bench I was sitting at. Speak of the blond-haired devil. I thought. She must've followed me. She then stopped in front of me catching her breath and taking my water and swigging it.

"Sure, help yourself." I said sarcastically.

"Dude, what's the matter with you?" Sam then asked confronting me. "You got a girl back at Bushwell, who won't stop crying her eyes out for you, your crazy mom won't tell me anything. You sing at the Groovy Smoothie then you just take off. Why don't you tell me why you're so apprehensive about singing? It can't be all that bad.

"She was talking to her ex," I responded softly.

"Carly?" Sam asked.

"Yeah."

"Well, those two were talking about you." Sam then said.

"How did you-"

"She told me." Sam cut me off. "Now we all went on this tirade about no more secrets between us. Your mother started something with tell me that you had problems singing onstage. Now what's the reason why?"

I sat down. "My father." I said.

"What about him?" Sam then asked.

"Well," I began, "Ever since I was little, my father and mother would sing to me. Singing, along with fencing, had been a legacy throughout the Benson family. When I was old enough to talk and walk, my father taught me how to sing. About a year later I taught myself how to play instruments like the guitar, harmonica, & the piano. It was also around that time my father was diagnosed with cancer, and it was around my first recital. I remembered his last words clearly. He said to me, no matter what happened to him, he would be there. I was there next to perform. It was then my cousin Amanda appeared and told me that cancer had taken his life." I felt tears starting to form in my eyes. "I heard that about a few seconds before it was time for me to perform. And I wanted to do it for my father, but the shock and reality of my father dying was too much for me. I locked my instruments in a secret compartment, and I never sang onstage again."

(Sam's POV)

His words sent a shock directly to my heart.

"Oh, my God," I said almost breathlessly. I had no idea that he was suffering all this time. And all I can remember was when my father left me, my sister and my mother at a young age. I knew in a way I could relate to him, but knowing that he had a father in his life that was taken away from him at such a young age, I could understand now why he didn't want to sing.

"Freddie," I said immediately taking him into my arms. "I'm so sorry. If I had known that, I wouldn't have never asked you to do that. Wait, is that why you put so much more time into tech things and other 'nerdy activities?'"

(Freddie's POV)

"Well, aside from the 'nerdy activities'", I said putting air quotes around nerdy activities, "but that's one reason why I paid more attention to my computer than anything else. I hadn't really trusted anything or anyone. Until Carly, that is."

Sam chuckled at my last declaration. "Look, I know you have a lot on your mind. But, I still believe doing this can help."

"I don't know," I responded. "My father was the one who got me into music, music was his way to connect to me."

"Then do it for him," Sam responded. "Do it for your father."

(Author's Note: Who would have thought that Sam Puckett could be the voice of reason throughout this story? So now we know why Freddie won't sing onstage. Now that he has full faith and backing from his frenemy will it help motivate him to sing for the girl he loves? Read and Review, But No Flames! Much appreciated. Thanks to all who support shadow21.