Okay, so I hope you like this chapter! I realize that I'm writing Freddie as a real Jerk right now- maybe I'm just mad at him for having another crush on Carly in iOpen a Restaurant. But like I said, this is going to go somewhere- it's just gonna take some development. Okay! Here we go! Please review! Even if you hate it! I haven't written anything in a while and it might help me know where to go with this. And yes, some grammar might be a bit off but that's just my writing style. So I hope you enjoy this chapter! Here ya go!

"Wow, I really love this place." Carly sat on Freddie's lap with his arm around her waist. We were outside at a little café, just a few blocks from the restaurant. The late summer air was relaxing as the Sun held high during the midday.

"Yeah, Sam and I like this café too. It has the best red-velvet cake around." Gibby rubbed one of my shoulders. I smiled at the gesture.

"No, I mean, I love this whole city! I love LA!" Carly tilted her head back and shut her eyes, as if the Sun's rays were kissing her skin. I smiled at her amusement and Freddie laughed at his fiancé's silliness.

"Really? Why?" Freddie took a sip of his coffee with his free hand. "It's just so fabulous. The SUN, the places, the celebrities!" I noticed him roll his eyes as Carly kept going on about the wonders of LA.

"What celebrities have you seen on this trip?" Freddie asked - fully knowing the answer.

"Okay so I haven't seen any celebrities here per say, but I swear I saw the stunt double for Emma Stone in line for the movies earlier!"

"Does Emma Stone even need a stunt double?" Gibby titled his head in amusement.

"She looked like Emma Stone, OKAY!" Carly furrowed her eyebrows. I always found Carly's immaturity in some cases rather charming. I admire her ability to take any situation and just make pure joy out of it. A quality I used to have trouble even attempting at.

"So…how did Sam Puckett and Gibby end up together?" Freddie asked this- his tone seemed somewhat amused but also somewhat sarcastic. He seemed really bitter lately and I couldn't understand why. He wasn't the same Freddie I knew a year ago- that was for sure.

I looked at Gibby to continue but he motioned for me to explain. "Well, it was a little over 6 months ago, actually, right around the time you two got engaged. Our restaurant had just opened and was doing pretty well so far, so we decided to celebrate. We went on a little dinner cruise together and I guess one thing lead to another, and well yeah. We hooked up on the ship and just automatically became a couple after that."

Gibby and Carly smiled in content- Gibby squeezed my hand. I looked over at Freddie, trying to read his expression. Again, his smile seemed fake- almost like there was a disappointment. But I can't keep telling myself these things. Freddie is happy with Carly. That's that.

"So, how do you guys like NYU?" I asked casually.

Freddie's face lit up. "It's amazing. Every corner you turn you find something different. I can't see myself anywhere right now but New York." I noticed in the corner of my eye that Carly was looking distant- she seemed disconnected.

"I've never been to New York." I added- trying to avoid any awkward silence.

"You should come sometime- I think you'd like it." And there it was. Freddie was finally reaching out. Maybe he wasn't exactly inviting me to be with him- but the fact that he's inviting me to like something that he loves- well, it's a nice change from the bitterness I felt from him before. Note to self- New York is his soft spot.

"Who knows," I looked at Gibby, half serious and half joking-"Maybe someday we can open Gibby's in New York."

Gibby Laughed, clearly not very amused. "Maybe," was all I got.

-o-o-o-o-o-

I stepped out of the shower into the steamed room- grabbing a fresh white towel from the rack and wrapping it around my body, tucking one of the corners in to secure it. I walked to the mirror and wiped away some of the fog with my hand. Looking at myself in the mirror, I felt strange. It was hard to believe that a little over a year ago, I was a delinquent with poor grades and poor social habits. Change can be weird like that.

I walked to the door and grabbed the doorknob- turning it slowly- it was pretty early in the morning- I didn't want to wake Carly or Freddie. I tiptoed out of the room and made my way across the hall- to my bedroom. I was pretty sure Gibby would be awake by now. I was almost to my room- I was right in front on the guest room- when I heard hushed noises. I stopped in my tracks and listened. I listened carefully and heard that the mumbling was coming from the guest room. Quietly, I brought my ear to the door, trying to hear more clearly.

"How could you even think like this! What about all we have- all we've planned for!"- I heard Freddie's harsh whisper.

"Freddie, what about what I want. What happened to taking new adventures! You promised me we'd have adventures."

"Carly! This! THIS is our adventure. We're together! Why aren't you happy with what we have! Everything we have is in New York!"

"I…Well, I don't know what has gotten into you lately! ….What has changed Freddie? I love you, but… Why can't you open your heart to change?"

"Because there's nothing wrong with what we have! God you're so frustrating!"

"Freddie! Freddie stop! Look, I don't understand why you suddenly have this close minded outlook on life. Before we came here- only 2 days ago- you were talking about 'seeing the world'! You even said- 'wouldn't be awesome to see the world.' You always seemed so adventurous! Why all of a sudden are you acting like this!"

There was a moment of silence through the door. I brought my ear even closer.

Freddie's voice seemed really hushed. "Whatever- we'll talk about this later."

And then I heard his footsteps quickly coming towards to door. I panicked, obviously I didn't want him to know that I was eavesdropping. I backed away from the door and tried to make it look like I was just "walking by." I didn't look too convincing.

The door opened quickly and roughly- revealing a disheveled looking Freddie- who had a scowl on his face. He saw me standing there and raised his eyebrow. I then remembered that all I had on was a towel.

"Have a nice shower?" Freddie asked sarcastically.

I looked down at my towel, not sure what to say.

"Or did you enjoy the show?" Freddie asked this with his now usual bitterness.

I looked up at him. "Uh no…I was walking to my…and uh." I was trying to think of a good excuse. "And uh… well Gibby's waiting for me in the bedroom so uh...and…Well"

Suddenly Freddie's scowl looked disgusting. He looked disgusted. "Please- spear me the details." I realized what I had implied as Freddie walked past me swiftly and rushed out the front door- not bothering to be quiet.

I stood in the silence for a few moments- unsure of what to think. Freddie was not Freddie anymore. I heard Carly whimpering in her room. Knowing that she needed some alone time- I walked to my own room and shut the door quietly.

"Hey beautiful," Gibby greeted me. He was standing in front of our mirror- fixing the collar of his business shirt. "I have to go into the restaurant later today- food critic's coming in."

I smiled at Gibby- though it was a sorrowful smile. He must have noticed this because his eyebrows furrowed and he walked over to me- gently lifting my chin and kissing my lips. "What's the matter Sammy?"

I looked at him, wondering if I should explain. "Nothing, just tired. Nervous about the food critic I guess." It wasn't my business to get involved in Freddie and Carly's premarital problems.

"Oh, well don't worry. Gibby's gonna cook him something real good- he won't know what's coming to him."

Suddenly, the pain of the event that happened only a brief moment ago hit me. How could Freddie be so fowl? What has gotten into him? Poor Carly! And why is he so bitter towards me! What did I ever do to him? For once I'm the mature one. Why does it hurt SO much! I looked up at Gibby- I didn't want him to see me crying. So, suddenly, I kissed him hard on the lips. Deeping the kiss, my towel dropped to the floor as I unbuttoned Gibby's shirt. And for a while, I let Gibby take away some of the pain.