Chapter 4 - still flashing back to Freddie's life in March/April of 2013
After their school work was done. Melanie and Freddie were in the grocery store, he was helping her pick up a few things to eat that she thought she could cook.
"I sure hope I can figure out how to do this." She fussed. "I'm not really all that good at cooking. The school I went to didn't allow cooking in the dorms and you can probably guess I never learned anything like that from my mom."
"I'll give you a hand, Melanie." Freddie offered. "I know you'll think this is nubby, but my mom and I took cooking classes together the other year. And I did take home ec as an elective in tenth grade. Boy, did Sam bust on me for that one. I can still hear her saying, 'you'll make someone a good wife some day'."
"Aw, that's actually kind of sweet that you and your mom do stuff like that together. And there is nothing wrong with guys knowing how to cook. Maybe you can teach me a little bit." She reached and took his hand. "You're such a good guy, Freddie. I can't believe you don't have a girlfriend. You don't do you? I mean, you agreed to a date so I just assumed you were single."
"Uh, yeah. I mean no. I don't have a girlfriend." He replied nervously. "No girlfriend, honest."
In truth, there were various reasons for this fact. First on the list was school. Freddie knew if any distraction caused his grades to suffer that his mother would be upset. Second, after all the time he spent with Carly and Sam over the years, there were really no other girls in his clique of friends. Sure, there was Wendy, but he wasn't really attracted to her, well maybe a little, and for whatever reason, there was something about the new girl, Veronica, that didn't sit well with him. She hung out with his group but he definitely wasn't interested.
Of course, one of the biggest reasons was that he just couldn't find anyone that he really had a connection with. The young man had resigned himself to the fact that he wouldn't be able to find a girl until he was in college, whether she be in one of his classes or simply someone he'd meet on campus.
The week went on and by the time Friday arrived, Pam Puckett had returned home and had left again while they were in school. The two students entered her house after school to find a note from Pam taped to the TV stating that she'd be gone all weekend.
"Holy chiz! She's gone again." Melanie exclaimed reading the note. "This time it's to Idaho? What is there is Idaho? Other than potatoes?"
Freddie just shook his head, knowing that this kind of absentee parenting upset Melanie and that this was also Pam Puckett's lifestyle. He had been seeing it for years.
There had been no contact between him and Sam other than a text or two, which was typical. Sam kept herself busy with the babysitting and she had her own online classes to worry about plus an immature room mate to deal with. To say she had her hands full was an understatement. While they kept in touch, it was not unusual for her to go several weeks with little more than simple texts and the occasional, very brief email.
"So, did we want to have our date this weekend, Melanie?" He asked, figuring that he could at least get the girl's mind off her mom's absence. "If not, it's OK."
"Yes, absolutely." She replied quickly. "What did you want to do? A movie or maybe eating somewhere?"
"We could do both." He suggested. "How about tomorrow? Let's check listings and see when any decent movies start. Then we can decide where we would like to eat?"
"Oh, I'm good with just about anything. Except tacos. Nothing like that for a first date."
Freddie laughed. "I'm with you on that. How about Chinese, there's a great buffet down on tenth avenue? Or maybe Italian?"
"Ask me tomorrow. Right now I'm so hungry I could go with just about anything." She held her hands over her mid-section.
"I know, how about I make us something really great for dinner tonight. You didn't do anything with that pack of chicken breasts yet did you?"
"I had no idea what to do. And I was kinda hoping you'd be hanging out with me anyway." She giggled. "I really like having you around, Freddie. We have so much fun together."
The next afternoon, Freddie was preparing for his date with Melanie. This was his first real date since right after Carly and Sam left town and Gibby tried to set him up with a friend of his from church who thought Freddie was cute. The girl was nice but definitely not girlfriend material in Freddie's opinion. He couldn't bring himself to string her along and go out with her the second time when he knew it would never go anywhere.
Of course, it might just have been that he wasn't ready to move on at that point in time, too.
"Fredward! Where are you going all dressed up?" His mother asked, seeing him in clothes slightly nicer than he wore to school.
"I was going to the movies with, uh, Melanie."
"Oh, my little boy has a date. I'm so glad you're finally ready to move on from those other two girls. The sassy one who nearly cost you your life and that blonde delinquent." She now set about to rearranging his hair and primping his look like he was a second grader going in for picture day. "I must meet this Melanie girl. Is she nice? Does she go to your school? Is she from a good family? What kind of plans does she have for the future?"
Freddie resisted the need to roll his eyes and simply gave her very brief answers. "Well, I think she's kinda nice. I really don't know her all that well, she's actually new to Ridgeway and I've been showing her around and helping her get acquainted."
"You are such a gentleman. How difficult that must be for her to be starting at a new school in senior year. You must bring her around so I can meet her."
"I will mom. Someday. But we already have the evening planned and I really need to get going. I'm supposed to pick her up at four, and it's already three-thirty five. You always say early is on time, on time is late." He pulled away from the nurse's grasp, planning on straightening up his hair in the elevator.
"That's right, darling. Punctuality is polite. What time will you be home?"
"Oh, I'm not sure. We were planning on maybe eating after the movie. I guess it depends on how busy the restaurant is. I'll text you if I'll be much after 9, alright?"
Marissa made no objections. He was eighteen, after all and occasionally worked until nine at his part time job.
Ten minutes later, the young man was approaching the Pucketts' front door. Melanie was watching for him and opened the door before he had a chance to knock or ring the bell.
"Did you see that ornery cat out there anywhere?" She asked. "I let him out this morning because he was clinging to the back door like Velcro and he hasn't come back yet."
"I didn't realize you guys still had Frothy. I'm actually surprised he wasn't attacking my shins all the times I've been here. He's not really fond of me."
"So I've heard. He spends most of his time in the laundry room. Usually the only time he comes out is when the washer is running. I guess the water sound bothers him. He's pretty easy to care for, I just have to remember to scoop out his box every day or he makes a mess behind the TV." Melanie said with a sneer.
"Should we hang around in case he comes back?" Freddie asked. "Once it gets dark, it'll get cold out. And he's gotta be getting old."
"I'll throw an old blanket on the porch, he can curl up on it if he gets back before us. If we don't soon leave we'll miss the beginning of the movie." Mel replied, already putting on her coat. "You look nice today. I'm not used to seeing you dressed up. Not that you look like a hobo at school but this is, you know, different. Good different."
"Oh, uh, thanks. So um, so do you. Not the hobo part, the other thing. You're, uh, wow!" He ogled at her figure, accentuated perfectly in a form fitting top and flowy skirt. How different she was from her twin. He helped her put on her coat.
Melanie giggled at his nerves and took his hand. She was slightly flattered at his obvious admiration of her, too.
Hours later, the two had watched their movie, ate dinner and returned to the Puckett house. As always, Freddie opened the car door for Melanie and acted very much the gentleman. He did things, made comments and jokes that would have earned him a kick to the knee or at the very least an eye roll and a slap to the back of the head from Sam.
"Did you want to come in for a little bit?" She asked as he closed her car door. "Please."
"Sure. But I was supposed to be home by nine." He replied, taking her hand. "I promised my mom. Bu-but I could text her and tell her I'm running late."
She simply nodded and they walked toward the front steps. "I guess I really should meet your mom some day."
Freddie gulped. He knew that not only could his mother be downright overbearing toward any girl he ever even remotely liked, but that she would be disgusted by the sight of Melanie, simply because, other than her hair, she looked just like Sam. "Oh, um, I - I, g-guess." He stammered.
The young man was saved any further mental anguish by Melanie's sudden exclamation. "Watch out! There he is!"
Her shriek was followed by a hiss coming from the porch floor and a flash of fur rushing at his leg. Before the cat could do too much damage, Melanie managed to grab the feline by his scruff and pause his assault on her date. "You weren't kidding, this cat really hates you, doesn't he?"
"Sam trained him well." He replied dryly and stood far enough back that he was in no danger. "Did you want me to, um . . . like, just call you later?" He motioned toward the sidewalk.
"No. Don't go! Just give me a minute to lock him in the laundry room." With that, she unlocked the door and hurried the cantankerous animal toward the back of the house. "Come on in and make yourself at home."
A moment later the girl returned, sans the attack cat, and walked over to him. "Take your jacket off and sit down. It's alright, I swear I penned Frothy up. I really don't know why Sam didn't take that animal with her."
"I guess she thought your mom would have missed him." He shrugged. "Plus, she like, you know, drove her motorcycle."
"Psh. Mom hates that cat." She led him to the sofa. "He peed on my favorite boots the other day, too. I wonder how much it would cost to ship him down to her in L.A.?"
The two sat down, talked about random things, school, and their upcoming graduation for a little while before Freddie realized it was getting late and that he needed to leave soon.
"I wish you could stay a bit longer." She grabbed his hand gently. "I know, next time we do something we can stop by your place and I can meet your mother. Maybe then she'll be OK with us hanging out a little later."
Freddie cringed internally at the thought. At least he'd have some time to prepare his mother for meeting the young lady. "You really want there to be a next time? Like a - a second date next time?" The only girl he ever had more than one date with was Sam.
"Of course, silly. We've been hanging out for over a week studying together and everything. And I really like you, Freddie. I'd love to go out again. If you would, that is. I don't want to mess up our friendship, though."
"Well, yeah. Of course. I like you too, Melanie." He smiled. "But I also really need to go. My mom will seriously have a fit."
"I'll walk you to the door." She did just that and before he went outside, was treated with a very nice, but very innocent kiss and a warm hug. "Can you text me after you get home? You know, to make sure you get home OK."
"Of course. And we'll talk tomorrow." He hugged her back. "Good night."
End of flashback - for now.
Carly made her way through the airport, heading toward baggage claim. She had spent the last couple of hours remembering how Freddie and Melanie ended up together.
Her phone signaled a text, she instinctively looked at the screen to see it was from her old friend Sam.
Sam P: Wassup, Shay. You land yet?
Carly: Yep, just got off the plane.
Sam P: Good to have you back on American soil. I wish I could be there.
Carly: No law against it.
Sam P: You know I can't do that. But you can come to see me.
Carly: I just got here. I can't go leaving right away.
Sam P: Well, my door's always open for you. Give Spence a hug for me.
There was no further text conversation between the two girls. Carly knew the reason Sam was not interested in returning to Seattle but didn't even make an attempt to persuade her otherwise.
