Chapter Nine: The Man Who Knew

I finally managed to drag my body off the slick floor of the Groovy Smoothie just as T-Bo was finishing up the last batch of donuts. Gibby and Freddie had loaded everything in boxes that were scattered about on tables chairs - just everywhere.

"There's no way all this stuff is going to fit in your car" I said to Freddie. He smirked and looked at me confidently.

"I know. I called principal Franklin and he's coming by to help us."

"Freddie, you're not in high school anymore. You don't have to call him principal Franklin anymore." I said, tussling his hair. He pulled away.

"Yeah, but it just feels too weird to call him Ted, you know?" Before I could respond, I heard the unmistakable 'ding' as Ted Franklin entered the Groovy Smoothie. He was wearing a rather impressive black tux with a red bowtie and cumber bun, and was smiling ear to ear. Seemed like he was excited for the big day!

'Teddy!" Gibby cried and ran over to take the unsuspecting Mr. Franklin in a bear hug. Frddie went to his aid and they managed to pry Gibby away.

"So, is this everything?" Ted said, dusting off his Tux and looking around at the piles of boxes.

"Yeah, all these boxes need to go. By the way, thanks for doing this" Freddie replied.

"Oh, I'm glad to help" Ted answered, patting Freddie on the shoulder. "Especially on a day liked today!" Freddie offered a week smile from behind red cheeks, then clapped his hands and jogged over to a nearby box of bagels,

"Well, lets load 'em up!" he said. The next twenty minutes were pretty boring with me, Freddie, Gibby and Ted moving the boxes from the Groovy Smoothie into the refrigerated truck that Ted had rented. Gibby had to be 'rescued' when a stack of bagel boxes landed on him, but the rest was pretty uneventful. As soon as we loaded the last of the smoothies onto the truck, my phone rang again.

"Yello?" I answered it.

"Spencer, are you guys there yet?" I heard Carly's frantic voice shouting out.

"We're just about to head over there. Did you finally get Sam under control?"

"Yeah, for now, but she's getting restless. Do you guys have the food and everything?"

"We did our best. So I'll see you there?"

"Okay, we'll be there in a- SAM! I told you, no more pudding! Sorry, Spence, see you there."

"Kay, later" I took a moment to chuckle at Sam. Today would definitely get very interesting. I jumped into the passenger side of the refrigerated truck as Ted was starting it up. Freddie and Gibby got into Freddie's car, and we followed them out.

"Did you ever think you'd see this day?" Ted asked me after we had been driving a few minutes.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, it's almost as if everyone knew, but still never imagined…"

"Yeah, it is pretty amazing." I said, a smile spreading on my face.

"And I know who we can all thank." Ted replied, turning a knowing eye towards me. Wait, did he know? How could he know? I mean, I never said anything to anybody, and I was really careful. Okay, get a hold of yourself Spencer, maybe he doesn't know. Say something to throw him off.

"Who? Carly?" I said, raising a quizzical eyebrow. Ted chuckled to himself but didn't answer. Oh great. He knew.

Of course, if anyone would know, it would be him. I wasn't exactly as subtle as I usually was when I approached him that one fateful day. I leaned my head against the window as the events of that day flooded back to me. If you guessed that I was heading for another flashback, you guessed right.