Chapter 19: Unattainable

As I climbed into the taxi, Melissa right behind me, I was shaking for some weird reason. It wasn't due to the fact that I was scared or that I think she might kidnap me like in so many of those movies. I think it had to do with Freddie.

This place was like a whole new world to me. For one, it wasn't gloomy and depressing like the Seattle weather was year round. We were lucky to get a few days of sunshine. And let's not forget the heat wave that would mix in with humidity. This year was hot minus the humid; to say we were fortunate this year was an understatement.

This place was actually very nice. I could see Freddie thriving in a city like this. Much more than in Seattle. It made me feel in a sense guilty, for thinking that I could take this away from him. But at the same time never did I ever thank God enough now for giving him a spine to stand up to me and take this risk. I was so happy that my nub of a boyfriend was actually standing up for himself. But let's hope he doesn't get carried away with that. Momma still wears the pants. And that's even if he'll think of taking me back, considering what type of a girlfriend I have been.

"Where to?" the taxi man asked, as he adjusted his rearview mirror to get a glance at my face as Melissa shut the trunk and took a seat beside me. She gave him the directions as she stared at her phone, dialed a few numbers and put it to her ear.

"Hey Anne! Yeah I just got in and I'm taking in a taxi downtown in your direction. Lunch? Uh, sure. Well see I need your help in something. See there's a girl that needs help with something. Well yeah I can see you're busy then. You'll see her at lunch then? Yeah? Okay that's great. We'll still meet you at the office? Outside? Perfect. Okay bye." And hung up, turning in my direction. "She said that you can explain it all to her over lunch. Hope that's okay Sam."

I looked uncertain. Why was it that they were so easily able to help me? I was just a stranger to them.

"What's wrong?" Melissa asked, concerned like she would show for a wounded puppy. It was strange seeing her show sympathy when at the plane all we were doing was laughing and talking. Now it seemed like she wanted to have a comforting conversation. And the weird part of it was that I was actually not as reluctant as I thought I would be.

"It's just that you and your sister are so willing to help-" I began but she just smiled.

"I get it Sam. If you don't want us to treat you like a charity case we won't. But I feel, and I'm sure Anne will too, that a person that doesn't know anything about a city needs every ounce of help she can get. We just like being helpful to people Sam. You never know when you will be needed to help out another person. Who knows? Maybe it's a sense of payback so if my sister would ever visit Seattle to see this boy that she loves supposedly, you can help her find her way around."

"I think I need to do that, with how both of you are helping me." I smiled at her. I actually smiled at her without wanting to force it. I looked out the window then and took in the sights a lot more peacefully. Trees were green like the color only envy could be jealous of. The sky was a blue that shamed my blue eyes; it was crystal blue, and partially cloudy. And the sun was burning my skin softly, nothing at all like the weather back home. It was like if it was welcoming me, this pretty weather.

But being the pessimistic person that I was, I had to find something wrong with this city. I had to. But it was making it really hard. Everything was pretty, even the hobos on the street smiled. What was wrong with this place? Was it really that happy?

"What you think of the view?" Melissa asked. I turned to her.

"I think its too much sunshine and rainbows." I said, a sour tone to my voice. I didn't expect it to be so happy here. And I know I should have been happy that the place was so happy and joyous (at least to me), I couldn't help but get angry at this place that was too cheerful. Melissa chuckled.

"Every outsider says that. They think we have the best weather, people, etc. But every city has a dark side. My sister learned the hard way, but now she's more cautious."

"What do you mean dark side?"

"The crime rate is a little high here. So it's a little dangerous because thugs can come and take your things or something. I would prefer California over this place any day. At least there you can be guaranteed sunshine every day." For some weird reason I smiled at that. "What is it Sam?"

"I think I'll like it here after all." I simply said. Crime rates, hobos; this was starting to remind me of home. And I was also glad there were cheerful places besides here.

I was standing outside the building that held my future in it's hands. It was as tall as any of the other buildings surrounding it, but to me it was monumental, standing out from the rest, in a way that made me unsure of my confidence.

"What is it?" Annabelle beside tucked her hand in my arm, as she made me walk toward the towering tower. My feet felt like they had lead in them, and it was getting harder and harder to breathe. Was I really this nervous? "Freddie! Stop! You'll do fine! Mr. Cavenshire is not that bad of a person!" she reassured me. I wanted to believe her, wanted to tell her not to worry about me, but now my tongue felt limp, not wanting to participate and give me a chance to speak. "What can I do to stop you from going into shock?" she laughed, practically dragging me through the doors. A security guard looked up and saw Annabelle's face and flashed her a flirty smile but as soon as he saw her arm wrapped around mine, his face changed, and he walked straight up to us. Or better yet, toward my direction.

"Annabelle! I didn't know you were working today?" he said casually, while throwing death glares in my direction. Annabelle seemed oblivious to the stares as she pulled me closer to her.

"I don't Erick, just bringing a friend of mine in for an interview. Poor guy couldn't even walk up the stairs." She said, patting me on my chest. Erick didn't move though. "What's wrong?"

"You know I can't just let anyone go up there. He needs to have an appointment." Annabelle smacked her head.

"Why you have to make this so difficult I'll never know." She whispered to herself, but I'm sure this guy heard her. Then she looked at him softly, making him melt faster than any guy I've ever seen. Even more than Jesse when Sam would look at him with her crystal blue eyes. "Erick he has an interview at four. If you want you can go ahead and check that on your computer while I walk with him to the elevators." And as he walked away to check, she rushed me to the elevator and practically shoved me inside.

"You didn't have to throw me inside!" I said as I straightened myself out.

"Trust me if I didn't he would be inside this elevator with us, staring you down and intimidating you because you're with me." Just then, her phone began ringing, and she dove her hand into her purse to retrieve it. In an instant she pulled it out and put it to her ear.

"Hello? Mel! You in Boston already? That's great! I know of this good little restaurant that has your favorite dish and we can have lunch there. Help with what? A girl? Well I'm with someone right now so I can't really help her right this moment. For lunch? Sure. Yeah, I'll try to see what I can do for her. Yeah just wait for me outside the office. Okay bye." She turned at me and smiled a big smile. Bigger than the one she gave me when I arrived. That only meant one thing.

"Melissa?" I asked. The way she started jumping up and down and screaming like a child confirmed my guess.

"She's finally here after a year up in California for that training thing she had to do! Oh, Freddie, I missed her so much, and now I get to see her!"

"That's great Annabelle." I said. Her smile faded a little, but recovered quickly in a devilish grin.

"How many times have I told you I don't like being called Annabelle? Call me Anne! Everyone calls me Anne Freddie! You wouldn't like it if I called you Fredward would you?"

No, I wouldn't. But calling Annabelle Anne would make us reach a sense of intimacy that I wasn't so comfortable with. I only knew her as a friend, a friend that knew everything about me but I knew little about her. I was never one to be close to others besides Sam and Carly. Even calling Gibby on occasion was a stretch for me because if I ever needed anything it was always those two girls. Plus, only her family called her that, from what she told me. She didn't like anyone else calling her that because nobody was that close with her like her sister, her parents. When Rob started to call her that, she got offended and didn't talk to him for a week. But then again maybe it was because he called her Anne Boleyn, a queen that was an adulteress during King Henry VIII's reign.

"I don't know Annabelle-"

"No not Annabelle! Call me Anne or I will go to Mr. Cavenshire right as soon as this door opens and tell him that you aren't going to the interview."

"No Annabelle, why would you threaten me like that?"

"It's not a threat Fredward." She said, her look very stern. She really wasn't kidding. I sighed, pulling my palm for my forehead.

"Alright alright Anne." I said, taking my hand away from my face. The look on her face was all too adorable, enough to make me want to grab her and peck her forehead.

Just as I was thinking that, the elevator opened wide and cubicles were all over the floor, glass doors positioned right in front of me at the other end of the building. Anne pulled me out of the elevator and dragged me toward the doors and stopped right there. She turned me toward her and gave me a brush off.

"Okay, Mr. Cavenshire is right through those doors. Look sharp, give a firm handgrip and if you any fun facts about sports like soccer, football or baseball that should be able to score you some extra points. But in case you don't, Dodgers are his favorite team; just saying you're a fan of them should get you some. Talk to him a little about gadgetry will also help which I'm sure you know too well of huh?" she said flashing me a smile. Then she did something I didn't expect: she reached up to my face and planted a quick kiss on my cheek. "Good luck Freddie!" and walked back toward the elevator. My hand reached up to where she kissed me as I heard my name being called by Cavenshire's secretary.

"Are you Fredward Benson?" she asked, and I turned around standing up straight.

"Yeah, that'd be me." I said, my voice a little higher than normal.

"Come this way Mr. Benson."

I trudged through the glass doors and into my future.

I don't know how long we were waiting outside the building that had the bold letters for Technology United, but I do know it was longer than I would have waited. But I needed Melissa and her sister, so waiting, though I hated it, was something I needed to do.

"Can't we go inside at least to get away from this fucking heat?" I said, feeling the sweat starting to drip from my armpits. Why didn't I pack a tank top? Then I realized I didn't really pack anything other than fat cakes. And a change of underwear to replace the 'I heart Las Vegas' ones I was wearing right now. I started taking off my long sleeve shirt when Melissa stood up, and began walking toward the doors to Technology United.

"I see Anne!" she began waving hysterically. Then the doors opened and another brunette came into view, jumping up and down almost as much as Melissa. I knew this was Annabelle.

"Oh Anne! You look great, can't believe it's been a year!"

"Yeah I know! You look good too! California must have treated you well!"

"You would love it! Sunny practically all year round and the people there are amazing! I think I even saw a famous person!"

"Who?"

"Charlie Sheen!" she squealed. I couldn't help but keep my distance and let them enjoy their reunion. I was only thinking of how my reunion would be with Freddie. If he would demand to know what was I doing here or if he would hug me tightly like Melissa did her little sister. I was just hoping he would hug me tighter and kiss me strongly like I always liked him to.

"Anyways, we have forever to catch up but in the meantime, this is the girl that I was telling you that needs your help. Her name is-"

"We can all discuss this over lunch." Annabelle said. "Right now I am starving! I was helping you know who get ready for his interview."

"You guys didn't have lunch together?" Melissa asked her.

"A piece of toast is not lunch in my opinion. Not even a piece of steak is a lunch for me. Let's hit that place I was telling you about okay?" Then she turned to me. "And of course help your new friend. You can wait until after lunch right?" My stomach practically answered for me, giving the biggest grumble I have ever heard it do.

We got into another taxi and went onward to eat lunch at this place that Annabelle kept saying it was the best place she has ever eaten at.

"It can't be better than the Cheesecake Warehouse." I inputted. Annabelle looked at me.

"Better. Much better." She said, smiling. I smiled back and tried to imagine food better than the one they served at the Cheesecake Warehouse. There they had big bowls of salads and humongous chunks of cheesecake. If it was better, then they must have plates as big as a table!

"So what happened? Did you do anything worth sharing?" Melissa elbowed her little sister who smiled.

"I kissed his cheek before he went in for his interview." Annabelle beamed, possibly more than when she saw her sister. "I didn't think I would have the guts to do something like that but I sucked it up and just went for it. I didn't even have the guts to look back at his direction to see if he was staring at me or nothing!" She told her sister.

"That's good; keep him aching for more."

"Plus I told him to start calling me Anne. And he did." She smiled again. I noticed these people really liked to smile.

"Little by little sis, and you'll get him." She winked. "We'll talk about your love life a little later Anne, right now we have to help Sam." She said looking at me, taking the attention from Annabelle.

"Hi Sam, I'm Annabelle." She pushed her hand out toward me and I took it as a peaceful gesture. "What can I do for you?"

"Well she needs to find her boyfriend that came here for an interview. She doesn't know anyone else here but him, and now us apparently."

"Yeah and if you can just point me in the direction that he is at I would gladly appreciate it."

"Well my database of everyone that I know is at my apartment complex so if you want after lunch we can go there and see what we can find. All I got with me is this pear pod and they only hold so much." She said. I nodded in agreement. Freddie can wait a little longer. Right now momma needed her meat.

We arrived at this restaurant called The Farmhouse. The smell instantly went straight into my stomach. Everything invaded my nostrils from the country gravy to the pork sausages. Everything in here smelled like a country kitchen, and it smelled glorious. Better than anything I have ever smelled in my whole life.

"Wow Annabelle. You sure know how to pick a restaurant." I complimented her, as my eyes remained closed, taking in the sweet smell of maple syrup, fresh butter, and best of call the crispy crackle of bacon. My mouth was so full of water from cravings I swear I could fill up a water park.

"I can tell you like food almost as much as me Sam." She said. I nodded as Melissa grabbed my hand and sat me down. I was literally paralyzed, I couldn't move for fear that this was a dream and all the smells, sounds, around me was nothing more than a figment of my imagination. I didn't want to open my eyes for the same fear. That in reality I was still in Seattle, or still on the plane, or that I maybe passed out due to heat stroke. The waiter came around and that's when I knew it was okay to open my eyes. I really was here in a restaurant called The Farmhouse. I really smelled the bacon, the gravy, everything.

"What can I get you girls?"

"Three fizzy colas and three samplers please." Annabelle handed over the menus and turned toward me.

"So Sam, what about this guy?" she asked me.

"I don't talk about my dishrag, when you clearly got a guy you need to get." I said. I didn't really feel like talking about Freddie with her. Melissa was like the same and a different person from her sister, she seemed trusting. And I wasn't saying Annabelle wasn't trustworthy, it's just something about her that gave me a shudder. Like I should be careful when it came to her. After all, she knew everything about everyone. Her knowing everything about me was not going to be easily distributed.

"Well I hope he gets the job. That's all I am looking forward to. Then he'll move over here and maybe we can try to date or something." She said.

The drinks came around the same time that our food came and I tried savoring every morsel that I placed in my mouth. The bacon was exactly as crispy as it could be. The gravy had little chunks of sausage that burst with flavors that I can only describe as food fit for the Gods. Melissa and Annabelle noticed how I was eating my food and began laughing, but I was too entranced about my food. Honestly, they could look at me eating this food naked and I wouldn't have cared. Besides they were treating me to it, so punching their faces in would seem rude.

"So Mel, tell me more about California." Annabelle said after staring at me for a few minutes. Melissa began explaining her trip. How she got lost and people around her asked if she was a tourist. She knew her way around in just as little as two weeks. Her training was for advertising, and how they could improve sales. I had to admit I didn't see Melissa as a corporate advertiser consultant. She seemed more carefree than that. But looks sure can deceive. By the time I was done with my fifth pancake Annabelle's phone rang.

"Hello? Hey! That's awesome! Yeah we are at The Farmhouse, come by because I want to hear how it went!" and she clicked before the other person could have another word in the conversation.

"Was it?" Melissa asked. Annabelle nodded swiftly, making Melissa and me hoot out loud.

"Okay girl as payment for finding my guy and treating me out to this awesome lunch I'm gonna help you get yours." I told her. "This is what you have to do: as soon as he comes and you see him get up and walk up to him and just plant a big wet one on him. Guys like that a girl has that kind of confidence because they know that you are serious about them. Got it?" Annabelle was blushing a serious beet red, making her look adorable.

"I never done anything so compulsive Sam. Not since college at least." She told me. I laughed out loud at that as we enjoyed the rest of our lunch, waiting for her mystery man.

I walked out of Mr. Cavenshire's office with such a confidence. I hit it out of the park that interview. Every question I knew I would receive better marks than I ever would in college. As soon as I went into the elevator I quickly dialed Annabelle- Anne.

"Hello?"

"Anne!"

"Hey!"

"I think I am your future boss." I told her, wishing I had someone to hug, preferably someone blonde who goes by the name Sam.

"That's awesome!"

"We need to celebrate right now! My treat."

"Yeah we are at The Farmhouse right now, come by because I want to hear how it went!" I laughed knowing her she ordered a sampler for her and her sister and that girl that they were helping out.

I practically ran out the door, ready to scream my lungs out in triumph but I figured it would be better to yell with Annabelle. I mean Anne. This was something I needed to get used to.

I flagged down the first taxi I could and told him to step on it and arrived in less than ten minutes at The Farmhouse. I walked inside and saw Annabelle rise up from a table with her sister, who was sitting beside her and a blonde haired girl. Annabelle wrapped her arms around me as I stayed studying the blonde across from Melissa and saw as she turned around that it was Sam.

"Freddie?" I heard her call out to me.

By the time she stood up Anne had already pressed her lips against mine.

A/N: This took me forever to write, for one because I planned everything out a lot different but thanks to Axel100 (who is awesome and has a great story going on so go check that out), I completely altered it. And due to the changes, this story still has a little more juice that I need to squeeze out. So... leave me a little awesome review like so many of you know how. 200 reviews? Lets hit 500! :)