Chapter Eleven: Guy Talks

"Where's Freddie?" I asked Gibby, the slightest hint of panic beginning to set in. He pointed towards the bathroom door, which was shut tight, then shook his head again.

"He just freaked out all of a sudden. I tried to calm him down, but he shoved me away and locked himself in the bathroom." Gibby paused to let out a deep breath. "It was intense."

"Yeah. I bet…" I said, my voice trailing off as I took in the magnitude of the situation. I suddenly ran over to the door and began banging on it.

"FREDDIE!"

"Freddie's not here, go away" came a muffled cry from behind the door. I tried to open the door by jiggling the door handle a bit, but that never works. I began to wish I had taken Sam up on that offer to learn how to pick locks. After a few more feeble attempts, I slumped down in front of the door, deciding it would be better just to talk through it.

"Look, Freddie, I know you're nervous, and that's natural" I began. I paused to see if Freddie would respond, but he remained silent. I continued, "but it's that fear, that indescribable feeling you get right in the pit of your stomach, that lets you know that this is real."

"Wow…that was deep" I heard Gibby say from his spot by the door.

"Shhh!" I responded. "I'm trying to have a serious conversation!"

"Well excuse me!" Gibby said sarcastically, throwing his arms in the air. "I'm gonna go help Teddy with the food…" he huffed, and walked out the door. I sighed and leaned my head back against the door, when I finally heard Freddie speak up.

"Hey, Spence?"

"Yeah?" I answered, hope returning to my voice.

"Is Gibby gone?"

"Yeah"

"Well…. Thanks for trying to help me. I'm not sure about this anymore…" his voice trailed off and I could swear he was holding back tears.

"What is there not to be sure about? You made it this far."

"I know but…." his voice cracked and he paused to compose himself. "I know, but I'm so scared of the future." This all sounded so familiar. I felt as if I had already had this conversation.

"Look, none of us knows what will happen in our future. And we can't change what happened in our past. But we can control what happens in our present." Freddie was quiet for a moment. I didn't hear any sobs, any movement, anything at all; just silence.

"You just have to ask yourself…" I continued. "What do you want more than anything right now?" I finally heard movement behind the door, and finally I heard Freddie messing with the lock. I sprang to my feet and before I knew it, the door was open and a red-eyed Freddie was standing in its place. Slowly, a smile spread across his face. I furled my eyebrows curiously.

"What?"

"Spencer, how do you always know exactly what to say?"

"I guess I'm not as dumb as everyone thinks" Freddie laughed at that, the first time he had laughed since this morning. I opened my arms, and after a moment of hesitation, he came over and we hugged. It seemed everything would be just fine after all.

This wasn't the first time I had given such a talk, oh no. One incident in particular comes to mind. It was a similar decision, with similar stakes, and involving the same brown-haired boy.

So while Freddie dries his eyes and fixes his tux, and I 'help' by not touching anything, please allow me to fade into another flashback…

Bet you didn't see that one coming.