Chapter 84
Sam gave me one last skeptical glance before finally stepping out onto the deck.
I followed behind her as Carly and Freddie were already making themselves comfortable. Laura greeted them both warmly, and it didn't take long before the four of them were in conversation.
I sat back in my chair, watching the dynamic unfold. It was interesting. Carly was naturally friendly, asking Laura about her acting classes.
Honestly, I felt lucky. I ended up with the iCarly crew—light comedy teens with sarcasm and weird ideas, not some intense, angst-filled teen drama types.
Well if it had been one of those drama-heavy schools, I would've just transferred. No way I'd want that kind of emotional turbulence.
While Laura was still talking about her acting classes, I suddenly remembered something.
"Oh yeah, Laura. Speaking of movies—one I worked on with Carly, Sam, and Freddie is premiering in two weeks"
She turned to me, eyes wide, and grabbed my arm with both hands. "You made a movie and you're telling me this now?"
"Well, we've only known each other for a few days," I said with a grin. "And I kinda forgot about it."
Laura blinked, then laughed. "That's true. But it feels like we've known each other way longer."
"That's because I'm a delightful person," I said, pretending to be pompous.
Everyone around the table burst into laughter.
"Pompous person," Carly said jokingly.
"Nerdy person," Sam added right after.
The two of them glanced at Freddie, waiting for his input—but he said nothing,
"Come on, Freddie," Carly nudged.
"Nah, he's my best buddy," Freddie said, cracking a smile
I patted him lightly on the back "That's what a friend is," I added, pointing a finger first at Carly, then at Sam.
Everyone chuckled. The mood was light and easy.
Laura smiled too. "I kinda envy the friendship you all have," she said sincerely.
"You don't need to," I replied with a welcoming grin. "You're one of us now."
"Totally," Carly added, smiling.
"Yeah, no turning back," Sam said with a smirk.
Freddie nodded with a small laugh. "Welcome to the madness."
Sam glanced at Laura with a curious look. "But I thought you'd be more into hanging out with Cher and Regina."
It was a fair point. While we all had lunch together sometimes, outside of school it was usually the four of us—me, Carly, Sam, and Freddie. Cher and Regina had their own tastes, their own kind of vibe. Different shows, different hangouts. But I hang out with both of them from time to time
Laura just smiled. "Despite how I look, I'm not really into those shopping mall hangouts and all that. Once in a while, sure, but it's not really my thing. I actually prefer this kind of get-together—more relaxed"
Well, and you need good money to keep up with those two rich girls—unless you're okay with just watching them buy everything. And Cher and Regina can be a bit much with the gossip too, I thought. Most people enjoy a little gossip here and there, but sometimes it just gets exhausting.
Laura turned back to me suddenly. "Hey, about the movie—" remembering what we were talking about
"It's a horror film," I explained. "Carly and Sam acted in it, and Freddie was our cameraman."
"I'm not giving you any more spoilers," I added, grinning. "You'll have to watch it yourself. Wanna come with us to the premiere?" I invited her.
"You bet," Laura said with an enthusiastic nod.
"What Jake's not telling you," Carly chimed in, "is that the whole idea was his. From the story to actually filming it."
Freddie nodded. "Yeah, he even gave input on some of the shots we used."
"Wow," Laura said impressed as she looked at me.
"But you don't have to worry," Sam said. "The movie's not even that scary."
Carly and Freddie exchanged glances, noticeably thinking otherwise.
The five of us kept talking through the afternoon. Laughter came easily, and so did the stories. From school moments to behind-the-scenes bits about the film, time passed quickly.
As the sky started to darken and the air cooled, I glanced at the time.
"Hey, if you want, my driver can take you all home," I offered.
Carly, Sam, and Freddie looked up, surprised
"Thanks, Jake," Carly said.
They gathered their things while I coolly added, "Actually, since the car only has four seats, I'll go with Laura right after he drops you guys off."
They nodded, no one questioning it. Once they left, I leaned back for a moment.
The car I used was one of those luxury models refitted for comfort—only four seats, but the kind where the back felt more like a first-class cabin than a regular car. I'd hired the driver a while ago. I had enough money for it already, and with the Marshmello project taking off—even though hardly anyone knew it was me—it felt smart to think about safety.
Plus, having a driver gave me a lot more freedom to move around and plan things without constantly calling cabs or need Uncle Charlie, Dad or Mom
Laura looked at me with a slightly suspicious smile. "The car really only has four seats?" she asked, half-joking.
"I wouldn't lie about that," I said, grinning. "You'll see in like 2 hours. How would I even explain myself if I was making it up?"
"I don't know," she replied with a mock shrug, her hands behind her back and an amused smile on her face.
About two hours later, the driver returned. Laura and I got into the car, and he took her home. We talked a bit more during the ride, just easy conversation and quiet laughs. After I walked her to the door, we shared a small goodnight kiss. Then the driver brought me home.
Back at the house, I dropped my bag and sit onto the living room couch. I grabbed a book and started reading, enjoying the calm after a nice day.
Not long after, Uncle Charlie walked in through the front door, wearing an expression of mild disbelief, like the world had just shown him something he couldn't quite accept
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