5.

Freddie moped on the Shay's living room couch as Carly brought them some refreshments.

"I feel like my life is over." He told her, hugging a pillow to his chest. Carly rolled her eyes.

"Oh stop being so dramatic. She'll be back home for summer in like 3 months." She handed him a lemonade with a crazy straw.

Sam and her mother were on their way to take Melanie back to the airport. Their techy friend wasn't taking is so well.

"Do you know what it's like to find someone so perfect and not be able to be with them?"

Carly thought for a moment. "I think I do." She told him.

"This sucks."

"It does. But it's not forever. Plus, there's phone calls, texting, Skype. Three months will fly by."

Freddie sullenly sipped his lemonade.

"Hey Freddie." Carly started, not really know where she was going.

"Yeah?" He looked at her. Carly's demeanor had changed. As her own thoughts consumed her, her expression began reflecting her inner turmoil.

"Never mind."

"Wait. You're not upset I like Melanie, are you? Cause I know we've had our history but..."

"History? Freddie, you liking me since 6th grade and me not returning the feelings isn't a history. No offense."

"Well. Then what's up?"

"I just... There might be... You see, there's this... Someone. That I might... That I think that I might..."

"OooOOooh. Carly Shay liiiikes somebody." Freddie teased.

"Shut up! And no I don't! At least, I don't think I do. But I might. But I can't." She sighed. "Do you know what I mean?"

"No." Freddie looked at her bemusedly. "Soo... Who's the lucky fella and why can't you like him?"

Carly winced. She knew that part was coming. How do you ask for advice on something you can't fully disclose? She didn't want to lie, but she really had no choice.

"You don't know 'em." She told Freddie. This statement was partially true with the genderless pronoun "em" sounding strikingly similar to "him", and the fact that the Sam Carly felt she was falling for was a Sam no one else ever gets to see.

"Ok, well... Do you think about him all the time?"

Carly smiled as she already knew that answer. She nodded the slightest of nods.

"Do you get that weird butterfly when you're around him?"

"Sometimes." She admitted. "A lot more recently."

"Well," Freddie slapped his hand on his knee. "sounds like you got a big ol case of the 'likes'."

Carly's smile faltered. He was right. Oh god, he was absolutely right.

"Freddie do you mind going home?"

"What?"

"You've just helped me realize some things and I... I... well, I need to think. I'm not trying to be rude."

"Oh, ok. No problem, Carly. Glad to have helped?" The confused boy left the Shay's apartment for his own across the hall.

This was so not good.