Boarded

A/N: Sorry it's been so long, college, and other drama has been keeping me on my toes.

Chapter 21 (Triple Date)

Freddie and Melanie were on their tenth date thus far, dining at Cotton Patch Café. Jonah and Valerie had come down for a visit, as had Sam and Gibby. The Cotton patch was a regional restaurant, so only Melanie had ever been to one before. "The food here is great, I've never had bad service, and now I feel like a commercial advertisement." Melanie looked down at the table and her sister laughed.

"I just want to be fed!" Melanie grinned as Sam eyed the menu hungrily. There were so many great choices. As for the sides, the baked potato sounded really great. Her sister never went to Cotton Patch and got a meal without ordering the potato, so she definitely wanted to try it. "Everything's huge, like you say?" Melanie nodded as a waitress came walking up to them with their drinks. The group looked up and were warmed by the woman's kind smile. Her smile seemed genuine and did not appear to be fake at all. It made them feel right at home. Once done handing out the drinks, the waitress pulled out a notepad and looked at the group.

"Are you ready to order, or would you like another minute?" The group looked at each other, then to their menus. They all had a pretty good idea what they wanted. Nodding their heads, they looked up at the lady and started their orders. Sam, of course, went first.

"I would like the bigger sirloin steak, please! Can I have that with a loaded baked potato? I hear they're the best!" The waitress beamed with pride and nodded as she wrote down Sam's order. They were famous for their potatoes. Melanie smiled at her sister and ordered her usual order, which was actually synonymous with Sam's, so she was pleasantly surprised to see her ordering the steak. Once Melanie's order was done, Gibby ordered next.

"I'd like this burger right here," Gibby said while pointing to the image of the Big Bubba Burger. It appealed to him with the two huge patties, the buns, and all of the accessories. "And if I can, could I also try the baked potato?" It didn't come with the sandwich, so for him, it would have been a dollar extra.

"Would you like it loaded, sir?"

"Oh yes, definitely!" The waitress smiled and Gibby licked his lips at the picture of the burger. He was wondering if it wouldn't be as big as the image portrayed it. Melanie smiled at him and tapped his shoulder, causing him to look at her in surprise. "Yes?"

"That's really a huge sandwich, you think you'll manage to eat it?"

"How big is it?"

"Like…this big!" Melanie held her hands several inches apart and Gibby's eyes widened. His mouth started to water just a bit, so he quickly tore his gaze away.

"I'll take it!" The others laughed and Valerie decided to take her order. She was going for the grilled salmon, it seemed so appealing to her. She also asked for the baked potato, considering all that she'd heard about it. Freddie and Jonah both ordered the tilapia, which came with either six or eight pieces of shrimp. They went with eight, and ordered the baked potato as well. The waitress thanked them for their orders and left with the menus. Gibby folded his arms over and leaned back. "I really do like the feel of this place." The atmosphere was cozy, there was good, current music playing over the speakers, the seats were soft, and the restaurant wasn't too bright nor too dark. "I can't believe they don't have these places up North."

"Yeah, but maybe one day they'll branch out." Gibby nodded his head as Freddie looked over to Jonah. He'd heard of him starting to become closer to his dad again, something that was really good and really needed. Jonah almost didn't come see them because he wanted to make sure his dad would be taken care of. Jonah took a sip of his water as Gibby quietly looked over to him. "Jonah, how is your dad's health?" Jonah looked up and set his drink down as his friends all murmured their agreement with the question.

"He's fine, still a little shaky, but he's fine." Valerie frowned and gave Jonah a quick peck on the cheeks. She and Freddie were the only two that really knew the true severity of the case. The doctor told Michael he needed to be really careful, or the next time might be his last, he was lucky to even survive the heart attack he did have, and if it weren't for his son's fast thinking and CPR to keep the heart going, he probably would not have lived. "I think he'll make it to see me get to college, and he's really proud of me for getting a job." Valerie squeezed his hand, causing him to look into her smiling eyes.

"We're all proud of you for getting that job, sweetie." Jonah chuckled and nodded his head. He sighed and relaxed his body, though shifting a bit uncomfortably in his seat. He didn't want to talk about his dad at the moment, he just didn't want to think about his father dying. It was best to remain in the now, and nowhere else.

"So…who else has drama going on in their lives?" He chuckled nervously while Sam closed her eyes and Freddie rubbed the back of his neck. Valerie looked outside at Jonah's car, and then to her purse. Melanie tapped her fingers upon the table and Jonah let out a sigh of exasperation. "Everyone's got something they have, it's always a relief to know that you're not the only one going through crap, though also a bit depressing too." Freddie shrugged and pat Jonah on the shoulder.

"Nothing to do about it, man." Valerie mouthed something to Sam, who then nudged Melanie. The boys all looked up as their dates stood from their seats and excused themselves to the bathroom. "Hm, I guess it's girl time to talk about their boyfriends?" Gibby and Jonah laughed unconsciously. Gibby looked back and smirked jokingly.

"Well since they're in the bathroom, I guess we'll just have to pray they don't walk out on us and leave us with the tip." The group laughed once more. Once finished, Jonah lightly smacked Freddie on the arm, causing him to glance over.

"So, tell me about this new best friend of yours that seems to have replaced me." He smirked and Freddie rubbed his arm. It didn't hurt, it was just unexpected. He took a sip of his water and pressed his lips together. "He's a senior like I am, right?" Gibby drank his soda, not really needing to participate in this group discussion. Freddie nodded and rubbed his fingers in a circular motion on the table, just feeling it unconsciously.

"Yeah, but he and his girlfriend are going through some issues right now."

"Like what?"

"It's been found out that they've been letting each other into the other's dorm far too late at night. They're under fire with the board. They're going to let Keith stay on till he graduates, because he's on the baseball team, but Penny might not be able to…" Jonah frowned and Gibby shook his head.

"Man that sucks. Isn't he like one of the better players on your team?"

"Yeah, that's why they're keeping him on. He's fighting to have Penny stay and is trying to threaten them that he may drop out of the school if they don't let her remain there."

"If you don't mind me asking," Gibby stated as he watched the cooks place someone's order on the bar for pick up. Sighing, he turned his gaze away and looked to Freddie. "How did they find out?"

"That Jerry kid on the team, he went and told the board." Gibby's muscles tensed up, but he held his overall composure. Chances were, neither Freddie or Jonah knew a thing about Jerry Elliot, so he didn't want to scare them. It was also not his place to tell Freddie, it was Melanie's place. If she wanted him to know, she would be the one to tell him.

"Bastard. Who died and made him ruler?"

"Well for some reason, he hates me. He's dating Melanie's friend Kendal, and her friend Alison hates his guts for no apparent reason." Jonah chuckled and rolled his eyes. He knew that whoever this Jerry guy was, he needed to back off. He'd seen a picture of Jerry, so he was surprised when he saw the youth walking along the sidewalk just outside of the restaurant.

"Uh guys…" Freddie and Gibby raised their eyebrows and looked with curiosity at Jonah. Following his gaze, their eyes widened when Jerry walked into the establishment, opening both doors with his hands for effect. It was almost like he wanted people to know he was there. "Speaking of the devil…"

"What's he doing here?" Freddie's voice was flat and dry, his eyes narrowing. Jerry moved his eyes over to Freddie and narrowed them. He brushed past one of the hosts trying to ask where he needed to sit. The host was stunned and hurt by the feeling of being ignored. "Hold on guys…" Freddie stood up and faced Jerry as he walked up to him. Jonah and Gibby, feeling like they may need to be backup, stood from their seats and stepped behind Freddie, crossing their arms and glaring at Jerry, hoping to intimidate him. "What is it, Jerry? It's been months now, I hope you're not still pissed that I got on the team and can hit every one of your knuckler shots."

"No, I'm not still pissed about that." Jerry eyed the table curiously and saw one of the women's purses. So, they were with the men. "You beat me fair and square, Benson." Some of the patrons were watching them uncomfortably, hoping that no fight was about to break out. The waiters were watching as well, ready to jump in if they had to. "I was here for a meal, until I saw you were here. So, I thought to come find say hello."

"You just wanted to come say hi?" Freddie scoffed lightly and his friends exchanged disbelieving looks. Jerry felt someone glaring at him with what felt like fires of hate, but who? He moved his eyes to Gibby and raised a questioning eyebrow, he knew something. He had to, his glare was more intense than either Freddie or Jonah.

"Now what is your problem?" Freddie and Jonah looked back at Gibby, who closed his eyes angrily. He let out a very tiny hint of a growl, suppressing it into his throat. The girls started to leave the bathroom, but upon seeing Jerry, quickly rushed back in. Jerry spotted them and pressed his lips tightly together. So Kendal was right, Melanie was a twin. So, perhaps 'Jackie' really was a made up name. Jerry brushed past the boys, flashbacks striking him as his rage flared up. "Hey Jackie, if that's really your name, I know you're in there! Get your little ass out here, we've been needing to talk. I owe you for a few years!" Freddie and Jonah looked at each other with confusion, but Gibby was quick on the dime.

"Go away!" Gibby shouted as he grabbed the back of Jerry's shirt and pulled him from the area. "You're not wanted here." Jerry had slipped up, he hadn't actually intended to stir up trouble, but seeing Sam, or Jackie, or whoever the hell she was, really caused him to lose it. He decided to just leave, rather than let his anger get the better of him in a public location. He sighed as Gibby dragged him to the door. Normally, he'd be kicking this oaf's ass for laying a hand on him.

"Who the hell is Jackie?" Freddie asked quietly to Jonah, who shrugged in response. Neither of them could figure out what all this was about, it simply seemed random as ever. "Gibby, hold up!" Gibby stopped and Jerry pulled himself from Gibby's hold, then dusted himself off. Freddie hurried over and pushed Jerry out the door, following him.

"Wait Freddie, no!" Gibby cursed under his breath and Jonah's eyebrows lifted up. Now he really felt out of the loop. They guys would have gone outside, but they knew Freddie would simply want them to go back in.

Jerry frowned as Freddie leaned against a car. "Jerry, who is Jackie?" Jerry looked to him and shrugged. Was it really important for Freddie to know? Then again, if Freddie did know, how would he react to it? Slowly, his lips formed a smirk as he crossed his arms over.

"Jackie Trent is one of the girls involved in killing my grandmother."

"What?"

"Yes, evidently it wasn't her real name. I didn't even know she had a twin sister coming to a boarding school here, now that was a coincidence." Freddie's face fell and he slowly looked to the restaurant. Sam was involved in someone's death? That hardly seemed possible. Sam was too good of a person for that. "I thought Jackie was Jessica's sister, but it turns out, I guess they were just cousins or something."

"It's not my place, but how…how did your grandmother die?"

"Stabbed in the chest with a pen. She was like, eighty, or something." Freddie pressed his lips tightly together and looked into Jerry's wild and fiery eyes, he never noticed just how much hatred and anger burned in them.

"Jerry, I'm certain it was an accident…"

"It was no accident, Benson."

"Sam would never kill someone! Nobody in her family would ever kill someone with any kind of malice whatsoever! I know her, I know her family!"

"Correction. You know her sister, you've fallen in love with her sister, the good one. You don't know shit about the other." Jerry looked to the restaurant and sighed, so much for eating there. Closing his eyes, he turned away and shrugged. "Now if you excuse me, I need to go find a different restaurant." Freddie looked to the ground, trying to figure everything out. He didn't notice Jerry starting to walk away and closed his hands up.

"Yeah, whatever…" He didn't want to think that Sam could possibly be involved in someone's death. He didn't want to think that Jerry could have gone through something so tragic and that Sam's family was the reason for it. No, it was impossible. Preposterous. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Jonah staring at him with concern.

"Hey man, the waitress brought the food, if you want to eat now…"

"Yeah, let's eat. I'm really hungry."

Well, looks like Sam's got some explaining to do now. Either Jerry showed up by coincidence, or he meant to show up there. Who knows, all anyone knows is two things: Sam's got explaining to do and Valerie's got something going on she wanted to talk to the girls about.