Chapter 13

A couple of days later Sam and Carly sat in the brunette's room and Sam was trying again to give her friend a pep talk considering the whole Freddie thing. "If you really love him that much you should tell him that very soon, because if you don't he will fall in love with another girl and you probably will regret that you didn't take the opportunity to tell him how you feel." Carly of course was a little astonished at first because those were probably the wisest words that she ever heard from the blonde since they had become friends and she had to admit that she was so right.

*But how do I say what I feel? Is it even the right time now or should I wait?* Carly thought and hated she felt so conflicted about this topic because wasn't it that what she wanted all along: Freddie finally not taken anymore? But on the other end she felt so sorry for him because of the way how bad his relationship with Jen had ended and she surely didn't wish that to happen to anyone.

Freddie was not just any guy from Ridgeway High School; he had been her best friend for such a long time and after that Pete Incident she clearly didn't want to jeopardize their friendship again because the feelings she had for him were only one sided. But wasn't that always in the end the big risk that was there when you had fallen in love with someone? Maybe it was but right now Carly wasn't entirely sure if she could take the fact, that Freddie didn't feel the same way about her because he still didn't trust her enough after all that had happened between them.

Of course she could discuss with Sam for days about the pro and cons in this delicate situation but in the end she needed to make a big decision: Taking the risk of being rejected or keeping her feelings to herself and probably throw away the only chance she would get to get together with Freddie as a couple. Later that day Carly sat all alone in her room, because she had decided to think by herself about her final decision and Sam surely had been a great help in her decision making.

Meanwhile Freddie sat alone in his room, going through some photos that showed him and Jen when they were a happy couple and he had to admit that he really missed those times now. It only had been a few days since he and Jen had broken up, and even how bad things had ended between them all he could think about was the good time they had together, like having a romantic dinner at Dante's Pizza and their first kiss in front of the Bushwell Plaza building that one night after their first date.

He quickly put the photos away because they only made them very sad right now and even if it wasn't very easy he wanted to close to the book on the relationship with Jen. But one way or the other that would be very difficult for him to do, because he still really couldn't believe that he had been so wrong about her and in the end he had really thought that this thing between him and Jen would hold for a very long time.

Now he and Carly one thing in common: They both had been disappointed by the person that they loved and he didn't know for sure if he wanted to take the risk to get burned again anytime soon, even if there was now again the opportunity to get together with Carly. *Do I really still want to be together with Carly or was Jen maybe right and I can't trust her anymore after this whole Pete thing?* He quickly pushed that thought out of his mind, because he didn't want to believe that Carly had become that kind of cruel person, not after all these years of friendship with her and after all they had been through together.

One week later Carly still hadn't found the guts to reveal her feelings to Freddie and Sam figured that she had to help the two a little, even if she didn't really know right now how she could pull that off. Sam just knew that those two were really meant for each other and of course Freddie had probably not forgotten about his feelings for Carly even if she had treated him so bad in the past. *I really have to get Carly admitting her feelings for Freddie but do I get her to stop thinking that it would jeopardize their relationship?*

Finally Sam had come up with a plan and she surely hoped that it would work: She would pretend that would out of town till the evening because she had to pay her Uncle Larry a visit. So she short went over to Carly's apartment and told her the news: "Hey Carls, I know we wanted to spend the day together but I have to pay my Uncle Larry a visit together with my mom and I won't be back before the late evening."

"Oh ok that sucks Sam but have fun anyway." The brunette replied with a look full of sympathy for her and patted her on the back a little bit. "I probably won't have any fun out there but thanks anyway Carls." Sam replied, finally left the Shay's apartment and was very satisfied with herself how well that had worked. An hour later Carly really couldn't take it anymore sitting in her apartment all alone as also Spencer wasn't at home because he was at an Art Convention to present some of his latest projects and so she called Freddie. After three rings he finally picked up the phone and said: "Hey Carls what's up?" Carly thought about a minute what to say exactly to him and then she finally responded: "Nothing much right now, just that I'm pretty bored and could really use some company since Spencer is at an Art Convention and Sam has to take care of a family matter."

"I would surely love to come over but you have any idea what to do?" Freddie asked and really wondered to what the evening with Carly could maybe lead.

"Maybe we could watch a movie together." Carly replied and hoped that Freddie said yes or else she would probably be very disappointed.

"Sounds good to me and because I'm a total gentleman you get to choose the movie that we are going to watch." Freddie replied and Carly was now really happy that he had accepted her invitation for a little movie evening over at her apartment.

They ended the call after that, Carly then went up to her room and searched through the big DVD collection for a nice movie they could watch together. It took quite a while to make the final decision but then she finally picked: "Nick and Norah- the Infinite Playlist" to watch with Freddie and hoped that he would love the movie.

A couple of minutes later Freddie finally knocked at the door, Carly opened it at once and they sat down on the couch and just didn't say anything for a few minutes. She finally broke the silence before it could get uncomfortable by saying: "I'm glad you could come, I really hope that a nice little evening with your best friend will get your mind off all the terrible things that have happened." Carly then put the DVD into the DVD Player, pressed the play button on the remote and made sure that she didn't sit too close to Freddie as she finally sat down on the couch.

Carly stole some innocent glances at Freddie, the whole time they were watching the movie and thought: *Why am I so shy expressing my feelings when it comes to Freddie? Maybe it's because I fear so much that I will be rejected.* Finally she put all her together, scooted a little closer to him on the couch, softly took his hand into hers and anxiously waited for his reaction.

Freddie didn't know how to act for a moment, as he felt Carly's hand touch his and that made him think: *Does that maybe mean that Carly has feelings beyond friendship for me? And do I even want to be in her relationship with her?* Two questions that he didn't know a good answer to, all this thinking was giving him a big headache and maybe he needed to act more than just think.

As the movie progressed it finally came to the scene where Nick and Norah kissed and that point Carly turned around to face Freddie, he also looked at her their faces being only inches away from each other and then Carly softly kissed Freddie's lips.

He was a little surprised at first but then he finally opened his mouth, started to softly kiss her back and really was the happiest person ever right at this moment.

AN: Thanks to- the one guest that reviewed this story. I hope you like this chapter, please read and review.