Chapter Thirty Seven: Your Decision?
L.A. Mental Hospital
The green streaked girl stepped inside the brick building gazing around at her surroundings. She was still trying to ponder the fact of why Freddie felt the need to check himself in here, but she was more worried about if he was okay or not.
"Can I help you ma'am?" The lady at the front desk stated. Jade turned towards her and walked up to the front desk.
"Hi, I'm Jadelyn West. I'm here to see a friend of mine, Freddie Benson."
"One second." The lady replied before tapping away on her computer. "Room 27."
"Okay thanks." Jade said grateful as she turned around and began to walk away.
"Hold up young lady!" The lady called out. "Just because I told you what room he was in doesn't mean you just waltz on in there. You need authorization from the patient."
"Fine, you can talk to Freddie if that's what you want, but could you please do it quickly." Jade replied, starting to lose her patience. Her concern for Freddie was really starting to get to her and she wanted to help him solve his problems like she did in the past.
Jade saw the lady walk away and simply took a seat in the waiting area. She looked around at the other patrons as she saw people conversing with their friends and relative who were patients here. The sound of the door bursting opening in front of her with a group walking in caused everyone's attention to shift towards there.
"Sorry about that." The brunette girl said embarrassed. "You guys can all go back to… you know… talking." Carly looked around to find the lady at the front desk, but instead she was welcomed with the sight of Jade. "Hey Jade."
"Hi Carly." Jade replied simply. She felt rather awkward considering the fact that she loved Carly's boyfriend, but sometimes there are things in life you can't stop from happening and this was one of those times.
"Did you see Freddie?" She asked concerned. Carly held a very pained expression and looked terrified at the moment.
The green streaked girl shook her head. "No, the lady at the front desk said that I needed authorization from Freddie."
"Oh, so I guess I'll wait till she gets back and then go see him." She replied taking a seat next to her as the rest of the group looked on.
"Sure." Jade said remaining civil. She didn't want to stir any trouble considering the circumstances at the moment.
Meanwhile, Freddie was simply lying in bed as he looked up at the ceiling. He had been in this position since checking in and only moved when he had to eat or use the restroom. The dream with his father left him speechless considering that he had never seen his father's face since his accident. Freddie wished that his father was still with him, but he was still grateful to have his mother despite her crazy antics. The brunette boy knew deep down though that he was trying to escape having to think about the main event that took place in his dream, but his mind still lingered over it. He knew his decision was crystal clear, but he still wanted a little more self -reflection time before making any hasty decisions.
A knock on the door caused him to sit up and stare in anticipation. He was relieved to see that it was the nurse and not anyone he knew.
"Hello Freddie." The nurse said as she stepped inside. "How are you feeling?"
"Alright I guess." Freddie stated as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Well that's good to hear." She replied with a pleased smile.
"So what brings you here?" The brunette boy asked. "The doctor said that I didn't need any examinations because I am considered sane which I highly doubt."
The nurse chuckled as she shook her head. "No, you have a visitor!"
"Oh." Freddie choked out. He didn't think anyone would have found him, I mean he blocked the Pear Tracker app for crying out loud. "Who is it may I ask?"
"She said she was a friend of yours." The nurse said thinking before snapping her fingers in remembrance. "Jadelyn."
"Jade?" Freddie said to himself. "How did she find me?"
"Do you want me to bring her here so you two can talk?" She asked curiously.
Freddie looked up at the nurse and blew out a breath. "Sure."
"Excellent, I'll tell her that you're ready to meet her." And with that the nurse stepped out and walked back to the waiting area.
"Well?" Jade asked anxiously.
"Take a right and it should be the third door on the left." The nurse instructed much to the relief of Jade. She was happy that Freddie didn't reject seeing her.
"Thanks so much!" Carly said eagerly as she began walking towards the hall.
"Not so fast missy." The nurse said. "You need authorization. Only Jadelyn can go. If Freddie is willing to meet you after than you can go."
Carly let out a tear as she nodded disappointed. "I just want to see him is all. I really miss my Freddie."
Jade looked at Carly's pained expression before walking over to the nurse. "Let her go first. Freddie is her boyfriend and she hasn't seen him since he left. I doubt Freddie wouldn't want to see her." As much as she didn't want to not see her love first, she respected Carly and Freddie's relationship enough to let her go first.
The nurse looked at Carly's sadness before blowing out a breath. "Fine! She can go first and then Jade, but no more visitors!"
"Thank you!" Carly said, giving Jade a hug that caught her off guard. She simply patted the brunette on the back before they broke apart.
Freddie was sitting on the desk chair in his room as he looked outside. He hated this mental hospital to be honest but he knew that he needed it to make his decision. A knock caused him to look up and walk towards the door. Blowing out a nervous breath, he opened the door. As soon as he did he was crushed with a hug causing the pair to drop to the floor.
"I missed you so much Freddie!" The familiar voice said. They broke apart and Freddie was confused to see Carly standing there.
"Carls?" He asked confused before shaking it off. Truth be told he was happy to see her here as he did miss her since leaving the house. A pang of guilt was felt inside of Freddie as he realized how much stress he put her under.
"What are you doing here in the first place?" She asked concerned. The brunette knew that something was troubling her boyfriend since the morning he woke up and she knew that it must have been something life changing that caused him to check himself in.
"I decided to do some experimenting like Sam." Freddie joked, causing his girlfriend to giggle.
"Freddie! Seriously come on." Carly exclaimed. Freddie closed the door behind him and shut his eyes tight. He blew out a quick breath before looking face to face with Carly.
"Okay, but someone else needs to be here as well." He instructed.
"And who is that?" She asked confused. "Sam is in LA remember?"
"Not Sam." Freddie stated, shaking his head. "Jade."
Carly was speechless as she simply nodded and slowly backed out of the room. She walked back to the waiting room as her mind was swirling from possibilities of what Freddie wanted to say to them. The more important question was why Jade? As soon as she reached the waiting room the entire group stood up and looked at her anxiously.
"How's Freddie?" Jade was first to ask.
"He's not dead right." Brad joked, trying to lighten the mood a little. André chuckled a little but was nudged by Tori who motioned for him to shut up.
"No he's fine." Carly said. "But he has something important to tell me and someone else."
"Who?" Tori asked, curiously. She was trying to figure who else he would really even care to talk to.
"Jade." Carly simply stated as the groups eyes popped opened apart from Jade.
"Fair enough, but we need to distract that nurse." Jade instructed. "The nurse isn't going to let both of us go." The nurse was watching the group like a hawk as they turned to glance at her before quickly looking away.
"We'll take care of it." Brad replied as the rest of the group nodded in agreement.
"Just meet us back at my house with Freddie once you're all done here." Tori stated as she turned around with the rest of the group and walked to the front desk.
"Excuse me nurse." Brad said, causing the nurse to look up. "My friend over here is suffering from extreme mental breakdowns at the moment and I was wondering if you could help."
The group looked to see where Brad's hand was pointing and when it landed on Trina they all giggled internally.
"Is that so?" The nurse asked concerned. "Well then we should run a few tests on her."
"What no tests! I am perfectly fine." Trina assured though the face of the nurse remained sceptical. "I AM A SANE PERSON YOU HEAR ME SANE!"
"Come along now." The nurse said taking her arm and guiding her away from the group before whispering to the group. "She is out of her mind."
Trina was resisting being taken away causing security guards to come due to all the commotion she was causing.
"Boys, take her away." The nurse instructed as two muscular men pulled her away.
"AND TO THINK I THOUGHT YOU WERE CUTE BRAD!" Trina yelled as they pulled her away.
When Brad saw that Carly and Jade were gone from the waiting room he turned back to Trina. "AND SCENE!"
Everyone looked at him curiously as he began to applaud. "Bravo Trina. That was great improv."
"Thanks…" Trina said not knowing what was going on.
"Yeah…" Tori said figuring out where Brad was going. "You see we are actors in training and we decided to perform a… uh… Drive by Acting and you all did wonderful."
"Well you all did… well too?" The nurse said still a little confused. "Put her down boys."
"Thanks, now we best get going now." Trina said quickly as the rest of the group ran out behind her.
"Well that was… crazy… and to think I work at a mental hospital." The nurse exclaimed shaking her head in disbelief.
Meanwhile Jade and Carly were sitting down side by side on the bed as Freddie kept pacing around trying to figure out what on Earth he was going to do.
"Okay Freddie." Carly said, a little annoyed.
"Could you please tell us!" Jade stated a little annoyed as well.
Both girls just felt that Freddie was going to tell them as soon as they reached here, but instead he had been pacing around the room for at least ten minutes looking as if he actually truly belonged in here. The brunette boy was on the edge of a breakdown considering the decision he was faced with and what else took place in that dream. For the last 48 hours Freddie was in a dark place, a place he never thought that he could have reached, but once he did, it was as if he were… home, but not in the good way. A kind of home that tears you to pieces and reassembles you before swallowing you whole.
"Okay." He said, grabbing the desk chair and sitting in front of the two girls. "I am going to tell you guys EVERYTHING! And by the time we're done here I am never coming back here again!"
The two girls nodded as they glanced at one another wearing an anxious look.
"Okay." He said, blowing out a breath. Freddie was ready for this more than ever. "Here's the story."
Vega Residence
"No way he's mental. I mean sure he may get emotionally carried away with his technology, but that's no reason to check into a mental hospital." Gibby exclaimed as he sat with the group.
"I don't know, but I just hope he comes home. Everyone is really worried about him." Cat said, nervously.
"He'll be fine Red." André assured. "Freddie and I share very similar personalities and I know that whatever happens, he will do what is best for us and himself most importantly."
"Yeah well, what do you guys think Freddie wanted to do by talking with both Carly and Jade?" Tori asked, curiously. The question had been gnawing at her all the way back home.
"I don't know, but something tells me once they return we are going to find out." Brad suggested. "If you think about it, Jade is Freddie's ex and Carly is Freddie's girlfriend and in my opinion that creates chaos."
A heavy pound on the door caused everyone to sit up. They all looked at each other waiting for one to make a move.
"Really guys!" Brad said. "It's probably them right now. No need to be all shocked and surpirsed." He got up and walked towards the door. He looked back at the group before opening the door. Ironically, enough Brad was shocked when he saw who was at the other side of the door.
"SAM?"
"Hey guys." She said trying to be casual. The rest of the group sat there looking at her surprised.
"I thought you were taking a… break." Brad replied.
"Well Beck and I decided that even though we were having fun with just being together it was unfair to our friends that we just left them without any word. Look that whole thing may seem bad, but trust me it was something that benefited both sides I can assure you." She explained.
"Where is Beck anyways?" Brad asked curiously. He avoided talking about Carly and Freddie but once Sam found out he knew that she was going to rush immediately over there.
"Right here." Beck moaned, as he walked in bent over due to the luggage he was carrying. André got up and pulled a bag off his shoulder much to his relief and gratitude.
"It's nice to see you again Sammy." The redhead said, happily. "By the way, we are going to need to do some babysitting again."
"UGH!" Sam groaned. "Can't we do that later on Cat?" The blonde looked around at the other patrons seated before looking back at Brad. "So… where are Carls and Frednerd? If they're somewhere making out or having a mushy date then I don't want to know."
Brad's eyes lit up as he turned around and stared at the group, looking for someone to be his moral support. To his disappointment the rest of the group looked away scared. Beck looked at the group's behaviour wondering why they were all acting so odd.
"Brad?"
"Yup!" He replied to Sam trying to pretend nothing was wrong.
"Where are they?" The blonde asked, her curiosity reaching its peak. The former iCarly intern continued to glance around trying to be oblivious to the question being asked. "Okay fine don't tell me then."
"THEY'RE AT A MENTAL HOSPITAL!" Brad exclaimed not being able to take the pressure he was getting from Sam and Beck as well as the group.
Sam looked at him intently, her eyes radiating with confusion. She had a brief flashback as to what happened when she checked herself in. "A mental hospital? Why in the hell are they in a mental hospital?"
"I don't know." Brad said, confused. "Freddie checked himself in there for some reason and then he said he wanted to talk to Carly and Jade in private. Tori told them all to meet us at her house once they were done and then you showed up and they still haven't gotten back yet."
"I'm going there!" She exclaimed as she looked at Beck. "Put those bags down and let's go."
"Okay." He said happily, as he dropped the bags to the floor and followed Sam out the door.
"What do you think Sam is going do?" Cat asked, once the pair had left.
"I don't know, but I don't like the thought of it." Brad sighed as he closed the door.
L.A. Mental Hospital
"So wait let me get this straight. You're in love with… BOTH OF US?" Carly exclaimed as her and Jade looked at each other confused.
"NO!" Freddie groaned. "Well I was and I still am, but I- DAH!"
"Why now though?" Jade asked. Truth be told she was happy inside considering Freddie still had feelings for her, but right now she put her feelings aside to help out a friend of hers get his feelings in place.
"Like, I said." The brunette boy whispered. "I saw my dad. He gave me advice that I would never be able to get from anyone else in the entire world. I just wish he was with me, but I have to honour his name which means I can't love both of you. I wish there was a way to get everyone to be happy, but I'm only one person and I just can't handle this any longer. Please whatever I do, just promise me one thing. Even after this, you both will still be there when you need me as I will be there for you both."
Jade and Carly both felt tears drop from their eyes as they looked on. The amount of emotion Freddie was carrying in those words would melt the heart of any girl regardless of the situation.
"I think it's time for you to tell us Freddie." Jade said, standing up and wiping away her tears. Freddie's speech reminded her exactly of her dad and how even though he is alive he's never around to be a father figure for her. She wanted to promise that nothing would happen if he chose Carly, but inside she would be killed if he did.
"Jade's right." Carly said, standing up and also wiping the tears from her eyes. She too was touched by the words of Freddie, but she couldn't promise that she could be there for him if he picked Jade.
"Okay, here is goes." Freddie mumbled standing up to face the two girls. The pressure was piling on home as his tongue felt as if it was knotted up and glued to his upper palate. The brunette boy swallowed as he looked at the awaiting eyes of both girls.
"Here goes nothing." Freddie thought as he took a deep breath.
"Carly."
The name caused Jade to drop her head down, while Carly squealed in excitement.
"I love you too!" Carly said instantly as she hugged him tightly. The tears in Jade's eyes began to flow as she looked on.
After breaking apart Freddie looked at Carly. "You didn't let me finish."
"Don't worry Freddie I know you love me, you don't have to say it just show me." Carly exclaimed as she leaned in for a kiss, but much to her surprise Freddie moved away.
"Look Carl… I'm not in love with you… I'm in love with Jade." He said.
The female brunette's eyes looked at him in shock as did Jade's.
"I never stopped loving you Jade." He said wearing a smile as he looked at her face which was in pure bliss.
Jade looked into his soft brown eyes as tears came down her face, but this time tears of joy. She let out a small smile before Freddie took her hand softly.
"I love you Freddie and I always will." Jade whispered, before the pair locked lips feeling safe in each other's arms.
Carly looked on as the tears dripped down her cheeks. She ran out of the room, her vision blurred by the tears falling from her eyes. She was still soaking in the fact that Freddie didn't love her anymore. The brunette couldn't help but feel that this trip to L.A. was nothing short of a nightmare. Lost in her tears and emotions she ended up bumping into a person. She looked up to see her best friend Sam staring at her.
"Carly?" Sam asked worried.
The brunette simply looked at Sam and Beck before tearing up again and running outside. A rage began to formulate inside of Sam as she looked at Beck with deadly eyes.
"No one messes with my best friend." She thought in her head. A wicked grin played on her face as she looked to Beck.
"You remember that plan we had for the geek and goth?" She hissed, seething with anger.
"Yeah."
"It's back on." The blonde stated as Beck nodded in satisfaction glad to see the Sam he fell for in the first place.
West Residence
"I realize now that I don't have my stuff with me." Freddie pointed out as they stopped on the driveway.
"Yeah well don't worry." Jade assured. "My dad left some clothes behind when he moved out so we should be able to find you something. We'll grab your things tomorrow." The remembrance of her dad leaving caused Jade to involuntarily wince.
"Are you okay?" Freddie asked, concerned.
Jade simply chuckled. "I should be asking you that. You've had one heck of a night."
Freddie joined in on the chuckle before the pair locked eyes. They couldn't help but stare at each wearing the same expression of love and happiness.
"I love you." Freddie said simply. He was glad that his dad guided him to the right path and he was so happy to use that phrase for only one special girl.
"I love you too." Jade replied without hesitation. They shared a brief kiss before stepping outside of the car and walking towards the front door. With a soft knock on the door it opened a minute later to reveal Ms. West.
She looked at the pair and couldn't help but grin in joy. The older West let them inside before shutting the door. She couldn't help but notice how amazing it was to see her daughter and Freddie holding hands. A smile was fixated on her face as she looked at the couple.
"I've missed this place." Freddie noted as he looked around the familiar house.
"Well you won't have to anymore." Jade said giving him a peck on the check and resting her chin on his shoulder while wrapping her arms around him. "You're home."
"Welcome home Freddie." Ms. West said, happily as she joined in to create a group hug. The brunette boy couldn't help but smile with joy as he looked up to the roof. His eyes lit up when he saw his father. He wore a grin and mouthed 'I'm proud of you son' before disappearing into the air. Freddie couldn't help but smile as tears of joy came flowing down.
"This is my home."
I'm coming home
I'm coming home
Tell the world that I'm coming home
Let the rain wash away
All the pain of yesterday
I know my kingdom awaits
And they've forgiven my mistakes
I'm coming home, I'm coming home
Tell the world that I'm coming…
home
AN: Well Jeddie it is. I know a lot of Creddie fans will be disappointed, but to be honest the Creddie relationship doesn't leave any open doors whereas Jeddie is still fairly untapped. I look forward to breaking Carly's character down and rebuilding her back up to make her more interesting to read about.
Thanks to all that read and stay tuned for the next chapter.
P.S. I was going to cliff-hanger you all, but I decided that as a reader I would hate that, so I just ended the chapter off with a nice Jeddie moment.