Chapter 2: Meet Maddy

One Month Later

Freddie's POV

"Maddy, come on the plane leaves in an hour," I groaned as I plopped down on the couch and waited for Madeline. She always made us late. I mean she was supposed to be my assistant. She was supposed to be the one keeping me on schedule. I fumbled through my phone and checked to see the time of the next available flight.

"I'm coming Freddie, keep your pants on!" I heard her as she plopped down the stairs with her bags. I ran to meet her and take them off her hands. She gave me that smile, the smile that told me she still wasn't over me. Maddy was the girl that taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my life, don't mix business with pleasure. Even though I told her that I wasn't interested in a relationship she, like the few before her, thought she could change my mind. "Thanks," she uttered seductively and I rolled my eyes. I wasn't trying to be rude, it's just that we were supposed to be in a hurry and I didn't have time for what was going to happen next, she was gonna want to talk about it.

"Come on! Load yourself into the truck so we can vamos. I promised Carly that we'd be on time, and I really don't want to disappoint her." I walked ahead of her hoping that would hinder her need to talk about what she considered our past. Surprisingly it worked she hopped in the truck without another word. I while my assistant looked out the window. Maddy had been my assistant for two years now. It was only six months ago that I thought it might be okay for us to be more. As soon as it was over I regretted it. Of course I would never tell her that, I honestly liked Maddy, we had everything in common, even iCarly. She loved the show growing up and remembered every skit we ever did … and she even admitted to having a girl crush on Sam. Excuse me, I mean Samantha Puckett attorney at law, I would have never seen that coming. Sam also taught me a very important lesson in life, never fall in love. I never knew I could love someone as much as I loved Sam. I'm not saying our relationship was easy, sometimes it felt like we were constantly at each other's throats, we were constantly breaking up and getting back together. Then there was the last time … two days before I left for Caltech she broke up with me. She stuck a letter on our apartment door. I tried to go see or even call her but it was like she disappeared off the face of the earth.

I shook my head and tried to focus on the road. To this day I still wonder what I did wrong. Why did she leave me? The only problem we were having at the time was sex. Of course, I wasn't pushing for it, at the time I was a virgin myself. I felt like Sam was pressuring herself to be with me. Maybe she thought if we didn't have sex I would leave, but that whole thought process was be stupid. Sam was anything but stupid. Sam knew me, she knew that I lived for the moments where she wasn't tough or extremely silly. I loved when she just lay in my arms and just exist with me.

I clenched my stirring wheel. Maybe I shouldn't be going to this thing, even though it had been years, almost a decade. I still wasn't ready to see Sam. I knew the first thing out of my mouth was going to be "why." Why did you ruin the good thing we had? Then she'd look at me like I'd lost my mind, remind me that it'd been years, and tell me to get a life.

"Great," I murmured. Maddy turned her head and offered me a look.

"What's great? I love greatness." She smiled cheerfully. To be honest the reminded me of a mixture of Carly and Sam. She didn't look like either of them, had Ash Brown hair, hazel green eyes, but it was her personality that did it. Sometimes she could be so sweet and compassionate, and then at other times she could be quite calculating in getting what she wanted. "Well?"

"Nothing, I'm just still dreading this wedding a little bit." I sighed. "I'll be fine once we get there. She nodded then rubbed my arm to comfort me.

"No worries boss, you should be excited see your friends again. I know I'm excited to meet Sam and Carly." She smiled and I tried to do the same but the mere mention of her name put my stomach in knots. "Do you think they'll like me?" I afforded her a glance and a small laugh.

"Carly loves just about everybody and … Sam … she has changed so much I don't know. The old Sammy wouldn't like you she'd say you were too chipper." I laughed and she frowned. "What?"

"Since when do you call Sam, Sammy? It's just weird I've never heard you call her that before." I stuttered over myself as I tried to think of an explanation. I used to call Sam that when we were dating. She didn't like being called baby or sweetheart so Sammy was the only nickname we could agree on, I'd never tell Maddy that. I never talked about my relationship with Sam. I was trying to repress the memory that it happened at all.

"I called Sam all kinds of things when we were younger, Puckett, Princess P, blonde demon, and the list goes on." I laughed.

"Oh …" she seemed satisfied with my answer. "Well, I hope she has changed just enough to like me because I'm practically in love with her. She's so pretty and she has this feisty attitude. I guess that's why she makes such a kick ass lawyer!"

"Yeah I guess so," I said dryly. I cut off the car. We were at the airport and as much as I wanted to we couldn't turn back. I wanted to be a good friend and stand up for Carly. Just as I would want her to do the same for me if I were to ever get married. I glanced at Maddy, and then laughed to myself. No way, I'd never get married.

We pulled up to the Scott estate at 2:10PM, we were late. I hated being late, but with Maddy I really had no choice. She liked to stop and take everything in and take pictures. I could understand that, and I was patient when we weren't on a deadline. We pulled up and the gate automatically let us in.

As soon as our car pulled up front, the main door opened and Carly flew out of them. "Oh my God Freddie!" She attacked me with a bear hug. "I've missed you so much! Come on inside so we can catch up." She began pulling me toward the house when she finally took notice of my counterpart. "Who's that?" It wasn't phrased as a question, but more so an accusation.

"This is Madeline Sowers she's my assistant," I introduced her and Maddy stuck out her hand. Carly took it briefly. I was surprised by Carly's behavior she was acting like Maddy had inconvenienced her in some way.

"Nice to meet you," she said sounding completely unenthusiastic. Maddy frowned, she had to be confused by how she was being treated. "Anyway, Brendan will get your stuff and later I'll show you to your room?" I guess she was asking if we need more than one.

"Uh." I looked at Maddy who again grinned at me. "Is it possible for us to get another room? If not I'd be more than happy to sleep in a study or something." Her smile dropped just as I expected it to.

"That won't be necessary, they have tons of rooms," Carly giggled. I think her tone changed once she realized that we weren't sleeping together. However, even if we were sleeping together I would have asked for separate rooms. I wouldn't disrespect a stranger's house that way.

"So mister movie director, thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come to my little old wedding," Carly teased.

"Please, just looking at this house I can tell that this wedding is going to be anything but little. I mean you did ask for everyone in the wedding party to come not a day, but a week early to prepare. Do you know how crazy that is? Some people have jobs!" I picked and she laughed.

"I know and a lot of people have requested to only come a couple days in advance. To be honest the only people that were okay with the week thing was Dylan's friends and family, and that's because they work for Scott Enterprises. They're treating our wedding like it's some sort of holiday. So I was glad that you and …," she paused and then looked away from me. "I forgot to ask, did either of you want something to drink? Water? Blackberry tea?"

"What were you saying Shay?" I had an extremely good feeling I knew who she was talking about anyway.

"Sam's coming for the week too. Which is good because she's my maid of honor, she's just late but when isn't Sam late." Carly and I shared a chuckled.

"Just like me!" Maddy gushed. "Freddie's always telling me to hurry up and stuff." Maddy's words stifled Carly's laughter.

"So Maddy, how long have you been Freddie assistant?" Carly studied the girl careful and then looked at me as if she knew about my involvement with her.

"Two years. Freddie's a great director and a great boss. I truly feel honored to witness his genius." Carly scoffed and picked at her fingers.

"Trust me I know how brilliant Freddie is, SAM and I have been witness his genius for years." I glared at Carly. Why was she acting like I'd done something wrong? Later she and I would have to have a recap and rehash the past. Sam and I ended years ago there should be nothing wrong with me having another friend. There was an odd silence between all of us, then Maddy made one more attempt to get in to Carly's good graces.

"Yeah, I admired all of your work. You are all so spunky and creative. It made total since for you to go into interior decorating. I've seen your work all over the internet and in magazines." Carly smiled a little and nodded.

"Thanks, I guess," Carly mumbled. She was always a sucker for complement.

"And Sam, she shocked us all be becoming a lawyer! What's up with that? I mean the girl was so funny and pretty she could have easily been an actress or a model or something." Carly arched her eyebrow and titled her head. I think Maddy's girl crush was showing. Just then we hear the door open.

"Hello, hello." Two suitcases are then plopped down on the floor in the foyer. "Shay?" There was only one person who could call Carly like that. Sam appeared in the foyer. She looked so … so grown up. She wore a black pencil skirt with a dark blue sleeveless knit that had a turtleneck collar. I blinked a couple of times then looked away. I was giving her way too much attention but I had to admit, they way she looked it was easy to get lost staring at her, even with her hair tied up in a bun like some rude librarian she looked flawless.

"Sam," Carly yelled and jumped out of her seat to meet her.

"Come on," Maddy urged me by pulling my arm. We both went out in to the foyer were the two girls were hugging each other. Maddy let go of my hand and walked toward Sam as if she were in a trance.

"Hello?" Sam said oddly as she released Carly and gave Maddy a look of confusion.

"Hi I'm Maddy, Freddie's assistant. I just wanted to tell you that I love you I think you're a-frickin-mazing!" Maddy grabbed Sam's hand and started shaking it relentlessly. I was about to step up and release Maddy's grip on Sam, but as soon as I moved Sam had did it herself.

"It's nice to meet you." Sam shocked me, she completely and legitimately sounded sincere. "Not that standing here isn't nice, but weren't you all in the living room or something." Sam hedged her head indicating that she wanted to take a seat.

Carly and Maddy moved past me but I felt as though I was frozen. Sam paused. Her blue captivated me just like they always did. I placed my hands in my pockets and tried not to look too pathetic.

"Hey Benson," She offered me a half smirk and I did the same.

"Hey Puckett." We moved into the living room together. Something about her being this close made breathing easier. I was hoping that the feeling would go away. There was no need to hop back on that crazy train.

Author's Note: In honor of iLMM, here's chapter two! I'm so excited it's hours away and I can't wait. Anyways, read and review and no flames!