Author's Notes: Hello my dear readers. I have an especially long installment for you today. I hope you like it. Thanks once again to all those that have read and reviewed. I've enjoyed the discussions and insight that you have brought to the story. Well, on with the story. Oh, and a slight language warning for one bad word.
Chapter 10
Music Room
Hollywood Arts High School
Los Angeles, CA
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
It was around four in the afternoon as Freddie and André were sitting across from one another with Freddie sitting on one of the orange couches while André was in a swivel, rolling chair that went with the keyboard setup for the room. André had his personal guitar in his lap going over some cords while Freddie was using one of the school's guitars.
The school day went pretty well for Freddie. He was able to drop off his old server and a copy of his and Jade's productions this morning for Dusty to load up as soon as the SplashFace page for the school was completed, found out why Trina didn't get with Shawn (he still guessed that the girlfriend wasn't as pretty as Trina and thought it was his loss), but he still hadn't found an opportunity to have a discussion with Beck. The taller teenager had immediately left after school and the former Tech-Producer wasn't sure if he was trying to avoid him or not, but at least the text fighting between he and Jade had ceased.
André played a few cords for Freddie to mimic which to brown eye teenager was played back at least competently then asked, "So I heard you got a car."
Freddie smirked as he practiced his fingering over the cords. "I got a car. She's not much to look at right now, but Mrs. West is right; I just have to give her some tender loving care and you'll see the beauty shine from underneath it all."
André smirked as he pointed out, "Are you sure she was talking about the car?"
Freddie snorted out a breath as he raised his head to look at the songsmith then chuckled, "I hadn't thought about it that way."
The guitar player raised a hand and pointed at the former Tech-Producer as he commented, "She's probably testing you to see how you treat the car and if you'll treat Jade just as well."
"Two months into the relationship is a fine time to start testing it now, especially since I'm renting a room from her."
André chuckled, "Just makes it easier for her to catch you."
Freddie shook his head and joined in the laughter. "I'll keep that in mind."
As they started on a new set of cords, André spoke up, "So… did you have your talk with Beck yet?"
Freddie poked his tongue under his bottom lip as his fingers manipulated some of the strings then replied with a hint of annoyance in his voice, "No I haven't."
The songsmith caught the look that Freddie was directing at him that showed that he really didn't want to talk about it with him, but André continued anyway, "I just wanted to say that whatever you have to say to him that you remember that we're all friends."
Freddie gave him an understanding nod then replied, "My relationship with Jade and her wellbeing is far more important than whatever little of a friendship I have with Beck and I think it is the same way if it was me saying something about Tori and it was you wanting to have a conversation with me. You and I have known each other for what? About six months, friends for really a little more than two and you've known her for a year and a half. I wouldn't be wrong in saying that your friendship with her is far stronger than ours."
The songsmith nodded along as he couldn't find an immediate flaw in his logic to reach his conclusion. He really wouldn't be all that happy with Freddie saying something about Tori or anyone else he thought was mistreating the singer.
Before either could continue the conversation, Freddie's Galaxy Wars ringtone started sounding from his book bag and the teenager gently sat the guitar down beside him on the couch. He dug in his book bag for a few seconds then pulled out his pear shaped phone. He saw the caller ID then answered, "Mom?"
André rested his forearms over his guitar and leaned forward as he tried to pick up the meaning of the conversation.
"You did what?" he asked his mother with evident surprise in his voice. He waited for about half a minute to hear his mother's explanation then replied, "Okay, mom… mom, mom! Calm down! I'm going to get of flight and be there by tonight then we'll figure out what to do. I love you and see you soon." Freddie pressed the end call button then slipped his phone back into his book bag and got up to put the guitar back on the rack against the side wall.
André raised his head and asked with concern, "Is everything okay?"
Freddie walked back around the couch and quickly threw the book bag strap over his head and across his chest. He looked to André and held on to his book bag strap as he answered, "Kinda and kinda not… my mom may have made a bad chicken investment. I got to go. I'll see you when I get back." The Seattle native turned and headed out of the room.
The songsmith's brow furled as he asked to the empty classroom, "Chicken investment?"
Freddie Benson's Room
West Residence
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
It wasn't an hour later after leaving Hollywood Arts that a blue suitcase lay open on Freddie's bed as he was packing the last of the clothes he intended to take for his trip.
The pale teenager asked standing behind him with a hint of disbelief in her voice, "So you're going up tonight?"
He looked over his shoulder as he answered, "She's in a near panic on the phone. She's already called me twice since I got home and I can barely calm her down."
Jade shook her head and let out a sigh, "How could your mother spend twenty thousand dollars on two chickens?"
Freddie turned from his suitcase to look at the singer who didn't bother to hide the irritation on her face. He held up his right pointer finger, "It was one chicken," then held up his left pointer finger, "and one rooster."
The dark brunette gave a roll of her eyes as she crossed her arms under her chest. "And she spent ten thousand dollars on each?"
He spread his arms out and tried to explain patiently, "They're Tahitian red beak chickens, the rarest chickens in the world. When their eggs hatch, people buy the baby chicks for a thousand each."
The singer's brow furled and retorted, "What's the problem? She'll make her money back and then some."
Freddie nodded his head back and forth and rolled his eyes towards the ceiling as the thought about how to answer the question. He looked back to his girlfriend and answered, "No, she can't get them… to have sex."
Jade's mouth dropped open for a moment as she stared at her boyfriend. After taking a few moments to realize that he was serious, she palmed her forehead and sighed.
Freddie blew out a breath then continued, "I've been meaning to go back up there for a visit. I'll go up and talk to some vet or whatever specialist I need to so we can get them to start making babies. Mom will make her money back and should have a lot of extra for savings in no time."
Jade wrapped her arms around herself and replied dryly, "Fine. I get it. I understand."
Freddie smirked as he took a few steps to stand just in front of her. He softly placed his hands on her hips. She instinctively raised her arms to rest her forearms on his shoulders and locked her hands together behind his neck. He whispered in a smooth tone, "Why don't we just blow off school and fly up together? I'd love to take you to dinner at the Space Needle. Oh, to see Seattle at night from that view… it will take your breath away."
Jade cracked a smile as his offer was quite tempting as the look in his eyes suggested that he would love for her to share such an experience with him: spend a whirlwind four day weekend with him as he showed her the city properly and just enjoyed themselves as they really didn't have the opportunity (and the emotions were still raw with how everything had played out between the trio of friends) when she went up with him to help him pack up his belongings for the moved to Los Angeles.
However, the more level headed side of her responded, "You'd pay for my ticket?"
Freddie's brow furled and gave her a near pout, "Yeah, of course—"
She leaned back slightly and shook her head as she answered, "Then no."
"No?" he asked with raised eyebrows and allowed the shock of her answer filter in his voice.
"You don't need to spend the money on me for a ticket. You need the money for your mother if the whole chicken thing doesn't work out."
He smiled then slowly kissed her. She grinned into the kiss as she pulled him closer. They let their lips softly played with one another for a few seconds until Freddie pulled back his head and wore a grin as he complimented, "You are far sweeter than you let on."
"Charmer," she whispered back then leaned in for another kiss.
Bushwell Plaza
Seattle, WA
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
It was around nine that night when Freddie walked into the lobby of Bushwell Plaza with his book bag on his back and carrying a suitcase in each hand. He cracked a soft smile at seeing Lewbert holding up his head with one hand and elbow on the countertop while he slept at the front desk. He walked past the sleeping doorman to head for the main elevator.
About a minute or so later, the elevator reached the eighth floor then he headed for the apartment. He stopped in front of the apartment entrance and sat a suitcase down to give a soft knock on the door.
The door quickly opened to reveal an ecstatic Mrs. Benson with a wide grin on her face.
"Hi mom," he whispered back with a smile.
"Freddie!" she shouted then pulled him into a hug. Mrs. Benson squeezed her son tight as if afraid to let him go which wasn't far from the truth.
Freddie cleared his throat and embarrassingly laugh as he patted her back, "Okay mom, you can let me go."
She let go of the hug and rested her hands on his upper arms as she looked to him grinning ear to ear. "Right? My baby's home."
Freddie grinned and let her have her moment as she ushered him inside the apartment. As he crossed the threshold into the apartment, he stated dryly, "Yes… home… so, about those chickens."
The door to the Shay apartment opened and Carly poked her head out into the hallway to look around with a curious expression, but failed to see anyone. She shrugged her shoulders then pulled her head back inside and closed the door.
Sikowitz's Classroom
Hollywood Arts High School
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Jade leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed under her chest as the rest of the class was settling in their seats and Sikowitz was entering the classroom by the stage door. She ignored the questioning expression on Beck's face as he sat beside her and remained silent.
Sikowitz sat his bag down at the back end of the slightly raised incline of the stage and puckered his lips for a moment and furled his brow as he noticed the empty seat beside Jade. He looked towards the dark brunette and questioned, "Where's Freddie?"
Jade lifted a hand to her forehead to brush away some of her hair off of her forehead. She answered him with a slightly irritated tone, "He had to fly up to Seattle last night. He should be back by Monday."
Tori turned sideways in her chair to face the dark brunette and asked with a concern tone, "Is everything alright?"
André spoke up, "Something about his mom making a bad chicken investment."
Tori looked to his direction and raised an eyebrow at hearing the absurdity of the answer. The rest of the class looking at him looked just as confused.
Jade glared at André and he quickly shut his mouth.
He raised his hands up in surrendering.
The blue and green streaked hair teenager gave a slight roll of her eyes and huffed out a breath.
Sikowitz clapped his hands and clasped them together. "Well, we'll catch him up when he gets back. Now Tori, Jade up on the stage…" Sikowitz motioned towards the stage while releasing his hands and making a wide arcing motion with his arms.
As the girls stood up from their seats, Beck discreetly pulled out his phone from his pocket and quickly typed away with his right hand a text message while shielding the phone with his right thigh then slipping his phone back into his pocket once he was done as everyone turned their attention to the actresses on stage.
Groovy Smoothie
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Freddie stood at the front entrance of the establishment with his hand on the door handle. He was hesitant to step inside as it was the usual afternoon rush from Ridgeway and there were bound to be people that would be curious about his presence, but he needed a smoothie to relax and unwind from the day. He had spent the day doing research about the chickens, speaking with someone as close to an expert as possible about the chickens at the University of Washington and trying to do at least do some work of his core classes that his teachers were kind enough to e-mail to him. Fortunately, it looked like they were going to solve the problem about them mating and he was able to accomplish something with his school work while all the time his mother pestered him about life in L.A. as if she didn't know what was going on with the every other day few minutes phone call to catch her up. He did however pointedly fail to tell her about his car. He really didn't want to hear a lecture about safety of the vehicle.
He shook his head to brush away the hesitation and pulled open the door. He quickly entered and slipped through some of the mingling students that weren't at a table and headed for the counter. He caught some surprise looks from his peripheral vision, but ignored them as he reached the counter.
T-Bo turned to face the teenager and a smile instantly appeared on his face. "Freddie?"
Freddie gave him a small, but friendly smile, "Hey T-Bo."
"What'cha doing here?" he spoke with a friendly tone.
He gave a bright smile in return. "Visiting my mom and needing a smoothie after a very long day."
The manager snorted out a laugh then asked, "Alright, what can I get you?"
Freddie blue out a breath and took a quick glance at the display menu over and behind T-Bo's head. "I'll take a large Blue Berry splat," he answered after double checking the item.
"Coming right up," the taller man answered with a grin and quick point at Freddie. He turned to fulfill the order as Freddie reached for his wallet.
T-Bo finished filling the cup then turned to exchange the drink for cash.
"Thanks, T-Bo," the former Tech-Producer acknowledged raising the cup and then taking a quick sip from the straw. Freddie finished sipping his first sip then mumbled, "Jet Brew sure spoiled me."
"What was that?"
The former Tech-Producer lifted his head up and gave a loud denial, "Nothing."
T-Bo blinked and pursed his lips as he studied the teenager.
He flashed a quick smile, "Later T-Bo. I'll be back before I leave for L.A." He turned to head back out the door, but stopped when he saw the brunette and blonde at the small circular table sipping on their smoothies. He assumed that they had missed initially seeing one another through the crowed as he headed for the counter. They stared right back at him with just as unsure expressions, but noticed if he was reading their facial expressions correctly that they weren't particularly shocked by his presence.
He took a slow breath at seeing Carly in person for the first time since that night in his hotel room and the sight started flooding him with various conflicting emotions: hate/love, anger/joy, resentment/admiration, all battling to reach an outcome of what to think of her as four years of friendship crashed headlong into what had broken them once again in his mind.
She was still as lovely as ever he had to admit. She still had her smile even if it didn't radiate as it did in the past. She was apparently growing her bangs back out as the rest of her dark hair fell on her shoulders.
Sam's appearance was quite surprising as she had a left black eye with a Band-Aid on the left side of her forehead and a visible bruise on her left cheek.
The brunette was the first to tentatively verbally acknowledge him with a whisper, "Hi."
Freddie put up an even expression and gave a slight nod as he replied, "Hello."
Sam remained silent as she looked at her former frienemy with a somewhat bashful expression.
Carly cautiously asked, "You're back?"
Freddie ran his tongue over the inside of his bottom lip as he thought about how to answer her. He casually remarked, "A surprise visit to my mom."
Carly nodded her head and looked to her smoothie. "Right…" She looked back up to him and motioned to a side of the table since Carly and Sam were sitting across from one another as she softly asked, "Wanna have a seat?"
He studied the brunette as she wore a bashful expression in the hopes that he would accept. One thought crossed his mind as he studied the pair: 'Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.' In his mind he shrugged a shoulder at how accurate that statement could possibly be then finally opted to take the seat between them with Carly on his right and Sam on his left… mostly due to the fact that he could easily backhand the blonde with his left if she attempted anything. It was sad that he had to think in such terms, but the last time they had a conversation, he left with a dislocated shoulder and a possible head injury while she left with a few broken ribs, torn out hair and a cut that led to a visible scar on her upper right cheek.
The trio remained silent for a few moments as they each took a sip from their respective smoothies. Freddie could feel the eyes of some of the patrons watching him and he had no doubts that some were actually recording the three of them sitting together with their respective phones.
Carly cleared her throat then whispered, "I saw your play on SplashFace last night. I thought it was really good."
He cautiously nodded back at her attempt at a light and safe conversation. It had been about two months since they had seen or spoken to one another after the complete collapse of their friendship, so what other option did she have if she was going to speak with him? Besides, they were in public and Carly had decided to keep what happened between the three of them private and he had done the same in L.A., so he decided to play along even if she failed to mention Jade's production that he was credited as Technical-Producer. "Thank you… I can't take all the credit. Tori is quite imaginative with her writing and she was the co-director. Cat, Robbie and André are fantastic actors and I don't know how we could have done it without them."
Sam commented with a hint of annoyance in her voice, "Are really going to just sit here and do this? Try to have a conversation as if nothing happened?"
"Sam," Carly admonished the blonde.
Freddie turned his attention to the blonde and leaned over to look the blonde straight in the eyes. He whispered to her in a cold tone, "Apparently we are, unless you want to pick up where we left off? With you bleeding on the floor and unconscious."
She hissed out, "That's only because you sucker punched me."
Freddie snorted out with a smirk, "You threatened my girlfriend after dislocating my shoulder with a sucker throw, so pardon me if I didn't feel the need to fight by Queensberry Rules."
The blonde frowned deeply. "You called me a bitch."
He rested his left forearm on the table and leaned over to look her straight in the eyes as he hissed back, "You are a bitch—" He raised a finger and pointed to her black eye and Band-Aid then continued, "—and it looks like someone else has had enough of your bitch behavior too."
Sam glared at him and clenched her jaw tight.
Freddie tightened his left fist ready to backhand her if she tried anything.
Carly hissed out loud enough for them both to hear her, "Please stop, the both of you."
Freddie turned to the brunette and snorted out with a breath, "Once again, defending the indefensible when it comes to Sam."
"I'm not taking her side; I just don't want a fight in the middle of the Groovy Smoothie. You two can go at it all you want and as long as you want as long as there's no blood, but please not here. Can't this place just be neutral ground?"
Freddie stared at the brunette and read from her eyes that she was desperate not to have a repeat from their last encounter. He actually readily agreed with the sentiment as he didn't fly up here for a rematch with either of the girls. He gave her a slight nod then looked back at Sam and snorted out, "I have no patience for you. You start something and I'm sending to you to the hospital, because I know you would do the same to me."
Carly spoke up as she gave Sam a sharp look, "She's not going to start anything."
The blonde apparently had the decency to quickly turn her attention to her smoothie.
Freddie commented lightly, "So you've finally decided to yank on her leash when it comes to me? Mmm… interesting." He followed with a sip of his smoothie and giving Carly a guarded expression.
Sam growled out, "Stop making dog comparisons about me."
"Is that a request? Like when I asked you to pull back on the fire escape? What was your answer to me?"
Carly whispered desperately, "Please."
The pair eyed each other one more time then nonverbally agreed to stop. Freddie blew out a breath then looked to Carly, "Fine… I've saw a few replays of iCarly. I don't watch the show live; I work at the local Pear Store on Friday afternoon and evenings… have to pay the rent and all. You're still hilarious and Sam… well she's Sam. Whoever you got to do the camera work is doing a fine job." A part of him wanted to tell her that she looked sad on camera, but she tried to support him with his play, he thought he could at least return the favor. Kindness for kindness even if he wasn't sure she was genuine in her effort. 'Whether be damned for whom he was than to be damned for whom he wasn't' he had told Jade months ago and it looked like he was still holding on to that belief.
"Thanks, but ah… you pay rent? I thought you were living with Jade?"
"I don't… I don't live with her… I have my own room and I pay rent. Co-habitation is a big no-no."
Sam asked with a hint of sarcasm before taking a sip of her smoothie, "Isn't there a rule against premarital sex for you? You had no problem breaking that one, so why the concern over this one?"
Carly shut her mouth tightly and her eyes widened as she feared Freddie's reaction to the blonde's taunt.
Freddie looked to his smoothie and his mind went back to Saturday night with Jade in his arms and he laying her down on his bed, but stopped from going further than she wanted that night and the reason why he stopped… still trying to figure out why he stopped. "You still never proved that happened."
Sam snorted out with disbelief, "Carly found her with your shirt and boxers on when she answer the door to your hotel room."
Freddie smirked confidently as he met the annoyed blonde's eyes. "How many times have you slept over at Carly's and wore her clothes the next morning? Should I be assuming something is going on with you two all these years?"
Sam frowned deeply at him.
Carly asked with a mixture of hope and uncertainty, "So you didn't?"
He looked back towards the brunette and gave her a lopsided smile. "I already told you it wasn't any of your business either way. How about you respect that?"
Carly pursed her lips then gave him a slight nod. "Fair enough."
Freddie was surprised at how easily she let it go when comparing the last time they spoke on the matter. He cleared his throat and gathered his wits then asked, "Well if we're done rehashing old wounds we were trying to avoid in the first place, is there any interesting news going on around here?"
Sam was the first to speak, "T-Bo got kicked out last night from upstairs by a health inspector."
Carly spoke up with a higher pitch tone of regret and disbelief, "He slept on a raft… in a pond last night."
Freddie asked with genuine concern, "So what is he going to do?"
"We don't know… wait, doesn't your mom have a spare guest room?"
Freddie narrowed his eyes on Carly and replied slowly, "Yeah, it's by my old room."
The spark in Carly's eyes returned that Freddie had saw missing on-line and while speaking with her returned as she asked, "So maybe she could rent the room to T-Bo?"
Freddie took a quick sip of his smoothie then shrugged a shoulder as he replied, "I guess I can talk with her about it, but she might think he's a little weird."
The brunette gave him a hopeful expression, "We could clean him up, try to make him a little more normal for your mom."
"That might work."
The ringtone of Carly's phone sounded, indicating that she had received a text message. She quickly dug in her jacket pocket and pulled out her phone to read the message. She grinned then happily announced, "Oh, it's Kyle."
Freddie blinked at the unfamiliar name then looked to Sam for an explanation.
The dirty blonde casually answered the unasked question, "He's a guy she met yesterday."
Freddie raised a quick eyebrow then looked to the brunette who quickly continued in a happily frantic pace, "He wants take me out to some movie tonight and I only have four hours to get ready." She stood up and started "I got to go—" then frowned as she looked to the pair, but particularly Freddie. The pair stared at each other for a few moments before Freddie answered with a supportive smile, "Go get ready for your date. You'll see me again before I leave."
The remark actually made her frown then smiled at him for his wishing her of luck as she turned and heading out the door.
The brown eye teenager looked to his unwanted companion and sighed, "Well, let's go help T-Bo." He spun in his seat and headed for the counter with Sam instantly trailing behind him.
"Hey, T-Bo, we need to speak with you for a second," Freddie gave an upward nod as he called for the manager.
"Freddie, I'm kind of busy right now,"
"Do you want to sleep on a bed or raft?"
T-Bo raised an eyebrow.
"A guest room for me with its own bed? And a window?" T-Bo pointed to himself and spoke happily as the trio gathered in the back of the establishment.
Freddie cracked a smile as he answered, "Maybe, my mom needs the money and I would feel better if someone was there so she won't be by herself."
Sam pointed out, "She made a bad chicken investment."
"Right, I heard her chickens couldn't…" T-Bo started making circular motions with his pointer fingers.
"They won't fuck!"
Sam looked to Freddie shocked at the choice of words he used. "You really did sleep with her?"
Freddie spared a glance towards the dirty blonde. "Still none of your business either way."
T-Bo motioned towards his face as he asked, "That gothic looking chick you're with?"
Freddie rolled his eyes, "Anyway…"
T-Bo looked back to Sam and Freddie. "Let's go talk to your mom about my new room—" then started to head for the back door of the Groovy Smoothie.
Sam raised a hand stopping him in his tracks. "Not so fast."
Freddie followed up, "Before we speak to my mom, we need to make a few—"
Sam finished, "—changes, with you."
T-Bo's brow furled, "Change what about me?"
The blonde answered, "Everything—"
Freddie finished with a nod, "—Pretty much everything."
West Residence
Thursday, September 29, 2011
The dark brunette was in her room going over some homework after she and her mother finished an early dinner. She wasn't in any mood for conversation with the lack of Freddie's presence that seemed to always spur conversation between the West ladies, so she ate in silence and finished her meal quickly to go to her room. The solitude did not seem to help as she groaned in frustration as she tried to focus on the math assignment in front of her as she hunched over her work while sitting at her desk, but the material seemed to taunting her to dare try to solve any of them.
After another failed attempt to try to answer the math question, she dropped her pencil then pushed away from her desk in her chair and crossed her arms under her chest. She was a bright girl and the math class as a whole wasn't particularly challenging, so she rarely needed even Freddie's 'hot' math skills as Cat one time described his ability with numbers …'He even makes math hot'… to assist her in homework or studying.
She leaned back in her chair as she stared at the paper, but the assignment was not on her mind as her mind's eye traveled out of her room, down the hallway and to the empty bedroom decorated with computer hardware, Galaxy Wars figures and fencing equipment.
The dark headed teenager shook her head as she dispelled the thoughts then decided to get up to get something to drink.
She made her way to the kitchen and took a few moments to look through the refrigerator to find some sweet tea. After pouring herself a glass of tea and taking a quick sip, she headed for the living room to find someplace a little more communal to rest for a few moments.
She was about to flop in the recliner on the far side of the living room from the foyer of the house when she heard a vehicle pull up into the driveway. She wore a curious expression as walked to the window to pull aside some of the curtain to take a peak out to see the vehicle. The first thought that came to mind was the possibility of a taxi pulling up, but quickly disregarded the idea as she knew Freddie would have called if he was returning early and she would have picked him up. Her curious expression turned to one of mild surprise with a corner of her mouth lifting up as she pulled close the curtain and headed for the door as the occupant stopped and exited the '69 Black Cougar.
The sun was still out as she approached the front door and wore a peculiar smile as she opened the door to see Beck standing on the other side wearing a plaid patterned oversight over his grey athletic undershirt and a pair of his typical jeans and boots. "Hey," she greeted the actor with a surprised tone and expression.
"Hey," he answered back with his boyish smile. "I heard from André at lunch today that your mom got Freddie an old car—" he held up his tool box, "—and I thought I'd drop by and take a look at it."
Jade gave him a relieved smile and blew out a soft breath through her nose.
A few minutes later after cutting through and stopping by the kitchen to get Beck a glass of tea, the pair entered the garage from the kitchen entrance with Beck flipping the switch for the automatic garage door opener by the door to allow natural light inside as Jade held a glass in each hand.
The pair took a moment to look at the back end of the old muscle car then Beck gave a quick glance over the vehicle as he started to walk beside the left side of the vehicle. Jade took the opposite route on the right side of the vehicle. There was an old work bench and stool on the right side of the garage that used to belong to her father (one of the unforeseen advantages of her mother keeping the house in the divorce) which she took a seat and sat the glasses on the tabletop.
She leaned back against the workbench with her elbows resting on the top of the bench to prevent her back from rubbing against the edge as he continued to look over the car. "Is this a way to try to score some brownie points with Freddie before you tow finally have your conversation with one another," she softly laughed off, but internally was quite worried about the outcome of such a confrontation.
Beck was just past the front of the car and dropping off his tool box in front of it and was just reaching the point of standing in front of her when he glanced over and cracked a smile. He spoke like he wasn't all that concern, "Maybe… then there's the fact you're going to be riding in it, so I have a very good reason to make sure she runs."
She chuckled, "That too."
He nodded towards the car as he commented, "He could really turn this into a nice car."
Jade pushed off the bench to sit up straight as she quickly realized that her posture was not all that comfortable. "Freddie was going to start on it when he got the chance."
Beck raised an eyebrow as he tore his eyes away from the cursorily inspection of the car to look at her. "Freddie's into cars?"
The dark brunette shrugged a shoulder as she answered, "No, but he was going to learn. He was going to put in the same effort he knows about all his technical stuff into learning about cars."
The taller teenager smirked as he started back around the front of the car so he could enter the car through the driver's door. He followed up his question with a comment as he popped the hood then stepped out of the vehicle, "We all have to start somewhere."
Beck began looking over the engine to see if there was anything that was apparently wrong or defective. After not noticing anything, he pulled off his over shirt and threw it on part of the workbench then started a more thorough job inspecting the engine.
Other girls in the same position as she would be taking a particularly long notice at him with his grey athletic undershirt and she had suspected the ladies had done the same behind her back when he had worked on Robbie's car before it was stolen (and of course she would still agree about Beck's physical attractiveness), but her mind drifted to the times seeing Freddie when she saw him with his undershirt. One particular moment came rushing to the forefront of her mind was the morning after their night and he went to his dresser to put on a black undershirt. She remembered how well she thought he wore the shirt over his muscular shoulders. She was subconsciously gently biting her lower lip as she did two months ago.
He looked to her with a raised eyebrow. "Did you just groan?"
"What?" she answered as she quickly pulled her thoughts back to the present.
The taller teenager's brow furled and gave her a half smirk. "It sounded like you just groaned."
She pointed to the Charger. "Squeaky shocks from your shifting weight on it."
"Okay?" he answered in a tone that suggested that he questioned her explanation, but he didn't really have any other explanation to challenge her assertion.
Jade picked up the sweating glass and took another sip of tea to help calm her nerves as she really didn't want to go down that trail of thoughts for the moment with Beck's presence.
Beck reached down and looked through his tool back for the correct socket for a few seconds then back under the hood to check a bolt. As he was completing that task, he whispered, "I'm sorry I upset you… during our text fighting." He looked over his shoulder and gave her a bashful smile.
She sat the glass down on the workbench on her right back side then wrapped her arms around herself and nodded with a hesitant smile on her face. "Well, I know I had to upset you with some of the things I text you… I know a few times that was exactly what I was trying to do when you said certain things."
He gave her a soft chuckle, "I forgive you."
The dark brunette lifted a corner of her mouth as she tilted her head to the side.
The actor had his head back under the hood as she asked, "So Freddie's coming back Monday?"
'I'm trying to keep my mind off of him for the moment!' her mind screamed at her former boyfriend, but she calmly replied, "Hopefully Sunday night, but yeah. It's just a weekend trip."
He looked up from under the hood and asked with a hint of curiosity in his voice, "Why didn't you go with him?"
"It involves the reason why he went up now in the first place,"
He gave her a concerned expression, "So is everything really alright?"
"Hopefully. His mom's not sick or anything like that if that's what you mean,"
He asked hesitantly as he looked back to another part of the engine, "Something about chickens?"
She waved him off. "I don't want to get into that."
He shrugged a shoulder and cracked a smile. "Not a problem… how do you feel about him going back without you? I mean, no point in dancing around the issue, he really can't avoid facing Carly and Sam."
The singer answered him confidently, trying to keep the slight tremor out of her voice, "I'm not worried."
"You're not?" he asked in a tone that seemed to surprise even himself.
"No, he can handle himself just fine."
The taller teenager turned and rested his right thigh against the car and partially sat on the end. "I wasn't exactly talking about a physical fight between him and Sam. It's been what? About two months since everything happened between them? You don't think it's going to open up some wounds that might now just start to heal?"
She broke eye contact and looked down at his black boots that he had crossed one over the other. "He was going to have to face them sooner or later, either during Thanksgiving or Christmas when he went back up. He'll deal… he's been dealing."
He gave a noncommittal shrug of his shoulders then hesitantly suggested, "Then in that case, I wouldn't hazard a guess with Sam, but Carly just might surprise you. She might have learned from her mistakes with her friendship with Freddie."
The pale teenager cocked her head to the side and looked to him as if he was serious.
He gave her an awkward grin as he countered softly, "Call it a hunch. She seems like the more down to earth one and maybe she's reflected on what happened since he's been gone. They may not be us, but they might come to some kind of peace between them one day… maybe a little forgiveness."
Jade snapped back sarcastically, "Yes and I could become a vegan one day."
The Canadian-born actor snorted out a soft breath and slid off the car then looked back under the hood. He was checking the battery connections when he commented casually, "I hope you don't mind me asking, but how does it feel being apart for the first time in months? Just saying you get up in the morning together, you go to school together and you finally end the day one way or the other at the same place."
"We're not joined at the hip like we—" She paused at seeing the shift in his posture as he leaned over under the hood and he completed the thought in his mind.
The dark brunette cleared her throat, looked down for a moment then back up to meet his eyes. She answered him in a deliberate manner, "Yes, we go to school together and we hang out a lot in the afternoons if we're not involved with something else, but we have our individual times. We both have a place to get away from it all that is private for one another. We do spend time apart from one another while still being in the same home, but… I do miss his presence not being in the house."
The fluffy haired teenager gave her an understanding nod and whispered, "I can relate… a bit."
Jade tilted her head up slightly then downward as she tried to give him a supportive smile.
He cracked a smile of his own then looked under the hood. He checked a few more quick connections then blew out a breath and lowered the hood. He glanced to the dark brunette and announced cheerfully, I think I'm done. He sat one of the socket wrenches back in his toolbox then Jade stood up from the stool tossed him the keys with a grin on her face.
He caught the keys then walked around to see how she would start. Freddie and Jade had started her up after dinner that night Mrs. West gave her to him and she seemed to run fine to the dark brunette's ears, but Jade would admit that she was a little curious to see if Beck had a magic touch in getting the car to run smoother.
Beck cracked a grin as the engine purred and lowered his head down slightly so he could look out of the passenger window to meet her eyes. "I can't promise how long that will last, but she'll run."
"Thanks," she whispered as he turned off the ignition and got out of the car.
He gave her a boyish smile and a nod of his head as he walked around to have a seat on the fender facing her. "Not a problem."
Jade's smile became larger as she handed him his glass of tea.
He took a sip of tea and the pair enjoyed each other's silent presence for a few minutes.
The dark brunette had her eyes close as her mind and heart had a moments rest from missing and a little bit worrying over Freddie, but that didn't last long as Beck broke the silence with a guarded tone, "He doesn't kiss you."
Jade opened her eyes and blinked at the randomness of the comment. She cupped the still cold beverage in her hands and turned her attention fully to ask, "What?"
He took a deep breath and maintained eye contact with his ex-girlfriend. He slowly let it out as he answered, "In public. Freddie doesn't kiss you in public. I don't know and don't want to know what you two do in private, but I've only seen you two kiss once and it was after Tori and Freddie's play with you initiating it and he didn't look particularly thrilled with it. That's not the only thing I've noticed. You don't hug each other, you're lucky if he holds your hand. There's really no public affection between you two. If people didn't already know, they wouldn't necessarily think you were together. They'd think you're like Tori and André."
Jade frowned as she tightened her grip around the glass. She looked down as she didn't want to think about what he was verbalizing. She had found a moment of peace and now he was slapping her in the face (intentionally or unintentionally) with something that she finally had to admit had started increasingly troubling her, because it wasn't just the public displays of affection but the priv—
She shook her head then put a deep frown on her face as her emotions flared and she looked to Beck.
His eyes widened and he swallowed nervously as he realized that he may have just crossed a line.
She nearly growled out at him, "I'm not talking about this with you."
He gathered his wits quickly and gave her a disarming smile. "Didn't expect you to, but you should talk to him about it… please don't repeat our mistakes with him. If it's a problem, talk about it. Don't sweep this potential problem under the rug like we did ours."
The sudden flare of annoyance and anger that Beck's point had brought on died out as quickly as it was born.
He gave her a warm smile then took another sip of his tea. Once he finished his swallow of the sweet liquid then stood up to place it on the workbench on Jade's right. "I think I'll be going. Thanks for the tea. I hope you keep in mind what I said." He leaned over slightly and gave Jade a soft peck on her right cheek then grabbed his shirt resting at her right just passed his still glass.
He quickly through on his shirt and turned to pick up his toolbox as the dark brunette looked on him with a mix of bewilderment and appreciation. Beck looked over his shoulder and gave her one last smile. "I hope she runs good for him… I'll see you tomorrow." He left the pale teenager sitting in silence as his words and her own suppressed feelings collided.