Update was little longer than expected to get done, but I got it.
Fanfic-Reader-88: The sweet and well-mannered parts could be on the mothers' side of this equation or after all these years, Leonard is still bitter about the whole thing and it has reopened wounds for him. Prudence's name kind of gives away that kind of head on her shoulders. I do intend for her and Freddie to meet at some point.
Colonel Shay couldn't win as an independent or get anything legally done in the House/Senate. He is an enigma politically speaking as he's a borderline Baby-Boomer and Generation X that mixes together to influence his thinking. On foreign policy, he's a hawk with the experience of preparing for Armageddon during the Cold War and fighting in four theaters of war over a 28 year career. He understands the price of war and when you have to pay for it. Financially, he's supply-side and doesn't believe a person has the right to other people's money. Socially, he's pretty libertarian due to that rebellious streak he had in his teenage years after his mother's death, which is pretty opposite to his father. Calling him a JFK Democrat is a pretty accurate description.
Sam might surprise you.
Amanda is family oriented, so reaching out to Freddie is natural.
xemtlenc: I'm trying to remember the times someone has suggested Cat go back to normal. Love and duty has been a conflict for Shay for a very long time. Sam tell the truth? We'll see.
I love playing name games with people that I create. I don't pull names out of thin air for major characters. It describes her. Naming Jonathan that actually has a very deep meaning. I've always thought that Sam subconsciously used her powers, other than the obvious super-strength, to warp reality around her to always get what she wants and never really suffer any consequences from them.
Jade/Freddie/Tori like Ruby/Steven/Taylor? You think that's an accident? :D
Challenge King: Shay has his duty. If he does decide, it's like Ike, he thought it was his duty, not that he really wanted the job. Sam stubborn? No, never. Prue is not stubborn and smart enough not to interfere with Amanda's plans as not to alienate her child unless somehow Freddie proves to be a bad influence.
Twilight Warrior 627: Shay, duty and honor. Sam and Dusty being civil goes back to a Robert E. Howard quote: 'Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.' She has to be civil to him because he's not entirely civilized. Tori… I see someone noticed the Easter egg about the actors of Leonard and Prudence.
Fanfic-Reader-88 started another 'Got Me a Model', a Freddie/Tasha iCarly story. It's T for now, but I've read that it will change.
Rating: T, Language
Chapter 19
Cardio Barre Brentwood
137 S Barrington Pl
Los Angeles, CA
Saturday, October 19, 2013
The time was just after eight in the morning in the privately reserved room as Jade and Trina was starting their cardio workout. It had become an unexpected routine for the pair after graduating Hollywood Arts when they needed a more structured workout sessions that they could no longer have at the school's physical education department. Trina kicked off her new healthy living soon after graduation an her parents' separation and eventual divorce and Jade knew she needed to build up her stamina further for extended and repeated performances, so it was a convergent of parallel needs.
They still weren't exactly best friends, but as their ability to see eye-to-eye with the Tori/Beck situation shown, they were on far better terms than they were in high school.
They started their cardio with some stretches while facing the mirrors and some music playing in the background. As the girls set their feet apart and started stretching to their right, Jade commented, "I got a call from Tori late last night. She was spending the night over with Amanda."
Trina stood up and remarked clearly annoyed, "Yeah, I got a call in the middle of the night from Stacy that Tori didn't return to her hotel room after one. I nearly had a heart attack. She was mad that I woke her up in the middle of the night, but it serves her right for not letting me know that she was going to be spending the night with her."
Jade chuckled, "Careful Trina, someone might think you love your sister."
The lighter brunette made a face at her in the mirror then stretched to her left to touch her left toe. "It's nothing to laugh at when you think someone's not where they said they would be, especially in the middle of the night thousands of miles away."
The pale musician stood up and stretched her right arm behind her neck and patted between her shoulder blades. She sighed and admitted, "I know. Freddie was worried all my tour when I was traveling all over the place. He'd know where I was every three days or so."
"You were traveling, but Tori… it's like she was staying the night at the enemy's castle."
Jade made a face to the older Vega sister as left arm behind her head and questioned, "How spending the night over with Amanda the 'enemy's castle'?"
"Because she's Jon's sister. I don't want her getting too cozy with her and be reminded of Jon constantly. I was hoping that it would… keep her from being tempted."
Jade sighed as she lifted her left foot off the floor and caught her foot to stretch her thigh muscles. "Chizz Trina, she's three thousand miles away from him and you're acting like she's ready to jump him the first chance she gets."
Trina followed suit and started stretching her left leg back and remarked, "I wanted her to have a break and give her a chance to clear her head and away from making comparisons between them. I can tell that there's something starting. She wanted to talk to him privately before she left. Even Beck wasn't happy with it."
Jade quickly pointed out, "Jon told me about it. Tori was encouraging him to not his views about the situation with Freddie to get in the way of whatever friendships he has with us. She thought it he upset me then I would upset everyone else."
The comedic actress raised an eyebrow and challenged, "Are you sure that was the only thing they talked about?"
"He tried to avoid me Wednesday because he was so freaked out that he could inadvertently offend me, so I don't see in kind of secret flirtation going on between them when they were alone."
"So he's concerned about what she thinks of him?"
Jade switched to her other leg as she answered, "I think he's concerned about what everyone thinks. I'm not sure if he actually has any other friends on campus. Between his dad and what Freddie's told him about campus life, I think he's too afraid of making any other friends. He thinks they might take advantage of him."
"There are plenty of girls that would take advantage of him if given the chance. He's good looking and if his father is half as successful as I've seen, he has good reason to worry. I'm still shocked that you don't have a bodyguard for Freddie just to make sure some girl doesn't lie about him."
"It wouldn't help, but that's why I would have an army of lawyers to destroy any lying bitch that tried," she angrily dismissed, but quickly turned to ask, "And what do you know about his father?"
"They guy showed up at the hospital in a tailored suit and I noticed the watch. If the watch is real, that just proves my point further."
Jade took a seat on the floor and stretched out to touch her right toe. "What are you worried about? Beck's going to be there in a week, so everything will be fine. Heck, Freddie suggested to Tori that she and Beck go take off to a bed and breakfast. If that doesn't rekindle the romance and give them the chance to maybe address some of Tori's feelings then there's nothing we can do to help."
Trina took a seat beside her and started stretching her right leg and lower back. "God, that's that last thing that needs to happen."
Jade switched to her left foot. "You're making my head spin Trina. You're afraid of Jon, but you don't like that she could actually get some alone time with Beck."
The television actress sourly remarked, "He might get… frisky with her if he stays with her overnight or be there in the morning."
Jade softly laughed in mild disbelief Trina would assume such a thing, "People rekindle their bonds in different ways. Beck never pressured me to do anything when we were together and I doubt that he's changed with Tori."
"I've seen the look in his eyes when I've kick him out when it got late. He does not stay overnight. I don't want him getting her pregnant… if your… crazy 'dream' early last year was even close to what could happen then it is something I have to worry about. Getting my sister pregnant before he marries her… It's been a long time since he's been with you and I don't believe he's as responsible as you and Freddie are to make sure when you have your daughter when you're ready."
Jade stopped her movements and looked almost offended as she snapped back, "Beck and I never had sex and Freddie and I aren't having sex. If Tori wants to do that with Beck, that's her business. You're not her mother trying to keep a chastity belt on her."
Trina stopped her stretching and looked to Jade almost flabbergasted. "Wait a second, you and Beck never and you're not with Freddie? I heard Carly practically caught you the next morning when you got together. You live together. You two went to Vegas for the weekend before graduation. I'm not going to believe you just went sightseeing."
The screenwriter glared at her and answered through gritted teeth, barely keeping her anger in check, "I will admit to nothing happening with Freddie here in California before my eighteenth birthday. Freddie was almost traumatized with what happened to me with the car battery and what he and I had to do that weekend to emotionally recover from it is none of your damn business."
Trina understood the significance of anything happening between the couple before they were eighteen in the state from her father. She assumed Tori got the same talk, but that was an assumption proven wrong with Jade's conversation with Tori last year at Nozu. She raised her hands and put on a shocked expression. "Whoa, I'm not some noisy Hollywood reporter here trying to get a scoop on you two or making any kind of judgments. You don't have to be so defensive about it."
Jade glanced away and looked to the mirrors. She took several calming breaths and finished her stretching.
"So Freddie was your first and only one?" She quickly added to humor her, "Assuming any sex you had with him was after your birthday or whatever happened in Vegas."
Jade stood up and started a light jog to get the blood flowing. "Yes, Freddie would be my one and only."
"But you two aren't now even though you're nineteen?" Trina questioned as she got up and started jogging.
The musician was rolled her eyes because she certainly didn't want to get into a detailed discussion of her and Freddie's sex life. "Freddie has religious considerations and… I swear if you repeat this they will never find your body, but… Dusty did a very good job—too good a job—in healing me."
"Yeah, didn't you have to get your tattoo back on? And you can sweat now," Trina's eyes glanced to Jade's moving forearm to confirm seeing the purple nautical star midway up her arm. "But so, what does that have anything to do with it?"
Jade's breath started shortening from jogging in place and answered, "I mean it just wasn't the hair and tattoo… and because of that, Freddie doesn't want to again until we're married."
Trina took a few seconds to figure out what her exercise partner was referring then suddenly stopped her jogging and rested her hand on Jade's shoulder, bringing the girl to a stop. "Hold the chizz, you're… again?"
Jade heavily sighed and not from the jogging, "Physically, yes."
Trina blinked several times before uttering, "Holy chizz."
"It wasn't the exact reaction I had when I found out, but…"
The pale musician started up her jogging again and Trina picked up, "Okay, Freddie has those considerations—Hell, I understand them. Our parents—dad especially pushed that, but… wouldn't Freddie have those considerations before you two did anything?" She shook her head and muttered, "If Freddie's willing to do that despite those then I don't see Beck not trying."
Jade stopped jogging and took a step in front of the actress. She gave her a withering glance and whispered in a dangerous tone, "Now you listen to me Trina and you listen quite well: What we did, we did because we were… we were in an emotional place with what we were dealing with at the time—Beck breaking up with me and things going to Hell in Seattle for Freddie and we didn't know how to put into words our feelings we had for each other—but we knew we had to express them someway before he went back to L.A. It wasn't just something he casually disregarded. It happened and the night was special to us. It was something he struggled with months after the fact between his beliefs and his love and consideration to me."
Trina definitely stared back and answered, "Yet you two did that anyway, justifying my concerns with Beck."
Jade directed such a look at her that the Trina questioned for a moment if she was going to be hit.
Trina raised her hands and calmly explained, "Look Jade, I'm not trying to bash Freddie in saying what I'm saying. Actually the opposite, I think he's a fantastic guy—chizz, if you weren't in the picture, I would take my shot at him, but if Freddie—one of the most stand up guys I know—was willing to violate his beliefs with you, why should I have any faith in Beck? I really don't know his standing on the subject and I can't exactly ask him or Tori. Do you know?"
Jade took several calming breaths, glad that Trina wasn't trying to imply anything disparaging towards Freddie. "It really didn't come up until near the end our relationship. He was willing, but by that time—a lot of the time when I look back on it—I didn't feel secure in sharing that with him… I guess subconsciously couldn't trust him that much… and my mom… she probably would have killed him."
"And she didn't do that with Freddie?"
"She wasn't happy, but she was understanding with how she saw the two of us… I did just beat the chizz out of Sam to show how much I cared about him and he years ago throwing himself in front of a truck for Carly showed what kind of guy his is."
The older Vega sister laughed, "So I am right—I'm not surprised I am of course—but if that's the case that you and Beck never then does that make him a—"
Jade was quick to cut her off as she started back up her jogging, starting to really feel uncomfortable having this conversation with Trina, "You'd have to ask him."
"Then that just makes me feel worst. It might just make him impatient."
The musician gave a mildly disgusted look to Trina in the mirror and remarked, "That's really low to say about him. I said he was willing and we loved each other that way at the time, I'm always going to love him in a way, but he never pressured or tried to coerce me or make me feel guilty for not wanting to."
"I'm worried more about my sister than hurting his feelings."
"Is it because of what happened to your parents? Do you feel you need to pick up the slack?"
"I already told you: I want what's best for Tori. I don't want her to do something stupid and cheat on him and I don't want her to get pregnant."
"So you're being her parent?"
"A concerned older sister making sure she's not taken advantage of. How many vultures do you have circling over your head?"
"Too many…"
They finished their warm-up jogging and knelt down then spread out to do a few pushups. Jade attempted to put Trina at ease, "There's something else you should know that might ease your mind. Shelby asked Freddie about Jon after she found out about him and wanted to see if she could get his number."
Trina turned her head to the side to look at Jade's profile as she went up and down. "Really?"
Jade nodded.
The Spanish television actress joked, "Wanting for second best?"
Jade grinned between her increasing breaths from the increasing pushes. "You were interested in him too for a few hours."
Trina reluctantly admitted as she caught up with lighter skinned teenager in pacing, "Yeah… but Shelby's one you got to watch out for. She can be aggressive."
"She's a mixed-martial arts champion; of course she's aggressive."
"I literally meant you—you should watch out for her."
"Why?"
"She still has a little thing for him and they workout together—alone."
Jade finished her reps then knelt before taking a seat as she threw an annoyed glance at her workout partner and retorted, "He still works out with André on Sundays when they're both free. Should I worry about André?"
Trina finished right behind her and took a seat before leaning back for crunches. "André never had a thing for Freddie. Shelby seeing him in a new light after crossing back into his life is another story."
Jade leaned back to join in crunches, "I've seen the hints of flirting, it's no different than some old iCarly fan or my fans liking him… or what sometimes you do. I'm not threatened by anyone in our relationship."
Trina laughed between crunches, "Oh if you could meet yourself back at Hollywood Arts before you met Freddie… I guess having a guy that didn't make you feel in secure your relationship."
The rock star just held her tongue at the remark and focused on her crunches.
Trina resigned to remark, "Well, maybe Shelby will luck out with Jon and when Beck gets to New York things will settle between them… as long as he doesn't get her pregnant. Everything will be fine."
"If you're that concern about it, just threaten to beat the chizz out of him. I know you could take him."
The actress smiled, really appreciating the compliment. "Thanks, but I'm not sure if that's enough. I don't think Tori would like doing that to the father of her child."
"Then I guess you're just going to have faith in your sister."
"People fail though…" Trina took a deeper breath as she was working up a good pace to shorten her breath and the first beads of sweat started forming on her forehead. "…and I can't stand the idea that Tori could fail."
Jade took several quick breaths then answered, "That they do, but…" She paused for breath before continuing, "…people don't have to be perfect and we shouldn't… think less of them for it or shake our faith of who they truly are."
Trina took a few quick breaths through puckered lips then questioned, "Damn, when did you get so wise?"
"I had the support of good… friends in growing up some." She reached over and tapped Trina's shoulder, drawing a laugh from the actress.
They finished up their crunches then got on their right sides, bracing on their respective right forearms. Jade settled being slightly behind and head of Trina, her legs reaching to about midway down Trina's back, and they started lifting and lowering their legs.
Trina licked her lips then asked, "I do have one last question though."
Jade sighed, frustrated how this workout had started, "And what's that?"
Trina deviously grinned while asked, "How is Freddie in bed?"
The darker haired teenager paused, her face slightly flushing and Trina started laughing up a storm.
The older Vega sister stopped laughing when Jade gave her a good kick with the tip of her toes in the middle of her back.
Cat Valentine/Sam Puckett Residence
Apartment 22
Venice, CA
Saturday, October 19, 2013
The roommates had been avoiding each other all day. Sam had held up in the living room and Cat had buried herself in either class work or working on lyrics in their room. However, they finally switched as Cat was getting hungry for an early dinner. She was standing on the inside side of the L-shaped kitchen island and frustratingly cutting her cooked pizza into squares.
Sam walked around the corner to the patio from their shared room. She noticed Cat preparing dinner and approached. She saw what the former redhead was doing and remarked frustratingly, "You cut the pizza into squares."
Cat snapped with a fierce expression, "I know what I did. I've taken geometry."
Sam shouted back, barely keeping her anger in check, "You know I only like triangular pizza."
"Well why don't you go ask some of those fish you're about to jump over to cut the pizza for you from now on?"
Sam shouted in frustration, "All right, screwin' up my pizza is crossin' a line."
Cat held up her hands up and pressed her wrists to her upper lip and wiggled her fingers. "Sorry. You mess with the Cat you get the whiskers."
The dirty blonde was ready to snap at her roommate just as the door to the apartment opened and Dice casually walked inside, "Hey guys."
Cat looked past Sam and answered, "Ehhh."
Sam turned and looked over her right shoulder to answer, "Ehhhh what?"
Dice was caught off guard for a second but then continued on his original point of being there, "Hey, Sam, come check out what I got ya?"
"Yeah," the blonde lazily answered as she followed the eager curly haired tween out of the apartment.
Dice motioned over the dirt bike and proudly announced, "See? See? It's your jumpin' bike."
Sam glanced over the decorated dirt bike with red paint and sequences spelling out her name with a noticeable exception. "It says Dirty Sam."
The tween eagerly explained, "Well, it said Dirty Skipper, but when he backed out I had my painter change skipper to Sam."
"Man, you couldn't've changed dirty to Sweet Mamma or somethin'?"
"He charges me a buck a letter."
Sam snorted out, "You're a cheap little skunk, aren't ya?"
Dice led Sam back into the apartment and had a seat on the couch. The blonde took a seat next to him as he pulled out a folded piece of paper. "Hey, um, so my lawyer wants you to initial these boxes and sign here."
The potential stunt rider raised an eyebrow and questioned, "You want me to sign a contract?"
Dice awkwardly answered, "I just need to be protected in case, y'know, in case your motorcycle jump is problematic."
"Whatever."
The tween held a pen and used the tip to follow under the words he was speaking, "Okay, see it says, Sam agrees not to hold Dice legally responsible if Sam crashes her motorcycle and her injuries result in the loss of her arms, legs, or head."
Sam took the pen and started making her initials and sigh her signature. "I accept that risk."
Cat walked around the kitchen island and demanded, "Stop it. Just stop it. You are not jumping over a bunch of dangerous tuna fish."
"Who asked you?" the blonde snapped defensively then turned to Dice. "Go get everything ready."
"You got it Dirty Sam," Dice answered as he nearly ran for joy exiting the apartment.
Sam raised a finger and pointed it to him to admonish him before a grin formed on her face halfway through her sentence, "And don't call me dirty—oh, call me Dirty Sam."
"You are not gonna jump the tuna," Cat retorted with a voice filled with the convection she felt in her heart.
Sam sarcastically replied, "Oh, why aren't I?"
"'Cause I'm not gonna let you do something stupid and get hurt."
"Oh, I'm sorry, weren't you the one who said, 'I don't care what happens to you'?"
"Well yeah, you're the one just disregarding my feelings."
"Well, I promised Dice and Sam Puckett does not go back on her word. Somebody has to jump over those tuna on a motorcycle."
Cat snapped back, "Fine. I'll jump the tuna."
"Ha, you couldn't jump over a can of tuna." She turned away and walked to the closet near the front door. "Now c'mon, help me find my motorcycle gloves. I put 'em somewhere in the closet. I'm not sure exactly where, but I think it's somewhere near the back so I'm gonna need your help, okay? Please."
As soon as Sam was completely inside the closet, Cat shut the door behind her and grabbed a convenient piece of wood board.
Sam started, "Uh, Cat."
Cat answered while picking up a board and some nails, "Hey."
"Cat, open the door."
The popstar shouted as she finished nailing the board across the door, "No, you're a crazy person."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Because I care about you even after you ignored me."
Sam started banging on the door and shouted, "Come on, I gotta jump the tuna."
Cat smirked as a devious thought came to mind, "Don't worry. You will jump the tuna."
Fisherman's Wharf
Venice, CA
On the fisherman's wharf, several rows of seats right out of a high school football stadium were set up on one side of the fish tank with a ramp on either side of it parallel to the rows. The seats were already heavily filled with at least a hundred people as a voice came over the intercom, "Everyone, please take your seats. Dirty Sam is scheduled to jump the tuna in twenty minutes."
Dice was behind a hobbled together ticket both taking money from the people wanting to get into the show. In front of him for the moment were a few girls just reaching their tweens. "Okay, girls. How many tickets?"
As they exchanged money for tickets, the spear fisherman that originally owned the fish elbowed his way through the line, "Uh, excuse me. Spear fisherman comin' through, outta the way, outta the way." He reached Dice with his friend and happily stated, "Yeah, we would like to buy two tickets."
"Uh, forty bucks."
The fisherman confidently grinned and suggested, "Um, I assume that there is a discount for we spear fisherman."
"Forty bucks," Dice didn't hesitate to tell him the actual admittance charge.
"C'mon. Spear fisherman," he pointed out while waving his spear gun in front of him.
Dice just looked at him, not budging on the price.
The fisherman that had original owned the fish grumbled and started pulling out his money.
Cat Valentine/ Sam Puckett Residence
Apartment 22
Venice, CA
After a quick trip to her room and change, Cat returned wearing Sam's red jumpsuit and protective gear.
Sam shouted out, "Cat, let me out. I gotta be at the wharf in twenty minutes to jump the tuna." After hearing no response, she banged on the door and shouted, "Cat, what are you doing?"
"I'm wearing your silly suit and I'm gonna go jump the tuna fish.
"Dude, you're gonna get hurt."
"Well, and that's the price I'll have to pay for saving a friend from doing something stupid."
"But you're doing something stupid."
The popstar half-smirked and flippantly commented, "It wouldn't be the first time."
"True… like that selfie with Justin Bieber kissing you last month?"
Cat shouted almost hysterically, "We're not talking about that right now!"
Sam snickered on the other side of the door.
Cat took several calming breaths then continued, "I wouldn't have to do something stupid if you would just listen to me. If I was Carly and asked you not to do this, you wouldn't do it."
Sam shouted back in outrage, "That's not fair! It's not fair you comparing my friendship with Carly with my friendship with you!"
"I don't care about being fair. The only thing I care about is you not getting hurt. I should have called Carly, but…" Cat trailed off as she didn't want to complete the sentence.
There was deathly quiet behind the closet door before Sam quietly demanded, "Cat, move away from the door."
Fortunately, Cat was away from the door preparing to put Sam's helmet on her head.
The next moment, the center of the door burst open with Sam's fist going through it. Cat took a few more steps back from the door, somehow still surprised at her friend's strength.
Sam punched again and another piece of door gave way and flew into the living room. She repeated punching the door a few more times until she had made a hole big enough to step through it.
Cat stared dumbfounded at the blonde.
Sam snatched the helmet from her, frustrated with already being late then turned to head for her bike and not worrying about the suit.
The usually happy go lucky teenager realized what her roommate was doing and ran past her to stand in front of the door. She held her arms out to cover the door and directed a definite stare.
The blonde was at the end of her patience and hissed, "Cat."
"No, you're going to have to get through me."
Sam squinted and clenched her jaw. She could easily toss the girl away, but she didn't actually want to hurt her friend. There was more than one way out of the apartment, so she decided to simply take the patio exit.
As soon as she turned and started walking away from Cat, the native Angeleno ran and jumped on Sam's back and hung on for dear life.
The former troublemaker immediately started twisting and turning, trying to get Cat off of her back. "Cat let go! I don't want to hurt you! Get off!"
They struggled for several seconds until Cat's bodyweight caused them to both tumble over the back of the couch and onto it. They continued to roll until Sam hit the floor on her chest and stomach, not a pleasant sensation for the blonde. Cat let her go then pulled herself on the couch. She took several deep breaths and demanded, "You're… you're not going…"
Sam rolled over and sat up. "Cat… enough. I get it! You don't want me to get hurt, but I have to do this for Dice."
"Why? Why do you have to do this one thing for him?! You always try to ditch out on doing things."
"I know, but… Okay, at first, I just wanted to do it for fun, but… then I realized… I don't want to let him down… I don't want to disappoint Ian either. I'm tired of letting my friends down. That's all I've done all my life… my sister, Carly… Freddie… Brad. I'm tired Cat."
Cat studied her troublemaking friend's eyes, wondering if she was just being tricked. Sam was good at deception, but as far as she could tell at that moment, the dirty blonde was telling the truth. Her conviction wavered and sighed, "Okay…" Cat flung herself to her roommate and friend to pull her into a tight hug. "But you be care anyway. You better make that jump."
Sam patted her friend's back. "I'll make the jump… I just have to hit eighty-eight miles per hour."
Cat pulled back and looked her to her with a raised eyebrow and slacked jaw."
"I'm kidding. Now come on, I have to get ready. I'm running late."
Fisherman's Wharf
Venice, CA
Jade, Ian, Freddie and Robbie were standing on the other side of Dice's booth, trying to get into the show, but the tween event holder was hassling them, "I'm sorry, but you shoulda ordered your tickets ahead a' time."
Freddie rolled his eyes and shook his head then calmly answered, "We're not paying you. We're here to make sure nothing happens to Sam and Ian wanted to see Sam jump."
The tween challenged, clearly a little annoyed that Freddie wouldn't take no for an answer, "So you're getting a free show?"
Robbie pointed towards the extended lift where two men were directing a camera to record the jump. "Hey, those two guys can watch the jump from that camera lift right there. We could watch Sam jump from up there?"
Freddie looked to Robbie and just glared at him.
The poor ventriloquist smashed his lips together, completely baffled and quite frightened from the former Seattle's glare.
The former tech-producer let out a slow breath, attempting to calm his nerves. "That's not a good place to watch it from. What if we toppled over and fell into the tank?"
Robbie raised a finger and opened his mouth, unable to voice a response.
"Right… I'm not sharing a hospital room with you while recovering from being nibbled on."
Jade held back a laugh with a quick trademark lick of her lips and front of her top teeth then turned a predatory smile towards Dice, one so much so that he thought for a moment thought the girl could tear his throat out. "I don't have the patience for you tonight. Cat said that you were supposed to hold tickets for us." She slightly raised her joined hand with Ian. "If Sam is going to be foolish enough to go through with this, he's not going to miss out on seeing it. Understood?"
The tween hustler eagerly nodded his head and motioned for them to pass as she always found Cat's dark headed friend scary.
Jade smiled triumphantly and the couple and child made there way in front of the growing crowd with Freddie leading the way. She leaned over and whispered, "If by some freak occurrence you got hurt, the only bed you'd be recovering in is in mine."
Freddie slightly blushed as he recalled how Jade administered some TLC to him after dreaming what was turning out to be quite real. He pushed aside that quite pleasant memory and tried to recall the place where his dream-self had encountered Jade and just as they were reaching the end of the bleachers, the couple saw a familiar older redhead and greeted, "Hello Mrs. Valentine."
The grandmother eagerly returned, "Oh hi Freddie, Jade. Come to see the jump?"
Jade thought it was a quite rhetorical question to ask, but patiently answered her friend's grandmother, "Yes we are. Ian wanted to see the jump, so…"
Nona patted a spot next to her. "Well these seats are free."
The musician glanced to her boyfriend, getting a second opinion whether they should sit with her. She found it quite annoying how much the woman would try to pry about how they were doing as a couple. Freddie simply smiled and happily accepted, "Thank you Mrs. Valentine."
The couple and child walked to the end of the bleachers then scooted next to the grandmother, Freddie sitting beside her followed by Jade and Ian. Jade thought for a moment that it wouldn't be too bad. The jump would be in a few minutes then they would be out of there, but of course it wouldn't go that way with Nona immediately asking the couple, "So how are you two doing? Set a wedding date yet?"
Jade rolled her eyes and blew out a breath intended to calm her.
Freddie patiently answered, "We're looking to get married after I graduate."
Nona remarked fairly shocked, "But that's three years away."
"We're already going to spend the rest of our lives together. We don't need to have the ceremony right at this moment."
Nona turned a serious look to the couple and pointed out, "My family has enough experience to know that time is too precious to put things off."
The couple was keenly aware that she was referring to her late-niece, coincidentally showing that it was a small world to be Taylor Shay—making Spencer/Carly and Cat second cousins—and to a lesser extent to her late-sister-in-law. Jade was quick to point out, "That's why we've already started our lives together. We're together in all the ways that matter. Just because I don't have a ring on my finger or pregnant, doesn't make us less."
Jade hoped her friend's grandmother didn't interpret her words as an insult towards her niece as the Shays were married and Taylor was already carrying Spencer before they graduated high school.
Nona took a deep breath and looked a little perturbed, but she remained silent. She turned her attention to the noisy crowd around and patiently waited for the show.
Jade glanced to Freddie, earning a hesitant expression in perhaps being on the same page that she was offended and perhaps hearing something from the Colonel or her mother later.
The potential problem was put on hold as Dusty surprisingly called out to them to their left, "Look who I ran into on my way here?"
The quartet turned their attention to Dusty and Jon approaching from the opposite side of the entrance.
Jade questioned, clearly surprised at seeing the younger Benson, "Jon? What are you doing here?"
Jonathan stuck his hands in his jacket pockets and bashfully answered, "Yeah, ah… Tori tweeted me and asked me to show up and keep an eye out for Cat because of her reluctance for Sam to jump. I guess she got worried after talking to you last night."
Jade and Freddie simultaneously voiced with a great deal of surprise in her voice, "She did?"
"Yeah."
"So you two have been talking?"
Jonathan slightly squinted his right eye and slowly answered, "Yeah, we've talked a few times this week. I just talked to her last night with Amanda."
Jade put the pieces together and remarked, "They called you before they called us then when she found out what Sam was pulling, called you."
The inspiring musician nodded in confirmation. "I got her tweet this morning then we talked."
Jonathan looked to Ian and politely greeted, "Hey little guy."
The first grader waved in return, assured earlier that he was alright and actually Freddie's lost brother. He didn't understand how brothers could be 'lost', but he didn't really understand the 'step' part in step-siblings either, so he just went with it.
The younger Benson idly questioned, "So, she's really going to make this jump?"
Freddie lazily answered with a shrug of his shoulder, "That's the plan… unless Cat's trapped her in a closet and attempts to impersonate Sam to attempt the jump on her own."
Jon glanced to his brother and asked, "Is that something we should really be concerned about?"
Jade joined in the questioning look.
The former tech-producer grinned. "With our lives, being locked in a closet isn't the strangest thing that could happen."
The announcer came back on the intercom, a hint of nervousness reverberating in the speakers, "We're just running a few minutes behind, but don't you worry, Dirty Sam is on her way."
Jade licked her lips before remarking, "I guess Cat is pulling one last ditch effort to stop her."
"Closet, definitely the closet," Freddie lazily remarked with a head nod.
As if on cue, the bubbly brunette jogged to them with a shortness of breath.
Jon was the first to greet her with a mildly dazed utterance, "Cat?"
"Yeah?"
He snorted out in surprise, "Sorry, I haven't seen brown hair on that head in a long time."
Cat questioningly looked at the younger Benson son the realized what he meant. She let out a soft giggle, "Oh right, your sister. Yeah, I had to finally wash it out. It was starting to damage my hair."
"I'm glad you took my advice," Dusty commented with a partial smile. "You look cute with it."
Robbie extended his hands out and remarked almost flabbergasted, "I'm sitting right here and you're calling my girlfriend cute."
Dusty smirked and cocked an eyebrow. "She is cute and she's hot too and a whole mess of her fans would agree with me." He ignored Robbie's uncomfortable look and looked to Jon and added, "Your sister's hot too."
Jon looked speechless to Jade.
The nearly black haired rock star mouthed barely above a whisper, "They're exes."
The native Manhattanite's mouth formed a silent 'O' shape with his lips.
Jade turned back to Cat and questioned, "If you're here, does that mean Sam's going to make the jump?"
The smaller teenager regretfully answered, "Yeah."
The lighter skin girl slowly questioned, being cautious not to upset the girl, "Are you good with that?"
"Not really, but I understand why she's doing it."
Dusty cautiously questioned, "What did she tell you?"
"That she didn't want to let Dice down. She was tired of letting her friends down."
Freddie had to literally bit on his tongue not to laugh at the sheer nonsense of such a thing. Fortunately for him as a distraction, he caught from the corner of his eye that Dusty looked a little relieved as if he was expecting another answer. The Southern teenager continued, seeming with a lighter heart, "I guess some things are finally changing… or she's just doing it for the thrill and telling you anything she has to for you to get off her back."
Cat deeply frowned at him, clearly not appreciate pointing that out.
Dusty sighed, "I know, I stink for having to point out the obvious, but I'm not telling you anything you don't know about her. It's something to consider, but she's going to be fine… even though that's not what you're upset about."
"You could have stopped her," Cat pointed out in an almost accusing tone.
"Probably, but that would have required hurting her and that kind of defeats the purpose of you trying to stop her from getting hurt. Cat, she has a mind of her own and she's going to do what she wants."
Ian interrupted any further argument by asking, "Is Sammy really going to get hurt?"
All of them looked to the child, unsure how to answer him. Jade certainly wasn't eager to lie to him, but didn't want to cause him any fear.
Dusty didn't hesitate to reassure him, "Sam's a tough girl. She'll be fine."
Freddie added in reassurance, "It's the fish that need to be afraid of her."
Dusty thought about that for a second then started chuckling.
Cat slightly pouted and asked, "What's so funny?"
The handsome teenager looked to his ex-girlfriend and answered, "I was just remembering that scene from the original animated Transformers movie from the eighties where Kup and Hot Rod are dropped in the tank with the Sharkticons and they do a little bit of demolition derby on them before the Dinobots showed up and started stumping on them. If she doesn't make it, she's start driving around the inside edge of it and causing a giant whirlpool with 'Hunger' playing over the loudspeakers."
The others looked at him as if he lost half his mind.
He looked back at them with pity. "Okay, I know it's eighties Transformers, but I couldn't have been the only one to have seen it. It has transforming robots fighting and a classic soundtrack."
Freddie was the closest one to have sympathy for him, but it was Ian that shouted, "Transformers are awesome! I love Blades!"
Dusty pointed to the child as all the justification he needed for his point. "See, he's the smart one. Arcee's my kind of Bot."
"Her as a car or a motorcycle?" Jonathan asked, surprising the others.
Their curious gazes turned to the teenager from New York. "What? I live with a closeted sci-fi fantasy nerd. You pick things up."
Dusty grinned and laughed, "Motorcycle, definitely a motorcycle."
Cat sighed and took a seat between Ian and Jonathan, tried of the tangent conversation and her frayed nerves about Sam's jump. The younger Benson got up from his seat and politely offered it to Robbie. She brightened up with Robbie's presence and laced her fingers with his fingers and bringing her a sense of calm. Dusty remained standing at the end of the bleachers to watch the show or possible train wreck.
The intercom came back on with an announcement, "For your entertainment in this death defying stunt, we present you the one, the only DIRRRTY SAM!"
The crowd stood on their feet as Sam clad in her red jumpsuit practically flew by on her dirt bike in front of the crowd. She reached the end of the bleachers then turned around to make another pass, this time going slower and waving towards the crowd.
Sam reached the end of her run-up and revved up the engine just as there was a silence falling over the crowed. She held her break and gave the bike some gas. The back wheel started spinning and started pluming grey smoke for several seconds before she let go of the break and the bike peeled off with a loud screech towards the ramp.
Cat covered her eyes, not being able to watch what was about to happen next.
The dirty blonde lined up the bike perfectly with the ramp and sped up it. She was off the end of it in a moment and in the air. She was only in the air for just a hair under a second and easily cleared the tank before starting her descent onto the opposite ramp. The bike bounced hard on the landing, but she was able to maintain control and slow the bike down enough to make a left turn and circled back around to ride in front of the crowed, pumping one of her fists in the air.
The crowd was up on their feet and let out a celebratory roar.
Ian shouted as she patted one of Cat's thighs, "She made it! She made it!"
The former redhead dropped her hands away from her face just in time to see Sam ride by them.
The announcer came back on the intercom, "She did it! She jumped the killer tuna from Kansas! Give the Dirty Sam a cheer!"
Sam momentarily stopped and took her helmet off, whipping her head about to let her hair fling about, then turned the motorcycle around and passed them one more time.
The crowd continued cheering as Sam brought the bike to a stop near her original starting point. Cat rushed from her seat to catch up with Sam. The others passed gazes to one another and almost as one got up to follow.
Cat caught up with Sam and pulled her into a hug as soon as the blonde stepped off the bike.
The dirty blonde tightly smiled and hesitantly patted Cat on the back, still after all this time uncomfortable with the physical contact.
The petite girl shouted for joy, "You did it!"
"I told you it would be fine kiddo."
As the others approached them, Jade smiled, but wasn't much feeling behind it as she offered, "Nice jump."
"Thanks," Sam answered as if she was tasting something sour in her mouth.
Ian shouted, "Yeah, you were great!"
Sam picked up the child and tickled his stomach. The sight sent a shiver through Jade, the musician never able to shake her concern about Ian's safety with the girl that had put her love through years of Hell.
The one-time stunt rider genuinely thanked, "I'm glad you were in the audience cheering me on."
Cat softly bit into her bottom lip, unsure if that was some backhanded insult to her.
Sam questioningly looked to Dusty and asked, "Why are you here?"
Dusty shrugged a shoulder and remarked, "Oh, someone had to put humpty dumpty back together again if you didn't make it."
Sam just returned with a knowing smile then they shared a laugh that the others could tell was an inside joke.
After the laughter died down, Sam looked to the group with a grin that nearly broke her face and asked, "So how are we going to celebrate my jump?"
They thought on it for a few seconds before Cat shouted first, "How about Nozu?"
Freddie wasn't entirely thrilled with the suggestion as he didn't much care for the food. Sam wasn't really up for sushi either, but with all the aggregation she had put her roommate through, she decided to agree, "Sounds like a great idea."
Jade looked to Ian and remarked, "I guess we have time to go eat. What good is making your bedtime if you're hungry?"
The child laughed and hugged Sam tighter.
"Nozu it is…"
Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The first scene is clearly based on an Elizabeth/Daniella workout session where they posted a picture and the rest, I hope you liked my take.
It's going to be probably two weeks or so before another update. I've updated this seven times for a total of over 61k words in the last 17 or so days, so I need a little breather.