A/N- Sorry for being so late. Just so much drama. Gaahh, high school is tough.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter and thanks so much for the reviews!
"I'm so hungry," Gibby whined. The boys had only eight days to reach their destination. Brad had his head resting on the car window in the back with Freddie while Spencer was driving and Gibby complaining. It was about eight pm.
"Then eat some snacks," Spencer suggested, bobbing his head to the beat of the music.
"I'm so sick of snacks. I want real food," Gibby rubbed his stomach.
Freddie's head snapped up, "No way are we stopping. Just eat some chips or something."
"But Freddie!"
"No Gibby!"
"Why do you have to do a bro like that?"
"We need to get to Sam!"
"So that day when I helped you with you rash problem was nothing?" Gibby crossed his arms looking insulted.
"That was three years ago!" Freddie whispered embarrassed.
"I had to rub the lotion everywhere!" Gibby threw his hands up in the air.
"Fine! We'll go through a drive-thru," Freddie huffed.
"There won't be another drive-thru for miles," Spencer glimpsed at the blue sign driving pass it at the location miles.
"There is no way I can wait forty minutes to eat," Gibby eyed the sign as well.
"Eat some snack till then!" Freddie was on edge.
"No! My mom always told me to never eat snacks before a meal because it would mess up my digestive track."
The three boys all looked at Gibby like he was crazy.
Gibby looked at their faces and shrugged, "Don't ask me."
"It said on the sign that a diner is nearby. Let's just go to that," Brad suggested.
"That takes up too much time though!"
"Freddie, taking one hour to go in and eat won't put a dent in the schedule, come on. We're all hungry here and it would be nice to get out of this cramped car," Spencer reasoned.
Freddie took a deep breath, "You guys are killing me hear," he mumbled to himself.
"Okay fine, but only for an hour."
Spencer took the next exit out and found the diner in no time. That and besides a gas station was the only thing in sight.
The four boys walked into the retro-looking place. A bell signaling that a costumer has arrived went off when they opened the door. The place looked like it came rate out of 50's style movie with its high stools and long table up front. Only one man was there sitting at it reading a paper. Freddie wouldn't be surprised if the waiters came out rolling in skates.
"Hey boys, only four I see?" An old looking lady smiled at them from the back of the table.
Spencer nodded, "Yuppers!"
"Well take a seat and I'll get your order soon as possible," the nice old lady whose name tag said Jasmine set down four menus.
Freddie sat next to the elderly man while Brad sat next to him, then Gibby, and lastly Spencer.
"Everything looks so good!" Gibby was eyeing the menu in front of him.
"I haven't seen you this excited since the new episode of Galaxy War came on were Oblangata found out Nug Nug knew where the hidden key was," Brad looked at Gibby.
"Noooo, it was when Nug Nug knew where the black powered Proton Cruiser was," Spencer commented.
"No. It was a key," Brad glared at Spencer.
"Proton Cruiser."
"Key."
"Proton Cruiser!"
"KEY!"
Freddie sighed blocking their argument out. Usually he'd love to talk about Galaxy Wars with them but then again usually he's not out taking a road trip to stop a wedding. Thinking that thought made Freddie anxious. He started to bop his knee up and down and tap his fingers on the table like crazy.
"What would you like sonny?" Jasmine asked him when she finally got to him. He looked over realizing the three boys are still arguing about the episode.
"Just water," Freddie said. He knew himself he couldn't possibly eat something and keep it down.
When Jasmine left Freddie kept staring at the round clock on the wall. He was tapping to the beat.
"Keep doing that boy and you'll have your finger come off," the man next to him leaned over and commented on all the tapping Freddie was doing.
Freddie though ignored the man.
The man looked at Freddie, "You okay there?"
"This doesn't concern you," Freddie snapped. The man's bushy white eyebrows went up and he huffed, going back to reading the newspaper. Freddie went back to tapping but slowed down then completely stopped. He took a deep breath and faced the man, "I'm sorry, I'm just… stressed."
The man set down his paper and gave Freddie a warm smile, "What's your story?"
Freddie did a short laugh, "It's pretty complicating."
"I have time," the man reached over and grabbed his coffee and took a sip.
"With all due respect, I don't even know you," Freddie smiled.
The man put out his hand, "Mark."
Freddie shook his hand, "Freddie."
"There, now we know each other, so how about you tell me about this complicated story before I rot here… which by God knows it won't take a while," Mark joked.
Freddie put his right elbow on the table and rested his head on it facing Mark, "Well, it all started with the horrible, disgusting, revolting, mean, rude blonde girl who made my life miserable every day of my life that I completely, head over heels, feel in love with…"
Freddie started at the beginning, how he use to have a crush on Carly, how they started iCarly, the taco truck, the lock-in, the mental hospital, Jonah, everything.
"Now she's getting married to the guy," Freddie finished. Mark sat there in silence the whole time only nodding every now and then.
"Wow."
"Yup," Freddie nodded.
"That's some story there boy."
"Tell me about it."
Mark grabbed his coffee and took a nice long drink. After he set it down he gave Freddie a cold hard stare before finally speaking up.
"Her name was Ally."
Freddie's eyebrows scrunched up in confusion, "What?"
"My best friend, her name was Ally."
"Oh," Freddie said still confused.
Mark could still see the confusion on Freddie's face, "I loved her also. My gosh was she a looker. Long light brown curly waves that went down to the middle of her back, gorgeous beautiful blue-gray eyes that would think caused every storm... she was the nicest girl in town too. Volunteered everywhere, helped out her parents, just a golden-heart kinda girl." Mark explained.
Freddie looked at Mark when he was talking about her. Mark's eyes were off in the distance like he was staring at her getting lost in space.
"Our parent's were best friends, so we grew up with each other. There was a group of us. See the waitress rate there?" Mark pointed to Jasmine who was shaking her butt to the retro radio. Freddie nodded.
"Jasmine was part of that group. Her and Ally were the best girlfriends. There were two other guys with us, Hank and Jesse. We were all irrespirable."
"Did you ever tell her your feelings?"
Mark had a slight pain in his eyes but vanished when he shook his head, Freddie caught it though.
"No… no. I was just too shy. Didn't want to ruin our friendship or scared she wouldn't feel the same. Every boy in town was after that beauty, she had so many options. I thought I didn't have a chance."
"What happened?"
"Oh you know she met this boy who showed her the world. They got married, had beautiful children. We all still hanged out with each other, Ally, Jasmine, Hank, Jesse, and I. Jasmine and Hank got married actually. We all lived by each other with our separate families."
Freddie shook his head, "That must have been horrible. Watching your true love be with someone else."
"It was at first but I did meet a nice girl. Her name was May, very pretty. We got married and had a son, Jake. I was happy with them, I loved them with my whole heart," Mark smiled.
"But?"
Mark shrugged, "But I sometimes caught myself staring at Ally thinking what it would have been like if I just told her my feelings one time."
Freddie looked down, "I'm sorry."
"Don't. I messed up but at least you can learn from my lesson, right?"
Freddie took a sip from his water that Jasmine set down a while ago, "I hope so."
Mark looked at Freddie in the eyes when he said, "Don't live in regret. Fight for what you love."
The words echoed in Freddie's head over and over. Freddie looked at the elderly man who have just shared their stories with each other, "Thanks, Mark."
Mark responded with a warm smile.
"Fredo let's go!" Spencer yelled while walking to the diner door. Him, Gibby, and Brad were still arguing about the Galaxy War episode.
Freddie nodded and took another gulp of his water.
"Thanks again Mar-" Freddie looked to see that Mark was gone. The seat was empty next to him. Freddie looked around and saw he was nowhere to be seen.
"Huh," Freddie got up slowly.
"Thanks for coming handsome! Good luck with whatever you're doing," Jasmine smiled. Freddie gave her a smile also and started to walk to the car. Freddie stuffed his hands in his jacket and felt something in his left pocket. He stopped and pulled out a napkin with words written in pen, Don't live in regret.
The brunette boy was in disbelief but folded the napkin back up neatly and placed it in his jean pocket.
Freddie got in the passenger seat with Brad in the driver's seat and Spencer and Gibby in the back.
"Ready?" Brad asked.
Freddie nodded, "More than ever."
Brad started up the car and pulled out of the diner parking lot. After five minutes of silence Freddie spoke up, "By the way, it was the key."
"Ha! In your face!"