Winning His Heart
Disclaimer: I don't own iCarly, nor do I own the movie Gym Teacher
A/N: The characters are 16 in this story. Thoughts are once more in italics and regular speech in regular font.
Chapter 14 (Pressure Explosion)
The next week came around and Freddie was meeting up with Valerie and Jonah, they were talking about Valerie's webshow. Freddie had asked Susie to come along, so she was willing to do that. They met up at the smoothie shop. "So, who is Rebecca Berkowitz?" Susie asked while glancing over at Freddie. He seemed to have a pained expression from recalling a memory.
"I don't know who it is, it's just the name Sam said when she wanted Shane to kiss her," Freddie responded. Susie nodded and decided to stop talking about the guy, since it was obviously a painful time for him to remember. "I hated every second of that. Sam really wanted him to kiss her, Carly too…kissing Shane…both of them wanted to." She could tell he was trying to cover up the fact that he was more concerned about Sam than Carly, but she already knew that he liked Sam, it was clear enough.
"Yeah, I guess it's pretty hard to remember that." Freddie shrugged as they made it to the doors of the smoothie shop.
"Yeah well, Shane and I aren't really friends anymore. At least we're not great friends, not like I am with Jake and Jonah." Freddie stared at the door handle and frowned as he remembered the time where Sam had almost had Shane kiss her. Thankfully, the nurse stopped them. He had felt his heart pounding inside of him, and to top it off, he had to pretend that he actually wanted Sam to get together with Shane.
"That's too bad…"
"Yeah, but he still talks to Carly. It seems he hasn't started dating either Carly or Sam. Sometimes I can't help but to wonder if one of them will date. Ever since then, I've decided one thing…" Freddie opened the door and walked inside with Susie. "I abide by the code, and I expect my friends to as well. A best friend does not date their best friend's love interest! Uh, not that I loved either girl…" Jonah glanced over as Freddie and Susie walked toward the table, he had heard what Freddie said, and it concerned him. Susie sighed and patted Freddie's back.
"I realize you're just a bit upset…maybe it's best to think of something else." Susie sat down at the table first and smiled at Valerie. "Hey Valerie! How are you today?"
"I'm doing great," Valerie responded while smiling back at Susie. Freddie sat down next to Susie and glanced over at Jonah. Jonah didn't have to worry about Freddie's rule, since Valerie wasn't his love interest. Of course, he had recently talked to Jake and learned that Jake was feeling really bad about something involving Susie. It was the fact that he thought he was starting to grow on her, that she was pretty and all.
"So, you don't believe a best friend should date their friend's ex girlfriend?" Jonah asked while raising his eyebrow. "Or the girl that person is crushing on?"
"Eh, something like that," Freddie responded. He folded his arms over his chest and groaned slightly. "Not that I really care as far as you and Jake are concerned." Jonah raised his eyebrow and merely shrugged. He was glad to know that he was in the clear, especially since Freddie had already given him the okay to ask Valerie out. The only problem was that Jonah didn't feel that he deserved a girlfriend. "They just have to ask first."
"Oh, so Jake just has to ask." Jonah muttered the sentence under his breath, so Freddie didn't hear him.
"What?"
"Nothing." Jonah shifted his eyes to the side and Valerie glanced at a waiter that was walking toward them. The waiter stopped at the table and smiled.
"Hello, would you like some smoothies today?" The waiter asked.
"Yeah, I'll have a strawberry banana smoothie, please," Valerie responded. The waiter wrote down the order and looked at Freddie, he was staring at his hands on the table, thinking about Sam, Susie, Carly, and even Shannon. His hands closed up in frustration.
"I'll take the passionate peach," Freddie said while narrowing his eyes. The waiter smiled and wrote down the order as Freddie's friends all stared at him with a look of concern on their faces.
"Uh, I'll take the Mango," Jonah stated. He couldn't help but feel bad for Freddie's current situation, he had a feeling that he was probably being very pressured at the moment.
"I'll have a Strawberry smoothie," Susie stated. The waiter nodded and wrote the last order down before walking away. She looked at Freddie and sighed as she rubbed his back. "Freddie, it's going to be okay…"
"So many things are happening right now," Freddie said in a quiet voice. "How can so much happen in such a small amount of time? I didn't even realize that I'd have to deal with so much in this last week."
"I'm sorry…"
"It's not your fault, Susie. Believe me, it isn't your fault at all." Freddie lifted his head and tried to smile, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. "I just had Carly bugging me about the fact that I'm spending less and less time with them, when I should be helping with rehearsals, but you…" Susie placed her hand on Freddie's arm and looked into his eyes.
"Listen, whatever you do is your choice, okay? I think my coming was at a bad time, but I guess I had no choice. Sure, Mr. Stewie will be on your mind, that much is very understandable. He was a good man, and a very good coach. Carly may be a bit miffed if you spend time with me, but don't let it bother you. If it bothers her, then I want you to spend some time with her. Okay?"
"Yeah, but Susie…"
"No buts. If Sam and Carly want you to spend time with them, do so. It isn't like I'm going to care. We're not dating anymore, Freddie. You don't have to be with me all the time."
"I'm sorry, it just gets so aggravating sometimes." Susie gave an understanding nod and Freddie took a deep breath. He wasn't sure just how to deal with everything, but he knew that he'd find a way.
"Yeah Freddie, just relax," Jonah said while giving him a smile. "You have all of us here with you, so don't worry too much about it. We all have stuff we're dealing with, and that's why we have friends, to help us out of the troubles."
"True. So, what were we going to talk about?" Freddie blinked and looked toward Valerie. "Ah, your webshow. What is it that you need help with?"
"I need a way to start it up," Valerie answered. The waiter returned to the table and set the drinks down in front of everyone, they each took their respective drinks and the waiter was on his way.
"Okay, and you're going to need a tech producer and a co host."
"Right. That's where you come in, Susie." Valerie smiled and Susie hesitated, not sure what Valerie was going to suggest. "I want you to be my co host, since I know I need one. Also, Jonah's agreed to be my tech producer!"
"Yep, I'm here to save the day," Jonah added, a smirk was present on his face. "What do you say, Susie? Will you be the co host?" Susie stood with a near shocked expression on her face, Freddie frowned and glanced toward her.
"Well, what do you say?" Freddie asked as he took a sip of his smoothie. "Do you want to be her co host? I can tell you, it'd be very fun."
"I-I don't know." Susie glanced at her drink and slowly rubbed her arm. "I mean…I've never really done something like that before, and I don't even know what will happen in the future." Valerie laughed lightly and patted Susie's shoulder.
"Don't worry about the future, Susie!" Valerie said with excitement in her voice. "Live for today! Seize the moment, you know, Carpe Diem! That means seize the day."
"Yeah, but you see…" Susie frowned and a single tear started to escape her eye. She really wasn't sure what to do, and was scared of the things to come. She shrugged it off and quickly looked towards Valerie with a smile. "Sure, I'll do it!"
"Thank you so much! You don't know how great it feels to finally have a co host. I would hug you, but I can't reach you from over the table." Susie chuckled nervously and smiled at Valerie. Jonah glanced past Freddie and spotted Shannon and Rueben sitting at a table, glancing toward Freddie. He sighed and wondered how long they had been there.
"We got trouble," Jonah stated. Freddie raised his eyebrow and watched as Jonah pointed toward Shannon, he followed Jonah's direction and frowned when he spotted the girl.
"She's spying, isn't she?" Freddie asked while narrowing his eyes. The second he looked over, he saw Shannon quickly look at Rueben. "You see? This is what I'm talking about! Why the hell do I feel like Shane did with Carly and Sam going after him?" Susie shrugged and took a sip of her smoothie, she had no clue how to answer that question.
"Perhaps it's because you have so many people vying for your attention." Freddie glanced at Jonah and sighed. Jonah was right, it seemed like Carly wanted his attention, as well as Sam, and even Shannon acted like she wanted his attention. He was probably going to blow if it kept going on like that.
"Let's see…three, two, one…" Freddie looked over to see a peppy looking Shannon standing at his table.
"Hey Freddie, I didn't see you here!" Shannon said with a quick voice. Valerie rolled her eyes and Susie closed her eyes as she continued to drink from her smoothie. She knew she just had to keep her patience, there was no real reason to get mad. She felt as though she would shorten her lifespan if she became too stressed, not that she wasn't stressed out enough as it was.
"Hey Shannon, I didn't see you here either." Freddie lied and glanced toward Jonah, as if he was pleading for help. Susie lifted her head and glanced back at where Rueben was. She saw him watching Shannon closely, then he frowned and glanced out the window, watching something else. "So, what is it you want?"
"Well, I was wondering if you could help me with a question." Freddie sighed and stared at the smoothie in Shannon's hand, he wondered why she even bothered to bring it over. "Well, I was just wondering. If you liked someone, and they never seemed to notice you, but always noticed another person, what would you do?"
"Gee, I don't know." Freddie rolled his eyes and leaned back in his seat. "You do realize that I know you're talking about me, and that I will never like you, right?" Shannon narrowed her eyes and Susie gently tapped Freddie.
"Hey, I have to go to the restroom for a minute," Susie said while putting on a smile.
"Okay." Freddie started to move out of the seat and shifted his eyes over as Shannon started to turn around. She made a motion like she was tripping and dropped her smoothie cup, spilling it all over Susie's shirt and pants. Susie screamed out and Jonah slapped his forehead, knowing that was going to make Freddie angrier than he already was.
"Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Shannon said while placing her hands on her mouth.
"Damn it!" Freddie shouted. He quickly stood up and Shannon's eyes widened at his outburst. Rueben glanced over and raised his eyebrow, staring in concern. "What the hell do you think you're doing? How about this, get a goddamn life! I have enough problems in my life as is, I don't need you trying to butt into my life by acting like a bitch. Get the hell out of my sight before I get angrier." Shannon stepped back and watched as Susie calmly wiped her clothes with a napkin, not trying to react to what had just happened. "Listen up here, I'm never going to like you, so accept that! I try to be nice, and what does it get me? Nowhere!"
"Freddie, you're being me…"
"I don't give a damn!" Shannon placed her hands on her eyes and ran out of the smoothie shop, Rueben quickly got up and followed her out. Freddie looked toward Jonah, Valerie, and Susie. Jonah and Valerie were staring at him with wide eyes, it had been a long time since they ever saw Freddie get mad. Hell, they never saw him angry until just then. "I'm sorry you guys had to see that…" Susie sighed and continued wiping her clothes, Freddie started to get another napkin for her, but she stopped him.
"I'm fine, I got it," Susie said as she stood up. She smiled and looked toward Freddie. "Thanks for standing up for me, but you don't have to worry about me that much. Also, I have another outfit just like this back home, I think I'll manage." Freddie slowly nodded and watched as Susie walked toward the bathroom. When she was out of sight, she stopped and placed her hand on her stomach, it was churning. She placed her hand and started coughing, she moaned and quickly rushed into the bathroom. She had a trickle of white fluid on the corner of her mouth, along with what looked like blood. With that, Susie quickly rushed toward the bathroom stalls.
"Are you going to be all right?" Jonah asked as he stood up and glanced toward Freddie. Freddie nodded and rubbed his forehead, he felt ashamed to have blown up like that. "You know that won't make her give up, but just try to be calm."
"I know, I know," Freddie responded. He ran his hand through his hair and groaned. "I just have so much going on right now, I feel like I'm suffocating here." Freddie looked toward the bathroom and frowned. "Susie…it's not just that she was my old girlfriend, but there's a reason I'm spending more time with her. There is a reason that I'm taking care of her, but she doesn't really want anyone knowing…"
"Do you, uh…Do you still have feelings for her?" Freddie blinked and glanced toward Jonah, he wasn't sure how to answer the question.
"I'm not sure. I mean, my feelings for Sam are very strong, still. I know Susie says she wants me to move on from her, but I'm not sure if I can move on. I want to date Sam…but I don't know how either will take it."
"That's understandable enough." Freddie sighed and turned around, Jonah raised his eyebrow as Freddie started walking toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Freddie stopped walking and glanced back.
"I'm going home, I need to think. Tell Susie that I've gone home, and if she wants to talk, she has my number. I'm sure you can drive her back home."
"Yeah, we'll do that." Freddie smiled and walked out of the door, he knew he had a lot to think about, and no one at all to talk to.
Shannon really needs to learn some control, and did Rueben look jealous? At least Valerie's getting a co host and a tech producer in Jonah! Stick around for the next chapter.