A/N: Again, I would like to thank you for your reviews on that last chapter. Hope you enjoy this next one :)
Ever since that afternoon at the Groovy Smoothie, and with Freddie spending his time with them again if not at the gym, Carly felt the emptiness she has been feeling slowly disappear. She doesn't know, or doesn't want to admit why, but having him back made her feel complete and contented, just like old times; minus his and Sam's bickering at every turn. Sure he's still got everything locked and boarded up inside but his presence alone is enough for Carly; she can't deny that she'd missed him terribly. Though there are one or two, possibly three added changes that Carly came to terms with in the course of that week, Shelby hung around them now since Carly had inquired about the fighter and her best friend's relationship. Shelby with the help of Sam tried to explain to Carly about her and Freddie's unique relationship; needless to say Carly wore a shade of crimson every time she looked at Freddie, who only chuckled and smirked at her reaction.
Second was, Carly loved Sam and Freddie's visibly new dynamic and thankful that they seem to have worked out what had transpired during the lock-in.
Added bonus was, now their web show is a lot easier to handle and didn't take up too much of their time. They realized how much time they lost before just because of Sam and Freddie's constant bickering and endless arguments over things that don't concern them. They shared a hearty laugh about it when Sam flippantly joked about it during their Thursday rehearsal.
Seattle, WA
iCarly studio
June 10, 2011
After their recent web show that Friday night, Freddie commended Brad's great work when he 'purposely' forgot to prepare some programs needed for that specific show and the latter took initiative knowing that Freddie had his hands full with camera work and the girls' props.
"Hey Freddie," Called Brad after finishing up the after show maintenance and check-up if everything went smoothly, "I need to ask you about something. But it's not part of the show."
Freddie walked up towards his tech cart where Brad is, "Yeah, what's up?"
"I found this photo on 'TheSlap' last Wednesday; I thought it was hilarious when Shelby said she has a real life doppelganger and I couldn't agree more but … Isn't that Carly's boyfriend beside Shelby's look alike?" Brad asked and continued on to answer Freddie's unasked question, "I met the guy last Friday after the show and I don't usually pry but you guys are my friends," Freddie nodded urging him to go on, "So I asked a friend of mine that goes to Hollywood arts and he confirmed that this guy Steven, is Tori's boyfriend for about three months now." Brad finishes with a wary expression.
"Hmmm," Freddie contemplated for a moment and said, "Carls? Have you called Steven again since Saturday?"
Sam turned to Freddie and back to Carly after what their tech producer said, "Oh, yeah, I haven't nagged you about that haven't I?"
She ignores Sam's jibe and answers Freddie, "Uhh, no. must have slipped my mind. It's been a long week you know…" Carly said, "Is Shelby coming over tonight?" attempting to change the subject. Truth is; she just wanted to avoid anything that's concerned about her relationship. Having Freddie back was enough to take her mind off of thinking about the possibility of her boyfriend cheating on her, in fact she would have forgotten about it had they not reminded her about it now.
As if always on cue or just in tuned to people expecting her, the elevator dinged and the door rose up revealing their fighter friend, "Hey hey people… your brother let me in Carls; I watched the entire show downstairs." Shelby said and laughed when Carly threw her a concerned look. "I didn't wanna disturb the show…" she shrugged her shoulders as she walked towards Freddie and Brad by the tech cart.
"Hey! You found her! See? Freaky Doppelganger, am I right?" Shelby said when she looked at the photo on Freddie's laptop monitor.
Sam groaned to get their attention, "C'mon let's get back to the subject, Carls; try calling Steven now."
Carly huffed, knowing she can't avoid the subject forever; she reluctantly takes out her phone and dials her boyfriend's number. Again she is answered by voicemail, "Still nothing, look I'm sure he's just busy doing something…" she said after dropping the call. Now that the issue of Steven possibly cheating on her is on the forefront of her mind, she can't help but worry that Sam might be right.
Sam groaned in frustration and said, "Busy cheating on you!" she then avoids Carly's gaze when her brunette best friend glared at her, "Sorry. Look, I suggest we drive down to LA and see for ourselves. Who's up for a road trip?"
Shelby who had taken over on Freddie's laptop to look something up; timely interjected "I agree with Sam, and we're in luck, there's going to be a party at Kenan Thompson's house this weekend and Hollywood arts students are definitely going to be there. Maybe we'd run into Steven if he really is cheating on you with Tori."
Carly, as much as she wanted to, couldn't disagree with Shelby's logic and just relented to Sam's idea. But she did voice out one concern, "What if people recognize us there?" she asked, "If Steven is cheating on me, it wouldn't matter if we can't catch him. He'll know we're there before we even find him."
Sam chuckled, "Oh Carly…" she said while shaking her head, "We're going to LA, if people recognize you or tell you 'hey you're from iCarly', just say 'yeah, I get that a lot'. But if they mention another name for example, they see Shelby and assume she's Tori…" Sam looked to Shelby hoping to draw in on her point.
Shelby didn't disappoint, "I will play along! C'mon it will be fun!"
Brad couldn't hold back his amazement, "Sam! You're a genius!" he fist bumped Freddie when the latter held out a fist beside him.
Sam gave a gentleman's bow, "I try my good man… I try." She said smirking.
Freddie clapped his hands together, "Awesome! It's about eight thirty right now, I give everybody an hour to pack what they need and meet back here. We should be on the road by nine forty-five; if we drive fast with two cars we should be able to make the trip in about sixteen to eighteen hours." He instructed.
Carly stood shocked when the decision was made just like that. Freddie and Brad did some last minute check-up on their equipment; then Brad called his mom as he walked out of the studio and down to the Shay living room to bid Carly's older brother good bye for now as he goes home to pack some clothes and some other necessities.
"C'mon Carls, pack your stuff while I explain to Spencer the situation and ask him to drive us there." Sam said as she gently shoves Carly to encourage some movement on her.
Carly snaps back into the present, something familiar she felt for Freddie earlier had distracted her for a moment, she obediently follows Sam's instructions and packs her things while her blonde best friend talks with her brother.
It barely took Carly fifteen minutes and she's done packing. She sits on her bed with her legs stretched and her back rested on the headrest. She fiddles with the bracelet Steven gave her, he said that it was a one of kind bracelet for a one of kind girl, 'Carly', her name engraved on to it. If it is proven that Steven really is cheating on her, then that'd only spell a break up, she should be worrying a lot more; but oddly enough she seems to be half-heartedly welcoming the idea.
Carly doesn't notice when the door to her room opens and closes until, "Knock knock…" Shelby said as she beamed at Carly.
"Hi Shelby, aren't you coming? I thought you'd gone home to pack as well." Carly said.
"No need, I have an emergency duffle bag with clothes and other necessities stashed inside Freddie's car." She flippantly answered.
Carly brow furled with innocent confusion, "What for?" she asked.
Shelby chuckles, "Sometimes I spend the night when we uh… you know. Shh, his mom doesn't know."
Heat rises up to Carly's cheeks and neck, "Oh… I… no, I won't tell Mrs. Benson." She blurted out when she couldn't think of anything to say.
Shelby cuffs her mouth with one hand to stifle a fit of laughter, "It's really cute every time you turn as red as a tomato like that Carly…" she studies Carly's expression and after a moment, "You realize he's never really gotten over you right?"
"Who?" asked Carly, even if she already knows who Shelby is referring to but doesn't have the courage to admit it.
Shelby shook her and smiled apologetically, "It's not my place to tell, but something tells me that you already know who I'm talking about."
Carly looks down and nods.
Just then there's a knock on her bedroom door, "Carly? Are you packed and ready?" Spencer asked from the other side.
"Yes Spencer! Where's Sam?"
"She's downstairs, you should eat something before we leave." Spencer said as he walked in when Shelby opted to open the door, "I'll load your bag in the car. Oh hey Shelby, we got Spaghetti tacos, you girls should get something to eat."
"Yup thanks, c'mon Carls, before Sam eats all the food up." Shelby said ushering Carly down the stairs to their kitchen.
When Carly and Shelby got to the kitchen, whilst Spencer proceeded to load Carly's and Sam's bag into their SUV, they are greeted with prepared plates with untouched meals on them and a glass of Wahoo punch each. Carly stares at Sam for a moment but Shelby went ahead and ate her spaghetti tacos.
Sam looks up to Carly, "What? I can be nice hours before a beat down." She jokingly said.
"Sam! We won't know yet if you have to beat my boyfriend down until we actually get there and prove that he's really cheating."
"Carly, would you c… I mean would you lighten up. I was just joking, geez." Sam said as she playfully scowled at Carly.
The brunette web show host cheers up and eats her meal.
Brad came knocking on the Shay apartment door with fifteen minutes to spare, he apparently had a Gibby in tow also packed for their road trip, "Hey, Freddie texted me; said we're going on a road trip. Man, it feels like forever since I got to hang out with that guy."
"Glad to be missed Gibbs," Freddie said as he exited his apartment with a sports bag. The three of them entered the Shay apartment, "All set?"
"Yup, I've loaded their bags in the car. Let's use this elevator to get down to the parking lot." Spencer answered.
When their party gets to the parking lot, "Sitting arrangements, Gibbs you ride with Spencer, Carly and Brad; you're third spare driver so get some sleep." Freddie instructed, "Sam, you're with us." He said indicating him and Shelby.
"No chizz Fredward, someone's got to pry the two of you apart or we'd never get there in time for the party." Sam teased while the two shrugs it off and laughs with the blonde. "Hang on; I'll get my bag from the SUV."
When Sam got to Freddie's car, and everyone was settled in at the Shay's SUV, they headed off. Their drive to LA ran smoothly, there were three capable drivers on each car; Spencer, Brad and Gibby on the SUV. Freddie suggested they divide the approximate eighteen hour drive evenly and they would pair off for their shifts. Freddie and Spencer took the first six hours, Sam switched with Freddie for second while Brad took over at the SUV, and Sam had Brad take lead. Since Freddie and Spencer covered a quarter more than the distance expected, and the second pair did the same, Shelby suggested they stop and grab a bite to eat since they're only about four hours away from LA when it was her turn on the wheel.
Turns out their stop did them some good as they got to LA three hours ahead of their expected time of arrival. They got two hotel rooms on a hotel nearby where Kenan Thompson's party will be held. They took the extra time to rest up a bit more, and besides, nobody goes to a party right when it starts.
Los Angeles, Ca
Freddie, Brad, Gibby and Spencer's hotel room
June 11, 2011 7:30pm
Shelby knocks on the boys' hotel room across their own. Freddie opens the door, "Hey, we were thinking we should get something to eat before going to that party, I'm pretty sure there's only going to be drinks and chips there." Shelby said.
"Sure. Carly and Sam still getting dolled up in there?" Freddie asked as he dried his damp hair with his towel. He's already on his black jeans and fitting black shirt.
"You should wear your hair down, it should help make you look less recognizable, plus it looks good on you." Shelby suggested.
Freddie smirked, "Thanks, what are Carly and Sam's cover gonna be if they're recognized?"
"Oh, this is perfect. You know Miranda Cosgrove from Drake and josh where she plays Megan?" Shelby asked as she headed for Freddie's laptop on the coffee table. Freddie nodded and she continued, "Turns out she's around our age and well, take a look…"
Freddie snorted out a short chuckle, "Well she sure came in handy. What about Sam?"
"She figured a slight change of image would go a long way. They should be done by now, wanna see?"
"Yeah, c'mon." he said as he grabbed Shelby's hand, she stood up and led them across the hall.
"Hey, how's the makeover going?" Freddie asked as he entered the girls' hotel room. "Wow, Sam. You look like Melanie!"
Sam rolled her eyes, "No chizz Sherlock, we're twins remember? Wait, I thought you didn't believe she was real." She said after a moment of realization.
"I found her number on my phone a week after that 'date' we had. Called her up to apologize, but I guess I never got around to telling you. Lots of crazy things happened on that year remember?"
Sam searched her memories of the previous two years, "Oh… right… Crazy Nora, Nevel, crazy Nora again, or was it webicon first? Never mind, I don't care." She waves her hand to dismiss it and they both chuckle. "Wait, why didn't you ask Mels out again? You know she liked you right?"
"Hmmm? Sam… we discussed this, what I said to you… applies to her as well, she is your twin sister after all."
Shelby who was now lying on the bed with her arms raised up causing her shirt to lift up a bit joined in the conversation, "C'mon, Sam; you should know how much Freddie cares for the ones that matters to him."
Sam looked back to Freddie; he just shrugs his shoulders saying that it's no big deal. "Thank you, for you know…" she timidly says but Freddie nods indicating he understood. "Carly! Would you come out now, you know you already look great." Sam called after a moment towards their bathroom.
As Sam contemplated and then called Carly to come out of the bathroom, Freddie lay across Shelby; his head using her bare abdomen as a pillow.
"Hey none of that!" Sam exclaimed when she turned back to Freddie and Shelby.
Shelby held her hands up in surrender, "What? We're innocent!" she said in a mock guilty tone, they both chuckled.
Carly had gotten somewhat used to her techie best friend and fighter friend's unique friendship that she casually walks towards the two to show them her cover look for the party. She stoops over to show Freddie the makeover even if he would see her upside down. "So, how is it?" she asked.
Freddie smirks, "If I were Josh, I'd probably be begging you right now saying 'Please don't hurt me Megan'."
Carly beams and straightens up, "Good to know."
Shelby sits up causing Freddie to rise and sit up as well, "Let's get going; we don't wanna be too fashionably late." She said.
"Yeah, let me just grab my jacket and text Spencer to just wait for us at the lobby, they went out earlier to wander around." Freddie said as he crossed the hall to their hotel room.
A/N: to Viper2858, That's probably the best way I could sneak Melanie in. hope you liked it, I may be able to sneak her in again on later chaps as I properly wrap this up.
As always reviews and insights are most welcome.
